Each year as I enter the Christmas season, I ask the Lord to show me something new about the story of His birth. This year, He revealed to me a new light on the gifts from the wise men. The wise men presented gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus. These gifts were precious and of great value, certainly fit for a king, but I have always wondered why these particular items were chosen. In pondering this, I found a correlation between each gift and the heart of a believer.
Gold represents a purified heart. Scripture says that our hearts are desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), but by accepting Jesus as our Savior, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. As a new creation in Christ, we begin to walk a life of faith. We begin to learn more about the attributes and characteristics of our God, and our hearts are transformed in the process. We learn that:
His wisdom is more valuable than gold (Job 28:12-28; Prov. 16:16)
His judgments are more desirable than gold (Psalm 19:9-11)
His commandments are more precious than gold (Psalm 119:127)
His knowledge is more precious than gold (Prov. 8:10)
His fruit is more valuable than gold (Prov 8:19)
The Lord takes our worthless hearts of clay and refines them. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and lives are transformed into something very precious in His sight.
Frankincense represents a heart afflicted by trials. In order for frankincense to release its sweet aroma, it must be burned. James 1:2-5 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him as of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Later in that same chapter, it says “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) When we go to Him in the midst of trials, not only does he impart His wisdom and knowledge, but we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit borne in our lives. There was an altar of incense placed before the mercy seat in the tabernacle where God dwelt (Heb. 9:3-5) and there is an altar of incense before His throne in heaven (Rev. 8:3). Revelation 5:8 says, “And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Often, it is in the midst of trials that our prayer life intensifies. Scripture tells us that our prayers go before the very throne of God and are sweet to Him. They are mingled with the scent of the incense (Rev 8:4) Psalm 34:17-19 says, “The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” What an incredible promise, blessing, and gift from our Lord!
Myrrh represents a heart that has died to self. There are many references to myrrh in the Bible, but the two most common areas where we read of it are at Christ’s birth and at His death, when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Myrrh isn’t a common spice that we encounter, so I looked it up on Wikipedia. It was interesting to learn that like frankincense, myrrh is produced as a reaction to a purposeful wound through the bark and into the sapwood in certain species of Commiphora trees . Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” Verse 17 says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Myrrh has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Psalm 147:3 says that “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” By humbling our hearts and allowing Him to be Lord of our lives, we receive restoration and healing. Our lives begin to exude the sweet fragrance of the fruit of the Spirit.
Viewing these three gifts in this light has been a blessing to me. By giving our hearts to Him, He blesses us with gifts more valuable than the symbolic gifts that were presented to Him in the manger. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation and eternal life are gifts from God! Like the wise men so long ago, won’t you bend your knee and offer Him your heart?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
"Cheap, Cheap" Chicken
For all of you frugal-minded foodies out there, I just thought I'd share my latest discovery on saving money and time in the kitchen! If you cook a whole chicken in a crockpot and then shred the meat, it will yield approximately 3 quart-sized ziploc bags of shredded chicken. Each bag is the perfect amount of chicken to add to a casserole, soup, etc. The process is so simple, I can't believe I haven't been doing it for years! Here's what I do:
Purchase a whole young chicken. Note that this was a double pack for $9.03. That means that each chicken cost me $4.50. Knowing that each chicken will yield 3 quart-sized baggies of shredded meat, that means that a meal's worth of chicken for a family of four is only $1.50!!!
I remove the innards (the only part of this process that I hate!), rinse the chicken, and place it in the crockpot. I pour half of a 32 oz. container of organic, low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
After the chicken is cooked, I lift it out onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and let it cool for at least a half hour until it is comfortable to handle. I shred the chicken into a big bowl. I usually do this while having a conversation with my hubby or watching tv. Depending on how old your children are, they can even be involved in the process!
Spoon shredded chicken into baggies, label, and freeze! Voila!
If you do this process four times a month, that gives you 12 meals' worth of pre-cooked, slow roasted chicken to add to whatever is on the menu for any given night! That averages out to three meals a week! It usually only takes me about 30 minutes to fully shred the chicken. Give it a try!
Purchase a whole young chicken. Note that this was a double pack for $9.03. That means that each chicken cost me $4.50. Knowing that each chicken will yield 3 quart-sized baggies of shredded meat, that means that a meal's worth of chicken for a family of four is only $1.50!!!
I remove the innards (the only part of this process that I hate!), rinse the chicken, and place it in the crockpot. I pour half of a 32 oz. container of organic, low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
After the chicken is cooked, I lift it out onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and let it cool for at least a half hour until it is comfortable to handle. I shred the chicken into a big bowl. I usually do this while having a conversation with my hubby or watching tv. Depending on how old your children are, they can even be involved in the process!
Spoon shredded chicken into baggies, label, and freeze! Voila!If you do this process four times a month, that gives you 12 meals' worth of pre-cooked, slow roasted chicken to add to whatever is on the menu for any given night! That averages out to three meals a week! It usually only takes me about 30 minutes to fully shred the chicken. Give it a try!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Weathering the Storm
I recently heard a sermon on Mark 4 which tells the story of Jesus calming the storm. Jesus said to His disciples in v. 35, "Let us go over to the other side." On the way over, a fierce storm arose...it was so bad that the waves were breaking over the bow and the boat was beginning to sink. Who did the disciples turn to? Jesus. Have you ever thought about the reason behind why they woke Him up? Even though the gospels indicate that the disciples didn't always fully understand His teaching and who He was, they knew enough to know that in a life-threatening situation where the circumstances are dire, He was the only one who could help. They could have tried to bail out the boat in their own strength or left Him sleeping, but they woke Him up because of their faith in Him. They knew that if anyone could help, it would be Jesus.
