What do I do?

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it. ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

Honestly this week has been crazy. Last week wasn't a walk in the park either, and next week won't be a picnic. I looked at all this craziness and realized I have let a lot of things slide this week. The important things have fallen away. I was so busy being stressed out. I was so busy getting swept up in the craziness that I let the craziness carry me away. It's sort of like a snowballing effect. One minute you are standing on top of the things in this world and the next you are in a heap down in the mess of things. When I really took the time to look back. I realized what a mess I was in. The good news is:Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In times like this week when the world and its troubles seep in I sometimes forget those words. These are the times I need a quick reminder! Psalm 28: 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

I sometimes feel like I am the only one not happy, hurting, or afraid. That is when I need to open my eyes. The world is so full of stress. Mine is just a blip on the radar. I needed to spend some time cataloging the great things in my life because if I don't stop and rejoice I may miss how blessed I really am. Even the stress I feel comes from God. He will use it to form me and shape me. Jeremiah 18: 5-6 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! If I am clay then I need to be malleable. Otherwise it takes a lot of pushing and prodding to shape. Life is harder when we forget that we are but clay to be formed. Isaiah 64: 8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. As the work of his hand it is my job to bend when needed. It is my job to form into the shape of the person I am supposed to be. God will lead me through all things, but I must be malleable.

What Can Faith Do?

I find myself riveted to the news as the images and stories pour out of Japan. A country so like our own, yet people are dying in shelters from lack of food and clean water. Unimaginable loss felt by so many and it is not even over. People are now being evacuated from their homes because of the risk of radiation.

In the midst of it all I hear this amazing story. There was a family who when the Tsunami hit had their 4 month old baby with them. The raging water tore her from her father's arms. They were devastated at the loss for surely a baby could not survive. Babies do not swim, and even if a baby were to survive they might die of hunger, dehydration, or any number of things before anyone could rescue them. To me it is unimaginable the grief this family must have felt. However for this one family the story didn't end there. Rescue workers heard a strange sound and when they followed the noise were amazed to find a beautiful 4 month old baby girl. A beautiful baby alive after an earthquake and a tsunami. There are no words to describe how awe inspiring a miracle is. However I can show you a picture. Just look at the smile on this man's face as he rests his eyes on the beautiful miracle of that baby.

We need only to turn on the news to hear horrible stories. Crimes committed, wars raging on, people who are persecuted, and so much more going on all around us. Sometimes I think we become indifferent. We become a little bit complacent. For those of you who don't know what I mean complacent is defined by dictionary.com as: pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect. You need only to look around you to see what I mean. The world is full of haves and have nots. The world is full of sinners. If I sit back and watch the news I can say, "Well I must not be that bad I never robbed a bank. My life isn't that horrible look at what happened in Japan." You might even say, "What has this world come to? What kind of world do we live in?"

However just when you think that all hope is lost. Just when you think that there is no way that this world can be saved. Something amazing happens. Like little Michelle who lay under the rubble in a building in Haiti for five days. In searing heat without water and food. Imagine being all alone in the dark for five days. These are two stories of hope in times of tragedy, but what about amazing things that happen on a normal day. Like the man who caught the baby falling 7 stories from an apartment in Paris. Have you ever tried to catch a fly ball at a baseball game? If you think that is hard picture trying to catch a flailing crying baby as they plummet toward the cement. AMAZING...........

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Sometimes I am asked how I can believe in God when I cannot see him? There is so much evidence against him people say. I have heard arguments on every scientific notion out there. Despite the arguments or maybe because of the arguments I have FAITH. I cannot see electricity, but I still get a bill every month for using it. I cannot see the tiny cells within my body, yet I believe they exist. I have not laid eyes on the Himalayan Peaks, the Eiffel tower, the pyramids, or the Great wall of China. That doesn't mean I don't believe in it's existence. Unexplained things happen. People live against all odds. Just because you are not there to see it does not change the fact that it is happening. 2Corinthians 5: 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

People who believe in things that seem impossible are called crazy. Galileo was imprisoned for life for publicly proclaiming that the Earth was round. Too bad he died before everyone realized the truth. Louis Pasteur was drummed out of his medical college for proposing that life forms too small for the human eye to see were the cause of disease. Yet this man went on to create a vaccination for rabies. Imagine if Louis Pasteur had listened when people called him crazy. Einstein was thrown out of grade school as hopelessly un-teachable. All of these people saw something that was right there in front of them. They saw it and they understood that this knowledge would shake the core of what the world believed. Then they set out to tell everyone they met.

