Monday Morning Memo: In An Instant

Last week I shared with you what we did the first week of our recent vacation, which was spent in Tennessee with our daughter and her three sons. We stayed at a resort which had an indoor/outdoor water park…so that, along with a place nearby which had lots of amusement park type rides…kept us very busy.

We made the arrangements for that trip quite a few months ago and had planned to return home at the end of the week.  That is, until our granddaughter from North Carolina contacted us and asked if there was any way possible we could come to her graduation.  She told us the date was June 14^th which was the Wednesday after our trip.  The timing couldn’t be more perfect.  Since we would already be in Tennessee, we could just leave from there and go to our other daughter’s home.  That gave us a few days to spend with them before the much-awaited graduation.

We had a great first week and woke up on Friday, ready to pack up the car to head to North Carolina.  As we were getting ready, a text came in from our daughter informing us that our granddaughter’s boyfriend (who was also graduating this year), along with a 16-year-old friend, had died in a car accident the night before.  We couldn’t believe it.  Two young men with their whole life in front of them, taken in an instant.  

Life doesn’t always go as planned, does it.  It doesn’t always follow our neat and tidy arrangements.   James 4:13-16 tells us, “Look here you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year.  We will do business there and make a profit.’  How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog – It’s here and a little while, then it’s gone.  What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.  Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans and all such boasting is evil.’”   Of course we have to make plans, but there are times when those plans are turned upside down…and we are left reeling.  

In an instant…we are reminded that life, as this scripture says, is like the morning fog…it’s here a little while and then gone and none of us are promised tomorrow.  Yet, how often do we live as if our final day on this earth will never come?  We live as if we have all the time in the world to make things right with those around us.  Oh, we plan to reconcile with estranged family members…but just not now. We also plan to make things right with God…to accept Him as our Lord and Savior…but just not now.  We have other things we want to do today…so we put those decisions on the back burner until we’ve done everything that we want to do.  

Friend, I hope you and I have many more days on this earth…but the truth of the matter is that we may not.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news on this Monday morning…but we may never get to do everything that we have so meticulously planned, because in an instant, we might be taken.  In an instant, we could be standing before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and the opportunity to make things right, will be gone.

I have no idea what your plans are for tomorrow…but if I may suggest something for today…make a point to set things right.  Do you have family or friends who you aren’t speaking to?  Make it right with them today.  Don’t delay.  Make the first move and be willing to reconcile.  Life is too short to spend it apart from those we love.

If you are waiting to accept Christ…I want to urge you to not wait any longer.   What is holding you back?  Christ died on the cross and rose again….for YOU!  He loves you that much and wants to walk with you on your life journey.  Honestly, I can’t imagine going through my life without Jesus by my side.  

All you need to do is ask Him to forgive you of your sins and He will make you clean.  Then, when in an instant you are taken from this earth and stand before His throne…you will get to spend eternity with Him.  Trust me…it’s a win-win!   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Monday Morning Memo: Adventure Living

We just returned from a two week “vacation”.  I put quotation marks around that word…because as often happens…I felt like I needed a vacation when we returned home to rest from our “vacation”!  But it was a wonderful 14 days.

The first week we travelled to Tennessee with our daughter and her three sons and stayed at a resort which had an indoor/outdoor water park. There was also a place nearby that had lots of amusement park type rides…so two days were spent conquering every opportunity to be whipped around on a track…dropped from high heights…or spun around and around.  My husband and daughter deserve an award for doing things at both places that pushed them to their limits…so that our precious grandsons, who have no fear of new experiences…had the time of their lives.

The frustrating thing for me was that I had to be a spectator, not a participant, in most of these experiences.  After five back surgeries and a disorder that greatly limits me…I could only be an observer.  I knew going into this vacation that I could either make that truth be something that irritated me and made me not a fun person to be around…or I could be intentional in making sure I was a part of the experience, without being able to partake in these activities.

Enter the phrase, “Adventure Living”.  I decided that throughout the week, I would use this phrase with my grandsons.  As we took them to various places…I would tell the boys that this was “adventure living” because it was an opportunity to do something they had never done before.  When they got tired and wondered “how much farther” our 4+ mile hike in the Smoky Mountains would last…I told them that this was adventure living and we were there to enjoy the experience. When I wanted to show them one of my favorite places in the area where there is a fountain that is set to run to music (not something they thought sounded too exciting) …I told them that it would be awesome because it was adventure living (and yes, they ended up loving it!).  Over and over again…they heard me say the phrase “adventure living”.

