Star-fish

     I see this statement, "No Fear" on bumper stickers, shirts, and websites, but what does that mean? Who in this world has no fear? Who in this world never has a concern or worry? I can see people wanting others to think they are fearless, but in the dark, in the silence, when these people close their eyes at night, does fear creep in?      Even Christians who know where they will go when they die, still have fears. They know they shouldn't, they know fear means a lack of faith in God's ability to overcome all that comes upon them, yet they still share that they fear for their children's future, their parents' health, their financial situations, and on and on. What I believe they, like I, are truly fearing is the unknown or uncontrollable, which in reality is just about everything! The only One who controls the events of this earth in the Palm of His Hand is God. So do not fear, for if you believe in Him and call on Him, He will be with you.   ...

      With sadness and yet hope, I thank those that prayed for our church family who had a baby born with a heart defect. The little boy lived 11 weeks. His memorial was today. The celebration of his life was poignant. His grandfather spoke of his impact on the hospital staff during his short life. He brought joy even though he was suffering with three heart operations and tubes continually in his body. He laughed, smiled, and "talked" with those that came to visit him. His mother read letters she had written to him before his birth and after his death. Tears streamed down the faces of those in the audience.      Questions were raised, "Have we, with all our years on this earth, had the impact that Teddy had on others in just 79 days? What legacy are we leaving this world when we die?" I leave you with those same questions.      If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord may you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the answers...

     I Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us what true love looks like, this should be our model to strive for and act out upon others: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.      Sin in our world is becoming more evident each day. It's more apparent due to the media showing us all the grim footage of evil acts, but also in our growing hardness toward it. Our hearts are thickening each time we view evil and listen to its lies, even as Christians. The Bible tells us to protect our hearts and this is the reason why. We must stay soft and pliable in our Lord's hands, so we can be molded and formed daily for the work He needs us to do. Proverbs 4:23-27 23  Above all else, gua...

      Today, we finished our study of  Breathe-making room for Sabbath  by Priscilla Shirer . The main theme was that we, as God's children, need to respect His command to honor the Sabbath. She called it creating margin in our lives. At first, my mind said, "Outdated idea, where is this going?" Then I realized as I read and listen more, that my idea of calling God's idea of Sabbath "outdated" was my flesh talking. My flesh or sin nature wants to keep going, keep being entertained, keep being stimulated, just as Satan would want my flesh to respond.      The saying, "There is no rest for the wicked," should be taken to heart by the Christian. Satan would want you and me to be unsatisfied, so we will not stop searching, seeking, and trying to find out what will make us happy. Such a journey for some is a lifetime endeavor and what does it get a person? Depression, despondency, discouragement, and sometimes drunkenness, because frankly looking inwa...

     As I walked today a bird was singing a beautiful song in one of the trees above my head. I thought about the scripture that speaks of the birds being cared for by God. Matthew 6:26 tells us, Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?   I wondered if this bird even worried about food or shelter or whether it just went about life singing and flying about knowing God would provide its every need.       I realize birds have natural instincts that guide their habits, but I questioned God about myself. Do I have natural instincts that no longer function well due to all the static interference of the world? If I spent time daily getting quiet before the Lord, would the Holy Spirit become "the instinct" that would guide me daily? Has the unnatural taken away my natural abilities like creativity, ingenuity, and wisdom? Would life be...

     After reading a recent article called, "The Prayer of Relinquishment," by Catherine Marshall in the January 2015 edition of the Guideposts , I began to question how much of my life was truly given totally over to God. Marshall, who had been suffering for six months with a lung infection, read about a missionary who had been an invalid for eight years and finally worn out prayed, "All right. I give up. If you want me to be an invalid, that's your business. Anyway, I want you even more than I want health. You decide." According to the article about the missionary, within two weeks she "was out of bed and completely well." She called her request the, "Prayer of Relinquishment."      Marshall goes on to write, "…I came to the same point of abject acceptance. I'm tired of asking, was the burden of my prayer. I'm beaten. God, you decide what you want for me." She later writes, "From that moment my recovery began…Gradu...

     Yesterday, I saw a friend who was shopping with her daughter. The daughter and her husband recently lost their 11 week old baby after his courageous fight with heart problems. The baby was beyond his days in the way he interacted with others. He smiled and laughed often, even from his first few days of life, which began with two open heart surgeries his first week of life. A doctor told my friend and her family how amazed he was by their faith in such a time of great struggle and then ultimate loss. He noted how their actions spoke volumes to non-believers who were watching them.       This infant's life and death made me think about "why" God allows certain things to happen. Possibly these  heart wrenching  experiences are not about us so much as they are about our testimony speaking into the lives of others. I pray to be faithful when such situations occur in my own life.       Please pray for this famil...