Faithful Friends

Last Tuesday, while reading from Francis Chan's book The Forgotten God, I heard very quiet but very distinct words in my spirit, "I want you to drop out of choir."  Anyone who truly knows me will tell you that this should have made my eyes grow large and have me standing and loudly saying, "WHAT?! WHY?!"  I truly LOVE singing God's praises to anyone who will listen.  I don't enjoy the spotlight so much, but I DO enjoy singing.  As a matter of fact, when I told two of my dear friends and coworkers at church, they even said I probably did just those things.  However, as soon as I heard those words, a peace and joy flooded my being as new words were spoken, "I want you to focus more on your Sunday school class."  Those who truly know me also know this....I live to teach God's Word.
It is not just something I really enjoy, it is what gives life to my being.  When any opportunity to do so arises, I cannot not teach. 
Years ago my husband thought I was suffering from burnout and asked me to take a year off from teaching.  What he didn't know was it wasn't burnout, but immature frustration regarding what I perceived as apathy in others. Can you say, "critical spirit?" I know that now, but didn't then, so I listened and took time off.  After two months of sitting in a class with him and him having to keep me from (in his words) "taking over" the class, he took me aside and said these remarkable words, "You HAVE to go back to teaching!!"  So, amazingly, I did NOT get upset at the thought of dropping choir, but rather excited instead.  However, even though I knew what I needed to do, I also needed to pass it before my husband, who usually tells me I need to be in choir as well as teach.  When I asked his opinion though, he told me to do what I felt needed doing. 
I once wrote an analogy of husbands and wives, where the wife is a china tea cup, very fragile if dropped, but strong enough to hold the heat of any day, especially when she knows her husband, the saucer is holding her in order to catch anything that boils over and to keep her from falling. However, she feels completely secure when she knows that her husband is held by the hands of almighty God through salvation in Jesus Christ.  My husband is such a man.  Because of this, I know I can go to him with anything.  Sometimes I need to wait until he is really awake, as his job is very demanding and makes him physically exhausted, but I know, when he is physically able, he will listen and tell me what I need to hear even if it is not what I want to hear. He is not just a good friend.  He is a best friend.
His birthday is Wednesday.  A couple of months ago I got an amazing deal on two tablets where I only paid a third of the price.  I decided these would be our birthday gifts, as we didn't need them per say, but they do come in useful at times.  He agreed.  However, now as his actual birthday is approaching, I find myself wanting to do something extra special for him.  So I went to the One with the answers and He gave me the best answer possible.  This entire article, for lack of a better word, has been written in order to pass this idea forward to anyone truly seeking to bless their spouse.  I told God that I could make my husband his favorite meal of hamburgers, potato salad, and Angel food cake with strawberries and frozen vanilla yogurt, but I wanted to do more.  SO, I asked God to bless him with a stirring of the Holy Spirit inside him; to help him feel His Presence and know that he knows God is not just sitting there, but is at work revealing a dream that is bigger than anything he has ever dreamed before.  Then I asked that He stir up joy and peace regarding that dream and a determination to see it fulfilled regardless the cost.  I can think of no better gift than this, because there simply isn't one.  So, if you really want to do something EXTRA special for your loved on, pray a similar prayer for them, then pray that God prepares your heart to receive it as well!!
God bless any and all who read this...in Jesus' name!!
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

Eclipse No More

The solar eclipse has been an ongoing topic for months. Since two of our children and one daughter-in-law are all teachers, it has been spoken of possibly more in our homes than most due to lesson planning around it. Then came the day when they announced the public schools in our area were shutting down for that day due to the expectations of 3 MILLION people heading into our state for viewing. This could cause so much congestion that students may not make it home and then there is the liability factor. If ONE child took off their glasses they could be sued to the max...at least that is the fear.
When our daughter called to tell me about the cancellation of classes, this thought went though my mind: "An eclipse is a picture of why you cannot look in my face. You see through a mirror darkly, just as you must look through the dark glasses. If you looked without them, your retina would burn and you would go blind. This is why Moses could look at Me only from the back. I do not wish any harm on anyone, and in your present state you need protection from the power of My presence."
Jesus stands as our protection. We can approach the throne of grace boldly because Jesus went before us and became our "dark glasses" we must wear at all times until the day we shed this body for perfection. Then we can join Jesus as He presents us to the Father, only then it will be face to face.

Transplanted: To Be or Not To Be

I have discovered something about myself; while I enjoy change within the confines of my comfort zone, I have a fear of having that comfort zone itself transplanted.  I woke in the middle of the night last evening with dread filling my being.  I realized that the fear came from the idea of the remote possibility of moving away from my children and grandchildren (or them moving away from me).  I am used to being there for them at the drop of a hat.  I enjoy the re-pore we have with each other and fear losing it.  So I began praying.  I finally was able to tell God that I would go wherever He leads, but it wasn't easy.  It still makes my stomach queasy, but I WILL go wherever He leads, even if it means leaving the home I have lived in for 38 years.
This morning in my quiet time, I was meditating on Jesus being eternal and how the world in general has difficulty comprehending this.  He was born after all!  Yes, He died and rose again and NOW lives eternally, but to say He always was and IS God seems incomprehensible.  However, as I wrote out the dialogue I was having with God (I start writing and as He speaks to my heart, continue to do so until finished) this is what took place:
"In the beginning was the Word..." John 1:1
In the beginning of what?  The beginning of time, but You always were, are and will be because You do not dwell in time.
Word - Logos - something said (including thoughts) - a topic of discourse, reasoning and motive - the Divine expression.
Sometimes we forget that Jesus did not originate at His physical birth.  He has always been with You and is part of You.  It is hard for us to wrap our finite minds around infinity.  Yet You have shown us in Your creation that infinity does indeed exist.  Numbers - you can always add or subtract one more, yet zero remains constant, just as You do.  Light - the closer we get to the speed of light, which we can never reach due to the exponential need for energy to do so, the slower time becomes, intimating that at the speed of light time stands still, which means it no longer dwells IN time.  You ARE light and in You is no darkness at all.  (I John 1:5) You do not dwell in time for You are eternal.
Suddenly my thoughts and writing changed to the following:
A seed dropped in good soil dies to itself (its will to remain a seed) and grows into a plant with roots to nourish it from the earth and blades or branches and leaves that reach up for life from the light of the Sun - eternity.  When we choose, like the seed, to die to self in order to be planted where You desire, and grow as we reach to the Light of Your eternal Salvation, we become fruit bearers for Your kingdom: the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, which draw all people to us to dwell under the Light and feast on its goodness.  Sometimes, however, You transplant us.  It is for our own good.  Our soil, perhaps, has become depleted of the nutrients we need in order to flourish. You desire continued growth.  You want us to flourish!!  Help us (me) not to fear, but to rejoice in the plans You have for us, knowing we will grow stronger and produce more fruit because of the transplanting.  In Jesus' name I ask it!!
While I do not know for a certainty that any of us will be moving any time soon, I know that God desires me to be prepared, just in case, so that if and when the time comes, I do not throw a fit, but bow down to His will so that I can continue to grow and serve Him to the fullest.