Finally, after several days, one of my grandsons said, “Grandma, why do you keep saying that everything is ‘adventure living’?” My response was, “Because someday, when you have kids of your own, I hope you will say to them ‘I sure wish you could have known my crazy grandma.  She was always pushing us to do new things because she said that was adventure living’.”  They then said that maybe I will still be alive when they have kids and I can tell them myself.  While we know that is possible…I’m not banking on it 

Confession time.  In my own life, the words “Adventure Living” haven’t been my main motto.  My idea of adventure living is not using a measuring spoon when a recipe calls for a teaspoon of oregano…and I just throw caution to the wind and throw some in.  So, it doesn’t come natural for me to then want to do adventure living with my grandchildren.  In fact, just putting a bathing suit on AND wearing it in public was almost more than I could handle on our vacation.  But I remembered that when my first grandchild was born…I decided I would do everything in my power to be “in the moment” with this cherished young life and any other precious grandchildren of whom we would be blessed…and if that meant I needed to wear a bathing suit…I would do it.  Little did we know that we would end up with seven amazing grandchildren and number eight will join us in September!  What a blessing!

I want my grandchildren to really know me…with all my faults and failures…but that will never happen if I don’t do life with them.  They need to see how I approach life…how I act and react to life’s detours…and where my focus is and that isn’t going to happen if I’m just sitting on the sidelines.  God is impressing on me that because I have been blessed to have these young lives in our family…I have a responsibility to not just have fun with them…but to pour Jesus into them at every opportunity.

You see, I not only want my grandchildren to be able to tell their kids about our adventure living experiences…I also want them to be able to say that their grandma loved her Jesus with every fiber of her being.  That she was always pointing them to her Savior and He directed her every step.  That is such a tall order and I feel like I fail more than I succeed…but by doing life together…I’m praying they will also see that God’s grace is readily available when we fall short.

Who has God put in your path that you can influence?  Maybe it’s your children…not your grandchildren.  Or, if you don’t have children or grandchildren…maybe it’s a family who doesn’t have any grandparents in the area who really wish they did.  Or, maybe it’s someone who works next to you every day.  Whoever it is…ask God to give you the opportunity to come alongside them and then be intentional on “Adventure Living” together.  Who knows…you may realize that you needed them even more than they needed you  

Monday Morning Memo: Focus

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting to the place where I hate to turn on the news anymore. Pushing the “on” button on the remote, fills my mind with reports of atrocious, hate filled murders, unimaginable abuse of children, politicians from both sides all shouting they have the answers for our country but, unfortunately, most of those “answers” aren’t based on Biblical principles…and I could go on and on. Add to that our day-to-day stresses of living such as job issues, family difficulties and health issues and it is no wonder that many people are suffering from depression.

The surprising thing is that none of this is new news.  Just pick up the Bible and start reading the Old Testament.  I don’t know if you have noticed, but there aren’t a lot of fun, good-feeling stories there either.  There were many wars, multiple murders, people sacrificing their children, plagues (just to name a few) and none of these events leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.   In fact, sometimes reading these Biblical accounts makes a person feel worse when they’re done than when they started.

But then, come across Isaiah 2:22 and it says, “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils.  Of what account is he?”   Read and reread that verse, and you may come to the same conclusion that I did that this verse summarizes the main reason we can feel “down-in-the dumps”.  Many times, we become discouraged because we have put our eyes on man and man has let us down.  As Christians we need to remember that our focus is not to be on a human, but on the One who created us and will never let us down.

Humans can be unreliable, selfish, shortsighted, cruel…yet we often seek after them instead of putting our trust in our all-knowing God.  Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”  HE is good…HE is faithful…HIS love never fails. 

If we believe this to be true, then it is important that we ask ourselves: Where is my focus?  On whom do I put my trust?  If Christ is the answer to these questions, then even when the world is in turmoil around us, we can have peace that passes all understanding.   And it is that peace that the world is looking for, but may never experience, unless they see it in us first.  

Monday Morning Memo: A Hot Manure Pile

As many of you know…my mind often works in strange ways.  I can read something, and what pops into my brain would probably never come to anyone else’s.  Yep, call me an odd duck…because that description fits me well :-) 

This happened when I read a couple verses in the Bible.  I found them in Luke 14:34-35.  It says, “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?  Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”  When I read these verses, I wondered what in the word does salt have to do with a manure pile!

So, I started doing some research and as always, I found several different explanations for these verses.  But there was one that sort of stuck in my warped mind…so naturally, that is the one I will share with you.

In these verses, Jesus was referring to his followers being like salt in the world and if we lose our “saltiness”, we’re not fit for even the manure pile.  But for that to make sense, we need to know why salty salt is good on a manure pile and why un-salty salt isn’t.  I have never bragged that I’m an expert on manure piles…so I had to do some investigating.

