Come Wednesday Morning

America is campaign weary. Most of us are tired of the fighting and backstabbing. Maybe what has really worn us out is the loss of truth. We just have no trusted source any longer. . .at least not in the political realm.

No matter who prevails next week, Wednesday will not be a day of celebration for me. Granted, if the person I vote for loses I will be pretty grouchy. I may even pitch a fit. But I will get up and get dressed and go to work just as I did the day before.

Come Wednesday morning, I will still be my mother's daughter.

I will still be a wife and mother.

I will still be a Grandmother.

Come Wednesday morning, I will still be a part of a wonderful church family.

Come Wednesday morning, I will still be a proud American. Oh, don't get me wrong, there are many things going on in America that shame me and sadden me and anger me. But this is my country and patriotism runs deep.

Best of all, come Wednesday morning, I will still be a child of God.

A believer in The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6).

A follower of Christ.

A disciple.

A learner.

A servant.

Because,

come Wednesday morning,

He will still be Lord.

He is Creator, Father, Holy One, Savior and Redeemer.

Let's put the election aside for a moment. No matter who you plan to vote for, do you know the stabilizing, peace-assuring, step-guiding, hope-source I know?

He is

Adonai-Great Lord God

Elohim- All-powerful Creator

El Shaddai- All sufficient One

Jehovah-Jireh- The Lord who Provides

Jehovah-Rapha- The Lord who Heals

When you know Him, you know there is no need to fret.

Come Wednesday morning, you will find me placing my hope, faith and trust in Him.

You will find me going about my Father's business until He blasts the eastern skies wide open. . .

Some things will change come Wednesday, but the most important things will never change.
Daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, church member, American. . .

CHILD OF THE MOST SOVEREIGN AND UNCHANGING KING!

Mighty Oaks From Small Acorns Grow

   Yesterday my two year old granddaughter and I took another nature walk. She loves to be outside and amazes me at how she pays attention to every new sight and sound. On this walk, we strolled under the oak trees. She was so enamored by the acorns that she sat down among them and examined each one . . . and there are thousands out there.
   As I watched those sweet tiny hands handle the "hats" I had a where-did-the-time-go-moment. You see it wasn't that long ago that I walked out under these same trees, watching the sweet tiny hands of Lilley K's daddy and his brother and sisters as they checked out the acorns.
  God's grace is seen in these tiny hands. God's power to give us a fresh start each morning, God's love in that He entrusts the most precious people on earth to us. Not a day goes by that I forget to pray for the babies out there--from birth to ??? who don't have someone cradling them and saying "I love you." You see, as the day progressed with Lilley K, her Uncle John stopped by to hug her and tell her he loves her. Her Aunt Abbie came by to play with her and tell her how much she loves her. Her Aunt Hannah declares she is her favorite little person. When her Pop walked up she ran to him and wrapped herself around his legs as she heard him say "I love you."
  When Lilley and I pray before we eat, we always thank God for Daddy & Mommy. Many times after the "amen" she will smile and say, "And Kevkev, Hannah & Shay." This begins the listing of family members and friends that we thank God for. This baby is loved by many.
   Back to the acorns. They reminded by that what now seems like the blink of an eye our babies grew to be men and women. I am so very proud of each one, growing to be like those tall, strong oaks. And yet there are many things their Daddy and I would do differently if we had a do-over.
   It all comes down to this. Every day and every moment in the day matters. And even though your baby girl or boy might be loved immeasurably by people, the most important part of parenting is being sure your children know how much the Great Creator loves them. Don't leave this to chance. Don't even leave it to the church. God's love is for every day. His instructions for living are for every day. His saving grace is for eternity.
   Times passes quickly. Don't wait for next week, next month or next year to be the one God created you to be. You see, even though the pressure is great our God is greater. And if you rely on Him and trust Him, He will keep every promise He has ever made. Teach your babies every day who God is. Make bringing your little ones to church a priority that demonstrates He comes first in your lives.
     We need more mighty oaks in this old world, don't you agree?

God's Grace--Can I Get A Witness?