Called People

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14

We read this and cry out for forgiveness and healing of our land, or country.  At least this is what I have witnessed throughout my life.  But a closer look reveals something a bit more intense, in my opinion.
If My people, who are called by My name...It takes a humble spirit to take on someone else's name.  To do so states that you trust that taking their name in place of your own is to your benefit.  When a wife takes her husband's name, she is saying she believes it is better to leave all she has ever known and experience life with him.
And pray and seek My face...prayer is communication with God.  We can throw words at Him and hope He hears and answers, or we can tell Him our heart's desire and then search His face in order to see His eyes and watch as He forms the words of His answer so that we REALLY hear what he has to say regarding our issues.  Seeking His face means we truly desire to hear and understand His answer.
As His bride, shouldn't we WANT to hear what He has to say?
And turn from their wicked ways...In order to really seek His face we MUST turn away from all the other faces with voices that cry out to us to do things "our way."  We must trust that whatever is not God's way is going to lead us astray.  The bride must turn from those she has been interested in in the past in order to face the future with the man she trusts most.
THEN will I hear from heaven and heal their land.  It will be an automatic response.  It is a promise.
When a wife takes her husband's name, she becomes his joint heir.  Whatever he inherits becomes hers as well.  This became abundantly clear to me over the past couple of months.  When my husband's mom passed away, He became heir to 1/6 of her estate.  I will share in that inheritance.
When a person takes on the name of Christ, they become joint heirs with Him of all that the Father owns.....EVERYTHING!!  However, just as it takes a lot of work gaining that inheritance (cleaning, selling, sharing, etc.) it takes a lot of work to gain our full inheritance from God.  We can enter heaven and hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant," and be placed in charge of many things (Matthew 25:21) or it can be like simply escaping through fire. (I Corinthians 3:15)
As His bride, I want to share in everything He has for me, now and forever.  Eternity began for me the moment I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  Ephesians 5:22 tells me to submit (choose obedience - not forced) to my husband as I do to the Lord.  That tells me I can practice submitting my life to Christ by submitting to my husband.  That does NOT mean my husband is to Lord it over me as "boss man" but rather that he is to love me as Christ loved the Church and was willing to give His life for her. (Ephesians 5:25-28)
If we truly want God to heal our land, it must begin in us! If we take His name and call ourselves Christian, then we must accept the fact that He is our Groom. We must share with Him and look Him in the "eyes" through the study of His word, truly seeking what it is He has to say to us personally.  We must turn away from our selfish past and trudge joyfully alongside Him, working, playing and resting as He leads.  THEN our land will automatically be healed, at least our personal land will, as our homes begin to be filled with love and acceptance as we practice our faith through the sanctity of marriage.  As husbands give their all in order to reveal their love to their wives, wives will cheerfully choose to become all that the husband desires.  Communication will flow from eye contact and full attention.  Marriages will heal and homes (our land) will be rescued from destruction.
Lord, when I cry out to You to heal our land, help me remember that it begins with me.  I can choose to emulate all You desire for us through the way I relate to my spouse in marriage.  Help me remember that others are seeking answers through watching our lives.  May our marriage reveal the answers they need.

Don't Choke

For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feePsalm 22:16

Rebellion against God...we are all guilty, unfortunately.  Here God compares it to dogs.
Rebellion on its own is bad enough.  It makes one yip, and snarl at passersby.  It cries out words like "unfair," "mine," "I want," and all those other self-pitying words that go hand in hand with rebellion.
As it grows, we begin to bark and howl against anything that gets in our way.  And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one. Isaiah 56:11  We begin to believe that if we bark loudly enough, we will instill fear into others and they will allow us to have our way.
The one thing we fail to take notice of is the leash.  You see,  our lives are on a leash (so to speak) and God is holding the other end.  We have free reign to go wherever we want as far as the leash allows. When we are walking close to Him, our desire will be to remain close to His side and we are grateful for the safety the leash represents.  But when rebellion sets in and we see something we think we have to have, be it a tangible or an intangible, we jump forward and start straining against the chain.  God is not going to let go of the other end.  We are His creation and He will allow us free reign to a point, but He decides where the leash ends.  The problem that ensues is that the further we get away from Him, the more we strain against the leash, pulling, struggling, barking, "I want, I want, I want!"  God will speak words to calm us, reach out to pet us, call our name!!  But if we choose to turn a deaf ear because we want what we want, we will continue to strain.  We make ourselves sick with the straining.  We choke, which may cause us to let up a bit then strain again.  We choke to the point of vomiting. God will remind us to stop making ourselves sick.  Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11
We may let up a bit then strain again.  If we continue to refuse God's voice, we may eventually choke ourselves to death. 
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;  Philippians 3:2
Rebellion is all around us, seeking a way to deceive and draw us away from the Good Shepherd.  If it can get us drawn away, we will stop herding in sheep and begin to strain against the chain, which is simply His perfect will for our lives, and instead chase sheep away. It is our choice, so pray for wisdom, discernment and determination to remain close to His side.
Lord, may we ever stay close to your side as those who herd sheep rather than become those who chase them away in fear.   May our love for You become so great as to make all else seem trivial in comparison.

