Two Wolves

Two Wolves

 A favorite poem of mine given to me by my mother.  I pray I feed the right wolf everyday because the other one is strong, hungry and determined to be fed daily.


                                                               Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all."


"One is evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

" The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'


The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:  "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

What's Your Written Down Reason For Being?

A throwback from last year...... but still begging to be asked.

What's your written down reason for being?

Mug by Dawn Camp 

Sharing with my small group last night I asked if they had ever written out a 

purpose statement for their life. 

II have heard it described as "your written down reason for being."I

By Dawn Camp☆Sharing with my high school ladies last night I challenged them to create a purpose statement for life. I have heard it described as "a written down reason for being."

I am not talking Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief. I am talking why did God, the creator of the heavens and earth place you here, calling you His own.

How do you know which road to take, when to say yes and more importantly when to say no?

I read a post this morning about a wife,mom,lover of Christ who travels the world with her husband and little ones. She has moved too many times to count( over 30) to locations, some I can't find on a map or pronounce. She understands her call and knows her purpose. If she didn't understand her calling how would she have moved her feet of clay into the land of giants? If you do not have a vision of what God has called you too how do you find your way in this world of a thousand choices and desires that leave us breathless in our pursuit of them? Many times we don't know what we are running after. We just know everyone else is running so.....

You might live a nice life but it may not be Gods life for you? 

Do we believe that? Do we think He has a best for us? A life where we "get to" serve him and minister to his people? Love God, Love people.

Is our calling about collecting as much stuff as we can or giving away as much as we can? What do we persue? What is our purpose?

And how does one live their life without ever asking that question?

What are you passionate about?

What Bible passages has God brought to life for you?

How has God used you in the past?

What are your gifts and strengths?

The life of a follower of Christ is the most exciting life there is. Everyday is a day to say, 

" Bless me indeed today Lord! Increase my territories and may your hand be upon me. Keep me from evil that I may not cause pain."

The prayer of Jabez 1 Chronicles 4:10

One of my sweet girls gave me the name shepherd last night. How beautiful to think that God has prepared me in all my flawed ways to be a shepherd to these young women that I love. These women who are on their way and already leaders. They will be shaken up at times. If they know their purpose, their roots will be strong and they will stand firm, strengthened by the one whom they have built their foundation on.

God, in your grace and love you chose us to glorify you through our lives. You give us all that we need to have joy, new each morning. You heal our wounds, you forgive us our shallow, selfish ways. You wait with open arms, calling us your children. You love us without end and without ceasing. May we see you today in your people and meet them where they are. Amen

Have You Met Needtobreathe? Let me introduce you to them....NEEDTOBREATHE - The Reckoning

Have you met Needtobreathe? Let me introduce you to them........ ENJOY

There's More To That Story....Uh Ha

Do you ever find your self listening to a story and thinking, "There's more to that story"? Maybe it doesn't quite add up or something seems to be missing. 

A few years back I mentored three little girls at a public elementary school. These lovely young hearts were living on the fringe, some single parent homes, mostly living hand to mouth. They were mostly happy girls.....

I would meet with them once a week and we would talk about life. I would ask each of them what they had done the previous weekend. 

I would hear about aunties and cousins coming to town from Chicago to visit.

 This was not always a good sign.. usually it meant there was a "house" problem. 

It might mean someone was moving out of the house, or losing the house they were living in. It could also mean that someone was going to the big house. 

Like the house .. up the river, if ya get me.

I knew there was more to these stories but my role wasn't to pry into this part of their life. I was there to help them write a better story. To live a better story than the ones they saw playing out in front of them everyday. My role was to give them the freedom to have their own story. To give them permission to seek out the best life they could have. 

Every person needs to know they have a story that is worthy and needs to unfold. It is their story.  Once it is found, has life breathed into it, they can share it with others. We share our stories and help others find their breath and courage for their stories.

A couple of years ago I read Don Miller's book, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years to my small group of High School ladies. I watched new ideas unfold into these women's hearts. They were seeing with new eyes what life can really be when you seek out God's story for your life. 

