Wars, Rumors of Wars... ALL the Bad Things in This World

Photo taken by T. Getz

Has it seemed to you that we're having a HUGE amount of crazy times these days... political uprisings; horrible weather catastrophes; senseless tragedies; illness, pain, suffering; and so much more?!?! Where's that scripture that talks about the earth groaning as we near the end of time? Anyone know? 

To me, it almost seems like the earth is crying out for Jesus to return. We're often so focused on all the "bad things and/or craziness" happening around us that we are paralyzed to see & do the "good deeds" that have been set before us by God. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "... if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." We are to set our minds & hearts on things above -- as told in Colossians 3:2. We are not to think that we will only have victory in heaven. 

Sometimes I have to remind myself to take my eyes off this world & keeping my eyes focused on Jesus. He has overcome this world. The battle has been won by Him. He will be my Savior in heaven. He is my Savior here on earth too!

When Will I Be Loved?

Do you remember crawling up on the lap of a loving grandparent or parent as a small child & knowing that you were completely safe?  In the trials of life, do you ever feel like you'd like to be that little kid again?  I know that I have those moments.  

Photo by T. Getz

There's a song I could NOT get out of my head one of my sleepless nights earlier this week.  It was written by George Mathesen in 1882 and entitled, "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go."  Some of my favorite lyrics from that are below:

O love that will not me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give Thee back the life I owe. That in Thine ocean's depths it's flow may richer, fuller be.  

Oh joy that seeketh me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain. And feel the promise is not vain - that morn shall tearless be.

I'm so blessed to be one of God's children and to be a recipient of His love that will not let me go & His joy that seeketh me in pain. The Bible says that God loves us like his own children. God's love is complete & unconditional & perfect.  What a privilege!

• How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a
• The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Romans 8:16-17
• If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

How wonderful to know that no matter how young we are OR how old we get, we can still crawl into the arms of the Father & rest in safety and peace.  His love - that is without condition - will never let us go.

I am loved!

Dying of Thirst Lately?

It was a particularly bad summer that year. The weather had been a SCORCHER in central Indiana (and in a HUGE portion of the nation)! Even long after the sun had set, the heat index was 10-15 degrees over the air temperature -- and HOT! Plants suffered; animals suffered; people suffer! And, all the advise the media seemed to give was...

DRINK LOTS OF WATER & STAY COOL!

Photo by T. Getz

Have you ever felt like you could just not quench your thirst? I remember a time a few years back when I was driving through the Central Valley in California in a car without air conditioning & thought I was going to die. Having lived in south Florida for many years on the beach, I've always been a fan of hot days. But, let me tell you... thirst can be a real killer. 

Does your soul thirst for something and long to have that thirst quenched? Have you gone through times in your life where you felt you couldn't move on without something refreshing to provide energy. 

Well, 'the One sitting on the throne' said,

"I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life." Revelation 21:6 NLT

My times of spiritual famine & thirst have attested to God's word, 

"With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!" Isaiah 12:3 NLT

I'm thankful that my God promises to meet my every need. As Jesus said in John 4:14, "... those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." 

Here's a link to an older song, There is a River, recorded by the Gaither Vocal Band. It always brings peace to my soul in all the struggles of life. 

There is a River... that never shall run dry!

When I Can't See... I Claim Promises...

Some days I just don't SEE... so, I trust in promises. I seem to be having a LOT of days lately when I don't see how this mess can turn out okay. I am living on promises!! We're promised in Isaiah 40:30, 

"... those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." 

What great promises - new strength, not getting weary, etc. Why do I make such a big deal of my troubles?

Isaiah 40 - always worth reading :)

Did someone expect ME to come along and relate so well to these words :)

"How can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? ... how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40

I needed to be reminded of those promises today. Some days it's ESPECIALLY necessary for me to live by faith & not by sight. How about you?

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

I Wish They'd Get What They Deserve!