In verse 40, after Jesus calms the storm, He says to the disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" I understand this to mean that He is questioning their lack of faith that He would get them to the other side. I think that anyone in that kind of a situation would panic. We react to what we can immediately perceive through our senses. When the waves are crashing over the bow, all we see is a sinking boat and we click into survival mode. It is a normal human response. While the disciples may have panicked in the midst of the situation and had a temporary lapse in faith regarding the final outcome, the fact that they woke Jesus up shows that they truly believed that He could help them.
Jesus told them that they would go to the other side....and in Chapter 5, verse 1 it says, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." He kept His promise...He always does. He told them that they would go to the other side, but He didn't say what the trip would be like before they got there. It was a terrifying and life-threatening experience for them, I'm sure....BUT, Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time. The entire situation was under His complete control.
Are you currently in one of life’s storms? Are you experiencing crushing and relentless stress, pain or emotions akin to the waves of a stormy sea? Read this story and remember....
1. He is in the boat with you (4:38)
2. Go to Him as often as you need and let your heart’s cry be heard (Mark 4:38 -- if this isn't a brutally honest cry of real anguish and fear, I don't know what is.) By going to Him, you are practicing and strengthening your faith.
3. Everything is under His complete control (4:39)
4. God always keeps His promises. (5:1)
This passage of scripture has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I have read it numerous times and always seen it as a lesson in faith and dealing with the individual trials of life. Several weeks ago, I realized that you can look at this story not only in the light of dealing with individual trials, but that it could be applied to the span of one's life as a whole. Jesus looks at each one of our lives in its entirety (He is outside of time, so He sees it all at once). He invites us into the boat (our spiritual birth) and says, "Come, let's go to the other side." The rest of our life is the trip in between shorelines, with "the other side" being eternity spent with Him. We spend our whole lives on Earth "in the boat." Some storms are worse and/or longer than others, but we must cling to Him and to His promises. He WANTS us to come to Him. It isn't a sign of weakness to cry out to Him, it is an admission that we can't do it on our own. It is believing in faith that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
In verse 40, after Jesus calms the storm, He says to the disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" I understand this to mean that He is questioning their lack of faith that He would get them to the other side. I think that anyone in that kind of a situation would panic. We react to what we can immediately perceive through our senses. When the waves are crashing over the bow, all we see is a sinking boat and we click into survival mode. It is a normal human response. While the disciples may have panicked in the midst of the situation and had a temporary lapse in faith regarding the final outcome, the fact that they woke Jesus up shows that they truly believed that He could help them.
Jesus told them that they would go to the other side....and in Chapter 5, verse 1 it says, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." He kept His promise...He always does. He told them that they would go to the other side, but He didn't say what the trip would be like before they got there. It was a terrifying and life-threatening experience for them, I'm sure....BUT, Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time. The entire situation was under His complete control.
Are you currently in one of life’s storms? Are you experiencing crushing and relentless stress, pain or emotions akin to the waves of a stormy sea? Read this story and remember....
1. He is in the boat with you (4:38)
2. Go to Him as often as you need and let your heart’s cry be heard (Mark 4:38 -- if this isn't a brutally honest cry of real anguish and fear, I don't know what is.) By going to Him, you are practicing and strengthening your faith.
3. Everything is under His complete control (4:39)
4. God always keeps His promises. (5:1)
This passage of scripture has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I have read it numerous times and always seen it as a lesson in faith and dealing with the individual trials of life. Several weeks ago, I realized that you can look at this story not only in the light of dealing with individual trials, but that it could be applied to the span of one's life as a whole. Jesus looks at each one of our lives in its entirety (He is outside of time, so He sees it all at once). He invites us into the boat (our spiritual birth) and says, "Come, let's go to the other side." The rest of our life is the trip in between shorelines, with "the other side" being eternity spent with Him. We spend our whole lives on Earth "in the boat." Some storms are worse and/or longer than others, but we must cling to Him and to His promises. He WANTS us to come to Him. It isn't a sign of weakness to cry out to Him, it is an admission that we can't do it on our own. It is believing in faith that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Renewed Strength
A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with some girlfriends. We had an enjoyable evening of yummy food, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Our conversations covered a wide variety of topics, but as the evening progressed, the subject matter deepened. We began to share what was on our hearts...our frustrations, our worries, our hopes and our dreams, and how that all connected with our walks with the Lord. We talked about our struggles with living in a fallen world and trying to be salt and light for the Lord, as Scripture commands.
When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?
The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.
Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.
When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?
The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.
Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Open My Eyes
Scripture defines a man who does not know God as being spiritually blind. Those who accept Christ's sacrifice and walk according to His commands are said to walk in the light. For those who walk in the light, how often do we pause to consider what we look at? We have been given spiritual eyes to see, but do we make choices in how we spend our time based on investing in the Kingdom, or just to fritter away our days? We have been given spiritual sight, and yet we often make choices in our temporal life as if we were still in the dark. 1 John 2:16-17 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
God has placed us here on Earth for His purposes. He calls us to live in the world, but not be of the world. He calls us to be separate…to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This line of thought has been very heavy on my heart lately. It is hard to be continually Kingdom-minded in all things. Sometimes life can feel like a rat race, and I battle with complacency and selfishness. Even though I have spiritual sight, I think my understanding of Heaven and spending eternity with my Savior is still quite dim. I wonder to myself, “If I really understood the magnitude of living with Christ in His kingdom forever, shouldn’t it be easier to consistently make the right choices now?” I am so thankful for God’s grace, patience and mercy with me. I continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There is an old hymn that has been my current prayer lately:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
God has placed us here on Earth for His purposes. He calls us to live in the world, but not be of the world. He calls us to be separate…to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This line of thought has been very heavy on my heart lately. It is hard to be continually Kingdom-minded in all things. Sometimes life can feel like a rat race, and I battle with complacency and selfishness. Even though I have spiritual sight, I think my understanding of Heaven and spending eternity with my Savior is still quite dim. I wonder to myself, “If I really understood the magnitude of living with Christ in His kingdom forever, shouldn’t it be easier to consistently make the right choices now?” I am so thankful for God’s grace, patience and mercy with me. I continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There is an old hymn that has been my current prayer lately:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Smooth Sailing (from the Archives, Oct. 2006)
Our local rollerskating rink has a Christian Music night every Tuesday night. We took our kids there this past Tuesday to have some fun family time together. Our schedule gets insanely busy during this time of year, so we covet those evenings when we can spend time together as a family and have fun!
