Wow, the lights out there look really pretty against the darkness!

Danny made that comment one morning as he was getting ready to leave for work.  I had just plugged the lights in - a habit I have in the mornings during the Christmas season.  As soon as he said that I immediately thought "that will preach!"  So, I have been pondering on that statement for at least three weeks now. 

In John 8:12 Jesus said  "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."    There are many references throughout the New Testament (and the Old) about light - and Jesus being that light and He is the Word and the Word is light.  Once we become born-again, we also become light.  In Ephesians 5:8 Paul tells us "For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light..."

We also know that the world is becoming darker.  The Bible tells us that as the return of Jesus draws nearer, the world will become darker.  We can certainly see that happening all around us.  My grandmothers would be completely shocked if they were alive to day to see the state that this world is in.  Sin is being called good, we're being encouraged to accept as "normal" things that totally contradict the Word of God, and crime is at an all time high.  The world is at war everywhere you turn, and even the earth itself is in great turmoil.  Just consider all the tsunami's, the earthquakes, the floods, the volcanic eruptions, the tornadoes and hurricanes, and you can see that the earth is indeed "groaning" for the appearance of the sons of God. 


Wow - what a tremendous time we are living in.  There is sure a lot of darkness out there! It would be really easy to get caught up in all the "darkness" that surrounds us and to become fearful, anxious, depressed, etc.......  But - remember what Jesus said - He is the light and we are now light in Him. 

If you think about all the decorations that are around right now you know that if they are on during the daytime you can barely see them.  I have mine on right now, and they are just barely visible.  However, as the sun begins to set, the lights become more visible.  When the sun is completely set and the night has overtaken us - the lights really shine and are beautiful. 

Don't be fearful - just begin to let that light of God that is within you shine into the darkness.  God created you for this very time.  You are alive because He chose YOU to be that light in the darkness. 

My prayer for all of us today is that people will look at our lives and say "Wow, the lights out there look really pretty against the darkness!" 

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."  Shine somewhere today!

Love ya  :)

Are you a noun or a verb?

I was listening to Mark Hankins recently and he was talking about being a noun or a verb.  That caught my attention!  What he had to say was very thought provoking, so I thought I'd provoke you as well, ha ha!

In case you've forgotten your English from 7th grade - here are the definitions:  Noun - a word that is the name of a person, thing, action, quality, etc.;  Verb - a word that shows action or a condition of being. 

Hmmmmm - Christian - is that our name or is that or condition of being?  Kind of makes you stop and think, huh?  For example - a Noun Christian just comes to Church on Sunday, hears a good sermon and goes home.  Bible lays on the coffee table, or underneath the seat of the car, until next Sunday, or whenever the mood strikes to go back to Church.  Take to heart the things the Pastor says?  Not likely.  Pray for the sick, tithe, give offerings, walk in love, pray?  Probably not.  That would require action.  A Noun Christian just refers to him/her self as "A Christian."  Most of the people he/she works with have no idea what he/she believes.  There is no action that corresponds to the name.

A Verb Christian starts out kind of like a Noun Christian.  Comes to Church Sunday morning, hears a good sermon and goes home.  But that's where the similarity ends.  The Verb Christian puts into action what he/she has heard.  Reads the Bible, asks "can I pray for you" when someone tells them they're not feeling good, tithes, gives offerings, does their level best to walk in love.  Everyone that this person comes into contact is very confident that they are a Christian.  Get the picture?

The Noun Christian will never impact the world for Christ.  The Verb Christian makes an impact everywhere he/she goes.  Bro. Copeland was saying just the other night that it's not the Word you know, but the Word you do that matters.  Apparently Paul agrees with him because in Philippians 4:9 he said: The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do (emphasis mine), and the God of peace will be with you. 

So - let's go out and be Verb Christians this week!

Love ya  ;)

You can't "play nice" with a bully!

"Play nice today."  Did you ever hear that when you were a child?  Mom or dad would tell you that when you left for school in the morning.  So, as obedient little children, we would do our very best to be nice to everyone.  Well, that worked with some kids - probably those whose moms and dads had also told them to "play nice."  But, as you know, there was always the playground bully.  Apparently his parents never told him the rules of engagement for playgrounds!  He would push you around, say ugly things, intimidate you, even physically threaten you.  He was even bold enough to just come take what he wanted from you.  Being the "nice" kid that you were taught to be, you usually just stood there with your mouth open, staring at him like "what just happened?"  Bottom line - the bully always got what he wanted.  It never did any good to try to be nice to the bully, to try to hide from the bully, to try to placate him with whatever he wanted.  He was still a bully and he never quit.