Time to Get Moving

Jesus told this parable: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood off by himself and prayed, "God, I thank You that I am not like other people........But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified. Luke 18:9-14

I can picture this in my mind so easily, because I have been both men.  For 16 years I was too proud to admit I couldn't get to heaven of my own accord, but when I finally gave in and admitted my sinfulness and need of redemption, I was set free.
I see a man who has worked hard all his life to obey God's Law.  As an adult he looks back and sees he has done a pretty good job of it.  He feels blessed and honored to be able to go into the temple and tell God of all his achievements.  What doesn't register with him is that his pride in his personal achievement is sin itself AND that he could never have done as well as he has if God wasn't involved.
I see a second man who has come to realize that his life achievement of making money has done nothing but alienate him from his own people and his God.  So he cries out in embarrassment and
humility for God's forgiveness and receives it.
I feel badly for the Pharisees of today, as they have been blinded by their own pride.  I also feel badly for Christians, who like the tax collector, have cried out for forgiveness and have been given it, but they are still standing in that temple crying out to God about how miserable a person they are.  They have neglected to read on and see that the tax collector WENT HOME!!  Not only that, he went home JUSTIFIED by almighty God!!  He probably went home in tears of great joy, with the realization that he had been cleansed and released from the penalty of his past sins.  In his rejoicing, he most likely went home to figure out how he could give back to God in acts of generosity to others!  This would compound his joy and God's in him!!  After all, God loves a cheerful giver!! II Corinthians 9:7.
My prayer for my brothers and sisters in Christ is that they all come to realize that God wants us to walk with Him and be happy.  If we walk with anyone or anything else, our happiness will only be superficial.  But if we walk with Jesus, our happiness will be made complete in Him!!  When you sin, confess it by ALL means, but do not wallow in it!!  Wallow instead in the joy of His forgiveness, then get up and get going!!  There is much to do, and if we stay in the temple crying out for forgiveness already given, it is not going to get done!!  Rejoice!! and again I say REJOICE!! (Phil 4:4)  Paul thought we should too!! 
Be blessed!!

Solar Power

Mirrors....reflectors of light.  We are told to think of ourselves as mirrors that reflect the light of Jesus.  But what happens to a mirror when it is placed in a dark corner?  Absolutely nothing.  You can no longer see that it even exists unless and until a light is shined on it.
I was thinking about this as I read Philippians 2:15.  So many thoughts went through my mind, I had to stop, take a breath and do a minute of research to make sure the thoughts were coming from God and not my flesh.
Here is what the verse says, though I am going back a verse to make it more clear:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. {NASV}
Here's the thing.  At the time of the Bible being written, a mirror was their best analogy in regards to reflecting God's light.
 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Today we have a better one - solar powered lights.  These amazing things are powered by a battery that absorbs the sun's rays and then converts it into energy for the light itself.
This is much better than the mirror analogy, because of what happens to a mirror when it is placed in a dark corner.  It can no longer reflect light, so it remains dark. A solar powered light will absorb the light, then reflect it back out even in the darkest of places, because it is powered by the light it absorbed. It has transformed the light into power.
Many a Christian is like the mirror.  As long as they remain in God's Son light, they are great reflectors.  But the moment any darkness creeps upon them, they can no longer shine.  They only know how to reflect.  But the Christian who takes time to sit at Jesus' feet and absorb His words into their very being becomes empowered by His light.  Our minds become transformers for His glory and when the darkness comes, we are ready to shine.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Another really great thing to think about is that when many Christians who choose to be transformers rather than simple reflectors band together, the Light they pour forth can eradicate the darkness.  This is what we are called to do.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:23-25
 ( NIV)
Mirrors cannot absorb and so when the light is gone, not only is the reflection forgotten, but so is the mirror for a time, until it is needed again.  Oh that we would all chose transformation over reflection!

 
 

On Running

....and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...Hebrews 12:1b NAS

...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, NIV

...and let us run with patience this race that is set for us. ABPE

Yesterday I babysat for my neighbor's 3 month old daughter.  She is a breastfed baby, which I personally think is awesome, but presents a problem when the child refuses to take a bottle and Mom must work.  As I held her she was angry for two reasons; she was hungry and she didn't want that bottle!!  At least she didn't think she did.  She had to make a choice: eat what she was given or be hungry.  I held her close, whispered to her that she could do this, kissed her forehead and prayed, the whole time holding that bottle securely in her mouth.  Just before she latched on and started to drink these words floated gently through my mind: "You have to do what's best for them." I knew that voice so well!! The Father was speaking to my heart and I responded with repentance.  I told Him that we, His children, are just like the baby.  We want one thing, but He knows there is something we need more that is better.  He holds on to us as we kick and scream, but out of his great love for us, he keeps the bottle in our mouth.  We must choose.  Do we keep on screaming and refuse to eat, or do we gratefully latch on and become filled?  What does all this have to do with running the "race set before us?"  Read on...

Everyone has their own personal race to be run before almighty God.  As a parent and grandparent who adores children, I have difficulty watching others struggle in their race.  I tend to want to jump in and run it for them.  When one of my daughters-in-law was in labor for the first time (I was blessed to be able to be in the birthing room with all three of the grandchildren she bore us) she cried out, "I can't do this!" I took her hand and looked her in the eye and said, "If I could, I would do this for you, but I can't.  You CAN do this and you will."  I meant those words 100%.  We hate to see those we love hurting!  But if I could have and did take over for her, she would never have experienced that overwhelming joy of giving birth.  I would have robbed her of that amazingly awesome experience and she may have not wanted to give us the other two!!  It was best for her to do the birthing.  

When we see our children struggling as they get older, it is hard not to step in and take over.  We know what to do, because we have been there, done that.  We have to stop and think about how we would NOT know what to do if we hadn't gone through it and then allow them to make their own mistakes.  We can give advice, which may be accepted or rejected, but we must not run their race for them.  In so doing, we may be screamed at, lied about and even told we are hated, but as long as we keep assuring them of our love and that they CAN make it through this whatever it may be, when they DO get through it, they will be grateful, stronger and more knowledgeable for it.

Being a parent and grandparent is wonderful, amazing and joy giving.  It is also heartbreaking at times, because we see mistakes being made and want to "fix them" or prevent them if possible.  We must remember that they have a race before God they must run, as do we.  If we try to run their race for them, not only are we robbing them of completing their race, but we keep ourselves from running our own.    "You have to do what's best for them."  How God's heart must ache for us.  He has EVERY answer.  He has given us those answers in His word; His "advice" to us in the form of commands for living.  He gave us promises to go with those words, yet we want to run our race our own way, so we get off track and end up taking the "long way round."  

