Are you a runner? Oh, I am not talking about those health-conscious folks who are out on the streets before it is even light out getting their morning exercise. I am not talking about people who run races and compete in marathons. I am talking about the kind of person who has developed a pattern of running away from anything in their life that may prove to be boring, difficult or painful. So, are you that kind of runner?

There are plenty of reasons to run. Some might even seem like good reasons. I mean, who enjoys being hurt? Who LIKES to suffer? It is hard to see a thing through when things get complicated. But, if we run away from every conflict, I think down deep, we don't respect ourselves very much. We admit we are weak, and running is so easy! However, there are things we will never learn if we do not face our giants. There is a maturity that will never be ours until we stand our ground, reach up to God for strength and wisdom, and just..... TOUGH IT OUT!

The Bible talks a lot about finishing. Throughout life, we can easily start all kinds of relationships, projects, commitments and jobs. But, it is how we finish that truly matters. I have met many people whose pasts are littered with all kinds of unfinished business, failures, offenses, unforgiveness and broken relationships. Not a very good "track record," huh?

There is an old saying;"Winners never quit, and quitters never win." I am not sure I totally agree with that, because from time to time, it is wisdom to walk away. But, I am not talking about those times. I am talking about the times when something we started with a lot of enthusiasm  begins to seem a bit boring or starts getting difficult, so we just give up. Or, people put demands on us that make us feel insecure, so we choose to back away. We work hard to stay in our comfort zone, but that rarely brings much growth. Should we base all our decisions on only choosing to do things that we WANT to do -- things we FEEL like doing? How mature is that? Some things you do because they are just the right thing to do!

When our kids were young, we stressed the importance of following through with commitments. I remember once our oldest had promised to babysit for someone, but then she got offered the chance of going someplace fun with friends and wanted to back out. We said no. Another daughter wanted to take music lessons, but after a few weeks, she didn't want to do it anymore. We insisted she continue for at least six months. Our girls were taught that if you give your word, you stay with it.

We see people who have run out on their marriage, their children, their debts, their reputations and their call. We seem to live in a culture where, more and more if things get hard, the thing to do is run. This is selfish, immature and irresponsible.

With God's help we can make it through the hard times. With God's strength and wisdom we can work through our issues and finish what we start. Let's not be runners! Let's be people of integrity who keep our word!

OK... my last post was about the "serious whys." But, have you ever noticed how much time we spend asking ourselves "why" over silly things which have no answers? I saw this one on someone's blog and thought it would be fun. I am offering my list of silly whys, and hope you will tell me some of yours.

* Why does my husband wait until I am nearly asleep, and then start snoring?
* Why are the oranges that are on sale the bad ones?
* Why does my hair always look good when I have no place to go?
* Why do I pin so much stuff on Pinterest I will never have time to do?
* Why mosquitos?
* Why haven't scientists developed that thingie on Star Trek that immediately beams you places you want to go? I need that.
* Why do all the things that taste yummiest to me have the most calories?
* Why do I have to dust EVERY SINGLE DAY, and an hour later it looks like I haven't?
* Why are some mirrors in public restrooms up so high that short people like me can't use them?
* Why do people spit their gum out right on the sidewalk where people walk? Really?
* Why is it that the line you get in when you are in a hurry is always the slowest one?
* Why can't my husband tell me I have ketchup on my chin BEFORE I go grocery shopping instead of after I get home?
* Why do zippers stick and buttons fall off when you are already late?

These are just a few of mine. Hope you got a smile from some of them. How about your why list? 

Sometimes I am amazed or amused by my fellowman. Sometimes, I am also saddened. I see how people respond to folks who don't agree with them. I see how quick some are to take offense. Why is it that we can feel so threatened by anyone with a different opinion?

I happen to believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I believe it is true -- no fairy tales! I believe it is alive, and anyone reading it can come closer to God. Kindness, honesty, humility, practicing forgiveness, being thankful, loving and serving others -- these are all things the Bible stresses. These are behaviors I wish to see more of in this world.

We know everybody is not going to agree with us. Yet, when we face opposition, we tend to hiss and scratch like an alley cat! We support freedom of speech, and that everyone has the right to their own opinion, but if someone's opinion does not agree with ours, we go into "attack mode." We tend to want to discredit the person. We can be so defensive!

