January 9 - Rain, what's it to you? (1/9/13)

Rain is the giver of life to our parched land! You know, the "drought" we have been suffering for several years could be, if not ended, at least dented! Rain is a treasure, a drink from the heavens, showers of blessing. But as is the case with many gifts, it can also be dangerous. We all recognize the danger of too much rain, and the flooding that can occur. But in the winter months, there is another danger, especially in north Texas, and that is 32 degrees and lower. Just a degree or two and the rain can become sleet, or snow, or the dreaded (with good reason) ice. 

Maybe it could even be "black" ice… the ice you cannot see, especially dangerous at night. How can God allow a blessing of abundant rain to become a disaster? I remember once in the 80's when I went to the grocery store while the kids were at school, took my time selecting the produce, and checked out, walked out and almost slid all the way to Green Oaks Road! A trip of 15 minutes to pick up the children turned into 45 agonizing, hand gripping moments of terror as I slid down the road! Today, I should probably install an "app" to alert me of the impending danger! Just as in other areas of life, our job is to stay aware and alert as we enjoy the gifts God gives. He does give them and today we are to be grateful to Him. How much we need this rain!

Today, I thank you, God, for Your provision of rain. The weatherman said it had been almost a year since this area had enjoyed more than one inch of rain at a time. You see, we need that overflow to fill the lakes, the tanks and the underground wells or the aquifer. It is amazing to know that there are actual rivers underground. In San Antonio, there is a museum where you can actually see a depiction of this hidden well-spring of life! The Edwards Aquifer! My son in law and I used to laugh about the weatherman giving the statistic of how high or low this river was! Who knew? Up here there are several, and the one closest to us is the Trinity Aquifer. Very interesting? Or not. At an any rate, there are some things I want to note about today. 

I remember words my grandmother used to say, "Little girl, I thank God for every drop of rain, and you must never take it for granted. It is God's gift." Living today in gratitude and trust in God for His blessing of rain. I am keeping an eye to the sky and to the temperatures. A winter rain….not ice…is the best gift for today. A great excuse to curl up with our Father's Word, take a break in front of the fire and use the cold, rainy weather to say, "Thank you, Father, for every drop…and can we please, keep the temperature above 32 degrees, if possible? If not, please keep us safe from our own foolish driving!"

"I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season, there will be showers of blessing." Ezekial 34:26

Pray: Thank you, dear God, for Your blessing of rain. Thank you, too, for our beautiful earth and the way You sustain all the needs of the land with showers that only You can provide. 

Amen

January 8 - Lights Out! (1/8/13)

Are the lights out at your house? Not the electricity, but your Christmas

lights? Yesterday mine were turned off, taken down and stored. One of the 

days I dread. I know it has to come because I can't keep them up all year. If 

I did, my neighbors would talk (I suspect they do already, since most of 

theirs were off the day after Christmas) and the delight of the Christmas 

lights would lose their charm.

Part of the pleasure of Christmas lights and decorations is that they 

are only here for a time, about a month usually. That leaves 11 

months to anticipate them coming back. If they were up all year,

lights would lose their "special glow," and we would stop noticing

them.

Sort of like the bluebonnets that bloom in the spring that would become routine if they bloomed all year, no matter how spectacular they are in April. It always amazes me that people who live daily in the shadow of the most majestic mountain range in the Rocky Mountains tell me they "get used to it." What? That awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping mountain range becomes invisible? Or folks on Maui tell me they get tired of the constant ocean views and long for the mountains! Maybe those folks should switch homes every few months in order to maintain the new, amazing, incredible awe in their surroundings! We people all long for change, for new, spectacular and dramatic.

Today… I still have the most amazing light. It is always here, ready for me, gently calling me. I loved the first words of "Jesus Calling" today:

"Softly I announce my presence…hope in Me, the golden cord connecting you to heaven."

Wow! That is gently jaw-dropping for me. The images of light are still with me. Oh, the beautiful artificial Christmas lights have been stored away until next year, but the light of the world, my world and yours is still here. It is not going anywhere. And the light of Jesus never goes into storage!

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Pray:

Light up the dark days of winter, Father, with Your Presence. Fill our gray days with the sunshine of You, our friend who walks ahead of us, lighting our way and walks beside us in constant companionship, comfort and joy.