This Sunday I heard an amazing message called Sun Stand Still. Pastor Steven Furtick preached this earth shattering eye opening message on asking God to do the impossible. Joshua 10: 12-13 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”¹³ So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies.Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. Can you even imagine praying that prayer? The kind of faith it takes to ask the sun to stand still? Sure I believe in things I cannot see, but would I have the audacity to say this to God? Would you?

Complacency rules our world. It is like a blindfold covering the eyes of the people. We walk around feeling good about ourselves, and our lives. We have the right car, clothes, house, life, children, job, etc. We walk around feeling horrible about the world around us. Look at this world what a mess it is. This kind of living is a symptom of the mess, and it will get you no where. That's right if you are living a life of complacency you are going nowhere! You can change the world just like Galileo, Pasteur, and Einstein. You have the power. God gave you the power. Acts 2: 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. Amazing and simple, just call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved! From my minimal knowledge of the bible I can count 14 variations of this verse found in both the new and old testament. Now as a mom I know that children don't always listen, but when something is important I am willing to repeat it until they get the message. So if God was willing to repeat it 14 times you probably should sit up and listen. Faith is about daring to do the impossible. Faith is about the sun standing still.

When we take off our blindfolds we see the world in a new light. Just as Louis Pasteur saw micro-organisms we too can see the unseen. We pick out the hand of God in the everyday. God is at work in your life even when you refuse to see it. Imagine what amazing things he can do in you if you just let him. Proverbs 2: 5-8 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. ⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; ⁸ He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.

Kutless sings a beautiful song about the power of faith:
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Gifts of Misery

Misery loves Company:

What does that really mean? I think it is important that we all really think about this. For some of us misery is what we choose. It's like a strong tea. First you add a situation that irks you, the tea bag. Then you add water, your complaints, your thoughts, and your fears. Next you heat it all up, usually by sharing with others, and let it stew! Voila misery tea and there is probably enough to go around!

Complaining makes you miserable. Comparing robs your life of its joy. Misery is all about comparing and complaining. Today is not Tomorrow. Today is not yesterday. Today is a gift. The resources, the job, the stress, and everything in between is a GIFT. His gift to you. When you complain and act miserable you are complaining about the gifts God has given you.

Have you ever shopped for the perfect gift for someone, wrapped it with care, and waited impatiently to see their joy when they opened it. The day comes you hand them the gift, they open it, and they toss it aside. They don't want it, like it, and are not grateful. All your joy is stripped away in that moment when they toss aside what you had so carefully planned for them.

Look at some of the gifts God has given us:
John 3: 16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2: 8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do not turn away from the gifts that were so carefully selected for you. These gifts may cause you trials. These gifts may cause you pain. Zechariah 13:9 This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” He will refine you because you are one of his people. You are imperfect, a sinner. God never said following him would be easy, but the reward is eternal. Just like us, God is hurt when we turn away from his gifts. Don't turn away from what he has planned for you. If you turn away you will miss out on all his blessings too!

Audio Adrenaline put it best in their song Walk on Water
Just like Peter I want to go farther; tread on the sea and walk on the water; step where he steps and go where he goes, side by side when the sea billows roll. I'll be alright when the wind comes. I'll be alright when the waves come crashing. I'm not afraid, for this is my father's world.

If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water. If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water. If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water. If I keep my eyes on him I can walk on water.