When I was a kid, I was always asking WHY. It amazes me when I think of it now that I got very few satisfactory answers to that question. My Dad had a lot of rules, and we were expected to "toe the line."  I really wanted to know the WHY behind all those rules, but his usual answer was "Because I said so." Now, while that may satisfy a toddler, a point was reached when it no longer satisfied me. I loved my Dad, but I had a lot of questions, and he didn't seem to have too many answers. I think he was just living how he had been taught without thinking much about the whys.

When I had children of my own, I really tried to answer their questions honestly. I wanted them to have the right information. I knew they were going to have to make their own choices, and I wanted them to know WHY I believed what I believed.

I have met a lot of Christians who believe abortion is wrong, but they cannot make a case against it using scripture, or facts. Christians are against pre-marital sex, cursing, and many other behaviors of this kind, but if you ask them WHY, they sputter and spit. It seems many people spend most of their time quoting somebody-or-other and forming opinions based on what someone else has interpreted as true. Why bother to think, when you can just quote other people, right?

So, what is my purpose for this post, anyway? Do I have one?

I guess I am asking that we try harder to be fair and to live like the Bible says to live. To not just accept something as true because someone we like said it, or we saw it on FB  , but to THINK and read and research and learn. To be careful we don't turn off our brains and become lazy Christians. To remember we don't know it all. And, above all things, to LOVE!

There is a certain proud satisfaction that comes from being right. Why is it so appealing? Sometimes, being right seems more important than who we had to hurt to make our point. Do you know what I mean? But, if our need to prove we are right pushes people away, hurts them or makes them feel small and worthless, maybe we need to take a step back and consider just how important being right in every situation is.

See, we can be right all day long, but without love and mercy, we can still be WRONG. Technically right, but grievously wrong.

Remember the adulterous woman the Jewish leaders brought to Jesus? (John 8) According to the law, she should have been stoned. Yes. They were right about that, and they couldn't wait to get started. They were already picking up the stones. But, what did Jesus do? In a manner of speaking, He asked them to examine their own hearts and lives. He asked them to check on their own attitudes. Being right has as much to do with our own heart as it does the rules.

I have found that me being right does not change anyone. People who are trapped in wrong living are there because of addictions or some weakness, wrong thinking, wrong teaching, or any manner of complicated emotional reasons. Usually, they already know they are wrong, and being all righteously religious and pointing it out will not help anything. It will guarantee that they will never turn to you for help.

Now, I am not saying that we should ignore sin. There is a right way and a wrong way to confront people about sin.

(Eph. 4:15 NLT)  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.

(Gal 6:1 NLT)  Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Key words here are GODLY, GENTLY and HUMBLY. When we confront a person who is in the wrong, and we have a compassionate, loving, humble heart, there is a much better chance they will listen. I also have found that MUCH prayer is needed before any confrontation. Sometimes God has told me to just leave them alone and pray fervently for them.

If our need to be right is more important than a person, we are WRONG. If our need to be right brings condemnation to another, we are WRONG. Maybe we need to ask ourselves why it is so important to be right? Maybe we need to examine our own heart. Is the cost of forcing the issue that you are right worth the price? Maybe we need to deal with our pride before we point a finger at another.

Just sayin'!

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I used to when I was younger. Now, I am a bit more realistic. I guess I also feel that if something needs changing, why should I wait until the new year to work on it? Every day is a new day, and God gives fresh mercy and strength.

I do think it is important to have dreams and goals. I just think they need to first be approved by the King. I love those words from what we call "The Lord.s Prayer." Let YOUR Kingdom come, and YOUR will be done. That is my LIFE resolution!

(Psalm138:8 NLT)  The LORD will work out His plans for my life—for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for You made me.

Lists are something else! Oh! Give me a pen, a few minutes and a bit of paper, and I am making some kind of list. I find it helps me organize my thoughts. When I was young, I used to draw a little box in front of each thing on my list for the day. It felt so good when I could make a little check in each box! But, I often found that many things came along that were the "enemies" of the list. Friends would stop by. The school would call to say that I needed to come and pick up my sick child. The phone would ring and I would spend some time counseling and praying with someone. A neighbor would ask me to watch her baby for an hour or so.  Were these really interruptions to my getting all those boxes checked off? I am not so sure. Through the years I have realized that the real accomplishment to any day should be -- did I love the people God placed around me? Did I listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as I went about my day? Did I accomplish things that please the Father?

Slow down. Listen. Love. They take priority over any list.

