Collard Greens & Black-Eyed Peas

From as far back as I can remember, my Mom has insisted on cooking a traditional New Year's Day lunch.  For us, it always included some kind of greens and black-eyed peas.  The greens represented paper money and prosperity for the new year, while the black-eyed peas were often associated with good luck.  I never had any problem eating the black-eyed peas, but the thought of eating something as pungent as collard greens or turnip greens was just too much to ask.  And if adding vinegar to collard greens made them taste better, then I was definitely not interested!

Another thing about New Year's Day is all of the talk about resolutions: eat less, exercise more, eat healthier foods, etc.  These are all wonderful ideas, but I know that for me, eating less will only last a few days, exercising more might last a few weeks, and eating healthier foods never gets off the ground.  If I actually resolve to do these things, I'm usually disappointed in myself and begin eating even more, exercising less, and stopping at Chick-fil-A on the way home from work.

So what should I do to successfully start off a New Year?

Psalm 37:3-5 
Trust in the Lord, and do good; 
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 
Delight yourself also in the Lord, 
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 
Commit your way to the Lord, 
Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Trust in, dwell in, feed on, delight in, and commit to...the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart!

I'm not even sure what the desires of my heart will be, but I'll let you know when I find out!
Happy New Year!

Are you ready for Christmas?

It's the question everyone asks the week before Christmas,  "Are you ready for Christmas?"  My usual responses consist of "Not really", "Not even close", and just plain "No".  I was thinking about this on my way to work one morning.  If someone asks me this question, I interpret it as "Have you finished all of your Christmas shopping and gotten gifts for everyone on your list?"   As soon as I answer their question in the negative, I start counting how many days I have left and begin wondering how I'm going to complete the shopping, clean the house, and prepare a couple of dishes by Christmas Eve.  I can feel the tension building.  Not a good thing.

I need to remember that Christmas is the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:8 - 14 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

I want to celebrate like the angels did by sharing the Good News and praising God.  So the next time someone asks me, "Are you ready for Christmas?",  I need to say, "Yes, I am ready for Christmas! I love celebrating Jesus' birthday!"  

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”  Merry Christmas!

A Week of Life

My Week

• Last Monday morning, I had the privilege of holding newborn baby for half an hour while I visited with his mom.  It's been a while since I've held a tiny one.  He felt strong and fragile at the same time.  It was nice just to sit and enjoy holding a new life.  I felt peace.
  John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
• Tuesday brought me a full day of very intense work.  (I treated my stress with chocolate.)  John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."
• On Wednesday, it was 12.12.12 (a cool date for someone who loves numbers).  Our Division shared a meal, talked about consolidation and celebrated the season.  I laughed a lot.
  Ecclesiastes 10:19  A feast is made for laughter.
• On Thursday, my 6 year old had her first karate test for a new belt.  She did a great job. 
  Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
• On Friday morning, that same 6 year old had a high fever.  After a visit to the doctor, it was confirmed that she had the flu.  Psalm 41: 3 The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.  As she was sleeping that afternoon, I learned about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.  I felt shock and despair.  Psalm 72:14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

My week was like a capsule of a person's entire life.  I saw a new life, worked hard, had a good meal, saw my child succeed, saw my child get very sick, and mourned over the deaths of so many. Through every day of the week, I am reminded that I have a Savior who will guide me through it all and He has given me His Word as my guidebook.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The Christmas Concert

Sunday was a full day.  After church, I took my 6 year old and her friend to a Christmas event at our local history center.  We were serenaded by a kids choir, had pictures with Santa and made ornaments, along with other Christmas decorations.

After spending several hours there, I was very tired and glad to return home.  I wanted to call it a day and hibernate but my daughter wanted to go hear the Christmas music at church.  Reluctantly I agreed and we headed back out for the 6 p.m. concert.

The lights went down and the music began.  As I listened to the familiar songs, I began to smile and quietly sing along.  Then they surprised me with an outstanding performance of "Mary's Boy Child", which has a Jamaican rhythm.  By that time my heart was happy.

The next surprise came with a new arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".  Exactly as our Minister of Music said, the song was arranged as if it had been written in the 1970s instead of the 1700s.  The words and the melody were the same, but the accompaniment and the vocals were definitely disco era and Donna Summer.  At the end of this song, my heart was overjoyed.

