Send me!

Isaiah 6:8
'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I.  Send me!" '

James 5:12
"Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven, or by earth or by anything else.  Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No' be no, or you will be condemned."

Hebrews 12:1-3
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

I want to be used by God.  I want to be the one to say, "Here I am.  Send me!"  Remove my selfishness that is keeping from being used, Lord.

Being a Mary

Luke 10:38-42

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

How easy it is to hit the floor running.  We have a go, go, go, mentality so often.  But what good is it if we do not sit at the feet of Jesus?  

"Be still and know that I am God."  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."  

To dig into His Word on a regular basis; to kneel in prayer and sing praise in sweet communion with the Creator of Heaven and Earth - It's the most important thing we can do.  The rest, the 'good works', will fall into place if our hearts are where they're supposed to be. 

I want to sit with Jesus and know Him intimately.  How much greater my life will be if each day is spent with him.

A Beautiful Legacy

Kari Renee Bouchie Luoma

            Kari was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known.  Memories flood my mind.  Christmas and Thanksgiving get-togethers at Grandma’s house, New Year’s Eve at my parent’s place, sleepovers in her bear-filled bedroom, birthday parties, wedding showers, walking around Target, coloring pretty pictures, sitting at the piano together, singing in the car as we drove around town, long conversations, and so many more… they are memories I will cherish forever.  I was beyond blessed to grow up knowing her in such a special way! 

            I was blessed to watch her graduate from college and receive her diploma.  I was blessed to serve as her personal attendant at her wedding, and blessed to have her as mine for my wedding.  When I was pregnant with my first child I spent many weeks on strict bed rest.  Kari came and spent a day with me.  She brought me a purse she had knitted and painted my nails.  She pampered me with love. 

            If I were to choose one word to describe Kari it would be: loving.

            Kari loved to sing and she loved to laugh!  Whether it was something silly, serious, or a burst of praise to the Lord, she always had a song.  Kari was full of joy.  She had a great laugh that would pull you in.  Oftentimes she’d laugh so hard she’d cry.  She was so much fun!  I can just imagine her singing and dancing with the angels in heaven! 

            Kari loved kids! She had a passion for all the little ones she worked with at church over the years, the girls she counseled at camp, and the neighborhood kids around her.  The last time we talked, about two weeks before she died, we were talking about Vacation Bible School.  She was telling me about the summer she had a little mini VBS at her house with five kids from her neighborhood, and how fun it was.  Kids brought her joy.  Kari wanted to be a mom so badly and was really excited about the adoption process that they were in.  But now, she’ll be my baby’s mommy in heaven.  And that is a special thought to me!

            Kari loved her family!  She bubbled over with love and excitement at getting to be with her loved ones.  You’d walk in and she would hurry over with a huge smile on her face and her arms up in the air ready to give you the biggest hug!  You could count on it. The last year of Grandma Vivian’s life Kari spent a weekend every month with her.  What a gift!  She cared so much about people….

Kari loved Jeremiah!  They have a beautiful love that will never die.  Jeremiah is a gift to our family.  Kari and I never had a conversation that didn’t include something sweet about her wonderful husband.  Their wedding was beautiful.  Jeremiah was the luckiest man that day! 

            Most of all, Kari loved God.  Through everything - heart surgery, brain cancer, losing her dad, etc… Kari persevered.  While shedding a tear was pretty normal for her tender heart, she would find the good in any situation.  She clung to the Lord and praised His name.  She loved Him dearly and she knew who she was in Christ – a daughter of the King, His beloved, His child, His servant.  There was never a phone call that ended without her asking how she could pray for me; Never a conversation that didn’t include what the Lord was doing in our lives.  Kari was inspiring!  She leaves behind an amazing testimony and legacy!  The last post she made on Facebook spoke amazingly of who she was.  She wrote this: 

            If you’re looking for God’s will for your life check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

            16 Be joyful always;

            17 Pray continually;

            18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

            My beautiful Kari, I can just imagine you hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Thank you for serving the Lord, loving others unconditionally, and persevering in this life.  Thank you for your big Care-Bear hugs and smiles that never ceased to brighten my day.  I will miss you so very, very much.  But the next time I see you will be a wonderful joyous day before the Lord.  I love you…..

