Seriously, a political post - from me?

Oh dear. 

I don't speak my views on FB or Twitter on politics very often, or at all.  I talk about Jesus, because I am deeply in love with Him.  I talk about God because He has always been Faithful to me.  He is good and everything He does is good.

I will not be sharing who I am voting for here.  So, if you are curious... well, you will just have to stay that way.  I will not be condemning you for how you vote either.  I will not stand before God for you, nor will you stand before God for me, so in those things, I say - you must vote your conscience.  If you have a clear conscience before God, then you should vote according to that - and I would caution - only according to the whole Word of God.

Here are the top three things I hear that I despise.  Truly, I despise these things when I hear them:

1.  "I am voting for the lesser of two evils."  What does God think about that?  Not that I know the mind of God - His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are far above my own.  But, I don't think that He distinguishes the lesser of two... I think He just calls all evil, evil. 

2.  I don't want to "throw my vote away", so I have to vote for one of the two main candidates.  When you stand before the Lord, you will not give answer for who was elected.  You will give answer for who you voted for.  Did you choose God's man - based on the things you can't see on the outside, or did you choose the one that looked so good on the outside, but who had already been rejected by God?  Surely, my vote will not get the man elected President - but  when it was time to appoint a King, after Saul had grieved the Lord and lost His annointing, God had Samuel go to the House of Jesse.  He said that the new King would come from that family.  When Samuel asked Jesse to bring out all of his sons, David was not among those standing there.  For all practical purposes, he was a "throw away vote".  Samuel went down the whole line of sons - and God spoke very clearly that the one He had chosen was not present.  So, Samuel asked Jesse - do you have any more sons?  Jesse then sent for David and we know the rest.  God does not get swayed by the media.  Nor, does He go with the popular vote.  David was smelly, tending sheep in the pasture.  Likely, he needed a good scrubbing - and he did not appear to be a strong King.  Yet, God set His endorsement on David, even calling him a man after God's own heart.  Whew.  I'll take THAT endorsement ANY day over the endorsement of the media, or any other man.

3.  "I am just not going to vote."  The one thing I will tell you is that we are responsible to do that which we can to contribute to the fate of our nation.  I have but one vote, but I do believe it is my moral responsibility to use that vote and to the best of my ability cast it for God's man.  Not the man that professes with his own mouth to be a Christian... who will ultimately lead millions to Hell.  Nor the man that cares not for the sanctity of human life.   But, for the man upon whom God has given His approval.

Search it out for yourself.  Do the research and come to a place that you can stand confident in your decision.  There are not only two candidates - no matter what the media says.  Don't complicate something that God has made simple.  God does not hold us responsible for the fate of our nation and the result of the election.  He only wants our faithfulness for that which we possess - our vote.  

I know this topic can be "heated" - however, this blog is not the place to bite or devour one another based on your beliefs and opinions.  Please do not tear down a person or a candidate here.  I will remove that type of post.  This is not for us to judge one another.  Simply be concerned with your responsibility and leave it to the One who can judge fairly for everybody else.  And that is all I have to say about that!! :)

Love y'all... 
   

they will know we are Christians by our love...

Some days you know just what to expect. 

You wake up, get ready for work, hurry everyone out the door (with their shoes on, hopefully), and head off to start your day - just like normal.

Some days, you are caught off guard.

You wake up, get ready for work, hurry everyone out the door (shoes are all on) and when you get to work you find something you hadn’t expected.  An envelope of blessing.  An envelope with your name on it, with something that meets a deep need inside. 

I can’t imagine my life without God.  Honestly, I know it was HIS Spirit that laid it on someone’s heart to drop that precious envelope in the mail slot at my work.  No way for me to repay - or even thank.  Just an envelope, filled with a blessing for my family.  God is amazing - and His people who allow themselves to be used as His hands and feet with no way to be known, well that just is summed up like this.  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35.

A disciple is one that follows after and models the behavior of their teacher.  That is my definition.  But, you get what I mean. 

Jesus always saw the need - the broken place, the thing that other people didn’t see from looking at the outside.  He saw their deepest point of need, and He met people right there.  Today, Jesus is not walking on the Earth.  But, when He went to Heaven, He sent “The Counselor”  the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us.  Now, every Believer has that Spirit inside.   Every believer has access to “insider” information.  When we walk in step with the Spirit, He whispers things to us ~ and if we listen we can be a blessing to other people.  That is what happened in my day - first thing today.  Someone was listening, and God spoke to them a deep need in our family.   How cool is that? 

