L-O-R-I

The new year is upon us and like most people I always seem to come up with some new year's resolutions. I rarely keep them and most of them are lame. Like lose weight! Ha! How many years have I resolved to that one! I don't know why I don't seem to keep them. I don't consider myself a quitter but at the same time I don't push myself all that much either.

So, I was thinking as I was driving into work how I needed a way to keep my resolutions fresh on my mind every single day and that is when it hit me MY NAME! I will take each letter from my name and resolute myself to that for 2010. So, here goes...

L - Listen... I tend to talk so much that I never listen or when I do actually shut up long enough to listen my mind is racing in a million different directions that I don't actually listen to what someone is saying. And just as with everyone else, I don't listen to/for God. Once again I ramble and talk so much that I never hear him. So, this year I resolve to LISTEN to/for my Heavenly Father.

"But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33 (NLT)

O - Organize... Organize my priorities. It seems that I catch myself putting work before my family, my family before God...well to be judgement day honest, I put alot of things before God. I don't study my Bible every day, I don't pray as I should and basically, I just don't spend time with my Father! He is just standing there waiting on me and I'm busy running around doing a bunch of nothing. Maybe that's why I can't hear him talk to me... So, this year I resolve to ORGANIZE my priorities and always put God first!

"We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it." Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)

R - Rejoice... Rejoice in my worship! Lately I have noticed that I am a stuffy worshiper. Have you ever thought that about yourself? I go with the crowd around me and I don't separate myself and just worship. I find myself not turning my mind from this world to focus on heaven during worship on Sundays and then I find myself not worshiping during the week. So, this year I resolve to REJOICE and worship my Savior as He should be worshiped!

"I will sing a new song to You, O God...I offer praises to You." Psalm 144:9 (Amplified)

I - Invest... Invest in other people. So many times I run through my day and I never take a moment to invest anything in someone else. I don't talk to fellow line standers about Christ. I don't invite anyone to church with me. For that matter I don't invite others to Christ which is even worse! Rahab was a prostitute who went outside her comfort zone and invested herself into two spies whom Joshua sent from an Israelite camp. Rahab's investment saved her life along with the life of her family. So, this year I resolve to INVEST in other people's lives. I will put my own insecurities aside and put myself out there...like Rahab!

"Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you...We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety..." Joshua 2:12 & 14 (NLT).

What's your resolutions this year?

Beauty Out of A Mess

Sculptures...I have never really understood them nor had an appreciation for them like others do. For example, there is this sculpture in Chicago of a bean. Did you hear me? A bean! I don't get it. Then in New York you have the charging bull. Right there in the middle of the walkway you have this bull. Hmmm...I don't get it! At this very moment my child is cringing as she is reading this because she has such an appreciation for sculptures and artwork.

Although, looking at the bean and the bull I can tell what they are. Have you ever seen the sculptures that are made from steel? Or, what about sculptures made out of trash?! Those I really don't understand. I twist my head from side to side. I cock my head left to right but I still don't see what other people see. I don't see a beautiful picture...I see steel and trash!

I wonder what people see when they see me? Do they see an overweight woman with baby fine thin hair who is not frilly or girly at all? Do they see a Mom who does her best to listen to her kids and is always trying to find the line in between parenting and controlling? Do they see a wife who has been married her entire adult life? Hmmm...I wonder...

Although my life has spun out of control numerous times over the years I finally found a sculptor who was willing to take my trash and make something beautiful out of it. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm such a work in progress and He probably thinks that I am the project that will never be finished because I continue to make a mess out of things, but just knowing that my trash is in the hands of a beautiful sculptor gives me some peace. My sculptor is non other than God himself! His hands are big enough to hold my trash but yet delicate enough to place it in just the perfect way to make me a beautiful creature. He and only He can make beauty out of my mess!

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT).

Veils

Bridezillas, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, Say Yes To The Dress, Platinum Weddings, Rich Bride Poor Bride...I'm hooked! I watch them all and love them! My poor Kristina has been roped in as well and we love nothing more than sitting on the couch, covered up in blankets and watching one episode after another.