This was Noelle's first experience on skates. She is a fiercely independent three year old, and after several laps in the practice area, she wanted to come out on the main floor with Papa and Mama. Thus began a long evening for David and me, as we went through the process of teaching her how to skate. As we repeatedly picked her up, encouraged her to stand on her skates (rather than hang from our arms), and coached her to keep her feet together, I began to get a picture in my head of my walk with the Lord. Sometimes my walk looks like my little three year old girl's attempts to skate. Every now and then I trip, or my feet may flail wildly about (metaphorically speaking) as I try and figure out how to get through certain circumstances. I quickly learn, as my daughter did that night, that if I simply stand strong and hold my Father's hand tight, He will guide me through! It was so much easier when she would just stand on her skates between us and let us do all the work!
God wants to work through us! He doesn't just drop us into a new situation and say, "Good luck, I'll be back in a couple of hours." We need to remember to hold His hand in everything and let Him guide us. All He requires of us is a willing and obedient heart that listens to, and heeds His commands.
This was Noelle's first experience on skates. She is a fiercely independent three year old, and after several laps in the practice area, she wanted to come out on the main floor with Papa and Mama. Thus began a long evening for David and me, as we went through the process of teaching her how to skate. As we repeatedly picked her up, encouraged her to stand on her skates (rather than hang from our arms), and coached her to keep her feet together, I began to get a picture in my head of my walk with the Lord. Sometimes my walk looks like my little three year old girl's attempts to skate. Every now and then I trip, or my feet may flail wildly about (metaphorically speaking) as I try and figure out how to get through certain circumstances. I quickly learn, as my daughter did that night, that if I simply stand strong and hold my Father's hand tight, He will guide me through! It was so much easier when she would just stand on her skates between us and let us do all the work!
God wants to work through us! He doesn't just drop us into a new situation and say, "Good luck, I'll be back in a couple of hours." We need to remember to hold His hand in everything and let Him guide us. All He requires of us is a willing and obedient heart that listens to, and heeds His commands.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Billboards (from the Archives)
I live in Springfield, Oregon about seven miles east of I-5, which is the main interstate that runs north and south through Oregon. On the way home from worship team rehearsal this evening, I made a note of every single billboard along that seven mile stretch between the freeway and my house. Here are the results:
1. Bank (advertising business loans)
2. Bank (advertising savings accounts)
3. Local coffee shop/restaurant
4. Chiropractic clinic (advertising chronic back pain relief)
5. “Lost” (advertising something about college loans, it wasn’t clear)
6. Blank yellow background with bold capital letters that said, “Advertise Here.”
7. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
8. Chiropractic clinic
9. Cell phone service provider
10. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
11. Casino
12. Local Home Improvement store
13. Another (different) Home Improvement store
14. Little Caesar’s Pizza (slogan: “Hot-n-Ready”, $5)
15. Clearwire (slogan: “Speed, but don’t pay the price!”)
16. Homes & Land (TV Channel)
17. DUII warning/info (slogan: “You don’t have to blow .08 to get a DUI”)
18. Budweiser (slogan: “This is beer.”)
Billboards. They are something that we see every day. We see them so often, we don’t notice how prevalent they really are. If someone had asked me to guess how many billboards were on that stretch of highway, I probably would have said about seven or eight. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed eighteen!
The main purpose of a billboard is to advertise something, but what is the message behind the message? While all billboards provide information, I think the message behind the message for most billboards (and advertising in general) is dissatisfaction. We want bigger homes, faster service, and more exciting lives. Are we happy with what God has provided for us, or do we want to borrow more and/or gamble with what we have?
What does the testimony of your life advertise to others?
Is your message clear or nebulous, like #5?
Are you a blank slate, willing to accept and reflect whatever is around you, like #6?
Does your message have mixed meaning and set a dual standard, like #15?
Do people see pervasive dissatisfaction in your life?
Do you offer them a consistent, positive message of Truth?
What does your billboard say?
1. Bank (advertising business loans)
2. Bank (advertising savings accounts)
3. Local coffee shop/restaurant
4. Chiropractic clinic (advertising chronic back pain relief)
5. “Lost” (advertising something about college loans, it wasn’t clear)
6. Blank yellow background with bold capital letters that said, “Advertise Here.”
7. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
8. Chiropractic clinic
9. Cell phone service provider
10. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
11. Casino
12. Local Home Improvement store
13. Another (different) Home Improvement store
14. Little Caesar’s Pizza (slogan: “Hot-n-Ready”, $5)
15. Clearwire (slogan: “Speed, but don’t pay the price!”)
16. Homes & Land (TV Channel)
17. DUII warning/info (slogan: “You don’t have to blow .08 to get a DUI”)
18. Budweiser (slogan: “This is beer.”)
Billboards. They are something that we see every day. We see them so often, we don’t notice how prevalent they really are. If someone had asked me to guess how many billboards were on that stretch of highway, I probably would have said about seven or eight. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed eighteen!
The main purpose of a billboard is to advertise something, but what is the message behind the message? While all billboards provide information, I think the message behind the message for most billboards (and advertising in general) is dissatisfaction. We want bigger homes, faster service, and more exciting lives. Are we happy with what God has provided for us, or do we want to borrow more and/or gamble with what we have?
What does the testimony of your life advertise to others?
Is your message clear or nebulous, like #5?
Are you a blank slate, willing to accept and reflect whatever is around you, like #6?
Does your message have mixed meaning and set a dual standard, like #15?
