Thanks ...... really

I looked at my readers list and was surprised. 

No fear, I don't know who you are... but I know where you are from. 

Recognizing that some, okay maybe many of you don't actually read me.... Maybe you accidently found my blog, while looking for Motor Trend, House Beautiful or how to remove ear wax. Sorry.

Some of you return though, so I think you may actually do some reading... 

You are from Russia, England, Brazil, France, Australia, Philippines, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Denmark, Canada, Slovenia, Pakistan, Syria, Malaysia, Egypt and the U. S. 

We come from different cultures yet serve the same God. 

We are more alike than different my friend. 

I hope you find God here in a gentle and honest way here. He loves you and desires to have a relationship with you. My desire is for you to find Him, The Way, The Truth and The Life.

This week I will be silent as I think on the cross and all that Christ did for me.

Have a blessed Christ filled Easter.

How To Make The Pieces Fit

Change, adventure, new ideas and thoughts, possibilities... they can throw you. 

Finding the steady course through the change can be difficult. 

This week has been that type of week. 

I am married to a guy who can make fast decisions. He has to... it makes him good at what he does. 

He can also look at the possibilities and tries not to use the word no.

This helps me... I don't like that word either.

We have kids who are students in college. 

Life changes from day to day and we need to be on our game. 

We claim the word adventure... refusing to roll into a ball and cry when the winds of change blow our way.

 We don't always embrace it, but we do try and see the blessing that may be there..... hiding under the fear that wants to steal from us.

We hate fear... passionately.

The week...

It has taken a new turn, a more complicated turn. 

I am with my kids, watching track meets, hearing their joys, their concerns, their goals, enjoying life with them, moments at a time.

They are being shaped... God lives here, this is His job. 

I have put Him in charge... 

I don't want this job.

 He and I Talk. A. Lot.

We consider the permanence of these lives staying here, in their town, in their grown up lives, finding their way.

Where will they live, will they find jobs to support them?

Many unknowns.

They still need me. I smile.

I don't have all the answers, but I know it will be okay.

I remind myself I am not in charge.

A man asked me today where I live and I seriously struggled with that question. I told him I live all over the place. I don't think I lied.

I have become a Bedouin, a gypsy. 

I go where I am needed and help smooth the path.

I am blessed to do this.

I am here. 

Some days I can't make the pieces to my puzzle fit. I try and jam pieces together that clearly don't belong. 

I am slowly learning to let go..... give it to Him, recognizing God is in the details of my life.

He cares about all that happens to me... He wants the best for my life, while I am usually fighting for second class... I think that's what I deserve.

Be Still and Know That I Am God.- Psalm 46:10

It's so simple really.  

God, thank you for being my Go To Guy. 

This life is yours. 

Have Your way.

What Does Your Soapbox Say?

We all have one. 

We all get on it from time to time... sometimes spewing things that offend and hurt, all in the name of freedom to spew.

Whatever our reason,

political, abortion, homosexuality, parenting styles, chocolate or vanilla.... we take them to heart. 

We become passionate.

We miss the point.

In order to follow my thought process you must understand my soapbox.

Christ.

He is the soapbox, and He doesn't need me up there with Him.

If you do not buy into Christ this will be silly to you.

I understand and do not offend easily.

The cross is a stumbling block to many.

The Bible said it would be, a couple thousand years ago.

I'm okay with that.

The point....

If we say we are followers of Christ we will seek to please Him, not ourselves.

We will understand that this life isn't about us, it's about Him. 

We will not demand what we want, casting others aside.

We will recognize that Christ said this world is a vapor....

a very short time.

What are we to do with it?

The first commandment says -

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

That seems like a full time job. Our heart, soul, strength and mind.......

What does this even mean? Can we wrap our brains around it? Have we ever tried to give 100% of our heart, soul, strength, and mind in devotion to God?

That IS what HE is asking.

No more.. and no less.

If we focused on pleasing Him, we would seek His will, not ours. 

We would not spend our days fighting over issues, because we would be seeking His face every day, seeking to please Him by following His word and not what the world says is good for us.

The evil one is crafty. Crafty enough to take our eyes off the truth of Christ and turn them on ourselves.

We live in an I, You, Me world...

 and I demand, darn it!

What issues might I take a stand on, which beliefs do I hold?

They are based on God's truths, not me or the world I live in....

but I will not get on my soapbox

because it separates us.

If you and I grow in relationship and you ask me my views I will share..

without apology...

but it will not change how I feel about you.

You and I are the same with different issues.

 I will love you and stand by you. 

Remember the crafty one.

He longs to divide.

Especially those of us who call ourselves believers.

Christ came to save us from ourselves. Do we realize we ALL need saving. 

