Did you do any Black Friday Shopping? I did... and it certainly was an adventure!
I headed out on Thanksgiving night to get a new TV on sale.The TV in my living room had been dying a slow, painful death for many months. Green was the only color that was produced on the screen. We haven't been able to watch The Grinch, The Hulk, or The Green Lantern for months because the main character was camoflauged amidst all the green! (OK, I'm exaggerating, but we really have had a green screen since the summer!)
While in the store to purchase the TV, I saw people pushing, arguing, and fighting to get one of only a few sale items that were the "hot item". To be honest, it made me nervous and uneasy, even though I was several feet away and not involved. I heard that someone bloodied their nose, but I did not see it personally. I left that store to go to a department store where my church was giving away free hot chocolate as an outreach. Most of the people were very friendly and appreciative. However, one shopper became upset over the way that admission into the store was being handled and begin arguing at us. (Why was she fussing at us? We were the "love-Jesus-so-much, we're out-here-at 2 am-giving-you-hot-chocolate" people and not the store security people! Maybe she was tired and hadn't gotten enough sleep. We'll give her the benefit of the doubt.)
My Black Friday experiences left me shaking my head. I went home at 4 am and went to bed, glad to be out of the ruckus. However, later on Friday evening, I ventured back out. The mall was still very crowded. I went into a ladies restroom and had to wait in line. While in line, I heard a lady who was inside the bathroom stall singing "Oh, when the saints go marching in, when the saints go marching in. Lord, I want to be in that number. When the saints go marching in". Now she was not humming, she was not quietly singing this to herself...she was "sanging"! This lady was happy and having herself a good time. She had a song in her heart and she was enjoying herself. The crowds hadn't caused her to lose her joy. Whatever she had seen that day, whether it was rude shoppers or unfriendly store clerks or high prices...still hadn't caused her to lose her song of praise. She may have had sickness, family problems money problems, who knows? Regardless, she was singing her happy song.
This lady had so much joy in her heart, she didn't care if she was in a crowded JC Penney bathroom. She was just getting her song out. The Bible says that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means that what's in the person's heart comes out in a person's speech.
I mentioned in a previous post that you cannot force or squeeze blood to come out of a turnip. No matter how hard you try, you can't get blood out of a turnip, because blood is not inside it. When a person is "squeezed" or "forced" by the problems and trials of life, you cannot force something to come out of them that is not in there. If "ugly" is in the heart, then "ugly" is what is going to come out of the mouth!
When people are in a difficult or stressful situation, when they are being pressed by life, you begin to see what is really inside them. They may have a sweet smile or seem so friendly and nice, but when the pressure is applied, the truth comes out. I have seen this happen many times in my own life with people I've encountered over the years. Maybe you have that situation in your own life. Someone may have fooled others, but you are not fooled by them. You wonder why others can't see how that person really is. How should you handle the situation? Well, you may be more discerning than others. You may have a discerning spirit or a gift of discernment, allowing you to recognize things about this person before others do. Maybe you are the only person that they have revealed their "ugly side" to as of yet. Just pray about the situation and then just watch and wait and remain silent. A relative of mine used to say "just hide and watch". Eventually, the person's true colors will be revealed. It's not your job to tell everybody how they really are. (That will only make you look bad). Just pray and wait. (I know, I know, waiting is not fun!) Hopefully, you can pray for the person and the issue can be resolved before anyone else has to find out and the person will actually change. Maybe they are going through a difficult time in their own life. If not, just keep praying and waiting. God is a God of justice. You will be vindicated when the truth is revealed. Your job is to pray and keep praising God and not to make any enemies during this process! Just wait and let God take care of it for you.
So, if a person's speech reveals what is in their heart, what does this mean for us as Christians?
First, make sure that you know what is in your own heart. David prayed for God to search his own heart to see if there was any sin in his own life. Ask God to show you areas where you need to improve (unconfessed sin, bad habits, impatience, quick temper, etc.) and then ask Him to help you in those areas.
Second, you may need to ask God to help you clean up your own speech. The Bible says that we will have to give an account one day for every idle word we have spoken (I don't know about you, but that makes me a little nervous!) Your tongue is a dangerous weapon and holds the power of life and death! Start thinking about what you are saying. Are you saying what you want to see happen or are you proclaiming gloom and doom on a daily basis?
Third, how are you doing with your praise? Would you be more likely to be the angry shopper on Black Friday or would you be more likely to be the singing lady in the bathroom? How is your joy? How is your song in your heart? Start working on praising God in the midst of your trials and the frustrating, aggravating, annoying things that come with just being alive! Are you thinking about the lovely and positive things going on in your life or focusing on the negative? Check out Philippians 4:8!
Have a great day. When you're at work this week and someone is annoying you, when someone cuts you off in traffic, steals your parking space or says something unkind to you...just think about the lady in the JC Penney bathroom... "Oh when the saints go marching in, when the saints go marching in, Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!"
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Beauty From Ashes
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I have reposted something today that is not original to me. I've seen it in emails and facebook posts for years. I am not sure of the original source, so I cannot give credit to the author. I have also posted an original poem that I wrote to thank God for what he has done for me. Please enjoy:
I AM THANKFUL FOR:
The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
The taxes I pay because it means that I’m employed.
The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The space I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
The piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.
Getting too much email bogs me down but at least I know I have friends who are thinking of me.
Author Unknown
Be joyful always; pray continually;give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105
Today I am thankful for what God has done for me. I have many blessings...my children, family, friends, job, home, health, church, and much more.
