Everything is Beautiful

He has made everything beautiful in his time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Some mornings when I get up and see myself in the mirror, I wonder "what happened?" I mean my hair is all over, druel is stuck to my face, and sometimes there is crusties in my eyes. How in the world am I even suppose to think I'm beautiful yet alone pretty?

God began our world by creating light-the sun, the moon, and stars. One of the most beautiful sights is watching the sunset. I've had the pleasure of sitting at the beach as the sun kisses the water. The beautiful colors of orange and yellow spread through the sky as the sun says "Good Night."

Then God gave us the sky. The sky some days is my favorite shade of blue. It's enjoyable to just sit and watch the white puffy clouds go by. Sometimes they even form shapes, and as soon as you figure out what it is; it changes. The night sky can be just as pretty; when away from the lights of the city. The sky is filled with stars. It's hard to even count how many stars fill the sky. The moon is amazing too when it shines down on me peeking through my blind.

Next God made the land and vegetation. Have you ever had a chance to voyage to the top of a mountain and just stand there gazing out at the wonder of it all? One of my favorite spots to visit is the mountains. It never ceases to amaze me how far I can see when on top of a mountain. The trees, the cleared land, the flowers are all so beautiful and peaceful. God's hand at work.

After this God created animals, birds, and sea life. He filled up his wonderful land with creatures to enjoy it. Once when I was camping as a young girl, I had a chance to sit and wait to see what creatures I could see. Finally, they came. I got to look across a field with binoculars and see a family of deer. They were beautiful and well worth the wait.

Then God made it most unique creation-man and woman made in the image of Him. He made us to look like Him. Nothing else He made was as unique as us. He formed Adam and then Eve with His hands. He still forms each of us when we are in our mother's womb. He takes the time to create each of us. Now if God can make this world beautiful then how much more beautiful can He make each of us- freckles and all.

God sees you as good, He made you beautiful. So the next time I wake up in a shambles, I just need to remind myself "God made me, and God doesn't make any junk. I am beautiful and wonderfully made." The same can be said of you.

Zap, Not Again

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV

Trouble at home: the day began fine. Then it seemed to unravel. First, for some strange reason the toilet took an hour to refill after each flush. Kind of a problem when so many of us need to use it. Then while fixing dinner I heard a "zap". I wasn't sure what it was, but it did make me want to stand away from my appliances. When I took the peas out of the microwave and they were still frozen that's when I realized what had happened. The microwave gave up.

Trouble at work: Some days work is great. Other days work is tough. Dealing with children is a joy, but also at times a challenge. Some challenges don't come from the kids at all, but the different inspection agencies that have to come in. They can totally disrupt my day. Sometimes they can be very demanding even worse then the kids. Then there are times when I have to wait for a payment and wait and wait. This can be challenging when I have to pay my bills with these payments.

Trouble in our town: Sure there are a lot of good days, but sometimes crime seems to launch at an all time high. There are beggars at every major intersection. Accidents are on the rise.

Trouble in our country: A bombing, an explosion, hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes.

One gets the idea: there is trouble all around us. How do we deal with these troubles? Do we throw in the towel? Do we let our anger rise and get the best of us?

Sure some days there seems to be more troubles then other days. At times it can be a bit overwhelming. This is when I need to take it to God, and trust Him to work it out.

He knows troubles will arise after all we live in a fallen world. He has overcome these troubles. He has gained the victory.

One day we will all gain the victory as long as we trust Him. One day we will have no more troubles only perfect peace.

"You Want Me to do, What?"

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

"I'm going to stand here and I want you to just fall back. Don't worry I'll catch you." I dared the kids one Sunday during Children's Church.

They looked at me a little strange, but one by one they came forward taking a chance. A chance, I'm not sure I would take with one of them. Mainly because most of them are a good 18 inches shorter and probably 100 pounds lighter than me.

As each one went and the others could see that I'd catch them. It made it easier for the next one to go. After the last one went, my daughter who was graciously helping me volunteers to catch me. "Are you sure?" I looked at her. So in order to prove our lesson on trust, I have to fall into my daughter's arms. I recall the couple of falls I've had in the last few years...followed by the four weeks of physical therapy. Is she serious?

She stands behind me, my back is to her and I do it...I fall. She catches me of course and I breath a sigh of relief.

TRUST- at times, it can be such a hard thing. Other times though-it's easy. We all trust in gravity, I mean we don't even have to even think about it. We get it up-it's there. We walk across the floor-it's there. We don't all of a sudden begin to float away--nope we pretty much stick to the ground.

We also trust in other drivers. The light is red, we believe that the people going in the other direction are going to stop. Same thing when we come to a four-way stop. We trust that the driver's approaching that stop sign are going to do what he/she was taught.

So why do we find it so difficult to TRUST in the one who created us? I mean He knows all, He's all powerful, He's every where, He doesn't make mistakes. Today I was reminded once again that He knows the number of hairs on my head. I mean I don't even know that. God's plans for us are for good. He doesn't want bad things to happen to us. After all He loves us.