What it really means to follow Christ

Here's a little trivia for you. The term Christian actually goes back to derogatory terms used for the followers of Christ. To be a Christian has many different meanings to different people.

Did you know Christ never called us to be Christians? Christ called us to follow him. The term Christian is of this world. Christ called us not to be Christians, but to be disciples. He wanted us to find a need and meet it. He called us to find a hurt and heal it.

Christ called us to be his hands and feet. So often people get tied up in what their religion tells them is the way. Many of us are so busy being Christians that we don't have time to follow Christ. There are churches that will tell you for any number of reasons that you are going to hell. They have traditions and rituals steeped in history. Every Sunday people reverently sit in their pews, pray, sing, and worship. However, this will not make you a fully devoted follower of Christ. I am not saying that in these churches there are not people who are fully devoted to following Christ. I am just saying that the ritual cannot stand in the way of the journey.

Everyday is an opportunity to follow Christ. To truly be a disciple. He simply asks that you not turn away from those around you who need you. If we see the world through his eyes it changes everything. His view of things is so much clearer than my own. Christ sees you and
I for who we are. He sees your anger and your fear. There is no mountain he cannot climb, no river he cannot cross, no ravine to deep.... He is always present and all we need to do is call on him.

Christ died for my sins, but he also died for the sins of those I do not like. He died for the sins of those I have not yet met. He died for all of humanity. I know that I am a very selfish being as is the nature of man. However, when I sat and reflected on the message today what resonated most with me was that as a disciple of Christ it is my job to meet the needs of his people. That means no matter how angry, frightened, or busy I am I must meet those needs. My selfishness is so apparent to me as I sit in his presence.

I hope that as you go through your week you too will realize his will for you. Be there for those who need you. Hug them, love them despite their faults, and heal them of their hurts. You are called not to be a Christian, some neat little definition that fits in a box, but you are called to be a disciple. You are called to be hands and feet. Don't make excuses for not doing it get down there on the ground and get your hands dirty!

Mathew West sings an amazing song that I believe really makes this point clear!

Right now there is a need to be met in Japan, maybe he is calling you to meet it!

THE WAY

THE WAY

I am reminded today of that Blues Brother’s quote. We’re on a mission from God. I want to shout, “hey me too.” Sometimes I see people in their Delorians headed off to change the future and I want to say, “Take me with you!” It isn’t that I want to necessarily go where they are going. I just don’t want to be left behind.

In recent months I have seen so many of my friends and colleagues accomplish great things. Some of them are getting their doctorates, or graduating from medical school. A few have accepted prestigious grants, or awards. I look around and I can outwardly see what they are doing. It is so evident the success they have achieved. Now don’t get me wrong I am not booing anyone’s achievement. In fact I am at the front of the crowd with tears in my eyes cheering for them. However, I sometimes sit back and think. I sometimes wonder what happened?

You see I was going to do some amazingly great things along the way too. However, God had a bigger plan for me. There are times when I look around reminiscing of all those dreams I had. There are times when I clap and cry knowing that some of my dreams may have passed me by. Not all of us achieve the greatness we expected to, but all of us achieve greatness. 2 Corinthians 4: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. I have not wasted away. I have not wasted one day, but in fact I have achieved a different greatness. The path I chose was not the path he chose for me. I was given one of two choices. Either I must leave the path and go on his way, or I could cling to the path and lose “The Way.”

I hear people say all the time that they have chosen something. I have chosen to pursue a career as…….Don’t worry this is my choice to leave this job…………..I have chosen to move on to this new chapter in my life…………….. I hear the resignation in some of their voices. I hear the deeper sorrow in what they are truly telling me. Dictionary.com defines resignation as: an accepting, unresisting attitude, state, etc.; submission; acquiescence: to meet one's fate with resignation. I think any action in resignation should be carefully thought out. What are we submitting to? Who are we not resisting? Is it this world? Are you submitting to what you believe is THE WAY, or are you submitting to what the world tells you is THE WAY? Unresisting, submission; I think not! I will not submit to this world! I will resist this world! I can stand steadfast! Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. I will not resign because if I trust in my Lord he will take the road before me and make it straight.

