A Tenth Remains

Reading:  Isaiah 6

A tenth remains.  Even though the cities are wasted and the land is desolate, a tenth remains.

Hope for today exists in the tenth that remains!  Are you one of the tenth that remains?  Or, are you wasted and desolate?

Surround Sound

This morning I started the day by lying in bed listening to the thunder roll.  How beautiful the sound that starts way in the distance, rolls right over your head and across the horizon.  Now I sit here listening to the raindrops hit the roof and splash to the ground.  I am truly surrounded by this phenomenon known as a storm.  Have you ever considered just how amazing storms are?  How incredibly powerful lightening is?  How intense thunder happens to be?  How magnificent water is?  And, just how impressive the whole cycle is?

I am  humbled by the power of a lightening strike.  Last year I heard a woman speak who survived but lost her family to a lightening strike.  (You can check out her story at http://www.anitakscott.com.)  It's amazing.

I am so in awe of thunder.  It's the sound of the lightening.  It rumbles across the sky for miles.  I can't even see a mile in the distance.  I can barely see my computer screen sometimes.   (I guess I better go find my glasses.  After all, they do help. Ahh, that's better.)   I don't believe my kids can hear me yelling a mile away.  Mostly they aren't able to hear from the other room.  Hmm.

The rain can be gentle or pelting.  It can come down all at once and result in a flood strong enough to move a house.  It can fall over a long period of time and result in the grass growing right before your eyes.   Generally, though, it seems to fall somewhere in the middle.  It might be cold.  It might be warm.

Now, let's consider the wind.  Do you see where it comes from?  Do you see where it starts?  Do you know where it ends?  Do you know how far it has traveled?  How did it gain its strength?  It too may be soft and gentle or pelting and strong.  It is remarkable.

Today I am absorbed by the storm.  It's more than just surround sound, it's surround sight, surround feel, surround smell and surround sound all rolled up into an experience. If I weren't such a chump, I'd be out tasting the storm also.

(Father God, thank you for storms.  Thank you for the reminder of just how incredible you are.  Thank you that you hold the storms under your feet.  You are above and beyond everything the storm is.  I pray that I can be surrounded by your sound, sight, feel, taste, and smell.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Fear Talents Chosen

Have you ever had your mind busy with lots of little bits of information?  I must be careful not to let them get confused.  Take the headline of this entry for instance.  If you take it all together, it conveys one message.  But these things have not been given together.  Each one, individually,  is being used to teach me.

Fear - God is placing this word in front of me often.  It is mostly accompanied by the word not.  For instance, today's Proverbs 31 Devotional was "The Truth About Fear" focused around 2 Timothy 1:7.  Just 15 minutes before that I had been praying from The Power of a Praying Parent Book of Prayers by Stormie Omartian for my son's mind.  Can you guess what it was focused around?  Yes, 2 Timothy 1:7.  Then, I followed a link off of a blog and found it before my face again.  All this is just today.  Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous times that God has placed those words before my eyes.  I rest in them.

Talents - This was one of the topics of discussion at last night's service.  Am I honoring God with my talents, gifts or abilities?  Or, am I using them to only get by here on this sod?  My husband and I have been discussing what I could be doing.  I want to use my talents and abilities to support him and the business.  I want to be more involved in the day to day activities of the business so that he doesn't have to shoulder that alone.  But we wonder if I should instead try to find a job outside the home.  Do I even know what talents God has gifted me?  This topic will be bathed in prayer.

Chosen - This was emphasized in the morning service.  Before I ever accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, He chose me.  He made me in His image and for His honor.  He called me to acknowledge Him and know Him.  I was then given a simple choice - believe or not.  How about you?  Have you rejected Him so often that He no longer calls you?  Dear Friend, I hope not.

(Father God, thank you for a sound mind.  Thank you for clarity of thought.  Thank you for choosing me even though I feel unworthy.  Thank you for abilities to write and think.  Father, I ask that you guard my mind.  Help me to recognize and dismiss Satan's lies.  Help me to fill my mind with the truth of your word.  You have not given me confusion and I praise your name for the blessings of this day.  I pray that I honor you with all that I do.  In the power of Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.)