The explanation I found was that in Jesus’ day, people cooked over fires that used dried animal manure as fuel because deserts didn’t have a large supply of wood.  The people learned that when they mixed salt with the manure, the salt caused a chemical reaction which made the fire burn brighter and hotter for longer.  But after a while, this process broke down the salt, causing it to become un-salty, and so the chemical reaction with the manure stopped and the fire would go out.

Jesus used this illustration to get across to the people that they were supposed to be like salty salt, so that when they were mixed in with the “manure” of the world, they were able to cause God’s Word to burn brighter and hotter.  In other words, their lives should be causing the “chemical reaction” so they would shine brightly for Him!

So, and here comes the really warped mind part, all I could think of as I read this explanation was… how hot is my manure pile?  If how I am living my life determines how brightly I am shining for others who don’t know my Jesus…do they see Him in me or is my “fire” petering out?  Have I lost my “saltiness” in the unsaved world around me…or am I making sure my life is kept “seasoned” by my close relationship with my Jesus? 

You’ve probably already guessed that I can’t end this without asking you the same question…how hot is your manure pile?  Is it burning hotter and brighter because the “salt” of your life has been thrown in the mix?  Or are your embers starting to go out?   

I think we can all agree that we are living in a world that needs Jesus.  If we aren’t shining brightly for Him…I’m doubtful that anyone will be too interested in our cold embers.  So, let’s make a point this week to throw ourselves into the “mix” so that those who are lost will be drawn to our flame!

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop 

that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp 

and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp 

is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone 

in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds 

shine out for all to see, so that everyone 

will praise your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:14-16

Monday Morning Memo: An Uncluttered and Focused Heart

Memorial Day.  This is the day when we remember the men and women who have died while serving in our country's armed forces.  I so admire those who have been willing to serve our country so sacrificially.  They not only chose to start a life journey where they would have to leave friends and family…often placed in situations which were far from being comfortable…but then gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life so that you and I can have freedom.  We are free because of those who have been brave.

What deeply saddens me is that so many have given their lives for our freedom…but we are now losing many of our freedoms, not because of those outside our country, but because of those inside our country.  Bit by bit…day by day…decisions and mandates are being forced on us which are jeopardizing our freedom to follow the Biblical truths we hold so dear.  Our country, which was started on Christian principles, is now so far from where it began, that it is almost unrecognizable.  The mantra that is now being shoved down our throats is that “everything goes” …as long as Christianity is not included.

The day is here my friends where it isn’t only the soldiers who serve our country who need to be brave, but we also, as Christians, need to be brave.  Our religious freedoms are being taken away, and we need to be willing to stand up for what we know to be the truths given to us by our Lord and Savior.  It will not be easy, and it won’t be the popular thing to do, but it is what we have been called to do.  

In I Chronicles 29 in the version The Message, we find these words of David:

“O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you. And give my son Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so that he can obey what you command, live by your directions and counsel, and carry through with building The Temple for which I have provided.”

David asked God to give Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so he would have the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God would call him to do.  David recognized that it wouldn’t be an easy road but knew that as long as Solomon kept his eyes on His God and his heart pure, God would be with him every step of the way.

We serve the same God that Abraham, Isaac, David and Solomon served and what He did for them…He can and will do for us.  Our job is to make sure our hearts are where they should be and that our eyes are focused on Him.  He will then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God is now calling us to do. 

Today I want to remember those who were brave and gave their all for me.  I do not want their ultimate sacrifice to be wasted by not giving my all to make sure our nation returns to its Godly heritage.  Let’s make sure that those who are coming behind us will have their Christian freedoms…because we were brave.

Monday Morning Memo: He IS Able!

I have shared before that I love to listen to music…especially while I am working around our home.  It just never ceases to amaze me how often just the right song will come on that I need to hear at that particular moment.  Many times, when I’m discouraged or afraid, I will hear a song that has the right words to calm my soul. There are other times when I am feeling so blessed and the only way I know to express my thoughts is to sing to the Lord the praise songs that I hear. 

A song that has spoken to me lately is “God Is Able” and some of the lyrics are: 

God is able

He will never fail

He is Almighty God

Greater than all we seek

Greater than all we ask

He has done great things

 

Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things

This song is such a wonderful reminder to me that no matter what I face, God IS able to handle it.  I am also reminded of this fact as I dive into scripture:

2 Timothy 1:12: “That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (emphasis mine).

Hebrews 2:18: “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested” (emphasis mine).

Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf” (emphasis mine).

2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (emphasis mine). 

Our God IS able. He has shown me over and over that He is able to do so much more than I ever could have imagined.  I don’t know what you are going through today, but if you are struggling or facing something that seems impossible to overcome, you need to hold onto the fact that He IS able. There is nothing that He can’t overcome. There is nothing that is causing Him to fret or wring His hands. HE IS ABLE. As the song tells us “He will make a way, far above all we know, far above all we hope, He has done great things.” 

Place your cares in His hands and then relax...because HE IS ABLE!

Monday Morning Memo: Freak-Out Mode!

Have you ever heard life described as having mountaintops and valleys?  It isn’t uncommon to hear, especially in the Christian environment, that you can have mountaintop experiences when God works in a powerful way and you feel like you are sitting on top of the world.  Of course, then, when things around you seem to fall apart…it is often said you are in a valley…a place where you really don’t want to be.

Unfortunately, a valley often follows a mountaintop experience, which of course is what happened to me this past week. Let me explain.  I was ordained into the ministry through the Church of God and they now require that every five years, their ministers meet with two individuals for a Periodic Ministry Update interview.  Now, they assured the participants that this was not a performance review.  There would be no grades given, evaluations conducted and no judgement doled out.  It was just an opportunity to build connections between and among the 500+ ordained ministers who live in the state of Indiana.   

This meeting had been on my calendar for some time and honestly, every time I looked at that appointment date, I got a little bit of a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Why?  Because I had no idea what to expect…and I don’t do well with “unknowns”.  I am a “take-charge” type person…so when I’m not the one leading the meeting…I can get pretty nervous.  Oh, they said this meeting wouldn’t be a performance review…but of course…my mind didn’t believe that and I automatically figured the worst.

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.  The two individuals I had the blessing to meet were just awesome.  They immediately put me at ease, and it wasn’t long until I felt the Holy Spirit in our midst.  As we sat in a coffee shop…sharing and getting to know each other…I kept thanking the Lord over and over again that I had been given this opportunity.  Not only did our time together refresh and encourage my soul…it also gave me clarity on a ministry decision of which I had been praying. 

I stayed on that “mountaintop” for the grand total of two days…just praising and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness.  Then, I woke up on the third day, and I quickly plunged into the “valley”.  Somehow…a virus had infected my computer and it was bad.  Every tab I clicked on took me to the same page, which was a fake search engine.  I grabbed my phone and looked up this virus and sure enough…everything I read confirmed that what I was seeing wasn’t a good thing.  

How could God let this happen?  I use my computer so much in my ministry and I had things to do, but everything came to a screeching halt.  I had no recollection of downloading anything that I shouldn’t have, nor had I clicked on anything on the web which would have caused this.  What in the world was God thinking?  Those heartwarming, soul refreshing feelings were rapidly disappearing and I quickly found myself in freak-out mode.

I frantically contacted my son (he’s my IT guy) and told him what was going on with my computer and he told me he would check it out.  Long story short…in the end, he had no choice but to completely wipe my computer clean and start over.  Fortunately, I had most of my files, etc. backed up and they could all be restored on the freshly wiped computer.  And this past Saturday, my son walked in my door and handed me my restored laptop.

I think there are a couple things I learned from these experiences.  First of all, what a blessing it is to know there are other brothers and sisters in Christ, whom I can walk this journey with…if I just have the courage to reach out and meet them.  The three of us had an instant connection because we all serve the same Jesus.  What a blessing. 

Secondly, I don’t think Satan wants my soul to be refreshed and encouraged and he is smart enough to know where to “hit” me to get me back in a valley.  To a writer…their computer is their lifeline…so he knew my reaction to losing it probably wouldn’t be very Christ-like.  You see, Christ never “freaks-out” over anything and this showed me…once again…that my trust-quotient needs some work.  I need to grow in this area of trusting the One who is in control…instead of spazzing out when life hits me with an unexpected detour.

I don’t know where you are today.  You may be on a mountaintop at this point and full of joy and happiness.  I hope it lasts forever…but I want to encourage you to be aware of what Satan may do to knock you down.  If this happens, I hope your reaction will be much more Christ-like than mine was and that you put your full trust immediately in your Jesus.

And if you are in the valley, I want to encourage you to look up.  Look up to the One who is in control and isn’t “freaking-out” over what is going on in your life.  None of it is a surprise to Him…so take hold of His hand and let Him lead you on the path He has set before you.  Who knows…there might be a mountaintop waiting for you just around the corner…where your soul will be refreshed and encouraged.  Trust me, that’s a mountain you don’t want to miss!