A straight path sounds great, but sometimes we have to realize that only his path is straight. I cannot choose the path for myself because he chose it for me. Jeremiah 1: 5Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."He chose my path before I was born. If I follow the path he chose he will make it straight. God will lead me through the good times and the bad. God will renew in me my heart day by day. With each step I take, I must submit to him. Do not resign, do not submit to this world. Do not allow others to tell you that it is okay when you know God’s plan says otherwise. Silence your words of resignation. The only will we are to submit to is the will of our Lord. Without God we will fail. Every path, every dream, every marriage, everything…………… Isaiah 40: 31 ³¹ But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Sometimes other people will achieve greatness before us. Sometimes we will watch them and wonder, “Why not me?” There will be times of hardship along the way, but if we wait on the Lord he will lead us to the path. He will help us to run, to fly, to walk, and to never grow weary! He is our strength and our song! Remember the caterpillar. This little bug that knits itself a cocoon. Day after day it waits in that cocoon as God makes it into something new. Finally when the moment is right the butterfly emerges and spreads its wings, and it is beautiful. The butterfly is God’s amazing and beautiful creation, just like you. Matthew 6: 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

I have achieved greatness in the eyes of my God. Everything I do is great because I walk his path. God must come first in your life and everything else second. Your job is not more important than your God. Your spouse is not more important than your God. Your children are not more important than your God. GOD is the Alpha and the Omega! He is the ONE and he must be number one! When you place other things or people above God in your life you will feel empty. You will be like a jar with a crack. God will fill you with his living water, but it will all leak. You will find yourself alone in the desert with nothing to drink. If you put God first he will fix what is broken, and then you can fly. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Downhere: note, you can click on the band’s name to be redirected to youtube and listen to the song!

Sometimes your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes it comes in the Spirit's breeze,
You reach for the deepest part of me,
And call out for the things of eternity.
But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say,

CHORUS:Here I am, Lord send me,
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me,Somehow my story, Is part of your plan,
Here I am
When setbacks and failures, and upset plans,Test my faith and leave me with empty hands,
Are you not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that you will finish what you began.

These broken parts you redeem,
Become the song, that I can sing
(Chorus)

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness,
And the fear that I'll fail you in the end,
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but you can.

Something Beautiful

"Hey now this is my desire Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful To touch me, I know that I'm in reach Cause I am down on my knees
I'm waiting for something beautiful Oh, something beautiful" Need To Breathe

Is it enough to care? I believe that by just loving one another it is enough. The majority of people in this world want you to just care for them. Being there and loving them will be enough. If you let God's light be reflected through you to all those in your presence you can change the world.

Most of us, at some point in our lives passionate about Christ. We have gone on a retreat, read a book, heard a sermon, or listened to a praise and worship song that moved us so much that we were filled with the holy spirit. Just like Moses, on the mountain, you felt in that moment a strong connection with God. Maybe he was speaking his will to you. However in a week or a month the fire seems to have faded. Some of us forget all to easily who we are. We are the LIGHT for the world! Matthew 5: 14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Many of us have let our light be blown out by Satan. We have hidden our light, but it is never to late to be the LIGHT. All you have to do is reflect Christ. John 13: 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. His love is unfathomable. He loves us despite all our sins, despite all our faults. He loves you when you reject him. He even loved those who held the nails. There is no greater love than a love that was willing to die for you. This week is a great time for you to renew your commitment to him. Galatians 2: 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Do not forget who you are, let the Holy Spirit who lives in you change the world through you. It only takes one person at the right moment in time to change the world. Regular Christians change the world every day. You are enough, God created you to be enough! He will lead you by his own hand. When it is time you will have the words to share his message. He will inspire you to say the right thing!


On a side note, I know I have been so terrible about posting this month and last, but I do have a very good excuse. I took the advice of my pastor and some of my friends and I have written a book. Please pray as I seek a publishing company to publish and promote my book!