Psalm 118:14. The Lord is my strength and my song.  And He has become my salvation.

When I left church, I wasn't tired anymore.  Just hearing the story of Jesus' birth through the music was enough to send my heart soaring with joy and my body was strengthened with the reminder of God's sweet salvation through a baby named Jesus.

Fullness of Joy

Greetings friends!  I have been away for a couple of weeks for a vacation and a conference.

First the vacation.  With great joy, I introduced my 12 and 6 year olds to the wonders of Disney World!  It had been 28 years since the last time I was there and so much had changed.  There were more rides, more parks and better food.  (We were even able to get a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day!)  My son discovered what I meant when I said that Space Mountain was one of my favorite rides.  My daughter thought that "It's a Small World" was absolutely fabulous, so we rode it 3 times.  As for me, the new "Ariel Under the Sea" ride was my pick.

There is just something about visiting Disney World that brings out the sense of wonder that we sometimes misplace.  I believe that God can use these fun and happy times to remind us that with Him we can have joy at all times.

Psalm 16:11. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

With our vacation at an end, I sent the kids home and headed to my conference at The Peabody Orlando.  Although it was back to work, I continued to experience God's fullness of joy.  I watched the famous March of the Peabody Ducks and learned I could volunteer to be a helper.  So a few days later I accompanied the First Assistant to the Duckmaster, Ms. Romonda, as she escorted the ducks to the Peabody Fountain for the day.  I had a fabulous time as an Honorary Duckmaster that day, and I had the great privilege of sharing the pure joy that flowed through Romonda with love for her job, those ducks, and the people she met.

Tomorrow I will return to my 'normal' routine, but with a renewed sense of the fullness of joy in God's presence.

Making Ready

I am most relaxed when I am crocheting or doing needlepoint, but I also used to enjoy sewing.  Last spring I realized that it had been almost 20 years since I regularly had sewing projects and I decided to rediscover the art.  My mom and I attended a class on European pattern making.  The pattern pieces were based on Leonardo daVinci's theory of the Proportions of Man.  Ah, proportions, math, fun!  Mom just looked at me and said, "I knew you were going to buy that when he started talking about math."  I just smiled.

Over the last six months I've purchased fabric, thread and other sewing notions at estate sales and yard sales.  This weekend I found a sewing machine and cabinet that was perfect.  I have all I need for my sewing projects, except for a place to work. So before I begin, I must make ready my sewing room. 

Luke 1:16-17. And he [John the Baptist] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As a believer in Jesus Christ we are to share the gospel of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.  We cannot save a person, but like St. John we can do our part to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."  What can I do and, more importantly, when do I need to step aside for an expert to take over?  Here are some thoughts on "making ready".

Making Ready a Sewing Room        Making Ready a Person for the Lord
1. Planning for the room                    1. Praying for the person
2. Filling in nail holes                         2. Helping with their hurts
3. Sanding the walls                            3. Have them attend church with you*
4. Painting the walls                            4. Show great things God has done for you
5. Step aside for the ceiling/lights    5. Step aside for God to touch their heart
6. Finish with the floor                      6. Help support a firm foundation in Christ
7. Smile and start the sewing            7. Rejoice/Make Ready another for the Lord

*Getting someone to attend church with you is often difficult, so here are a few ideas to engage them.

• Invite them to special events at your church (holidays, baptisms of people they know, concerts, kid's programs, etc.)
• Give them a recording (cd or dvd) of your pastor's most recent message
• Invite them to accompany you to dinner and a Wednesday night service
• Offer to take their children to church with you
• Ask them to help you with a church project (Christmas boxes for kids, backpacks of food for families, helping with a kid's group outing, helping with a maturing adults excursion, etc.)

Busyness

My days this past week seemed to blur together.  Where did the time go?  What have I been doing during the last 168 hours?  (Make that 169 hours since daylight savings time ended today.)

When I have weeks like this one, I realize that I took on too much.  But I've got to keep going: people are depending on me, things are piling up, I'm falling behind, the laundry isn't finished, the house needs cleaning, I've got major projects waiting at work, I need to finish all of the home projects I've begun.  What should I do?