I have made many mistakes as a parent.  We all do.  I can either sit around bemoaning the fact, or learn from it.  Learning from it makes me a better grandparent, but still not perfect.  One day I may be a great grandparent.  Perhaps by then I will be better.  Actually, by then I will most likely be unable to even try to run someone else's race for them.  And that will be a blessing.  

Being Dead (an oxymoron)

I am dead.
I have to keep reminding myself of that.  If I don't, I begin to feel sorry for myself.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT
 Living in Christ is the only way that leads to true happiness.  
A few days ago it hit me that in complaining about how tired I am and how I have so many things to do I am making an accusation against God.  So I reminded myself - I am dead.  Then I told God I was sorry for being selfish and told Him, "Thank You for giving me a body that at 58 can still do the work You have assigned.  Thank You that my mind is still alert and thinks clearly.  Thank You for work to do, because otherwise You would be finished with me and I would be useless."
Today I read this: Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it; for all is theirs to help them towards heaven; therefore if poverty be good they shall have it; if disgrace or crosses be good they shall have them; for all is ours to promote our greatest prosperity. - Richard Sibbes.  Afterwards, those three short words "I am dead" came to mind again and I was refreshed.  Being dead allows me to forgive those who would misconstrue my words or actions and turn them into a lie.  Being dead allows me the freedom to become a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Being dead allows me to love with unconditional love, because my personal feelings no longer matter.  In other words, being dead allows Christ to live in me. When others wish me dead, I can smile, because their wish has been granted.  
Being dead in Christ is what we are.  Our flesh hungers for regeneration and tries to achieve it on its own through works.  We must continue to remind ourselves that we are dead and unable to resurrect ourselves, but Christ in us will do it for us at His return.  God is love and love is patient.  Let us live in Him and remain patient for His work to be completed in us on that great and glorious day when heaven and earth will become new and become one and we are given back our bodies in perfect form to live in perfect unity with each other and with God.

Security Squeals

Life, in general, seems scary.  As we walk along our path, we come to sharp turns and forks and become fearful that if we turn the corner we will be met by a tiger, or if we take the wrong road at the fork, we may be decimated. We need to remember to be like little children.

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NIV

The first time I played hide and seek with any of my children and now grandchildren they would tiptoe around looking for me in fear that a boogeyman would jump out and get them unless they found me first.  Once they realized it would always be me at the end of the seeking and that if they couldn't find me then I would find them, they quit being fearful and joined in the hunt with glee. 
This was brought to my mind as I studied this morning.

I haven't written in quite a while, not because God was being silent, nor because I wasn't seeking more of Him, but because sometimes life becomes so entangled that God lays it on my heart to take time off and just be quiet with Him. I need those times, as we all do, to simply be still, be held and know that He alone is God. Today He laid it in my heart to take up computer and write again.

The people who know their God will display strength and take action.  Daniel 11:32 NASV

I have been dealing with physical pain in my hands, feet, outside left leg, lower back and shoulders for a while now, ever since my son-in-law, whom I have loved as a birth son for almost twenty years now, decided he wants a divorce.  This was quite a shock to my system and allowed fibromyalgia to find a weak spot to manifest itself.  I am not blaming him.  It is weakness in myself that allowed it.  I let fear take hold of my heart; fear of other loved ones reactions, fear for my daughter and their 4 children and the grief of loss.  I am now returning to that childlike faith that reminds me it will be Father God I find waiting just around the corner and in the fork of the road regardless which path I take.  He always goes before me and encompasses me to protect me when I let Him. 

Yesterday I was playing with our youngest grandson, who is twenty months old now.  All at once I ran off and hid.  We have played this game many a time now, so he no longer has any fear of it at all.  I called out for him to come find me.  He squealed and took off running to do so.  When he found me, even though I yelled "boo!" he simply grinned and ran to hug me, then asked, "More?"  So we did it again...and again....and again.  He knows that I will be there and will keep him from harm.

This morning, as I contemplated how divorce is indeed worse than the death of a loved one, because the scab of healing keeps getting pulled off over and over again to refresh the wound, and how I would possibly never again hear "Hi, Mom," and gain a hug from this one I hold dear, God reminded me of this simple game of hide and seek yesterday.  He whispered to me that I needed to trust Him.  He will be around every corner as well as walking with me everywhere I go.  I need to remember that squeal of delight as my little grandson runs to find me and do the same as I seek His will in my life.
I will rise up and take action and hopefully do so with glee. Then perhaps I will get to hear God speak to my heart the words Daniel heard in Daniel 12:13

"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."

In Jesus' Name

Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 ASV

I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free. Matthew 18:18 GWT

These are words spoken by Jesus Himself.  That means they are of utmost importance and we need to truly understand just what He is saying.  I don't think we really do, however.  I'm certain there are some who have come to understand more fully than others, but I am just as certain that more have NOT than have.
Jesus also spoke the words, "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do..." John 14:13a NASB] What did we do with that?  We made it a ceremony where we actually speak the words, "I ask this in Jesus' name...."  We don't even stop to think about it anymore.  We can actually be offering a prayer of thanksgiving and still end it this way, when in actuality we have asked nothing.  The truth of the matter is, if we are praying according to the Word of God and walking in His Spirit, then we ARE praying in His name.  We in Him and Him in us, just as He asked of the Father in John 17.
In the same manner, we have made it a ceremony that we must actually say the words, "I bind," or "We bind," before anything is bound here on earth and "I loose," or "We loose," in order for anything be loosed.  However, I have come to recently understand that I bind and loose things on a daily basis without even thinking about it.  
Children are especially susceptible to binding and loosing.  When we tell a child they are pretty are handsome we are loosing them to believe themselves as such.  If we tell them too often, they can become conceited and we have turned what should have been loosing into a binding.  The same with negative words.  When we tell a child they are lazy or worthless, they come to believe it and we have bound them to this type of lifestyle.  
Adults are not invincible to this.  We call neighbors worthless or thieves, and while it may seem to be true, when we speak it, we are binding them in our mind's eye in such a way as to keep us from seeing their worth.  Odds are, they heard the same things from someone as a child and so are now living that lifestyle.  We must begin to see people as Father God does....infants.  When we look at an infant we see nothing but innocence.  And that is my AHA moment of thought.  Does that mean we trust everyone?  Not at all.  It simply means we love them.  True love not only casts out fear, it accepts people where they are and desires to see good happen in their lives.  In order for that to take place, we must stop binding them with words of hatred and disdain and begin praying for them....in Jesus' name!!

