Sensible Shoes

Do you remember going "school shopping" when you were a child? It was always exciting for me! We didn't have a lot of money, but we always got a new notebook, fresh notebook paper, a box of pencils and a pencil case. We also got to get a couple of new outfits and a new pair of shoes. I loved school shopping day!

When it came time to pick out a pair of shoes, we always had to choose the "sensible" ones...the ones that would last the longest. Often, they were just a tad big, to allow for "room to grow." Now, I must say, the choices of school shoes in the 60's simply did not compare to the choices children have these days. The popular shoes for girls were saddle oxfords, penny loafers, and mary janes. I don't really remember much about most of the shoes I wore in elementary school, but I know they were "sensible." I do, however, remember a pair of shoes I got to get when I was in the sixth grade.

I can remember sitting in the shoe department looking at the Buster Brown image over a selection of shoes while my mother was getting shoes for my sister and my brother. My eyes were drawn to the most beautiful, soft gold leather slip-ons with a little laced bow at the toes. They even had a little, flat heel. They definitely WERE NOT sensible. But they were BEAUTIFUL! I could almost imagine myself wearing them walking to the bus stop and to my classes. Oh the outfits I could wear with those shoes! I picked them up and held them as if they were magic shoes.

Of course, my mother came over to me and saw me holding the shoes. I showed them to her and sang all sorts of praises about the shoes and how they were PERFECT for me. She said they weren't sensible and that I needed a sensible pair of shoes. She must have seen the look on my face, and in that moment, I believe, my mother must have remembered what it was like to be a young girl and really want a pair of beautiful shoes but knowing you would only ever be able to have the sensible ones. My mother bought those soft leather gold slip-on shoes for me that day. I have never forgotten it. Sensible shoes made sense, but my mother seemed to know that I needed a pair of beautiful, magic shoes. Shoes that made life fun, shoes that made you want to skip on your way to school, even if you were 11 years old, now, and shouldn't be skipping anymore.

Life is a lot like wearing sensible shoes. We work, we come home, we eat dinner, we pay bills, we do the things expected of us. We do the things we know we need to do. The sensible things. Sometimes, though, we need to do the unexpected. Sometimes, we need to break from the routine and put on our fun shoes and do something completely NOT sensible, something unexpected, something magical.

Yes, there is a time for sensible shoes, but there is a need for magical, fun shoes, too. If you have spent your whole life only wearing sensible shoes, you need to go find the most magical, wonderful, amazing, unsensible shoes you can find. Put them on and wear them.  Don't leave them on the shelf. They will make your heart sing and you will feel alive! You might even find out that those are the shoes you should have been wearing all along!

Happy shoe shopping!

"Easy Out"

Growing up I was never athletic, nor did I have any athletic talent outside of jump ropes and hoolahoops. I dreaded recess on the days we would play team sports, like kickball. I knew that I would be picked last to be on a team. When it was my turn to be "up," the opposing team would always say "Easy Out! Everybody move in closer!" The truth was even though I would try very hard and would believe that "this time I could do it," I would only kick the ball a mere few feet and would be tagged out immediately. It was disheartening.

Fast forward to adult life. The company I work for decided that it would be good for our health to join a sports team made up of coworkers. The teams would play each other for fun. My coworkers decided to form a kickball team and asked if I wanted to be on the team. I know what you're thinking..."Hey, at least you weren't picked last." True, but I knew my athletic skills had not gotten better with age, so I declined. I could cheer them on, but I wouldn't play.

You see, I had learned some valuable lessons growing up.  Each person needs to find their own "team" to play on. They need to find where their talents are and "play" in that arena. I knew I could not play kickball well and knew I wouldn't enjoy it if I tried. (I did enjoy watching them play, though!)

I learned, growing up, that I really liked school and learning, liked reading, liked playing the guitar, and liked singing. While in school, I joined the clubs I was interested in and I joined the chorus. As an adult, I have sought out similar interests. I was involved in Music Ministry for 35 years. I have also continued to learn by taking different classes along the way.

One of the most important lessons I learned, growing up, is that I am not defined by "what I can't do," I am defined by "what I can and what I want to do."

What about you? Are you stuck back in your own "Easy Out" situation, focusing on what you can't do? Choose a new team to play on and find the things you can do and like to do. The next time you're "up," you'll kick a home run!

"It was then that I carried you..."

Have you ever gone through a difficult time in your life where you were worried, stressed or filled with fear of the unknown? Did it feel like you were all alone in your darkest time? Are you going through one right now? Life is not easy, nor is it fair. Losing a loved one, going through a divorce, having a sick family member, watching a child make wrong choices, financial difficulties...sometimes the things we are going through make us feel hopeless and alone.

