Happy New Year!

Here it is, 365 days since my very first post on this blog. So many things have happened and though 2016 has been rough on a lot of people, I feel like it has been pretty decent for our household. I feel like we have accomplished a lot, as a family, as a couple, as a small business, and as workers for the Lord. I am really excited that I managed to get this blog up every Saturday morning but 2, in the last year. Those two were a planned little respite, and I probably should have worked harder to put something out there, but I had some issues to deal with and it was easier to just give me time to adjust. I know God knows we are human, and there are some situations that just take longer for us to have that "It is Well with My Soul" moment.




I was looking up verses this morning on looking back and I found a couple that I thought I would share.


Isaiah 42:18-19a says, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?




and


Ecclesiastes 7:10: "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this."


So, even though there are days it is fun to look back at the past and see where we have been, we never want to get stuck there, and we always remember, it is much more important to be looking forward.


I have so many goals for 2017, I am an organizational freak, and the one thing every organizational freak I know wants more than anything, is to be more organized, so I am working on being more organized this year. I always think it is good to set goals for ourselves, but never get so set on your goals that you don't pay attention to God's goals for us, and I am sure he has them,


Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


So, I am looking forward to a year of coming closer to God, and seeing what He has planned. I have been reminded just this week that God can take us through valleys pretty quickly, but I am praying for a year of more mountaintops than valleys, I pray that for my friends, family, and readers as well.


When I was younger, we always had watch night service at church and would be praying as the new year actually came in, I miss those days. I miss that it seems there are so many other places to be on so many occasions other than church. I have decided though, that even though I am normally asleep by 9:30, I am going to set an alarm for 11:45, just in case I fall asleep. I have decided to bring the new year in with prayer for my friends, my family, our nation, and our world. I encourage you to do the same.


May you have a blessed last day of 2016 and a blessed 2017.


I think I have it in me to commit to another year of my Saturday morning blogs, so I will see you all next week!


I kinda find it fitting to leave the song from my very first blog post with you again today. Still one of my absolute favorites.....

For God So Loved THE WORLD

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.


Have you ever realized that the very first missionaries were actually the shepherds? "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child" I always love the contrast between the shepherds and the wise men, and I am a die hard fan of the wise men being in my nativity scenes even though yes, we know, they didn't get there for quite some time afterward, and they never actually saw Jesus laying in a manger, but they knew He was the Christ. I think this pretty much exemplifies that God sent His son for ALL of us.


This week, there have been some very disturbing videos of racism being ever present in today's world, and not only racism, but judging others as not as good as someone else. I abhor this and just want to remind everyone I can, that God made every one of us, he didn't just do it haphazardly, he thought and put time and love into every person that walks this earth. When people treat others with disdain, just because of how they look, they are telling God they believe He made some people lessor. That breaks my heart.


I know there are many people in our community that basically live and work here and seriously don't know very many people, if any, from other cultures; but I have the privilege to work with people from several different countries and nationalities. I have some truly wonderful friends from all different backgrounds, and I feel like knowing them has made my life more complete.


I have made this request before, but will probably never stop making it as long as I live. The next time you think about judging someone, just don't. Remember instead that God made them and on top of everything else, God doesn't make mistakes so if He has put that person in your path, maybe He is giving you a chance to learn something, or do something remarkable.


Racism is not new, just as judging is not new (seeing as how God deemed it necessary back when the Bible was written to put in the Judge not verses). Back in the days when Jesus was born, a shepherd was among some of the least thought of people in the world, and yet, they were the ones chosen to be first to get a personal revelation about Christ's birth. Kinda puts into perspective how God perceived them, doesn't it? Likewise, many people look at people in a higher social stature as somehow not worthy as well, yet God made sure the wise men were notified, and they were led to the child as well. Both ends of the social spectrum, For God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not parish, but have everlasting life.


I hope you have a wonderful, beautiful, Merry Christmas. I have a challenge for everyone this week, and me as well. As you are out on your travels, shopping, eating out, or any other place you encounter stranger; instead of thinking anything judgmental, I ask that you say a little prayer for each person you come in contact with. It takes seconds to ask God for you to be a blessing to someone.


Merry Christmas!

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

S-L-O-W  D-O-W-N,  it was a message that came across my phone several months ago when I had sent a text to a friend, and had apparently been able to express my feelings of stress through the previous text to her. My thought was that I really wanted to slow down but had no real time to do so.


I am venturing a guess that many of us are in that state right now as Christmas is now a week away. We had some ice last night and I always love the phenomena that happens after, the utter sound of peace outside. I live on one of the busiest streets in Newton, but after a snowfall, or even more so, after ice, it is quiet. In the wee hours of the morning, there is what some would consider an almost eerie silence, but I love it. That peace is one of the few things I miss about living in the county, so I treasure it when it happens right here in the middle of town.


I have only one verse today, Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.


I know this week can easily turn into a blur, but keep your eyes on Him, and let this truly be a week of Comfort and JOY! It is what this season is about. We have the ultimate Comfort and Joy when we have accepted Christ as our Savior and THAT is why we celebrate His birth.


So, midst the wrapping, the cooking, the baking, the placement of the elf on the shelf (may I just say, Thank you LORD, that wasn't around when Robert was a kid, I would have been a total fruitcake by Christmas Day!), and the get-togethers with family and friends, take time to breathe in that peace. That comfort and joy.


And in light of that fact that I want you to have TIME today, I am making this short.


I leave you with one of my favorite Amy Grant songs, and as you start having those celebrations this week, let this be your Christmas to remember, Keep your eyes on Him, and He will give you peace.

Mary, Did You Know?

Hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas season. I have had one of the most spectacular weeks that I have had in a long time; one of those that for a few hours, everything just seems right with the world. I know most of you have watched as things have happened over the years to our family. We have had some real challenges and faced some tough times. I am thankful that I always had faith in God to see us through, but have still been pretty scared at times as to what "through" was going to entail.


I know there are people that are having less than the perfect Christmas, sadly, life doesn't stop being life just because we turned the calendar to December. I have a friend who I went to school with that had a major problem this week and is in Intensive Care in Champaign. I know his family is thankful he is alive, but it still doesn't feel right to be in such turmoil during Christmas. We had two really rough times during Christmas that I remember growing up. December 10th, 1981, my mom came home from the hospital, after being there since October, the year after my dad died. Two years before that, my dad had went the first of December to see if there was anything else that could be done to help his heart after having a massive heart attack. We went through Christmas with the sting that we were told no, the next one would kill him and the odds were that he would have a next one. I used to be bitter when so many advances started being made in treatments after heart attacks, but now, I am thankful every time a family is spared losing a loved one.


I guess after having things like that happened, going through Christmas worrying about money doesn't seem like the biggest deal in the world. I was there last year. We knew when we started Andrew's business that we would probably face some dry times and that when people were preparing for Christmas was most likely to be one of them. We lived through it though, and this year, thanks to remarkable clients, he is still busy. One couple had him scheduled for this month and needed to postpone until the first of the year because of some unexpected plans during December. It basically gave us a scheduled job the first working day of the new year. They have no idea, ( until they may read this), but I may have shed some tears, as I was thanking God for making Andrew's dreams come true and just knowing we were starting off the year with work, well, that is just an amazing feeling.  And even more amazing, was someone called and needed just a few things done and we were able to say yes, we have time. God is good, all the time.


There was another couple that faced a lot of turmoil during the Christmas season though. Before Christmas was Christmas, a young girl found out from an angel that she would have a baby. A young man found out from an angel that this was God's will. And then, God expected them to be strong through the fact that even though THEY knew they were doing what was right, that angel didn't go visit all their friends and family--wouldn't that have made it easier? You know, even back then that tongues wagged. And then, to top it off, I wonder what Mary though when the angel came. We all think, she was obedient and none of this fazed her. Sorry, I try very hard to be obedient, but when the Lord says, "You are going to do this, it isn't going to be easy, and nobody is going to understand, but you are doing what you are supposed to", it isn't all peaches and cream. Because of that verse that says, "There is a way that seems right to a man", everyone has an opinion.


That angel didn't tell Mary that they would have to go to Bethlehem when it was almost time, that nobody would let them stay and that she was supposed to find a barn, and settle in and have her baby. Although it still wouldn't have been easy, it would have been easier to understand why all of this was happening.  No, here is how that conversation took place:


²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”^[a]
29 But when she saw him,^[b] she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible.”
³⁸ Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 26-38




Nope, not a single mention of a cattle stall, in fact, I am thinking human instinct probably said if you are being told you are highly favored and that you are giving birth to one who is called the Son of the Highest, your first thoughts would not be of a barn, and hay, and cattle standing around as you were going through having a baby. And yes, Mary said willingly, yes Lord. But, even though Mary was highly favored, we know she wasn't perfect, and I just have a feeling that there was more than once in that 9 months that she would say, "Really, Lord?"


And then, lets think about Joseph. Joseph knew the baby wasn't his, but don't you think most people around there thought he had done just as wrong as Mary? Especially since they were still together? Yep, I believe he probably endured a lot of judgment from people too, even though he as well, knew he was doing what was right.


So, I don't believe that journey to bring Christ into the world was easy for the very people responsible for getting Him here. I  think we all have such high expectations of the perfect Christmas, and have to remember that the only thing perfect about the very first Christmas was Christ himself.  


So, if this Christmas finds you not where you want to be, look back to that barn, that manger, and know, Christ is still perfect, He was the only one that was perfect that night, and He is still perfect today. Things may happen in your life, and people may talk, but keep your eyes on Him.


And if you are seeing someone today that you feel like you know what is going on in their life, maybe you should remember that people around Mary and Joseph thought they knew what was going on and they were wrong.


What if God put that person in your life to see how much of Him you could show to them.




I am leaving you with "Mary, Did You Know?"


I used the Straight No Chaser version because I got to see them with my best friend Tammy this last Wednesday! That was just a little icing on the cake during this Christmas season.

The Coming Messiah

It is beginning to look, and feel, a lot like Christmas. I love this time of year for so many reasons, but mainly because we take the time to really concentrate on God's love for us. I had mentioned last week about Max Lucado's book and Bible study, Because of Bethlehem. I am really enjoying going through it. At one point it mentions that Christmas started what Easter finished. I had never really thought about it in terms of simply birth and death, but that is what it is, but think about this: Christ was born to die so that we could live. In his death, we have the ability to be born again. And, because he conquered death, and rose again, death is not the end of the story, for any of us.

I have been looking back this week, on my own, to the Old Testament, back before there really was a Christmas to celebrate. I always equated those people to looking for the Messiah's first coming similar to how we look to His second coming.

One of the comments from a participant on Lucado's site was, "It isn't because of Bethlehem, Bethlehem is a dirty, awful, place. It is because of Jesus." I get what the person is getting at,(and assume they actually live around there) but I also know Max was looking at the event IN Bethlehem when he named his book. And here is the thing: Bethlehem may be a dirty, awful place, but it was told way before Christ was born that our Savior would come out of Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Micah 5:2

And isn't it fitting that some still think of Bethlehem as a dirty, awful place. God sent His son for ALL of us.

I wonder what impact this prophecy had on Bethlehem. I had an instance this week where we had to correct a situation at work, these are those situations that are not my favorites but the thing is, we see potential for people to do more, and be more, not only for our agency, but for themselves. I mentioned that we knew they had the potential and that is why we bothered with the correction.

