Tuesday, December 24, 2013

ARE YOU A SCROOGE



I watched one of my favorite holiday movies, a Christmas Carol.  I love the 1938 versions.  One thing I always take away from the story is how Ebenezer Scrooge had more than those around him in during an impoverished period in London, but he was the meanest and most miserable person.  He was so unpleasant that his name goes down in history to represent the worst in people when given to someone.  He was such a miser with money that he misused the money by not using it.

We rarely remember that he turned his life around and made amends with others at the end of the movie after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

Ebenezer Scrooge became repentant after a chain of events occurred.  He first fired his loyal employee, Bob Cratchit, who has many children, one, tiny Tim, who was very ill, and a wife.  Bob holds no grudges even after receiving the harsh news of Mr. Scrooge’s decision.  Instead, in the spirit of hope and belief in the holiday spirit, he goes home spends all his earnings to provide a memorable Christmas for his family, not knowing what the future would hold.  I love at the end how Scrooge talked back to the future ghost, telling him that these things he saw can be changed if he alters his behavior.

Are we a scrooge? Are we blessed to have things but forget to have compassion on others?  Are we holding on to blessings that were intended to share and bless the lives of others around us?  Should the ghost of Christmas past visit us to show us how we became so unpleasant?  Would our Christmas present ghost show that no one finds pleasure in being in our company because we’re mean and unforgiving?  If we chose to continue, our Christmas future ghost would also show us headed down a road similar to Scrooge of separation and doom.  Just as Scrooge turned his life around, we too, can change our future.

During the season we should remember that we all have received the best gift; the gift of life from Christ.  Love and blessings are only good if they are shared and given away.  It’s an odd thing that the more you give of these, the more you get them back.  If you don’t have the money like Scrooge or any gifts under the tree to share, we can be innovative and give the gift that never grows old, we can give ourselves.  Remember, Christ gave himself to us as a sacrifice because of His love for us.  Let’s sacrifice a little of ourselves to help others.  Let’s not be a scrooge this season, let’s show love.  Give the gift of love, give a little of yourself to someone. 

CHRISTMAS 2013



While I sat in the garage looking at the boxes of decorations and Christmas tree in a box, a flood of emotions swept over my soul.  I look back and painfully remember all the people and things so dear to me that I lost.  I began to sink in my spirit because the loved ones I shared my life and heart with are no longer here to bring me joy on Christmas morning.  Christmas was always my favorite holiday.  It’s a time when memories are made and family and friends gather near.

As I drove through the neighborhoods and saw the beautiful decorations and listened to the holiday tunes on the radio, emptiness came over me.  I didn’t feel the same when I watched Charlie Brown or White Christmas on television.

Many of the traditional things that marked this season, my personal favorite, the Christmas tree, will not be observed this year.   The old traditions are no longer significant and I am forced to create new ones.  There will be no smell of peach cobbler cooking in the kitchen or that secret present to open on Christmas morning.  There won’t be a fire in the fireplace as we sing merry Christmas baby or jingle bell rock.  I asked all my loved ones to let me be alone this Christmas to seek God’s face, who alone could heal and help me this holiday.   The worst emotion to me is to be in a room filled with people but still feeling all alone in the world. 

The song, Silent Night, Holy Night came on the radio and my heart began to burn.  How selfish and blind I had been.  Christ is the reason for the season.  He is the gift that keeps on giving.   

There was no Currier & Ives setting around the manger where Christ laid and He wasn’t welcomed with opened arms.  His mother and father were on the run from an angry King that sought to kill Him and hid in a manger where He was born.  There was no smell of spices and rum cake; there was the smell of sheep and oxen in their nostrils. 

Yes, I had lost loved ones and my life is forever changed, but the real reason for Christmas is Christ who loves me the best and has never left my side.  He has shown me an undying love by giving me the gift of redemption. 