Do people see pervasive dissatisfaction in your life?
Do you offer them a consistent, positive message of Truth?
What does your billboard say?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Irreplaceable
"If you want to be irreplaceable, you have to be different." Coco Chanel
As I was absentmindedly thumbing through a recent issue of Woman's Day magazine in the dentist's office today, this quote caught my eye. While I understand the message the quote is intending to convey, it made me sad. This quote by Coco Chanel implies that we need to DO something to be irreplaceable. We need to BE different. The truth is, we ARE, by our very existence, different and irreplaceable in the eyes of the Lord. We are precious in His sight. There are no two humans that are exactly alike. Scientifically speaking, this can be proven in the comparison of fingerprints or DNA, but it goes way beyond that. Scripture says:
"For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14)
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;" (Genesis 1:26)
It was God, the Creator of the Universe, who created us. Each one of us are His unique creation, and we are irreplaceable in His sight. He created us for His good pleasure, and it was by His design and purposes that we even exist.
As I was absentmindedly thumbing through a recent issue of Woman's Day magazine in the dentist's office today, this quote caught my eye. While I understand the message the quote is intending to convey, it made me sad. This quote by Coco Chanel implies that we need to DO something to be irreplaceable. We need to BE different. The truth is, we ARE, by our very existence, different and irreplaceable in the eyes of the Lord. We are precious in His sight. There are no two humans that are exactly alike. Scientifically speaking, this can be proven in the comparison of fingerprints or DNA, but it goes way beyond that. Scripture says:
"For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14)
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;" (Genesis 1:26)
It was God, the Creator of the Universe, who created us. Each one of us are His unique creation, and we are irreplaceable in His sight. He created us for His good pleasure, and it was by His design and purposes that we even exist.
- Let us never forget the awesome and imaginative power of our Creator.
- Let us understand that we do not need to strive to gain His love and affection.
- Let us remember the incredible sacrifice made by His Son for our eternal redemption.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Grace (from the archives, Summer 2008)
Great is your faithfulness, oh God;
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart,
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me (excerpt of a song by Chris Tomlin)
Some of you know, and many of you do not, that I have been in a battle for the last three weeks for my vision. I have had a double eye infection that traveled into my sinuses and lymph nodes. The infection resisted the first medication, and I am still waiting to see if it will respond to the second medication. I struggle most at night with dryness, burning, and a wandering eye that is difficult to focus. Throughout this process, I have been praying specifically, “Lord, you have allowed my eyes to become sick. What is it that you want me to see?” He blessed me with an answer, but it has been a difficult and thought-provoking one to process. It has left me humbled, vulnerable, and thankful for His love in a new way that I don’t think I would have experienced, had my vision not been affected.
Many of you have probably heard and may have been posed the philosophical question, “Which would you rather be…deaf or blind?” I had this conversation last weekend with a good friend. He said that he couldn’t imagine a life without hearing music, and said he would prefer to be blind. He seemed surprised to hear that, given my life which has been steeped in music, that I would prefer my sight to my hearing. To some degree, this is a pointless conversation to have because if you are neither, you really don’t understand the ramifications of what it means to be blind or deaf. Your answer might be different if you had either sense and then lost it, or if you began life without one. I didn’t sleep well that night, not because of the conversation, but because my eyes were giving me fits.
The next morning was Sunday, and I went to church with my family. My husband and I were on the worship team, and we sang the song by Chris Tomlin from which I have included an excerpt of the lyrics above. As I was singing the song and got to the chorus, I heard His voice clearly ask me, “Is My grace really enough for you?” I suddenly realized that the past three weeks of sleepless nights spent in earnest prayer was God wrestling with my heart. All I could hear during those nights was my voice pleading, “Lord, please, if it is your will, preserve my vision!” I never heard Him saying, “I hear you, but first I want to know….is my grace enough for you?” It hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized anew that my life is not my own, and that includes my vision. It is by grace that I have been saved, through faith, and this not of myself, it is a gift of God. By His grace and mercy, He chose to save me and granted me eternal life. Salvation is the only thing I really need. Eternal life with Christ should be enough.
After church, we went to lunch and then stopped at a park by the river. David took the kids down by the water to play, and I stayed in the car with the windows open, enjoying the cool breeze. I looked up at the canopy of trees over me, enjoying the different shades of green leaves with red fringes on them. I enjoyed watching the wind sway the branches back and forth. I closed my eyes and listened intently to the leaves rustle against each other.
The Lord started a conversation with me.
Is my grace sufficient…
During life’s minor inconvenience? Yes, Lord.
When you have been betrayed by a close friend? Yes, Lord.
When you have been under persecution at school or work? Yes, Lord.
During a life-threatening pregnancy? Yes, Lord.
When your children are seriously ill or injured? Yes, Lord.
Through financial difficulties? Yes, Lord.
When dealing with chronic pain? Yes, Lord.
OK, what if I were to remove your sight….would my grace still be sufficient?
(Gulp.)
I’ll admit I’m still working on that answer. I don’t take my answers to the Lord’s questions lightly. I know that they need to be genuine, because the only person I would fool with a disingenuous answer is myself, and that gets me nowhere. I so desperately want to have the strength to say, “Yes, Lord…if you removed my vision tomorrow for the rest of my life, it would be enough for me to know that I am saved and will spend eternity with you.” I continue to pray at night, but my prayers are different now. I’m praying for the kind of strength and the kind of faith that can honestly say, “Yes, Lord.”
Late last night my mom sent me an encouraging email. I hope that she doesn’t mind my including an excerpt from it here. It seemed so fitting and so inline with this lesson that God is trying to have me learn. I know that her words were directly from the Lord because I have not had a chance to share any of the above story with her.
