Proof of Life

     Every year I anticipate this moment, and, although we are still in the month January, the moment had arrived--my first daffodil sighting. Though they usually herald the coming of spring, a warmer than usual December with temperatures in the mid-seventies had prompted their early arrival. Their cheery bright yellow color brings such relief to the otherwise drab landscape of winter--like a ray of sunshine. They are a symbol of the life that returns to earth with the coming of spring.  Flowers will soon adorn the landscape with a rainbow of colors.  The trees will once again be dressed in leaves of green providing shade for the warm weather to come. And, of course, the grass will again grow--excited about the color, but not the mowing!

     These spots of sunshine that sporadically burst from the earth are "proof of life" in the otherwise drab surroundings.  Do you ever feel like you need that in your day to day living--"proof of life"? Tasks become mundane and joy seems a fleeting option. We don't expect things to get better.  We just hope they don't get worse. We've come dangerously close to allowing the world and Satan suck the life out of us.  Impossible, however, if you are a child of God!  Please allow me to offer you a measure of hope! In John 10:10 Jesus says,"The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." Double take!  Proof not just of life but a full, blessed one!  "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ His son."(Romans 6:23) Proof not just of life but eternal life! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you--proof of life ."And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him for he lives with you and will be with you."(John 14: 15:17)
  Believing in Jesus is believing in life and experiencing life to the fullest every day.  Even when we go through seasons that look much like the dreariness and death that accompany the landscape of winter, there is life!  Our being screams of life--life given for us, life of the Holy Spirit within us, and eternal life to come! With that in mind, are you ready be someone's first daffodil sighting in a world full of darkness. If we truly chose to live what we believe, then we have no choice but to radiate that bright as sunlight yellow in our daily walk and light the way for others to know this truth, to have this hope. Now go-- bloom! To God Be the Glory!  
   










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Orange Feet Flopping!

     There is a smile on my face every morning when the ducks on the small lake behind our house begin quacking excitedly as I approach with their much anticipated breakfast of cracked corn. The cadence of a duck is most often described as a waddle.  Well, let me testify that the ducks in my back yard can flat out run! What a sight, thus the smile.

     God must been in an creatively humorous mood when He spoke ducks into existence. When was the last time you actually took in the total appearance of a duck.  Granted the males get the beautiful colors that shimmer in the sunshine, but then, male or female, they have these bright orange webbed feet. And when they have a purpose, such as being first to reach the corn, those orange feet are determinedly traveling in fast motion toward the goal. They may not be the most graceful and beautiful in the process, but they are as God created them.
      We are each uniquely as God created us, and we too have a purpose. It is much more than getting to the corn first, of course. Our purpose is God given and one we should be striving toward every minute of every day because there we find joy and bring honor to God.  Let me encourage you to run toward that "sweet spot" carved out just for you with your proverbial orange feet flopping, determined to reach the prize.  Let me assure you that God will be there smiling, meeting your every need in the moment.  To God Be the Glory!

Be On the Alert

     The house was quiet this morning as I settled in with my Bible, a cup of coffee, and my dog, Max. The sun was shining, the ducks were quacking and I had the day off!  Could it get any better?  Then "it" happened!  A "thud" on our glass patio door startled me.  This was followed by much loud chirping and flapping of wings.  It took me a moment to assess the situation, but suddenly it was perfectly clear.  A young 01hawk had swooped down and captured+4 a redbird in his talons.  The redbird was struggling for freedom with no success. As quickly as possible I went to his aid and threw open the door. Sadly, I could only watch as the hawk took flight into the woods where I feel sure the still screeching redbird met his demise. It was a brutal sight to witness the death of something so beautiful, a bird which had been eating from the feeders in my back yard. My husband said something about the "circle of life."  I cried.  : (

     I was flabbergasted by the fact that I had been sitting at the perfect time, at the perfect spot to witness this whole scene.  God could have spared me that, but He did not.  As I questioned Him, this passage came quickly to mind, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour," 1 Peter 1:5. Do we so haphazardly live our days that we could be caught off guard and swept away much like the poor redbird.  I fear we do as the world demands political correctness to the extent of our religious freedoms being taken away.  No longer can we have prayer in schools, displaying of the Ten Commandments, or a Merry Christmas, just to name a few. We are distracted by constant technology overload-- phones, televisions, and computers. We don't make time for a relationship with Jesus, and we are certainly not "on the alert." We are setting ourselves up as easy targets for Satan to lull us into complacency and slowly, insidiously erode our morals and Christian beliefs. Sometimes we don't even realize how far we have wandered off the narrow path until Satan has us in his talons and we are halfway into the woods in his grasp.    