Let’s regain the real meaning for Christmas, by first putting Christ back in our celebration.   We look for gifts to give our loved ones that would enhance their lives and bring them joy.  What better gift than to give them the gift of the knowledge of Christ, their Savior.  Share with them the true story of Christmas.  When times get hard and the storms of life begin, the X-box game machines and diamonds won’t bring them peace or help solve their problems, only a relationship with Christ will accomplish this.  Deck the halls then go tell it on the mountain and over the hills that Jesus Christ was born.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

HE SAID MY NAME




A friend and I had been trying to find time to get together for several years.  When she called me one day recently to ask to meet, I was having such a challenging week.  I decided it was more important to rearrange my entire day’s appointments.  I will be eternally grateful that I did, and here’s why.  We caught up on the happenings in our lives and laughed while we ate with such gusto, the waitress came to our table several times to check on us. 

My friend gave an account of how her morning began that warmed my soul.  She shared that she too, had a busy day lined up.  In the middle of preparing to go out to her various appointments, God spoke to her and said to contact “Chris” and arrange to meet today.  She went down the list of things she had to do in her mind, but, being obedient, she sent me the text around 6:30am. I’m glad she was obedient and that I changed my day, to hear those words.

That may not mean much to you, but when I put it into perspective, it means the world to me.
It excites me that God would specifically speak my name to someone and for them to do a kind act towards me.  God knew the challenges I was having and that encounter of laughter and kindness, with a true friend, made a great difference in the rest of my life.  During trying times, you must be very careful who you surround yourself with.   I’m glad to have such a friend in my life, one who recognizes and obeys the voice of God.

You see, I’ve been far from perfect and made my share of mistakes.  Life’s obstacles and hardships, in unfamiliar territory, can make even the strongest stumble sometimes. If anyone should have been angry and not speak my name after giving me chance after chance, it’s God.  

Are you facing hard times, an unclear way, or have you made a few mistakes?  Then join the human race and repent and seek God’s face.  He promises to forgive and to restore us and stand by us forever.  Has God placed someone on your heart and you’ve put off contacting them?  This is your chance to call them and let them know that you and God are thinking of them.  It could make a world of difference in their life.  There are times in life when we all need encouragement and know that God still cares and remember our names. 

Friday, November 22, 2013

SIFTING THROUGH THE TRASH

There was a time when you only saw the homeless or those living on the streets sifting through the trash.  There is a trend now where others are going through searching for valuables or bottles to turn them in for cash.

I’ve looked through the trash many times when I’ve thrown something away.  I remember how I hated to wipe off the nasty particles from the item while enduring the overwhelming smell, especially during the hot summer months.   Once or twice, after reviewing the item, it was so damaged and tainted; I couldn’t salvage or use it.

I found myself doing this recently, emotionally.  I was sifting through emotions and relationships that I had moved away from, some unbeneficial.  I was trying to regain some connection or comfort.  What came to my mind was that if they didn’t work then, they won’t work now. Some things we can’t salvage or piece together. 

How many times I’ve tried to make things fit that I had already discarded from my life until I could do better.  Months later, I look back over the situation that I’ve created and ask myself, what were you thinking?  When I calmed myself, I’d hear the Lord say, be still and trust Him.  I remember how Jesus told us not to cast our pearls before swine. Then goes on to tell us that if we ask, we will receive and if we knock on the door, it shall be opened (Matthew 7:6-8). 

His children do not have to settle or mix and match things in our lives. We are precious in God’s sight.   If there is a need in your life, I can say with confidence, He will provide it.  If you’re looking for something, ask Him, He will open the opportunity.  He understands our feelings.  Don’t rely on yourself,  as I have done so many times in the past to make things work in your life, rely on God.  Don’t sift through the trash or those things you’ve discarded from your life.  He is our Father, waiting to supply our needs.  He has an invested interest in our success and happiness.