Traveling Thoughts

This is what happens when I am traveling and thinking at the same time. These are notes that I saved on my cell phone. I've posted them like I thought them. Grammar beware! I think I was planning to expand on the first thought for a blog entry and I may still. And, obviously the second thought is an extension of the first thought, perhaps a bit more poetic. Both entries were made when traveling down Oklahoma Highway 3.

11/24/2009 4:34 PM

Ever notice how each tree is different? They don't have the same number of branches or leaves. They don't grow at the same rate.

5/7/2010 6:50 PM -

Green, everywhere green. Dark green leaves of the oak tree. Medium greens. Light greens of new leaves. Green grass. Dotted with purple vetch and orange Indian paint brush. Light tan topping green wheat-like plants. Multicolor green obscuring tree trunks. Silver maple leaves casting a delicate green hue briefly in the green sea. Dark evergreens. Lacy ferns. Rare and random rocks. Suddenly the sea of green is broken by an expansive blue mirror, cool and inviting. Where are the reds, yellows, and oranges? Where did the shades of grey go? There is no strict contrast of black and white. Green reaching up to the expanse of sky. Curtains of green hanging in gentle waves. Dresses of green dancing across my vision. Short dresses, long dresses, fluffy dresses, slim dresses. Gorgeous array. Waving arms, singing joyous praise.

(Father God, thank you for the blessings of the seasons. Thank you for the simple yet so complex examples of your creation. Thank you for allowing me to see them. Help me to always be aware of the beauty around me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

The Green Mile

The family watched "The Green Mile" starring Tom Hanks and written by Stephen King. It's an interesting story about life as a prison guard on death row set in the 1930's.

One of the things that struck me during the movie was that John Caffey was tired. He had been "given" a gift of being able to see a person's heart when they touched him. I wonder how old he was supposed to be? If Tom Hanks' character had an extended life span, how long had John Caffey had his gift?

I was struck by his decision to stick with the execution. Is that what we are to do? The Bible plainly tells us.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

We are to continually do the right thing. Are you tired? Do the right thing. Are you stressed? Do the right thing. Are you lonely, bored, hungry, frustrated? Do the right thing.

Who are we to say that our time has come to an end? Our lives remain in God's hands. He may still have jobs for us to accomplish. And if we are not here to do the job, someone else will be called upon to do our part.

(Father God, help me to do the right thing according to Your Word and standards. Thank you for the leading of the Spirit so that I might know what the right thing is. Help me to show my family that choosing to do the right thing always honors You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Gloomy and Grey

It's a little gloomy and grey this morning. Yet, the birds are diligently seeking their food. I hear their melody of chirps and tweets. I watch as they wander about the yard checking my tomato plants.

I'm thankful that my Great God provides for their every need. Their creator and sustainer also created and sustains me. And, best of all, He created me in His own image. I am loved. I am cherished. I am His child. I choose to believe what He says is true. I trust Him. I talk with Him. I love Him because He first loved me.

(Father God, thank You for being the great I AM. Thank You for showing me that there is so much even in what I consider a gloomy and grey day. I pray that You will continue to remind me of all that You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.)

Catching Up

Well, I caught up reading the blogs that I normally follow today. I was only a few weeks behind so it worked out well. I am so thankful that God has blessed me. I stand in awe of what He has done. I am reminded that He is.

Vera is such a beauty. She smiles and I respond. Her life has a purpose. Her life glorifies God.

God blesses me by showing her to me.

Ashley holds a special place in my heart. I know a new love because of her. Her life glorifies God. God blesses me by showing her to me.

Tricia and Gwenyth are roses personified. Each life glorifies God in a unique way. God blesses me by showing them to me.

Now, I'm known to chase rabbits when I visit each blog. I follow off on links and end up with tears of joy and tears of sadness sometimes but always I am blessed. I shy away from following too many blogs though. I could invest a lot of time and emotions following all the wonderful stories.