We discuss the dresses, the bridesmaids, the location, the wedding planners, the cake, the guests...just everything that we see. We talk about when Shane and I were married and what she would like for her wedding and we sigh out loud as we reminisce and dream.

But, one conversation that always is sure to get us laughing is when we talk about veils. Some of them are thick and full while others are simple and elegant. Some of them are poofy and yet others have extra long trains. The thick and full veils seem to always get me and Kristina going. "How do they see through all that tulle?" is our question. They look like bee charmers walking down the aisle. As the wedding ceremony concludes and the preacher says "You may kiss your bride" the groom begins to ramble through all that tulle and as he finally finds his bride's face he always seems shocked to finally see her face!

Alot of days I think we as Christians walk around with tons and tons of tulle over our faces. We hide ourselves instead of walking around with the freedom of the veil being torn off. We aren't sure how or what or why but we are hidden. Girlfriend we are free! That veil has been removed and in order for us to see the glory of the Lord we need to uncover our faces! I find myself hiding some days not because I don't want to see the glory of the Lord but I'm scared I won't reflect it for others. I am learning that as long as I seek Him then I cannot help but become like Him and my face will do nothing but glow with all His glory!

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT).

Either Ya Got It Or Ya Don't...

Snow, snow, snow...that's all I heard the week leading up to Christmas. The local weatherman said all the players were on the field. I was so excited along with the rest of the Alabama crowd. I love the snow and everything it brings with it. The peacefulness, the excitement, the inner kid in an old woman (haha), just everything about the snow...I love it! Now, don't get me wrong, I would never want to live up north where they get tons and tons of snow. I don't want to see snow from December to March but I do love the occasional white stuff strategically placed in my yard.

As Christmas day approached my hopes for a white Christmas diminished pretty quickly. The front was a little farther north and all we would get was rain. As Gabe and I drove to the orthodontist on Christmas Eve Eve we talked about how our chance of snow was gone. I began to dream out loud of what a white Christmas would be like when Gabe encouraged me, "Mom, it could still happen...a white Christmas isn't completely out of the picture."

I about wrecked the truck turning to look at him and I began to explain how James Spann had said the front was too far north and blah blah blah (like he cared what the weather man said) and then he said it..."Well, who would have thought a virgin could give birth?!?!?!"

Ouch! What do you say to that? I had nothing. I was speechless. I basically crawled back into myself and drove on to the orthodontist's office in silence. Hmmmm...who would have thought?

How's your faith lately? Mine? Well, some days I think it's pretty good and then others I'm thinking not so much! How often do we pray for God to reveal himself to us, but we don't look for him? How many times do we walk by a bush and think "Why don't you speak through burning bushes anymore?" Truth of the matter is if I walked by a bush and that thing caught fire and I heard "Lori....Lori..." I would scream and run for the hills! How's my faith? I must honestly reply...lacking!

“'You don’t have enough faith,' Jesus told them. 'I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.'" Matthew 17:20 (NLT)

Temporary Home

This house, that house. White walls, ugly carpet. Growing up a preacher's kid taught me to go with the flow because you never know what to expect, but the living arrangements were always the same. Every house had white walls and the carpet was always hideous. Some houses would have curtains hanging from the windows that we knew was nothing more than something that someone else had not wanted.

My Momma always had a way of coming into the house and within a day or so the house was our home. Pictures were hung, new curtains were bought, she would bake it seemed like almost immediately so that the house smelled like home. It didn't seem to matter where we went it was just always home.

Somewhere along the way we acquired this fork. I don't know when this fork came into our lives but it seemed to just appear out of thin air and it quickly became "my fork." With each move my fork made the journey and with each meal in whatever house I ate with my fork. It seemed as though no matter what happened in our lives, how upside down they were turned or how uprooted we were that fork stayed consistent in my life. I always knew that no matter where I laid my head down, what the kitchen looked like, how big or small the local school was, I always had something that never changed...my fork.