It is sometimes really difficult to remember that He sees it all.  God knows every cry of our heart.  And, He always wants our good.  In fact, Psalm 119:68 says “He is good and everything He does is good.”  There is nothing bad in His character.  Nothing.  He is good.  The thing is, He sees the things we cannot.  He knows four days from now, four years from now, forty years from now.  He knows.  We can only see today and that which is behind us.  When we focus on our situation, it distorts everything, much like a fun-house mirror.   But, when we focus on who HE is - even in the middle of our situation, it brings a truer image.  That is when we can trust, because He is altogether trustworthy.  Perfect love casts out all fear.  If we could understand that He loves us perfectly, we would not be afraid - ever.  We would remember that He never sleeps, He never slumbers.  He never stops seeing our deepest need. 

This was the second time this week that someone in my life - another believer (actually 2) - reached out and blessed my family in an extremely tangible way.  They had no idea how desperate the need was.  They couldn’t have.  But, my God knew - He saw  - and He acted on our behalf. 

I desperately want to be so in tune with the Holy Spirit, so in tune that I could be used in a tangible way every day to meet someone right at their point of need.  It is within the realm of possibilities - because Nothing is impossible with God. 

Today, ask God to give you insight into someone’s life - ask Him to reveal ways that you can be a blessing to others.  You were created for a purpose.  We all have a purpose - but if we focus on ourselves we will lose our destiny.  We will miss out on the opportunity to fulfill that purpose.  Live with a purpose.  Make decisions to ask the One who sees everything what He has that is good for you - even if you feel like it doesn’t make a lot of sense.  Tell a stranger that they are beautiful.  Pay for the person’s coffee that is coming behind you in the line if you are able to.  You won’t regret it.  And, don’t forget to give the reason for the Hope that you have.  :)

If, by some slim chance my friends who have blessed my family just this week read this... I want you to know that I am praying a blessing over you - a hundred fold.  God has seen- and He has your reward, a reward far greater than I could repay.  I praise Him for your obedience.  I praise Him for you.  He is altogether good to me.

the war within...

Even as I read I can feel the presence of the Lord beside me.

He is always kind, and whispers Truth.  He does not shout or condemn.  He is tender and compassionate.  He grieves with me as I mourn the losses I have had in my life.  Yet, He rejoices with me that I have a greater destiny.  I have a hope in something truer than this which I am living in now.  I have a desire for the living waters - and in this He tells me I will be satisfied. 

But, there is an ache.  It is an ache inside because of the depravity that lives within my mortal body.  The depravity that seeks my own comfort and temporary love more than it seeks the will of the One who created me.  Great sadness fills my heart as I realize that I do not fully seek redemption for those who have wounded me.  I am wounded - and there is a piece of me that still shouts “Retreat!”  “Pull Back”  “Do not fully invest yourself or your love - it is not worth it.”  "Let God exact His justice!  The justice that this situation demands."At the same time, I realize the naivete’ of that. 

To say that this life isn’t about my life is one thing, but to walk it out as so... Well, that is entirely another. 

So. Much. Loss. 

My heart is grieved to not know the delight of walking with my mother as an adult - she who brought me forth from the womb.  Never has a mother been more loving or kind.  Never has a another encouraged and believed in me like my mom.  Why, my Jesus did I have such few years with her?  Oh, how I long for her hug.  Her arms - strong and so tender at the same time.  Her eyes compassionate and full of hope.  Her smile that brought forth joy from the deepest pits of despair.  Her counsel - so full of wisdom and understanding.  What joy to be cut from that cloth.  What a gift to have been so deeply loved by her.  And what pain is in the loss of such a dear friend.

So. Much. Pain.

And, yet, I am able to say that even now, there is an abundance that marks my life that is staggering.  To see the Lord walking beside me in a manner that is undeniably Him.  To watch the movements around my life that are orchestrated by the One who called me - who chose me - who pulls me constantly out of the darkness and into the light.  It makes my heart reel with desire for the life that awaits us still. 

The truth is I want so badly to be known on the earth.  To be known by those who spend time with me.  But, that is not a harmless desire.  I am already fully known.  To desire from man, that which God has already established by Himself within me, is idolatry.  He would whisper to me, “Why is it not enough that I know you fully?”  “Why is there something more you desire than the fellowship of my Spirit?”  “Who can fill you, heal you, help you like I can?”  And my reply is that I am at war with myself.  This earth is passing away.  The time of His coming is nearer now than ever before.  He is coming for us.  He is jealous for us, and we are distracted by the lures of this world... The desires of flesh on the earth - and how do they compare?  They don’t compare.  The answers are these:   there is nothing more precious than the fellowship of the Spirit and there is no one who can fill, heal and help me as He can.  The Truth is that I have all that I need.  The Truth is that He has so much more to reveal, to share, to bestow - if only I will crucify the flesh and its desires for that which is lesser.