Whatever Forever

On March 19^th our church family had our Easter Eggstravaganza. We went to our four satellite churches and the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home and had a giant celebration with them. These are considered underprivileged families and children, so we enjoy sharing with them food, fun and fellowship.

We have done this for two years and are already planning for next year. This verse is what helped me get out of bed on a very chilly 34 degree morning during what was still considered winter to go play outside for five hours. It warmed into the forties by the time we closed shop, but the wind was still nippy. However, I was privileged to teach the Bible lesson to the little children up through second grade, so needless to say, I was ecstatic.

I love doing these kinds of events. I enjoy playing and speaking with the children mostly, as that is where God has called and placed me, but this year something happened. I was in the middle of reading a fictitious book called Quaker Summer. I had only read a couple of chapters by the time “EGG” came around, so had yet to see what God was in the process of teaching me in those moments. After all was said and done, I delved into the book to finish before I had to return it to the library.

The story is about a middle aged woman who is in a spiritual crisis and doesn’t understand what it is God is trying to tell her. She comes upon a mission for the homeless and/or drug addicts, etc. quite by accident and fears for her and her husband’s lives, yet somehow feels drawn to return. A nun is running the mission and she is quite the personality, to say the least, but you can’t help but fall in love with the woman’s character. Our heroine returns one day and has a talk with the sister running it and is told (to make a fairly long story short) that she needs to look at people as being Jesus. (Matthew 25:40)

My spiritual eyes did a double take at this point. My thoughts: Okay God, You are getting ready to lay something on my heart. I need to be prepared. What is it?

After a couple more chapters I knew where I had gone wrong in the past. I tend to only see the positive side of things, so it was quite an eye opener for me. When I do good things for people, like “EGG,” I am doing them to Jesus, BUT (and this to me was a REALLY huge but) when I do something like gossip about someone, say something in anger to someone, call someone stupid or lazy, and all the other negative things a person might do to others, I am doing them to Jesus as well. This is something I knew, but hadn’t taken to heart. Now I have and pray it pops into my head every time I start to become angry out of having my feelings hurt.

Whatever is a very strong word, much like forever. Our actions and words have eternal effects either for the positive or the negative. Lord, make mine for the positive!!

Servant or SERVANT?

"Absorb this", my soul says.  "God says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant ... I will also make You a light of the nations, so that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'" Isaiah 49:6

As I read this, I realize that God is speaking to Jesus before His incarnation, yet Jesus asked the Father to make us one with Himself and the Father through His Spirit.  (John 17) He also calls us the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14), so He is in effect speaking to all His children and says "too small a thing!!!"

Not too long ago, just a couple of weeks ago, as a matter of fact, our pastor spoke about the fact that we should net be "settlers."  We should keep striving to be the best we can be for God's glory.  It was a very simple and basic message that sort of spoke to me, but didn't really hit the mark....until today when I read this passage. (I still find it sadly amusing that so many Christians think the Old Testament is no longer relevant and should be used as a reference for the New.  Yes, it should be a reference, but there is such an extreme amount of information in it to learn which makes it MUCH MUCH more than simply a reference.  Man's writings today are a reference, but the whole of God's Word is our textbook.)

Some verses are harder to digest than others and this may be one of them.  To think that being God's servant is not enough is hard to comprehend.  We teach our children from birth practically that being God's servant is the all in all, yet here He says it is not enough!!  What does that mean?

As a parent and grandparent I can digest enough to understand that being His child (or servant) is lovely and we are greatly loved because of it, but if we do not return that love it hurts Him desperately.  All parents can relate (and some of us grandparents) to hearing a child say those dreaded words of "I hate you!" Most children say this at one time or another, and I would venture to guess that all have probably thought it at one time or another when they didn't get their way.  When we love people enough to discipline them, knowing they will become angry with us for doing so, we are going to have a moment of dislike and even hatred from them.  I know I have.  It was a bit easier to take from my children, but I have had two grandchildren speak those words to me and it cut through me much deeper than when my children said it.  Grandparents are supposed to be adored.  We are supposed to be spoilers of grandchildren.  I disagree.  If I spoil them, I am ruining their lives, so I love them deeply, do my best to bring them joy, but discipline them when they deliberately step out of the boundaries set before them.  So, yes, I have been told I am hated, but then the next moment I am hugged, asked for forgiveness and loved once again, so it's worth it! 

So I understand this in part.  God is going to discipline (disciple) us to be MORE than just His children.  Just as I want more for my children and grandchildren than to be claimed as their (grand)parent, He wants more for us than to be simply called His children.  If my family goes around telling people they belong to me and then act like the devil, I am going to be ashamed of their behavior and of myself for not having shared with them how they should behave.  God is saying the same here, "Calling me Father and Master is not enough.  You must show the world Who I am!"  Therefore, He is going to reveal to US Who He is.  I reveal to my family who I am by telling them what I desire of them and living it in front of them.  He does the same for us.  Listening and sometimes obeying when no discomfort is involved says we are His servants and are grateful for our future reward, but tuning our heart to  obey regardless of the cost in this life, that says we are His dedicated and trustworthy servant, He is truly are Master and we are His to command.  A child can be rebellious, disobedient, angry, lazy and disrespectful and we still love them.  When they are obedient, gracious, honest, respectful and obedient we are bursting at the seams with joy over them! 

This is my prayer...that I will make God burst at the seams in joy over my dedication to Him.  It is not enough to be called His servant.  Father, make me truly mean that!!!