                                                                        Love, Kelsey

A Heart With No Defect

It's been a while since I've blogged.  Life gets busy and I forget to do it, I suppose.  Well, it has been a growing new year for me!  I began reading through a one-year Bible.  Right now I'm in Leviticus in the Old Testament.  There are many rules and guidelines (many of which were set up for sanitary reasons) that encompass this particular book.  Many have to do with the sacrifices given to God.  It makes me very thankful for what Jesus did on the cross.  No longer are we held to the same rules.  Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice! We're free from the old law!  Yeah!  :)   

Once again I prayed this morning that my heart would be soft and receive whatever God wanted to show me.  He gave me a neat picture as I read, once again, about what the is an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord.  It must be a male animal with no defects.  That's the gist of it anyway.  We don't sacrifice animals now because we have Jesus, but as I read "with no defects" it pricked something in my heart.  We give sacrifices to the Lord all the time.... our time, our money, our resources, our gifts.... but what is the status of our heart when we give these gifts?

Psalm 51:16 p- 17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." 

Mark 12:33 "To love him with all you heart, all your your understanding, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Does my heart have no defect?  I'm NOT talking about being sinless.  When we give to the Lord it should be out of joy!  Not because "we're supposed to".  What is my motivation for giving?  Is it because my heart overflows with love for this amazing God - the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the great I Am - and I can think of no other thing I'd rather do than serve Him?  There should be no condemnation or guilt trip pushing us to give and serve.  

2 Corinthians 9:7  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I want a heart that has no defect.  God poured out everything for me in love.  Can I do any less?

He Holds

Lord, draw close to me.... Hold me, 
that I may not pull away.  

I am yours, Father.  No other place for me but in your arms.  Gazing heavenward.  

Seeking your Scriptures.  

Let there be nothing in me to hinder Your work.  Use me, mold me, guide me.  

Your love is amazing....

Holy, devoted, unrelenting pursuit.

My heart sings a new song!  

Speak truth into me. No lies from the devil.

                        Thank you for not forgetting...

Point to Jesus

In Bible times the Lord often gave his disciples the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc...  I can't imagine what that must have been like!  Luke 10:17-20 says, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'  He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' "  Jesus is encouraging them to keep their focus where it should be.  So often our flesh get us into trouble.  Rather than giving all the glory to the Father and keeping a humble and grateful attitude, we get a big head.  With out God, we are nothing and we have nothing.  But without keeping a heavenly, God-centered mind set, we begin attributing the gifts, qualities and benefits to ourselves instead of pointing others to Jesus.  It's a very dangerous road to travel!  So slippery.  Satan knows how pride loves to rule in our hearts.  It's one of the quickest ways to put distance between you and Jesus.  The farther you move from Him, the closer you move to Satan.

Another thing I notice about this passage is this: "...I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven... rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  I have to wonder if Jesus was eluding to the fact that when Satan fell, it was a scary, horrifying thing.  The fact that they belong to God is something to never cease rejoicing about!  How awful and scary to belong to Satan!
Thank you Jesus for saving me and loving me when I am so undeserving!

Living as if We're Dying

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I am not half way through this book yet, and have found two lovely points being made.

Olivia asked her pastor what he thought she could do to make the remaining months of her life worth something.  They came to a consensus rather quickly.  Father Tim's final thought... "In the space of precisely seven minutes, which he reckoned to be the full length of her visit, he had been told a terrible truth, discovered the answer to prayer, helped someone find a ministry, and been unutterably refreshed in his own spirit.  Perhaps, he thought, we should all live as if we were dying."

...

Cynthia read aloud from a book of lectures by Oswald Chambers, " 'Faith by its very nature must be tried,' he says.  Do you agree?"
"Absolutely!" Tim replied.
"I've never been one for physical exercise," she said, "but what God does with our faith must be something like workouts.  He sees to it that our faith gets pushed and pulled, stretched, and pounded, taken to its limits so its limits can expand... if it doesn't get exercised," she said thoughtfully, "it becomes like a weak muscle that fails us when we need it."
"Would you agree that we must be willing to thank God for every trial of our faith, no matter how severe, for the greater strength it produces?"

...

In Colossians 4 and Ephesians 5 we are told to make the most of every opportunity.  In 1 Thessalonians 5 we are told to, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect."

1 Samuel 12:24 "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone."

Do I live with a fervent desire to serve the Almighty?  Do I live as though I only have 6 months left?  My tomorrow is not guaranteed.  I want to live for him wholeheartedly.  I want to share Jesus with those around me.  Lord, help my will to align with yours.  Keep me heavenly minded.  May my hands be yours.  Use me in ways I can not fathom, Father.  Glory be to Your Name.