I'm 35 years old and to this day I still eat with "my fork" when I go to Momma's house. It has become quite the joke and everyone steals my fork just to watch me rant and rave but in the end I ALWAYS eat with "my fork."

No matter how old we all get we enjoy the comforts of home. We like the security, the peace of mind. The assurity that no matter where our journey started that morning we can always go home. (Or...to a fork!) But, you know what? This is just a temporary home. This is just a stopping place in our journey. We are assured that there are bigger and better things waiting on us and in my little mind...my heavenly mansion is filled with forks from here to there!

"...Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live..." John 14:1-4 (MSG)

Christmas Ornaments

As I sat down looking at my reflection in the red ornament hanging on the tree I began to look up and down and all around at the different ornaments. Some were round balls, some were tear drops. A few were clear with snowflakes painted on them and then there was the occasional twisty ornament delicately placed in random sequence.

As I stared I started thumping the ornament with my finger and it seemed huge as it reflected off the red glass. As I thumped it would swing forward and backwards then side to side. My reflection would get larger then smaller, larger then smaller. I began to watch my reflection in other ornaments as I played with this one amazed at how different my perception was in each one. But, no matter which ornament I watched or how close or far away my face seemed none of the ornaments reflected what I truly looked like.

Just as my reflection was not accurate...my perception of others is not always correct. I have heard the statement many times "looking through rose colored glasses," but how many of us look at other people through "Christmas ornaments?" What we think we see isn't a true reflection but instead it is distorted and unusual. The only way to truly know someone is to turn around and look at them! I am so guilty of looking at someone and immediately thinking I know everything about them by the way they are dressed, the way they carry themselves, their mannerisms, the way they talk, etc. but then I become offended when someone stereotypes me! Interesting how that works, huh?

"...discover beauty in everyone...get along with everybody...'I'll do the judging,' says God..." Romans 12:17 (MSG).

Soar Like Eagles

As they take off it is as if you can see the wind underneath them. They flap their wings one, two, three times and then just soar. They dive up and down as if they are riding a wave. Turn to the left, flap again, dive down towards the earth and then take a sharp turn to the right, raise their heads high towards the heavens, flap once more and they shoot up like a rocket while the wind rushes through their wings and ruffles each feather individually.

I have watched many birds fly but none quite get to me like the eagles. They fly with such purpose and stature. They are majestic, powerful, beautiful... Eagles symbolize my idea of freedom. As I watch them I breathe in and out almost in a rhythm wishing I were one of them. I can't quite find the words to explain how I feel when I watch an eagle fly!

There is a peace that is found in eagles. Just by the way they move. I think Isaiah shared my love for eagles. I can envision him standing on a cliff watching eagles as they soared through the air riding each wave of wind that is nothing more than the breath of God. "...those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (NLT).

Life isn't about jobs and cars, houses or offices. Life isn't about how many presents are under the tree or what time you're supposed to be at your in-law's house. Life is about patience, perseverance, trusting, honoring - - soaring...

They that wait upon the Lord

Shall renew their strength

They shall mount up with wings of eagles

They shall run and not be weary

They shall walk and not faint.

Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.

Hymn: They That Wait Upon the Lord

Christmastime

This was written by my co-worker, Kelli Ryan, and is just way too good not to share!