Our Daddy's Hands

When I was a little girl, I marveled at my daddy's hands.  He had really large hands and that is not simply from a little girl's perspective.  When they were to be married, my momma bought the largest ring and had it sized up for him.  Yes, he had really large hands, especially for a six foot tall man.  Those hands made every one of his five children feel safe for the majority of the time.  There were, however, times when we knew we deserved discipline and those same hands would be what gave it.  I am not certain how my siblings felt, but they probably felt pretty much as I, that I would rather have five or more swats from Momma than one from Daddy's hand. 
I remember a time when I was five or six years old.  I had done something that greatly displeased Daddy and he called me to himself.  My bottom ached just at the thought.  He was changing a tire, I believe, so was sitting on the ground.  He pulled me over his lap and swatted me once.  That's all it took too!  The tears welled up and I walked away vowing I would never do "that" (I can't remember what it was) ever again.  My Daddy didn't like to spank though.  Many times he would tell me that I was going to receive a spanking when I got home, but when he looked into my tear filled  eyes, he would forgive me instead and cry with me.  Funny thing is, those times made me just as, if not more, determined to never do whatever I had done again than an actual spanking.  I couldn't stand it that I had made my daddy cry!!
Then we all "grew up."  As teenagers we were no longer quite so intimidated by those hands.  They didn't seem as big as before.  This is a necessary part of becoming an adult in the physical world.  Once we are, we must come to the place where our earthly father's hands are let go and we take hold of the hand of our spouse instead.  We are still his child, we just depend on our spouse to be our helper in life. What we don't stop to think about until and unless we become parents and are blessed with watching our own children grow and mature into their own families, is that our daddy will always be there until the day he goes home.  If we have a problem, he is there for advice, or to help financially, or even to fix a broken something - even to the point of holding us when our heart is broken for whatever reason.
As a Christian, I have come to realize that God's hands are not smaller than I originally thought, but larger......MUCH larger.  As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible for me to begin to visualize in my mind's eye how large they must be: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained..." (Psalm 8:3 NKJV) 
"The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:5 NKJV)
"Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together." (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV)
And these are but a few of the verses that describe all He holds in His hands, our life being just one of them.  If God can hold all of creation in the palms of His hands, then why in the world should I fear going anywhere He lays on my heart to go, or stay anywhere He bids me stay?  Should I fear the condemnation of man, simply because I am called to do something other than he fills he would call me to do?  Should I fear nature and what it might do, or even the evil one and his plots against me?  More and more I begin to understand "But Yeshua said to them, 'Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.'" (Aramaic Translation)
Not only are His hands more than big enough to protect me from any weapon formed against me, they are big enough to discipline me, hold and comfort me and fight for me.  He even made us a promise time after time to remind us of this fact. Joshua 1:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Phil. 4:6-7, John 14:27, I John 4:18 and many, many more verses tell us time and again that we don't need to fear anything.  God will lead us, protect us and get us to the other side safely.  All we need do is believe and trust Him.  The rest is in His hands. 

The Art of Communication

Yes, but......  One of our favorite phrases when we disagree with something said.  What I am personally guilty of in these situations, generally speaking, is not paying attention to what is behind the words being spoken.  Because of this, I have already taken the words and twisted them to what I believe or what I want to believe, is being said.  I take them out of the context of the speakers life and place them into the context of my own and they become distorted, because they don't fit with my life.  I haven't lived their life nor they mine, so we disagree, partially because we simply don't understand from where the other person is coming.
God, on the other hand, has witnessed our lives past, present and even future and therefore knows exactly what we are going through.  Not only that but, because he created us in the first place, He knows our heart and how we are going to react in any given circumstance.  If anyone truly understands us, it is He.  For instance, when the words, "I hate you," are spewed forth from one of His children's mouths, He hears the heart say, "I hate the way you are treating me right now."  We being human, however, simply hear the "I hate YOU," and become defensive rather than communicating what our true intentions were, which could bring peace to a strained situation.  Our fear is that what we say will be misinterpreted and make things even more volatile.  So, instead, we tend to say what we think the other person would want to hear or we become defensive and turn the tables, so to speak, bringing up things from the past that they have done that hurt us and a raging battle ensues. We have lost the art of communication.
The funny thing is, we have actually dissected and removed a portion of the meaning of the word "communication."  It comes from the Latin word communicare which means to share.  We have changed it simply to "the imparting or exchanging of information or news." (Merriam Webster)  So, what's the difference?  Sharing means that both are partakers of the information.  We instead tend to simply put information out there never bothering to check and make sure it was received properly so that it can be truly shared.  For instance, if  I bake some cookies, set them on the table and say, "I baked some cookies for my class," I have communicated according to our definition today, but I have not truly shared.  I have only stated what I deemed necessary.  If I truly want to share, I will make sure the message was received properly.  First I will ask if I was heard.  Then I will emphasize that I made them for my class, not anyone who happens to see, smell and desire one.  If there are extras, I need to convey how many extras there are that can be eaten, possibly even set that number aside for the one(s) with which I am sharing.  I use this example, because it comes from my personal life.  More times than I can count I have made cookies, candy, cupcakes, etc. for my kids in Sunday school and, because I did not truly share but only gave the information of what I'd done, one or more would be eaten.  When I confronted the person(s) involved, they would always say that I never said they couldn't have one.  You would think that after one time of this happening I would learn to actually communicate, (and that they would learn to understand me) but no.  We are all human, and we humans tend to need to learn things over and over again before we truly understand.  Now when I bake for my class I either bake extra on purpose, or if there aren't enough ingredients to do so,  I state the fact and say that "if" there are any left over, others can have them after class.
God is in the business of true communication.  He doesn't just dump words on us, He works in our lives to make sure we understand.  He gives us mentors to help us, His Word to guide us and Himself to turn to when we simply don't get what's happening.  He truly shares.  Our problem is that sometimes we don't like what He is sharing and so try to manipulate His Word to mean what we want it to or think He is trying to get across according to our personal life.  If we don't want to give up a particular sin, we simply blame it on Him.  "You created me this way," is one of our favorites. 
There is a warning about this in II Timothy 4:3-4.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. (NKJV)
It is one thing to refuse to fully communicate properly with another human being, but to do so with God is downright dangerous.  He does everything there is to do to get us to really share, which means listening, hearing, asking questions, waiting for answers, sharing personal thoughts and truly desiring  to understand. Just talking doesn't do much good and can, in fact, make matters worse.  May our hearts learn to desire true communication with Father God first and then we will be able to do so with each other.