A Chosen People

1 Peter 2:9-10  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Psalm 139:13-14  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

Ephesians 2:8-10  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I am God's child, dearly loved and beautifully created.  He has a plan for me!  There is nothing in me that is not from Him.  I am chosen in Him.  Praise God!

Father, I am willing.  Please show me how I fit into your plan.  Give me wisdom and discernment in this walk of life.

Communion With God

Colossians 4:2-6 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.... Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Am I devoted to prayer?  I love to sit and talk with my hubby.  It doesn't really matter what we talk about just as long as it's time together.  My mom's phone number get dialed a few times every day.  We may not have anything in particular to discuss.  I just love knowing she is on the other end of the line.  Strong Christian friends are so special.  Without an agenda, we can talk about anything and know that it will go back to the Lord.

Do I value and treasure the time that I can have with God the same way I love the time I have with people that are so dear to me?  Whatever I may be going through, whatever my worries are, I can go to Him and know that I will be encouraged, granted discernment, and comforted.  Talking with the Lord and being in his word on a constant basis helps a great deal with fulfilling what the He asks of me in Colossians 4.

In the gospels we are told to go into all nations and tell others about the HIM.  Being in communion with God is our instruction manual.  How do we function without it?

Paul's Afflictions

Paul's afflictions:  He endures with praise, joy and trust in the Lord!

In Colossians:
"... we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." 
"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."
"...I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

In Philippians:
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."
"...I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain..."


I  have to question myself when I read Paul's heart as he endures persecution.  I truly pray that I will never have to face such terrible things.  Yet, I know that if Paul hadn't gone through what he did, his reliance on God, faith in God's promises, and love for God would not have been nearly as wonderful!  As Philippians 4 promises, God will give me the strength to endure whatever comes my way if I am living in the Him and doing his will.  Rather than concentrating so hard on hoping for no life threatening situations in my life, I need to concentrate on living this short life COMPLETELY for the LORD!  Whatever trials come my way, God's grace and love is sufficient.  To die is gain if it is for the Lord.  He gives and he takes away.  This life of mine is only existing so that I may spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  Oh, how I have been failing in this!


Lord, give me courage to be bold for you!  Set my heart on FIRE!  Keep the Devil far from me, that I would  trust in your promises and leave no room for his lies.  Father, you know my heart and where I fail.  Strengthen me, I pray!  You are the Almighty!  Nothing can thwart your plan.  You knit me together in my mother's womb.  You discern my going out and my lying down.  Before I speak a single word, you know it completely!  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before even one of them came to be.  Search me, O God, and know my heart.  Test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  You are the most important thing in my life.  I am sorry for where I have not proven this to be true.


(Reference Psalm 139)

Bearing Fruit

Colossians 1:9-14 "... we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

We are to be FRUIT bearers.  

Matthew 7:18-21 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heave, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."


John 15:16 "You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last..."


What kind of fruit has my life produced?  What legacy will I leave?

Will God be praised through what I have done and what I will do?  How can I live my life as a praise offering?  

My answer lies in the Bible.

Bucket List

My Bucket List
1. Be a godly wife and mom
2. Give more than I think I possibly can
3. Read the entire Bible in a year
4. Serve in a way I've never served before - Allow God to stretch me
5. Sing my heart out for God in a new way
6. Live a thankful life
7. Take my kids to Disney World by the time they're 16
8. Adopt at least one child
9. Mentor a young girl
10. Share Christ with at least 100 people
11. Help someone in a way they can't help themselves
12. Have a ministry as a family
13. Learn how to play a guitar

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Attitude of Contentment

Contentment... Two areas of struggle:

Life Circumstances:
We always seem to know what is best for us.  Losing full control can be a big struggle.  When life takes an unexpected turn, it can be difficult to find joy in it.  After all, it wasn't in our plan! .... Oh, wait, we're supposed to be in God's plan!


Material things:
With everything this life in America has to offer, and with all the mixed messages media and entertainment sends us, it is SOOOO HARD not to have the attitude of 'I want'.


One thing I have realized is that, for me, the first struggle is much easier to take hold of and turn over to God.  The latter is an area where my trust in God is clouded and my need for Him is not easily seen when I allow myself to be ungrateful for what I already have.  It is a much sneakier battle that Satan loves to use!  Little things weave their way in and before I know it, I'm unhappy about things that are huge blessings - things that I'm usually so thankful for.  The gift of salvation alone is marvelous!  Nothing could be better!  I should never be ungrateful for anything.

