May 21, 2012

  • All the World's a Stage?

    I grew up with a dad who was a pastor. There was always a strong emphasis on my sisters and I that PEOPLE WERE WATCHING! We had to behave as perfectly as possible, or it was considered a bad reflection on my father and his standing in the community. I often felt like there was a different set of rules for pastors kids than there were for everyone else. The deacon's kids could chew gum in church, or even skip church to attend other functions. They did not come to prayer meeting. Other people's kids could wear shorts and go to movies and dances. My dad was very strict with us. I was often reminded that I must be a good example.

    It got to the point that I felt like I was on a stage all the time. PEOPLE WERE WATCHING, and I was "on display." Sadly, I got really good at pretending. I learned all my memory verses in Sunday School. I knew the words to almost every song in the hymnal. Oh yes, on the outside I did everything right. It all looked good. But in my heart, I was just a performer. I did not feel any joy or passion in church. I was lost. I was putting on a show. I was doing all the right things, but for the wrong reasons. Everything I did was to impress people. I was not being real at all.

    (Mat 15:8,9 NIV)  "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'"

    The truth is, we should never be motivated to do right simply because PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, We should do right because we are crazy in love with God and want to please Him. HE should be our focus. Being honest and real in our hearts should be more important than putting on a good show.

    When I became a pastor's wife, I again felt that pressure to perform. I thought you had to paste a smile on your face no matter what --- that you had to be gracious and kind even when you wanted to smack people!   I did not know how to be real. I did not know how to be honest in my own heart because I was so busy pleasing people and doing what I thought was right -- what LOOKED right. But, you know what I learned? You can't please people. You can try and try, but the gossips are going to talk about you anyway, and some picky person is going to criticize you for something. It is so much better to please God. Even when people do not understand, if God is pleased, it is all good! Be wise. There is a time, a place and a right person with whom you can share. You cannot trust everyone. Be real. Be honest about what you think and feel. God already knows anyway, and He still loves you! Be the person God made you to be, not the person you think fits everyone else's expectations.

    PEOPLE ARE WATCHING. Yes. They always will be! And, of course, we want to be a good example. But, we need to be so careful that this is not our only motivation for doing what we do. The fear of man is a trap. It is empty. It is dangerous. It is wrong.

    (Col 1:18 NLT)  Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.

    If you want to be free -- if you want to live in joy and have peace within, stop performing and PLEASE GOD!

May 18, 2012

  • A Web of Negativity

    Why is it so many of us think so little of ourselves? Many of us even appear uncomfortable getting a compliment.We seem more accustomed to hearing negative things. Many of us think them, too. For some reason we think graciously receiving a compliment seems wrong, so we have to pull it down.

    "I like your dress."

    And we say, "This old thing? I've had this since Nixon was in the White House!"  OH, REALLY! In an underhanded way, we are putting the person down who gave us the compliment! I am sure that isn't our intention. Something to consider, huh?

    It seems like many of us have a hard time accepting anything positive about ourselves. We will take in the negative and believe it, but we have a  problem receiving genuine, sincere praise. It can be easier to see what's wrong, than what's right. Are we caught in a web of negativity?

    I grew up in a generation where parents did not give their children praise. As my Dad said, it wasn't good for anyone to "get the big head." Yeah, maybe. But I was SO hungry for approval. I SO wanted to know my parents were proud of me. I tried and tried to please them, but I never got any positive feedback. It made me feel very unsure of myself. It made me feel like I wasn't worth much -- like I didn't deserve much.

    I remember once the next door neighbor lady told me that my mom thought I had pretty eyes. WOW! I pathetically hugged that second-hand compliment close and treasured it. My mom liked my eyes! It made me feel special. Finally, there was something I knew for sure my mom liked about me!

    You know, there is nothing wrong with praise. A little sincere praise can really make a person blossom. It can give them confidence and make them want to try harder to do better. Did you know even God praised His Son. Oh, yes He did! And He is the perfect parent, so maybe we should follow His example!

