Monday, November 29, 2010

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Jesus Never Sleeps



It hit me today, two days after Thanksgiving how tired I am.  Never wanting to miss out on any visit, staying up too late, laughter, shows and football games, girl time and just the busyness of having lots of people home and the maintenance of keeping up.  Takes it's toll after a couple days.  I would not change it for anything and love every minute of it.  NO COMPLAINTS.
As I was  cooking and preparing my table scape for all the family to arrive I was trying to stay focused on the timing of everything to cook and and be done at the right time, pay attention to details for decorating to make it feel warm and inviting and just trying to really think about each person who would be coming to my house, 17 all together for dinner.  No one would have known if I had left off a detail on the table or a small ingredient somewhere, but the fact that I put it there gives it opportunity to bless.  Just as God puts the details in our lives He desires to bless us with them.


It made me realize how hard Jesus works on our behalf.  Jesus never sleeps.  He is always up doing, praying, working and interceding on our behalf and without any complaints.  He pays attention to every detail of our lives.  God is so faithful in our little lives, in every detail, through tough exhausting times, through good times, when we are down and out or just sailing along with flying colors; then we realize how big our lives are to God, and we are blessed.  He cares about the details as well as the big issues we encounter.  He can do anything, He is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do.  Why do we resist the intrusion of the divine to live in the kingdom of self when it never troubles God when we bring our troubles (and joys) to Him; what troubles Him is when we don't.  God is proposing and all we have to say is "I do".  These little people proverbs that I have heard or thought of myself, speak to me about the heart of God.
Details.  How detail do I allow God to get with me?  Do I allow Him into every nook and cranny or do I shut Him out as if He doesn't already know those places.  So funny how I am sometimes.  Some people would not know if I had left off some of the details on my table scape, but putting them out there gives God an opportunity to bless others.   No one would have known if I had left out a small ingredient somewhere, but the fact that I put it there gives it opportunity to bless.  Just as God puts the details in our lives with great intent and attention to our hearts desires, as He desires to bless us with them.  They are put there for a  purpose.  I feel it is the same when we confess our most intimate of details with God, putting it out there for Him to turn into blessing.  I am always amazed at God's timing in my life in all the details that make it work right.  The Lord may not show up when you expect Him to, and He will always be on time.  I have to pay attention to the details in my life otherwise I could very well miss the blessing God wants to share with me........ "a land that the Lord your God cares for.  The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year".  Deut. 11:12.

He cares for us from the beginning to the end and in all that we do.  His love is never ending and great is His faithfulness.  He made each of us with such great detail it is imperative that we pay attention to the smallest of details when He reveals His plan along the way.  Like my time with my family I don't want to miss one second of what God has detailed in His plan for my life.  If you notice this year in our sister pic.....Chandler is still serving on the mission field in Thailand (this month) and Kyle, our Marine, had to be out in the desert in California for more training.  They were a noticeable missing ingredient in this picture......and in our time together.

Curve ball or no curve ball a baseball pitcher must be precise in every aspect of how he holds the ball in order to achieve the pitch he desires.  If he is off or if the batter is not paying attention they both miss.  It is when we concentrate, push aside the distractions, envelope ourselves with the minute procedures,  keep our eye on the prize and focus intently that we deliver back to God what He plans for blessing and smack life square on for a base hit, double, triple and if we are really blessed...... a home run right into His arms.  Hope yours was as great as ours......

Monday, November 22, 2010

I Got a Tattoo

Ps. 119: 9-15
Not really.  It will be interesting, however, to see how many come to the site (right now I am at 3995), how many tatt SEO's come my way with messages on how to get one or remove one and just how many of you come out of curiosity and if I really did get one.  Well I did not get one, but know several people who are close to me who have one, are getting one or want one.  At first reaction, it is not something I would do for myself or really wish for someone else either.  At the same time I am called not to judge.  I am called to lead. I am called to pray, to rejoice, to celebrate, to love, to serve and a whole lot more.  I also am called to do all these things by His side and with His heart.  That is where I fall flat....usually on my face before God and sometimes just flat on my face. It is then that I remember the heart of God.  I know "they" saying "it doesn't make you less of a Christian to have a tattoo or get one", (who are "they" by the way?) but at the same time it struck me that I don't need one either to remind me of God's love for me or how much I love God.  I don't need one to show others who God is in my life.  His Word is written on my heart.
I made this ring out of PMC, precious metal clay.  It's my first attempt, it's not perfect, but I really love it.  I used a kitchen torch to burn away the clay and I had to put it under the white flame in order for the clay to burn off.  I feel like I have been in the white hot flame this week as God has been burning away the chaff in my life.  And yet what a perfect heart it creates out of it's imperfect and irregular shape.  When I opened my Bible to take this picture I was hoping to place the ring on Ps. 118:8 which some of you know is the verse that is the very center verse of the bible and reads, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."  Instead I was focused on the lighting, the ring and the heart and forgot to double check the verse.  This is my life as I know it.  I forget too often and need God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit there in my heart, double checking, putting my life in just the right light, in just the right place for it to make any sense to God.  It has to be by His design, otherwise I would have missed this message all together.   As it turns out it this is a much better verse and perfect placement of the ring by God's design for this little message He gave to me that I share with you.  If you can read the verse where the ring rests it's Ps. 119: 9-15 which reads, "How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You;  Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Blessed are You, O Lord!  Teach me Your statutes.  With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches  I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways".
1 Cor.10:31 reads, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God".  An important principle (on issues the Bible does not specifically address) if there is room for doubt whether it pleases God, then it is best not to engage in that activity.  Rom. 14:23 reminds us that anything that does not come from faith is sin.  Our bodies and our souls have been redeemed and belong to God as a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell.  You are not your own, you were bought with a price therefore honor God with your body.  What am I learning in this fallen world?  That even though there are things that may not please me I am not the one to judge whether it pleases God......
So I don't have to fall flat on my face in despair, or anxiousness or shame.  God has put His signature on my heart like a tattoo.  He has written my name in the book of life tattooed there for eternity for all the saints to see.  So, I guess I do have a tattoo hidden away inside my heart, in the palms of Christ hands, in the countenance on my face, in the walk I choose to walk and in the love I am able to give because He freely gave to me.  We're not perfect, but God really loves us.   I love you and you love me.......so what else really matters?