(Father God, thank you for all the reminders of just how gracious and merciful you are. Thank you for the blessings of each blog. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Just another new year?

I don't make new year resolutions. What is the point? I am not guaranteed tomorrow. I have today with God, my family and friends. I should make the most of today.

God doesn't want me to worry about tomorrow or if I'll loose 60 pounds this year or if Mom's chemo will destroy the cancer in her body over the next 3 months. He wants me to focus on Him today. Not next week but right now even this very moment.

Sometimes, this is extremely difficult for me. I want what I want and I want it now. I have become ingrained in this "fast" food society of America. I sometimes forget that delayed satisfaction is most often much better than anything that "satisfies" my flesh instantly.

Having said that I also wonder what a new year will bring. Will it bring the return of my Lord? Will it bring a husband? Will it bring a new place to live? Will it bring the close of any personal relationships? Will it bring the close of mom's earthly life? Will it bring a drivers license for my daughter? What will this 2009 look like?

(Father God, I am so thankful that You care for me. You are the holy and true God. You alone are mighty and wonderfully just. Forgive me where I fall so short of Your Perfectness. Thank You for making a way for me to partake in Your Perfectness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Keep me focused on You each day so that I may know You and love You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Praying to God

While working on the previous post, I began to wonder what is the proper way to close a prayer. What is the proper punctuation? How do I pray in Jesus name?

I did a quick search on the Internet and pulled myself to the example provided by God through His Holy Word for instructions. It really is pretty simple. Prayer is directed to God the Father in the name of God the Son (Jesus) delivered by the groaning of God the Holy Spirit.

"Father God, I am clay in your hands, help me to stay that way through all life's demands cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me." (Lose My Soul, Toby Mac) This is the beginning of my current favorite song. It starts the prayer properly and is an awesome example . While the song does not directly follow the example provided in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, it is none the less a heartfelt prayer. And while the words were not originated with me, they are also my heartfelt prayer.

I've heard so many times that the words of the prayer are not what are important but that God hears the cry of the heart. I believe this to be true. Prayers can be offered in many ways and it is the position of the heart and the words of the heart that God hears and acknowledges. When my heart cries out to Father God, He hears. God is so great and awesome. I'm excited as I learn more about Him.

(Father God, I am clay in Your hands. I know that You fashion me to be what You desire. I also understand that while I am clay, I have a free will - unlike earthly clay. I can make decisions that cause Your perfect plan to be marred. Yet, You quickly and wonderfully fix, smooth, rework, and perfect the clay. You don't remove the consequences of my bad decisions You use them to Your glory. I stand amazed at all times at how You can continually do that without losing it. Thank You Father God for loving me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.)

Thoughts of My Father

I've been thinking about my father a lot in the past few months. Since his passing in September 2006, I've often thought of him and missed him yet there seems to be something different about these thoughts. In some ways, I did not know my father well. I knew him only as my father. He was a very private man. Dad did not waste his words. He preferred spending time in the woods over spending time in the city. He provided for his family. He protected us. It is my shame that I never got to know him as a person. I hunger for that knowledge now. I want others to tell me what they knew about him.

Mostly, I want to know his relationship with Jesus. He never talked about it. I search my memories for how Dad was an example of Christ. I diligently seek to identify those characteristics from Galations 5 in his life.

(Dear Lord, thank you for the earthly father you gave me. Help me to identify Your presence in his life. Help me to make sure Your presence is evident in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.)

Messing with Technology Interfaces

It is amazing the knowledge that we have gained and use collectively as a society. Yet, the simplicity of the foundation on which all that knowledge rests is incredible. I

• updated my Facebook,
• updated my blogs,
• transferred pictures from my camera, and
• updated a web site.

Those were the things I did for myself. As an IT professional, I do those types of things (and more) every day for other people. It never ceases to amaze me what we can do with zeros and ones. Yes, that really is what it's all about... 101100111100001101011010... zeros and ones. It's a zero or a one. It's on or it's off. It's either charged or not. I'm alive or I'm not. You believe or you don't. How simple is that?