    (Mark 1:11 KJV) "And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

    People respond to sincere  praise. Compliment them when they do a good job. Tell them you are proud of them when you see them handling a difficult situation well. EVERYONE needs praise.

    Praising someone says you care about them enough to notice what they do. It shows you appreciate them. It makes them feel valued. I remember reading about a teacher who gave her students a "self evaluation" sheet. It had statements where they were asked to fill in the blank with the word they thought was best suited to them. One of the statements was, MY MOTHER THINKS I'M ................  Sadly, the teacher said that most of the kids wrote in negative words like LAZY, STUPID, SILLY, MESSY, etc. But, there was one little boy in her class who was so confident and joyful. He was a natural leader, and was sweet and kind to all. Do you know the word he filled the blank with? WONDERFUL!  My mother thinks I'm WONDERFUL!

    We need to make more of an effort to build people up, don't you think?  When was the last time you praised your husband/wife/friend/sibling for something? When was the last time you told your kids you were proud of them? Do you ever thank store personnel, waiters, and others for doing a good job? You just might make their day! A heartfelt compliment is a joy to receive, and a blessing to give. When we get one, we should graciously accept it.!

    Don't be caught in the web of negativity!

May 17, 2012

  • Seekers

    It seems to me that almost everyone is seeking after something. I look at the youth, and I see that many of them are seeking for thrills and new experiences. Many of them collect stuff like CDs and high scores in games. Some of them collect sexual conquests and brag about it. We see all these outward things that they do. But, I believe they are also seeking for acceptance, love, and meaning. They just don't know yet that these qualities cannot be found where they are looking.

    I have been around people who worship science. They are seekers of knowledge. They collect facts just because they can. They find some kind of validation and comfort in this. They feel superior. They feel in control because they know a lot about a lot, and they like to demonstrate that they do. They dominate most conversations. Most people call them "know it alls" behind their backs.

    Some people seem to be seekers of comfort. They want to do what feels good. They want to have what will make life easier for them. They want to spend their time "enjoying." Fine wine. Lovely restaurants. Taking a luxury cruise. That's what it's all about! Oh, they are "living the good life." But, I wonder if, when they are in their beds at night, they ever feel empty. I wonder if they know that they cannot fill up that emptiness within with recreation.

    (Jer. 29:13 KJV) And you shall seek and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

    A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to a youth retreat in N. Ireland. My son in law is the leader of an awesome group of young people in Dundonald. There were kids from other youth groups as well. I saw them worship. I heard their testimonies, and I was SO BLESSED! At the evening meeting, I wanted to just go down to the front, stand in a corner and watch the way these kids were reaching out to God. It was amazing!  I cried because I knew these young people were seeking THE RIGHT THING! They were seeking God's heart.

    You hear a lot about "kids today." You hear people say that the world is spinning out of control and this generation does not care about anything but pleasure. Well. Maybe some young people. But not all. I looked at the shining faces of these kids with their hands and hearts lifted up to God and I cried. I heard them talk about praying for classmates and parents, and my heart was thankful.

    There are so many things demanding our time and attention. There are so many voices telling us what we "need" and what we should spend our money on. It is mostly a big waste. None of it will fulfill. None of it will satisfy. None of it will last.

    (Psalm 42:1-2 NLT)  ... As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?

    But, if you will be a seeker of God's heart -- if you will make it your goal to KNOW HIM. If you will give Him your life and your love, you will be making the right choice. You find a deep peace and joy. Your life will have a meaning that transcends any material thing; any experience or dream you could have.You will have a purpose that is ETERNAL! HE is the only thing that will truly satisfy the longing of our hearts.

    Be a seeker of God's heart.