Amen

January 7 - The Bachelor, right or wrong? (1/7/13)

January 7 - The Bachelor, right or wrong?

"The Bachelor," is there an answer here? I found out that Sean Lowe is the first openly Christian man to be on the television show, "The Bachelor." Wow, what is a Christian doing on a reality show? And what is the dilemma for us if we watch this show?  Is it ok for us to watch reality television? Do I enjoy watching a train wreck? And the answer is "no, of course not!"

Sean Lowe

As a Christian, this is a dilemma for me. I want to be transparent and get feed back from you, too. This topic is not an easy one. If you know me at all you know that I have very definite, favorite television shows. If you count football, there are many more. And trust me, sports are the ultimate reality television shows!

As Christians, we can take the self-righteous stance of condemning all reality television, and go a step further and condemn all television…period. If you are in that camp, you might want to stop reading here. I am not very "religious" in that way. I love some things a lot and certain parts of television I enjoy I a lot. That is a true confession about me. I used to accept that as a part of me that I was not proud of. But, I also like to think that I had discernment. (Don't we all?) We like to justify what we enjoy and perhaps condemn what someone else does. We are human, after all. So here are the reality television shows that I think have merit (just my opinion): 

Survivor (my all time favorite, never missed an episode!)

The Amazing Race (what's not to love about racing and competitions involving traveling around the world?)

Dancing with the Stars (so beautiful, talented and amazing)

American Idol (love the fresh youth with big dreams)

Top Chef (cooking and cut-throat competition…great combo...plus sharp knives)

The Bachelor (still believe in finding true love even after 14 failures)

Ok, I don't care for the weight loss ones. They truly break my heart when they wear those revealing clothes and suffer so much. And I despise those that have some Housewives of a city name… those are too full of screaming and hateful behaviors. I guess intervention programs are ok, but I don't have any time left for self-help shows. This is all I can do, period…. I do have a BSF lesson to complete! And grandkids to play with! And the Bible is the greatest self-help book I know!

Here is an idea: let's participate in these shows if you enjoy them, as entertainment. Think of them as glancing entertainment as we are "passing through" this world. How about that? Does every book we read have to be a Christian one? How about "Moby Dick"…. a Christian principle in there if we look hard. Or "The Help" where you can find Jesus on almost every page, even though it is mostly secular in nature. In other words, if we keep our hearts and minds full of God's Word, we can be in the world and not totally polluted by it. We can be alert for God's truths in this world. And embrace them wherever they can be found.

Surely my argument here is full of holes, but I do want to be honest, to be true to myself, to look at my own behaviors before condemning others around us. If a show, book, magazine or movie degrades the human spirit, then God would want us to condemn it. That is where we have to use discernment every time we watch. Be very careful for God's Word is powerful to convict us of the evil in anything of this world. And if we ask Him, He will do that. What do you think?

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy - keep thinking of these things." Philippians 4:8

Pray: 

Lord Jesus, help us to get "real" with you and see the ultimate reality of life that happens when we encounter You. Guard our hearts and protect our minds from the evil in the world as we seek out the good parts. Help us not to judge each other, but allow You to be the judge of our own lives.

Amen

January 6 - A Secret Place (1/6/13)

January 6th - A secret place

Do you have a secret place? A quiet place, safe and serene. A place to talk to God, listen to Him, observe the beauty of His world or just quietly absorb the truths of His Word? Is it under a tree in the back yard? At a park near your house? On your porch, in your cozy bed on a cold winter morning, or a comfy chair in front of a fire? Can you go there when you aren't there? Close your eyes and be there, smell the outdoor smells, the smoke from the fire, hear the birds sing or just hear nothing…quiet…peace? Ok, imagine there are 6 precious loved ones running around, laughing, screaming and playing…cold outside, they are inside and you are not alone. Is the quiet place still there? Do you need to hide in a closet? Or sit outside in the driveway in your car? How long do you need to be there to feel refreshed?

