Information Overflow

Today has been a great day of learning. Our Sunday school lesson was from Daniel. Our pastor preached on creation for the morning service. The evening lesson was from 2 Thessalonians dealing with the end times. It was wonderful. I have much to consider and much for which I am thankful.

It was incredibly comforting knowing that God revealed himself to a worldly leader in Daniel. It was the king who saw that it was the Son of God with the 3 believers in the fire. I mused at the thought that others can see God with us during the times of the hottest trial if we rely on Him as they did. I also noted that it sometimes takes the times of trial for us to seek God's very presence in our lives and that God will bless that in accordance to His glory.

But, satan has reared his ugly head in our family. I am embarking on a study of how God views hate. What does it really mean when we speak, "I hate you"? How do those words affect God? Is this a serious offense in His eyes? If so, how serious? And finally, how can we replace those words of hate with words that are encouraging and peaceful?

(Lord God, I ask that you empower our search for Your answers on hate. I ask that you keep satan or his emissaries from meddling in our search for the truth. Build a hedge around us as we endeavor to seek Your face in this matter. Thank you for the words of encouragement in Daniel and the promise that You will never leave us. Thank you for the beautiful creation that You placed around us. Thank you for creating me in Your image and for Your purpose. Thank you that You loved me. In Jesus precious name, 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.)

Absence Explained

Yes, I've been away from the blog for a couple of weeks. There have been some changes at work that required extra thought processing and that increased my stress level exponentially.

And, I was preparing for a Mother/Daughter retreat at my mother's church. Mom lives 240 miles from me. It's interesting trying to make sure I understood everything that was going on for the retreat. (I didn't.)

I'm aware that there really is no normalcy about my life. Yet, I am making time to get back to this. I distracted myself so that I might be able to enrich my relationship with both my mother and my daughter in accordance with God's desires for us. I know it was the right thing to do because Satan tried to interfere using my work. He was not successful. God did enrich my relationship with Him, Mom and Daughter.

(Dear Lord, thank you for the travel time and the retreat time with my female family members. Thank you for the ones willing to care for my male family member in my absence. I pray that I will be able to take the things that You spoke to me from the retreat and use it for Your glory alone. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)

Mundane and Not Exciting

My evening described in just a few words. Cleaning, laundry, dishes, and lectures were the mundane items. None of them were exciting. I would have much preferred to be studying and seeking treasure from God's Word. Instead, I was folding t-shirts and underwear. I have a hard time getting excited about chores. I'm not good at them. I haven't (even after all these years) figured out how to do them efficiently.

But, the sense of work done keeps me coming back. I know it's a never ending job. There will always be one more piece of laundry, one more dirty dish, one more crumb on the floor, one more leaf to rake, one more blade of grass to mow, one more, one more. I like having clean clothes and dishes. I like having a floor that your shoes don't stick too. So, I'll keep doing as many of these things as I can.

By the way, I got a new penguin this week. I'll post him as soon as I get him photographed.

(Lord, thank you for the things that should be done. My heart could get into a lot more mischief if I didn't have those things. I get into enough as it is. Guard my heart and keep my focus on You. In Jesus' name, Amen.)

Thorns, Briers and the Kings Kids

Read Judges 8:16-23.

Gideon gave a Bible lesson using thorns and briers. Praise the Lord I missed that one.

Consider the testimony of Gideon in this passage. "As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king." Even as as he taught with thorns and briers, demolished a tower and fought men to the death, he carried himself as a child of the King. What is it about Gideon that these men recognized? I believe our answer to be found a few short verses later...

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

There it is (verse 23). The Lord ruled Gideon's life and it was obvious to all who came in contact with him.

(Lord, thank you for the scripture from which I can learn. Help me to be recognizable as a child of the King no matter what I'm doing. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)

God Moments - March

I'm enjoying a study of the God Moments in my life. It's loosely based on the book "God Moments" by Alan Wright. It's basically a study of the feasts of Israel taken from Leviticus 23. My homework for each chapter is to journal, blog, photograph or otherwise capture a memory that God brought to mind during the study. I have truly enjoyed rehearsing these God Moments thus far and am so excited to see what God reminds me of in the future.

So, the assignment for March is to capture 3 moments. One is a moment of "Holy Attraction", another is an "Amazing Rescue", and the third is what ever God brought to mind. (In reverse order...)

1. God pricked my heart to really remember why I collect penguin items (and to showcase them). He asks me to remember what it is about penguins that reflects Him. I've given a few glimpses (here and here) into what penguins mean to me but there is much more that I've not been able to verbalize just yet.

2. Amazing Rescue - God filled my mind with scenes from my childhood. I grew up in the country near a creek with two older brothers. Yes, I followed them through briars, trees, fences, and mud. I followed them down snowy hillsides onto the ice covered creek. I followed them and their friend as they forged through the creek waters swollen from the rain. Rushing waters that knocked a young girl off her feet and sent her spiraling and bobbing into deep water. I never lost conciousness and I survived that day. My brother's friend pulled me from the water. I lay gasping for breath and spitting up water on the grassy bank that spring. It is a memory forever etched in my mind - a time when God's supernatural protection abounded.

3. Holy Attraction - It was 1986, I was a freshman in college. I was not walking with God. There was too much that I had to experience. I wanted to make decisions for myself. After all, I had new found freedom. There were six of us in the dorm room that day. Someone unfolded a small foil package. There it was. Crack. The presence of the Holy Spirit within my own body was so intense. Leave. Now. Get away from this. I did. It took less than a minute after seeing the drugs for me to be away from that room and that temptation. In some ways it was less of an Holy Attraction and more of a Holy Aversion. I have never used illegal drugs because I knew that God did not want that for me. I have never been interested in doing drugs. Even now I am careful of the prescription drugs that I take. Why did I feel compelled to leave that room so strongly? I rest fully in the knowledge that it was God that drew me away from that. I wish I could say that it was a major turning point in my life but I had much learning to do still.

(Lord God, I thank you so much for Your presence in that room. I thank you for Your strength which drew me away. I thank you for Your presence at the creek. I thank you for Your strength through my human rescuer that day. I am truly humbled that you would keep me from harm in so many ways. I am awed that you would draw me to yourself even when I was too blind to recognize it. Forgive me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)

Spring Break - Over

Yes, spring break is over. The kids and I will get back to our routine beginning tomorrow. I have one that is excited to go back to school and one that, well, isn't.

I miss the routine when it's not there. Oh, don't get me wrong, I fight routine. I don't really "like" it. Routine is boring. Routine is the same ol', same ol'. Ugh! Routine doesn't allow for the creativity my mind thinks it craves. Yet, I know that routine is good for me. Physically, it's good to get regular sleep. It helps cut down on stress and weight gain. Mentally, it's good to know what's expected next in the day. So, sometimes I find myself wandering about aimlessly when the routine has been interrupted.

I believe that can also be the case spiritually. God calls us to consistency in our relationship with Him. He is always consistent. (He is never boring and He is very creative so I'll not describe Him as routine.) When I lose the routine, consistent time with God I begin wandering about aimlessly in the spirit. God wants me to be focused on the hope of His return.

Tonight I am thankful that spring break is over and the routine returns.

(Lord God, Thank you for the blessed hope that Your resurrection brings. I am so glad that You made a way for us to have a relationship that is intensely personal. Your love is amazing and beyond the boundaries of my feeble mind. I thank you that You loved me even before I knew I needed you. I praise you for the sacrifice you made. I'll never know what it means. I'll never be able to fully comprehend the depth of love and pain you experienced. Thank you. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)