We are lost and gone astray.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God's paths to follow our own.  Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.  Isaiah 53:6 - these words spoken to the Jews, showing them The Christ, The Messiah.

Focus on Him and you will see less of yourself and more of Him.

What makes you get on your soapbox?

How do you feel when you get off?

David Crowder*Band - How He Loves

Reminder

Don't forget how much HE loves you today.....

Think about...

The way...

He loves us...

How HE loves us so, how He loves us so....

OH..... how He loves us.

Truth - remember it today.

Don't Be A Bystander

Jesus was no bystander. He was also no grandstander.

he was more of a church planter.....

looking for us....

He showed us how to treat others, 

how to love one another, always looking out for our brother.

He didn't care about our education,

or personal feelings of liberation.

He came for all,

and hung out with the lost.

He told us the truth....

We have a short time here.

It's not about our comfort, happiness or freedoms.

It's about the lost...

the ones we should seek at all cost.

We are called to see with a global vision

the call of Christ..

We are to act on the day to day, and seek to help the lost find their way.

A global vision with a personal touch. Reach out to the hurt and see where He leads.

If we do the small things, and sow healthy seeds,

He will be our Provider and reap a great harvest.

We are called to community, to love God and love people.

It's really quite simple, so why

do we struggle?

We put our needs ahead of His call. Why do we search for a perfect world here on earth? 

That is not His plan, but the evil one sneaks in and destroys. He tells us we should have our way, our rights, and so we fight... 

The Christ tells us we have gone astray, none of these things matter if you seek Me first...

trust and obey. 

Invest your life in others. His call is clear. 

He is coming back soon, will we have anything to declare? 

Will our life be a song, lovely and clear... sharing Jesus love simple as he shared?

Simple, but without apology. He is first, we are last. Put aside our needs and wants and recognize the facts. 

The things we fight about here on earth are foolish and take our focus off what He declares us to accomplish.

"He has shown you O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Careful Where You Put That Icy Hot...

I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth this afternoon. 

I was headed up the highway and had just eaten some almonds and well, it was the right thing to do.

I brush a lot... probabaly 6-8 times per day. 

The theory is that if you brush your teeth you will not be tempted to eat that piece of luschious chocolate cake starring at you. 

My beautiful, thin, blonde, perfect toothed friend told me this years ago. 

I figured out a way around this theory years ago too.... eat the cake, it will still taste good and have the cold glass of milk along with it. It's good for you after all and will keep those pearly whites strong.. 

After the cake you can brush your teeth again, and again, and ... you get the idea of why I brush a lot. 

I grabbed the container of toothpaste and spread it on the brush. It smelled a bit minty and I thought it was my husbands sensitive teeth toothpaste. He's a sensitive soul.

I love mint and started to brush.... hmm, this is kind of funny tasting, smells minty but not much flavor.

Wow, I will have to ask him where he bought this, and don't buy it again.

I rinsed my mouth and boom!

I grabbed the tube and read ... Icy Hot pain relieving cream. NO!

In case of accidental ingestion seek medical help immediately or call poison control!

No!

I searched through the drawer, found the real toothpaste, brushed my teeth twice, reviewing in my mind how much I may or may not have injested of the icy hot cream starting to burn my airways.

Agh.. this back pain WILL be the death of me, just not how I pictured it!

Would I crash my car after going into convulsions on my way up the highway? 

Should I call Poison Control? 

Should I call my husband? 

Should I go online, searching for answers?

I contemplated all these options for about 29 seconds and couldn't decide which would be more humiliating or scare me to death. Internet was not an option. That would lead to immediate death for sure. 

Poison Control, nah, too humilating and probably be put on hold. 

Husband? And hear the laughter between here and the O.R., nah.

I chanced it. I risked it. I ventured out, onto the highway, thumbing my nose at danger.....

to live another day.

 On a positive note, my back is feeling pretty good.

Have you ever done this? 

What is the dumbest thing you can remember doing that you would share?

I will never forget the time I wore two differant sneakers to my son's field trip. 

We moms were huddled around in a circle, as moms do on field trips. 

I looked down at our feet and mine didn't match... each other.

 Instead of hiding this fact I burst out laughing at myself. 

It was kind of ridiculous. 

Steven Curtis Chapman: Long Way Home - Official Lyric Video

Do you ever feel like this?

 It's a long way home, but He is leading us..... every single step of the long way home. Sometimes we feel like we are going the wrong way. Rocks in my shoes, fears I wish I could lose, I can hardly wait till the day I get to lay it all down...

Our God has made a promise. We're gonna make it... just taking the long way. Just pilgrims passing through. Thanks Steven....for reminding us again.