I sometimes wonder though, if you knew your town was slated to house the Savior, why you wouldn't save room "just in case". And then I realize....Because they didn't realize the Savior was going to be this little tiny baby. They didn't realize that God seen the only way to save us was by sending His son to really be one of us. We always look at Jesus and think, "He was sinless", He had to be because He was God, but by making him human flesh, he didn't "have to be", he had the ability to sin and didn't.
God works in mysterious ways, and just the time our little minds tell us that there is only one way something will work out, God shows us, He is God, and He is in control. We are to trust, and follow, and obey.

And of course, we look at our own nation today and wonder how so many people want to squeeze God out, and in effect, have no room for Jesus, just as Bethlehem did.

I am leaving you with a Casting Crown's song, "While You were Sleeping". If you don't normally listen to the song, please listen today. It is very thought provoking, hopefully something you carry with you through the week, and the season.

Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!

Be ye Kind

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. Ours was good, the guys worked at the farm, my mom made Thanksgiving dinner, and I headed up there about 11 and spent some time with her as she finished up. We all gathered at her house at noon, ate together, then the guys went back to work on Robert's house. And I went to my office to finish a project that I had slated to be done by Thanksgiving, happily, I got it finished and we were all home by 5pm.

Yesterday, Andrew and I went Black Friday shopping. We set a new record for staying out, leaving the house at 3:30 am and pulling in the drive at 6 pm. It was a good day, I got lots of bargains and lots of Christmas shopping done. We headed to Evansville, and even though a main reason was they had all the stores I needed to get to, the most important reason to me was that when you go to Evansville, everyone is so KIND. Robert and I noticed this the first time we went down there, and it is truly my favorite place to Black Friday shop.

Ephesians 4:32 says,  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.


We are coming into the time of year when everyone has a tendency to be kinder in the day-ins, day-outs of life, and this is one of those things I wish were a year around thing, and not the main reason it feels like Christmas. I made the realization one time that everyone gets super annoyed about stores putting Christmas decorations out in September. I had to ask myself if it really upset me, or if the world would be a different place if we could live what Christmas means to us, all year long. Part of me, in the back of my mind, said, I was just irritated that the commercialized Christmas could take precedent over the true meaning of Christmas--and whose fault is that? In my case, I blame me. We have things in our lives that we refer to as, "feeling like Christmas all year long". I am going to start working harder at making people say that about me, "Being around Mindy is like having Christmas all year long". Wouldn't that be a testimony? And if I am showing Christ's love, it would be like the true meaning of Christmas. I often wonder how much we as Christians could really change the world if we just did it instead of talking about it.

So, this week, as my normal challenges, try extra hard to make people remember that Christmas is about God's love. He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us. I remember just days after Robert was born, holding him as a baby. I couldn't imagine God sending Him here with that picture already in his head of Him dying a horrific death on the cross. It is humbling just to be the mother of a son when you think about that. I am very likely to bring this up the again the week after Christmas. As we will all be making New Year's resolutions. Being more kind could be a resolution that, though it may take some work, is very doable.

I am also inviting everyone to a 4 week Bible Study that I found online. I love Max Lucado's take on life, and I have the new book Because of Bethlehem that I plan to start this week, along with his FREE advent Bible study.

Registration is HERE

Hope you all have a wonderful week and a Blessed start to this Christmas season.

And of course, I have waited for almost a year to share this video. We don't have cable or satellite tv, we have Roku, and I haven't found it on there yet, but if you have never seen this movie, try to find it- The Heart of Christmas. It is sad, but a true story about a family and a community in Washington, Illinois.  One night, I was on my way home from Robinson and was listening to a Matthew West interview; it was about the movie, and this song, but it was that night that I became a Matthew West fan for life, so I will never forget it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100: 4-5  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.

We are less than a week away from Thanksgiving and into the homestretch of the year. I have heard several people say it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving yet, but to me it does. Several years ago, a bunch of us started on November 1 to posting, first on my other blog, and then on facebook, something each day we are thankful for. Though I try never to take what has been given to me for granted, it does make me really realize all the things I have, and seriously puts me in my place when I want to think about feeling sorry for myself.

I didn't do my thankful days last year because someone criticized it the year before. I regret that because I know my heart, and I knew where I was coming from but I let hurtful words, and someone judging me stand in the way of being a little daily testimony for our Lord and Savior. What is funny was the person who criticized it was a preacher. This year, another preacher friend on facebook (who I think WAY more of than the preacher who made fun of me) said it reminded him of when we used to get in a big circle at church and hold hands and go around the room and tell something to be thankful for, for all of our blessings. Even when we don't think we are being blessed, when someone else points something out, sometimes it is easier to say, "Oh, yeah, I forgot that!".

Now for those who are still naysayers, please know, I am one of those who were taught that when you pray, the first thing you should do is thank Him for what He has already done, number one being our salvation. I listen to The Message on XM radio, there used to be a blurb (and I know I have mentioned this here before) that said, "What if you woke up today with only the things in your life that you said thank you for yesterday". It makes you think.....

So, this coming week is Thanksgiving, and though my day will be low key, I am looking forward to spending time with my little family. My guys have started working feverishly on Robert's house again, and it sounds like huge progress is being made. They are working on getting the bathroom together and Robert is talking about maybe staying there some once he has it done. I am excited for him, it has been a long time coming. They are going to work on it that day, then we are meeting at my mom's for lunch. It's not a huge thing, but it is mine.