Isn't it time for us to fall into His loving arms and TRUST He will work it out?

OK, I Get It!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:1-2a NIV

Have you ever had a message given to you over and over again? It comes a different ways, but the underlying topic is the same.

This past week that's what happen to me. I read several devotions, and within a three day period I received the same message-PEACE.

Finally, I said "I get it Lord, I need to have peace."

The funny thing is I believe my life is pretty peaceful. Sure there are days like yesterday when no one wanted to even consider having peace. The kids were fighting over the dumbest things and were quick to correct each other. The sad part about the correcting was they were saying exactly the same thing. I was at my wits end, "I just need five minutes without having to get onto anyone!"

It took another fifteen minutes before that was possible, finally the peace came.

There eventually will be peace, even in the most chaotic situation. God can come in an intervene. The answer may not be the one we desire, but it usually turns out to be the best one.

We can have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. I will continue to seek peace even when my day is out of control.

My Heart Ached

As a result, he does not live the rest of his life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2 NIV

What a crazy Holy week I experienced. Some of us felt the ugliness and the confusion over what is happening to our country. It's on the news, on our home page, and all over Facebook.

I was happy to see those take a stand for what we know God desires, even if it meant some of us were ridiculed for it. Standing up for what's right isn't easy, but I understand because I live for the will of God. By living by His will it may mean taking a stand for something we believe in even when others don't. 

This country has lost a lot because Christians were afraid to take a stand. Now though we've come together and try our best.

This week though my heart ached for someone who was taking a stand for what he believed was right. Which is against what the Bible says is right. The part that grieved me most was that he felt Christians were perfect and we shouldn't go around sinning. He apparently has some misguided information about the Bible and it's teachings.

I even shared a Bible verse declaring that we "all our sinners and fall short of the glory of God."Romans 3:23 Of course he took this as me saying I wasn't a sinner and I was looking down on him. In truth I was looking at him in love. Through the eyes of Christ.

You see God loves him just as much as God loves me or anyone else. It because of this love that He sent us Jesus. Jesus would have still come if this man was the only one on earth. Each of us makes mistakes, the biggest difference between me and him is that I've accepted the forgiveness and love of Christ.

I've been praying for this person and I hope that one day he will discover the love of Christ and truly read the Scriptures. Because quoting different verses or different parables without truly understanding them is a misinterpretation. God loves each of us so very much and wants all to come to know Him, so that not one of us will perish but have everlasting life.

Don't You Remember Me?

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- John 10:14

"She says she knows you." One of the dads of my day care kids says when he was picking his child up.

"I don't know if I do, her name's not familiar."

Then when I looked out the door, she was sitting in her car. "You know me, remember I was in day care too with Lauren." Truthfully I didn't remember her, even seeing her didn't send me any memory of her.

"Sure, sure I remember Lauren." Then came the normal kind words of asking how somebody's doing. I racked my brain, but I just couldn't place her face or her name, plus it's been a good fifteen or more years since I was in the group she mentioned. I've meet so many people since then that I just couldn't recall her.

I'm glad though we have a Savior who remembers us. He knows each of us whether it's been an hour since we talked to him or fifteen years. He knows each of us. He will never forget.

In fact, he knew us before we even knew ourselves. He knew that we'd be born and when. He also knew we needed a Savior. He came to earth lived a blameless life. He was afraid when it came time to do what he came to do. Still he did it because in order for each of us to be saved--He had to suffer and die.

He went through what he went through just so each of us could be saved and live forever with him. He would of done it if you were the only one here. He loves you that much.

The best part of this is even though he died, he couldn't be stopped. He conquered death. HE IS RISEN! He wants to be a part of each of our lives, all each need to do is admit you've sinned, believe in Him, and commit and be saved today.

The Bibe is God Breathed?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

At first I wasn't going to watch it, after all it is showing on a channel that isn't known for being Christian or anything Biblically based. After reading an article though about the producers, I was debating watching it.

I missed the first week, I wasn't even home. The second week though; they showed the first part followed by the second. So I watched, and I'm glad I have. It has been educational.

I'll admit I have read the Bible. I've even managed to read it in it's entirety. There are interesting stories in there, stories that teach. I believe so far they have done a good job of portraying the Bible. Even though some things have come up to make me question if that really was in the Bible. Which inspired me to open the Bible up and follow along, sure enough it was in there.

"I wonder how many people are following along in their Bible's as well?" My husband said as I thumbed around to find where they were at.

"Hopefully a lot," I replied. After all seeing God's word for yourself makes quite an impact.

Sure there have been a few things in this portrayal that may not be quite the way I'd picture it, but aren't most movies about a book like that.

I will continue to watch as God's story and truth continues to unfold. I hope other's do as well. Most importantly though I pray that this will inspire people to get that dusty book off the shelf and open it up to find the most amazing story of all time.