One of the things that I am especially thankful for this Thanksgiving is what God has done for me spiritually and emotionally. He has given me a new outlook and new opportunities. I am so thankful for his deliverance and healing. Isaiah 61:1-3 has always been a favorite scripture passage of mine that has special meaning. I thank God that he has truly given me "beauty for ashes" as promised in the scripture. I wrote a poem a couple of months ago as a testimony. It is based upon Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 54. Take some time during your personal devotions this week to read Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 54.
I AM THANKFUL FOR:
The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
The taxes I pay because it means that I’m employed.
The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The space I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
The piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.
Getting too much email bogs me down but at least I know I have friends who are thinking of me.
Author Unknown
Be joyful always; pray continually;give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105
Today I am thankful for what God has done for me. I have many blessings...my children, family, friends, job, home, health, church, and much more.
One of the things that I am especially thankful for this Thanksgiving is what God has done for me spiritually and emotionally. He has given me a new outlook and new opportunities. I am so thankful for his deliverance and healing. Isaiah 61:1-3 has always been a favorite scripture passage of mine that has special meaning. I thank God that he has truly given me "beauty for ashes" as promised in the scripture. I wrote a poem a couple of months ago as a testimony. It is based upon Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 54. Take some time during your personal devotions this week to read Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 54.
“Beauty From Ashes” by J.L. Pearce
Based upon Isaiah 61 and Isaiah 54
Butterfly, Butterfly, leave your cocoon,
Rosebud, Rosebud, its your time to bloom,
The time has come, your season is here
God has not given you a Spirit of fear.
Awaken, Arise, for your light has come,
Come out of your darkness, and face the Son
Embrace His warmth, absorb His rays,
Exchange your despair for the spirit of praise.
Listen to His voice, so soft, so tender,
Your Protector, Provider, Healer, Defender.
I’ve been delivered, gloriously set free.
Its my time to tell what He did for me.
He healed my broken heart, released me from my prison.
From the ashes of my life, new beauty has risen.
I can look in the mirror, I don’t have to hide.
He has dressed me in jewels, just like a bride.
He gave me a robe of righteousness for the rags I had worn
He dried my tears, gave comfort when I mourned.
I called to Him, with my hurt, my grief, in the midst of my trouble.
For my rejection and pain, He has promised me double.
I have a new husband and the Lord God is His name!
No more will I remember my rejection and shame.
With His great mercies, He has gathered me in.
Now my oil of joy can flow again
I have enlarged my tent and lengthened my cords,
My soul will rejoice and be glad in the Lord.
The curses once spoken over me, I no longer believe,
The promises of God, I now receive.
Favor, protection, a covenant of peace,
My heavenly father has now released.
Blessings are my heritage. It will all come to be.
Trust him with your ashes. He will give you...Beauty.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Smart As A Box of Rocks!
I have always liked rocks. Unusual shapes, pretty colors, smooth stones...if I see an interesting rock, I am going to pick it up. I have a collection of special rocks in my jewelry box.
My mom found one last week in her yard that looks like a lima bean. I was hoping she would give it to me, but apparently she hasn't taken the hint yet! My co-worker has an interesting rock on her desk that a client gave her. It immediately caught my eye when I walked into the office. She told me the story behind the rock. A client with autism liked to rub it because it was so smooth and it felt good when he rubbed it. He gave it to her because he had such a special bond with her. Now that's a good rock story. If I pick up a rock that I like, I usually say "I love a good rock!"
I watched the movie "The Game Plan" on TV last night with my son. He asked me to watch TV with him. I was busy and needed to get some things done first....I was about to tell him to wait a minute....then I caught a glimpse of the star of the movie, Duane "The Rock" Johnson. I decided maybe I did have a little extra time! LOL! No wonder I have always liked rocks so much! (OK, I'm kidding. I love to spend time with my son, but getting to watch "The Rock" while spending time with him is an added bonus!)
Now, on to more serious matters...
I once had someone who was angry with me and trying to hurt my feelings tell me that I was as dumb as a box of rocks! (Actually, a few more words were included in there, but I cleaned it up a little!) Well, guess what I have discovered....they actually paid me a compliment. There was no need for my feelings to be hurt at all. Know why? Because I have discovered that in the Bible, rocks were pretty smart!
In Exodus 17, Moses and the Israelite people were camped at Rephidim and they had no water. God told Moses to strike a rock. When he did, water sprang forth for the people to drink. So, rocks can be used to perform miracles!
Numbers 20 says that when the Israelite people were in the desert, they again came to a place where was no water. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out. (Apparently rocks can listen!). Moses hit the rock instead (See! Rocks listen better than people!) Water gushed out and and the people and their livestock had water to drink. Not just a few people and livestock...hundreds of thousands!
Some of the most well-known passages in the Bible refer to rocks or stones.
When the woman was caught in the act of adultery and was about to be stoned, Jesus said to her accusers, "Let He who is without sin cast the first stone". Her accusers slowly walked away. Jesus asked her where her accusers were. He forgave her and told her to go and sin no more.
A rock was also known in the Bible as a place for offering a sacrifice or giving an offering to God. In addition, stones or rocks were often set up as memorials to give praise or thanksgiving for something God had done. When God performed a miracle for Joshua and the Israelites and they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground Joshua had 12 men representing the twelve tribes of Israel, select 12 stones from the bottom of the river bed to set up a memorial to God.