For two blessed days I have been away from my usual. My normal 

routine was given up for the blessings of keeping three of my grands while my middle daughter and son in law got a well-deserved anniversary weekend. My resourceful oldest daughter and husband were the keys to the success. Their youth and experience played an enormous part in the wonderful time we had. So grandkids for 24/7 was not bad at all! It was delightful! There is something terrific about being "in charge" for a temporary amount of time. Your rules can sort of imitate the parents' rules without too much damage if you aren't perfect. A tiny slip up in bed time ritual, or forgetting to brush every single tooth for two days, won't do irreparable harm. The number one goal for all three of the adults was safety! And we succeeded there! My heart is full of gratitude to the team of three. It also made me appreciate again the work children can be and the pride I have in all of my children as parents! They are great at it! I can also testify to the joy of being the grandparent. It is a role that is the best of the best…. a little bit strict (very little) but a lot of love! Just lavishing them with love every chance I got! That was the best part!

In all the hustle, bustle, laughter, tears and survival tactics, I did find a short time to go to my quiet place. Just a few minutes with my Bible and a breath of God's Word, and it was multiplied to me. I was fine, I was filled up and refreshed in Him. I closed my eyes, opened the book with all the answers, asked God for His blessing and it was given. All was well, and all is well.

"He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust. ..He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you safe." Psalm 91:11

Pray: Thank you, Father, for the refreshment of time with You. Your protection is the source of peace in the midst of chaos and noise. Your presence is the protection for all those who trust in You. You are the amazing God of the secret places. 

Amen

January 5 - Who's the winner? (1/5/13)

January 5 - Who's the winner?

I watched an amazing football game last night. It had been advertised and "hyped" in the paper and television. Parts of it were amazing. There was lots of cheering and emotion on both sides. But when the final seconds ticked away, there was a winner. The winner was thrilled; the loser dismayed. Just like in life, the score reflected a victory for one of the teams. Today in "Jesus Calling" I read about a different kind of victory: the victorious life. Last night, the team that made the fewest number of mistakes were the winners. But in achieving the victorious life, you must make mistakes in order to win. That fact seems counterintuitive and somehow just wrong. However, we must remember that God doesn't measure the way the world does. When we make mistakes, it points to our own neediness and inability to be perfect.

Today I am not setting out in my day to "mess up" and fail. My goal today is to be good, Christ-like, sin-free and perfect. What are the chances I will succeed? Zero…nada…no way. When I fail, as I most certainly will, I look to the one who can forgive me. I live in dependence on Him not in perfection (and for that I am glad).

Just like the 10 Commandments were not set up by God so that we could keep them. No, God gave them so we would have a set of goals to attempt, a measure of perfection that we couldn't possibly achieve. Hooray! We are not losers because we are losers and are already forgiven. Living in dependence on God's forgiveness is true perfection. The more we fail the more we grow. Unlike the football team who achieved a victory last night that lasts for a day, a year or someone's record book, we can achieve the victorious life. The best way to live after all!

"The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves this who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18

"The victory is ours…with God we will gain the victory." Psalm 60:12

Pray: Father, today let us live the victorious life in Your blessed forgiveness. Help us to look to You for the joy in the victory! Amen

January 4 - Do you like me? (1/4/13)

January 4 - Do you like me?

The question for the day is "do you like me?" Do you care if people like you? I really didn't want to address this topic, but it won't let go, so I'm going there. I need to discuss something about me. Now that sounds self-centered, doesn't it?

Remember when Rick Warren said, "It's not all about you." And he is so right, but to get over myself I need to confess this to you. I really want you to like me. You may say everyone feels that way, but truth is, some people don't care if you like them or not. With me, it has always been important to be liked. As a child I learned early on that I could please people by certain behaviors. If I smiled sweetly, spoke politely (for the most part), gave hugs, looked adults in the eyes and obeyed them when they could see me, they would like me. Teachers were easy: they just wanted a peaceful classroom, a student who tried very hard and did her homework. Worked like a charm. With adults it worked mostly the same. With my peers, I found they liked me better when I was pleasant, was bossy when they needed to follow someone, helped them with their homework or problems, and said what they wanted to hear for the most part, too. Tada! I was popular. When I was around a person, I had a sense of what that person needed and filled it if I could. Generally, I was tenderhearted toward people and found out early on that most people had things about them that I liked, too. Sometimes I had to look harder to find it, but it was always there. I also liked shy people. One reason is that I had a very shy brother and early on, I saw how painful shyness can be. Since I wasn't shy, it was easy to help them. I could be their spokesperson or make them feel comfortable. Shy people were drawn to me because I saw it and really wanted to help, to make them feel comfortable, at least with me. Scott used to joke that one of the reasons he married me was that he never had to feel shy or make "small talk" at a party. Funny how opposites often attract. Ok, so I could do popular. That is not the problem or if you look at it another way, it is the problem.