Mark 6:30-32  The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Now this is the point where I tend to stumble.  I see so much to be done, but Jesus is telling me, "come with me to a quiet place and get some rest."  I'm thinking, ok I just need a little rest.  But that's not what it says.  It says to go with Jesus to a quiet place and get some rest.  Perhaps that is the key to finding rest, because burning the candle at both ends just turns into a great big waxy mess!

Just One of Those Days

On Sunday, I had one of those days.  You know the ones where nothing seems to be easy, unusual things occur, and you wonder why everything is a challenge.  The day began fine with breakfast and some time reading before getting ready for church.  The most stressful part was getting the 6 year old to brush her teeth, but that's fairly normal.  We made it to the car and would almost make it to church on time.  But then the 6 year old said, "Mama, the light was on when I got in the car."  Uh-oh!

I sat down to crank the car.  Then I heard that dreaded sound: click, click, click.  I did the first thing that came to mind - I tried to crank it again as if that first try was just a fluke and by some miracle my car would start.  I even tried a third time before I accepted that I was stuck in my garage.  What now? Call Dad of course!  Fortunately he was able to come to our rescue.  He brought me a car to get to church and helped me connect the battery charger.

As the day continued, I could tell it was going to be one of those days.  I had to go back home to get a coupon for lunch.  Later I had to go back home again to pick up an item that I had planned to exchange at the store.  Finally back at home, my 12 year old volunteered to help me do some baking.  Within 20 minutes he got bored and went outside to play.  Fortunately my Mom came to the rescue.

With a total lack of foresight, I had agreed to take the kids to a Fall Festival at my sister's church.  It was SO cold!  Our supper consisted of a hot dog and hot chocolate.  (It's not bad if you are starving AND freezing.)  I'm thinking candy is not worth this.

Back at home, I still had laundry (among other things) to finish for Monday.  Even as I was writing this blog Sunday night, I fell asleep.  Why did I end up with such an odd day?

Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Now I'm finishing what I began yesterday.  God had a plan to prosper and not harm me.  Truly no harm was done and I did prosper.  Looking back, I learned exactly how to hook up a battery charger; I had a great lunch with a 20% discount; and in the process of doing all my baking, I learned how to freeze a cake and make the color indigo.  At the Fall Festival, I got to see my 18 and 14 year old nephews (along with two of their friends) dressed as the men from Duck Dynasty.  I was told this is a reality show about hunters.  If like me you have never seen it, just picture ZZ Top in camouflage repeating the words, "Happy, happy, happy."

But best of all, I got to hang out with a Scuba Diver and a Night Princess as they made their way through the Trunk or Treat.  Not bad for 'just one of those days'.

Silence

I had a meeting on Friday at a location almost 3 hours from home.  After the first 90 minutes, my radio station began to fizzle.  Instead of searching for another station, I decided to turn it off.

Have you ever done that?  It's almost unnerving.  The silence is so...so loud!  I had the urge to turn the radio back on, but decided against it.  After a short time, I got used to the silence and even began to enjoy it.  I was more aware of sights along the roadside and looked forward to what I might see around the next bend, like roadside fruit stands with misspelled words, yard art, and an elaborate resting place for pets.

While sitting in the quiet, I began to wonder why we resist silence so much.  We are 'thinking' at some level every waking moment, and to some extent while we dream.  As I go through the day, my thoughts consist of planning what I think must be done and what I think needs to be done; contemplating how busy I am and how tired I am; and hoping that I accomplish something significant that day.  Hmmm.  A lot of my thinking is wrapped up in me, myself and I.  Meanwhile, all of this 'thinking' is happening with a symphony of noise from the radio, the television, the smart phone, the iPod, and the daily hustle and bustle around us.

In one of Paul's letters to the church of the Thessolonians, he makes mention of being quiet.

I Thessolonians 4:11-12  And that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that you may walk properly (honestly) toward them who are outside, and that you may have lack of nothing.

I've often thought that aspiring to lead a quiet life meant resisting conflict and chaos.  Perhaps it does, but it could also mean that I should aspire to just be quiet.

Why are we so uncomfortable with silence?  Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what we are thinking?  Could it be that we might actually 'hear' what God is saying to us?

Proverbs 8:32  Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

This week, give silence a try.  Turn off the electronics, go for a walk, and listen to the breeze through the leaves, the birds chirping, the brackets hitting a flag pole, and the quiet.  The silence may be uncomfortable at first, but soon it might become something you crave.