I have to think back to some other Thanksgivings; when I was younger, we went to my Aunt Mayme's many times. I remember going to my Aunt Doe's as well.  I remember one particular year, there was some kind of special on tv the night before and I was in the back part of the house. Steve Martin was singing King Tut and I went running in to see it, slipping on the rug in my doorway and planting my face into the door frame of the bathroom. I had a huge busted lip for Thanksgiving that year. Two years later, Thanksgiving fell a week to the day after my dad died, and it snowed. My mom, sister and I were going to my aunt's again that day, but that morning, our next door neighbor boys came down with the snowmobiles, and we went snowmobiling for a little while. For a few minutes that day, life was normal. The very next year, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Springfield, at St. John's with my mom, who we were very thankful was alive. We had been told several times over the previous 30 days that things could change in a hurry, and there were a lots of ups and downs as they did. 10 years after that, I spent my first thanksgiving with Andrew. His birthday fell on Thanksgiving, and he took me to Chillicothe, MO to meet his parents. We already knew then we were going to get married. We hadn't figured out yet that it was going to be just 9 days later.  We had two Thanksgivings in Pennsylvania, that because Andrew worked for Walmart and Black Friday was the next morning, there was no way to come home so they were cozy little affairs of Andrew, me and our baby. Robert's freshman year, we had Thanksgiving in Florida, with the band, again, what a wonderful memory. I also have memories of spending a couple of Thanksgivings at my sister's.

Needless to say, it is one of my favorite holidays.  And gives me even more to be thankful for.

So, if you aren't in the "Thanksgiving spirit" yet this year, takes some time this morning to really look around you and see what all God has done for you, starting with the fact that, if you are saved, your worst day here is just a day, you have an eternity of good days waiting for you.  If you are not saved, please know, God sent Christ to die on that cross, and rise again, for YOU. It doesn't matter what you have done, God made you, and He loves you. I have been reading Max Lucado's In The Grip of Grace, and it so reminds me that there is nothing you can do that keeps you from God's love, except not excepting it. Let Him do the housekeeping, just come to Him.

I'm leaving you with an old, old hymn, but very appropriate for the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Couple Lessons from "Into the Woods"

As many of you know, I am currently getting to participate in the pit band for one of our local community college's production of Into the Woods.

At first I just thought myself in way over my head, but I have settled down, learned to let it go when I make a mistake and move forward. I am to the point of really enjoying having the opportunity to do this.

If you don't know the story, it is a mix of different fairy tales, look it up on Youtube, or someplace, I am not going through the whole thing here. There are a couple of things that happen in it that really make me think though and that is what today's devo is about.

One of the main stories is Rapunzel. The witch has locked Rapunzel in a high, doorless tower. We learn through one of my favorite songs, that the witch is really trying to protect Rapunzel from the world.

She sings that "Princes wait there in the world, it's true/Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too/Stay at home, I am home/Stay a child while you can be a child, with me."It is one of those moments that probably touches every parent. It is our instinct to protect our children and it would be easier to do if they didn't have to face all the other things of the world. This is one of those places where as a parent, I always struggle, and still do. My grandmother always said you don't know what worrying about your kids is until they are old enough to get away from you. I understand that perfectly now. So many influences and you have to trust that your teaching has been good enough but faced with the world around them, I have to go back to wondering if I was over my head then too.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

 This same song continues in the end of the musical, with the worlds changed to "Careful the things you say/Children will listen/Careful the things you do/Children will see and learn/Children may not obey, but children will listen/Children will look to you for which way to turn/To learn what to be/Careful before you say, 'Listen to me.'"

That is one of my favorite songs in the play, and something that I feel is very valuable to learn. Please remember, actions truly do speak louder than words and children do listen, and watch.

My other favorite song in the musical is after great tragedy has struck and four of the main characters have lost people they loved.

Some of the lyrics are
 Mother cannot guide you./ Now you're on your own./Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone. /No one is alone. Truly./No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you./Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you./You decide whats good.
You decide alone./But no one is alone.

We truly are never alone, God promises to be there with us, no matter what. This always reminds me of the little blurb on the radio station I listen to. "If you are feeling far away from God, it wasn't Him who moved".

Hebrews 13:5 says: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 So, little lessons from Into the Woods. I have learned alot about myself the past 6 weeks, two weeks ago, I was gone every night to practice, and I survived it better than I thought I would. I also prepared for it though, and things went pretty well as planned.

Tonight is the last night of the play, 7:00 at LTC in Robinson, if you want something to do, come on over!

And even though the movie sounds a little different from the play, there is a review on focus on the family's PluggedIn here.

And straying just a bit off the path of a Christian song, I am leaving you with a song from Into the Woods that has both songs I spoke of in it. Please remember this is the Broadway production though, so things are a bit different in ours at Robinson. (if you hear the flute part though, it is the same, and also some of my favorite parts!)

Tuesday

So, History was made last Wednesday night as the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. I was hoping, on that next morning, that all just seemed a little bit "righter" with the world, that maybe some miracle had happened and there would be something different happening on Tuesday.....I know, I know, that's not how it works. And then I remembered there really were Cleveland Indian fans that were disappointed with the results.

Tuesday comes another day in History, and I have wrestled with this election like no other. I do not like either candidate, period. I am thinking we screwed up big time for allowing these two to be on the ballot, but the deal is, it is who was voted in on the Primary (and I can say in all honesty, I DIDN'T vote for either one of them in the Primary) so there it is. And I am scared, scared of what either person would say or do that would land us all in hot water. I keep hearing my own recently retired boss saying "You can't say that" and learning from the wisdom of why I couldn't. I even took to a time of deciding I wouldn't vote because I couldn't think about the fact I had placed the tick mark for someone that could quite possibly send us into a war, I know I am not the only one that is that scared.