(Proverbs 3:5 - 6 NLT)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Lists, plans and resolutions are fine, but I want God to direct my paths.

I grew up in a time when parents really did not praise their children. My parents said they did not want me to get "the big head." Yeah, right. I remember being SO hungry for a good word, just a LITTLE encouragement and approval, but that was just not the way my parents did things. I don't blame them. They did the best they knew how.

For years, I pushed myself HARD. I lived for any tiny crumb of approval I could get from anyone. I excelled. I took on way more than I should have. I hated a lot of the things I did, but I just could not say "no" to anyone. I didn't just want people to like me.... I wanted them to think I was awesome! I am probably lucky I didn't have a nervous breakdown.

It must have made the Lord so sad. I could never see any good in me. I could never be content to be who I was. It just didn't seem good enough. By the time I graduated from high school, I had been on the homecoming and junior prom courts, vice president of student council, and co-editor of the yearbook. I sung in two choirs, I did art work and bulletin boards for the library. I was in the art club and on decorating committees for all the parties and dances. I sung with a dance band and a folk group, and won the DAR Good Citizenship award, as well as the Principal's award. I also had decent grades.

You would think all of this would have made me proud and given me some self esteem. Nope. Inside I knew I was nothing. Nothing. At least that is how I felt. It was such a bondage, and it wasn't true. But, it was what I THOUGHT was true. It was my reality. I worked to impress people, not because I enjoyed what I was doing. I NEEDED to impress people, because for a little while, their praise made me feel better. I needed constant affirmation to feel good, but it never lasted.

Thankfully, God set me free from this bondage. Just in time, too, as I was really becoming "unhinged!"  What a relief it was to be free of the need to please everyone! What a joy it was to be able to say "no" to things without feeling guilty! Pleasing my heavenly Father became my main priority, and knowing He loved and approved of me meant so much.

It is so easy to become a "people pleaser." But, it isn't healthy. It isn't right. If you think you struggle with this, there is a good book my Joyce Meyer called Approval Addiction - overcoming your need to please everyone  which may help you. You can never please everyone. You can never be that perfect. God accepts and loves us the way we are, and I am so glad of that!

Last Sunday our pastor spoke about the little boy who shared his lunch. His doing that was the start of the amazing miracle where Jesus multiplied the fish and bread and fed a multitude.

(John 6:5 - 13NLT)  Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for Him. Turning to Philip, He asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, "Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them!" Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward He did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told His disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted." So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

I was thinking about that little boy. Only John's account even mentions a boy. I was thinking about his momma. I think she wanted him to be prepared, and she packed that lunch for him. Just simple fare. No Lunchables or fruit roll ups.   But she knew her little boy wouldn't go hungry.

Was she there with all the others listening to Jesus? No one ever mentions her. I think she may have been in the crowd, but we will never know.

But, you know, I think it was her training that caused her son to be selfless on that day. He could have kept his lunch, but he shared. I sense the influence of a mother in that. He obviously had a willing heart. His momma had taught him kindness. The disciples didn't know what to do! There were all these hungry people, and only one kid seemed to have brought any food. "Hey, kid, would you share your lunch?"

That little boy's lunch, in the hands of the Master, fed over 5,000 people! Incredible! Sometimes it is the simplest things, freely given, which have the ability to touch many. We all have something we can give. We may not think it is much, but in the Master's hands, blessed by Him, it can grow. 

The last thing I see in this passage from John is that this boy was in the right place. Too often we tend to send the message that listening to sermons is for BIG people. We allow the kids to play their video games quietly in the pew. We excuse them from attendance in the main service and send them someplace else.

This little boy was "in the service." He could have been somewhere else, but he was in the crowd that was following Jesus. I can't think of a better place for a little guy to be, can you? He was available to be used by God. He had a front row seat to a miracle! I'll bet he never forgot, either.

I am expecting GOOD things in 2013. I have heard plenty of people assuring us that things are going to get really, really bad. Well, my expectation has nothing to do with the economy, or the political climate or any of those kinds of things.

My hopes and expectations are in almighty GOD! He has always been, and always will be faithful to His own. He has never made a promise He has not kept. I choose to trust Him. I choose to believe Him.

(Psalm 39:7 AMP)  And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You.

Some have been disappointed because instead of putting their expectation in God alone, they have focused on what they want God to DO FOR THEM. They seek His hand, when they should be seeking His heart.