(Lord, thank you for making it so easy. Forgive me when I try to add to it and make it difficult. Thank you for being the great I AM. In Jesus' name, amen.)

Stonecipher

Between my house and my mother's house on the path most often taken, is an exit to "Stonecipher". When I passed this sign on our recent trip that way, I thought of the original Stone Cipher. Now you have to understand that I don't always jump at the first meaning of a word. Take cipher for instance, the first meaning of cipher is the number zero. Later meanings deal with coded methods of writing. Yes, I like the later meanings.

So, when I think of the original Stone Ciper, I think back to Moses. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18) God is the One that wrote on the stone a code for us. The Key to that cipher died for the sins of the world.

(Lord God, I thank you that the message is simple and easily decoded. You loved me. You made me. You died for me. You wanted me. I accepted you. You will take me to heaven someday. Simply written. Simply perfect. You. In Jesus holy name I pray, amen.)

Speeding Along

During this weekend's travels I found myself speeding along the highway. I was convicted. Wow, it seems like such a small thing just a couple of miles over the speed limit - 67 in a 65. Yet, God used that to speak to me. It is rebellion. Rebellion against the governing laws. If I'm comfortable speeding along in defiance of the country's laws, am I also willing to continue on sinning in defiance of God's laws? Am I speeding along in my little sin ignoring God's call to obedience and repentance? That sin could be a continual lie, not providing all my tithe, gossip, undermining the authority of the scripture, drinking alcohol, cursing, or any number of things just barely over the speed limit. I slowed down those two miles per hour and set my cruise control. Now, I'm seeking to slow down the sneaky sin and let God be my cruise control. I love the way God shares with us when we are open to hear His voice.


(Lord God, I pray that you will reveal the speeding sin in my life. Help me to turn to You for my cruise control. I thank you for being the govenor that keeps me from running away crazily. In Jesus name, Amen.)

Sharing the story with caution

I am so thankful for those that God has called to share the intimate details of a specific journey. The Adams family as they share the journey of their family dealing with an adopted child with transplanted organs. The Lawrenson family as they share the journey of a preemie and mom with Cystic Fibrosis. I hesitate to get too involved with some of the other blogs that I've visited. I invest a lot emotionally. I spend enough time keeping up with just the two. It can get very distracting to chase rabbits on the Internet. (Yet, I still do it.)

God calls me to share my own story. The story of His moments in my life. The great! The good, and the incredible awful things as well. I've worked in the Information Technology field long enough to have heard almost every single horror story associated with sharing too much. I have to know the legal ramifications of what I'm doing as well. That's why I won't share the names of my children. You may hear about them or know situations in their life but you will never get the complete picture or specifically any pictures of them. Not because I am ashamed but because I must protect them. There are some readers of this blog that do actually know me. Most will not and will only know the things that are provided in writing here.

There are parts of our story that will be terribly difficult to share, especially in an anonymous exchange such as this blog. Yet, I know they must be shared in order to recognize the fullness of God's mercy, grace, salvation and glory. I do not share my story or observations to invite comments (I moderate all comments). I do not share my story or observations to invite theological debate.

I do share my story and observations to encourage another that might be struggling. I do share my story and observations to answer the call God has made. I do share my story and observations so the God may be honored.

(Lord God, please use this blog for Your honor and glory. Please help me to focus on what You have to say with each post. Make it an honorable thing. Thank you for the families that You have called to share their journey through this format. Thank you for showing Your strength, grace and mercy through each one. Thank you for the encouragement they are. Hinder any attempts by the enemy to twist Your work. In Jesus name, Amen.)

Pack Rat Traits

On occasion, I loose sight of the penguin traits that I'd like to emulate and take on the incredible traits of a pack rat. Okay, often I do. I have many many boxes of children's school papers that I have kept. And, I've been culling the ones that have come home since 6th grade. So, I have all these boxes of papers in the attic that I should go through.

I also have just about every scrap paper on which I've written a reference to a verse. Now, some of them have other statements besides the verse address. But, many do not. Some of them are references from a sermon or lesson. I have no idea what that verse meant to me at the time I wrote it down. AUGH! It was a shiny button or trinket that caught my eye at the time. I carried it off to my nest and put it with the rest of the glittering objects.