What did David defeat Goliath with? A slingshot is the most frequent answer. But what actually killed the giant? A rock! When Jesus was buried and then resurrected, what did the women find had been rolled away from the tomb? A stone!
Rocks are often used in the Bible as a symbol for God. Psalm 31 says " You are my rock and my fortress!" In other psalms and in the Book of Samuel, it states, "Yahweh is my rock, and my fortress" . God is also referred to as "God, the rock of my salvation" or "my God, the rock of my refuge".
Jesus was referred to as "The Cornerstone". In Biblical times, the cornerstone was the most important part of the foundation of the building. It was the rock upon which the entire structure's stability was based. One of the parables in the Bible regards the wise man that built his house upon "the rock" and the foolish man that built his house upon the "sand" (Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:47-49) (Remember singing that song in Sunday school when you were little?)The person whose house was built on sand did not withstand the storms and rains that came. The person whose house was built on "the rock" or "the firm foundation" was able to withstand the storms and tests of life.
Finally, Jesus also mentioned that rocks would cry out to praise Him. Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem. The disciples and followers of Jesus loudly praised him. Pharisees criticized Jesus's followers for crying out and asked Jesus to tell them to be quiet. Jesus answered that if the people did not praise him, that the rocks would cry out to sing his praise!
Do you see just how smart rocks really are! If we don't praise God, the rocks will! On this, the day before Thanksgiving, just be a rock! Praise God if no one else will. Thank Him for being your rock, your refuge, your shelter. Thank Him that the stone has been rolled away, that HE is risen! Thank Him that you have a firm foundation in Him, no matter what winds, waves or storms may come. Thank God that he is the rock that will help you defeat the giants in your own life.
Set up a memorial to thank God for what he has done. When you gather for Thanksgiving tomorrow, tell your children or grandchildren how He brought you through. Tell your stories of how you leaned on the rock of your salvation, how he was a shelter in the time of storm.
I guarantee you that someone needs to hear your story of how He brought you through.
Be like the Israelites that set up a memorial so that their children and grandchildren and following generations would remember and always know what God had done for them.
God Bless you!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving....and remember..
You're As Smart As a Box of Rocks!
My mom found one last week in her yard that looks like a lima bean. I was hoping she would give it to me, but apparently she hasn't taken the hint yet! My co-worker has an interesting rock on her desk that a client gave her. It immediately caught my eye when I walked into the office. She told me the story behind the rock. A client with autism liked to rub it because it was so smooth and it felt good when he rubbed it. He gave it to her because he had such a special bond with her. Now that's a good rock story. If I pick up a rock that I like, I usually say "I love a good rock!"
I watched the movie "The Game Plan" on TV last night with my son. He asked me to watch TV with him. I was busy and needed to get some things done first....I was about to tell him to wait a minute....then I caught a glimpse of the star of the movie, Duane "The Rock" Johnson. I decided maybe I did have a little extra time! LOL! No wonder I have always liked rocks so much! (OK, I'm kidding. I love to spend time with my son, but getting to watch "The Rock" while spending time with him is an added bonus!)
Now, on to more serious matters...
I once had someone who was angry with me and trying to hurt my feelings tell me that I was as dumb as a box of rocks! (Actually, a few more words were included in there, but I cleaned it up a little!) Well, guess what I have discovered....they actually paid me a compliment. There was no need for my feelings to be hurt at all. Know why? Because I have discovered that in the Bible, rocks were pretty smart!
In Exodus 17, Moses and the Israelite people were camped at Rephidim and they had no water. God told Moses to strike a rock. When he did, water sprang forth for the people to drink. So, rocks can be used to perform miracles!
Numbers 20 says that when the Israelite people were in the desert, they again came to a place where was no water. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out. (Apparently rocks can listen!). Moses hit the rock instead (See! Rocks listen better than people!) Water gushed out and and the people and their livestock had water to drink. Not just a few people and livestock...hundreds of thousands!
Some of the most well-known passages in the Bible refer to rocks or stones.
When the woman was caught in the act of adultery and was about to be stoned, Jesus said to her accusers, "Let He who is without sin cast the first stone". Her accusers slowly walked away. Jesus asked her where her accusers were. He forgave her and told her to go and sin no more.
A rock was also known in the Bible as a place for offering a sacrifice or giving an offering to God. In addition, stones or rocks were often set up as memorials to give praise or thanksgiving for something God had done. When God performed a miracle for Joshua and the Israelites and they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground Joshua had 12 men representing the twelve tribes of Israel, select 12 stones from the bottom of the river bed to set up a memorial to God.
What did David defeat Goliath with? A slingshot is the most frequent answer. But what actually killed the giant? A rock! When Jesus was buried and then resurrected, what did the women find had been rolled away from the tomb? A stone!
Rocks are often used in the Bible as a symbol for God. Psalm 31 says " You are my rock and my fortress!" In other psalms and in the Book of Samuel, it states, "Yahweh is my rock, and my fortress" . God is also referred to as "God, the rock of my salvation" or "my God, the rock of my refuge".
Jesus was referred to as "The Cornerstone". In Biblical times, the cornerstone was the most important part of the foundation of the building. It was the rock upon which the entire structure's stability was based. One of the parables in the Bible regards the wise man that built his house upon "the rock" and the foolish man that built his house upon the "sand" (Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:47-49) (Remember singing that song in Sunday school when you were little?)The person whose house was built on sand did not withstand the storms and rains that came. The person whose house was built on "the rock" or "the firm foundation" was able to withstand the storms and tests of life.