May 14, 2012

  • The Lower Place

    A lesson I have learned which has served me well not just in the church setting, but in many other areas of life is the principle of taking the lower place. This is usually quite a struggle for us because our society has trained us so well that we have RIGHTS! ---"Doggone it! I have a right to this, and a right to that. And he has no right to treat me that way.........Grrrrr!!!!"

    Yeah......about that.......... As individuals in society, we are told we have rights, but for those who call Jesus Christ LORD, our "rights" are laid at His feet. This is yet another aspect of that struggle between our flesh and our spirit. The ME in me says I deserve to be treated a certain way. The Christ in me reminds me that it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

    When facing conflicts with other people, we really only have two choices. (1) Go on the defensive, or, (2) Humbly listen to what they have to say and perhaps even find something in their comments with which you can agree. You might ask them to suggest what they think you could do to make things better. I have found that whenever I choose (1), the situation usually escalates. Words are often spoken that we will probably later regret.   When I take the lower place, (2), I have found that the person confronting me usually calms down, and we are able to talk about the problem, and even come up with some constructive ideas.

    Please let me clarify something here. Taking the lower place is not the same as being a doormat. I do not feel that God ever intended for us to let everybody wipe their dirty feet on us. There is a difference between someone being abusive and bullying, and someone who disagrees with you. When you are being bullied, it is best to leave. I believe it is usually possible to remain calm and polite, but you can’t reason with a bully. Their agenda is to put people down. In these cases, you are better off to say "I am not going to listen to this."  and walk away.

    When you take the lower place, you choose not to be offended. Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Hmmm..... The NLT says, "Those who love your law have great peace, and do not stumble." OK. So, becoming offended when we are criticized and misunderstood is equated with stumbling. Oh! That can’t be good, can it?

    Galatians 5:13 "For you have been called to live in freedom--- not to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love."

    Now, you may be thinking---"Well, that’s all well and good for ministers and missionaries, but it sure wouldn’t work for me." Hey! It’s worth a try, isn’t it?

May 11, 2012

  • The Wonder of the Cross

    I kind of have a "thing" for photographing crosses. It seems that more and more the significance of the cross is being pushed aside. I have even heard of people in the workplace being told they could not wear a cross at their job. Why is the cross offensive to some people? It would be discriminatory to tell someone they could not wear a burka or a yamaka.

    It also seems it is not "fashionable" anymore to talk about sin. Well, fashionable or not, we are all sinners. Our sin had separated us from God. But, Jesus sacrificed His own, perfect life to pay the price for our sin.

    He paid a debt He did not owe;
    I owed a debt I could not pay;
    I needed someone to wash my sins away.
    And, now, I sing a brand new song,
    “Amazing Grace.”
    Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

    In one way, a cross is nothing special. It is just a short board nailed across a longer board. Yet, for me, whenever I see a cross, it reminds me of the great sacrifice my Savior made for me. I cannot look at it without feeling grateful. I cannot look at it without remembering.

    (John19:18 NLT)  There they nailed Him to the cross. Two others were crucified with Him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.


     
    Thank you for the cross Lord. Thank you for the price You paid
    Bearing all my sin and shame, in love You came
    And gave amazing grace

    Thank you for this love Lord. Thank you for Your nail pierced hands
    Washed me in Your cleansing flow. Now all I know
    Your forgiveness and embrace

    Worthy is the Lamb
    Seated on the throne
    Crown You now with many crowns
    You reign victorious
    High and lifted up
    Jesus Son of God
    Darling of Heaven crucified
    Worthy is the Lamb



    (Gal. 6:14 NLT)  As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.



    On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
    The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
    And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
    For a world of lost sinners was slain.



    The cross is, not only a symbol of Christ's love for me, but also a symbol of my value to Him. He knew I was worth this price He paid. You were, too. Think about it! Believe it! There was a time when I did not think I was worth anything, but Jesus saw me through eyes of love.



    My Savior paid the price so I could know a perfect love.
    My Savior paid the price so I can sing of freedom.
    My Savior paid the  price so I can live a life of joy and peace!