It might feel that way, but we are not. The thing is, when we are in the "midst of the maelstrom" it is very difficult to see anything other than the situation. Depending upon the severity of the circumstances, we may, truly, only be able to focus on that situation. (And, sometimes, that is what we need to do). But we are not hopeless. And we are not alone.

There is one who came to give us hope, one who will always be there for us, one who will walk through the "maelstroms" of life with us. His name is Jesus. He came not only to bridge our way to the Father through His sacrifice on the cross, He came to be with us...each and every day...in good times and in bad.

I have been through times in my life where I could not see the light through the darkness. Where, although I believed in Jesus, it was hard for me to see hope. I would pray as I went through it. I would cry out for help. Although I couldn't see the light or feel the light, deep down I knew He was there. When I looked back, after coming to the other side of the darkness, I could clearly see that He was with me the whole time. I knew I could never have made it through on my own.

I have a necklace with a "Footprints" charm on it. I've had it for many years. The charm is worn from all the years I've held it between my fingers when going through a difficult time. The charm has footprints on the front and an excerpt of the Footprints poem on the back. It says, "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

The Footprints poem is about a man who had a dream that he was walking along the sand with Jesus while scenes from his life flashed across the sky. For awhile, there were two sets of footprints, side by side. When it seemed that there was only one set of footprints during the hardest times of his life, he asked Jesus, "Why when I needed you most, were you not with me?" And Jesus replied, "My son, during those hard times, it was then that I carried you."

There is a verse in the Old Testament that comforts me. It is Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.


We will go through some of the most difficult things in this life, but we do not go through them alone. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

If you are going through something hard right now, I pray that you will reach out to the One who will walk beside you, who will carry you through it.  He is hope. You are not alone. He will not leave you. You are not alone.

I am including a link to Kari Jobe's song, I Am Not Alone. Please listen to the words, and be encouraged.

Hypocrites in Church? That's Where They're Supposed to Be!

I can't tell you how many times I've heard the phrase, "I don't go to church...too many hypocrites!" A thought occurred to me the other day...of course there are hypocrites in church...that's where they need to be!"

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hypocrite is "a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs." In a nutshell, if you are a Christian and your "walk" doesn't match your "talk", you are a hypocrite.

I don't know about you, but I fit in that category from time to time. My "walk" doesn't always match what I say I believe in. I can try to live a life that shines what I believe in, but, inevitably, I'm going to mess up and do or say something that is contrary to that. Guess what...so will you. We are all imperfect, we will all make mistakes.  In Romans 3:23, it says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That is why we need a Savior. (John 3:16-17)

The thing is, most people are hypocrites at some point in their lives. Some on a daily basis. Whether or not you believe in God, you believe in something and when your "walk" doesn't match your "talk," you are a hypocrite. Most people believe in right and wrong, for example, and many are very vocal about it. Yet, those same people will also make wrong choices or do or say the wrong thing. That is just our human nature.

When you become a Christian, though, you are asking Jesus into your heart and into your life and asking for help to become a better person (more like Jesus), and to live life "better." Too many people think that once you become a Christian, you should no longer make mistakes. Nothing could be farther from the truth. On the contrary, you WILL make mistakes. The difference is you have someone to go to for forgiveness and for help in trying to "do" better.

Are there people in church who live their lives as a constant contradiction to their beliefs? Yes, unfortunately, there are. Church is filled with imperfect people. Most are truly trying to live better lives and make a difference.

Being a Christian isn't about living life "perfectly." If it were, we wouldn't have needed Jesus. In Mark 2:16-17, after the Pharisees (teachers of the law) saw Jesus eating with the Tax Collectors and other sinners, they questioned his disciples about it, thinking he shouldn't be "hanging around with sinners." Jesus told them "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."

You see, he knew we would mess up. That's why he came.

That is comforting to me. When I know that I've messed up my "walk" in some way and said or done something that definitely doesn't match "my talk," I can go to the one who understands and ask for forgiveness and for wisdom in how to do it better the next time.

Me a hypocrite? Yes, from time to time. Am I forgiven? Yes! Can I get help to "walk" a better walk? Yes!  How about you? Do you need help in "walking your talk?" Ask Jesus into your heart, today. He's really good at "walking" and "talking."

...and if someone tells you they don't go to church, because it is filled with hypocrites...invite them to come with you! They might just fit in!

What Label Do You Wear?

