Branded By The Cross

This is Laminin. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this molecule, Laminin is the protein that holds human beings together. Do you notice its shape? Isn't it amazing that God would think so far in the future, and make the very thing that makes us think of Jesus, make up and play a crucial role in how we are formed? God formed you to not only live as an image of Christ, but to never escape the fact that you are HIS! We are branded by the Cross! "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" Colossians 1:17

TMTT: No Other god

Do not worship any other god,
for the Lord your God is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14

"Thou shall have no other gods before me!" It is no wonder that this verse has been bouncing around in my head lately. With all of the people we have been putting on pedestals lately it has been a little nauseating to me. I don't mean to sound inconsiderate because there are definitely families who are sad right now and I feel for them, but a man is a man and he does not deserve to be elevated to "god" status.

On the flip side, the same thing goes for all the other things in our life that we allow to be elevated beyond the level of importance they deserve. Food, television, computers, sports, exercise, materialism, money, entertainment... all of these can replace what is supposed to be our first love.

When I was a little girl I imagined the "no other gods" as the golden calf that I read about in the Old Testament story, but as I have grown I have realized that there can be many golden calfs in our lives. I am praying that God will make me aware of any melting that I may do today. I want nothing to separate me from His love.

WFW: Freedom in Truth

 

I will walk about in freedom for I have sought out your precepts.

Psalm 119:45

Hubs and Big Guy just returned from their Father/Son weekend.     It is a true guy's weekend.    Lazer tag, go-carts, golf, fishing, swimming, movies, and bowling.     There is no schedule.     Big Guy said that they both woke up at 2 in the morning one night and couldn't sleep so they just got up and watched a movie.     

My hubs is one amazing man.     This weekend is a bonding experience for he and the boys, but it is so much more.    It is a precept weekend.      Each year that they have been going he has been sharing and teaching them a little bit more of what it means to be a man of integrity and "grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" like Jesus did in Luke 2:52.     

It is our prayer that our boys will discover more and more the freedom that can ONLY be found in following the truths that God has given us.    

WFW: Be Still

 Be still, I am God!

Psalm 46:10

Yesterday seemed to be overwhelming with the number of prayer requests and needs that we found out among our family and friends.

*  Hubs found out that one of is cousins was severely burned in a yard accident and was airlifted to Georgia.   It is very bad and we are waiting to hear news.

*  One of my friends lost her home to fire.     You may not know that this is my second friend to lose their home in the past couple of weeks.     Fortunately, Victoria and her family were all spared in the fire, but their home was totally destroyed.

* Two other friends are dealing with situations with their children... both completely different situations, but when it comes to our kids... enough said, right?

These three examples are really just the tip of the iceberg.    When I went to bed last night I was really feeling weighted down with all the requests that were on my heart.    I couldn't even consider my regular nighttime routine of reading.   

All I could think was "Be Still! I am God!"   

So many hurts, pains and so little answers.... "Be Still, I am God!"

No end in sight and really wanting some answers... "Be Still, I am God!"

All of a sudden I feel peace washing over me as I "Be Still because truly He IS God!"

WFW: Lack of Knowledge

We have been enjoying a wonderful week on the beach. I can't tell you how much we have needed this time together. Lazy mornings. Going to the beach and playing in the sand, collecting shells, building castles, splashing in the waves, etc.... It should have been totally relaxing, but for some reason I can't ever turn off my Mommy radar.

You see, the red flags were flying which meant that there were very strong undercurrents and very unsafe water conditions today. One Mom sitting near us had a two year old who was wearing a life vest but he chose to take it off. He kept running to the waves and I kept standing there on edge and waiting to jump in to rescue him. All the while his Mom kept saying as she read her book, "Honey, you might need your life vest."

As we walked back to our condo a couple of teenagers were grilling on their condo and the flames were getting quite high. There are signs everywhere saying it is illegal to grill anywhere but on the grills outside in the open areas, but apparently these girls failed to notice these signs.

I just couldn't help but think of this verse from Hosea in each of these instances. How many people are being destroyed today for lack of knowledge? Not about water conditions or fire safety, but about God's Word and His will for us.