Periods of struggle are very good for us!  They're hard, but they are what grow us the most!  I never want to be in the place where I feel like I don't need to be in the Word.  I never want to feel like my life is fine without God.  When things go wrong (according to my plan) I MUST seek out HIS will in the situation!  Concentrating on serving the Lord right where I am and with whatever I've been given is a necessity.  .

When I find myself with the attitude of being ungrateful, nothing helps more than when I open my Bible and dig in.  Then if I seek out a way that I can serve someone else, it completes the task.  These are two awesome things to adjust my heart issues!  There is no bigger blessing than blessing someone else.

L.O.V.E. O.T.H.E.R.S.

Philippians 2:1-11  "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


If Jesus - the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great I AM, Lamb of God - can humble himself and take on the life of a servant, who am I to think I deserve to be treated better than others?  Who am I to act as though my life matters more than anyone else's life?  Who am I to expect my needs to be met before another's? Who am I to complain about how hard life can be?  I have SO MUCH, yet I can be SO SELFISH!  John F. Kennedy said it well, "To whom much is given, much is expected."  Luke 12:48  "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." And then there is the parable of the widow who gave all she had.  Luke 21:1-4  "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.' "  


To the person who has much, much is expected!  This doesn't just mean financially.  Do I have a house that can be a safe place for others?  Do I have clothes that I don't need or use that someone else could use?  Is my fridge full?  Are my arms capable of giving a hug or a helping hand to someone who needs it?  Of course the answer to these questions is yes.  


As Christians, we need to live our lives by the words LOVE OTHERS.  


L - lend a hand   
O - offer grace and mercy   
V - live in victory   
E - encourage others   


O - offer hospitality    
T - be giving with your time   
H - be humble   
E - be eternally minded   
R - reach out to the widows and the fatherless   
S - preach salvation always

A Spouse's Duty

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord..."
Ephesians 5:25-27 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

     Washing with water through the word... I believe this is a part of the verse that often gets missed.  I also believe that it is one of the most important verses in this whole passage.  The thought of 'word' meaning 'Jesus' did cross my mind, but I don't think that is correct.  The commentary in my Bible says that Paul paints a word picture: The truth of Scripture leads to a clean spirit just as water removes dirt from our bodies.  As we study and apply God's Word to our daily lives, we grow in holiness and purity.
     If the husband's job is to lead his family and love them the way Christ does the church, then doesn't that imply that the most important detail would be to raise them up in the Bible?  It's a very popular idea in the church that parents are to educate their children about what the Bible teaches.  This is great!  But how about spouses doing that for one another?
     The wife is to be a helpmate to her husband.  As a wife, I NEED to encourage my husband to BE IN THE WORD!  My husband is supposed to do the same thing for me.  When it says Jesus washes us in the word I take it to mean that Jesus pours out the words of God into our lives.  The husband should be loving the wife the way Jesus does.  Bible studies as couples, prayer time together, talking about what you've each been reading seperately, memorizing verses together - these are all ways to accomplish this.  We are to be a team.  We are to encourage each other in the Lord.  How are we accomplishing this?
      Sanctus Real's song, "Lead Me", is an awesome song about a husband who realizes his wife's needs and his children's needs in a new way.  He's discovering the man that God wants him to be to his family.  "Courageous" is a wonderful movie exemplifying these same things.  As a mom and wife I found myself challenged and encouraged also.

Lord, give me the discernment and wisdom to be the wife that you call me to be and the mom that you have designed me to be.  Give me courage to live for you and shine you to my family.

Envy Rots the Bone

Luke 12:13-21  Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  Then he said to them, "Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  And he told them this parable:  "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do?  I have no place to store my crops.'  Then he said, 'This is what I'll do.  I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
"But God said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'  This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."


1 Timothy 6:10  "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 


Proverbs 14:30  "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."


Proverbs 30:7-9  "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die:  Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?'  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."


Exodus 20:17  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house.  You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."


Am I grateful for what I have?  Am I satisfied with how the Lord has blessed me?  Do I look at what others have and desire it in an ungodly way?  Do I give only out of my abundance?  Lord, examine my heart.  See if there is any offensive way in me.

Unclean Heart?

Luke 11:37-43  "When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.  But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.  Then the Lord said to him, 'Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness,  You foolish people!  Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?  But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.  Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.  Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.' "

Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?... 

We can wash up and look so nice and clean from the outsider's point of view.  We can carry our Bibles with us as we walk through the church doors because that's what a good Christian does... But do we even open it during the week?     * Psalm 119:11  "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you."


We can find lots of good things to do in the community.  Others may see us and think we have such servant hearts.  But what is our motivation?     * Ephesians 6:7  "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."  