I recently had the extreme privilege of speaking with a beautiful young lady as she sought assurance for her salvation. Her mom and I shared scripture and personal experience with her. We listened, we talked, we prayed. I have no doubt of God's hand on this young girl's life. I see the evidence of it. Can I confess I do not understand it? It's really too much for this small mind to comprehend, this thing called God's grace. I remember the day I made sure I was safely nestled in the palm of His hand. I sat and listened as Pastor Sam Jones preached a hell, fire, and brimstone message. And as I listened, my personal sin became heartbreakingly clear. I needed a Savior. I needed The Savior. I gave all I understood of myself to all I understood of Jesus that day. Some 37 years later I am still learning and, little by little, understanding. But grace. I'm not there yet. Some people are saved out of a life entangled with sins such as selfishness, deceit, drug addiction or hatred. Others come to know Jesus as Savior as a child and are saved from those experiences. The wonder of it all, is from God's perspective our testimonies are all the same. Each one us, whether we were playing childhood games or going to work each day or looking to party on the weekends, Christ died for us. Those people you see around you, yes He died for them too. As you sit in a crowded waiting room or stand in line at the grocery store . . . as you eat out this Sunday after church or, wait, yes . . . even as you worship, do you ever wonder about the testimony of the one seated or standing near you? As a friend challenged this morning--talk about Jesus. All the time. Everywhere. Talk about Jesus. We do not know their story, but we can count on one fact. God is working. I don't have to understand electricity to know to plug in the coffee pot. I'm not going to wait until I understand grace to talk about Jesus. Won't you join me?

Orlando—A Word to Believers

What happened in Orlando is indescribably tragic. I don’t want to be a part of piling tragic on top of tragic. I want to peel away the layers of politics, lifestyle, opinion, conviction, argument, and Facebook memes. I want to look away from the mass media as they tell me how to feel, what to think and on what fact or study or poll I should base my personal actions. As I read through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 what stands out to me this evening is what’s missing. Blessed are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. This means blessed are those who recognize their sin before a holy God. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Blessed are the people who are heartbroken over their own sin. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake, because they will be filled. Blessed are the people who, after recognizing personal sin and respond in heartbreak turn to Jesus to be The One who will create in them a clean heart before God. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the people who, once they have tasted of God’s mercy, show mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the people whose motives are good and right, whose heart strives to please God first. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are the people who look to live in peace with the people around them; they do not cause strife and do not fan the flame of anger and discontentment. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are the people who are willing to stand for what is biblically right even if it means they are hated or harmed because of it. These truths were taught by Jesus to His disciples. He told the people who followed him the importance of being satisfied in God alone. Many people want to replace “blessed” with “happy.” I don’t believe that is accurate. Happiness is “ME” centered. What Jesus taught in Matthew 5 isn’t about happiness. It’s about contentment in HIM. So what’s missing? The exemptions. Blessed are . . . Unless you are a Democrat Unless you grew up in the church Unless you are on the Trump Train Unless you attend church Unless you have traveled the world Unless you have been deeply hurt by someone Unless you are prolife No, there are no exemptions. The Beatitudes apply to each and every believer in Jesus. The Beatitudes were given so we could remember: 1. We are all sinners, not one of us less a sinner than the next. 2. Jesus lived and died and lives again so anyone who believes can have a relationship with Him. 3. Because mercy and grace has been shown to us, God requires us to show mercy and grace to others. My heart aches for the families of those murdered in Orlando. Let’s not turn this into a platform for politics. Let’s not allow it to be used to push an agenda. Let’s remember evil deeds are the mastermind of the evil one. We can separate ourselves from him further by refusing to be a part of the fray. Instead, we can pray for those who are hurting. We can refuse to be a part of the social media cesspool. I’m tired of the way we throw rocks at each other. I don’t want to be a part of piling tragic on top of tragic. God help us. God help me.

Gorillas, God & Memorial Day

Last week we all experienced horror as we read of a child in danger and the subsequent death of a gorilla. I’m certain I am not the only mother that gasped at the thought of her child slipping away. Moms and Dads alike have nightmares of some horrible accident happening to their child while under their watchful eye. As the nation went into a frenzy of blame and debated what should have happened and who should be punished, I read headlines and Facebook posts in disbelief. We should be saddened at the death of an animal that was guilty of being just that, an animal. The only thing that needs to surpass our indignation over this loss should be our joy because the child is okay. Imagine for a millisecond the face of your child, your grandchild, being plunged under water and violently drug through the mote. Oh, the joy of holding that child once again! As God’s people we are called to take care of the earth and all that is in it. The higher calling is to take care of the children. In fact, Jesus said “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!” (Matthew 18) As the battle over the best headline raged, Memorial Day quietly arrived as the sun came up and slipped into history as dusk. I am not one to wish others a “happy” Memorial Day. When we remember what the day is set apart for we know it is a sorrowful day for families of the warriors who didn’t come home. It is a somber day for the warriors who came home without a brother or sister in arms. As I rethink last week’s headlines and the response of Americans, I cannot help but thank God once again. Scores of warriors have given their lives for the heart of America—freedom. We are free to be stupid. We are free to be intelligent. We are free to prove it when we speak. We are free to pursue our dreams. We are free to choose an occupation. We are free to eat what we please. We are free to protest the death of a gorilla. We are free to be outraged over the death of innocent children. We are free to worship the God who created us in His image. Men and women died. Men and women came home changed forever. So we can be free. Don’t take away my right to be wrong. In doing so, you take away my right to be right. I’m so grateful to God that I am an American. God bless America, and God bless her warriors.