When we really begin to seek the heart of God, our desires will change. WE will change! We will want what He wants us to want! The Bible will become precious to us and we will live by its principles instead of using it to beat people over the head. When we put our expectation in God, we will stop criticizing those who don't believe like we believe and get busy loving them. We will pray for our leaders, and genuinely care about them instead of taking every chance to run them down and pick at their flaws. I remember Jesus saying something about the perfect person being the only one who had the right to throw stones. That sure isn't me! It isn't any of us.

When we begin to seek God's heart, we will become more like Him, and THAT is what will change the world. Not legislation. Not more money or lower taxes or clean energy or health care or no health care --- but people who are so in love with Jesus that the love spills over onto others. That amazing, accepting, irresistible, supernatural, life-changing love! God expects His people to demonstrate that.

God is our only hope. I believe that. I know all other ground is sinking sand. I expect people to disappoint me. I know a lot of people may say I am too idealistic. That's OK. My hope is not found in people. I am not threatened by people who don't agree with me. I am expecting good things from God, because He is a good God. He is loving and faithful. Nothing is too hard for Him.

(1Jn 2:3-6 MSG)  Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.
If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

I want that. I want to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. I am not very good at it, but I am not going to stop trying. I know nothing else is worth living for. He holds my life. He holds my future. My expectation is in Him, and because of that, 2013 is going to be just fine.

There has been a whole lot of celebrating going on over here! We have had many dinner invitations, and we spent a wonderful Christmas with our Danish family. They are so precious to us. Wherever God puts us, we want to be a blessing. It seems in most conversations, hubby always ends up teaching, since that is his gift! One young lady we spent time with was so happy for the help and information. We want to minister to young folks, and train leaders. That is why we are in Denmark!

I also got some blessings, and not all of them were under the tree. A phone call, hugs, flowers and pictures sent through computer --- so many great  and meaningful gifts.

Our Danish grandson asked my husband what he wanted for Christmas, and my husband told him, "A big hug." So, when presents were being handed out, this sweet little boy put a tag around his wrist and got under the tree, so he could present Bedste Far with his gift!

This little angel is our granddaughter, Sianna who lives in N. Ireland. She is almost two. The shepherd seems to like her, but she looks unconvinced.

Yesterday we were on SKYPE with our daughter and two grandsons in the U.S. Lucas had to show us every page of the book we sent him about construction trucks. I guess he liked it!  I also spoke with Sianna, but she is a bit distracted by the princess dresses she got. She wants to change them every five minutes, and needs mommy to help her!

Having time to spend with people we love is always wonderful. We have a big church family here, and since we don't have "real" family in the country, we are grateful for the open hearts of others.  We were blessed with FOUR big boxes of chocolate. Oh my! I am counting on the kids from cell group to help with those!

We had an actual BLIZZARD on the Sunday before Christmas, (the day I didn't wear my boots!) but then it rained the next day, so we didn't get a white Christmas. We don't get too much snow here, so it was kind of exciting when it came so furiously.

The cookie plates for neighbors and friends were all delivered, and there were some cookies left. Uh oh! They are in the freezer and I am trying to forget they are there. Four extra pounds seem to have found me, and I have to do something about that. It has been a nice holiday. We will be celebrating New Year's Eve at church. At midnight, as the custom goes, all the young people (and the young at heart!) rush outside to light LOTS of fireworks! I hope it doesn't rain this year. You can hear booms all over the city, and it goes on for hours and hours.

Did all of you have a nice Christmas? I am going to try to get around and visit some of you today. Hopefully I will get a devotional written soon, too. We are having some computer problems, and it seems they are going to be expensive, so we are praying about that to be sure! God is faithful.

I just thought I would send out a newsy kind of post today. I wanted to post more pics, but the computer problems I spoke of prevent that. Another time.

So.... 2012 is almost over! Aren't you glad you know the One who holds our future? 

  Dear Xanga family. I wrote this years ago, but I post this every year, because sometimes, in all the rush and craziness of the holiday, we forget. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
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You spent HOURS making an adorable, little lamb costume for your four year old to wear in the church play. On the way to the church, he barfed all over it. It’s OK. What matters about this season is not perfection. What matters is the Savior.

You feel embarrassed because you were so exhausted you bought the potato salad for the office party at the deli instead of making your own. Who really cares? You still have a Savior.

THERE IS A SAVIOR!