Our world today is full of labels. Labels on the clothes we wear (designer or not); labels on the food we eat (fat-free, sugar-free, organic); and labels on the cars we drive ("sporty," "mommy-van," "green"). We even have labels for each other: Tall, short, fat, thin, cool, nerd, friendly, hermit, lazy, workaholic, etc. Sometimes the labels are complimentary, such as "she's such a caring person." Most of the time, however, the labels are negative.

The negative "label" can come from anywhere. Sometimes it's society or the media that defines and places the labels. While this, in itself, can be a bad thing, I believe it is far less harmful than the "label" that is given to us by a loved one or given to us, by ourselves. It's a lot easier to "shake off" a label given by someone who doesn't know and love us, than it is to free ourselves from a negative label given by a loved one. We tend to believe it when a loved one labels us, even if it wasn't true. And worse, it may not have been true, but we might even "grow into it." If you tell a child that he is "worthless," he may grow up thinking he is. We even "label" our own selves with labels like "unloveable," "beyond hope," "ugly," or "not good enough."

The truth is, though, we are not what society, a loved-one, or ourselves label us, we are so much more.

We were created by God to be much more than any earthly label that tries to define us. He created us with specific gifts, talents, and personalities that are unique to us, and no one else. Even identical twins are unique, in their own way. We were created for a greater purpose, to use our unique talents and personalities, to be a blessing and to be blessed. (Read 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139:13-18).

What label(s) are you wearing today? Maybe it's time to remove that label. Maybe it's time to "put on" the label that was made for you by the One who created you. You are so much more than what others, or even, yourself, think. Maybe it's time you choose His label...the Master "Designer's" label. Wear it well, you are one-of-a-kind!

Doormat, Doormat, Doormat...Door Closed!

I like to find doormats that either match the season or my current home decor. My last doormat had a beach theme, light blues and browns with "Welcome" in the middle. I really liked that doormat. Unfortunately, with all the rain and mud tracking over it, it was time to replace it. I found one for "in-between" that will do, but I'm looking for something I'll really like.

A doormat can say a lot. A "Welcome" doormat can say that you really do welcome guests into your home. A seasonal doormat, can say that you like to celebrate and embrace the seasons. A brand-new doormat can say that it's your first "home" and you're excited about it! 

I think we can be a lot like doormats. If we're the type of person who really enjoys meeting and speaking with people, we really "have the welcome mat out." If we're the type of person who doesn't really want to engage with others, whether for a time period...or ever, we won't "have the welcome mat out."

Sometimes, though, we leave the Welcome mat out when we shouldn't. There can be people in our lives who take advantage of, use, or abuse us...if we let them. These people will keep walking right over our welcome mats, over and over again, wearing it out, tracking all kinds of mud and dirt into our lives. We don't need to make these people feel "welcome." As a matter of fact, we need to remove the Welcome mat and keep the door closed to these types of people. They can try to knock, but they shouldn't be allowed in. Eventually, most of them get the "you're not welcome" message and go away.

Life is too precious to allow anyone to take advantage of us, use us or abuse us. To these people, I say,  "Doormat, doormat, doormat...door closed!" 

Now, on to find that "just right" doormat...

The Junk Drawer

Everyone has a junk drawer. It's usually overflowing with a bunch of things we think we might need someday, things we haven't found a place for, or things that are important but we can't remember why. Sometimes the junk drawer is so full that we have trouble even opening or closing it. Have you ever tried to find something in your junk drawer? It's like going back in time. You can find gadgets, missing pieces, old pens, etc., that you've had for YEARS. 

I recently found myself in a scavenger hunt to find something I was sure was in my junk drawer. Of course, it wasn't. I started looking at the items in the drawer. An old flip switch, a dried out marker, old batteries, varying "missing" pieces, tools, scissors, tape, rubber bands, twist-ties, and some old keys. I decided, that day, to do a "Junk Drawer Makeover." I took everything out of the drawer and looked at each item. If it was something I really did need, I found a more appropriate place for it, such as tools going in the tool chest. If it was something I didn't need, I threw it out. If it was a piece to something that I couldn't remember what it was for, I threw that out too. If I didn't need it all these years, I certainly didn't need it now. Surprisingly, I had very little left to keep. I wiped the drawer clean and lined it with shelf liner. I even bought a couple of drawer organizers to fit the remaining items in. What a difference it made! I could even open and close the drawer with ease!

If you're like me, you also have a personal junk drawer. This is the junk drawer where we tuck things away, like past hurts or memories, that we don't know what to do with and tell ourselves that we will "deal with them later." Sometimes we put things in the junk drawer we wish would just disappear. The trouble with a junk drawer, though, is it just gets more and more cluttered. Things don't disappear, they just pile up.