 

 

 

Monday, October 14, 2013

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY ENEMIES


I’ve been trying to determine what works in my life to recreate success with my future goals.  When I completed this task, I thought I’d have a list that would include incidents where my supporters surrounded me or friends and family came to my rescue, with help or a life changing word.  To my surprise, if these scenarios happened, it was so rare it’s not worth mentioning.  What I found was a list of events where I was alone with feelings of being abandoned with my enemies raging around me. 

Now I want to make it clear that my enemies are real.  I don’t have the kind of enemies that are passive, nor are they inexperienced in the art of war.    My enemies tried to set me up on my job to humiliate me then get me fired.  If I didn’t quit the job, they would strategically place themselves around contend with my every effort.   My enemy would work discord in my neighborhood.   My enemy will talk about me behind my back with hideous lies to destroy my character.  My enemies take joy in hearing of my misfortunes and wait to hear of my destruction from them.  If my demise doesn’t come soon enough, they will see what they do to help speed the process up.  My enemies would attack my children and my marriage when the attacks against me didn’t work, knowing this would destroy me.  My enemies would turn my friends against me.   Then they would use them on the inside to stay close to me to further hurt me.

Even though I felt alone in these situations, I realized God was with me.  He would somehow stir something deep within me, an anger of sorts or a refusal to go down without a fight that would arise in my spirit and I would come out swinging against the opposition.  I had a take no prisoner approach.  I fought with the strength that I know only the Lord could have given me.  I gained the victory over my enemies and negative situations in my life.  I learned skillful ways from God to defeat my enemy and God would not allow a bitterness to build within me that would cause me to become like my enemies.   I learned a lot about myself from facing my enemies and their attacks.  I learned a lot about God, who was my only source of help.   I realized that these attacks made me stronger and closer to God.  Over time, the attacks let me know that a bigger blessing or level of promotion was on the way from the Lord.  I would have never gained this knowledge and strength if it had not been for the malicious attacks of my enemies.  Most important, I learned that if I’m ever to succeed at anything in life, especially against my enemies, I must depend upon the Lord to guide and help me.

So if you’re under attack, don’t give in and please don’t give up.  Take a deep breath and a step back and seek the help of God.  He promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He is a master at strategy and can lead you around any trap of your enemy.  He can give you the victory over those that come against you, if you would just consult Him how to proceed.  Don’t be discouraged or dismayed we are more than conquers though Him that loved us (Romans 8:37).  Thank your enemy for letting you know that your help from God and blessings are on their way.

Monday, September 23, 2013

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Since the 80’s I started the practice of stepping back for the month of August from most of my obligations.  I take time to reflect, redirect, and refresh myself naturally and spiritually while celebrating myself, my birthday is in August.

You might think this a vain exercise until you hear my reasoning.  Many years ago I discovered that I was caught in a rut.  I kept going but discovered that I was going in the wrong direction after it was too late to change the end result.  I learned that stepping back and taking a fresh look at situations and reconnecting with God, keeps me on point and is a better use of my resources and time.  I don’t wait on others to celebrate me.  I don’t look to others for validation.  This practice has kept my heartaches and disappointments in my fellow man to a minimum.

This is no exercise for the weak.  I take a look at my past year’s activities and outcomes and evaluate if I responded correctly and if I could have done better.  I look at my weaknesses and shortcomings and search for ways to strengthen them.  I examine the distractions that came to throw me off course and how I handled them.   I evaluate my resource pool and try to gather more.  I seek God’s input on my life and get direction for the next year.

It has been my experience that when I lay my prior year’s activities before the Lord, He always gives feedback.  There have been many times that I’ve asked for forgiveness or a do-over after learning His perspective on things I’d done.  One great thing about getting God’s input in my life’s matters is He never makes fun of my ignorance.  The second great thing about getting Him involved is that His presence insures my success.  I still make mistakes and must constantly keep my emotions in check.  But the month always ends with encouragement and grace from God that enables me to run with gladness into my next year.  I gain more self esteem and confidence in me that equip me for whatever challenges and decisions I may face in the upcoming year.