All of this being said, I am going to share with you what changed my mind. It has been a crazy week for me and so yes, I am "bailing" a little, because I figure most of the ones reading this saw it on my facebook page earlier last month. But I have reread it MANY times, and I did indeed mark the 9th of November on my Calendar on my phone and typed, "Our God Rules the World", it is set to remind me that at 4:00 am, as I am waking up because I am sure I will go to bed before they truly announce the winner.

This is from Max Lucado, who I have a great deal of respect for, and I thank him, (yes, I am so sure he will read this, lol) but he did put the focus back where it belongs. I read a blurb this week that says Christians should stop saying, "everything happens for a reason", I didn't read the article and probably should have, but bottom line IS everything happens for a reason. Sorry, it is true, whether we want to hear it or not.  And we have to trust that God is God and we are not.

So, here is what Max has to say:

I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 9 will bring. Another day of God's perfect sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. He will still manage the affairs of the world. Never before has His providence depended on a king, president, or ruler. And it won't on November 9, 2016. "The LORD can control a king's mind as he controls a river; he can direct it as he pleases" (Proverbs 21:1 NCV).

 On one occasion the Lord turned the heart of the King of Assyria so that he aided them in the construction of the Temple. On another occasion, he stirred the heart of Cyrus to release the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar was considered to be the mightiest king of his generation. But God humbled and put him in "detention" for seven years. "The kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations" (Psalms 22:28).
Understanding God's sovereignty over the nations opens the door to peace. When we realize that God influences the hearts of all rulers, we can then choose to pray for them rather than fret about them. Rather than wring our hands we bend our knees, we select prayer over despair.

Jeremiah did this. He was the prophet to Israel during one of her darkest periods of rebellion. He was called "the weeping prophet" because he was one. He wept at the condition of the people and the depravity of their faith. He was so distraught that one of his books was entitled Lamentations. But then he considered the work of God. Note the intentionality of his words:
"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:21-23)
Imitate Jeremiah. Lift up your eyes. Dare to believe that good things will happen. Dare to believe that God was speaking to us when he said: "In everything God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).
Many years ago, I spent a week visiting the interior of Brazil with a long-time missionary pilot. He flew a circuit of remote towns in a small plane that threatened to come undone at the slightest gust of wind. Wilbur and Orville had a sturdier aircraft.
I could not get comfortable. I kept thinking that the plane was going to crash in some Brazilian jungle and I'd be gobbled up by piranhas or swallowed by an anaconda.
I kept shifting around, looking down, and gripping my seat. (As if that would help.) Finally, the pilot had had enough of my squirming. He looked at me and shouted over the airplane noise. "We won't face anything I can't handle. You might as well trust me to fly the plane."
Is God saying the same to you? If so, make this your prayer:
Dear Lord,
You are perfect. You could not be better than you are.
You are self-created. You exist because you choose to exist.
You are self-sustaining. No one helps you. No one gives you strength.
You are self-governing. Who can question your deeds? Who dares advise you?
You are correct. In every way. In every choice. You regret no decision.
You have never failed. Never! You cannot fail! You are God! You will accomplish
your plan.
You are happy. Eternally joyful. Endlessly content.
You are the king, supreme ruler, absolute monarch, overlord, and rajah of all history.
An arch of your eyebrow and a million angels will pivot and salute. Every throne is a footstool to yours. Every crown is papier–mâché to yours. No limitations, hesitations, questions, second thoughts, or backward glances. You consult no clock. You keep no calendar. You report to no one. You are in charge.
And I trust you.
Circle November 9 on your calendar and write upon it the words: Our good God rules the world.


I leave you with Stephen Curtis Chapman's God is God, since it is what I keep reminding myself right now.

Waiting on God

I have one thing that I have prayed for fervently since the beginning of the year. God hasn't exactly said no, and sometimes I feel he has partially answered my prayer, in fact, as I look back, there has been a lot of ways I thought he said, "I'm working on it", but I am about to decide maybe he was really saying, "I'm working on YOU".

I am in the pit band for Lincoln Trail's Musical, Into The Woods. I had never seen the musical before I started working with the band, but as I watch rehearsals, there are some themes that are very clear. The main one being, "Be careful what you wish for". Sometimes, I think we need to be careful what we pray for too. I am not going to divulge what my prayer is for. It is personal, and it isn't for me, but it would (or so I think) have to go through me, for it to be answered. I think if I face facts, it would make ME feel better if it went through me, that is probably the truth of the matter.  I have posted earlier that I thought I had seen the only way for God to do something and He showed me that He was in control and He would do things His way.

 When I start dwelling on the fact that I don't think God has answered my prayer, I take myself back to Proverbs 3:5-6 which 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." I have a habit of getting the "Trust in the Lord" part without remembering the "lean not unto thine own understanding" part. I have a tendency to trust in Him AND think I know what He is thinking. It is hard to put that down. So, I have found a couple more verses that I keep in my sight.

Psalms 31:1 says, "In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

Psalms 34:22 says, " The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

and

Psalms 37:3 says, " Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."
 
So I need to remember that when I trust in God, he will take care of me, maybe not the way I think He should, but the way that is best for me.

 I noticed this week that a friend of mine was praying for healing for another friend. That healing came in the form of the friend going home to be with her Lord. This is hard for us, because we see so many things that we felt like she had left to do here on earth. God is the one who is perfect though, and his ways are always right, so even though we suffer disappointments in His answer, we can't look at it as He let us down. Especially in this case, we have to glorify Him in what He actually did for that friend, she is in glory this morning, sitting at the feet of Jesus.

So, I keep trusting that His ways are perfect, and that He will answer my prayer in the way that is best for all involved. And yes, I will keep working on not asking Him to hurry up already, but I have to admit, I have begged that as well. I am thankful that He doesn't get upset with my tiny mind, when I get that way.