“Remember when the Apostle Paul "besought the Lord three times to take away the thorn in his flesh"--whatever that was--perhaps his eyes. But the Lord's answer to him was "my grace is sufficient for you". So Paul's response was "therefore most gladly will I glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." And in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, that great "Faith" chapter which lists Old Testament warrior after warrior who did this or that by faith...i.e."By faith Abraham left...not knowing..., "By faith Sarah when she was past age..., "By faith Gideon..., By faith Sampson..., and on and on---these are all examples of people whose prayers God DID answer in a powerful, positive way.
BUT then the rest of that chapter chronicles many people of strong faith whose experiences were not so great---those who were "sawn asunder", whose dead were NOT raised, and so on. Nevertheless THEIR faith is just as valid and as strong as those in the first group, and they were just as precious as people.”
The dictionary defines “sufficient” as “enough to meet the needs of a situation or proposed end.” What is my “situation?” I am a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. What is my “proposed end?” Eternal life in Jesus Christ, accomplished by His blood sacrifice on the cross.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I am learning that God’s grace IS sufficient in ALL things.
Is His grace sufficient for you?
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart,
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me (excerpt of a song by Chris Tomlin)
Some of you know, and many of you do not, that I have been in a battle for the last three weeks for my vision. I have had a double eye infection that traveled into my sinuses and lymph nodes. The infection resisted the first medication, and I am still waiting to see if it will respond to the second medication. I struggle most at night with dryness, burning, and a wandering eye that is difficult to focus. Throughout this process, I have been praying specifically, “Lord, you have allowed my eyes to become sick. What is it that you want me to see?” He blessed me with an answer, but it has been a difficult and thought-provoking one to process. It has left me humbled, vulnerable, and thankful for His love in a new way that I don’t think I would have experienced, had my vision not been affected.
Many of you have probably heard and may have been posed the philosophical question, “Which would you rather be…deaf or blind?” I had this conversation last weekend with a good friend. He said that he couldn’t imagine a life without hearing music, and said he would prefer to be blind. He seemed surprised to hear that, given my life which has been steeped in music, that I would prefer my sight to my hearing. To some degree, this is a pointless conversation to have because if you are neither, you really don’t understand the ramifications of what it means to be blind or deaf. Your answer might be different if you had either sense and then lost it, or if you began life without one. I didn’t sleep well that night, not because of the conversation, but because my eyes were giving me fits.
The next morning was Sunday, and I went to church with my family. My husband and I were on the worship team, and we sang the song by Chris Tomlin from which I have included an excerpt of the lyrics above. As I was singing the song and got to the chorus, I heard His voice clearly ask me, “Is My grace really enough for you?” I suddenly realized that the past three weeks of sleepless nights spent in earnest prayer was God wrestling with my heart. All I could hear during those nights was my voice pleading, “Lord, please, if it is your will, preserve my vision!” I never heard Him saying, “I hear you, but first I want to know….is my grace enough for you?” It hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized anew that my life is not my own, and that includes my vision. It is by grace that I have been saved, through faith, and this not of myself, it is a gift of God. By His grace and mercy, He chose to save me and granted me eternal life. Salvation is the only thing I really need. Eternal life with Christ should be enough.
After church, we went to lunch and then stopped at a park by the river. David took the kids down by the water to play, and I stayed in the car with the windows open, enjoying the cool breeze. I looked up at the canopy of trees over me, enjoying the different shades of green leaves with red fringes on them. I enjoyed watching the wind sway the branches back and forth. I closed my eyes and listened intently to the leaves rustle against each other.
The Lord started a conversation with me.
Is my grace sufficient…
During life’s minor inconvenience? Yes, Lord.
When you have been betrayed by a close friend? Yes, Lord.
When you have been under persecution at school or work? Yes, Lord.
During a life-threatening pregnancy? Yes, Lord.
When your children are seriously ill or injured? Yes, Lord.
Through financial difficulties? Yes, Lord.
When dealing with chronic pain? Yes, Lord.
OK, what if I were to remove your sight….would my grace still be sufficient?
(Gulp.)
I’ll admit I’m still working on that answer. I don’t take my answers to the Lord’s questions lightly. I know that they need to be genuine, because the only person I would fool with a disingenuous answer is myself, and that gets me nowhere. I so desperately want to have the strength to say, “Yes, Lord…if you removed my vision tomorrow for the rest of my life, it would be enough for me to know that I am saved and will spend eternity with you.” I continue to pray at night, but my prayers are different now. I’m praying for the kind of strength and the kind of faith that can honestly say, “Yes, Lord.”
Late last night my mom sent me an encouraging email. I hope that she doesn’t mind my including an excerpt from it here. It seemed so fitting and so inline with this lesson that God is trying to have me learn. I know that her words were directly from the Lord because I have not had a chance to share any of the above story with her.
“Remember when the Apostle Paul "besought the Lord three times to take away the thorn in his flesh"--whatever that was--perhaps his eyes. But the Lord's answer to him was "my grace is sufficient for you". So Paul's response was "therefore most gladly will I glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." And in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, that great "Faith" chapter which lists Old Testament warrior after warrior who did this or that by faith...i.e."By faith Abraham left...not knowing..., "By faith Sarah when she was past age..., "By faith Gideon..., By faith Sampson..., and on and on---these are all examples of people whose prayers God DID answer in a powerful, positive way.
BUT then the rest of that chapter chronicles many people of strong faith whose experiences were not so great---those who were "sawn asunder", whose dead were NOT raised, and so on. Nevertheless THEIR faith is just as valid and as strong as those in the first group, and they were just as precious as people.”
The dictionary defines “sufficient” as “enough to meet the needs of a situation or proposed end.” What is my “situation?” I am a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. What is my “proposed end?” Eternal life in Jesus Christ, accomplished by His blood sacrifice on the cross.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I am learning that God’s grace IS sufficient in ALL things.
Is His grace sufficient for you?
Just a short note...