Should Have Had Cake...

Trying to sneak, one handed, past the Italian cream cake for the Greek vanilla yogurt.... I had a natural disaster. 

Natural because the yogurt was naturally organic, 

the dog naturally jumped in to help me, 

and naturally words were flying out of my mouth at the speed of sound, in Greek I believe..... the end result, "I should have reached for the stupid cake instead!"

In my attempt to clean up my mess, I ended up spreading it all over the floor as the yogurt had squished between my toes. 

My intial mess grew exponentially until the floor had white globs all over it. 

Naturally (last time)

it made me think.....

Everyday

I will do something, say something, write something. 

It will grow and spread, for good or bad.

I probably could not turn this mornings mess into much good, but I was given a picture. 

Being a visual person, I realized what was being spread all over the floor, 

I saw the truth of our lives.

We spread ourselves all around....

leaving some full and blessed and others, hurt and wounded.

Try cleaning up that mess. Like squeezing toothpaste back into the container.. just doesn't work. 

Our words hurt.

But leave someone blessed and well.... you can spread that stuff around all day long.

Spread some blessings today and by all means, eat the cake.

Look Up .. Not Around

I listened to a friend and follower of Christ speak on being overwhelmed...We can all relate to being overwhelmed from time to time. 

Some of us spend our whole life feeling overwhelmed.

He said Jesus is the Overcomer in our times of feeling overwhelmed. We need to look UP instead of around, in times of struggle.

He is waiting to lift us out of the miry pit we find ourselves sinking in. Our circumstances may not change... but if our mind is focused on eternity and Him... we then begin to have perspective. 

We become less, as He becomes more.

When this friend witnessed a friend lose his wife, his love, the mother of his children... he saw the pain and anguish of it all. Death can be cruel. He saw the red rimmed eyes from emotions and tears that threatened to overwhelm. 

My friend asked him how he was getting through this. 

The friend replied, 

"Oh, but there is Jesus."

That was it.. all that he needed. Jesus... because He is everything.

I know the pain this friend spoke of. I know that loss, the anguish, that feeling of falling off a cliff, without breath to scream or make the fall stop. 

You just want the pain to end.

It is a moment you choose, who you will put your faith in.. man or God. 

I chose to become less at that moment. 

A call was placed on my life for Him. 

What joy is mine because I am less and Oh....There is Jesus.

Look up, not around. 

The world has no answers for us. 

But there is a solid rock answer, our Creator and lover of our souls.

"Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, 

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace."

Power, love, peace, grace and mercy.. all wrapped up in a Savior.

 He loves each of us... and is waiting with open arms.

Look Up Today.

The Invisible Children... We Must Make Joseph Kony Famous

http://vimeo.com/invisible/kony2012

WATCH AND SHARE

KONY 2012 IS A FILM AND CAMPAIGN BY INVISIBLE CHILDREN THAT AIMS TO MAKE JOSEPH KONY FAMOUS, NOT TO CELEBRATE HIM, BUT TO RAISE SUPPORT FOR HIS ARREST AND SET A PRECEDENT FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE.

The Nino And His Team... Dreaming Of Sweet CeCe's Stardum....

Check out these college boys and give them some props by watching... there is money at stake here so i was directed to get this on right away. Good young men they are.

Do I Have To Wear The Shirt Too?

A few years ago the daughter was looking at Colleges. At one point she declared that states west of Illinois (California not included) were not even in the running. 

Sorry, I understand this is offensive to some of you.

Why would you even consider going to any these states she exclaimed? They are boring, ugly, squarish in design, void of people with any fashion sense, mostly void of people in general, have detestable weather and ... well, you get the idea. 

I pointed out to her that those states represent where the majority of our food supply comes from, and that we should be happy those states exist. One cannot live on ramen noodles... don't believe they are part of the food pyramid.

At least crops are still made in America.

I admit, I cowered away from her other thoughts on the topic. How crazy do you think I am ...

The facts I shared did nothing to waver her feelings... really why would it? 

She was a bright 18yr old, born in N.Y. where she thought food was made in the back of the A&P or Shoprite.... Farms were something you visited on a School Field Trip. 

They weren't real after all. They were in Pennsylvania and people dressed up like they were Amish and showed you how to milk a cow. The cow went back to the A&P at night. Everyone knows Pennsylvania isn't a real state. It's the land of Hershey, Water Parks and Amish people, right? It's the northeast version of Disney World.

The daughter chose a University in a city compared to Las Vegas, but substitute the L for N. It is trendy, beautiful, the people are talented, hip, and yes, it costs a fortune..

Alas, it has become one of my favorite cities .... however I don't get to live there, I just pay bank like I live there.