One Christmas several, several years ago we (me and Roger) were headed back to Birmingham from Atlanta. We had gone over for a Christmas party Roger's office was having, and on the way home and quite out of the blue Roger asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Now this was about a week before Christmas which surprised me because that was early for him to be asking. Oh, I’m not being too critical because he is really good at the gift thing...he’s just a last-minute shopper most of the time. Anyway, in wanting to help him out with his creative/use-your-imagination side, I said .... "Oh...I don’t know" and then added, "Really though....don’t get me anything!" Yeah, right! Now, just who would fall for that one?! Well, I’ll tell you I married no dummy and being the smart guy that he is he said, "Well how about a dog", and without any, and I do mean any, hesitation, I said "NO!".... "...unequivocally NO! We have no fence around the backyard, and I will have NO house dog!". But I sensed I probably was speaking a little more loudly and a little more harshly than I meant to so I added "...no pets right now...we’ll get one some day....you know, later on...maybe after we put up a fence." But, as far as I was concerned, that was it....END OF DISCUSSION! We got back to Birmingham, picked up the kids, and me and Abbey went shopping and left Roger and David at home. ....but could we get anything done? No!, because after an hour or so, Roger started and kept calling me on my cell phone, and he kept on and on asking when we’d be home. Well, the first time or two I was thinking "Oh, how sweet...he misses us!" but by the third or fourth time I was just thinking "What is his problem?!" I mean this is not like him....he is NOT a "phone" person nor does he usually have to know or keep up with the when’s and wherefore’s of our "travels". I mean, at the time we were a two-car/meet-you-when-we-get there family for the most part. Anyway, while I was getting agitated, Abbey was getting suspicious. The last time Roger called to see if we were "on our way" Abbey grabbed the phone and finally and boldly said, "Dad, do you have an animal there?" (...PAUSE!...).....it never crossed my mind. I mean, wasn’t it the End of Discussion! up there earlier?! So I grabbed the phone from Abbey and said "Roger Ryan, if there is a puppy or a kitten or any kind of animal at my house (... it became MY house at that point) get rid of it before I get home. Don’t want an animal! ...and I certainly don’t want to see it because if I do I will get attached to it, and I don’t want to get attached to it! Take it back!" END OF DISCUSSION! ....I think I said "bye" before hanging up???!!! But just guess what?! That little puppy almost wiggled right out of his very skin when he came running up to me when I opened that door.... like he’d known me all of his (young!) life!...and he’s loved me the very most ever since. ...the feeling is mutual! Needless to say, I got "attached", very attached, to my dog Fred! That dog has brought me such joy and delight over the years! That "present" is the very best GIFT Roger has ever given me! (... smart man, huh?!!) (...P.S. That dog is much more of a house dog than he ever thought about being a yard dog. But you figured that out already, right?!!!)

As "gifts" go, though, there is one even greater that I received at the tender young age of 8. It was the free gift of salvation through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate His holy birth this time of year every year, and I want to share this "gift" and celebrate this "gift" with you now.

Acrostic:

G - GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON ... John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him." That’s our man Jesus....God’s "only begotten Son". Through Him we have the very gospel of salvation - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

I - IMAGINE ... we can only! I mean, what a unique birth it was! Take a look at it from these "accounts" -

Mary, God’s "favored one" (Luke 1:28). See Luke 1:26-38 - but specifically let’s look at Verses 34-35 - "And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.’ " Wow! How would we have responded? Mary humbly accepted - Verse 38: "And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.’ ..."

Joseph, the "husband-to-be". See Matthew 1:18-25, but again let’s specifically look at some verses. Verses 20-21 - "But when he (Joseph just found out) had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.’ " ...and just what a gentlemen that man Joseph was too (...after some "heavenly" encouragement, huh?!)! Verses 24-25..."And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus."

The Shepherds - See Luke 2:1-20. Well, we know about them. They were just out in the field minding their own business when "lo and behold" (...literally!) "...an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people (...that's us!); for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying (...those angels were a busy bunch lately!), ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.’ " (Verses 9-14). They went, and just guess what they found?!!!.....a sweet, precious little Baby Boy. (John 1:14 - "And the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.")

...and, even though they came later, around the time Jesus was about 2 years old, let’s include the Wise Men in this cast of characters- see Matthew 2:1-23, but specifically for now Verses 1-2: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (another "cast member" ... the villain), behold, Magi (a/k/a "The Wise Men") from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.’ " Well, well, they have been on a "treasure hunt"...well, actually it was a "hunt" to bring "treasures" to that sweet Baby Boy whom they had already accepted as "King" without even seeing Him. (Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.").

....and it was all a part of prophecy! Take a little "trip" through the Bible (given to me by my pastor) and see for yourself....Start at Genesis 3:15 then go to Genesis 12:1-3 and then to Isaiah 7:14 and on to Matthew 1:20-23 and next to Luke 1:34-35 and finally to 1 Timothy 1:15! Wow! It was foretold!