Prayer...Who Can Understand It?

When we tell Lilley K we are going to pray, she stops what she is doing and folds her hands and waits... We know that at 19 months she doesn't understand prayer. But she hears us thank God for blessing us. She hears us thank God for our food. She hears us ask for His protection and help. But she doesn't understand. Prayer. I do not understand it. Just how does prayer work exactly? How absurd it can feel, to talk with God and ask of the Maker of the universe to give guidance and wisdom to the people I love. How odd to request His presence. Frankly, it’s a bit crazy to appeal for His healing touch. Please don’t misunderstand me. These things aren’t strange because God is sitting in an over-stuffed chair waiting to tell us no or flick us in the back of the head for asking. Quite the contrary… What baffles me is this… Who am I? Who am I that I should ask of God…He’s…GOD ! I do not understand prayer any more today than I did 35plus years ago when I gave my heart to Jesus. Then why do I pray, you ask? This is the part I DO understand. Scripture provides us with the answer to that why. Jesus said to and He told us how. The Holy Spirit revealed to the men who penned scripture the importance of prayer. Are you worried? Pray. Are you sick? Pray. Are you happy? Pray. Are you thankful? Pray. I’m so thankful for scripture that tells us not to be anxious but to pray about everything. Make our requests known to God. I’m awed that He even thought to tell us when we don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit intercedes. So when the worries of today press in… When the fear of the future creeps in… When dark thoughts loom… When doctors walk in, And friends walk away, Questions remain unanswered, And your back is against the wall… Be still. He’s God. Yield to Him without the need to understand. He’s GOD. The One who holds the universe on the tip of His pinky finger, holds you close. So…yeah…we don’t have to understand prayer in order to pray. We can trust the Bible and know, prayer is not about our twisting God’s will to match our own. It’s finding that place of trusting His will. It’s resting easy knowing He knows best. I’m glad I don’t have to understand prayer. I’m glad I can trust in The Father. Come as a child…

Keep Going, You're Almost There

I have a friend who enjoys hiking. She is tenacious about it. She doesn’t say much about the punishment her body sends her way as a result of this hobby, but her close friends know she pays a price. She and a few friends took a short road trip last weekend and went on a jaunt to see God’s handiwork in the form of falls (water flowing over rocks and ridges that is, not human mishaps). Sunday after church she excitedly told me about the experience. The trail was not an easy one. The incline was steep. If I understood her correctly, it wasn’t an incline at all. It was more like a rock wall. The scenes were beautiful as they pressed on. They came upon some falls, not very big but beautiful just the same. They wondered if that was all there was to see. A few hikers on the way down the mountain assured them it was not. It’s beautiful up there, they said. Keep going, they challenged. It’s so worth it, they assured. So they continued. The journey was longer than they anticipated. Muscles screamed for respite. Lungs burned. Hearts pounded. And every time the thought of turning back snuck in, hikers on the way down appeared and gave encouragement to persevere. What if they are playing a trick on us? What if we get up there and discover there is no waterfall? What if they are laughing at us as they imagine our disappointment? In the weakest moment, when giving up grew to be the best option, there was a still small voice that echoed what they had been told. Keep going. Don’t quit. It’s worth it. Her eyes sparkled as she explained what it was like to reach the prize. “It was sooooo worth it!” she exclaimed. As I listened to the recollection I couldn’t help but compare it to our daily walk with Jesus. We enjoy our surroundings in the form of worship and service. We come upon the beautiful “scenery” in the form of answered prayer and his comforting presence when difficulties arise. When we are weak and tired, our Christian brothers and sisters show up to encourage us to finish strong. Jesus stays with us, every step of the journey. He gently nudges…press on…keep going…don’t quit. And when we reach our destination, we will be wowed and speechless at the beauty and perfection before us. Hebrews 12:1…there’s a cloud of witnesses, the faithful who have gone on before us. And if they could step back into the limits of time for a moment they would say: “It’s worth it.” “Don’t give up.” “Keep the faith.” “Keep your eyes on Jesus.” “Finish strong.” My sister or brother in Jesus, no matter what incline is in your path at this moment resist the voice that tells you it isn’t worth it. When the enemy tells you this is all there is…when he whispers in your ear with the message of what a fool you are…when he tries to persuade you to turn back… Resist. Resist and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. My friend confessed they were ready to turn back when a hiker urged, “You’re almost there.” At her moment of exhaustion she was a mere 1/10 of a mile away. She said, “To think we almost missed it. We didn’t know how close we were and we almost quit. We were so close.” If you’re in the throws or sorrow or turmoil, don’t quit. You are so close. Consider our sinless Jesus willingly facing hostility and abuse, enduring the cross for all of mankind… Consider who He is and don’t lose heart. Your almost there. Oh, and my friend? Well, she’s already planning her next hike.