Maybe it's time we really look at what's in our personal "junk drawer" and see if there are some things that we could get rid of so we don't "carry" them around anymore. Sometimes it helps to really take a look at those things. We might see something that might have been important a long time ago, but isn't anymore. We might see something that when we take it out and look at it, we might be surprised we're still hanging onto it. We also might see some things that still hurt us, that we don't know if we're ready to discard. It's alright to keep some things in your junk drawer...for a specific period of time. You might need to make a plan to look at those items again so your drawer doesn't start getting cluttered again.

I don't know about you, but when I've taken the time to really look at the clutter in the junk drawers of my life and clean things out, it gives me a brighter outlook on life. I'm no longer hanging onto things I don't need. I have to make room for all the new things and experiences yet to come!

What about you? Do you need to do a "Junk Drawer Makeover" today?

Just Press or Say "Delete"

No, this isn't about your computer...at least not the one that sits on your desk or in your lap. It is, however, about the "computer" that sits between your ears. The one that records and replays things from your life that have been stored in your memory.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our brains are beyond any computer that exists or ever will exist. We have the capacity to take in a lot of information, process it and store it, as well as process many things at once. Our brains are wired to remember things...good things, bad things, and unimportant or useless things.

Sometimes I like to joke about that I "need more RAM" or storage space in my brain. Sometimes it feels "full to overflowing" with all the important details I need AND all the unimportant, useless information that I don't need. Did you ever read or hear something that reminded you of an old TV commercial? I'll bet you could remember the commercial, in detail, including any "phrase" associated with it. ("Where's the Beef?" Do you remember that one?) Why do I remember this? I don't need to know it. I could use the storage space in my memory that this useless information is taking up! Too bad I can't just press "delete."

There are things, though, that I would rather not remember, that I would like to "delete." Does this ever happen to you? It seems the more you try to forget whatever it is, the more it shows up again. On a computer, you can delete the information you no longer want or need and send it to the trash bin or you can replace it with something you do need. Why can't I do that?

I think it's time we "activate" our "delete" and "replace" features.

The first thing we need to do is recognize that when those "things" pop up in our minds, we need to look at why they are popping up. Is it from something that we haven't dealt with that we need to deal with (or get help in dealing with it)? Is it from something that we regret? If so, can any action be taken, such as seeking forgiveness or forgiving? Or is it something that cannot be changed and is only a memory?

As a Christian, I need to remember that when Christ died for me, he forgave me of my sins...past, present and future. If I'm getting "reminders" of things that either I've addressed, asked for forgiveness for, or given forgiveness, or of things that I have no control over, and never did, I need to take it to him. In Romans 8:1 it says "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." That means I am forgiven and I can take it to him and leave it there and the next time the memory appears, remember this verse and just say "delete." If it is something that I never had control over or can't change, I can bring it to him and ask him to heal my heart and the memories. In Psalm 147:3, it says "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds."

Oh, I know the "pop ups" will still try to appear...but now I have a "delete" plan. I don't have to allow those things to keep playing in an unending loop. I will set my "pop up blocker" and be prepared to "replace" them with the truth of his word.

Hey, maybe I'll actually have more storage space!

And the next time one of those old commercials starts playing in my memory...I'm going say "delete!" I need my memory storage space for all the good things yet to come!

Seed Planter or Weed Planter?

Have you ever looked at a garden after a good rain? Have you noticed how quickly the weeds grow? You could have worked really hard at pulling all the weeds out the week before only to see them return after the rain. You know you'll have to pull them out again or they will choke out the plants you want to keep. Gardens require a lot of maintenance to keep them thriving.

Life is a lot like that. We are all gardeners and sowers. When we sow good seeds in others' lives, their "gardens" blossom and grow. When we sow "weeds" in their lives, they grow, too.

Isn't it strange how fast a weed can grow, but how long it takes for a seed to sprout and, then, bloom? Seeds need time to grow and bloom. They need TLC from the sower. They need sunlight. Sometimes, they need fertilizing. A gardener invests in the seeds he has planted. Weeds seem to spring up without any help at all and don't really need much to survive.

Every day, we have an opportunity to sow "good seeds" or "weeds." We can choose to plant "good seeds" in others' lives by an encouraging word, a smile, a hug, or meeting a need. The "good seeds" that we have planted will grow and blossom in that person.

If we are "planting weeds" with discouraging words, unnecessary criticism, and negativity, we will see the "harvest" of what we have planted. It is difficult for someone to "bloom" when all they hear is negativity.