What's it worth?

I had a yard sale this weekend.  My children are growing, so there are always clothes, toys and books that need to find new homes.  (I also needed to rid myself of the 150 sweaters and 100 pairs of shoes from that last estate sale I attended.)

The hardest part of a yard sale is deciding on a price for an item.  You know how much you paid for it, how much you used it, and how much you think it should be worth now.  So what's it worth?

It's only worth what someone is willing to pay.

What are your children worth?  Just like you, I would give anything to help them.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

So if we believe in Jesus, we are given the right to become the children of God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Now what are you worth?  If you are only worth what someone is willing to pay, then you are priceless because God gave His only Son for your everlasting life!

Treasures in a Barn

I went to a Barn Sale this weekend.  My best description of a Barn Sale is a man's version of a yard sale.  I saw the ordinary things you expect to find in a barn: fishing gear, lighting fixtures, nuts, bolts, hammers, ladders, outdoor furniture, etc.  I also found some extraordinary items as well.  There was an old horse-drawn wagon, an antique writing desk, and an antique wash stand from Germany.  The wash stand looked like a standard waist-high rectangular piece of furniture with double doors at bottom.  I reached to pull out the top drawer and discovered that it swiveled around to reveal two old wash basins.  "Wow" was all I could say.

But without a doubt, the best find at the Barn Sale was not a thing, but a person.  That person was a cherished friend that I had not seen in about a year.  I was thrilled to see her and spent quite some time talking with her and her family.  I ended up buying a few items, but by far my memory of the Barn Sale will be about the person I saw. 

I almost didn't go to the Barn Sale because it was about 40 minutes from my house and with such high gas prices, I did question my sanity in taking the trip.  Was the drive worth the time and the money that I would spend getting there?

Remember the story of the shepherds tending their flocks, then being told by an angel that Christ the Lord was born in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.

These shepherds knew exactly who they would see in the barn.  Did they talk amongst themselves about the long walk, about needing to rest while the sheep were resting, or about what might happen to their flocks if they left them?  Not at all.

Luke 2:15-16 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 
  
Like the shepherds, knowing who was going to greet me at the end of my trip to the Barn Sale would have made all of my second guessing disappear.  But best of all, knowing that Christ will greet us at the end of our earthly journey removes any doubts about the journey itself.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Counting hair?

Anita Renfroe is one of my favorite comediennes.  Her bit about taking a photo of your hair as soon as you get up in the morning and asking your hair stylist for a cut that makes it look as if you arranged your hair like that on purpose is a picture of me.  I have naturally curly hair and I refuse to spend my time struggling to make my hair do something that it will not do.  So I found a wonderful hair stylist who cuts my locks in such a way that my hair is done as soon as I crawl out of bed!

This weekend I visited the hair salon and got my usual cut.  As I was watching the tiny clippings fall to the floor, I was amazed at the amount of hair gathering around my feet.  It would soon be swept away, but what if you had to count the number of hairs in the floor?

Matthew 10:29-31  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

No person on earth knows you better than you do, but do you know how many hairs are on your head?  I suppose I could count the number of hairs in a 1/4 inch square area, then figure out how many of these tiny areas it would take to cover my scalp.  This might give me an estimate of the number of hairs on my head, but not an exact count.

Matthew 10:30  doesn't actually report that God can count the number of hairs on your head, but that the "hairs of your head are all numbered".  That's even more impressive than counting them all.  Not only does he know when a hair falls from your head, but also which hair fell!

God places such great value on us that he numbers the hairs on our heads.  Knowing that, imagine how aware He is of our daily needs, desires, hurts, afflictions, praises and prayers.  God knows every little thing and every big thing there is to know about us, and He loves us through them all.

Counting hair?  Not me.  I have a Savior who takes care of that and everything else - just because He loves me.

Reverse networking?

I spent most of last week at conference.  For me, this is an enjoyable but tiring experience.  Most of the conferences I attend consist of instructional sessions and opportunities for discussing new ideas.  Many people refer to this as 'networking' - making and using contacts to share ideas among those with common interests. 

Here my mind begins to wander:  networking...working with nets...casting nets...