I visit and when I do, I recognize that one of the benefits is the uniqueness of the people. Not a lot of conformity. The variety in apparel is confusing to me at times. I can never tell if it works or not. Is it a "what not to wear" or " so hip I can't (literally) stand it."

Compare this... I am in another state and I see a woman with a shirt that spells the state she is in... at the moment. I don't mean mentally, I have no idea about that. The physical state as in, lets say, Kansas... just as an example. 

Does she live in this state? Is she a visitor and so enamored with the state that she can't resist wearing the tee-shirt too?

It is not a University, college or sports team tee- shirt.... just the state. No self promoting, not a hint of anything to do with the wearer.... just the state. 

It got me wondering... if you are In the state, do you need to Wear the shirt too?

Some states are exceptions.... like N.Y.,  yet I never wore a shirt that just said New York..... I knew where I was after all. I am sure I wore an I Love N.Y. shirt with an apple on it... 

 You can bet I wore it with pride too. That's what we do. We self promote.

The other day I saw a guy( in one of those states) that had a tee-shirt on that said, "Jesus hates the Yankees". Really ... because that is NOT the message I received from above.

My husband held me back, no worries.

He was self promoting.. and was probably a Royals fan. Good luck with that.

I can understand if a tee shirt said Georgia Peach, or I love Florida, or Don't mess with Texas

but just the state. 

That seems to be someone who has bought in, drank the juice, hook, line and sinker, a goner.....

Started me thinking...

 What does my shirt say each day?

 Is it about my love for something, my fashion sense? Is it catchy, does it get the attention I am seeking, is it self promoting?

Or does it simply, quietly state where I am, who I am ?  That I have drank the juice. I have jumped in with both feet... a goner. Do I wear the clothes of Christ or of myself? What do others see when they look at me? Someone self obsessed or God obsessed?

We must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Job 29:14 says “I put on righteousness and it clothed me.” Righteousness simply means “right-standing”.  It gives you the right to stand in the presence of God without fear or condemnation. We are to wear Jesus everywhere we go. We are to look like Him, walk like Him, talk like Him, act like Him. We are to be Jesus to others. We are to wear Jesus so well that no one will notice the difference – to be in Him and let Him be fully in us.

Father, help me to be clothed in the garments you desire me to wear, and remove the garments that only cause me harm and displease You.

This was an original post from 2011

Happy Birthday Justin Bieber.....

Today is Justin Biebers 18th birthday.

It's a new day in the Beebs world and possibly some of these 18 things are swimming around his brain...

He can now watch a show in Las Vegas. Wait... hasn't he performed there?!

He can marry Selena without parental consent.

He can sign his own contracts.

He can get a forklift license. 

He can finally get that distinctly unique cross tattoo he has been dreaming of.

He can consent for his own medical treatments. I hear butt fillers are all the rage.

He can become a Chippendale dancer.

He can move out of his mamas house and live on his own. Wonder if he will go for a 3 bedroom ranch? 

He can be hired as a bank teller. 

He can apply for his very first credit card... wonder if they will start him at a $5,000 limit?

He can work the register of a Seven Eleven where he can sell buy and sell lottery tickets .

He could have joined the circus at 17. Wonder if he was aware of this fact?

He can legally change his name to Justin Gomez or Will Smith.

Of course there are the obvious things, nicotine, fireworks, porn, register for the draft and vote..... He is from Canada. Do they vote? Are they a monarchy? Do they have their own Queen and who runs that place anyway?

Justin, according to Wiki (which we know to be true), you are "nice, caring, fun loving, down to earth, cute, sweet, talented, handsome, simply amazing, and a prankster. 

So far you sound like my weimeraner. Okay, she's not that down to earth, she's kind of a princess.

Justin...... The King Of Twitter, I imagine you have a million birthday wishes tweeted all day and long into tomorrow. I will not be one of them, however I do wish you a Happy Birthday and offer this short advice.

The coming years will get tougher. Tougher to stay true to who you really are.... deep down in your soul. 

People will tell you how wonderful and perfect you are. Don't believe them.

Remember your roots.

 Remember the friends of your youth.

Have faith in something bigger than yourself and fame. 

Be grounded in a faith that supports you in good times and bad and lasts for eternity.

Remember your mama. How much she loves you and supports you.

Find a passion outside of music that blesses others.

Share what you have with the less fortunate, the lowly, the ones who do not have a voice.

 Be their voice.

Live life passionately, able to look in the mirror each night and know you were an honest man.

Don't save up your treasure on earth.

Remember the words of Horace Greeley -

"Fame is a vapor, Popularity an accident,

 Riches take wings, 

Only one thing endures and that is character."

Happy Birthday Justin