What kind of gardener do you want to be? Do you want to be a "seed planter" or a "weed planter?"

Plant some good seeds today, nurture those seeds, invest your time, and watch them bloom!

Front Row Seats...I'm There!

When I was growing up, my Dad didn't come to church with us. My Mom would take my sister and brother and I every Sunday. I didn't understand why he didn't go until the year I turned 14. We had moved to another state and were attending a church there. Mom found a prayer group to attend. I don't know how or when my Dad decided to go with her, but once he started going, an amazing change took place. My Dad could get excited about things in life, but after going to the prayer group, he became ALIVE inside. It was almost like a switch was flipped! He lived before, but he was ALIVE after.
You see, Dad had grown up going to church every time "the doors were open." He said that he'd "been saved" many times. This time, however, was different. His relationship with Jesus became real, it became personal to him. He saw things differently. He tried to live differently. And...he started going to church with us.

You might think that's a good thing...but my Dad was so excited, he wanted to get to church early and sit in the FRONT ROW. When you are 14...you DO NOT want to sit in the front row at church or anywhere else that isn't at a concert for your favorite band. Not only that, but my Dad was so excited, he wanted to visit other churches, too, and sit in their FRONT ROWS. While I was doing my best to blend into the pew cushions, my Dad was raising his hand for the "Is there anyone here for the first time?" question. There was no hiding.

The best part of that year was when my Dad and Mom shared their faith with me. It seemed like so much more than just going to church. I knew about Jesus, about God, about church, but only "about." My Dad and my Mom prayed with me when I asked Jesus into my heart and gave Him my life. The Jesus I had prayed to before but didn't really know, became real to me. I became ALIVE, too! And not just FRONT ROW alive, but IN FRONT OF OTHERS alive!

I was learning to play the guitar and the church had a group that would play the songs at church. You guessed it...I joined! When we moved to another state, I joined the guitar group at that church and, then, joined a youth choir at another church! And it didn't stop there. I had always been a third or fourth row person in life. I wanted to be close enough to see what was going on, but far enough back not to get "called on" to join in. But all that was changed now that I was a FRONT ROW person. When opportunities would come my way to join in that would really be out of my comfort zone, I would do it anyway, just to experience it. It was an amazing time in my life.

Over the years, I have "switched seats" many times from FRONT ROW, to MIDDLE ROW, and, sometimes, even the BACK ROW depending on where I was in life. In the past few years, though, I have really made an effort to stay in the FRONT ROW. I don't want life to pass me by. I want to be ALIVE. It might be uncomfortable, sometimes, to choose the FRONT ROW, but I know that is where I want to be.

How about you? Are you living in the third, fourth or even back row of your own life? Get up and switch seats! Move to the FRONT ROW! You won't believe what you've been missing!

My Parking Spot?

For years I parked in the same spot at work, on the same side of the building, every workday. (It's nice to know that in your regular morning routine, you can just pull in and park and head on in to work). One day, after following my regular routine, I pulled in and someone else was in MY parking spot. Ok, so my name wasn't on it or anything like that, but if you park in the same spot EVERY day, you start to feel like it's yours. Isn't it funny how we feel that way? No one assigned it to us...we just assumed everyone would know that's our spot. So, I found another "spot" and hurried on in to work.

The next day, you guessed it, the spot was taken. And the next day. And the next day.... (So...if someone takes my spot, does that make me "spot-less?" No, no, no, that's another story).

When something happens to "mess with" my comfort zone, I take notice. It usually means God is trying to tell me something. Parking in the same spot for years was a comfort zone, of sorts, to me, and God knew it. When I am in my comfort zone, I tend to like to stay there. It's familiar, it's secure, it's comforting. I also tend to not want to leave my comfort zone. The "unknown" can be scary or intimidating or any of the other reasons I can come up with so I don't have to leave.

When I came to work last week, and the spot was taken, God reminded me of a song that has become important to me. It's called Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), and it's done by Hillsong United. The first time I heard that song, it spoke to me. The message in the song is all about trusting in God when the "waves" in our lives are scary or hard. He is helping me to "keep my eyes above the waves."

He was reminding me of this song, not because not having "my" parking spot was scary, but because of the other words in the song.  "Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you may call me." I've really been focusing on those words in the song, lately. I want to go wherever He leads me and to do whatever He has called me to do.

And then it hit me. What He was trying to tell me.

How can He lead me to where my "trust is without borders" if I can't even let go of a parking spot? How can I walk upon the "waters" He leads me to, if I am content to follow my same routine and stay in my same comfort zone.