The takeaway this week is to remember He is in control, and if you are asking Him something that you truly think is something that could be his will, then keep asking. I believe He will eventually answer, OR show you it is time to quit asking. Don't decide on your own that He isn't listening, because deep down, you know He is.

The song I am leaving you with this morning is Lauren Daigle's I Will Trust In You. There is a funny story that goes right along with the devotional above. This song was released last year, but started getting more airplay the beginning of this year, honestly about the same time I started making this particular request. One Sunday morning, not too long ago, I had spent some extra time, asking God if I should quit asking. That particular Sunday morning, one of the girls at church sang this song as a special. I took it as a sign that my answer was no, I shouldn't quit asking. Then later that week, something happened out of the blue, that confirmed, I was getting answers.

I love when that happens. And though now that I am putting this out there, the girl singing the song, might find out that she sang that song for me that day. Until now, she has no idea but I know, knowing her, she knew she was being lead to sing it. God uses us, and is using us even when we don't know it. I am also going to let her in on a secret. At the beginning of the year, our pastor's wife gave us the opportunity to pick names out of a hat and pray for that person every day. I took three names. And I have prayed for those three people every day. She is one of my three people. I get to take a little bit of personal responsibility when things in her life fall into place. So I thought it only right that God would use her to speak to me.

So, here is Lauren Daigle's song: Trust in You.

As a bonus-- here is a link to an interview with her about this song. This made me love this song even more.

Dear Younger Me

I think I have lamented in the past few posts that life is crazy right now. I steal little chances at peace and refreshment anytime I can. Yesterday, it came in a trip to Paris.


Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and a little SiriusXM subscription, I can listen to my Sirius XM in the work car. So, I tuned in my FM modulator on my hands free and viola! Now, to sit back and see what God was going to bless me with.


And the song, Dear Younger Me came on. I had to laugh.


Let me share the lyrics with you.

Dear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me,

Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger me

If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heard

Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

I was reminded through this song that I may not have always lived exactly as He wanted me to, but that everything I went though and everything I have done, have shaped me into who He wants me to be today.


I am reminded of a couple different verses, Isaiah 64:8 says, "Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand". and then Romans 9:21 says. "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use."


I was saved when I was 13, there were times, as I have mentioned in past posts, that living for the Lord just wasn't at the top of my list. I can seriously see me being formed into this beautiful vase and then it just all folding in, and instead of throwing that lump of clay in the corner, Jesus says, "nope, we'll do it again, I will never give up on you!". I can think back to a lot of times that happened, and yet, God gave me one more chance, and He will always be giving me one more chance, He'll never give up on me.


And today, I can truly say, I love my life here on earth, but I know it pales in comparison to what our Heavenly Father has laid up for us in Heaven.


And this is not something that is in my past just because I am trying harder to live for Him. I still mess up and we still have to get me back on that potter's wheel and start over, but the thing is, He will never give up on me, even when I am ready to give up on myself


So, I am passing this on to anyone who needs this today, because you know as well as I do, He extends this grace to every one who calls on His name. There is no such thing as, "I've been too bad" or "He has already given me more chances than I deserve". None of us deserve a good life, but God's Grace covers all our sins and gives us an opportunity to have that good life. The older I get, the more I realize that a good life has so much more to do with WHO you have in your life, and how  you are spending your time here than WHAT you have in your life.


At the same time, I do have to remember that my past has helped shaped me to what I am today, just like today is helping to shape me into who I will be tomorrow. And by the grace of God, hopefully, I will be better tomorrow than I was yesterday.


So, I leave you with Dear Younger Me, by Mercy Me.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are too far gone for God to lift up. Just take what you have learned and start using that very thing to the Glory of God.


Happy Saturday!

Ahhh....

What a week! I feel like I am in a giant hamster wheel trying to get from point A to point B and point B is nowhere to be found. Do you ever have those weeks? And the craziest thing is I am doing EXACTLY what I WANT to be doing, and I am loving every minute of it, but I am still on the verge of being overwhelmed.

And my Savior knows I am feeling this way, this week during my quiet time, before all the craziness hits, He has sent me some remarkable words of comfort.

The one that stuck out the most though:

Matthew 11:28  

 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

And He has shown that to me this week. Last night, I stayed at work until after dark, but driving home was a gift in itself. I was listening to the radio (Casting Crowns, Jamie Grace, Matthew West....good stuff!)  and was basically the only one on the road. I was trying to take in every little thing that God made that I could see. The stars, that beautiful moon, the clouds, the trees, the grass along the side of the road. One of my AWANA kids told me one time that it was looking at the vastness of the stars that made him realize just how big our God is.

The moon was just bright enough to see the many fields of crops that have been harvested. It was relaxing to me. I knew I was home, where I belong.  I have always found it funny that this girl that wanted so badly to get away from here, lives and works in the very area she grew up in and knows she is just where she is supposed to be.

I have a 20 mile drive from work to home, and I know who lives in about every house along the way. And I think God knew I would treasure this much more than I ever imagined. 
  
 This may be disappointing to a few of you but this is going to be short, I am leaving in a bit with the hubs to head to Champaign to watch our high school band in their biggest competition of the year. 

But I want you to take a couple things with you today.

First, find that rest, I am planning on "getting away" today, and I am thanking God for giving me the time to rest.

Then, take a look around, and look at all of this magnificent planet He has given us to enjoy.

I am leaving you with Jamie Grace's Beautiful Day, just because it is the way I am feeling.

Hope you all have a BEA-U-TIFUL Day!

Chinks in the Armor

In last Saturday's post I mentioned seeing a family friend who was in the final days of his life. The call came early Saturday evening, that Mel Blade had went home to be with the Lord.

Mel grew up with my mom, and I grew up with his kids, we may not have the same blood running through our veins but to me, we are family. They have been there for me more times than I can count and every one of them are on my short list of people I know I can count on, and I truly hope they know they can count on me.