I am a Christian.  Yet, there's this sense within me that people should get what they deserve. How often we, as Christians, take for granted the grace & mercy which God bestowed upon us as His children, while secretly wanting others to NOT receive that same grace & mercy. We seem to think we know the perfect punishment for other people's sins. But, God's promises are for everyone...

His mercies are NEW every morning.
Great is His faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23

When Jonah complained about God's sentence upon Nineveh, God told him, "... Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Jonah 4:11. This didn't really sit well with Jonah.

It often doesn't sit right with us when others don't get the punishment we think they deserve. A verse that has taken on a very special meaning for me in the past year or so is... 

"The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." 

2 Peter 3:9

God's grace is greater than all our sin... all of everyone's sin! His grace & mercy is great enough for the little sins... and the big sins -- as we often see them! God gives every single one of us "second chances".

Perhaps we (I) should be less concerned about what others deserve and more concerned about expressing thankfulness to God for the mercy & grace which He has extended to... each of us.

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Where Can They Go?

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139
photo by Tom Getz

My children can't accurately be called children.  They're young adults.  I've loved them to the moon & back.  And, I've taught them about my love for the Lord & his children.  But, will they choose to embrace the things I hold so dear?  I've been looking at my "love" in comparison to the love of God. 

We're promised in Romans 8:38, "... NOTHING can separate us from the love of God." Nothing is a pretty big deal. It really leaves out NOTHING :) 

We are assured in Psalm 103:8, "The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love." Unfailing love - unable, no matter the circumstances or the choices made by someone, to fail??

But, what if we don't want God's love or someone dear doesn't want God's love OR our love? True love doesn't come with strings. It's freely given. Love isn't contained by boundaries or diminished by someone's refusal to accept it!

David asked God in Psalm 139:7-10, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me." 

God's love GOES with us - even when we don't want it... when we are hiding from it. Even there God's hand is upon us & leading us. That's the kind of love I want to have. God is love & He is unfailing, ever-present & never discouraged.

Psalm 139 is a great reminder that God will never leave us. But, it's also a great reminder that God promises to not let ANYTHING separate any of His children from His love - not even their choices.

(shared 9/4/12 with the Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts community) 

Too Noisy in Your Life?

A devotional thought from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: 

"Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit?" 

Photo by T. Getz

What a GREAT question for every day. It reminds me of how crazy life can get & how we allow the "noise" around us to deafen us to the voice of God. We don't just need God in the crisis situations. He doesn't just give us suggestions & commands. 

God gives us affirmation, encouragement, consolation, comfort... everything we NEED at just the right moment. 

If we are so preoccupied by the noise around us, how can we hear His sweet, sweet voice? Even in the "noisiest" times, we need to "Be still & know that I AM GOD." Psalm 46:10. 

Take time every day to sit quietly in the presence of the Lord and hear His voice.

My Life in Tweets (and Thoughts)

Thanks to T. Getz for this photo & scripture.  In the twists & turns of life, whether good or bad, those who claim the name of "Christ-follower" can know that God will work GOOD out of anything & everything, if we trust Him to do so.

Since I started doing Twitter over 2 years ago, I seem to think in about 140-character thoughts.  Here's My Life in Tweets (and Thoughts) for the past month or so.  I seem to "tweet" a lot!

05/09/11... Dear God, Help me forgive those who see & do nothing. Give me peace that through You I have seen & done all I can. It's in Your hands.

05/09/11... Each day brings new heartaches & new joys. It's great to know that God is never caught by surprise & has a plan! Jeremiah 29:11

05/09/11... Everyone's story is their own to tell -- even when it deeply affects "me" and/or the lives of those around. You never know what someone is going through. Be slow to judge & quick to love.


05/07/11... "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. " 1 Corinthians 13:7


05/07/11... No matter how hard you try to get someone to love you back, you can't MAKE them. That doesn't mean you shouldn't still love them. ( This entire chapter is worth reading! 1 Corinthians 13)


05/05/11... Ever see one of your friends and think, "Oh my! She's aged about 15 years!!!"?Well, I'm gonna be that friend next time you see me.