Wow. I didn't see that one coming. Talk about a message in a moment.

The message was clear. Even more than I realized. You see, if I'm "parked," I'm not moving. Let me say it again. If I'm parked, I'm not moving. I hear you, Lord.

From now on, wherever I park, will be "a" parking spot, not "my" parking spot. It's only temporary. I want to be ready to "pull out" and move on to "wherever He may call me."

All That AND a Bag of Chips

I'll never forget being with a group of students and hearing the phrase, "she thinks she's all that AND a bag of chips!" I just had to laugh. What a perfect way to describe someone so focused on themselves that they felt they were not just the complete package, but they were something extra! Now that is prideful!

Pride, however, is no laughing matter. There are many verses in the Bible about pride. In Proverbs 16:18, the verse reads, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. In Proverbs 11:2, the verse reads, When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

You see, when we focus too much on ourselves or on our accomplishments, we are not focused on the One who created us with the gifts and talents we have. It is sort of like focusing more on the gift, than on the Giver. There would be no gift without the Giver.

Not all pride is bad, though.  For example, how many parents are proud of their children when they take their first steps across the floor, and then, later, when they walk across a graduation stage? Or how many teachers are proud of their students at the end of a school year for all of their hard work? And let's not forget about how proud someone can be of themselves when they try to do something that they were afraid to do and, then, they accomplish it.

If we put a lot of time and effort into achieving something, it is alright to be proud of that effort. The danger comes when we become full of pride about our efforts or our accomplishments. When we put too much focus on what WE'VE done, it crosses over from being proud to being prideful. This takes the focus away from what HE'S done in us and for us.

The next time you start to feel your focus slipping, just remember the Giver.

Without Him, we are nothing. We are an incomplete package. With Him, we can be "all that" He created us to be...and more!

(Way better than a bag of chips, don't you think?)

Hold On...Daylight is Coming!

I try to imagine what it was like for the disciples when Jesus died. The person who loved them and they loved and followed, was gone. Although he'd told them that he would have to die but then would rise again on the third day, it was, I imagine, hard for them to believe (Matthew 16:21). They did see Jesus raise Lazarus and Jairus' daughter from the dead, but this would be completely different. The One who raised the others from the dead, was dead, himself.

Can you imagine? Waiting together, afraid to go out into town, lest they be arrested, too, by association. The light of their lives, their guiding light, gone. What were they thinking? What did they say among themselves? Did they have hope? Or did they feel that all hope was gone? It must have been a very dark time, indeed.

But daylight was coming...

Very early in the morning, on the third day, the women went to the tomb. When they got there, the stone covering the tomb's entrance was moved away.  They went into the tomb but the body of Jesus was gone! Then two men appeared next to them in "gleaming garments" and they were afraid. But the men said to them "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen! Remember how he told you when he was still with you in Galilee?  The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified, and on the third day be raised again." (Luke 24:1-9)

I love the next verse: "Then they remembered his words."

Isn't that just like us?

We go through dark periods in our lives where it seems that all light, all hope is gone. We know what we've been told. We know what we've been taught. But when we are in the middle of the dark time, we can only see the dark. How much better would it be if we remembered His words and held onto hope instead?

In Psalm 30, David talks about when he was "in the pit" and he called on God, who rescued him. In the second part of verse 5, he says 'weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.'

In Isaiah 40:31, it says, "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

What darkness are you in today? Let me share the one who is Hope with you.  Remember his words, remember his hope, remember the promise in Romans 10:13 "all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Hold on...daylight is coming! He is risen, indeed!

A group named Remedy Drive has done a song called "Daylight." If you'd like to listen, click here for the link.

Maintaining Idle Speed in a "No Wake Zone"

Growing up in South Florida, there were a lot of opportunities to see boats and ride in boats. My grandmother had a house on the Intracoastal waterway and we would sit out on the dock and watch the boats go by. We learned what channel markers and buoys were for and why boats had red lights and green lights on them.

There were two signs on the waterway near my grandmother's house. One was "Idle Speed" and the other was "No Wake Zone." When seeing those signs, the boaters knew that they should be traveling at or below idle speed to ensure that the boat's wake would not cause any injury or damage to any person, boat or property.

What's a wake? Basically, a wake is a swell of water, waves, path, or water pattern that follows behind a boat moving through the water. Anyone who's been in a smaller boat when a larger boat passes by, knows to "hang on" because the small boat can be rocked back and forth when crossing the wake of the larger boat.