When I look at our Country right now, I worry that it is a lot of people and its leadership.

WFW: No Stumbling Block

My Big Guy just finished his first year in middle school. We will be leaving town this weekend to go to the beach for nine days to rest and recuperate from what was a long, completely draining year. Middle school is nothing short of a nightmare.

In addition to adjusting to the pressures of middle school, we are definitely starting to discuss more and more the social pressures: drinking, smoking, drugs, bad language, cheating, plagarism, pornography, etc... Anytime you begin discussing these things, your children ask you how you made your own decisions.

So many things influenced me in my decisions about all of these things, but Scripturally, none influenced me more than the verse above:

Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer,
but rather decide never to put a
STUMBLING BLOCK
or hindrance in the way of a brother (sister).

Like it or not, I know that people base their opinions based off what they see. I did not want to reflect poorly on my Lord because of words that came out of my mouth due to cussing or because questioned my faith because they saw me walking in a liquor store.

Now that I have children I know that my decisions not to do all of these things are playing a role in their decisions also. Will they make the same decisions as I have made? I am not sure, but I am praying, guiding them and leaving their decisions to them and God.

Ultimately, every person's relationship with God is between them and their Heavenly Father, but I feel strongly convicted that I am need to work as hard as I can not to be a stumbling block. I fail miserably... a lot... but I keep trying every day with the Lord's guidance.

WFW: Be Joyful

Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(I borrowed today's photo from my friend
Amy Deanne who hosts each Wednesday's Word Filled Wednesday. )

So many of us wonder about what God's will is for our lives. We think complicated and materially, but God thinks very differently than we do. In fact, He very plainly tells us of His will for us in His Word. Just like in this verse:

Not just to be joyful, but ALWAYS.
Not just to pray, but CONTINUALLY.
Not just to give thanks, but in ALL circumstances.

That verse is easy to say, but very different to live. As someone who has lived through life changing challenges this past year, I know that this verse is one that seems to mock you in the moment. You have to choose... lean on the everlasting arms or dwell in the mire of your situation.

As someone who has been leaning... I can tell you that there is no better place to be.

WFW: Applause

I love being a Mom.    My boys have given me insight into my God in new ways.   

*  I love my boys in a way that I have never loved anyone before.   Their cries literally make my heart ache.
*   When my boys laugh, I love laughing with them.
*   When my boys cry, I want to see them comforted.
*   If I see my boys needing something, I want to make sure that they are provided for.
*   When someone hurts their feelings I want to wipe their tears and make everything better.

Doesn't God want to do all those things and MORE for us?    When I compare how much more God has done and has promised for us it humbles me so much.    After all,  the same God whose hands were nailed to the cross are willing to hold mine while I walk through this life.

Like my Heavenly Father, I intend to stand by my boy's sides and love them unconditionally, following His example.

WFW: Be A Blessing

My sweet boys. I wish I could reach into this photo and just grab them up and hug them. That is why I chose this Scripture:

"And He took the children into His arms,
He put His hands on them and fervently blessed them."
Mark 10:16

Blessings are very much a Hebrew custom. It is also the place of the Father to do this. He would put his hands on his child's head and speak blessings. You are probably most familiar with this from the story in Genesis 27 of Jacob and Esau. When Jesus tenderly pulled these children into his arms and put his hands on their heads and spoke whispered words of blessing, he was acting as their Father. Can you imagine how overwhelming that must have been for those parents standing there watching? I can't imagine how I would have felt standing there watching my Savior speaking words of fervent blessing over Little Guy and Big Guy. It just gives me chills. To think that the disciples rebuked the parents who brought their children to him!

I have always been intrigued with the concept of the blessing. Before we had children, I read a book called The Blessing by John Trent. It explained about how your parent's approval or lack of approval affects how you view yourself. Most of us can spend our lives striving for approval.

God planted in me a desire to give my boys the security of the blessing. A security of knowing unconditional love and approval.

This book details out five elements of the blessing: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment.

So many people read that Scripture in Mark and think, "That is so nice. Jesus took time for the children." But it was so much more. He took TIME for the children. He BLESSED them. He gave them a meaningful touch... a spoken message... attached a high value to them.... showed them a special future and made an active commitment!

