Must Get Out There and Shop

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

The ads went out. The sales were on. The stores were ready to take my money, after all Christmas is coming.

I must confess something, some of you might think I went "Bah Humbug", but I didn't go shopping on Black Friday. I didn't go out on Thanksgiving either. I stayed in bed and then relaxed at the campground with my family.

Why is it the retailers really push us shopping? I know they need to make money. This time of year brings in the biggest profits for them. Which to my enlightenment, I discovered Black Friday became known as Black Friday because it's the time of the year the stores begin to show a profit. Instead of being in the red now they are in the black.

Do you feel like you need to get everybody you know a Christmas gift? Do you believe your children need the latest gizmo's and gadgets? Are you worried that you didn't get the right gift?

This verse struck me today. Paul was writing the Corinthians about their giving to God here, but today the message to me was different. It came as a comfort.

Last year money was really tight. In fact, we found a way to make most of our Christmas gifts. Sure we felt bad not giving more, but our hearts were in the right place. Once again money is tight, but I am comforted by the fact that I can decide what is right in my heart to give and then present the gift cheerfully.

I shouldn't feel like I have to compete with what everybody else is giving. I shouldn't feel reluctant to give a gift. Especially if I didn't pay a bill in order to get that gift. I should figure out what I can afford and be happy to give what I can.

Each present I give will have had some thought go into it, and in my heart I know it will be just the right gift. After all, God gave us just the right gift in a stable in Bethlehem.

Why, Oh Why?

Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong learn to do right. Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless plead the cause of the widow. Come now, let us reason together says the Lord. Isaiah 1:16b-18a NIV

Not sure why I anxiously awaited the news from the jury last night. I guess I was curious to find out what they determined after hearing and reading the evidence. That's how our judicial system works; a jury of peers hears what they need to and with their best judgement come up with an answer.

Maybe it's not the answer people want to hear, but the jury were the ones who had to make the call. They were picked for the job because they were determined to make the best non-biased decision. So why is it people have to cause a scene just because they didn't like the answer.

We all receive answers we don't like from time to time, but have to deal with it. We might be upset for awhile, but eventually we accept it and move on. Most of us don't set fires or steal things because we didn't get the answer we wanted.

There has to be a better way.

We need to do what's right not wrong. Stand up for what you believe in, but do it in a way that matters. Reason with each other. Seek God and find out how He want you to respond and then get ready for a mountain to move.

Laughter At Any Age

Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6 NIV

The day was supposed to be filled with laughter and joy, instead my heart was heavy. I taught about laughter even told a few jokes, I managed to laugh at few which wasn't easy when a four-year-old made them up. How ironic was it that I felt like crying instead?

For some reason for a couple days I felt really down. Maybe it was because I wasn't included in something even though I had hope to be. Maybe I realized something wasn't going to happen no matter how much I wanted it too. Maybe it's the cloudy, dreary day.

I reached out to God, "please lift me from feeling so sad."

It didn't help as quickly as I wanted.

I tried to sing the praise songs.

But my heart wasn't lighten.

I tried to think of, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..."

Unfortunately, that didn't work either.

Finally, someone I barely know began to ask me questions. Not about anything that was bothering me, but about other things. I began to focus on other things and the gloom began to melt away.

Laughter is good medicine or at least that's what I've heard. Last night my daughter and I had a good laugh. It actually got cold and damp enough for me to pull out my jacket. I quickly put it on and got in the van to drive. I felt something strange on my jacket. After I backed up, I struggled to pull it off. It was attached like glue.

Somehow I managed and handed it to my daughter, thinking it was a soft head band. "Here, I don't know what this is."

She looked it over, "It's a sock." She laughs.

"A sock? How does a sock get stuck to my jacket?" I laughed until tears filled my eyes.

So this week I am going to try to laugh more than feel sad. I am going to try to find humor throughout my day. Much like Sarah did when at the age of 90 gave birth to her first born.

I Am a Follower

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Tears have filled my eyes once again as I am finishing up "Not a Fan." This Bible study series as certainly made me think.

A fan cheers and encourages the team on. A fan shows up for the games, but at times stops following when the team isn't performing to his/her expectations. Sure being a fan is fun, but is it what Jesus wants from you?

A follower will follow when times are tough. A follower will follow when everyone wants to go the other way. A follower loves God no matter what.