Finally, Jesus also mentioned that rocks would cry out to praise Him. Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus triumphantly entered the city of Jerusalem. The disciples and followers of Jesus loudly praised him. Pharisees criticized Jesus's followers for crying out and asked Jesus to tell them to be quiet. Jesus answered that if the people did not praise him, that the rocks would cry out to sing his praise!
Do you see just how smart rocks really are! If we don't praise God, the rocks will! On this, the day before Thanksgiving, just be a rock! Praise God if no one else will. Thank Him for being your rock, your refuge, your shelter. Thank Him that the stone has been rolled away, that HE is risen! Thank Him that you have a firm foundation in Him, no matter what winds, waves or storms may come. Thank God that he is the rock that will help you defeat the giants in your own life.
Set up a memorial to thank God for what he has done. When you gather for Thanksgiving tomorrow, tell your children or grandchildren how He brought you through. Tell your stories of how you leaned on the rock of your salvation, how he was a shelter in the time of storm.
I guarantee you that someone needs to hear your story of how He brought you through.
Be like the Israelites that set up a memorial so that their children and grandchildren and following generations would remember and always know what God had done for them.
God Bless you!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving....and remember..
You're As Smart As a Box of Rocks!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
In Search of The Perfect Gift
The biggest shopping day of the year is coming up on Friday. Are you ready? Have you made your list...are you checking it twice? Many shoppers will be out early Friday morning or even late Thursday night hoping to find bargains and "the perfect gift" for everyone on their list.
Have you ever gotten a gift that left you disappointed or wasn't what you really wanted?
When I was little, I wanted a Barbie Dream House. It was a three story mansion with a pink elevator on the side that carried Barbie in style from one story to the next. Barbie's pink Corvette was parked in the garage. It was the Barbie house of my dreams..and I knew Santa was going to come through for me! I went to sleep on Christmas Eve dreaming of my Barbie Dream house. I ran in the living room on Christmas morning, knowing that my pink, three-story Barbie Dream House was waiting for me! Well, I got a Barbie house alright..but something was a little "off" with this Barbie House. First, I noticed it had two stories, not three. No elevator. No pink Corvette in the garage. Then I started noticing some "interesting" things about this Barbie house. It had shag carpet. The color scheme was not pink and purple like the Barbie Dream House...it was orange, and brown, and green. Something was "suspicious" about this Barbie House. Why did Barbie and her friends look so "groovy?" Because "Santa" had recycled my sister's Barbie Doll House...my sister who was 12 years older. I received the psychedelic Barbie house of 1970, not the Barbie Dream House of 1982! I wanted a three-story pink mansion and I got a sensible split level Brady Bunch house. I was disappointed. What can I say? It was the eighties...even Barbie was "living large"!
Another famous incident in my family involved a gift I received at church when I was little. You know how it goes. You draw names for the gift exchange.. Inevitably, you bring some kid a race car or a baby doll and you get a pack of crayons in return. Well, I did get a baby doll that year....a ONE-EYED baby doll. I'm serious. The doll had one eye. I was so mad.My sister and older cousins added insult to injury the rest of the evening by saying, "Hey! Leigh-Ann, look at me!" and they would have one eye open and one eye closed. Then they started walking around winking at me. I was livid. Now, I had baby dolls at home and plenty of other toys, probably too many. That wasn't the point. I was upset because it was obvious the person had not put any time or consideration into my gift, because if they had, they would have noticed that the doll only had ONE EYE! It makes me laugh now, but for years in my childhood, my sister could give me the ole "one-eye" look and get me riled up again!
Then, there are those times that you get "the perfect" gift or the gift that makes you cry because it lets you know how much that person thought of you. The best gift I ever received was my mother's ring. I wear it every day. Its rare that you will see me without it on my hand. Its special. It represents the three most important people in my life! It was given to me on the day my son was born. I was told, "Matthew has something to give you". I was then handed my baby and the ring was on two of his fingers. It has my three children's names engraved and each of their birthstones. That took a lot of forethought and planning to have it there at the hospital with us. That made it really special.
This year, I got some special gifts on my birthday. They weren't expensive, but they meant so much to me that they made me cry. I had been dreading my birthday...a lot. I came home one evening a couple of days before my birthday and my favorite flower in my favorite color was sitting on my porch. I had already seen one like it at the florist and thought to myself "Wow. That's beautiful. I wish someone would give me one like it!" Isn't God good? He knows when we need a little encouragement! There is nothing that I would have liked any more.
The day of my birthday was a Monday this year. My children do not stay with me on Monday nights, so it wasn't exactly a "festive birthday". I got home late that night and found gifts and cards on my steps and had messages on my answering machine from my nieces and nephews and other special people. It meant so much to me that they thought of me and left me those messages that it made me cry. It was the thought behind it that meant so much.
The Bible tells us that we have all received the perfect Gift. God gave us His son. "For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God thought so much of us, loved us so much, that he gave us His only Son. I like to give people gifts that they will like or enjoy...but I won't give you my children. You can't have them. I don't love you that much...sorry.
Jesus paid a tremendous price to give you the gift of eternal life. Its already been paid for, all you have to do is accept the gift. If you have already received the gift of salvation, what are you giving back in return? God has given each of us gifts and talents, skills and abilities. Are you thanking Him for your gifts by using them for Him or to bless others?
James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from God! As you prepare for the Christmas season and as you are giving thanks during Thanksgiving this week, be thankful for the best gift you have ever received..the gift of God's Son. Find a way to give thanks and to give back for the gifts you have received.