He gave us the example... be a blessing!

WFW: The Whole World Is Still In HIS Hands

Today is Earth Day. Seems like such a wonderful concept doesn't it? Save the planet. Conserve energy. Be kind to Mother Nature. However, Earth Day as a whole is a result of naturalism. What does naturalism as a theory teach? Evolution. What is the basis of evolution? Survival of the fittest.

Last week we went to Little Guy's "Earth Day" play at school. It was cute, but there were some glaring naturalist theories. For example: Instead of singing, "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" they had changed the words to be "We've Got The Whole World In Our Hands".

God did not put us on this earth to save the earth. He put us on this earth to "Go and make disciples." When God returns His concern will be the condition of our hearts, not how many cans we recycled or our carbon footprint.

It is up to us to see through all these well meaning messages our children are receiving in school and help them keep their eyes lifted up to the hills from whence cometh their strength. They do NOT have the whole world in their hands... but they do need to know the One who does.

WFW: Hair

I love this picture of my Big Guy. It captures a lot of his personality. He is very reflective and a thinker. His wheels are always turning and his imagination is always thinking of something new.

WFW: Charm School

Out of all the verses I could have picked, I somehow thought this was the most appropriate one for April Fool's Day. Why? Because everything our culture teaches us goes against this Bible verse.

We are taught that first impressions (our looks) matter.

When we walk down the street, guys turn and look (or don't) based on our looks.

When we go for interviews, we dress to impress and statistics say that women are judged as much on their looks as their resumes. It also says that better looking women get better jobs and better pay.

Magazines, television, commercials, billboards, radio... you can't get away from the constant reminders to look "beautiful".

Plastic surgeons and "smile" doctors are almost as plentiful as coffee shops these days. You can find them on practically every street.

But when you read this Scripture, God is saying, "Hey! Wait a minute. Back up. Refocus. I care about Y.O.U. I don't care if you aren't wearing make up or if you are in your pajamas. Share your heart with me."

It makes me think of that hymn that I grew up singing in church:

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Praise the Lord today!    No joke!

WFW: Be Exalted

There are 20 days until Easter.     Is time passing you by in busyness?        If you are like me and you need moments to fully focus your thoughts on the reason for this season (See?   That quote wasn't just for Christmas.), then I highly recommend His Name Is Jesus by Max Lucado.   

Some beautiful excerpts from this book....

"He stilled a storm with one command.  

He raised the dead with one proclamation.   

He rerouted the history of the world with one life."

"Christ came to earth for one reason:

to give His life as a ransom for you, for me, for all of us.

He sacrificed himself to give us a second chance."

"God remembers the small birds of the world.  We remember the eagles.  We make bronze statues of the hawk.   We name our athletic teams after the falcons.    But God notices the sparrows.  He makes time for the children and takes note of the lepers.   He offers the woman in adultery a second chance and the thief on the cross a personal invitation.   Christ is partial to the beat up and done in."

When I look at the verse above I see many things, but most of all I see answers.     People seem to be caught up in anxiety and fear about what is going on around them and in their lives right now, but if we each could exalt God and allow His glory to reign over our land... just imagine! 

WFW: Be Strong

(My two guys in Point Clear, Alabama. Showing their muscles.)

About 15 years ago our church choir was practicing for a concert. Our choir director gave me the music to this song and asked if I would sing the solo parts with another person. As I began practicing it, I felt God's Spirit saying, "Hide this. Hide it deep." The words were from Joshua 1:9 and they just seemed to flow over my spirit.

Be strong and take courage
Do not fear or be dismayed
For the Lord will go before you
And His light will show the way
Be strong and take courage
Do not fear or be dismayed
For the One Who lives within you
Will be strong in you today!

This song and my God has kept me company through many times of fear. From the moments giving birth to my boys to sitting beside the phone waiting for test results. From sitting in funeral parlors to literally being scared out of my mind because of a phone call.

I have come to realize that fear is a good thing. It was a gift given to us by God. Fear is what gets us out of a burning building or gives us the instinct to protect our children. When the fear becomes an enemy is when we allow our fear to rule us instead of it being a tool.