Take time to nurture and cultivate the greatest asset you’ll ever have, yourself.  Celebrate yourself and know that God is there willing to help you in spite of your weaknesses and faults.  He paid a great price for your success.  Take the time to know yourself and know your God and learn to trust them both.  Invest in yourself.   Do things to enhance you or that you love to do.  Love yourself and the God who loved you the best.  Find your place in God. Start your own tradition, celebrate your life.

 

 

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

A WALK IN MY OWN SHOES

I went to my foot doctor to understand why my feet and knees had been giving me the most excruciating pain for the last few months.  I attributed it to my increased yard work, aging, or just from the added weight I had gained.   I learned a painful lesson that should have been obvious to me.  I’ve been using my husband’s old shoes while working in the yard for almost two years.  Since they are not quite my size, old, and run over, they had thrown my entire body out of alignment, starting with my feet, then my knees, going up to my already twisted back, ending in my neck and shoulders.   Adding insult to injury, during this period, I decided to resume walking barefoot, a definite no-no to anyone with reoccurring foot injuries. 

I quickly learned his shoes were too big for me to ever fill.  How often we think just by looking at a person that we can accomplish or walk so easily in their shoes.  Who knows what challenges they face to even stand?  When we walk, our entire bodies are engaged in the process.  Now that I’ve put on my own shoes for yard work, my condition improved in a matter of days.  My orthotic s in my shoe correct the weakened areas in my feet and force me to stand tall and straight, even when walking along the hills and dips in my yard.

Our feet are a very important part of our body.  The nerves from each destination in our body end there.  The major idea behind reflexology is the feet and hands can be massaged to stimulate each organ in our body to promote activity.  A sensitive area on the feet can determine if any organ is under stress and slight manipulations can stimulate that area toward healing.  Each foot is different on each person and both are unique to every individual, even if they are the same size.  They develop and form based on our individual standing and walking style.  Our arches support us in our development of gait and stance, allowing even pressure to be distributed equally across the entire foot.

Doesn’t life teach us that we each have our own individual walk and no one else can walk in our shoes?

Have you ever wished to be in someone else’s shoes? Be careful what you wish for, you never know what lies ahead in their path.

I think of the sandals or shoes of Jesus.  His feet may have been worn, but He kept walking straight down the path that led Him to Calvary.  I imagine He remembered that we would need a straight path to victory, although narrow, that only He could make.

We may be faced with many valleys and hills to climb in life and some long roads ahead, but remember we have a God who will walk besides us, to lead us along the way.

Don’t be afraid to walk in your own shoes, they’ve been modeled for your unique journey in life.  You may need to add spiritual orthotics, but add whatever you need to continue on, but don’t forget to add God.

Monday, July 1, 2013

IN MY WILDERNESS

 
I am in awe and feel inadequate when I encounter someone who has impaired vision impaired.  I begin to think of the things that I take for granted.  I think how they maneuver and function normally in a sight driven world.  They’ve overcome an obstacle that would probably stop me in my tracks.  I recently read there was a blind young woman who won the title Master Chef on a well known cooking show.

As I watched my own dog lose most of his sight, I think how brave and strong he is.  He still bumps into things, but his other senses have developed to where he can run and play in his own yard and chase the rabbits and the birds from the yard.  The other animals seem to know and treat him kind and with respect.
 
He bumps into things after coming in from the sun and the shadows blur his limited vision, but he backs up and he looks as if he’s making a mental note to remember the spot for future reference.  There are times when I can tell he’s unsure of the room and he will lower and turn his head to listen carefully and walk very slow until he reaches his destination. 
 
It’s his determination to make it and the countless of others who have sight challenges and conquered the unthinkable that caused me to see the parallel to the Christian walk.   The scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith and not by sight.  I’ve learned in the natural that sight is just one of 5 senses man was given to navigate through life.  There are times when all five senses must be in operation to function or come to the truth of a matter.
 