Eventually you figured out (or someone wiser than you told you) that the only way to stop the bully was to fight back!  When you finally had enough you determined that he wasn't going to do it again.  The next time he came after you was different.  You didn't stand there with your mouth gaping open - wide-eyed.  No, you started kicking, screaming, pulling hair, gouging eyes, and slugging.  Whatever it took to stop the bully and hold on to your "stuff" - you did!  This might mean you were going to get a black eye, or wind up in the mud hole, or even in the Principal's office.  But you didn't care - it was the only way to stop the bully.  Once he saw that you weren't going to be a push-over and he couldn't take your "stuff" without a fight, he usually would go looking for the next victim.

Well - that's how the devil is!  He is the ultimate bully.  He has absolutely no right to anything we have, but he tries to take it anyway.  He will push, pull, shove, intimidate, lie - whatever it takes to get you to let go of what belongs to you.  If you just stand there and do nothing he will take any and everything he wants.  You have to reach the place that you are through with being bullied by the devil.  It's going to require some kicking, screaming, pulling hair, gouging eyes, and slugging.  You might even get a black eye!  But - in the end - you will be the winner and the devil will know that if he's going to try and get your stuff there's gonna be a fight.

God has given us everything we need to fight the bully on the playground.  He gave us his Word, which is called the sword of the spirit.  He gave us His Son, who already defeated the bully.  We also have the Blood of Jesus.  If that's not enough, we're in BIG trouble.

So - stop letting the bully take your health, your wealth, your peace, your blessings, your victory.  Pick up the sword of the spirit and start screaming at the ole bully.  Kick, scream, gouge, push, yell - whatever it takes.

 Matthew 11:12 says:  And  from  the days of John the Baptist  until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence  and  the violent take  it by force.  Get violent with the devil!  Jesus already defeated him, so you get out there, open your mouth, and enforce that defeat.

What is that in your mouth?

Have you ever said that to your child?  If you have raised children the answer is YES!  A thousand times a day possibly.  Everything a baby picks up goes straight to their mouths.  It doesn't matter if it is food, toys, dirt, dog food - it all goes straight to the mouth.  As a parent, it is our job to watch over them and teach them the proper things to put in their mouth.

When Rebekah moved to California she stayed with some friends who have a dog.  You, of course, know what she found Brody eating?  Dog food!  He cried when she took it away from him.  After they moved into their new townhouse she found him in the bathroom eating toilet paper. 

Well, as you know, we need fiber, but I don't think this is what the experts mean!  So, as parents we have to teach and train our children.

God is our Heavenly Father and He is saying the same thing to us.  What is that in your mouth?  The Bible is God's instructions to us as His children.  He teaches and trains us in what to put in our mouth.  In case you are not sure about that, just read through Psalms and Proverbs.  God tells us repeatedly what to put in our mouths.

When things happen, such as the scare with the bacteria in the cantalope, what do you say?  Are you going around talking about how you hope you didn't get any bad cantalope?  Or are you quoting Psalm 91:10?  No evil shall befall me and no plague shall come near me!  Unless you are a baby, you should know by now what to put in your mouth.  So, my question today is "What is that in your mouth?"

My dream pet!

How cool would it be to have one of these in your backyard?  This picture
was taken in Niger, Africa.  I don't know why Danny didn't bring one home for me!

Two little words......

Thank you.  Two little words that can make such a difference in the day.  I heard a quote one time that went something like this - "What if you woke up this morning and the only things you had today were the things you thanked God for yesterday?"  Wow - chew on that a little bit.  How often do you take the time to thank God for all that He has blessed you with?  I know the answer for me is NOT NEARLY ENOUGH!  There have been some days that if that quote was true I would have been sitting under a tree wearing my birthday suit, know what I mean!  So, in case you're having trouble thinking of some things you can be thankful for, I thought I'd share a few:

1.    I am a Christian - going to Heaven thanks to Jesus  :)

2.    I live in America.

3.    I have food to eat today (anyone that knows me knows this is HUGE.)

4.    I have a roof over my head.

5.    I have a bed to sleep in and a couch to sit on.

6.    I have clothes to wear.

7.    I have a car to drive and gasoline in it.

8.    I have children and grandchildren.

9.    I have a wonderful husband.

10.  I have a great job.

11.  I have an awesome Church and Pastors.

12.  I have wonderful friends like you!

Just a few things to help "jump start" your thanksgiving.  Let's say thank you today to our wonderful, awesome, loving Father.

Have a blessed day. 

What's love got to do with it?