It seems over the last few years, we have lost several of the people I looked up to and learned from. And it is dawning on me, kind of reluctantly, that I am becoming that generation for the ones younger than me. I read my Bible every morning, and would love to have Ruth Marrs' knowledge of the Bible, or Vaneta Carr's. You could be talking to them about anything in the world, and I swear, they could quote you a Bible verse (and reference) that goes with that situation. I try and try, but I don't believe I will ever be there, but I will try. It was mentioned at the funeral that someone wanted to know if it is okay to talk to your loved one after they passed on. I know two people that I would downright consider experts on the Bible, two local people that I have heard speak tons of times and they have opposing views, I align myself with one of them.

So, here is my very own probably highly controversial opinion.

When my dad died, I was 13. I was 6 months from graduating from the 8th grade, 9 months from starting high school, less than 3 years from getting my drivers license, less than 5 years from graduating high school, and you get the picture. There were things I wanted my dad to see, I wanted him to be a part of, and I personally believe he did. People who say he can't are limiting God. Some people say, "your loved one is not going to care less about what is going on here on earth", but I think about the rich man and Lazarus. Some people believe this is a parable, but it was never addressed as a parable, nor does it really fit the definition of "an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning", and he calls Lazarus by name, none of the people in parables had names. Anyway, the rich man was able to see Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. And Abraham talked to the rich man, who was in Hell. And then there is Hebrews 12:1. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," I believe that "cloud" of witnesses are those ones who have went before us, and now, they are our cheering section for the rest of our lives. And yes, I have talked to my dad. The preacher who preached the funeral, seemed to have similar thoughts but he laughed and said, and if your dad can't hear you, Jesus can tell him, you know He is right there. Point.

All of this being said, I am sure that when a fellow believer gets to Heaven, the Bible definitely supports the fact that we will know each other when we get to Heaven. I am using an excerpt from Dr. Billy Graham:


DEAR DR. GRAHAM: Do you think we will recognize each other in Heaven? My husband died last year, and it would horrify me to think that we might not know each other because God had given us different appearances or something. -- Mrs. M.L.
DEAR MRS. M.L.: While the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about Heaven, I have no doubt we will recognize each other there. In fact, the Bible indicates we will know each other more fully than we do now. The Apostle Paul declared, "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
It's true that our appearance will change, because God will give us new bodies, similar to Jesus' resurrection body. Those bodies will never grow old or tired, nor will they ever experience pain or suffering or death. As the Bible says, "For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). What a glorious promise!
But we will still know each other. When Jesus was transformed into His heavenly glory before the eyes of some of His disciples, "His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:2). And yet His disciples still recognized Him, and so did Moses and Elijah who came from Heaven to speak with Him.
Thank God for our hope of eternal life -- a hope we have only because Jesus Christ died and rose again to take away our sins. This is your hope -- and it can be the hope of every person reading this column, as they turn to Christ and trust Him alone for their salvation.

So, I have had this thought about Mel seeing my dad this week. Last week, when I saw Mel, his daughter Jan, who lives in Delaware was there. Mel was very weak, but we were talking about Robert, whom Mel loved, and Robert loved him as well. He said, "when I get to feeling a little better, I'm going to tell Jan all about Robert". I have heard it though my head this week of Mel getting to my dad, and saying, "I'm going to tell you all about Robert," and that makes my heart smile. 

My final thought on all of this though is that God promised us comfort, and if our comfort is in knowing we aren't ever really that far from our loved ones, then that is what He has left us with. 

Rick, who preached Mel's funeral, read a poem and I thought it was very relevant,  


Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Khalil Gibran

I am leaving you with Andrea Crouch's Through It All, it was one of Mel's favorite songs and we sang it at his funeral.

I hope whatever you are going through this week, you can find strength from the Lord and those little chinks in our armor from those loved ones who have "been there, done that" and are now cheering us on from the sidelines. Have a good week!

Emails from Angels

There are days you wake up and think, "This is going to be a good day!" and then there are the days you wake up and your thinking, "Well, not so much". This past Thursday morning, I really thought it was starting out pretty okay. I needed to leave the house a little early to drop by the church and so I actually ended up at work 10 minutes early. 10 minutes to get started without the phone ringing and the normal ins and outs of my day, I would really like to get in the habit of going in an hour early everyday, or at least a half hour, that normally makes the day go smoother. Thursday, it didn't matter at all that I was there early.

We have days when stupid things just happen. When several stupid things happen at once, it isn't good, and to me, it is frustrating. This day, we were already having some issues with some of the applications that had been brought to our office, I had just been informed that I had totally dropped the ball on getting a new computer set up for one of the other ladies in the office, and then, our new payroll clerk's accounting software wasn't working correctly. It is Thursday and payday is Friday......Not many people know this, anyway they didn't until now. Because of a mistake I made on the payroll clerk's computer, one time everyone in the agency's paychecks were wrong, and it wasn't in favor of the employee. Needless to say, working on that particular computer automatically sends the anxiety up a notch. All of that being said, this one was nothing major, but in my mind, it was.

I also had it in my head that I was going to the nursing home during my lunch hour and visit a dear family friend. This friend is not doing well at all and I had that awful pull between, "I want him to know I care" and "I don't want to see him like this". That didn't get better even after I was there. It was as bad as I expected, I had been out several other times since he had been in there and he was weak, but still himself. Anyway, back to Thursday morning.

I always, always, try to be the nice person, the one that just because I am having a bad day, doesn't mean my testimony for Jesus should be having a bad day. Thursday morning, I let that slip. I received a phone call, while sitting in the payroll clerk's office and I was short with the coworker on the other end. I knew it and felt bad about it the minute I hung up. So, I sent an email a few minutes later apologizing for my actions.