     What does it look like to be on the alert? 1 Peter 1:6 has the answer.  "Resist the devil, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." This verse suggests it looks a whole lot like being firm in our faith with our grip strong in the hand of God, not wavering or excepting anything less than the Biblical standard He has set for us.  Just because the Ten Commandments are not displayed, does not mean God feels any different about them than when He gave them to Moses. We can pray to God anytime and anywhere we choose, and Christ can always be the center of every Christmas for us. And, yes, the word suffering is in that same verse. Not a word we embrace. But we are not alone as we make a stand for Christ in this world. And stand we must, Christians. Be on the alert Brothers and Sisters! God bless. To God Be the Glory!


     

Blessings

     Inability to sleep was the cause of my rising early this morning.  After tossing and turning, some prayer and one on one time with God, sleep still eluded me. It was nearing sunrise, so I decided to get up and view God's new daily masterpiece. With time to spare before daylight, I measured up the daily portion of corn to be fed to the ducks on the lake behind our house. They would be surprised by this early arrival of breakfast.  Usually they summon me each morning with a cacophony of quacking as they waddle up the bank and anticipate the delivery.
     God has blessings placed inside of each day for us. The trick to finding them is to be on watch.The first blessing of my day came as I stepped into the grass, walking toward the edge of the lake.  The frigid overnight temperatures had caused a hard frost.  The pink tinged sky peeking through the tree tops was just beginning to show evidence of dawn. I looked down as my feet crunched through the grass. There it was! My first blessing of the day and perhaps the reason I was literally up at the crack of dawn. 
     The frost on the grass in that particular light of day looked as though God had spread a million tiny diamonds virtually everywhere.  Never had any frost I have seen on the ground left me with this impression.  It was an incredible sight. I turned a complete circle, soaking up as much of the shining scenery as I could to commit to my memory bank of pictures. My rising early had put me in just the right place, in just the right light, at just the right time. I am still smiling!  
     My challenge for you today is to be sensitive enough to the presence of God that you don't overlook the blessings He has put in your path. Those blessings are there to encourage, put a spring in your step, and a smile in your heart.  With that being the case, we then can spill the joy of our blessings over into the lives of others. Pass it on! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it," Psalm 118:24. To God Be the Glory!






           

White as Snow

     Living in the South affords us few opportunities for snow.  Just the mention of the word "snow" in the forecast empties grocery shelves of bread and milk and has people pulling out their generators.  Usually our preparation is for naught. The predicted snow and possible ice afford us only rain and mud.  The children's hopes of a "'snow day" are dashed and those of us coveting a day off work, peer out the window early in the morning just in case the prediction was accurate. 
     My first glimpse outside this morning held quite the surprise.  The air was filled with beautiful white flakes of snow, silently floating to the ground.  For a moment it did not matter that they were melting on contact in the mud and standing water brought on by the last few days of non-stop rain.  Like a child, I awakened my twenty year old daughter to see the brief beauty of it all. I needed someone with whom to share my excitement!  For a moment she observed and went back to bed. Minutes later the rain returned, but, oh, for a moment the world looked so pure and beautiful!
     We may say we know, but with our hearts do we truly believe that, if we are His children, God sees us as pure, as white, as unique as the snow I witnessed falling this morning. Why do we insist on viewing our lives as dirty puddles of mud instead.  Jesus did not sacrifice His life on the cross for us to mentally wallow in the mud.  When we refuse to accept that God sees us as the righteousness of Christ, we give Satan the victory. As the accuser, Satan traps us into believing that we could never be seen as pure the snow.  He constantly tries to remind you of your past, of deeds done that will supposedly prohibit you from finding favor in God's eyes.
    Let me remind you that those sins were nailed to the cross. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us," Psalm 103:10-11. You are as pure as the new fallen snow in His eyes. "Though your sins be a scarlet, the shall be as white as snow," Isaiah 1:18. Now get up and shake off all the mud you have piled on yourself and go be a "flake" for Jesus...A beautiful, shining testimony of what God has done in your life.  Let your beauty in Christ draw others to you with excitement far beyond our witnessing a few snowflakes in Dixie.  To God Be the Glory!

Casting Crowns has a beautiful song that captures this message entitled "Wedding Day."  Let me encourage you to listen to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vo3RUrQytc

Precious Time

 