God made me this way. He put a "friendly" gene in me. This is one of the gifts that has a double-edge to it. It can be bothersome, especially if I want to be in a hurry or efficient. It can be embarrassing to others, particularly your children. But the real down side is that I am a "people pleaser." It hurts when I think I am not liked or popular. I like to think that people like me and that can also be a handicap. When I am called to step out, step up and boldly tell others of the "good news" of Jesus, it can be difficult for me. Boldness is not the same thing as friendliness. After all the hearer (could be you) may not want to hear about salvation. Maybe "religious" people turn them off, or make them uncomfortable. Remember, I want you to be comfortable in my presence. But, I do believe God can use a "people pleaser." 

If you are not like me, please know that I "get" you. We have something in common. Yet wanting to please others more than anything else does not please God. Why? Because He wants the first desire of our hearts to be to please Him at any cost. Even at the cost of being popular. So, does He want me to stop being friendly? Of course not. For me, that would almost be like stopping breathing. What He does want is for me to use my "friendly" gift for Him, to win others to Him, to draw them to the reason for my joy. God wants us to be friendly and joyful in Him alone. To give out the real joy that only comes from forgiveness of sin. I do want to be your friend. I am sincerely interested in you. In addition to liking me back, it is my desire for you to know Jesus. So as I talk to the strangers in my world or friends or family, I am asking God to help me give out the message of the one true friend we have in Jesus Christ. I hope you still like me after this self-centered rambling message. I want Jesus to be honored by my friendliness today and that you also know Him as your best friend.

"Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." James 4:4

"Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend." James 2:23

Pray: Help us today, Father, to be friends to each other, to love You more than the world and to give out the truth boldly to a needy people. Amen

January 3 - Second Chances (1/3/13)

January 3 - Second Chances

A second chance….ok, I am not talking about the dreaded New Year's Resolutions which we agreed are off limits. I did read in the newspaper that 60% of people have already broken their resolutions anyway! Here I am talking about getting another chance to get something right. Maybe it is a habit we are trying to establish. The key is not to add to our "to do" list but subtract from it in order to be successful. This is the great part: we can take away a useless or troublesome activity in order to add something positive without missing a step. One second chance I am giving myself is to get to sleep earlier, in order to be more rested for what I want to accomplish and for the fun I want to have the next day. So far, I have only pushed bedtime back by 30 minutes, but I already feel the extra energy from more sleep. The equation for me is like this: subtract one television show or a second newspaper and add an hour of sleep. It seems simple but the reality is tough for me. There is no one here to tell me to "go to bed, for heaven's sake!" So, I stay up, fall asleep in my chair, wake up at 2 am, go to bed then and wake up the next day tired. My example is silly to some of you, but I'll bet you can think of a better way to use your time, too. And I can't wait to hear who you "accidentally" encouraged yesterday!

Here is the thought for today: "It is not every day you find someone who will give you a second chance, much less one who will give you a second chance every day! In Jesus, I found both!" This is not an original quote, I write down sayings I love on pieces of paper everywhere, mostly in my Bible where I found this one. But I cannot find the source of this one for the life of me. Probably Max Lucado or Ron Holland, but I thank whoever said it! A second chance to get extra sleep will help me to succeed this time! Even if it is in having fun with the grandkids!

"If You, God, kept records on wrong doing, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is Your habit, and that's why You are worshipped." Psalm 130:3 (The Message Bible)

"God gives us chance after chance." Job 33:29 ESV

Pray:

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the second chances You give us every day. Even if we fail, we know "there is no shadow of turning with You, You change not, Your compassions fail not, great is Your faithfulness, Lord to us." 

Amen