I think we should have "No Wake Zones" in our lives. Think about it. When was the last time your "world was rocked" by something someone said or did? You didn't see it coming. You didn't know to "hold on" until the way was smooth again. The other person may or may not have had any idea of the impact of their "wake" as they just moved on.

Navigating through life's "waterways" can be a challenge. It would certainly help if we knew where our personal "No Wake Zones" were. We all have them. Those little areas where we are more sensitive and prone to have our "world rocked" (or at least tipped off-kilter). What if we focused on the boat captain, Jesus, through those zones and asked him to help us to maintain an "idle speed" through it? We can't control how someone else might speed through our "No Wake Zone" but we can control how we react to it. Sometimes we might need to speak with the person about their "wake." They might not even be aware of it. Sometimes we might need to just "hold on" and maintain our "idle speed" through the interaction. Sometimes, though, we might need to change our course and take a different direction. Whatever we choose, though, will be our choice.

The next time someone comes zooming into your "No Wake Zone," be prepared. Let the "captain" help you navigate the waters and maintain your "Idle Speed." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Godspeed!

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda and the Green Light Pause

When I was growing up, the family would sit around the dinner table telling about our day. One of us would be talking about something we had said in a situation when my dad would say, "You shoulda said....". He would go on to share "Dad" wisdom of what he thought would have been a better response. The whole family would then get involved in the "shoulda saids." It became a part of the family banter.

As an adult, I still have "shoulda saids" running through my mind. Sometimes I'll review my response to something and think, "Maybe, I should've said this or maybe I should've said that, instead."

I think all of us have moments in our lives where we "shoulda" said something differently. Sometimes we have regrets that we "coulda" said something, but we didn't. We even think on some things and say, "If I had to do it over, I 'woulda' done it differently."

Sometimes we mean the words we say, at the moment, only to think about them later, with regret. Sometimes the words "fly out of our mouths" before we've even thought about it. Sometimes, though, we've had an opportunity to say something...but didn't.

Words can be very powerful. They can build up and they can tear down.

The Bible has a lot to say about the power of words, especially in the book of Proverbs.
In Proverbs 16:24, it says, "Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
In Proverbs 15:1, it says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
In Proverbs 12:18, it says, "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

I really do try to watch what I say. Some days are better than others. I have discovered, though, that if I pause before saying something, it gives me a moment to consider my words. It's sort of like the green light pause. You know when you're at a stop light and the light turns green but you wait that extra second or two to make sure no one is coming before you go? That's a green light pause. It doesn't matter to me if the person behind me honks, I'm more concerned for my safety than their need to "go, NOW."

Perhaps we all could take a green light pause before we speak. We could take a moment and think before we speak. It might prevent some verbal "accidents" and avoid possible damage.

Hawk Nelson, a Canadian Christian Rock Band, does a song called "Words" that really says this much better than I can. I'm including a link to their video, here. The song talks about how words can "build us up" and "tear us down," "start a fire in our hearts" or "put it out." It's a powerful song.

"Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda." Those words speak volumes, don't they? The next time a "shoulda said" pops up in my mind, I hope it's just a memory of those family dinners, long ago. If I use my green light pause, maybe I'll actually be saying what I "shoulda said," first.

X-ray Vision? Well, Maybe not...

If you are as old as I am, somewhere between "older than dirt" and "just sprouted," you might remember those ads in the back of comic books that told us all about the AMAZING things we could buy. For $2, you could buy a family of "sea monkeys." For just a little bit more, you could buy X-ray glasses and have X-ray Vision! You could see through things and amaze your friends! Of course, none of those products were "for real" and many children learned their first lesson in life about "if it's too good to be true," but...just for a moment...the idea of owning the X-ray glasses was very exciting!

Now that I'm "grown up," I look back on the idea of X-ray glasses. When I think about it, they wouldn't be very practical unless you were a doctor. I mean, why would anyone want to see the inside of someone unless they were a doctor?

What I really need, though, is a pair of "God Glasses." Something that would help me to see things the way He sees them.

Do you ever get so busy in life that you just keep going and barely slow down to look around you? You have a checklist of things that you have to get done; a project at work, kids to baseball practice, laundry to be done, groceries to be bought, and on and on. Anything that breaks your stride feels like a distraction and can cause frustration. Have you ever been in a line in the grocery store and every line but the one you're in seems to be moving? Or what about when you are stuck in a traffic jam? You know you have to be someplace at a specific time and when it looks like you're going to be late, it can be stressful.

Let me ask you a question. When you are in any of those situations, do you ever look at anyone else around you? I mean really look at them? Probably not. When we are so focused on whatever our "plan" is at the moment, we really aren't aware of others around us.