F - FATHER ... No one gets to God the Father except through His Son. John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." This is how we get to God...through His "only begotten Son"!

T - TITLES ... and there are many which belong to Jesus, among which are: Isaiah 7:14 - "Immanuel" - see also Matthew 1:23 - "Immanuel which translated means ‘God with us’ ", and Isaiah 9:6 - "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace". ...and in the end..."Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11. What’s in a name? Everything!...1 Timothy 6:15-16 - "...He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." ..."I and the Father are one." - John 10:30...that’s Jesus speaking.

A GIFT!....that’s what Jesus Christ is to us!

Someone E-Mailed me a "share-it-with-everyone" INVITATION to a Party (author unknown), and I want to share it with you. "There’s a party going on" just like the song says, and we are invited!.......

You are cordially invited to ...

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Guest of Honor: JESUS CHRIST

Date: Every day. (Traditionally, December 25, but He's always around, so the date is flexible.)

Time: Whenever you're ready. (Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there. (You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay. (He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.)

Tickets: Admission is FREE. He's already paid for everyone. (He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway...it cost Him everything He had. But, you do need to accept the ticket!!)
Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water," followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!

R.S.V.P. Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

The thing is - at this Party, we get the GIFT! The GIFT of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. So y’all come! He paid the price - it’s totally FREE! Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." It’s the GIFT that "keeps on giving"!

...and since it is a Birthday Party, I think a song would be in order, and the children from my church once sang the most wonderful "birthday" celebration song......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
I’m so glad it’s Christmas.
All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice
But the real GIFT is You!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
I’m so glad it’s Christmas.
All the carols and bells make the Holiday swell
And it’s all about You!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus!
JESUS, I LOVE YOU!

He is the "Reason for the Season"! .... "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15.

... and this Christmas as you are wrapping your gifts and opening presents just remember that it isn't about the presents, it's about HIS PRESENCE! Amen? Amen and Amen!!

Merry CHRISTmas to you and all of yours!
Kelli

(For other Bible studies and resources, please visit www.doctrinalstudies.com - and me, there at "Kelli's Korner".)

Know It All...

Oh I can't begin to count how many days I laugh because my teenagers think they know everything. I recently saw a status post on Facebook where a Mom was encouraging her know it all teenager to get a job and get out! haha Teenagers aren't the only ones who walk around thinking they know it all...so do we adults.

I have begun to notice something about myself...I tend to not listen! I know my Momma just about fell out of her chair when she read that sentence. Momma, it's okay, growth is part of maturity...look at me...growing up! =) Okay, okay, moving on...but anyway, I realized this just the other day. I asked a question and as the person was talking I immediately started thinking to myself "What? You have NO idea what you're talking about...." And when this person was finished they looked at me like I was a moron because I had not listened to them. I asked for help, yet I didn't heed their instructions.

Isn't it funny how we go through life just thinking we know everything about everything? I found a saying several months ago and I'm not sure who the author is but check this out...

Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count all the apples in one seed.

How true, how true!

I received an email yesterday explaining that Psalm 118 was the middle of the Bible. An exact number before and an exact number following. Chance? Nah, it's just God proving that HE is the answer, HE is the way, HE is our salvation. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega! We don't know anything and it's about time we realized that!

Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits.

Tell the world, Israel,

"His love never quits."

And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,

"His love never quits."

And you who fear God, join in,

"His love never quits."

Pushed to the wall, I called to God;

from the wide open spaces, he answered.

God's now at my side and I'm not afraid;

who would dare lay a hand on me?

God's my strong champion;

I flick off my enemies like flies.

Far better to take refuge in God

than trust in people;

Far better to take refuge in God

than trust in celebrities.

Hemmed in by barbarians,

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;

Hemmed in and with no way out,

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;

Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;

in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.

I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,

when God grabbed and held me.

God's my strength, he's also my song,

and now he's my salvation.

Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs

in the camp of the saved?

"The hand of God has turned the tide!

The hand of God is raised in victory!

The hand of God has turned the tide!"