05/05/11... It's not every day that you hear the hubby ask, "Wanna go shoot the Glock out behind the pine trees, Honey?"


05/04/11... What a great comfort we have in God's Word... "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." Psalm 94:19  #GodWins


05/04/11... Looks like our son will be a busy boy at UofCinci, College-Conservatory of Music this fall - Double Major Trombone Performance & Composition.


05/04/11... "Dear James, Great news!!! You have been moved off the composition waitlist to accept! We’ll get an official letter out to you later this week. CCM"


05/03/11... Just in time for Mother's Day - "IN THA MUTHAHOOD" - where my muthas at? Laugh and RT! http://bit.ly/mm9BKm "I'm a Momma Bear & all the Mommas agree, If you messin' with my kids, you straight up messin' with me!" - love those words from the video!


05/03/11 3:44am... @kimberlymajeski For some reason I was awakened abruptly at 3:44 am. So, I'm part of the "night shift" & praying for Rose, you & the family!


05/02/11... If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong… http://bible.us/1Cor13.1.NLT


05/02/11... I'm losing myself in my work today... being reminded gently in my spirit that someone BIGGER is dealing with the yuck for me.


04/30/11... Might need to go move a few things so my MPCWomMinLeadTeam girlfriends can safely walk thru the house tomorrow 6-9pm WOOHOOO... party!


04/29/11... "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12


04/29/11... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS HER... KISS! #TheRoyalKiss


04/29/11... I am being SUCH A GEEK about this Royal Wedding!!! I can do without some of the press comments. I just wanna see the pretty stuff :D


04/29/11... History in the making right before our eyes. May they remember & reflect upon the Word which was spoken in their ceremony. God be praised!!


04/29/11... I love when weddings are "church" -- bringing honor, glory & praise to God. And, I love words from God's Holy Word put to music!!! #blessed


04/28/11... "Fight your battles on your knees. No one knows the whole story better than God." ~ C.Stanley    ".. the Spirit himself intercedes for us.." Romans 8:26


04/28/11... I'm pretty sure we broke a world record at getting in & out of Bonge's... which is fine for tonight. Idol on TV & working on our laptops :)


04/28/11... I don't want to cook... I just want to go out or eat chocolate... I'm in a working mood


04/28/11... I truly hate SQUARE cars... seeing them makes me feel angry. They look like a box on wheels.


04/28/11... Does somebody know anyone who would deliver some raspberry filled & vanilla creme filled donuts ASAP? PLEASE and THANK YOU :D


04/27/11... Today is Administrative/Executive Assistant's Day & I got to be a recipient thanks to my part-time, temporary job at MPC. THANKS FRIENDS :D


04/27/11... There's just something about being a mom that melts your heart when you see other moms with their kids... even when the kids are grown up :)


04/26/11... I hate it when I'm in a hurry and accidentally RT myself... but, I can only be social to a small degree when working!


04/26/11... There was a boy, a very strange, enchanted boy... they say he wandered very far, very far over land & sea.... background to work... REALLY?


04/26/11... The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. So,if you can can can... open your heart to love :)


04/26/11... The car our daughter drives, the "Teal-Mobile," died on the road on Good Friday night. It didn't rise on Easter morning though! #MomChaffeurNow


04/25/11... #tragicmoviedeaths Kevin Costner in The Guardian & in Message in a Bottle. Come to think of it, Kevin Costner anytime/anywhere #Hottie


04/25/11... The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peacefu… (cont) http://deck.ly/~eOjAg


04/25/11... @xxxeleni Text message me if you can't sleep... i'll tell you a story & bore you to sleep! You know how we old people can be!!


04/25/11... Hanging w/my "gang members" tonight - The Riverwood Gang. Love our small group ministry at @MadisonParkCh


04/22/11... TODAY 4-9pm Journey to the Cross: Huge Easter cross set in Main Auditorium-freestanding, towering, sobering, thoughtful - at @MadisonParkCh


04/22/11... I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrow… http://bible.us/John16.33.NLT


04/21/11... 1 of our son's "homework friends" has been here for almost 6 hrs. He's gotten an after-school snack & dinner. Wonder if I should make up a bed??