A person which I love to study who had a complete handle on fear in his life was Paul. He wrote, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (asking with humility), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) And this was after being in prison!!

Things seem to be a mess right now. Prices are rising and our paychecks aren't. People are losing their jobs, houses, and retirements. Everything that we used to think was secure is suddenly falling apart. But GOD SAYS, "Fear not!" “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

WFW: Water of Life

When you are truly thirsty, there is nothing that will quench your thirst like water. You can grab and practically flood yourself with all types of liquids, but there is only one type of liquid that will ultimately quench that thirst and it is water.

But what about spiritually? Every person on the face of the earth is thirsty. But not all of us are at the same place spiritually. Amazingly Jesus addresses this when he said, "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

Some people are thirsty because they haven't asked God to take control of their hearts. You are like me and know people like this. They are grabbing every type of "beverage": food, money, job, entertainment, sports, shopping, etc... It helps the thirst for a little while but they are still thirsty. They don't seem to realize that what they are experiencing is a holy thirst -- from God and for God.

Some people are thirsty because their soul is dusty. They are literally dehydrated because of their lack of time in His presence. They know God but the relationship is not truly there. They are so entraced in drinking the world's sugary sweetness that they are forgetting that the soul quenching LIVING water can only come from God.

However, some people experience thirst of the best kind. They experience the thirst of completely satisfaction. They are so in love with their God that they literally thirst for more of Him. They truly understand Psalm 34:8 when it says, "taste and see that God is good!"

A.W. Tozer understood spiritual thirst: "O God, I have tasted thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still." (The Pursuit of God)

Growing up and going to church camp growing up we would sing this song:

I've got a river of life flowing out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see
Opens prison doors and sets the captives free
I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

Spring up, O Well, within my soul.
Spring up, O Well, and make me whole.
Spring, O Well, and give to me that life abundantly.

Dear Lord, Please give to me that Life abundantly!
It is my heart's thirst to know you with a river of life flowing out of me!

WFW: One Thing Never Changes

There is a gentleman in our neighborhood who has lived long enough to actually see our country go from horse and buggies to our current space age.    Talk about change!

When I was a little girl I was taught in Sunday School and listened to my pastor preach from the Bible.    Today some of the very things that were taught as sins are now being condoned in the very same pulpits.   People are wrongly being taught that there is nothing wrong with sin.

For some reason, so much change is going on and so many churches and "Christian" leaders are going with the flow of culture, that people are thinking that God has actually changed his mind about sin.

Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament.     During his day, Israel had drifted a LONG way from God.    Because of this, God decided to just be silent.    Not just for a day or two, but for 400 years.     Until John the Baptist showed up on the scene.    God didn't go back on His Word to Israel.   It was Israel who went back on theirs.   

God is a parent and He believes in discipline in the same way that we must discipline our children.    Only a parent who doesn't love their child would never discipline them.    There are many different types of disciplines.    The disciplines of warnings such as "Don't touch... it is hot!" or "Don't run out in the street.".    Discipline of accountability such as "Do your homework." or "Practice your instrument."   But there is also the discipline of correction:  "You do not hit." or "You do not call people names."       Some people feel guilty when they discipline their children.   To not discipline is neglect.    How do we know?   Because our Heavenly Father disciplines us!

In all of the changes that are going on in this world today, we can be assured of one constant.     God loves us.   He died for us.    He NEVER changes.    The proof is in Scripture!    Read it.

WFW: 40 Days to the Cross

Today is Ash Wednesday and it begins the season referred to as Lent. Because I did not grow up in and am not a part of a church that observes Lent, it wasn't until I was an adult that I became aware of this "season" in some churches.

I have come to appreciate Lent as a very personal experience in my life. January and February have already flown by so quickly. Days are crazy. I don't want the time leading up to Easter to be gobbled up with that same craziness. I believe Lent gives us that extra nudge and reminder to slow down.