Like my pup, we may bump around in life until our spiritual senses heighten and we learn.  When dealing with spiritual matters, my sight alone may be deceiving and there can be important issues hidden beneath the surface.  
 
We can increase our faith by learning, listening and trusting God more in our life’s experiences.  He will patient lead us and prove Himself as we build our relationship with Him.  Once we learn to operate in the faith realm, we can accomplish things we never thought possible.   Join me and take one step at a time, a step of faith, trusting God, not depending upon our natural sight.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

WALK BY FAITH


I am in awe and feel inadequate when I encounter someone who has impaired vision impaired.  I begin to think of the things that I take for granted.  I think how they maneuver and function normally in a sight driven world.  They’ve overcome an obstacle that would probably stop me in my tracks.  I recently read there was a blind young woman who won the title Master Chef on a well known cooking show.

As I watched my own dog lose most of his sight, I think how brave and strong he is.  He still bumps into things, but his other senses have developed to where he can run and play in his own yard and chase the rabbits and the birds from the yard.  The other animals seem to know and treat him kind and with respect.

He bumps into things after coming in from the sun and the shadows blur his limited vision, but he backs up and he looks as if he’s making a mental note to remember the spot for future reference.  There are times when I can tell he’s unsure of the room and he will lower and turn his head to listen carefully and walk very slow until he reaches his destination. 

It’s his determination to make it and the countless of others who have sight challenges and conquered the unthinkable that caused me to see the parallel to the Christian walk.   The scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith and not by sight.  I’ve learned in the natural that sight is just one of 5 senses man was given to navigate through life.  There are times when all five senses must be in operation to function or come to the truth of a matter.

Like my pup, we may bump around in life until our spiritual senses heighten and we learn.  When dealing with spiritual matters, my sight alone may be deceiving and there can be important issues hidden beneath the surface.  

We can increase our faith by learning, listening and trusting God more in our life’s experiences.  He will patient lead us and prove Himself as we build our relationship with Him.  Once we learn to operate in the faith realm, we can accomplish things we never thought possible.   Join me and take one step at a time, a step of faith, trusting God, not depending upon our natural sight.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

FOLLOW THE RECIPE


The other day I saw a recipe that I just had to try.  I’m not a cook by nature so I don’t know how to make substitutions nor do I understand all of the cooking jargon. 
 
The recipe called for a bakers pan.   I didn’t even know what a baker’s pan was and I wanted to know if what I had would work.  One part of the recipe seemed strange to me.   You were to cook potatoes at a high temperature then added raw chicken and cooked at a lower but still moderately high temperature for a few minutes.  I hate moist chicken and am afraid of undercooked chicken.
 
I called my daughter, a culinary graduate, for a better understanding and to express my concerns. She first asked where I got the recipe.   I told her it was from a well known source acknowledged for their food and recipes, and not from a friend.  She said, trust the source and follow the recipe as it is.  Her response revealed the guilt in my heart. 

I began to laugh and told her that I was doing this recipe how I, and many like me, do God’s Word.  I read the recipe and because it didn’t seem right to me, I second guessed it and tried to make substitutions and alterations.  I already admitted that I don’t have adequate cooking knowledge and dare question an expert.  I failed to consider the source and that someone, a real cook, has tested and tried that recipe before printing it. 
 
The same can be said for God’s Word and instructions for our lives. He has expert knowledge of the past, present and future and can change any one with a nod.  His Word has given us simple instructions on how to live pleasing to Him and how to be prosperous while in this world.   We dare to second guess and make substitutions and alterations His plan like I did that recipe.
 