04/21/11... I am OVERWHELMED with ALL THE GREAT THINGS TO DO TODAY... Dear God, Please set my schedule today! Love you, Your Little Girl :D


04/21/11... RT @nolyon: Nyquill is a miracle drug. I just wake up feeling refreshed after using it! // What HE said!


04/20/11... When we put on a facade & pretend to be perfect, we're not being real & we rob God. In admitting our weaknesses, God CAN be strong thru us!


04/20/11... i might have stolen @KevinMajeski 's tweet verbatim earlier. As I've said before & will surely say again, it's not my fault he's brilliant!!


04/19/11... I'm struggling here people! There's nothing wrong with talking with a Christian counselor :) #RealLifeTweets


04/19/11... Why YES, I always dress up when I'm going to get my head examined :) http://twitpic.com/4muvoz


04/19/11... Time to head out to "Real Life"... actually, my life HERE is totally REAL... I just don't have to put on make-up for life here :D


04/19/11... It's a cool, gray, rainy day here in central Indiana. Started the day with oatmeal at the breakfast table with both kids. Perfect start!!!


04/18/11... After school snack on the patio swing with my little boy - 6' tall, 18yo, heading to college in the fall little boy. Love my kids :D


04/18/11... Dear God, Please help my attitude to be more like yours today. Somebody is really getting on my nerves. Thank you & Love, Your Child


04/18/11... For me, there's a sense of excitement in the air... a new beginning following rest & renewal... my favorite time of year HOLY WEEK!


04/17/11... Plan B: We'll be having pigs n a blanket instead of hot dogs roasted over the fire. We forgot to buy buns. S'mores-we remembered everything! THEN: PlanB evening-Someone fixed the last boxed mac n cheese--made homemade. Set table for those home, daughter showed up-set another place :) THEN: Bonfire & s'mores w/just a minor Plan B. Our son bought GIANT Hershey bars - LOL. Oh well... overall, an entertaining dinner & evening.


04/17/11... 2.5 hrs cleaning up sticks & left over plant debris on a cool, sunny day is a good thing - right @KelliBays #WeBeFarmGirls :)


04/17/11... So much on my heart today... but not the words to articulate. Good music on & projects inside the house and outside do not require words.


04/15/11... Yes folks, I feel like a worn out toy that the dogs have been fighting over for YEARS! But, I'm going to http://on.fb.me/MusicOfBigBands


04/15/11... Well, apparently the doctor is scared of me & wants me to skip him & go get drugs at the pharmacy. First time out of the house since Sunday


04/13/11... "Sometimes we do everything right & we still lose." My thoughts, keep doing what you believe to be right. That's all the control you have.


04/13/11... Whatever hits the fan will not be distributed evenly.


04/13/11... I'm 100% positive I'm gonna die! I'm just trusting that it won't be due to this sore throat, cold, fever thing that's going on now.


04/12/11... If you are a child of God & you marry a child of the Devil, you're going to have trouble with your father-in-law. #maxonlife


04/12/11... Pretty sure i'm water-logged! The allergy med's i'm taking require me to drink LOTS of water, which requires me to take LOTS of breaks!


04/12/11... I was in a TOTAL PANIC trying to get ready for a wk's vacation-including a cruise-in less than 4 days but, I rolled w/it & had a GREAT TIME!


04/11/11... Scripture I taught the kids when they were very young-I have hidden Your Word in my heart O Lord, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11


04/11/11... I'm making myself work but, I feel ROTTEN! Good thing I love my "job" incorporating my spiritual gift of "communication aka social media" :D


04/10/11... I like to keep money that I find lying around the house.


04/10/11... Hooray! My middle of the night driving shift is over -- hooray!! Driving from 2:15am to 7:45am can be bad for a girl's waistline!