Bearing the Ark

And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.  Joshua 3:17 NKJV
There are times, and many of them, that I feel like one of those priests holding up the Word of God for all to see so they can have the faith to cross over into the Promised Land.  I am sure there are many others who feel the same way.  We stand there crying out to keep your eyes on the Word and the promises contained therein, but so many want to focus on the standing waves in fear that they are going to crash in on them.  Some refuse to step into the riverbed.  Others start in and may make it part way, but then turn back in fear and distrust.  Some make it to the middle just to cry out to those carrying the ark that the waters are going to cave in.  They tell us we need to look around us and see the truth, be realistic, take off our rose colored glasses, because the flood is coming!  Sometimes it makes it hard to keep our eyes focused on the land ahead of us.  Sometimes we see the mist rising in the corner of our eyes and begin to fear.  It can take all the faith we can muster to keep eyes forward and stand firm, but stand we do as we watch these same people either muster their own faith due partly to our testimony, or turn back to their old way of life.  Then along comes another wave of people.  Some make it across and we rejoice.  Others begin to groan in our ears again.  This happens over and over until we almost wish we were deaf or blind, because each time we witness someone turn away from the Truth, we grieve.  Grieving takes strength and so can make us weak.  We get tired and want someone to come take the ark off our shoulders and bear it awhile.  But then comes another who makes it across and we are rejuvenated. 
Lord, I am at a weak place of grieving at the moment.  Loved ones are fighting and spewing hateful words at each other.  Children are being hurt in the process, though they try hard to conceal it which only makes matters worse for them.  I ask once again for Your intervention.  Break hearts as You reveal their sin to them.  Make them truly repentant.  Help each one see, as You see, the injuries they inflict upon each other.  Show them once again where the dry land is and teach them Your way so they don't feel they have to swim across or drown trying and so choose to stay in the desert places.
Forgive and help me continue to forgive.  Help me to trust You in this and not grow weak and weary in teaching Your truths and in simply doing what is right no matter the cost.  I love You!!

Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect - the theory that if a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, it could conceivably alter wind currents sufficiently to cause a tornado in Texas.

Several years ago my parents house burned down.  It seemed so catastrophic at the time, but insurance covered the cost of rebuild and soon all was pretty well forgotten.  What I never realized until this day, this VERY day, was that there was much more to this event than I could have ever dreamed.  If the house hadn't burned, my parent's church family would never have given them homemade quilts to keep warm.  If they hadn't been given the quilts, I would never have come to have possession of them.  If I hadn't been given possession, the idea of FlorAl animals for needy children may never have been a thought.  If I had never had the thought, I would never have acted, in which case I would have never made that first cut into the material. The Butterfly Effect.
This morning I began the journey that began in my heart several years ago, but had never seen a way into fruition.  I began cutting out a pattern for a lamb.  I looked at the first quilt and wondered just how many animals I could get out of it.  Should I take the batting out and use just fabric or leave them quilted?  I had just decided that it would be faster if I left them quilted when I made a strange, yet wonderful discovery.  The folks that had made these quilts didn't use batting!  They used fabric layers!  Each time I cut out an animal I would be cutting out four!!  God took a simple act of faith in cutting out the animals and multiplied it by four!!  I was and am still stunned at the thought.  What a blessing God has brought about by a single tragic event.  Imagine, four times more children will be reached than I thought possible!!  God is MORE than amazing!!
Two weeks before Daddy passed away, he prayed a simple prayer asking God to increase his borders of reaching people for Christ.  It seemed to many that God said no.  Boy, were they wrong!!  Daddy's legacy of reaching others with the Gospel is just beginning!  I will pray over every animal and am convinced that God will use each one to bring glory and honor to His name!!  
Yes, I have four times the work, but isn't that what we were created to do?  Sewing these animals is one of my little corners in the garden of service to my Maker and Master. 
Thank You, Lord, for trusting me with it!  Give me the strength, time and determination to never give up, for giving up is the definition of failure.  I love You, Lord!!

Be Blessed!!

Last night ended Voices of Christmas.  Weeks of rehearsals and all sorts of preparations culminated in a joyous weariness of work done as well as we knew how, out of hearts wishing to glorify God and lead others to Christ.  It was exhilarating banding together as a worship team.  There were times of frustration, a tiny bit of discord and disagreement, but God took it all and worked in us a unity that prayerfully touched many hearts with the good news of Jesus!!
As I hopped on the shuttle to take me back to my car, I realized I was on a bus full of the Muslim community that had come to see the presentation.  There was one other couple on there who were church members and part of the choir, but about twelve Muslims.  All the seats were taken, but the father of one young boy nudged the boy and told him to stand.  He then instructed another young man to move to the boy's seat and told me to please sit.  I wearily smiled and told them I how very grateful I was.  I immediately felt a glow inside as I looked into each of their faces.  As I sat down, I looked into the eyes of an absolutely beautiful young woman sitting across from me.  I was astounded.  Her eyes lit up and she smiled and my heart melted.  I immediately loved her as a mother loves a daughter.  I know, because I am one.  I did not know until that moment that this was a possibility within myself.  I wanted to compliment her, so I mentioned her beautiful wrap.  It was a camel brown and had some blue and green large plaid woven through it and it complimented her complexion and eyes magnificently.  Anyone who reads this will probably think I am exaggerating, but I know I am not.  She started to answer me, and I wanted to hear her voice, but we were interrupted.  I never did get to hear it, because the shuttle stopped and we were dropped off at our destination.  I regret not staying on and getting to know these generous and hospitable people. 
This morning their faces popped back into my mind.  I saw the face of the father as he instructed his son with an expression that said, "Obey!" but whose voice expressed love.  The son's face that had a mixture of "why me?" and "Oh, all right," that brought a smile of understanding to my lips.  The others that nodded while asking me to please sit down and the beautiful, shining eyes and smile of the girl across from me.  I came that night to sing and bless others, but they blessed me more than even I can understand as the receiver.  For forty one years I have been teaching the importance of a smile and small acts of kindness.  I have practiced these actions most of my life, but I truly experienced them fully for the first time last night.  I am still in awe and pray I remain so and that perhaps I will be a little more observant and receptive of other attempts of kindness to me in the future.  This event has made me wonder just how many I have overlooked in my attempt to be the blesser rather than the blessee, so to speak.
Father, thank You for the lovely family You sent to bless me last night.  You showed me what You see when you look at this nation of a people who are seeking You, but have been enslaved by lies.  They are lovely to behold and I understand Your great love for them.  I feel ugly in comparison, and so stand in awe that You see me the way You allowed me to see them last night.  Keep their faces before my eyes and continue to open the eyes of my heart to the beauty of all Your created people.  I feel as if I have been a Jonah up until now. Restore me, use me, guide me and please continue teaching me daily.  I hunger and thirst for more of You and the more I receive, the more of You I desire.  Thank You for loving me!!