This is where I need "God Glasses." If I stopped long enough from focusing on my "to do" list and saw things from His perspective, I might see things differently.

There might be a young mother, with a baby in the front of her cart, at the front of my checkout line who is carefully watching the total as her items are checked out because she knows she only has a specific, small amount of money to pay for her groceries. At that moment, when she sees the total and has to ask that some of the items be put back, she must decide which of the items that she really needs, will have to be left behind. She is ashamed that she went "over" and is causing the line to back up. She is dealing with a lot of emotions at the time.  If I was looking at the situation through "God Glasses," I could do something to help. Perhaps, if I'm next in line, I could quietly ask the cashier to add those items to what I was paying for, and have them bagged for the young mother.

What if I am in the traffic jam and no cars seem to be moving? What if it might be caused by an accident up ahead? If I was using my "God Glasses," I could look around at the people also stuck in traffic. I could pray for each of us to relax and be filled with peace as we wait, and I could pray for the people that might be involved in the accident up ahead.

The thing is, people all around us are going through many hard things, heartbreaking things. But we can't see it because everyone "puts on a good face" when we are out and about. If we could see people as God sees them, we would be sensitive to someone who might need a hug or an encouraging word. We might be able to help someone who might need a little extra financial help, like a bag of groceries. We could reach out to that person who God puts on our heart to ask them if they are ok and then stay with them long enough to know that their "I'm fine" really means, "ask me, again, please. I'm really not."

I really don't need "X-Ray Glasses," what I really need are "God Glasses."

Brandon Heath sings a song that is all about "God Glasses." It's called "Give Me Your Eyes." If you'd like to hear it, I've included a link to his YouTube version, here. It helps me to see things differently, to really try to be sensitive to what others are going through.

I have a long way to go, but I really need your "glasses," God, along the way.

Give me eyes to see and ears to hear.

Wearing Rose-Colored Glasses

Have you ever heard someone say, "Oh, she just sees the world through rose-colored glasses"? The meaning behind it is that the person only sees things in a positive light, looking right past the bad to the good.

When you think about it, is it really such a bad thing?

Part of the message at church today was about looking for the good in life. Pastor Craig Groeschel talked about the difference between vultures and hummingbirds. Vultures, he said, fly around looking for dead things. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, fly around looking for sweet things. He mentioned that if you are always looking for bad, you will find it. And if you are always looking for good, you will find that, too.

There is a lot of bad in our world. Always has been. That's practically all you see on the news, isn't it? Occasionally you'll see a "human interest" piece, but pretty much they should call it the "Bad News" instead of just "The News."

The thing is, there's a lot of good in our world, too. Always has been. Yes, there are the stories of good that make it on the news, that get passed around on the internet, but there are so many more little stories happening in our world every day. A mom with her hands full, shopping with very small children, drops something and someone nearby reaches to pick it up for her. Someone lets the person in when they are trying to merge into traffic. Someone "pays it forward" in a fast food line. Good is everywhere, if you know where and how to look for it.

The problem is we're just used to looking for the bad, finding fault, looking for mistakes. What if we made a decision, today, to change what we're looking for? What if we tried to "look for the good" in life...in others? What if we put on our "rose-colored glasses?"

I think I need to go shopping for a new pair of glasses! What about you?

Theology, Me-ology, or He-ology...What's Your '-ology?'

A lot of people think that being a Christian is all about going to church. Don't get me wrong, it's good to gather together to worship and grow with other people in learning more about God and His plan for us. But it shouldn't end there. Being a Christian, though, is much more than going to church, it's what you do with the rest of the week and how you live your life that really tells the story of what you believe in.

We should ask ourselves why we are going to church. If it is only to learn about God, sing a good worship song or meet up with our church-going friends, then perhaps what we have is more Theology than faith. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Theology as "the study of religious faith, practice, and experience: the study of God and God's relation to the world."

Or what if we go to church, hear a good message but then don't apply it to our lives and grow? What if we just go about our daily life focusing on the things that fill up our days or on the things that we want to fill up our days? I guess you could say that instead of "Theology" it would be more like "Me-ology."

Maybe it would be better, instead, to hear the message, pray about it, and ask how it could help us to grow and help us to know how to make a difference in ours and in other people's lives. Maybe it would be even better if we focused more on the One who first loved us and less about the things we think we need. After all in Matthew 6:33, it tells us that in "seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things (that we really need) will be added unto us. I believe we could call this "He-ology."

You see, if our focus is where it should be, being a Christian is less about going to church to hear a message and more about "being the church and living the message."

Something to think about, isn't it? What's your "-ology?