The Example

God has been pulling a lot of things together for me in some interesting ways. Much of it in the things that people say to me, or things that I read. This morning I read a lot in James again, chapter 3 and 4.  It's back to that verse on wisdom: "Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of  getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."
I like the last line, "treating each other with dignity and honor." I think when Jesus walked this earth this is what He did best, He treated everyone with dignity and honor, therefore He walked out love.  And, now, because of the path that He walked and because of the Cross, He is asking me to do the same. He wants me to treat everyone with dignity and honor, He wants me to remember that the ground at the Cross is level ground. We are all the same.
Sometimes, my choices impact the lives of others in a negative way, that is an example I don't want to be. Sometimes, I think I have the right to control, speak, put up walls, or take them down, when in reality, Jesus is asking me to let go and let Him work His will in me. He is the fierce lover of my soul, and He is the One that wants to be my One and Only Example, to me and through me. Sometimes, I think the normal ways of the world are the right way, forgetting that He has a greater grace in store for me with a knowledge  and an understanding richer than anyone else can offer.
Because He is my Only Example today and every day I take my stand against the enemy! As it says in James, "Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time."
Jesus, Say That Again, You are my Example, and You bless with wisdom. I will continue to come before You at the foot of the Cross and listen to You and You alone.

The Outstanding Mother's Day

Say That Again, Jesus, You have blessed me. I thank you and I praise You.

The Fishing Day

The warm weather has finally come and we have been able to go to the lake and fish. It's very relaxing.  We spent some time at the lake yesterday, and both my son and daughter had their poles in the lake.  My husband and I had our chairs on the dock and enjoyed watching them. The sun was warm. The kids were excited. The fish were not biting. 

An older couple came up in their boat and my husband helped them tie up on the dock. The gentleman threw my son a fish. My son was thrilled! He went to task right away with my husbands pocket knife. My daughter stood watch, diligently speaking her opinion as my son cut the fish open. "That must be the fish brain, and that must be his heart, and I bet that is his poop..."  She, of course held nothing back. My son, did all the scooping and could hardly wait to get home and grill his fish on our barbecue. His sister, on the other hand had no interest in grilling his fish.

It was another one of those simple days with simple pleasures. And, as I watched my two children delight in the joy of fishing and the curiosity of a fish, I was thankful.  It reminded me of Jesus and all the time He spent with fishermen, and His love for fishermen. I thought of the story of Jesus on the beach cooking fish for His friends for breakfast and His desire to have fellowship with them. It was simple, friendly, loving, inviting, accepting, helpful, kind, and true. That's who Jesus is, and that is who I follow. He brings a certain lightness even to the complicated. When His disciples couldn't catch anything, and life seemed exhausting and complicated to them, He simply said, "cast your net on the other side of your boat." When they did they caught numerous fish! It was simple!

Jesus, Say That Again, You desire me, and all Your children to fellowship with You, in simplicity, truth, and love. Thank you for this gift.

The Simple and The Complex

My husband told me yesterday that he was a simple man, and it's true. He loves a simple life and simple pleasures, with simple joys.  It's his ability to be simple that makes him so genius. It's his love for the simple that attracted me, and that gives me trust and safety. He is kind, wise, tender, loving. and manages to keep all those traits simple.
Me? Not so much. I live a more complex format. I take all the simple and turn it into puzzles, mazes, twists and turns. Because I'm complex and I like to look at all the angles, and, well, there's always a deeper issue, right? I have questions, about everything, my brain continually likes to wonder, figure, investigate, and check....that is complex, which is why God gave me someone like my husband, he knows how to be simple. He's an example of rest.
I am learning that Jesus is more simple, He really has a single focus which is relationship. He wants to be in relationship with me, to love me and know me. He is asking me to come to Him and be with Him. Its rather simple. The steps to get to Him all involve relating to Him, actively talking, confessing, spending time with Him.  Pretty simple, really. Trusting Him, another big relationship step. It's a dance with Him, a simple daily dance.  Yet, maybe, there are those days that it is more complex, because there is an enemy involved and  I have to know how to navigate the puzzles, the mazes, the corners, etc...with Him.
The Simple and The Complex, Say That Again, Jesus, it's really all about You, and Your leading.

The Stinky Fur Ball

As I was working around the house this afternoon I noticed an unpleasant smell. Upon investigation, Fur Ball was the guilty one. All that fur had become a stinky ball of poop. Poor Fur Ball!! He truly thought that walking in Stinky Dogs paw steps meant he had to stink!
For me, I was not impressed. I had already had a stinky morning and even wrote it all out to God and then took it outside and burned it. God and I had some deep and meaningful time together--then Fur Ball decided to add more stink to my day.
I considered my options: I could just put Fur Ball outside and pretend I knew nothing. Then, later when my husband and kids arrived home, and I was at work they would discover the stinky poop Ball. Whoops!
I could just hold my nose and hope for the best!
Or, I could give him a bath. After a firm talking to about what it really means to follow Stinky dogs paw steps, I decided to give Fur Ball a bath. Now, it was his turn to be unimpressed.
I managed to clean him up, and fondly thought of Stinky Dog in the process. Fur Ball prefers showers, but when he makes poop balls he doesn't always get what he prefers.
And so it is with life, filled with joy, and trials, and not always what I want. But, this I know, life here is not my home. Heaven is my home, and I'm living for eternity. Say That Again, Lord Jesus, heaven is my home!

The Light Bulb

So, this morning in my talk with God He sent me to Galatians 4, the chapter is titled "Sonship in Christ". I read it all this morning; prayed about it, recognized that God was talking to me about freedom. As the day progressed and I went to sit in on a group, I continued to think about Galatians. Some of the conversation in the group reminded me of my chapter, in fact it was this verse:
"Doesn't the privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And, if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance."
Even though God has said this to me many times, I heard it differently today. I have had many intimate conversations with God, but I have not always grasped what a privilege that is. And, in those conversations, as He is telling me to focus on Him, which is so plain and simple, I sometimes am still a slave to other things. Yet, He is right there saying to me, "You are not a slave anymore, You are my child, just focus on me, I have already given you an inheritance, it's yours!"
Ah, the light bulb went on, this morning.  It's not the typical light bulb. It's not like I didn't already know this, believe this, or even live this. God has blessed my life with freedom.  But, I have work to do, we all have connections to make and areas in life that need surrendered. And, today, He put a light bulb in one of those areas, and he did it through Galatians 4 and through a men's group.
Say That Again, Jesus, the intimate communication with You is a privilege, and You have called me and all Your children out of slavery.

The Embrace

I have a friend that has been in my life for many years and we talked this morning on the phone. We have often checked up on each other through the years just to see how the other is doing. Today was a good day for checking, we both needed to be embraced through words.  I needed to be reminded that God embraced me, before I was even born, that He took my sin-dead life and made me alive in Christ. He took me and  set me in the highest heaven in the company of Jesus!
Sometimes, I forget. Sometimes I forget that there really is a battle going on, that the enemy is after my heart. Sometimes I forget that the victory is already won, and Jesus has me in His Embrace. Secure. Sometimes, I panic. I just do, and I need someone to remind me that it's time to sit back and breathe.
My praise today is that God sends people to embrace me, often they do not even realize they are embracing me. He knows. I'm praising Him because His truth is always made known to me. He kindly touches me and loves me. I know He leads me.
So, for right now, I'm embraced. I will praise Him for this lavish gift.
Say That Again, Sweet Jesus, You have gifted me with the embrace of Your love.