Several months ago, I closed my MySpace account for security reasons. I know that some of my readers here met me through MySpace and read my blog in that forum. There are many readers though, who did not know me then, or did not read my blog there. Prior to closing the account, I transferred all of those blogs to a separate file on my computer because I didn't want to lose them. It is my intent to slowly transfer them into this blog. Whenever I do add an old blog, I will mark it in the title as being from the archives. Whether you have been a long time reader or are just stopping by for the first time, I hope that you will be blessed and find encouragement during your visit to my "nest!"
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday Morning Project
We took the children to Home Depot this morning for a free clinic on how to build a car display shelf. They had a great time!Quote of the Day:
Nathan: "You hold the nail Papa, and I'll hammer it."
David: "Okay. Now remember...I'm a concert pianist!"
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Bankruptcy - Book Review
Bankruptcy of our Nation
by Jerry Robinson
ISBN: 13:978-0-89221-693-2
Our nation is in deep, economic trouble. The United States is trillions of dollars in debt, and the number continues to climb. The government's response is to spend more in hopes of staving off a catastrophic collapse of our economy. Let me be clear. I am not pointing a finger at any particular party. This problem has been building over decades, and both parties have had a hand in it.
Money (I'm referring to the U.S. dollar system) is an integral part of your life. You use it every day to buy goods and pay bills, but how much do you really understand it? Are you aware that it is not backed by gold or any other commodity, meaning the dollar in your pocket has no intrinsic value whatsoever? The reality is, the dollar in your pocket is simply a piece of paper. We hear on the news that the current national debt is sitting in the neighborhood of 12 trillion dollars, but did you know that that number only represents what the federal government owes on money that is already borrowed? If you include the future promises made by the federal government to Americans for programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the number skyrockets in excess of 59 trillion dollars. To say this is sobering news would be an understatement.
If you are interested in a clear, easy to read lesson in the history of our nation's currency, and learn some basics in what money is, how it works, and how it directly affects you, I strongly encourage you to read this book. You do not need a degree in economics to understand this book. It is written for the "Average Joe," and I honestly found it to to be a page-turner. That may seem strange and unbelievable, but it's true. I truly feel that it is important for every American to really understand the gravity of the economic situation we currently face. Please, pick up a copy and invest the time to read it. You won't regret it.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A New Global Perspective
A bit of background:
About six weeks ago I did a project with my daughter during homeschool as part of her science lesson. I took pictures, but they were accidentally overwritten, and I didn't have time to recreate part of the project until this afternoon. We were studying the planets, and put together a scale model of the solar system. While the size of the sun and planets in the pictures below are to scale, the distance between them on the wall is not.
This is a picture of my daughter standing in the middle of the "sun." It is slightly less than 12 feet in diameter, to give you perspective.
Here are the planets on the wall in our kitchen. The pink strip hanging from the ceiling to the floor represents the sun. Mercury and Venus are so small, they are hard to see. Then you see the Earth in blue, Mars in red, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Reflections
The "planets" have been on our wall since mid-December. I left them up because I was so struck by the size and perspective that you get when you view the solar system to scale, and how the Earth appears within it. We can't escape phrases these days like "global politics," "global economics," or "global warming." It all sounds so huge and epic in size until you stop and consider what is represented in these photos. It would be very difficult to find a way to represent man "to scale" on the Earth. Even a pinprick would be too big! Remember, this is just one solar system out of who knows how many in the heavens. When I stop and consider the magnitude of what Christ did for me on the cross from this perspective, it simply staggers my mind.
"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!" (Psalm 8:3-5)
About six weeks ago I did a project with my daughter during homeschool as part of her science lesson. I took pictures, but they were accidentally overwritten, and I didn't have time to recreate part of the project until this afternoon. We were studying the planets, and put together a scale model of the solar system. While the size of the sun and planets in the pictures below are to scale, the distance between them on the wall is not.
This is a picture of my daughter standing in the middle of the "sun." It is slightly less than 12 feet in diameter, to give you perspective.
Here are the planets on the wall in our kitchen. The pink strip hanging from the ceiling to the floor represents the sun. Mercury and Venus are so small, they are hard to see. Then you see the Earth in blue, Mars in red, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.Reflections
The "planets" have been on our wall since mid-December. I left them up because I was so struck by the size and perspective that you get when you view the solar system to scale, and how the Earth appears within it. We can't escape phrases these days like "global politics," "global economics," or "global warming." It all sounds so huge and epic in size until you stop and consider what is represented in these photos. It would be very difficult to find a way to represent man "to scale" on the Earth. Even a pinprick would be too big! Remember, this is just one solar system out of who knows how many in the heavens. When I stop and consider the magnitude of what Christ did for me on the cross from this perspective, it simply staggers my mind.
"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!" (Psalm 8:3-5)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Comfort
At least once every year, usually around Christmas, I take the time to listen to Handel's Messiah. The blend of music and Scripture is inspiring and stirs something deep within my soul. I never tire of listening to it, and even sing along here and there! This past year was no different. As I baked cookies with my daughter, my mind was also meditating on the words that were being sung and the tenor solo "Comfort Ye My People" from Isaiah 40 really captured my attention.
When you think about "comfort" it usually connotes feelings of happiness, contentedness, relief, and peace. We are familiar with phrases like "comfort food" and "comfort blanket." Have you ever stopped and thought about why comfort is needed? The need for comfort is born out of pain, sickness, distress, confusion, fear, etc. Isaiah 40:1 says, "Comfort, O Comfort My people, says your God." God calls us to comfort others, and to be effective in this, it comes at a personal cost to the believer. In order to comfort those who are afflicted by the storms of life, we must understand it first hand. This means that we must be willing to walk down those dark roads of trial with a humble and teachable heart. I just wrote a blog on the need for going beyond mere survival of our trials and actually conquering them. Not only do we learn the lesson(s) that the Lord has for us in each situation, but we benefit from learning first hand what it means to be comforted by the chief Shepherd. Each trial gives us a very real understanding of pain (physical, emotional or spiritual), and by His grace we receive His divine care and comfort. This experience equips us to provide comfort to those whom the Lord may place in our path in the future.