May 9, 2012

  • Back Home! Pictures and more

    I am back from N. Ireland now. I had such a lovely time with the kids and sweet little Sianna! She has grown so much since I last saw her, and is a lot of fun.

    She knows a lot of words for her wee 15 months, and is a very sunny but determined little person. I often look at my grandchildren and wonder how God will use them in His kingdom. I have SO many pictures, but these two are favorites. She loves her dolly, Phyllis.

    There is a lot going on with the economy these days, isn't there? I think pretty much everyone has felt the pinch. Gas prices alone are incredible. Here in Denmark, we are paying over $9 a gallon for the stuff. I have been thinking about the word "prosperity." It is mentioned often in the Bible. Most of the time, when we hear this word, we think of monetary wealth. If one is prosperous, he has money. We all like the sound of that! Yes! Amen, Lord! I want to prosper! Bring it on!

    However, I think there is more to it than a fat bank account. We tend so often to see things from our own point of view and not God's!  Could it be that prosperity means something different to Him?

    (3 John 1:2 MKJV) Beloved, in regard to all things I pray that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

    I have heard this scripture quoted so many times and often preachers make it sound like God wants all His children to rich and well. Hmmm.... Sounds good. But, most of us are not rich, and many of us are not well, either. Is this what it really means? Here it is from the Amplified Bible.

    (3 John 1:2  AMP) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.

    Take a look at these well known verses. (Psalm 23:1-3) NIV) "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake."

    The word "prosper" here means to succeed in reaching. This would seem to imply a goal of some sort, right? My life goal is not to be rich, but to please the Lord in all things. I want to someday stand before Him and hear Him say, "well done." In this, I want to prosper.
     
    Could it be that God's idea of prosperity is to see that we have what we need to succeed in what He has called us to do? My husband often says to me, "If we need it, God will make a way." I do not think God gives us blessings just so we can get a bigger house and more stuff. I believe His blessings come with a responsibility to use it to honor Him..

    These verses imply that we need to care for our soul. It needs to be refreshed. Our ability to succeed in what we do seems to depend on its well being. OK. So, what is a soul, and how do we take care of it?

    We humans are three part beings. We live in a body, and possess a soul and spirit. We all know what the body is. It is that part of us everyone sees. We have to wash it, dress it, feed it, etc. Our soul is the seat of our mind, will and emotions. Our spirit is that part of us that is in contact with God. Understand this is a very simple explanation.

    Our mind, will and emotions certainly do need looking after. When you think about it, that is where most of our troubles start, isn't it? Where does the enemy attack? The mind. He tries to manipulate our thoughts with fear, anger, or any number of slimy tricks. Where do we struggle to submit to the will of God? Our own will. What often leads us around and makes us feel things and react in ways that are not God honoring? Our emotions. We need to control what goes on in our souls.

    (Psalm103:2 KJV)   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

    We often see that David speaks to His soul and tells it what to do. If we want to have a healthy (and prosperous) soul, we need to make sure it does the right things. We must think the right way, we must make the right choices, and we must govern our emotions. We should not allow them to control what we think, do or say. (Unless you are a toddler, and then you go right ahead!)

    (Phil. 4:8  NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

    Let us care for our souls.

     

    Scrabo Tower, N. Ireland

    Sunset over the mountains. N. Ireland

April 23, 2012

  • Hello, Folks!

    Hello, Folks!

    I am in N. Ireland with my daughter, sweet granddaughter and son in law. Not much time for computer. I will be back in Denmark on May 3. Blessings!

April 15, 2012

  • Listen. Really!

    When my Abby was about four, I was hard at work on some craft project I was trying to finish. At the time, I had a craft business with deadlines. I was very focused on what I was doing, and Abby was jabbering away as she played nearby. She was such a social little person, and she needed someone to interact with. She would ask me a question, and I, without even looking up from what I was doing, would mumble something. This went on for about an hour.