Life should not just happen. 

If we leave it to chance we may wake up one day, disappointed and wondering what our life was all about.  

We can't control life, the people or circumstances that hurt us. 

We can fill ourselves with Truth and seek out what God has for us. He is faithful and even though there will be tough days, He has a plan.. a story, for each of us.

I could not stop my husband from dying of cancer at age 29, but I could choose how I would react and what I would cling too. 

I knew I had a story that wasn't finished.

 I didn't quit, but I also didn't do it alone. 

I sought guidance from God and also from Godly women who stood beside me and encouraged me.

I love to hear people's stories... what God is doing in their lives, what He has done. To hear the faithfulness through the sorrows, the joys and pains of life. 

I look forward to watching these now college age ladies live out their stories. 

They have the potential and know the truth to live good stories, directed by God.

Life deserves to be paid attention too.

It is not a big "To Do" list . . checking things off. 

  I don't think God has a "to do" list and I don't think He really likes them. 

I say this because I have lived this life. It's repetitive and at the end of your life all you will have is a long piece of paper with lots of check marks. Really.

God has a story He wrote for each of us. Like all good storybooks, we have to open it and He and I hold the pen that will write the words to the story.

Sometimes He will ask for the pen and sometimes I will gladly give it to Him and let Him write. Other times I will refuse, gripping tightly. 

I hope I will learn to release my grip and give Him the pen... for all of my days.

I don't want God sitting up in heaven looking down at me, shaking his head saying,

 "Oh Girl, there was so much more to that story. Un, un, un."

What's your story and is God in the middle of it?

Be Courageous

Last night my husband and I found ourselves looking at one another after dinner saying, "What do you want to do?". Okay, it was actually me saying that to him. He looked at me and responded, " Watching the basketball game might be fun." He had that little grin on his face, the one that knew I would think that was a bad idea.  Mind you, Illinois wasn't even playing.

I asked him if he wanted to do my exercise workout on the TV?  He was tossing the weighted ball around.  We started tossing it back and forth, then he said it was so boring in Kansas we had resorted to this. This got me laughing.....

I mentioned that we were only inside because it was January and soon we would be outside planting our yard with all things nature. He looked at me funny and said, "Do you know how hot it gets here in the summer?" At which point I wanted to shoot him, for a multitude of reasons.

I refrained and instead suggested a game of cards. We are kind of competitive, in the winter we tend to start lists of who has won how many games. The game of choice is usually Rummy 500 and he used to beat me ..... badly. It bordered on abuse.

Seems he is either losing his edge or I am just pretty darn amazing. I will go with the second choice. Last night after he told me he was going to wipe the floor with me..... I manhandled him into a pile of male mush. Yeah, it was good and I enjoyed every minute of it. I even tried flicking cards like he does when he is winning. I hate it when he does that.

Bob is one in center with hand in air...looking mad:)

I am to the right, smiling.

So, after that debacle I said, "Now what? " Again, he was quite content to sit and watch the game. I know it sounds like I am a little kid that needs to be entertained, but I swear it just looks that way. 

He suggested buying a movie on our TV.  This was after the conversation of why exactly we have cable, since there is absolutely nothing on TV anyway. We concluded that the only reason is to watch the Big Ten Network and Espn... I have lost count how many channels we have of that. 

Seems like a lot of dough to watch Illini basketball season, but it does help January and February move along. 

The idea of spending another $5.00 for a movie seemed silly. Besides, do you ever recognize any of those movies? Anything with the name slasher in it I probably don't want to watch. 

The hubby picked up the clicker and started going through the list. He repeatedly told me to tell him when to stop on a choice. I glanced and nothing caught my eye. 

One bad movie option after another.

 He asked what one of them was and I told him it was one of those Christian movies made by that Georgia church, same as Fireproof... something like that. I think my exact words were, "You don't want to watch that, it will be cheesy and besides why do we need to see that?" Sort of like, "We are already Christians. What could we possibly learn?!" Humble, huh?