I didn't die. I lived!

And now I'm telling the world what God did.

God tested me, he pushed me hard,

but he didn't hand me over to Death.

Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!

I'll walk right through and thank God!

This Temple Gate belongs to God,

so the victors can enter and praise.

Thank you for responding to me;

you've truly become my salvation!

The stone the masons discarded as flawed

is now the capstone!

This is God's work.

We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!

This is the very day God acted — let's celebrate and be festive!

Salvation now, God. Salvation now!

Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

Blessed are you who enter in God's name — from God's house we bless you!

God is God,

he has bathed us in light.

Festoon the shrine with garlands,

hang colored banners above the altar!

You're my God, and I thank you.

O my God, I lift high your praise.

Thank God—he's so good.

His love never quits!

Psalm 118 (MSG)

Winter Snow

Chris Tomlin came to my boss' church last week to perform a concert. He brought a young woman with him who had written the song "Winter Snow" for her to perform. My boss has raved about this song and the words are very touching. Just think, He could have just appeared from nowhere a grown man in the midst of a crowd and shocked everyone! But, no, He came quiet, as a baby born in a stable surrounded by horses, cattle, sheep.

Winter Snow by Audrey Assad

Could've come like a mighty storm

With all the strength of a hurricane

You could've come like a forest fire

With the power of Heaven in your flame.

But you came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

You could've swept in like a tidal wave

Or an ocean to ravish our hearts

You could have come through like a roaring flood

To wipe away the things we've scarred

But you came like a winter snow,

Yes, you did

You were quiet, You were soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

Oh no, your voice wasn't in a bush burning

No, your voice wasn't in a rushing wind

It was still, it was small, it was hidden

Oh, you came like a winter snow

Quiet and soft and slow

Falling from the sky in the night

To the earth below

If you find the time today...please click on this link which will take you to YouTube and you can listen to this song. Amazing, fabulous, quiet. He could have came in a rushing wind, a burning bush, with trumpets blaring but he came as quiet as a winter snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg

"...the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them." Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

Traffic Report

Traffic, traffic, traffic...I'm not sure where you live but here in Birmingham we have traffic with a capital "T"!! About every 15 minutes or so you'll get a live traffic report during the morning and evening rush hour. Today my normal route to work was closed due to an accident with a fatality (Lord bless that precious family!) and it took me almost an hour to get to work. I had to weave in and out of side streets that aren't familiar to me and sit through one red light several times due to the amount of traffic.

With each traffic report it seemed like something new was added. The radio DJs were trying to help those of us who were lost and give ideas of ways to re-route our way. "Try 20th Street"..."Go over the mountain"...all the while I'm thinking to myself what if you're no where near the mountain?!?! Cars were everywhere and a few times patience was running thin but for the most part I think everyone just sucked it up and made it through.

As I was listening to the traffic reports I started thinking that it is nice to be able to have a heads up on stumbling blocks in your day. Too bad I don't have those for my life I thought to myself. Wouldn't it be great to have caution signs and blinking lights saying turn around, back up, or maybe over here...over here!!

The sad thing is...I do have a traffic report but due to my own sinful self I fail to turn it on and listen to it. "By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path." Psalm 119:105 (MSG). Honestly, I'm so convicted at this moment I really have no idea how to end this blog. So....I guess it's one of those moments in life where it's ENOUGH SAID!

Memorial

There are so many things I want to see with my brown eyes before I go to Heaven. The Washington Monument, the Statute of Liberty, the Great Wall of China, the Vietnam Wall, the Grand Canyon, a white Christmas... My list is quite long and if I sat here long enough I could fill this entire page up with things I want to see for myself. Not that I don't believe they exist I just want to be able to see it, touch it, smell it, feel it.

Memorials are really great things. They remind us of a time when something great happened. They make us stop and think for just a brief moment what it would be like if that one thing in history had never happened. What if...?