I followed the recipe to the letter and it came out delicious and perfect to my taste.  That leads me to believe, that if we follow the instructions of God without second guessing them or make substitutions and alterations, our lives will achieve the expected end God has in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Monday, May 6, 2013

THE CLOTHES I WEAR


Who would think that God would be concerned with the clothes that I wear?  I drastically changed my style of clothes, under His guidance, before becoming a Christian in 1983.  Now here we are some 30 years later, and God is still very much concerned about what I wear.    

The things I’ve been wearing lately don’t quite fit anymore.  If you’ve ever had clothes that were too big, you know it’s a lot of work.  While trying to determine an outfit to wear, I heard God speak to my heart saying, take off the grave clothes.   I thought maybe I was wearing clothes that made it seem as if I had lost my zest for life or as if I was in mourning.  I recognized that some of the spiritual clothes I had been wearing weren’t carrying the right spirit. 

Mourning or heaviness is not limited to the loss of a loved one.  It could be the loss of a job, a marriage, or some loss that alters your future with a crippling capability.  I began to see the emotional garments I’d been wearing and could feel my shoulders begin to slump.  I felt the weight of the heaviness in my heart, the pain of loss, the sorrow I carried around my neck like a yolk on an oxen and the grief I bore on my chest like a breastplate, and the weight of loneliness I felt as a saddle on my back. 

The bible speaks of several different types of garments; one was the garment of a deceased person, another of a widow, and the garment of the priest.  Other garments were set aside by the owners for specific purpose.  Some garments were worn specifically while praising God; others were worn to seek the face of God. 

Scriptures began to come to my mind that dealt with these issues and I asked God’s help to take off my grave clothes and put on the garments that pleased Him.  I didn’t want to be like Lazarus who when Jesus called His name he jumped up from death, but was still bound and gagged. 

I saw that garments were already promised to be by the Lord.  He said if I mourned, he would give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that I would glorify the Lord (Isaiah 61:3).  I learned that if I rejoice in Him that my soul will be joyful in my God because He has covered me with the garments of salvation; covering me with the robe of righteousness and with ornaments like a bridegroom and bride adorn themselves with ornaments and jewels.

One of the benefits of the work of Calvary is to give victory to the believer over life’s situations.  We can overcome the obstacles that come to hinder our mental and physical progress in God.

If you maybe need to change into some lighter garments, God has them waiting for you.  Join me in trading my heavy and unfitting garments for the garment of praise. I promise no longer to be bound but free, to live the abundant life made available through Calvary.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

TIME CHANGE-SPRING FORWARD

 

It still takes me several days to adjust to this particular time change when we lose and hour or as the adage says, we spring forward.  I’ve tried resetting the clocks at 2am to lose the hour at the last minute and I’ve tried changing the clocks on Saturday afternoon.  Nothing helps, it seems that at some point, I feel rushed and behind, chasing that hour. 
The purpose for the time changes, as I understand it, is to make the best use of the daylight hours.  We endure short term discomfort for a longer range benefit.  This helps many businesses and the school children who walk to school.

Then I thought about several periods in my life where I wished I could have moved time ahead even one hour past some events in my life or gained an hour as we do in the Fall of the year.
 
I remembered the scripture that says we should work while it is day.  Because when it is dark, no man can work.  If I learn to spiritually spring forward into a daylight savings exercise I could learn to spring forward past those things that could slow me down or hinder me to keep my life moving forward.  This would give me the chance to jump over impossible moments and some of those bumps in the road.  My energy is at its peak during the day.  I also want to give my best to God while I can because as I age and things go dim, eyesight and other age related things, or darkness.
 
I can’t count how many times in my life I would have been wonderful to have a do-over of an hour of my life that I totally botched or have another opportunity to spend another hour with a loved one lost.

One thing I’ve learned for certain in life that I’d like to share with you,  is that time is one of the most precious commodities that God has given us that we will all have to give an account of in the end.  How we use it will show if we are wise or unwise.  My heightened goal is to redeem or make the best use of my time while it is day.  How will you adjust to the loss or gain of the hours in your life?  How will you redeem your time?  Work while it is day.