Have you ever gotten a gift that left you disappointed or wasn't what you really wanted?
When I was little, I wanted a Barbie Dream House. It was a three story mansion with a pink elevator on the side that carried Barbie in style from one story to the next. Barbie's pink Corvette was parked in the garage. It was the Barbie house of my dreams..and I knew Santa was going to come through for me! I went to sleep on Christmas Eve dreaming of my Barbie Dream house. I ran in the living room on Christmas morning, knowing that my pink, three-story Barbie Dream House was waiting for me! Well, I got a Barbie house alright..but something was a little "off" with this Barbie House. First, I noticed it had two stories, not three. No elevator. No pink Corvette in the garage. Then I started noticing some "interesting" things about this Barbie house. It had shag carpet. The color scheme was not pink and purple like the Barbie Dream House...it was orange, and brown, and green. Something was "suspicious" about this Barbie House. Why did Barbie and her friends look so "groovy?" Because "Santa" had recycled my sister's Barbie Doll House...my sister who was 12 years older. I received the psychedelic Barbie house of 1970, not the Barbie Dream House of 1982! I wanted a three-story pink mansion and I got a sensible split level Brady Bunch house. I was disappointed. What can I say? It was the eighties...even Barbie was "living large"!
Another famous incident in my family involved a gift I received at church when I was little. You know how it goes. You draw names for the gift exchange.. Inevitably, you bring some kid a race car or a baby doll and you get a pack of crayons in return. Well, I did get a baby doll that year....a ONE-EYED baby doll. I'm serious. The doll had one eye. I was so mad.My sister and older cousins added insult to injury the rest of the evening by saying, "Hey! Leigh-Ann, look at me!" and they would have one eye open and one eye closed. Then they started walking around winking at me. I was livid. Now, I had baby dolls at home and plenty of other toys, probably too many. That wasn't the point. I was upset because it was obvious the person had not put any time or consideration into my gift, because if they had, they would have noticed that the doll only had ONE EYE! It makes me laugh now, but for years in my childhood, my sister could give me the ole "one-eye" look and get me riled up again!
Then, there are those times that you get "the perfect" gift or the gift that makes you cry because it lets you know how much that person thought of you. The best gift I ever received was my mother's ring. I wear it every day. Its rare that you will see me without it on my hand. Its special. It represents the three most important people in my life! It was given to me on the day my son was born. I was told, "Matthew has something to give you". I was then handed my baby and the ring was on two of his fingers. It has my three children's names engraved and each of their birthstones. That took a lot of forethought and planning to have it there at the hospital with us. That made it really special.
This year, I got some special gifts on my birthday. They weren't expensive, but they meant so much to me that they made me cry. I had been dreading my birthday...a lot. I came home one evening a couple of days before my birthday and my favorite flower in my favorite color was sitting on my porch. I had already seen one like it at the florist and thought to myself "Wow. That's beautiful. I wish someone would give me one like it!" Isn't God good? He knows when we need a little encouragement! There is nothing that I would have liked any more.
The day of my birthday was a Monday this year. My children do not stay with me on Monday nights, so it wasn't exactly a "festive birthday". I got home late that night and found gifts and cards on my steps and had messages on my answering machine from my nieces and nephews and other special people. It meant so much to me that they thought of me and left me those messages that it made me cry. It was the thought behind it that meant so much.
The Bible tells us that we have all received the perfect Gift. God gave us His son. "For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God thought so much of us, loved us so much, that he gave us His only Son. I like to give people gifts that they will like or enjoy...but I won't give you my children. You can't have them. I don't love you that much...sorry.
Jesus paid a tremendous price to give you the gift of eternal life. Its already been paid for, all you have to do is accept the gift. If you have already received the gift of salvation, what are you giving back in return? God has given each of us gifts and talents, skills and abilities. Are you thanking Him for your gifts by using them for Him or to bless others?
James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes from God! As you prepare for the Christmas season and as you are giving thanks during Thanksgiving this week, be thankful for the best gift you have ever received..the gift of God's Son. Find a way to give thanks and to give back for the gifts you have received.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Shadrach, Meshach, and a Bendy Goat
It's that time of year again!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions that I enjoy each year is directing the children's Christmas program. I love the challenge. You never know what's going to happen. Among my favorites are the year that the "rooster" in the manger scene turned around and shook his tail at the audience and smacked himself on the rear end.... and the year that one of my shepherds used his shepherd's staff as a gun to "shoot" at the audience.
No matter what happens at practice or how crazy it gets on the day of the play, there's nothing more precious than to see kids acting out the story of the nativity (even if one of the shepherds takes out the whole front row!) When they are dressed as shepherds or angels or wise men, its not just so Grandma can be proud and take a whole roll of film or fill up a whole memory card taking pictures of her precious grandbabies. We' re also teaching the kids the Bible and the stories of the Bible...and I promise you they won't forget it. They may go through some rebellious years and try your patience, but the Bible promises in Proverbs: "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
It's important that we teach our children and the children of others if we do not have our own, about the Heroes of the faith..Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David... (Read Hebrews Chapter 11). I still remember my Mom reading Bible stories to me before bed each night. Esther and Gideon were two of my favorite stories. (I'm a little partial to the story of Ruth and Boaz these days...you know what I'm saying!)