We can count out a portion of our pay check each month and give it to the church.  The Bible says to, doesn't it?     * 2 Corinthians 9:7  "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 

...but you neglect justice and the love of God.


* Deuteronomy 6:5 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
* Matthew 22:37-38 "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is like it:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
* Ephesians 5:1-2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Jeremiah 9:24 " 'but let him who boasts boast about his: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,'  declares the Lord."

Tears That Cleanse

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  (Luke 7:41-50)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)


     Simon and Martha had big heart issues.  Doing good things won't get a person very far.  It may impress humans for a while, but God looks beyond appearances.  He knows when a heart truly praises and serves.  Example: Just because someone has their eyes closed as they sing doesn't mean they are truly worshiping.  People want to "look good".  He also knows when people are doing good to impress others.  Do I care if others see the good I do?  My reward is in heaven.  I should prefer that no one sees me.
     Do I sit at the feet of God and revel in His glory and beauty or am I too busy to notice who it is that I am serving?  I want to be a Mary.  Sometimes I think being a Martha can be easier.  It doesn't require a person to look too closely at their own heart and motives.  But sooner or later it has to stop.  If I operate on just doing and going I will run out of steam.  Allowing God to do the work through me is the only way to continue serving.  He will give me the wisdom and discernment to do what I need to do.  I don't want to mess it up.  God has to be behind the wheel.  Not me.
     Do I look down on others because I haven't done some of the "bad things" they've done?  I should hope not!  No sin is greater than another.  The only unforgivable sin is rejecting Jesus.  If God doesn't hold a pecking order for his children based on what they have and haven't done then I shouldn't either.   


Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”


"Lord, show me your will.  Help me to serve YOU as an act of worship, Father.  You see my heart.  I desire to please you.  I am grateful for all you have done for me.  I know there is nothing I can do to repay you, but I also know that from my faith should come fruit.  I want to be fruit-bearing.  Show me how.  Help me to grasp the opportunities you give me.  Please lead me, Lord.  I want you behind the wheel." 

God Can Do All Things

"We doubt your goodness...
We doubt your love...
As if every promise from your Word is not enough.
But all the while you hear each desperate plea.

What if healing comes through tears?...
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you're near?
What if the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst...
this world can't satisfy?

What if the trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?...

This is not our home...."

My heart aches for what was as I try to figure out what the Lord has for me in this stage of my life.  No big disasters or illnesses or deaths have clouded my view, only the loss of what my life once consisted of and the uncertainty of what my life now holds.  I have two choices:

I can allow myself to be overwhelmed and dwell on what once was.
OR
I can make a conscious decision to teach my children to be content with where God has placed them and to make the most of every opportunity.

                  In other words:

I can view this change as a disappointment, a heartache, a challenge I don't want to face...
OR
I can face it straight on as an opportunity, a growing experience, a challenge I will overcome!

I need to be heavenly minded.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  This is my life verse and has been for many years.  Nothing can overcome me or beat me down unless I allow it to.  "Lord, I am grateful that you never give me more than I can handle.  Help me to remember this and cling to it always!  You are my stronghold!  I will praise you always!  For you are the Almighty, my Savior, my God, my Father, my Friend.  Comfort me and direct me in all I do, Lord."

Living NOT in Fear

     I believe God knows exactly what we need long before we do.  And it often takes a long time of going through the trial before we realize that God has a plan in it.  There are even instances when we will never see just why God has allowed certain things to happen.  This can be scary.  It can be comforting.  It can be overwhelming.  It can be calming.  What we choose to do with this reality determines how we walk through each trial placed before us.  We will not be very useful if we live in fear.
     Choosing an attitude of gratitude results in open eyes and hearts to serve the Lord in every situation.  Thank you, Lord, that you know what is best.  I am grateful that you walk through each moment with me.  If God whispered in my ear everything that was going to happen and what I am to do with it, I have a feeling I would be more fearful than ever.  Bad things will happen in my life.  I'd rather just trust that God will see me through no matter what.
     In Jeremiah it says that God puts His words into Jeremiah's mouth so he does not have to fear not knowing what to say or do in each situation.  And then, Jeremiah 1:17-19 says, " 'Get yourself ready!  Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.  Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.  Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.  They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares the Lord."  The Bible is so clear that nothing can thwart God's plan.  He has a plan to grow me in my faith and to use me to grow others in their faiths.  His plan will succeed!  Am I a willing vessel?  Do I choose to live in great expectation of what the Almighty will do?