I don't know if pack rats go back through their treasure but God calls me to do such a thing. He repeatedly tells me to remember His mighty works, to remember who He is, to remember what He has done for me. Today, I remember that He wrote my name in the book of life. He has removed my sin and remembers it no more. He has transformed my deceitful heart and given me a heart of life. God is awesome.

(Lord, thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for remembering my sin no more. Thank you for the only way to know you. Thank you for the wonderful treasure You give me through Your word. Thank you for the grace and mercy that You personally extended to me. Thank you also for the judgement. Thank you for the rules that keep me safe. Forgive me when I so bluntly ignore them. Help me to accept the necessary chastisement. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.)

Defining the Archives

I have many scribbles, sticky notes, marked bulletins, study guides, and sheets of paper with references to specific verses in, on, or around my desk. I am a pack rat. I have a desire to put these tidbits all together in a devotional book or some semi-organized format. The random scraps of paper aren't doing anyone good.

On this blog, when I refer to the archives, it will be one of those scribbles, devotions, or notes from a sermon that touched my life in some way. There are only so many days in a year. If I can organize even some of these oddball papers onto this blog, I will be fulfilling the desire to share what God has spoken and done for me.

(LORD, I come before You laying my desire at Your feet. I pray that You will cultivate this desire if it aligns with Your will. I pray that You will use it for Your glory and honor. Thank You for making the way for me to know You. This I pray in Jesus name alone.)

Ever had one of those days...

... where you couldn't even complete a thought? I've so much going on in my mind that nothing gets to completion.

I am so thankful that our God is not that way. He is perfect - perfectly just, perfectly good, perfectly loving, perfect. Everything He does gets completed. It shows in the way He creates a life and fashions it to His glory. It shows in the way He provides salvation for each one willing to accept it. Those are complete things. They are done perfectly.

I also am thankful that He doesn't require me to be perfect. Today was a shining example of how far below the mark I really fall. Even now, there is a struggle to complete this writing.

(Dear Lord, I pray for a focus now to get down this God Moment. I have no strength or power of my own to accomplish it. You and You alone can bring it to fruition. In Jesus' name I pray.)

Wow, look at that! He completes. When I turn to Him, He completes. There is nothing more that I can add.

New Year, New Post

Surprise, I'm posting a new entry.

I've been land locked for some time. I am now hoping to get back to my daily swim in the blogging sea on a regular basis. I've refreshed my mind with the original intent of this blog and am looking to God for what comes next.

Psalm 4:2, 8

• O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will you love vanity and seek after leasing? Selah.
• I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

My mind races with questions. The first word that jumped out at me was "leasing". Did it mean the same thing at the time it was translated as it does now? Leasing a house, leasing a car... these are the things that come to mind in my little world today. Would that concept apply here? And, what word was it translated from? Might it have other meanings? Boy, I need to get some research tools.

God is talking here and He's talking to me because I'm one of those humans - those "sons of men" even though I'm a daughter. How long will I love vanity? Wait, what does vanity really mean in biblical terms? Let's go searching... The best online tool I've ever encountered is located at http://www.biblegateway.com/. There's a dictionary tool at http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries. Searching Easton's dictionary for vanity doesn't provide a definiton. But, searching for leasing provides that it's an old English word meaning lies or lying. Hmmm... In the mean time, I found a biblical definition of vanity - "emptiness". Looking over the entry from http://blueletterbible.org/ which references the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, I see that "breath of air, vapor" would also be an appropriate definition.

Now that I'm armed with those definitions, let's see what God is asking me today...

• O human, how long will you pervert my reputation with sin? how long will you prefer emptiness and seek after lies?

The question cuts to my soul and echos in my mind. What about yours? How can I go forward? I'll start with confession of my daily transgressions in conversation with God even now. And reading on, I find solace in knowing that the Lord is the only one that provides true safety, peace and sleep no matter the circumstances. Thank you, LORD.

Good evening (oops, morning) to you all.