Children may be immature or have short attention spans and may not comprehend everything that is taught to them, but just keep sowing that seed and planting the Word of God in their hearts. My youngest son and I had a conversation when he was about 8 years old and he said something about the Bible story of Shadrach, Meschach, and A Bendy Goat. Yep...he really said, "A Bendy Goat." (Immediately I got a picture in my mind of two Hebrew children in the fiery furnace along side a really flexible goat doing back bends or toe touches or something.)
Even if they don't get all the details correct, the Bible that we teach them today will stay in their hearts for many years to come. I still remember the scriptural benediction that we spoke at the end of service every Wednesday night at my home church when I was growing up. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen." As much as I hate to admit it...that's been almost thirty years ago! That word was hidden in my heart many years ago and its still there and embedded in my memory. The Bible says that God's word does not return to him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus placed an emphasis on the importance of children. When his disciples basically tried to "shoo away" children that were surrounding him, Jesus told the adults that they should receive the kingdom of God with the same child-like faith .
Mark 10:14-16 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Jesus also warned us about how we should treat a child or even a new "baby"Christian who is a child in the faith.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Just like children, sometimes new Christians get things a little confused and make mistakes. In the same way that I did not scold my son for believing that "A Bendy Goat" was one of the Hebrew children, we have to extend that same grace, understanding and mercy to new Christians. Christian maturity is a process that we are all striving for! As mature Christians, we sometimes expect someone to get saved today and start acting like Billy Graham tomorrow. To be honest, as a "mature" Christian I have really blown it sometimes myself and had to ask for forgiveness, grace and mercy...and I knew better! Be patient with your children and with new Christians. You never know when you might need a do-over yourself!
Start investing some time to train up a child or to help a new Christian in their faith journey! I promise, you will be blessed!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions that I enjoy each year is directing the children's Christmas program. I love the challenge. You never know what's going to happen. Among my favorites are the year that the "rooster" in the manger scene turned around and shook his tail at the audience and smacked himself on the rear end.... and the year that one of my shepherds used his shepherd's staff as a gun to "shoot" at the audience.
No matter what happens at practice or how crazy it gets on the day of the play, there's nothing more precious than to see kids acting out the story of the nativity (even if one of the shepherds takes out the whole front row!) When they are dressed as shepherds or angels or wise men, its not just so Grandma can be proud and take a whole roll of film or fill up a whole memory card taking pictures of her precious grandbabies. We' re also teaching the kids the Bible and the stories of the Bible...and I promise you they won't forget it. They may go through some rebellious years and try your patience, but the Bible promises in Proverbs: "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it".
It's important that we teach our children and the children of others if we do not have our own, about the Heroes of the faith..Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David... (Read Hebrews Chapter 11). I still remember my Mom reading Bible stories to me before bed each night. Esther and Gideon were two of my favorite stories. (I'm a little partial to the story of Ruth and Boaz these days...you know what I'm saying!)
Children may be immature or have short attention spans and may not comprehend everything that is taught to them, but just keep sowing that seed and planting the Word of God in their hearts. My youngest son and I had a conversation when he was about 8 years old and he said something about the Bible story of Shadrach, Meschach, and A Bendy Goat. Yep...he really said, "A Bendy Goat." (Immediately I got a picture in my mind of two Hebrew children in the fiery furnace along side a really flexible goat doing back bends or toe touches or something.)
Even if they don't get all the details correct, the Bible that we teach them today will stay in their hearts for many years to come. I still remember the scriptural benediction that we spoke at the end of service every Wednesday night at my home church when I was growing up. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen." As much as I hate to admit it...that's been almost thirty years ago! That word was hidden in my heart many years ago and its still there and embedded in my memory. The Bible says that God's word does not return to him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus placed an emphasis on the importance of children. When his disciples basically tried to "shoo away" children that were surrounding him, Jesus told the adults that they should receive the kingdom of God with the same child-like faith .
Mark 10:14-16 Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Jesus also warned us about how we should treat a child or even a new "baby"Christian who is a child in the faith.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Just like children, sometimes new Christians get things a little confused and make mistakes. In the same way that I did not scold my son for believing that "A Bendy Goat" was one of the Hebrew children, we have to extend that same grace, understanding and mercy to new Christians. Christian maturity is a process that we are all striving for! As mature Christians, we sometimes expect someone to get saved today and start acting like Billy Graham tomorrow. To be honest, as a "mature" Christian I have really blown it sometimes myself and had to ask for forgiveness, grace and mercy...and I knew better! Be patient with your children and with new Christians. You never know when you might need a do-over yourself!
Start investing some time to train up a child or to help a new Christian in their faith journey! I promise, you will be blessed!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
It Isn't Always As Bad As It Seems
Things Aren't Always As Bad as They Seem!
At the age off 22, I became a foster parent. (What in THE WORLD were they thinking to actually give me a license to be a foster parent at 22???) Anyway, on my first Saturday as a foster parent, I was going to be alone with a sick 10 month old and a very rambunctious 20 month old all day long. I pondered how I was going to take a shower. I decided to put the 10 month old in her baby seat and put her in the bathroom with me and put the 20 month old in front of the TV watching Barney...while I took the world's fastest shower. While I was in the middle of taking the world's fastest shower, the 20 month old brought me a bottle of ketchup. A bottle of ketchup!!! He had been in the refrigerator! I could only imagine what I was going to find in my living room and kitchen. I imagined a mess that was going to take hours to clean. Was my carpet ruined? What about my couch? And so...the world's fastest shower just got faster. However, upon exiting the shower and checking on the state of the living room and kitchen, I could find nothing amiss other than the refrigerator door being left open.