So, I was reading John 21 this week.  Jesus had been raised from the dead and was appearing to various people during the 40 days he remained on the earth.  One day Simon Peter and several disciples decided to go fishing.  (I imagine that the disciples, like most of us facing unknowns, wanted to return to something familiar.  For them it was their former profession of fishing.)  They fished all night, but caught nothing.  Jesus stood on the shore asking if they had any food.  They answered in the negative.

John 21:6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some."  So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish."

Same boat, same net, same water.  Why cast the net on the right side?  As creatures of habit, I suppose that the net was cast off the same side of the boat each time.  Out of habit, we also 'network' with others who share common interests, whether it be in work, church or other activities. 

But Jesus told the disciples to cast the net of the right side of the boat.  Was that unnatural for them to do?  By reversing the way they cast their net, these fisherman saw their catch multiply.  By reversing the way we network (making contact with those who don't know Jesus), would we see more believers?

What about the garments?

My Dad, my son, and I love to attend auctions at estate sales.  It fascinates me to see what a person gathers over their lifetime, but my son sees it as living in an episode of 'Auction Hunters'.  I've met lots of interesting people at estate sales.  Some are acquaintances of the home owner, some are auction hunters, some deal in antiques, some work for the company sponsoring the sale, and others, like us, are just looking for a good buy on some great items. 

The auction is a half day of excitement while bidding on items and a half day of exhaustion while packing our items to carry home. This weekend we attended the sale and auction of the estate of Mrs. Alma Peek in Monroe.  From the history that was given and seen, she was a wealthy lady who traveled the world.  She lived in a 5000 sq. ft. home that was overflowing with fine furniture and other belongings, collected through a long life. 

During the auction I began thinking about how in just four short days, the estate sale cleared out the belongings that took Mrs. Peek 93 years to amass.  They sold furniture, glassware, sets of china, crystal, patio sets, artwork, appliances, and everything else you might find in a home.  When it comes to clothing, they typically auction all items in the closet for one price.   I paid $15 for the contents of a closet because it had a lot of sweaters and I have a friend who makes mittens out of wool sweaters.  It took me over an hour to pack up and transport the 190 sweaters from the closet.  Yes, 190!

During an auction, we are assigned numbers used for bidding.  We follow the auctioneer through the house as one by one items are put up for bidding.  As we were bidding on items, it struck me that we were "casting lots" for this lady's belongings.  Our "lots" were the bids we were making.  The highest bidder claimed each individual prize.  You know, I always viewed the soldiers who cast lots for Jesus' garments at the crucifixion, as doing a terrible thing.  But did they?  After all it was prophesied.

John 19:23-24  Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic.  Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.  They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."  Therefore the soldiers did these things.  

Based on the clothing of that period, the four parts could have been a headdress, a belt, a mantle (robe), and sandals.  Each soldier took one of these items.  The tunic mentioned would have been a long, white linen shirt, possibly reaching to the ankles.  Although probably splattered with blood, the soldiers must have thought the tunic valuable since they did not want to tear it.  Instead, they cast lots to determine who would go home with the prize.

So, what about Jesus' tunic and other garments?   They are never mentioned again.  Did the soldiers wear them, did they sell them, did they give them away?  Did they use them as a conversation piece to tell about Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection?  Did they become believers and lead others with their eyewitness accounts?

What could I use as a conversation piece to tell others about Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection? 

Am I under-employed?

I've had several friends talking to me about new jobs this week.  I began to think about my job, which I so love.  I didn't begin my career in a job I loved, but after much training and searching I found it.  Or perhaps it found me.

I was as a teacher and was successful for a few years until the 'new' wore off.  Soon I was searching for something else.  I did a variety of other projects while continuing to teach.  Then, like a gift from above, I was given the opportunity to learn a job that fit me in the most wonderful way!

It's a great privilege to have a career doing something you love.  It's like that as a follower of Jesus too.  I have had some of the most memorable and rewarding experiences while getting involved with my church.  I've sung in choirs, been a Sunday School treasurer, taught Sunday School to 5 year olds, painted walls, worked as a puppeteer, prepared snacks, assisted with an AWANA Cubbies group, helped with craft projects, and I even got to play the role of Delilah cutting Samson's hair! (Picture this: a clear shower cap with very long brown yarn woven throughout.  I cut the 'hair' with scissors and the kids loved it.  They all wanted to have a piece of Samson's hair!)