Who's Defining Whom?

I was a newly born again sixteen year old girl and felt a desperation inside to speak up and give testimony to what was burning in my heart.  So I raised my hand, was called on and blurted out, "God is calling me to teach!"  There were no accolades, no ooo's or aw's uttered, but a very matter-of-fact statement was issued instead.  "All right, we have a preschool class that needs filling.  You can begin teaching the two and three year old class at the quarter."  That was only a few weeks away and I was terrified, but excited at the same time.  I had no idea what I was doing, but You did!  If I had had time to think about it, I would have probably declined. Instead I began studying Your Word and asking You for ideas.  You used this catalyst to begin a love for teaching and working with children in me that I never dreamed possible! 
In my later twenties You did it again.  Sitting in church one evening we were asked if we had a vision.  I raised my hand and began a discussion on how children sit in worship never really understanding what is going on and a vision I had for Children's Worship.  I was calmly told I would begin in two weeks time!  Another bout of fear and desperation, but excitement washed over me.  Now I began studying and asking direction all the harder!  I tried for a year to devote myself simply to this, but ended up going right back to to teaching children in Bible study as well.  You had begun a flood of desire to teach within me. 
Now, at fifty seven I am still teaching children by volunteering at Seckman Elementary and leading a kindergarten class in Bible study and various other areas.  But there is a dream You placed on my heart years ago to make toys and write a children's book, and now You are showing me exactly what it is You were talking about.  Again, Lord, scary.  Such a seemingly monumental task, yet I choose to
be obedient, because I know that You have continually taken what seems impossible to me and brought it about, making it easy.  Okay, not so easy to my flesh, my my spirit takes great joy in it all and longs for more to do to bring You joy.  My life is not defined by what I do, but by what You do through me!!  For far too long I have tried to use my life to define who You are to others.  What is that?!!  My life in itself is nothing!!  It is You in my life that defines me, not the other way around!!
So now I can relax in knowing that it is You at work, I just need to be the vessel.  It is like at Thanksgiving.  The food has a big job to do.  It must go through the trial of being chopped, stuffed, cut, and then seasoned differently, but then comes the trial of fire.  But when all is said and done,  everyone that partakes of the meal is happy and satisfied, not because the food went through all that work, but because the chef did!!  The food was just what he/she used to bring great joy to others!!
That's what I want to be like, Lord!!  You do all the preparation and bring me through all the necessary trials that go with it, so that I my life can be a morsel of delight to the world to see, smell, and touch that brings great delight and a desire to taste!!  Then, when they actually ask for a bite, they can hear the truth - it is not me they desire at all, but the Chef who prepared me.  Then they can not just taste, but have the Chef with them and in them!!  If they heed this, they will experience a taste that will keep them going back for more!!

Emmanuel

One short chapter in a book - a chapter that is less than a page long - more like a devotional really, but it changed my views a bit.  Amazing that. 
I remember that as a child I was afraid of everything it seemed.  They say this is a sign of high intelligence, because the child is able to see all the possible consequences of different actions and so tends to choose the safest path possible.  That may be intelligence, but I am beginning to understand that it isn't necessarily wisdom.  I am book smart and learn things that I WANT to learn pretty easily.  However, if I find little or no interest in a particular subject, just try and make me.  Praise God that He is so much more than interesting!!  Wisdom says, "Compared to You, God, I am dense as carbon.  Your wisdom crushes my own.  Oh, but when I allow You to crush me, look how I shine!!"
When did we start believing God wants to send us to safe places, to do safe things?  That faithfulness is holding the fort?  That playing it safe is safe?  That there is any greater privilege than sacrifice?  That radical is anything but normal?.....Jesus didn't die to keep us safe.  He died to make us dangerous.  Faithfulness is not holding the fort.  It's storming the gates of hell!  (Chapter one, All In, by Mark Batterson)
Every person that has given their life to Christ has a daring calling.  The question is, having truly "given ourselves" or simply our eternity into His hands?  I think for the majority of my life I have trusted my eternal destination into His hands, but not my life here on earth.  That needs to change. 
Everything we do is done out of a heart situation.  Is our heart looking at the adventure in front of us as a challenge to accomplish in order to bring us fame, respect, love, etc, a "look what I did moment?"  Does it place so much fear in our heart that we cannot seem to make our feet move forward to begin?   Neither is good.  We need to become as that little child.  When God places an adventure before us, it is because He wants us to go with Him!!  He doesn't want us trying to do it alone.  He wants to go with us, guide us, protect us, encourage us and watch us experience the joy and wonder of it all WITH HIM!!   This time of year we sing sing songs about Jesus being Emmanuel - God with us, but what we tend to really want is for God to sit up in heaven and watch without interference unless we ask.  His heart desire was, is and will always be to be with us!!
A couple of months ago I watched our youngest grandson, who was around ten months old at the time, crawl toward the stairway that leads to his bedroom.  He would stop and turn around to make sure I was following.  He started climbing and I climbed right along with him.  He checked periodically, just to be sure I was still there.  When he made it to the top, he plopped down on his bottom, turned to me and grinned so big!!  He had made the climb, but it was so much better, because he had Gramma to share it with!!  I asked what was next and we crawled to his bedroom to play.
Jesus said we must become as a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven.  A little child desires company, God with us and in us!!  We need to make sure we are climbing, but as we climb that it is with God.  Then let the adventures begin!!  As we climb higher with Him, He will show us things we could have never envisioned from the level we were on before!!