     Last week was a tough one for me.  I chalked it up to getting back into the routine after Christmas, or perhaps a case of the January/February blues.  My joy seemed to be rapidly dwindling, my strength was gone, and my ability to smile was fading fast. I remained faithful in my quiet time with the Lord each morning as I sought to live in His presence and grace. Still, my get up and go had got up and went so to speak. There was a feeling of emptiness that found no explanation.
     By week's end I was ready for a serious sit down with the Lord and the discussion began.  It was then I realized that my view of Rom. 8:28, "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose," was skewed. God still desires that I come to Him with my feelings, fears and failings, lay them at His feet and seek His will. Only then can we truly have a relationship that is intimate with our Heavenly Father. God is not a dictator or a puppet master. Yes, He does have a plan and it is for my good, but we are in this together in that unconditional love, father/daughter kind of way. Awesome, isn't it?
     As I began our conversation, supressed emotions surged to the surface. However, I was also careful to listen and not just talk. We women do like to do the talking!  How else could I be comforted, encouraged and directed by His "still small voice." One by one, I placed my concerns before Him and together we talked them over.  When our dicussion came to an end, I felt enveloped in His love with the weight of my problems no longer resting solely on me. Our relationship had become sweeter, deeper.
     The next day brought the final balm for my body.That came in the form of some much needed rest and a good nap. We physically push ourselves to the limit in our daily lives, and fatigue is often misinterpretted, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and alone. Satan jumps on those golden opportunities to bring about hopelessness and stress which are exacerbated both mentally and physically. Do not give Satan the victory! Be aware of your limits and that you do have them.  Reprioritize your life and schedule. Make room for God and time for yourself. These two things should be protected at all cost.  Only then can we be fully prepared for what tomorrow brings. Focus on rest and relationship!  To God Be the Glory!
    

    

Unopened Gifts

 

 

     When you have a child with autism, we have found in our family, that the changes in daily routines and schedules can really throw a kink in things. Christmas is usually the most stressful for my twenty-five year old son, Ben.  Knowing this, I do my best to explain and guide him through the high paced holiday season.  Never knowing what his reactions will be from one year to the next tends to leave me a bit on edge.  The Christmas of 2012 found me faced with a situation I had never dealt with before. 
     On Christmas morning, Ben refused to open his gifts. Under the tree were the Thomas the Tank Engine videos he had repeatedly requested and the dog that when squeezed would shine stars on the ceiling along with other presents. He watched his sister, Miriam, open her gifts.  He observed the joy she was experiencing, but he was unmoved. We knew it would be best to leave him alone. We could not force happiness on him.  Years of experience had taught us to give him space.
     Four days would pass before Ben decided to open his packages. I don't know why he waited or why he decided to finally come around.  Autism has no rhyme or reason. And then I realized sometimes neither do we. As I looked at the unopened gifts under the tree day after day, I was reminded of the gift or gifts that God has given to each of us, His children. Gifts that due to fear or lack of motivation remain untouched in our lives.  Makes about as much sense as Ben refusing to reveal and enjoy what he had been given, withholding its use from the world around us.
     Allow me to share with you a quote from Max Lucado's book Cure for the Common Life. "You are heaven's Halley's comet; we have one shot at seeing you shine. You offer a gift to society that no one else brings.  If you don't bring it, it won't be brought." That gift has been bestowed upon you by God Himself for the purpose of bringing Him glory.
     So what are you waiting for?  Go open that gift you "left under the tree."  See the joy it will bring to yourself and to those around you. God prepared that gift especially for you.  Enjoy it, use it, share it!  To God Be the Glory!

Pursue Your Purpose

 

     The rain is pouring down outside in my small Mississippi town. To some it would seem a dreary winter's day. For me it is a time of respite and peace.  On these days life seems to be slowed down a bit.  On these days I dedicate extra time to sitting in God's presence. Today I visited my own blog for the first time since August. Apparently after my last post, life overtook me so to say. Of course there is the usual busyness of life, but it was about more than that.

 

     Writing has been my very sheltered dream for most of my life.  For me it is not about being on the New York Times Best Sellers list or making a fortune with my words.  My dream is to be an instrument through which God writes to bring Himself glory, to advance His Kingdom and to leave the reader encouraged. To write a blog and test the accuracy of that dream is a scary thing. After almost three years, I made the assumption that just over 1200 hits and only 20 followers was evidence that I had failed my own test.  Perhaps writing was not God's plan for my life. What then? The end of my lifelong dream? I became discouraged and quit. Satan had won the battle, and I was no longer a threat.  In a world filled with millions of blogs begging to be visited, quickly read Twitter messages, and Pinterest why even think I had a chance! Most of my family and friends didn't even visit my site!

     However, since my moment of abandoning ship back in August, my blog has had 300 plus visitors, some from the United States but others from eight foreign countries from which I had never received readers. These are countries where people need to hear a word of encouragement and learn of God's love for them.  Suddenly it was no longer about the numbers nor should it ever have been. My pride was exposed.  If seeds had been sown in one life that sent them seeking God and the wonderful gift of His Son, my dream had become reality! God had used me for what I had always felt was His purpose for my life. Praise the Lord and watch out Satan!  I am back and here to be used by God in any way He deems fit.  Thank you readers.  Pray for me as I will for you!  Do no let discouragement keep you from your God given purpose.  "God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases Him." (Phil. 2:13 NCV)  God bless you.  To God Be the Glory!