Sometimes in our lives we build memorials and monuments to various things. They aren't visible to the naked eye but they are there. Umbrellas for instance! When I see an umbrella I think about my Grannie. She had horrible skin cancers and rain or shine she had to carry an umbrella. Oh...and bread! My Grandma would make homemade bread and every time I smell bread cooking I think of her. Maybe those are trivial but to me...they are memorials. Memories of people in my life who have molded me, changed me, loved me.

Joshua built a memorial alongside the Jordan River right where they passed on dry land. He explained to the Israelites "In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:21-24 (NLT).

God stopped the water from flowing and dried the riverbed so that his people could go across unscathed and Joshua wanted to leave a reminder to the world about God's greatness and protection. The Grand Canyon is a wonderful creation of God. It's not a man-made memorial but a God made memorial of his greatness. The Vietnam Wall is a man-made tribute to men and women who gave everything they had for freedom...their lives. What sort of memorial am I leaving behind? When my short time here on earth is finished what sort of rocks will you see? Is my memorial man-made or God made? Am I leaving a memorial at all? What about you?

Happiness v. Holiness; Believer v. Follower

I was listening to the radio this morning and turned it to the Rick & Bubba Show at just the right moment. Siran Stacey was their guest and he was sharing what he has learned from God through the tragedy of losing his wife and all but one of his children in a car accident. As the conversation progressed Rick made a statement that really got to me. He said something to the effect of God has taught me over the past two years (his 3 year old son drown in their pool at home two years ago) that happiness is not my purpose here but holiness is. He continued to say that he is no longer a believer in Christ but a follower!

As the interview continued Siran Stacey commented on forgiveness and how he had to forgive the young man who hit him and his family. He had to forgive himself. Rick and Siran both talked about how they stood at a crossroads having to decide if they were going to allow Satan to defeat them through this tragedy or glorify God with this tragedy. They talked about sin and that death is sure to come because of sin yet eternal life only comes through the death of Jesus Christ!

Honestly, today is a gut check for me. I'm thinking...Am I a believer or am I a follower? Am I striving for happiness or am I striving for holiness?

"Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found." Psalm 119:35 (NLT). "'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. '" Mark 8:34 (NLT).

Through Another's Eyes

Have you ever stopped in your tracks and looked around to see what someone was looking at. And once you figured it out did you focus on the object and try to look at it the same way they did?

I get very tickled at the difference between my children. Each of them have such a different way of looking at things. Say there was a tree in the middle of a pasture. As Kristina stood and looked at this tree she would begin to describe the color, shape and size of the leaves, the length of the branches, the height of the tree. She may discuss the roots and ask questions about how deep they were. She would look around the tree, possibly walk around to get the view from the other side. Not one single time would she look through the tree she would simply look at the tree and accept it for what it was. Nothing more, nothing less. She sees the actual beauty of the tree just as it is.

As Gabe approached the tree he would immediately ask how far away the tree was from the edge of the pasture. He would want to know specifics of its dimensions, height, possibly weight. He would inquire about the animals that lived in and around this tree. He would not notice the leaves nor the branches. He may possibly comment on how much sunlight comes through the tree and how much shade is cast on the ground from the tree. My precious Gabe would look through the tree and discuss it's potential and possibilities. Firewood? Possibly shelter? Gabe sees the tree for its potential...what it can be.

I enjoy looking at objects with both of my children at the same time. Sometimes they will begin to argue over how they see the object and other times they ponder over how the other one sees it like that. Me, I'm somewhere in the middle. If I turn my head one way I see the tree just as Kristina does but yet if I cock my head the other way I can see exactly where Gabe is coming from. The way my children look at an object is the exact way they live their lives. Kristina is careful and respectful. She accepts people, obstacles, life for what it is. She doesn't make it more than it is she just accepts it and moves on. Gabe is always looking at how to better his situation. How to help someone. The potential...the possibilities.

I heard a Christmas song this morning sung by Gloria Estefan and in one line she says "I want to see Christmas through your eyes..." This got me thinking. I wonder what the world is like through God's eyes. I know as a Mother I do everything I can to protect my children from seeing things that they shouldn't see and I know that God must do the same thing with His children. Wow! The world that He sees. The heartache He must feel. The sadness that must come over Him. The world through God's eyes...I just can't imagine.