What I envisioned as a horrible mess, was actually no big deal. (I discovered on the next day, that while in the refrigerator, he had opened a 5 lb bag of hot dogs and had bitten the end off each hot dog. Thus...the need for ketchup!)
I told that story because it's funny and people can relate to being alone in the house with a rambunctious toddler. The point of today's blog is that things may seem bad, you may picture a really bad mess...but things aren't always as bad as it seems.
I don't know what's going on in your life right now, but I promise you, its not as bad as it seems. Sometimes, when we are hurting or struggling or in the middle of some difficulty, its hard to see past the pain of the situation. Trust God. The Bible ways He will never leave us or forsake us..he's a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother. Jesus is "touched with the feelings of our infirmities"...meaning that He feels our hurts and pain that we are going through. Thank God for Christian friends and family that pray for us and lift us up. (I don't know where I would be without them!) But they are only human and imperfect. We have a perfect heavenly Father who is there for us and working in our lives 24 hours a day!
Trust your perfect heavenly Father even when you can't see or feel how he is working. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You may not be able to see how God is working in your situation right now, but I promise you He is working! Seek God first, and commit your situation to him. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him, must believe that God exists and that God rewards those who earnestly seek him. In Matthew, the Bible also says to seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness and all these things will be given to us.
Have you ever embarrassed yourself because you said something to a person or made a comment, when you didn't really know the whole situation? Later, when you found out the whole story, you wished you had just remained silent and not said anything. I think we've all done that. Not only do we not know the whole story behind other people's lives, we also don't always know the "whole story" behind what God is doing in our own lives. Ask God to help you understand your current situation and to give you the faith to not complain and just trust Him about the things you don't understand. You may not know what God is doing "on the other side of the mountain". Just because you can't see...doesn't mean he's not working.
Stop picturing the "horrible mess" like I did concerning the ketchup bottle.. Just trust God. The Bible says His ways are higher than your ways and his thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
Trust Him to handle your situation!
At the age off 22, I became a foster parent. (What in THE WORLD were they thinking to actually give me a license to be a foster parent at 22???) Anyway, on my first Saturday as a foster parent, I was going to be alone with a sick 10 month old and a very rambunctious 20 month old all day long. I pondered how I was going to take a shower. I decided to put the 10 month old in her baby seat and put her in the bathroom with me and put the 20 month old in front of the TV watching Barney...while I took the world's fastest shower. While I was in the middle of taking the world's fastest shower, the 20 month old brought me a bottle of ketchup. A bottle of ketchup!!! He had been in the refrigerator! I could only imagine what I was going to find in my living room and kitchen. I imagined a mess that was going to take hours to clean. Was my carpet ruined? What about my couch? And so...the world's fastest shower just got faster. However, upon exiting the shower and checking on the state of the living room and kitchen, I could find nothing amiss other than the refrigerator door being left open.
What I envisioned as a horrible mess, was actually no big deal. (I discovered on the next day, that while in the refrigerator, he had opened a 5 lb bag of hot dogs and had bitten the end off each hot dog. Thus...the need for ketchup!)
I told that story because it's funny and people can relate to being alone in the house with a rambunctious toddler. The point of today's blog is that things may seem bad, you may picture a really bad mess...but things aren't always as bad as it seems.
I don't know what's going on in your life right now, but I promise you, its not as bad as it seems. Sometimes, when we are hurting or struggling or in the middle of some difficulty, its hard to see past the pain of the situation. Trust God. The Bible ways He will never leave us or forsake us..he's a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother. Jesus is "touched with the feelings of our infirmities"...meaning that He feels our hurts and pain that we are going through. Thank God for Christian friends and family that pray for us and lift us up. (I don't know where I would be without them!) But they are only human and imperfect. We have a perfect heavenly Father who is there for us and working in our lives 24 hours a day!
Trust your perfect heavenly Father even when you can't see or feel how he is working. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You may not be able to see how God is working in your situation right now, but I promise you He is working! Seek God first, and commit your situation to him. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him, must believe that God exists and that God rewards those who earnestly seek him. In Matthew, the Bible also says to seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness and all these things will be given to us.
Have you ever embarrassed yourself because you said something to a person or made a comment, when you didn't really know the whole situation? Later, when you found out the whole story, you wished you had just remained silent and not said anything. I think we've all done that. Not only do we not know the whole story behind other people's lives, we also don't always know the "whole story" behind what God is doing in our own lives. Ask God to help you understand your current situation and to give you the faith to not complain and just trust Him about the things you don't understand. You may not know what God is doing "on the other side of the mountain". Just because you can't see...doesn't mean he's not working.
Stop picturing the "horrible mess" like I did concerning the ketchup bottle.. Just trust God. The Bible says His ways are higher than your ways and his thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
Trust Him to handle your situation!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Have you ever been tricked...fooled...or believed a lie?
A few years ago, a co-worker gave me some of the greatest advice I have ever been given. Unfortunately, it took me several months before I took her advice! I had a problem in my life that involved another person. My co-worker advised me to call the person. I refused. My pride wouldn't let me. I was too angry and too hurt. My co-worker said "Look, you need to call them and get to the bottom of the issue. Find out the truth. I guarantee you that the other person is a nice person just like you are. Both of you are being lied to about one another. This person is not your enemy. The real problem here is the person that is lying to both of you". I still refused to call the person. I felt the other person was the one wrong, so I did not feel that I should have to call them.