My heart is stirred by a noble theme indeed...  I am intoxicated by the beauty of the Lord.  And, yet, I am sobered by the reality of how far my heart still is from that which He desires for me.  Redemption - not a reckoning.  Truth in love - not delighting in the stumbling’s of the one who has wounded me repeatedly.  It is so hard to make your heart compliant - when it is still bleeding.    It is so difficult to allow love to come through when hate is standing at the door banging - really almost demanding to come in.  It is so wondrous that God can do that (allow love to heal that which hate demands to destroy) if only we are willing for Him to do that which He desires with our lives.  Truly, nothing is impossible for Him. 

Today, I am asking for Him to do that which He desires in my life - with my life - no matter what that means.  I am begging Him to see, to hear, to act - and this I know with all my heart.  He has seen.  He has heard.  And, He is moving.  His timing is beyond my understanding.  But, He will not stop until His will is on earth as it is in Heaven. 

That is what I am asking. 

Fully God. 

Not His mercy.... Not His wrath... Just the fullness of Him.  Right now.  Whatever that looks like.  I am praying and believing that He will sustain me.  He will uphold me with His righteous right hand.  I am hiding in the shelter of His magnificent wings.  It is here I will rest - though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - even still, He will prepare a place for me- in the presence of mine enemies that I can be comforted by His rod and His staff.  What a Shepherd!  What a King! 

May the grace of God go before you today to prepare a quiet place of rest for your weary heart.  May the peace of God give you comfort in a time of great distress.  May the joy of God become your strength today.  He who has called you is able to do that which He purposed for you from the very beginning of time.  Trust Him.  He is trustworthy and true.  Forever and ever - He will be Faithful.

Steadfast Love

For the last month and a half the Lord has revived a song in my heart that I didn’t even remember was tucked away in there.  It had been 19 years or more since I heard it.  But, now that He has brought it back to my mind - it offers me life all day long.  The words are these:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning, new every morning,
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh Lord.
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Indescribable, how those words bring such Truth and Life to my weary soul.  I remember again for the millionth time this week just typing them, that His love towards me never stops.  He is so faithful.  He is so merciful.

This week was filled with too many activities.  Too much stuff that takes my eyes off the main thing.  But, through it all, He was right there.  He was reminding me these three things over and over:

 He sees me.  (Nothing is hidden from His sight)
 He knows me.  (I am fully known)
 He loves me.  (steadfastly, wholly, completely loved.)

He is the God who sees.  El Roi.  (See Heb. 4:13 & Jeremiah 23:24)  Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight.

He is the God who fully knows me, because He created me in the secret place.  (Psalm 139:15) and He knows every move I will make before I make it. ( Psalm 139:5 &  119:168)

His love is unfailing.  (Psalm 13:5, 32:10, 33:18, 36:7)  There are too many to list!!! 

I don’t know what you are going through right now.  But, I know the One who does.  I cannot imagine the depth of the ache in your heart.  But God knows and sees all of your tears - all of the pain hidden in the darkness of your heart -  and He records your tears - Psalm 56:8.  He does not delight in your grieving.  He mourns with those who mourn. 

How deep the Father’s love for us.  How vast beyond all measure.  That He would give His only Son to make this wretch His treasure.  (another fabulous reminder through song).

Friend, I promise you His Word is true.  He is Almighty God, Faithful and True.  Loving and merciful beyond all we can imagine. 

Three times this week - when I have needed it most - He has whispered to me “I see you.  I know you.  I delight in you.”

Many times this week, He has placed a song in my heart.  A song of thankfulness.  A song of adoration. 

He is worthy.  He is worthy of all my tears.  He is worthy of all my pain.  He is worthy - and I am begging that He would receive honor and glory and praise in increasing measure in my life.  Whatever it looks like, I trust Him.  I trust in His unfailing love.  My heart rejoices in His salvation. 

There is no one like my God.  No one.   

If you need someone to depend on, someone who will always know your heart - and love you - I would love to tell you more about Jesus.  I would love to share with you His faithfulness in my life.  Lean into Him.  He can handle anything you have going on.  He is not taken by surprise by anything you are facing.  Your circumstance - no matter how big it looms over you - does not determine His ability to carry you through it.  He is able.  He is stronger.  He loves you and wants to show His love to you. 

Blessings on your week this week.  May His face shine upon you. 

(Un)Faithful

One thing that God will not allow me to forget over the past few weeks is this:

His faithfulness to me does not depend on my faithfulness to Him.  (2 Timothy 2:13)
His love towards me is not dependent on anything I do. (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10)
His approval of me is established forever by the blood of His Son. (Eph 2:13; Hebrews 9:15)

Therefore, there is nothing more I have to do ever - to gain His approval or love or affections.  Ever.  Can you believe that?  I mean it, really, can you let that sink in for a minute?  Nothing you do - or don't do *after you have accepted Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins* changes God's mind about who you are! 

Your righteous acts are as filthy rags.
Every gift is from Him.

You become nothing - and gain everything. 