    At last, Abby came to me, pulled my arms away from my project, and crawled up on my lap. Then, she took my face in her little hands, and looked into my eyes. She said, “Mommy! Wisten to me! I mean WEEEWY wisten!”

    My heart was convicted as I realized how little attention I had been paying to my precious little girl. No project could be as important to me as she is. Right now, spending time with mommy was an important thing for her, and yet I had kept pushing her aside.

    Today, I was reading someone’s post and it got me thinking about this event. Abby’s words echoed in my head. “Wisten, mommy. WEEWY wisten!” Then the Holy Spirit gently spoke to my heart. He said, “Yes. Sometimes I feel just like Abby did. When I talk to you, I do want you to REALLY listen!” I thought of the many times when I had faintly “heard” His voice in my heart and chosen to ignore it. Once more, I was convicted. The Holy Spirit is a precious friend and help to me. Listening to Him is one of the most important things I can do! I need to work at tuning my heart to His voice. How about you?

    (1Kings 19:12 NLT) “And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”

    Listen. REALLY listen! 

April 14, 2012

  • Presentation is Important!

    • Cooking shows seem to be all the rage right now. I sometimes watch them, but they always make me hungry!  One thing I have learned from watching these programs, is that presentation counts for a lot! You never see a chef-hopeful just dumping the meal he/she has prepared onto any ugly, dirty old plate. Oh, no! Everything must be spotless! Everything has to be arranged to be balanced and pleasing to the eye. Everything should look appealing and tasteful. Some kind of garnish or little “extra” is a must. Attention is given to detail.
    •   When the meal is brought out and served, it is served with a smile and a positive attitude. Yes. Presentation is important!
    • You know me, so you know this got me thinking! What kind of a presentation am I making? I am  Christ’s ambassador. I represent Him. How am I doing that? Am I “dishing my plate up” in an appealing way? Is my attitude courteous? Is what I am offering served with a smile? Am I knowledgeable about my ingredients? Is my life a lovely presentation of God’s love? Do I care enough to take time to make everything as perfect as I can? Is my representation of the gospel message pleasing and attractive?

      From time to time I am saddened to hear these words from the lips of an unbeliever, “Well, if THAT’S what a Christian is, I never want to be one!”

      Some believers do not seem to have a very good presentation. The world sees them as judgmental, critical and even ignorant people. How contrary this is to what God has asked of His children! He said others would know we are His by the LOVE we have for one another. Condemnation and criticism does not appeal to anyone! We must be so careful how we represent the gospel! We need to care. We need to be relevant and knowledgeable. We need to be honest, joyful people of good character. My faith is the most precious thing I possess. God payed an enormous price for this freedom I have. I need to treat the gift of His love and forgiveness with the utmost respect, and I should be able to present it with joy and pride to anyone in the best way I can.

      Yes, presentation counts for a lot!

  • Leaving!

    Tuesday morning I will be on my way for a visit with.......................

    My daughter Abby, my sweet little granddaughter, Sianna, and of course, son in law, Craig. I am excited. Sianna is much older now than she was in this picture. She was about 6 months here, and now she is 15 months. I know she has changed a lot, and I know she probably won't remember me, but I plan to make some memories with her.

    I will be in N. Ireland for about two weeks. I hope I will have access to a computer every now and then so I can post something. I have a few "oldies but goodies" to share. Never fear, I will have plenty of new pictures to bore you with when I return!  Craig has promised to take me for some photo shoots to interesting places, and of course I will be snapping pics of Sianna. She is going to have a little brother or sister come October, too! My cup runneth over!

    (Lamentations 3:21-23 NLT)  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

    Find things to smile about and for which to be thankful. Tell the people who are important to you that you love them---often! Keep the Xanga fires burning, and I will see you again in a couple of weeks.

    Blessings!