He agreed and next thing you know, he hits the wrong button and tells me ," Guess we just bought that movie." Are you kidding me?? 

You tell me it's my choice 16 times in the last minute and a half and then you push the wrong button? 

Courageous it was......

With the investment of $5.00, we decided to watch it.  About three hours later, lump in my throat, swallowed down hard and tears in my eyes about dried up... we looked at each other and smiled.  

It delivered a powerful message for families, especially men. I was blessed to have watched it... so was the hubby. (He told me.. not making it up). Below is the resolution the men made in the movie. It's pretty great.

Tonight we are going to see another movie.... at a Theater. I figured I would give him the night off from cards. 

Be Faithful In the Little Things

Mother Theresa said, "We are not called to be successful, but to be faithful."

What would our lives look like if we were faithful in the little things? 

In Luke 16:10 Jesus says, 

"If you are faithful in little things you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."

If we lived our lives believing this scripture, seeing every opportunity from God as an opportunity to be faithful.... Oh my, what would our lives look like?! 

We would be generous, compassionate, humble.  We would be grace.  Is that not a picture of Christ? Is that how we are called to live?

He made it clear and easy to see... if we look to Him in His word. He is not a mystery in that sense.

We are without excuse.

 Why do I not live like that?

Because...

I am selfish and care more about my desires and my needs than yours.

 Simple. 

David Platt say's, "The gospel demands a blank check"

What?

The gospel demands a blank check.

Blank... as in... you are MINE and I have a plan for you. 

Don't be consumed with this worlds stuff. It wont last. Follow me instead.

Jesus said, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." 

Matthew 4:19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal."

Matthew 6:19

How do we start giving God a blank check today? I suggest we start with the little things. Let us be faithful in what He has called us to do. What does the Bible tell you to do? "Feed MY sheep"

Jesus words.....

Look around you today and see where God is at work and then join Him. Be faithful in the small things of today and He will multiply your hands and the blessing. 

It is not our job to figure out the end product. It is our job to be faithful..... today.

Follow Me...

The Gift Of January

It's January 11th, almost half way through the first month of the new year. The beginning of the month almost fooled me. The weather was lovely, I was surrounded with people close to my heart, things were cozy and comfortable.

Life can trick you into a mid winter coma if you don't watch out.

Today, winter has arrived and shaken me out of my sleep. The wind is picking up, the shimmering blue sky of yesterday has been replaced by dark clouds. Snow seems to be on the horizon.

Today I was reminded to focus on my passion, my purpose, and gifts that God has called me to use. 

I sat in a women's study this morning and God called me back to Him. He hadn't gone away but I had become tired. The loss of my dad hovers over me, constantly tempting me to retreat. A feeling I still struggle to find words for and mostly keep covered. 

It's hard to find words to write, to encourage, when a part of you is numb.

God, in all his mercy, knew where I needed to be today. He used His scripture to set my soul on fire.... or reignite it.

I also miss my community of believers, women who nurture and encourage me. Who push me and challenge me. 

No one knows me here in my new community. No one understands my heart, my past, my struggles, my dreams....

 who I am.

Yet, God blessed me to be in the presence of these women today. We share a bond of sisterhood, even though they do not know me... yet.

It's easy to lose focus when you have been moved, life disrupted, the pains of change swirling around you like a cold January wind.... stealing your breath.

Yet, God's calling for us, His mission for us, has not changed. 

God knows me, He knows my heart, my past, 

my struggles, my dreams. 

He knows who I am. 

I am His.

He reminds me of this everyday, but some days I am not listening.

The study was talking about spiritual gifts and the inheritance we have in Christ Jesus. Each woman in that room has gifts. 

Some do not know it and some may spend their life searching, never recognizing you must move in order to find your gifts. 

You must search and take chances.

Others know their spiritual gifts and are generously sharing them.

Our gifts are not for ourselves.

We do not benefit, others do.