Typically during Lent you are asked to give up something as a sacrifice (or a constant reminder) for the 40 days. Someone I love is giving up fast food. Another person is giving up coffee. Still another is giving up all sugar. These are things that mean something to them. Things that they think about everyday. Things that if they give up they will "hurt" without and therefore be reminded of Jesus' sacrifice for us and constantly be reminded of the Easter season.

Me? I am giving up soft drinks. Seems like such a wimpy sacrifice compared to the one that Jesus made for me.

How about you? Have you ever given up anything for Lent? Have you ever made a sacrifice to keep your heart and thoughts focused on the Journey to the Cross?

There are 40 days to the cross... turn your eyes upon Jesus.

WFW: Give Thanks

"Give thanks to the Lord!"

Did you know that phrase is repeated 19 times in Scripture? 19 times! I started thinking. When I repeat things over and over and over to my boys, why do I do it? It is because they forget. Is that what God is doing? Do I forget to praise Him? So He is reminding me over and over and over again?

How many miracles did God perform in the Bible? How many miracles and answered prayers has God given you? How many thank yous have you said? How many minutes, much less hours, have you spent praising His name?

The last part of that verse says..

"His love endures forever."

Endures... sticks with, never leaves, holds on, never gives up. That is love so amazing that it can only come from God!

Doesn't God deserve all our thanks and praise today?

Note: I wrote and posted this blog posting several weeks ago. I am sure that God knew then that I would need this reminder for myself. Yesterday was one of those "rug" days. You know... when the rug gets pulled out from under you. I spent a lot of time crying yesterday. I am going to spend some time thanking today despite what is going on in my life.

WFW: Wait

I know I have said it before, but I will say it again: I have learned more about God since having my two boys than I ever thought possible.

Last year during one of the cold streaks of winter, the boys were wanting to play outside. The sun was shining, but it was bitterly cold. I made a comment that they were just going to have to wait for another day to enjoy the sunshine because it was just too cold.

Big Guy said, "Maybe not."

A few minutes later I walked in and there they were all stretched out in front of our french doors just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine that was streaming in from the windows.

Big Guy looked at me and said, "We may have to wait, but we can still enjoy the sun."

Wow! Back up... Did you hear that? We may have to wait, but we can still enjoy the sun [Son]. Talk about a sermon in a sentence.

Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart. Wait for the Lord."

Waiting isn't a favorite thing to do. Waiting rooms. Red lights. Check out lines. Carpool lines. They definitely don't fall into my "favorites" category, but I am trying to look at them in a new light.

I am following my boy's lead and trying to enjoy the "Son" no matter where I am.

WFW: Light

I know there is a book out there that says "Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten", but I think that is wrong. I really think everything I needed to know I learned in Sunday School. And a lot of it was learned in those little songs we learned in children's church and Bible school.

For example:

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

It kind of sums it up, doesn't it. We are Christians and we are called to be a light. Let it shine! If we have Christ in our hearts He is going to shine through. In our words, our actions, our thoughts... every day.

When I was a little girl we used to sing this song and I used to think that hiding it under a bushel meant a bush. We would hold up our finger to be our light and then cover our finger with the other hand to say "cover it with a bushel". However, when I got older I started singing the song "I love you a bushel and a peck" to my little boy and he wanted to know what a bushel was and I looked it up. A bushel is equal to 4 pecks or 35 liters.

So basically what that song is saying is, "Don't bury your light!" Step out of your comfort zone. Don't bury it. Don't let Satan blow it out. Shine, Jesus, Shine! In spite of me. Shine!

One of the great things about light is that it doesn't take a lot of light to make a huge impact. Don't believe me? You obviously have never played sardines in your church during a youth lock-in. This was a favorite for my youth group and I growing up. It is a reverse version of hide and seek. One person hides and then people go looking. As you find them you hide with them. The key? The entire church is dark. You have a flashlight, but you don't want to use it or you will reveal your position in the game. You wouldn't believe the creative tiny light sources people would bring to play this game. You needed light to move, but even the tiniest light would reveal where you were moving. I was always amazed how we could be standing in a dark hallway and one tiny key chain light could brighten the entire pathway.

Imagine what our lights as Christians can do for this dark world?

God, use my light! Let it grow brighter and brighter for you! (And Satan, take a hike!)