For me to be a true follower of God, I have to live a life that is pleasing to Him. In order to please Him, I have at times had to make tough decisions. Decisions that have cost me friendships or have caused me not to participate in some activities. Sometimes the desire to serve God, has cost me things I once enjoyed.

I don't regret for one minute totally serving God. He is worth the cost. My faith in Him is strong-I know that through Him all things can be accomplished. I have a hope in Christ, a hope that doesn't fail. Even when everything seems to being going wrong and money is in short supply. Especially when things keep falling apart, my hope that God will work it all is strong.

Mostly though I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. So I proud to say, I am a follower of God.

Finally, The Day has Arrived

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Relief-I am so glad this day has arrived! It"ll mean the end to all the negative ads, to all the extra phone calls, and an end to all the extra mail.

I understand the need to campaign and to try to get people to choose you. What I don't understand is why the need to bash the other opponent? All long I have said, "just tell me what you stand for and what plans you have."

This past weekend I heard several others who have felt the same. In fact, just last night someone shared how the negative ads are really just adult bullying. She made a great point.

Now not all of those who were running for election ran negative ads. There were a few who paid attention and told us what they stood for. Occasionally, even one who was smearing the other opponent; didn't. It was at these times when I actually paid attention to what was being said.

I wonder, when did we turn into a nation where bad mouthing others leads us to victory? What happened to encouraging others? What happened to showing us who you really are?

I used my right to vote today, and I hope the people I chose win. If not it won't be because I didn't try. This process of choosing is a privilege. Our leader's aren't put there because they were born into a certain family. They weren't put there because they killed someone and that gave them the right to be in charge.

No, the people who run our country are chosen. I hope they remember that every time they have to make a decision that affects us.

Next election, could we please just stick to the facts and not pull up people's past records? I believe a lot of us would appreciate that.

Not This Again

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46: 2-3 NIV

Several years ago, I met an interesting character. I didn't really feel comfortable around him, but was glad he was attending church. He had a RV which eventually ended up parked on the church grounds. This was not to be a permanent situation.

He had a drinking problem, another reason I was glad he was at church. At least he was trying, right?

Eventually though, one night he got a bit nutty. He ended flashing a gun at people. It was time for him to go. He ended up escorted off the property that night, and was asked not to return.

I was nervous though he would and do something crazy. Luckily, he never did.

A few years later came another fearful time. The church was trying to do something good for the community. Unfortunately, God was removed from this ministry. The ministry was closed, so that God could once again be glorified.

During this time we (my husband, me, and the kids) received threatening phone calls. It was a very fearful time. One of the messages was "I hope you all choke on your food and die."

Even though we were fearful, we still continued to serve God. We prayed and asked for safety.

This is why this week has been deja vu. Last Sunday another threatening phone called happened. Fear once again gripped me. I called out to God and felt His peace.

Until it started again this Sunday. This person was again called and left an upsetting message.  Terror consumed me.

Sometimes it's hard to find peace when there is a fear of the unknown. It's hard when one is never quite sure what someone else is really thinking.

Still though I know I must trust in God. I will try not to fear even when things seem unsettled.

This Is Not The Way The Story Goes

God had planned something better for us so only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40 NIV

This past weekend I had the privilege of watching some talented youth perform in "Snow Off White." This play was a mixed up fairy tale with lots of twists and turns.

Snow White ends up meeting Prince Philip who's looking for Rosamond, aka Sleeping Beauty. Snow White must hurry back to the castle to stop a wedding, her father the king is going to marry Velinity the evil witch. Eventually, Snow White and Rosamond end up together and save the kingdom. It was a cute story that ends up with a happily ever after just not the way we would expect.

Funny, how our lives can get mixed up with all kinds of twists and turns. Twenty-four years ago I had my fairy tale wedding and I had a plan how our lives were gonna be. We'd have a few kids live in a nice house and everything would be great, right.

A few months end to our fairy tale we lost a baby. Not exactly how our story was supposed to go.

Years later we almost lost our house. Not the way the story goes.

Medical problems requiring surgery or physical therapy. Life wasn't supposed to be like this.

The thing is with all of these twists and turns my reliance on God grew deeper and deeper. As I look back over the past twenty-four years I can see how God's plans were better than my fairy tale plans.

We were blessed with three more children.

We still live in the same house.

We are all healthy, some of us may have a few less parts though.

It's through these twists and turns that God has made my life better. He's still working on the perfect part, but one day I will get to celebrate my happily ever after with Him.