Pondering all of this brought new light to a verse that I will admit I have always struggled with. James 1:2 tells us to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." I have never understood how to accomplish this. How do I find genuine joy when I am in the midst of emotional agony? Learning these lessons on conquest and comfort shed new light on this. Colossians 3:2 instructs us to set our minds on the things above. If we train our minds to view every aspect of our lives from an eternal perspective, even the trials, we discover that not only is God accomplishing a good work in us, but He is teaching us first hand how to bless and comfort others. I John 4:11-12 says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." God calls us to love others. It is amazing to consider that if we keep an eternal perspective and a teachable heart through our trials, we learn how to love and comfort others more effectively, and His love is perfected in us! This is cause for joy!
When you think about "comfort" it usually connotes feelings of happiness, contentedness, relief, and peace. We are familiar with phrases like "comfort food" and "comfort blanket." Have you ever stopped and thought about why comfort is needed? The need for comfort is born out of pain, sickness, distress, confusion, fear, etc. Isaiah 40:1 says, "Comfort, O Comfort My people, says your God." God calls us to comfort others, and to be effective in this, it comes at a personal cost to the believer. In order to comfort those who are afflicted by the storms of life, we must understand it first hand. This means that we must be willing to walk down those dark roads of trial with a humble and teachable heart. I just wrote a blog on the need for going beyond mere survival of our trials and actually conquering them. Not only do we learn the lesson(s) that the Lord has for us in each situation, but we benefit from learning first hand what it means to be comforted by the chief Shepherd. Each trial gives us a very real understanding of pain (physical, emotional or spiritual), and by His grace we receive His divine care and comfort. This experience equips us to provide comfort to those whom the Lord may place in our path in the future.
Pondering all of this brought new light to a verse that I will admit I have always struggled with. James 1:2 tells us to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." I have never understood how to accomplish this. How do I find genuine joy when I am in the midst of emotional agony? Learning these lessons on conquest and comfort shed new light on this. Colossians 3:2 instructs us to set our minds on the things above. If we train our minds to view every aspect of our lives from an eternal perspective, even the trials, we discover that not only is God accomplishing a good work in us, but He is teaching us first hand how to bless and comfort others. I John 4:11-12 says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." God calls us to love others. It is amazing to consider that if we keep an eternal perspective and a teachable heart through our trials, we learn how to love and comfort others more effectively, and His love is perfected in us! This is cause for joy!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Being More than a Victor
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35-37)
Paul is writing to the Romans about the reality of trials and distress in a Christian's life. In verses 38 and 39, he correctly points out that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and in this we can take great comfort. We all go through valleys and trials -- the book of James tells us to expect it. It was the word "conquer" that caught my eye in this passage. The dictionary defines "victory" as "the overcoming of an enemy or opponent," and "conquest" as "the subjugation of a defeated opponent." The difference is subtle, but quite distinct. In the context of war, to conquer an enemy means to assume complete and total control, often taking possession of its food, supplies, riches, etc. leaving no hope and no means for rally or retaliation.
Seeing this distinction, I began to consider how I react to my trials. More often than I care to admit, I usually come limping or crawling off the battlefield of a trial feeling blessed to have survived it and perhaps enlightened in the particular lesson that the Lord wanted me to learn from it. I have been content with this result, thinking of it as a victory, and eager to move on with life. What I have found lately though, is that the next trial I encounter has similarities to the previous one, and this has confused me. I pray, "Lord, I thought I understood the lesson. What did I miss? What did you want me to see? Why must I go through this again?"
I'm learning that the Lord expects more than a victory. He wants His children to conquer their trials. As we go through a trial, we often miss the riches that are right there for the taking. Do we take the time to ponder His immeasurable grace and mercy? Do we take the opportunity to deepen and intensify our prayer life? Does our desire to praise and worship Him intensify as the battle rages around us? Rather than simply surviving the trial, we need to not only learn the lesson, but master it. James 1:3-4 says that "the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." God uses trials to strengthen us and equip us for His service in life, or perhaps the next trial. If we don't conquer the first trial, we either continue on in life, or enter the next battle ill-equipped and/or unprepared.
We must remember that He does not give us more than we can handle, and He never pitches us out on the battlefield and says, "See you on the other side." Look again at Romans 8:37 -- it says that we "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." He does not expect us to conquer our battles on our own. He is our Shepherd, and leads us through each and every valley. We only need to call on Him for strength and wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." When we learn to conquer our trials through Him, our faith will be strengthened, and we will be more effective in accomplishing His goals for our lives and for His kingdom.
Paul is writing to the Romans about the reality of trials and distress in a Christian's life. In verses 38 and 39, he correctly points out that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and in this we can take great comfort. We all go through valleys and trials -- the book of James tells us to expect it. It was the word "conquer" that caught my eye in this passage. The dictionary defines "victory" as "the overcoming of an enemy or opponent," and "conquest" as "the subjugation of a defeated opponent." The difference is subtle, but quite distinct. In the context of war, to conquer an enemy means to assume complete and total control, often taking possession of its food, supplies, riches, etc. leaving no hope and no means for rally or retaliation.
Seeing this distinction, I began to consider how I react to my trials. More often than I care to admit, I usually come limping or crawling off the battlefield of a trial feeling blessed to have survived it and perhaps enlightened in the particular lesson that the Lord wanted me to learn from it. I have been content with this result, thinking of it as a victory, and eager to move on with life. What I have found lately though, is that the next trial I encounter has similarities to the previous one, and this has confused me. I pray, "Lord, I thought I understood the lesson. What did I miss? What did you want me to see? Why must I go through this again?"