I Timothy 6:17-19
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

During the past year I was not very involved with a particular ministry and I found myself searching for that 'new' job.  In the spring my church joined up with Backpack Love, a local effort to feed struggling families with elementary aged children.  Since its inception I've been there most Wednesday evenings arranging food, packing backpacks, then praying that the food will satisfy their hunger and the message will satisfy their soul.

Am I under-employed?  Even with Backpack Love, I felt under-employed.  Then, about six weeks ago I began to think about creating the blog you are currently reading.  CrossSums has become an exciting new way to share Jesus with others.  

I wonder what our world would be like if we were all fully employed and working for Jesus.

Keep It or Let It Go?

When I was a young adult I could organize all of my possessions in a week.  Now it might take a year of doing nothing else but organizing.  Like many Americans, I have too much stuff.  Did I need that shirt I bought last week?  Of course not!  But it was purple, cute and I wanted it.  

In a while that cute, purple shirt is going to be a member of an overstuffed closet.  During one of my attempts to purge, I'll pull out that purple shirt and ask myself, "Should I keep it or let it go?".  My answer will depend on how many times I wore the shirt, how well it's holding up, or just how overstuffed my closet really is.  

Sometimes our hearts are like overstuffed closets.  We pack things in our hearts that we don't really need, or even want.  There comes a time when we need to examine everything in our hearts and let some of the unneeded and unwanted stuff out. That's hard to do on your own, or even with a trusted friend.  

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Keep it or let it go?  If your heart is overstuffed with things you don't need, earnestly pray this prayer back to God and observe what He does for you.

Why an Audit?

I love my job, but as with all things, there are certain aspects that can be unnerving.  One of these is an audit of business practices.  We recently had the misfortune of having two audits during our busiest month of the year.

When I hear the word 'audit', I begin to dread the event and become very apprehensive.   But what is an audit really?  The dictionary defines it as an inspection, correction and verification of accounts and records.  The inspection and verification are expected.  However, it's the correction that makes me cringe because that means that things will have to change.

What if one day you got an email from God informing you that He is planning an audit of how you are doing here on Earth?  My heart would start racing and questions would be bouncing around in my head like, "What did I do wrong?  What did I do right?  What did I forget to do?  What did I choose not to do?"  Panicking doesn't begin to describe what I would be doing!  Fortunately God doesn't deliver emails that will send you into a fetal position.  He very subtly begins to work on your heart, making you aware that something is not quite right.  A change will be needed.

Let's compare a business audit (work) and an audit from God (life).

What instructions am I following?

• Work: Policy and Procedures Manual
• Life: The Holy Bible

How do I know an error has been made?

• Work: Auditor's report, or perhaps you uncover it while preparing for the audit.
• Life:  God sends messages to you through the Holy Bible and His Holy Spirit living in you.

How do I correct the error?

• Work:  Understand the error, research for the correct answer, and set up a new procedure to eliminate the error.
• Life:  Understand the error, read your book of answers, the Holy Bible, and pray for God to reveal His solution to you.

Isaiah 28:29. This also comes from the Lord of Hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.

Why an Audit?  God loves us so much that he audits our thoughts and actions.  When our 'life' audit indicates a problem, let us accept the counsel and guidance that comes from our Heavenly Father.

Is Good enough?

Most people have good intentions.  I don't really encounter many people who have a true "mean streak".  So in general, people are Good, but are they Holy?  Consider the Ten Commandments.  Have you broken one this week?  I know I have!  You know the one about working six days and resting one?  Yep, I broke that one all to pieces.  After church, I proceeded to clean the house.  Ok, so it was just a tiny commandment breaker, I didn't do anything awful.  It's not like I stole something or murdered someone! Just a tiny misstep, right?

James 2:10  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

Wow!  Guilty of ALL?  I don't think anyone can get through a week or maybe even a day without breaking at least one law.  Did you stay under the speed limit all the way to work?  I'm pretty sure that on most days I drive 35 in the 30 mph zone that runs through downtown.

I think we can agree that we humans are Good but not Holy.  God will allow only those that are Holy into heaven.  I obviously can't be Holy, but because I call Jesus Christ Lord, God will welcome me into heaven.

Hebrews 9:24  For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Is Good enough?  Jesus is the perfect and only solution to the question.