  Our gifts are special because they are ordained by the Holy Spirit...  God. He has gifted each of us, in many ways. 

When we use our gifts, others receive the blessing and God receives the glory.

Never being prideful about our gifts, but humble, knowing these gifts have nothing to do with us. They are for the good of the kingdom.

Today the speaker said, "There is no amount of carnality that can compare to the feeling of finding and using your gifts."

We can waste our life on trivial stuff, checking off our to do list of the day and year. Filling up our bucket list on fun, thrilling things. 

Nothing will compare with the feeling and blessing of being used in ways that God has created you for.

Do you recognize some of your spiritual gifts? Are you using them for God's glory? If not, pray and ask God to reveal to you the things He longs for you to know today. 

U2 Grace - God's Unmerited Favor

Below is an article from WWW. The Poached Egg. net, a website on apologetics. It is a follow up on an article with Bono. I remember reading it and thought it was great. 

It seems there are always those who want to tear down, instead of build up, even among Christians. I think this causes much pain in heaven.... if there was ever a person, God, deity who was not legalistic, it was and is Christ. 

He taught grace... big time. Grace, God's unmerited favor. 

We need nothing else, if we accept this gift from Him.

GRACE OVER BONO

Grace Over Bono

by Greg West

Hands down, the most popular post on The Poached Egg is a portion of an interview withU2's Bono, entitled: Grace Over Karma. Every now and then, someone will run across this post, share it on Facebook or Twitter, and my hits will explode (this is happening right now even as I’m writing this). This is a good thing. Although The Poached Egg is mainly an apologetics website, I also like to post things that illustrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a manner that will reach out to the widest possible audience. And in the case of this particular Bono interview, Bono paints for us a picture of the meaning of the Gospel as well as any scholar.

In today’s culture, people tend to be somewhat overly obsessed with celebrity, and since U2 is arguably the world’s most popular rock and roll band, just about anything posted about them is bound to garner some attention. So if Bono will get people to discover The Poached Egg, that is a-okay with me. I always hope that by exploiting the popularity of any given something, that maybe God will use it to speak to someone’s heart; maybe by getting them here, someone will discover apologetics for the first time, or better yet, begin to get a grasp on what the Gospel really means.

Now, that having been said, there are inevitable repercussions to posting something like the Bono interview. Almost without fail, every time this post gets shared, I will receive several messages in my inbox from well-meaning believers warning me of the folly of associating Bono with Christianity. These messages usually contain statements like “Bono is not a Christian; Bono drinks beer; Bono smokes; Bono cusses; Bono endorses Islam; Bono said this or that; yadda, yadda, yadda.”

I usually ignore these kinds of comments, because first of all, I’m not here to defend Bon’s beliefs and I just don’t have the time to respond to those kind of things as they usually don’t care what I say anyway, and sometimes end up ‘unfriending’ me. Secondly, it is obvious to me that they have missed the point of the article entirely. Go back and check the title; it’s called ‘GRACE’ Over Karma, not ‘Bono’s Faith on Trial’!

If we, as Christians, do not have any idea of the meaning of ‘grace’, we need to shut our big yaps, go back to theology 101, and start over. When the Bible talks about grace, it’s not talking about being a good dancer or not tripping over things. The biblical definition of grace is this (now pay attention, class; drumroll please; stage set; cue curtain…), the biblical definition of GRACE is… God’s“UNMERITED FAVOR!!!”

Did you get that? Please say you did. Please? Because you see, on a good day, I might make it till 10 a.m. without sinning in thought, word, or deed. There is nothing I can do to earn God’s unmerited favor and there is no sin big enough to have it taken away. If there was, then it would not be ‘unmerited’ now, would it? If it were not for grace, there would not be one single Christian on this planet; because being a Christian means having an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe, and because of our natural sinful state of rebellion towards God, none of us deserve to have that!

Is Bono’s theology always right on target? No, probably not. But then again, I don’t think that even C.S. Lewis, the most quoted theologian of the 20th century, is always 100% accurate in his theology, and of course, neither am I. But through studying the Bible, prayer and meditation, sound teaching, reading theology and other Christian literature, maybe I’ll get there someday.