I love the paradigm shift.  I love how opposed to this world that is. 
I have to "do more" becomes,  "He did it all for me already".
I have to "be more" becomes, "Be still and know that I am God".
"Look out for number one" becomes "Fix your eyes on Jesus".

It is terribly difficult to look at things you cannot see.  To find treasures in darkness (Isaiah 45:3).  To unlock the mysteries of the Word.  But, by the Holy Spirit we are able to do such things.  God shares His secrets under the right circumstances. (1 Cor. 4:1; Psalms 25:14 (NIV) ) 

There is true freedom when you realize that you cannot change God's mind about you.  When you allow Him to change your heart - He gives you a new one - and forever and ever you belong.  You are His.  You cannot be taken away.  You cannot lose His love.  Precious peace beyond all understanding is yours for the taking - knowing that you are finally enough.  Your life matters because it matters to God. 

I cannot express what it would do for your whole outlook on life if you could really understand how the Creator of the Universe loves you.  If you could just for one minute embrace it.  Don't take my word for it - take His!!  Pick up the Book right now and search out how much He loves you.  Go to Biblegateway.org and type in unfailing love....  just see what He says about His love for you.  I am overwhelmed again at His plan.  It is so contrary to man's.  But, it is so beautiful. 

I am so in love with Him.

A new heart...

While driving down the road, at the beginning of a very hectic, but very joyful week I had one of life's most wonderful opportunities.

Jude and Mia were in the back of the car, and Maddy and I were up front.  We were talking about God.  We were talking about sin.  We were talking about our need for Jesus - and Heaven, where He lives (and Grandma Cindy too).

Jude told me again (because he really does tell me this all the time...) that God is the only one who always does what is right and doesn't lie.  I love to hear him say that.  It is True.  It is a good truth to know.  Even when you are 4.  Then He started telling me how Jesus came to earth, died on the cross and rose again on the third day.

I love this kid.  I love our church.  I love the he seems to have loved God from the moment he was born.  He is always telling me wonderful things about Jesus and God.  He also loves for me to sing "I Love You Lord" at bed time.  When he gets afraid in the night, he sings it all by himself.  And, according to him, it works. :)  Of course it does.  Any time we put our eyes on something other than God, it can get scary.  Just ask the 4 year old in the dark.  But, when we remind ourselves that God is always with us - we are never out of His sight, things seem to be a little more manageable.

Anyway, it was a great chat.  I told Maddy that I had started this conversation with him last week, but we were interrupted, and alas, we had to resume at another moment.  Here we were, stuck in the car for several hours, so I figured we should make the most of it.  Surely we did.

I asked Jude if he understood why we needed Jesus.  He did.
I asked Jude if he understood why God sent Jesus.  He did.
Then, he told me how Jesus died on the cross - but He rose again on the third day.  I loved that part.  To watch him tell me the gospel.  Jesus died mom, but it didn't end there....  now that was my favorite!  At that point, I asked him if he would like to go to heaven one day.  He said he wanted to go later that day (after we established that there are things cooler than toys that we have here).  I told him I wasn't aiming at letting him go quite that soon!  But, it was so sweet.

We did say a prayer out loud, but I am fairly certain in my heart that the transaction had already taken place in his little heart well before the words came out.  I told him that because he believed in Jesus, and because he understood that he HAD to have Jesus to go to Heaven with God, that God had given him a new heart.

He smiled really big.
Then we prayed and thanked God for giving him a new heart, and for sending Jesus because He loves us so much.

I smiled so big.     

I told him that his heart was new because God says that when we believe in Jesus, we get a new heart, and in fact, the Holy Spirit comes to help us make good choices.  We talked about how the temptations would still be there to do naughty things, but that now we had someone with us all the time to help us make right choices.  There were many other things we talked about, but it was my favorite to hear him tell people the rest of the day that God had given him a new heart.  Yes, little man, God gave you a new heart indeed.  The process has begun.  There are sure to be many times that I have to remind myself that God sees and knows his little heart much better than I do at all times, but how sweet that already his heart is for God.
It is always nice to me to hear myself telling people the Gospel, because I needed the reminder too.  Temptations will always be there, but we have a Helper.  God sees my new heart - always.  He doesn't even remember my old heart.  He loves that boy and his new heart... and he is just as crazy about this girl and her new heart.

What a great day to remember the grace and mercy of God.  What a great day for a new heart!

super short (but important) update to laundry posts!!!

this is not my pic, I took it from google  :)

I have decided to switch to Fels Naptha bar soap instead of the lever 2000.  It is actually a laundry soap, so it is friendlier to your washing machine... and has a better fragrance because it is designed for laundry.

I still believe it saves a boat load of money in the long run.  It isn't an expensive soap.

Just wanted to share the knowledge.  Thanks A.J. for the head's up on that!  :)