Then I get this in an email in return......

I’m in one of my spiritual moods today.  So here goes….  You said I’m being pulled in many directions today and it’s gonna be a “Bad day”..

For some reason that bothered me that YOU would say that.  What if God said to his angels I have someone I want to show to you.  I have put many things on her plate but I know she can handle it.  Let’s see how it’s going…and you said, It’s gonna be a bad day.  Mindy you have always managed to get done the things that need done.  No you are not without fault or feelings but you were chosen to do what you do.  HIS hand is on your shoulder and he walks beside you. 

It’s not a bad day it’s a …..hurdle jumping day. 

Okay…I’m done.  I think he wanted me to tell you that.  Have a great day.

This is the point where it is a great thing I am having eye problems and have to put tear drops in my eyes, when they are running down my face, everyone can just assume I have just doused my eyes with drops.

When I got this email I thought immediately of a sermon Ted Rhodes preached at a revival years ago. He was telling us that if we keep dealing with the same problems, the same tribulations, that God is giving you a chance for a do-over. He equated this to going around a mountain, it seems like you are traveling a long way, until you realize you are right back where you started. This is something that stuck with me and Andrew both so over the years, we have discussed "going around the mountain" many times. I realized this morning God was sending me around the mountain and giving me a very big lesson on not taking my tribulations out on others, or Him. 

So, now I am anxiously (okay not really anxiously, but it might as well be) awaiting the next "hurdle jumping day", to see if I can handle it differently. 

I had several verses come to mind, such as "count it all joy....." but I think I used that one just a few weeks ago.

Proverbs 3:5-6 also popped in my head, "

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

And when it all comes down to it, that was what I was missing, Trusting in God with all my heart. I have to tell you, more computers have been prayed over in our agency than probably anyplace else, and a lot of those times, I fix them without even knowing how, EXCEPT for the fact, that I am truly trusting God to lead me in the right direction.

So, the next time you are having a bad day, I challenge you too, to proclaim it a hurdle jumping day, tie on those running shoes and just get at it, and give God the glory.

So, I leave you with an oldie but a goody,  Amy Grant's In a Little While.

Have a great week!

 

Cowards or Calebs

When I was in about 6th grade, I decided I wanted to try to be in the McDonald's All-American band. Although it would have been neat to be in, my main reason was, they marched in the Rose Bowl Parade, the granddaddy of them all and I really wanted to march in the Rose Bowl parade. It just so happened that my junior year of high school, I did just that, with our own high school marching band. I never imagined such a thing could happen. Here's the deal, and something you need to remember. The thing I wanted was to be in that parade. I thought I saw the only way to do it.  

God saw another way. Remember that.

I still have a list in my head of things I would like to do before I die. One of those things is to play in a pit band for a musical. Last week, I get a message from one of my high school band directors asking if I would like to be in the pit band for Lincoln Trail College's production of Into the Woods. I was both honored and mortified. The funny thing was I was so excited and I knew the band geek in me walking around to my co-worker's offices would probably produce a lot of blank stares and people trying to be happy for me but not really getting it. So, I texted two of my bff's from high school, and of course, fellow band geeks. And yes, they were excited for me.

I have spent a lot of time this last week dealing with the horrified feelings. Sandra told me they were doing a run through last Thursday and would I like to come and get my music, watch, and follow along. Let me tell you something, over 30 years ago, this woman could read my fears like a book. She still can. Side Note: One of the biggest fears in my life was the day that she accompanied our choir for a funeral, I was the choir director. Having to direct her is on that top ten list of scary things, but it was fine.

So, Thursday night, I decided to go straight from work to Robinson. I had also decided I would run the interstate over to Marshall, grab me a sandwich there so I could eat on my way down Rt. 1 and not end up sitting someplace in my car eating. It was still going through my head, "What are you thinking? You can't do this, you will never keep up. that music will be too hard, and every other various doubt you can think of. Then, I passed a church. God bless church signs.

This one said, Faith is the difference between Cowards and Calebs. Wow.......I was out in the middle of nowhere and God was speaking to me so loudly that I really wondered if I drove back by there if that sign would REALLY say that.

Just in case you don't know the story, it is found in Numbers 13 and 14. Instead of giving you the whole scripture, I will leave a link for you HERE.

The just of the story though is Moses sent 12 spies to scout out Canaan. The land God promised the Israelites. When they came back, 10 of them said that the land was absolutely wonderful, flowing with milk and honey BUT the people there were too big, too strong, and too scary and they were too afraid of them to move forward. Two of them, Caleb and Joshua, knew God wanted them to have this land and God would take care of them. There is one passage where God says to Moses,  “How long will these people treat me like dirt? How long do they refuse to trust me?" So, here I am, on this deserted highway, realizing God put me here, so I could read this sign so I could get over myself. Here He is handing me something that I have wanted for ages and I am ruining it for myself because I have no faith. 

That saying, "If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it" works in good stuff too.

So, I went to practice that night, and I was so relieved when I saw the music, and even more relieved that most of the time I could follow along and see exactly where I was at and what I was supposed to be doing it. I am still nervous but I am more excited. And the most excited that something I have wanted to do, God handed to me and said, "Here, this is for you."

We, (I, anyway) seem to be in the habit of asking God for things, sometimes even things that seemed too far fetched to even imagine and, even though I have it in my head "the only way that could happen is..." God pops something down on you and says, "I love you, and here is what you wanted, and no, it didn't happen the way YOU thought, but it happened the way I KNEW". Yes, I hear him say things like that to me all the time.

I am leaving you with What Faith Can Do, from Kutless. Yes, it is another favorite, imagine that!
 
Have a beautiful week and when God blesses your socks off, don't doubt, just praise Him!