I made the mistake of reading a devotional on love this morning!  Seems like all day long I have been challenged to walk in love and I must say, I have not succeeded.  So, I guess this is my confessional, ha ha.  Walking in love seems like such a glorious goal, such a "sanctimonious" action, and when we read about it we just soar with high expectations.  Then, we put down the book and "life comes at you fast." 

I'm not saying we can't do it - we can do it, because Jesus said we can.  We can do it because the Holy Spirit has been given to us and the Bible says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Shed abroad means that it has been lavishly poured out on us.  So, if Jesus said we could and God said He has poured it out in our hearts lavishly, then what is the problem?  I'll tell you - it's our stinking flesh!  It just feels good to let the flesh have it's way - to lash out - to say ugly things - to be selfish - contrite - even rude - when we don't get our way.

But you remember that "team" concept I was talking about the other day?  Well, it applies here too.  Every time that I choose to let my flesh run wild, I am hurting the team.  More importantly, I am hurting my testimony and my ability to have some influence in people's lives, to make a difference in this world.  You remember the "3 C's?"  People of character endeavor to walk in love, people of commitment give of themselves unselfishly, and people of consistency are the same every day.  So, if you, like me, have been struggling with your love walk, let's make a commitment right here and now that we're going to do a better job in "walking in love."  What's love got to do with it?  Just EVERYTHING!

Love ya!

It's not fair!

I was thinking about the Marine Corp. this morning while I was drying my hair.  I know, weird, huh?  But what else do you have to think about while you're completing this menial boring task?  I have just a little knowledge on the subject because my youngest son-in-law, Aaron, is a Marine.  We learned a little about how the Marines think when he went to boot camp.  The Marine's boot camp is the toughest one in the Armed Forces (Sorry if you belonged to another branch, this is just what the Marines say, lol).  The truth is, though, that it is the longest boot camp and also if you decide to enlist in another branch of the service you don't have to go back through boot camp.  If you are in the Army, Air Force or Navy and decide to become a Marine you have to go through Marine Boot Camp.  So, I think that's a pretty good argument for it being the toughest camp, haha. 

My point, though, is that during boot camp you loose your personal identity.  You are no longer "one" you are the team.  Everything you do, you do as a team.  You eat, sleep, exercise, shower, pee and poo together.  And guess what?  If one of you messes up, the whole unit is punished.  I don't care if you weren't even in the vicinity when one of your team members messed up - you get punished right along with everyone else.  During this intense training you are being taught to trust your leader without question.  He is operating for the good of the team.

In February Aaron was deployed with his Unit.  The "team" concept continues to operate!  If one of the guys went out during a "free" week-end and did something stupid, there was a strong possibility that all of them would lose their liberty for the rest of the week.  There have been times when I have been tempted to think "that's not fair!  Why should Aaron be punished because of some knot heads that went out and got drunk, high, whatever, and tore up a hotel room, or jumped out a window and broke a leg?"   

Well, I think the Holy Spirit shined the light on that question this morning.  The goal of boot camp is to become a team.  It is critical when you are in the heat of the battle that you do not think like an individual.  You MUST think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to survive.  You cannot think on your own or question why an order has been given - you must obey - even when it does not seem logical or make sense, or seem fair.  You do not have the luxury of acting on your own - your actions may cause other people to die.  There is a "code of honor" among servicemen - no one left behind.  That is why they bring back a fallen solider's body - that is why they risk their own lives to rescue the wounded.

What does this have to do with us, you may ask?  Glad you asked!  As the Body of  Christ, we must develop a "team" concept.  We are not an island unto ourselves.  Contrary to what we like to think, our actions do affect others.  Everything I do, everything I say, every choice I make affects the entire Body of Christ.  If you were at the Ladies PrimeTime Event Friday night, you know that I spoke on the "3 C's."  Why must we be people of character, commitment and consistency?  Because it affects the rest of the team!  We must learn to think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to be the glorious Church that God intends us to be.  

So when life doesn't seem fair (which it never is) and decisions that your leaders make don't make sense, circumstances are not what you thought they should be and things didn't happen like you expected - just say "I trust you God."  My trust is not based on my understanding.  It is based on who God is, His nature, His character, His love.  So let's buckle down, get through this boot camp, and be the glorious Church God is calling us to be.

I'll leave you with this scripture for thought:  Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Be blessed today!

 

Giving Birth

Today Mandy helped me give birth!  A healthy bouncing baby blogspot was born.  Just warning you - this could get messy.  You know that babies pee pee, poo poo & spit up A LOT!  So, read with caution.  Having recently had a baby in the house (Brody) I realize they can get messy.  Just kidding - hopefully this blogspot will not be too difficult to learn how to use.  Well, I guess for today that's about all the baby can stand!  I'll be back in a few days.