I'm learning that the Lord expects more than a victory. He wants His children to conquer their trials. As we go through a trial, we often miss the riches that are right there for the taking. Do we take the time to ponder His immeasurable grace and mercy? Do we take the opportunity to deepen and intensify our prayer life? Does our desire to praise and worship Him intensify as the battle rages around us? Rather than simply surviving the trial, we need to not only learn the lesson, but master it. James 1:3-4 says that "the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." God uses trials to strengthen us and equip us for His service in life, or perhaps the next trial. If we don't conquer the first trial, we either continue on in life, or enter the next battle ill-equipped and/or unprepared.
We must remember that He does not give us more than we can handle, and He never pitches us out on the battlefield and says, "See you on the other side." Look again at Romans 8:37 -- it says that we "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." He does not expect us to conquer our battles on our own. He is our Shepherd, and leads us through each and every valley. We only need to call on Him for strength and wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." When we learn to conquer our trials through Him, our faith will be strengthened, and we will be more effective in accomplishing His goals for our lives and for His kingdom.
In Remembrance
On Sunday, January 17, my grandmother went home to be with the Lord. This past Friday was her memorial service. She was such a special woman, and I take great comfort in knowing that I will see her again some day in heaven. Many of her grandchildren submitted memories to be read at the service. Below is the text of my contribution.Grandma touched my life in so many tangible and intangible ways. In reflecting on her life these past few days, it struck me as quite fitting that she was gifted at quilting. Over the years, she lovingly made beautiful quilts for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Quilting is a craft that requires time, patience, precision, and an eye for the beautiful blend of pattern and color. Grandma always seemed to have time to listen, play games, and attend special events in the lives of her family. Her life reflected a beautiful pattern of what it means to be a woman of God in her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. Her life was rich with family and friends, and the one common thread through it all was love -- love for the Lord as well as her family. Just as a quilt displays an intricate blend of pattern and color, so are my emotions as I say goodbye to her for now. I feel sorrow for her death, joy in knowing she is with the Lord, hope in knowing that I will see her again, and thankfulness for the many wonderful memories of time spent with her. I will treasure the quilts that I received from her, and I will treasure her in my heart always.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Ravioli Soup
Ingredients1 lb. lean ground beef (2 1/2 C browned meat)
1/4 C soft bread crumbs
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 tsp. onion salt
2 tsp. minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 T olive oil or vegetable oil
1 1/2 C finely chopped onion
1 28 oz. can Italian style or plain crushed tomatoes in puree
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 14.5 oz. can beef broth or bouillon
1 C water
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. oregano leaves
1/4 C chopped fresh parsley (or parsley flakes to taste)
1 12 oz. pkg. plain ravioli without sauce (frozen, or in the refrigerated section)
Directions
Brown the ground beef in a large pot; combine remaining ingredients except ravioli. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Thaw and cook ravioli according to package directions until just tender. Drain ravioli and add to soup. Heat through.
Notes
This soup is so easy to make and is a hearty meal! I had a friend taste test this and she has been raving about it ever since! The only note that I would add is that I didn't have all of the specific spices (for example, I had oregano powder, not leaves), so I just eyeballed it. I chose to use a family sized package (20 oz) of ravioli from the refrigerated pasta section instead of the frozen kind. I cooked all of the ravioli, and then added approximately 12-15 oz. worth, and saved the rest for lunch the next day.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Possessing the Land
The holidays are over and I find myself at the beginning of a new year. To be perfectly honest, this isn't my favorite time of year. Many people find a new year to be a "fresh start" in their lives. I find it to be somewhat daunting. I do not make resolutions. I am aware (sometimes painfully so) of my shortcomings and those areas in my life that need improvement. The last thing I need is to resolve to be better and then inevitably fail again. Some might call this a fatalistic, "glass half-empty" sort of attitude. I call it being realistic. When people make resolutions, it is usually with the coming year in mind. More often than not, the resolve holds for a few months, and then people move on. As a child of God, I try always to view my life with an eternal perspective. The changes that I need should be eternally based.
I read Deuteronomy 11 this morning during my devotions, and was greatly encouraged. This chapter is full of instruction and promise on what the Lord expects from His followers. The very first verse instructs us to "Love the Lord your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments." How's that for a new year's resolution? My spirit resonates with this because I know that by doing this, I will be a living example of Christ to those around me and will be focused on my eternal relationship with Him. Verse 8 states, "You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross to possess it." Did you notice the promise in that verse? By keeping His commands, we will be strong and able to possess the land! We are told in verses 11 and 12 that "the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year." I have lived enough life to know that this year will possess hills and valleys, just like last year and the one before that. What a comfort it is to know that by loving the Lord and following His commands, I will be strong as I head into the new "land" of 2010. As I encounter the hills and valleys that are sure to come, I can rest in knowing that the Lord cares, and that His eyes are always on me.
Colossians 3:1-4 says, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
It is with these thoughts in mind that I plan to go forth and "possess the land" of 2010.
Happy New Year!
I read Deuteronomy 11 this morning during my devotions, and was greatly encouraged. This chapter is full of instruction and promise on what the Lord expects from His followers. The very first verse instructs us to "Love the Lord your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments." How's that for a new year's resolution? My spirit resonates with this because I know that by doing this, I will be a living example of Christ to those around me and will be focused on my eternal relationship with Him. Verse 8 states, "You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross to possess it." Did you notice the promise in that verse? By keeping His commands, we will be strong and able to possess the land! We are told in verses 11 and 12 that "the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year." I have lived enough life to know that this year will possess hills and valleys, just like last year and the one before that. What a comfort it is to know that by loving the Lord and following His commands, I will be strong as I head into the new "land" of 2010. As I encounter the hills and valleys that are sure to come, I can rest in knowing that the Lord cares, and that His eyes are always on me.
Colossians 3:1-4 says, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."
It is with these thoughts in mind that I plan to go forth and "possess the land" of 2010.
Happy New Year!
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