Jesus said in John 3:12 "But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" (NLT). Oh what pretenders we are! So many times...I retract that...all the time we find it easier to believe fiction that fact! Lies are easier to believe than truth! You want to see the world through God's eyes? Here ya go..."For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17 (NLT). He loved us so much that He sent HIS son to save us. Could I lay my life down for you? Possibly. Could I lay my life down for one of my children? Without a second thought! Could I lay down my child's life for you...a liar, a cheater, a thief, etc.? Most definitely not!

God's eyes...a vision you and I will never be able to behold!

Reverse

As the light quickly turned to red he slammed on his brakes but still tapped the car in front of him. It wasn't a hard hit just a tap. The driver who he hit never even got out of their car. He put his car in reverse and simply backed up waiting for the light to change to green.

It had been one of those days. My friend, Harley, was a new single dad. It was his first Christmas alone and he was trying to do the whole shopping thing on his own. Crazed Moms had just about driven him to his limit and by this point he just wanted to go home. He had thrown in the towel and determined enough was enough.

As the light changed to green he hit the gas to only fly backwards ramming the car behind him! As the story goes, Harley slung his car into park, simply laid his head on the steering wheel and sat there. Thankfully there was no damage to the vehicle he hit and only slight damage to his car but what a story he had to tell. How many times do you hit someone at a redlight by backing into them? Not very many!

I don't know about you but for me I tend to back into stuff in my personal life all the time. I feel like I take two steps forward to only leap five steps backwards. Some days I feel like I take steps backwards because I'm too busy looking at what was back there in the first place. I'm too scared to look forward. To look at the unknown. I'm frightened that I will let someone down...let God down. I'm unsure of myself, my surroundings, of you. I tend to stumble over my own feet tapping things in front of me which makes me instinctively go into reverse to only slam into what is behind me. Back and forth...back and forth. But there is hope! "...focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead...press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT).

Get In The Game

As we drove down the road we rode in silence. I was completely annoyed and irritated and Gabe could tell. I had received a call at work from his school saying he had broken his glasses. Although I know that broken glasses is just a part of life it just seemed to happen at the wrong time, on the wrong day.

We drove to the eye doctor barely talking and once we both realized that he was going to have to go through the process of an eye exam the realization that he would most certainly have to wear contacts became rather clear. It would 7 to 10 days for glasses to come in and he would have to see in the meantime so contacts was the only solution to our problem. Gabe had tried contacts before and had a bad experience . The eye doctor was unable to see him so we had to pack up and head across town. On the way there I decided to break the silence and start my Mom speech for the day...

"Gabe, you are 13. It is time that you start taking responsibility for your actions and just manning up sometimes. Although you are the baby of the family you HAVE to step up and start becoming a man..." I went on and on and he seemed uninterested. Okay I thought to myself I'll try something else. "You know how in football you have to pay attention to everything around you?" I looked over at him just hoping to get a glimmer of interest and all I got was a head shake as he looked out the window with his head turned away from me. "Well, life is like that. You have to pay attention and sometimes you have to do things you don't wanna do. You have to step up, man up, and just do it. Like it or not and when that happens you have to do it to the best of your ability. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He nodded again and I thought this isn't working either! I continued on grasping at straws by this point..."Son, you gotta grow up and be mature..." He interrupted me as he turned his head to face me with a smile on his face and said "I get it Mom, it's time to get my head in the game." He got it! "Yes!" I said "Get your head IN the game...you gotta take the plunge...get in there...right now you aren't even the water boy! Help me out a little bit here!" At this point we both started laughing...not even the water boy...he thought that was hilarious! As we walked into the eye doctor's office he stopped and said "Mom, I do understand what you're saying, I got it..." And with a smile and a nod of my head we walked on in.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT).

It's about time that we run with endurance, with everything we have in us and get to work. It's time that we stop waiting on someone else to do it for us. It's time that we stop standing by watching the game pass us by. Don't you think it's time that we get our head in the game?