04/09/11... High of 85 projected today in New Smyrna Beach & S-U-N-N-Y. I don't wanna go home to Indiana yet! Heading out later today for a 17-hr drive
 
CRUISE :)


04/05/11... Admitting your mistakes, poor choices, shortcomings, etc. is tough for everyone, I'd suspect. But, it sure does make us all more REAL!


04/05/11... You know you're on a cruise when: 100 waiters from every country in the world EXCEPT the US are dancin & singing along to APPLE BOTTOM JEANS


04/05/11... ... just sitting in bed on my laptop... in my cushy Carnival robe... having coffee & fruit that my HUBBY brought to me :D KEY WEST today!!


04/04/11... This is the jankiest lifeboat drill I've ever done. This is my 11th cruise & 1st without lifejackets!


04/04/11... When you pray, it's best to be specific! We are so grateful that God provided a van for our drive. We just forgot to mention functional AC!!


04/02/11... Guest: "Oh, i see, Burt's changing his socks."  My husband to said "Guest", "Did you just call me Burt?" I'm so glad we brought Layke along to entertain!


04/01/11... Mini-van to borrow (check) Person to feed the cat (check) God’s still working on: House-sitter, Safe Trip, Good family time -- trusting!


04/01/11... A few SURE things for those who walk w/the Lord: He will provide for ALL our needs. Sometimes we won't agree with His methods of providing.


04/01/11... I have a million things to do... why am i lying down now? Oh, I know... my nails need time to completely dry. A girl has her priorities!!!

Jagged Puzzle Pieces

"He brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers." Psalm 78:16
Photo by T. Getz

With some things that have recently happened in my life & in the lives of others around me, I can't help but think about a small-yet powerful verse, Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say - rejoice!" Close friends of mine have lost loved ones recently or marked the anniversary of the passing of a cherished one or are anticipating the passing of a loved one soon. Marriages & relationships are under attack by Satan. Economic trials are pressing in on many in these day.

But, when I read Philippians 4:4, I can honestly say that I believe that promise. God doesn't ask me to rejoice in what happened but to rejoice in Him through whatever happens. He offers peace in the troubled times. He offers comfort in the times of loss. He offers reassurance in the times of uncertainty & fear. 

David offered the truth in Psalm 37:25a... "I've been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken..." I rejoice in the fact that God will bring His children through anything & everything. I rejoice in the fact that our struggles and hardships will play a part in the wonderful plan of the Father.  It's not always easy... but, God's promises are true. 

Often our "jagged puzzle pieces" are designed to fit perfectly into the masterpiece that will be revealed when we meet him face to face. 

Church Isn't Required for Strong Christians



Photo taken by T. Getz

Community... is BIG for me. I believe in making a conscious effort to connect & have real relationships with others. People in my local church fellowship encourage me, inspire me, and challenged me to be a better person -- not just a better Christian. I know some of their stories.  I know that life isn't that easy for most of them - as they face the up's & down's of life.

The Apostle Paul said in Hebrews 10:24-25, "Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love & good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." NLT

I love the New Living Translation  with the words of "encourage one another to outbursts of love & good deeds". I'm thinking we could all use some outbursts of love & good deeds - whether we're the recipient or the giver of those.

Can we effectively & consistently do this on our own - without community with other believers?  Who hasn't seen that the closer we get to God, the harder Satan tries to draw our eyes away from Him.  It's easy to fool ourselves into believing that our close relationship with God diminishes our need to be with His people in His house. Often the smallest gestures (such as just BEING at church) can be an encouragement to those around who are watching us.  I would like to encourage you today - if you claim the name of Christian - to make a commitment to regular fellowship with other believers.  And be reminded, we aren't always there for just us!  Sometimes other believers who know our story are encouraged by our regular attendance.


End of sermon.
Signed. 
The Preacher's Daughter -- but more importantly, 
A Daughter of the King :)


(written 14 Jan 2011)