Several months went by. The problem got worse. I felt worse. Finally, I couldn't take it any more and I called the person. Guess what? My co-worker was exactly right! The other individual was a decent person who was in a bad situation and was being lied to. The other person never intended to hurt me at all. They wouldn't have ever acted the way that they did, had they known the truth. They apologized for any hurt they had caused me. When the truth was revealed, the issue between me and that person was resolved.
When you are being lied to, or deceived, you will say or do things that you would not normally do or say. You are acting based upon false information. I've been lied to and I've been lied about. I'm sure you have experienced the same thing. Even though its extremely hurtful to be lied to or lied about by others, the most deadly lies do not come from other people.
The Bible calls Satan "The Deceiver" or "The Father of Lies".
He will lie to you about yourself. "You are stupid," "You can't do anything right," "You will fail," You will never finish school" "You will always be alone," "No one will love you," "You won't be healed," "You'll never lose weight," "You're ugly" "You've ruined your chance. You can never fix this". "Its too late" and on and on.
He will lie to you about others "She thinks she's better than you" "They don't really love you," "He thinks he's so...." "She's talking about you" "He's out to get you". "They'll never change".
He also wants to lie to you about himself and about God. Satan would love for you to think that he does not exist and there is no hell. He twists the truth about God. He makes people think "a loving God would not send anyone to hell." (God is loving, that is true...but he also created us with a free will to choose life or death, heaven or hell).
He allows people to deceive themselves about sin.
"That's not really a sin, you can't go to hell for that..." "My situation is different, its not a sin, because we are meant to be together". "I was born that way, its just how I am"
He causes people to be deceived about salvation
He causes people to think that believing in God or believing in the power of prayer automatically makes them a Christian. He wants people to think that if they are a "good person" they are going to heaven. (In order to be saved, we have to believe in God and his son Jesus, ask forgiveness of our sins and accept Christ into our hearts . Its not our "goodness" that gets us to Heaven..Its what Jesus did for us when he paid the price for our sins on the cross!)
The Bible says that when a person is an unbeliever, or not a Christian, its because Satan has blinded the person to the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God". If you are praying for an unbeliever, pray that their eyes are opened to the truth!
Ask God to reveal the truth to you about Himself. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"
If you have an issue in your life that needs to be resolved with another person, pray that God will reveal the truth to you...even if its means you're the one who's wrong...even if the truth hurts! Believe that the truth will set you free!
Is there someone in your life that you need to go tell the truth to or share the truth of the gospel with?
A few years ago, a co-worker gave me some of the greatest advice I have ever been given. Unfortunately, it took me several months before I took her advice! I had a problem in my life that involved another person. My co-worker advised me to call the person. I refused. My pride wouldn't let me. I was too angry and too hurt. My co-worker said "Look, you need to call them and get to the bottom of the issue. Find out the truth. I guarantee you that the other person is a nice person just like you are. Both of you are being lied to about one another. This person is not your enemy. The real problem here is the person that is lying to both of you". I still refused to call the person. I felt the other person was the one wrong, so I did not feel that I should have to call them.
Several months went by. The problem got worse. I felt worse. Finally, I couldn't take it any more and I called the person. Guess what? My co-worker was exactly right! The other individual was a decent person who was in a bad situation and was being lied to. The other person never intended to hurt me at all. They wouldn't have ever acted the way that they did, had they known the truth. They apologized for any hurt they had caused me. When the truth was revealed, the issue between me and that person was resolved.
When you are being lied to, or deceived, you will say or do things that you would not normally do or say. You are acting based upon false information. I've been lied to and I've been lied about. I'm sure you have experienced the same thing. Even though its extremely hurtful to be lied to or lied about by others, the most deadly lies do not come from other people.
The Bible calls Satan "The Deceiver" or "The Father of Lies".
He will lie to you about yourself. "You are stupid," "You can't do anything right," "You will fail," You will never finish school" "You will always be alone," "No one will love you," "You won't be healed," "You'll never lose weight," "You're ugly" "You've ruined your chance. You can never fix this". "Its too late" and on and on.
He will lie to you about others "She thinks she's better than you" "They don't really love you," "He thinks he's so...." "She's talking about you" "He's out to get you". "They'll never change".
He also wants to lie to you about himself and about God. Satan would love for you to think that he does not exist and there is no hell. He twists the truth about God. He makes people think "a loving God would not send anyone to hell." (God is loving, that is true...but he also created us with a free will to choose life or death, heaven or hell).
He allows people to deceive themselves about sin.
"That's not really a sin, you can't go to hell for that..." "My situation is different, its not a sin, because we are meant to be together". "I was born that way, its just how I am"
He causes people to be deceived about salvation
He causes people to think that believing in God or believing in the power of prayer automatically makes them a Christian. He wants people to think that if they are a "good person" they are going to heaven. (In order to be saved, we have to believe in God and his son Jesus, ask forgiveness of our sins and accept Christ into our hearts . Its not our "goodness" that gets us to Heaven..Its what Jesus did for us when he paid the price for our sins on the cross!)
The Bible says that when a person is an unbeliever, or not a Christian, its because Satan has blinded the person to the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God". If you are praying for an unbeliever, pray that their eyes are opened to the truth!
Ask God to reveal the truth to you about Himself. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"
If you have an issue in your life that needs to be resolved with another person, pray that God will reveal the truth to you...even if its means you're the one who's wrong...even if the truth hurts! Believe that the truth will set you free!
Is there someone in your life that you need to go tell the truth to or share the truth of the gospel with?
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