Now, back to ‘grace’. I’ve already given you the biblical definition of grace, but now I’d also like to give you a mental picture of what grace is: Picture in your mind Bono’s endless lobbying for debt relief and aids relief for Africa; picture Mother Teresa embracing a person whose body is being ravaged by leprosy; picture a couple who is willing to adopt a child that has severe down syndrome; picture relief workers in Haiti handing out bottles of water in the wake of the earthquake; picture someone giving a sandwich to a homeless person, or emptying their pockets of change to give to a beggar; picture Jesus hanging on a cross, bearing the sins of the world, and paying the penalty for our rebellion towards God so that we can be brought into a right relationship with Him. That’s grace, my friends. None of us deserve it, but God has given it to us freely, for which I am eternally grateful!

God, thank you for ‘Grace’. And Bono, thank you for ‘Grace Over Karma’. Rock on, dude!

The Arrows- In The Words of Satan (Kinetic Typography)

Take a few minutes and watch this amazing video and think on these things. Don't miss the message. Don't rush. Hear the words and let them sink in.

Tears may fall, as you see yourself......

On A Lighter Note...... The Weimeraner Diet

Let me introduce you to the Weimeraner diet.

See below the Weimeraner.

A squirrelly character, they actually love squirrels, but I digress. I mean squirrelly in a way that one would describe a person.... of questionable character.

A puppy that looks at you, knowing full well the difference between right and wrong. Understanding fully that she only dreads being found out, not actually participating in the deed. She is a mischievous thing, sneaky is her middle name.

Today, I want to talk about the Weimeraner diet. 

This diet is one that I believe might just cure the obesity problem in our country. 

Knee and hip replacements, diabetes.. all but forgotten. Being run over by motorized scooters in the grocery store, long lines at the buffet, general crankiness..... a thing of the past. Something to tell the grandkids about.

It's as simple as this.

You may have 2 bowls of anything you choose, every day.

We are talking soup bowl sizes here, not mixing bowls proportions.

But, you can put anything in it you want.

You want to fill it with pancakes, bacon and syrup for breakfast, go right on ahead.

For dinner, maybe some Ben and Jerry's chocolate ridiculousness... go for it.

One more thing, you must act like a Weimeraner.

You will need to run in circles, jump in the air at random, sometimes invisible things. A little bark now and then, a jump onto a friend, showing your love and excitement to see them.

You will chase some squirrels, and follow your friend around most of the day, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. This last exercise may come easy to you. Ask your friend. 

The good news. Have you seen the legs and hind quarters on a Weimeraner? I am talking runway model looks here. You will be strutting your stuff in no time

Oh, and more good news. When you don't have your nose stuck in a bowl or.... you know.... you get to sleep.

I'm thinking about it.

Wednesday Rewind... Play the Background

I wrote this last year and as I read it over I smiled.... Run, don't walk. I've done some of that. Hope I do more this year. Enjoy.

My thoughts for 2012 are "Run, don't walk, to Him." Of course the Him being Christ. Hopefully the capitol H made that clear to you.

Running might describe one as being busy, active, doing..... running around like a chicken, you know the rest.

That is not my goal for this year. Running to Him will hopefully keep me centered to where I fit best, for His kingdom.

Running to Him in prayer, quietness, meditation and direction.

One thing I have learned is to give God the lead and stay in the background.

It reminds me of Lecrae's song, Background.

I know I'm safest when I'm in Your will, and trust Your Word
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really Glorify Your name
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and gleam from You
Seems You were patient in my ignorance
If ignorance is bliss, it's 'cause she never heard of this.

I could play the background
I could play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead            check out the video below

I hope I can stay in the background this year, trusting God's plan and knowing He is the superstar and I can be a shining light for Him. Wanna play in the background with me?

It's gonna take lot's of prayer, but we can do it.

Take the lead Holy One.