Finishing Well

     I put myself in the shoes of someone who is displaced, marginalized, oppressed, even homeless. I pondered if I was in their situation - wondered how I would respond and react to people who "helped" me.      Would I scoff the "do-gooder"? Would I take from them and walk away? Would I be embarrassed or ashamed? Several "attitudes" crossed my mind as to my response.      So, hear me, "do-gooder" - SEE me, HEAR me, walk beside me in my journey. Walk a mile in my shoes comes to mind.      Don't look at me with disdain, or scorn, or pity. Don't just give me what I need, food or clothing or money or transportation. Give me Jesus! He touched people......physically touched them. He healed them. He taught them. He admonished them to stop their sin. Told them to pick up their mat of affliction and move on, take action.      I want to be a "do-gooder" I want to help people.....but I want to do it with the compassion...

     Honest blogging right here, but I'm not writing it for sympathy or understanding or out of malice. So don't shoot me. And don't get me wrong, I am not bashing my mother. It's just because the generation I came up in was "different" from today and some of our parents didn't show affection or say I love you like we hear often today.  Perhaps they weren't taught......just didn't know how. I don't know.      Mother grew up poor, and so she worked hard to have things. Her dad, "Pop" to us, was a hard, quiet man and her mother died when I was 5 so I didn't know her and never was told anything about her, another trait of their generation - we don't talk about things, period.       I have no recollection of being hugged or kissed or told I was loved. I realize now that I have a lot of that in me too, and I have to work hard to show love. I feel like I don't do it well.  It was all about work, mother and Daddy both worked ...

     So many times in our lives we have to kind of redefine who we are. Our lives can take on drastic changes we didn't see coming and suddenly we aren't who we thought we were. Or, even things that are expected leave us dazed and wondering what is next.      We were single and then we get married and we have to figure out how to do that. Then perhaps we have children and we're momma, ma, mommy, mother, mom - seemingly forever. But they grow up and then we go back to ?????      Death may come and change everything. Parents die and leave us as orphans. I think of the passage in the Bible that says God puts us in families. A child may die. Your identity as mom is no more. Who are we then? Those families God puts us in are changed - but we can find the orphans of others and begin to minister to them.      A spouse is gone and you are alone again. Starting over, who am I now? Sometimes we fuss and scream about these changes i...

     Why do we dislike change so much? Comfort seems so much more easy to dwell in. Ease of breath, pain free, just, well.......comfortable.      One day it settles in - a wind blowing the opposite way, ruffling feathers, making waves in our calm sea. Who threw a rock in our water? Why would anything disturb our quietude so? We squirm, we protest, we cry.      However, God doesn't want us to be a stagnant pond of blah. He wants us to open our sails. He wants us to fly! He has winds ready for His exact time to send us to "different".      Do we like it! Not usually. Is it for our growth? Yes. Will everyone we love go with? Nope.      In the Bible wind was sometimes wild and boisterous, but Jesus stilled it, and everyone was amazed. In Acts the wind of God filled the house with Holy Spirit power. In James we're told to ask in faith else we're tossed about.      So, how do we stand in this w...

     I love to talk - I do - but lately I have no words. I'm not sure I even could come up with thoughts enough to connect any words together.  Maybe God has shut me up, I don't know, maybe He's just waiting to give me a huge revelation.      I hope someone in this meantime doesn't come to me for wisdom or advice or counsel and I stare back at them blankly and can't even utter the words "I got nuthin", because I would never want to let anyone down.      So I wait......God has put that word in my heart this year.......wait. I wish I knew what I was waiting for, but I don't. I want Him to do some specific things that only He can do, but I wait. I wait for a Word and hope I'm being still enough to listen. I wait for things to change and see only sameness.      But.......I have enough hope and enough patience to do this wait because of God. I trust His promises to bring about His perfect will - for my good and His glory...

      Straight outta Experiencing God is why I went back to Guatemala. It says that you watch where God is working and you join Him there. When the first or second group came back and reported to our church about Hope of Life and what God was doing there, I determined to go. The next trip that was feasible for me though, happened to be a medical trip, and I wondered why in the world He would urge me to go then. But I went and wasn't too great a hindrance to the team who conducted clinics for the villages near Hope of Life.       That's the why I went this time and then we were asked how this trip possibly changed us. I pondered that during the trip this June, this boiling hot, arduous trip, and came up with some answers and changes. It took some reflection and questioning and doubting and I came up with several things.       Three of us ladies conducted a "Bible study" for the ladies of Zion church there in Los Palmares. I put in...

     When my children were toddlers, the rule was no food or drink except in the kitchen. It was moppable and carpet was in the rest of the house so there was a reason for the rule. Of course, they would go to the very edge of it - until I would say, you know the rule, and they would go back to the table. But they never went beyond the invisible boundary. They respected the authority and the rule worked.      Well, then fast forward to grandchildren. Suddenly grace abounded and was extended to them, even though they knew of the rule. I remember a particular spill that occurred - and had it been a child instead of grandchild - I would've become "The Enforcer". But Granny grace said, it's ok!      Now, had said grandchild deliberately and willfully upended the sippycup to make milk patterns on the carpet........granny grace would've been all over that. Authority had to jump up and restate the rule forgotten. Chastisement would have to be re...

In 1 Peter, we are told that we are to be holy because God is Holy. So, what does that look like? As obedient children, we are not to conform to our former lusts, but to be holy in all our conduct. How then do we walk that out? We first have to see sin as God sees it, coming short of what He requires. But, God, I'm just human! Yes, but as a child of God, a born again believer, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we are to live for Him! Paul said it this way in Galatians: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Which brings us a new question. What must I do with my sin? David tells us that in Psalm 51, and we have to recognize and realize our sin. People can tell us all day that we committed a sin, but until God points it out we will hide it, allow it, and not stop it. But when God shows us the sin, our...

     When Jesus came upon a person, often He would ask them what they wanted. To the ones who said "to be healed", He immediately took care of their physical ailments. But what about hearts, spirits, friendships, hurts that can't be seen, Jesus - how can You help that? How can words that have been hurled be removed? He pretty much leaves that up to us - the ones who have to choke down resentments and pride and the need to be right - the wronged and fling-ers of words alike - he says forgive. But God?!......  Mt. 5:44, Jesus says......but I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you. But God?!....... Eph. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. But God?!...... When we repent of OUR sins, God mercifully releases us from our debt, because of His Son's death on the Cross. When WE release our offenders...

     Did me a little Bible searching tonight because I wondered how we come about being restored after we sin. Seems the only way it comes is if we repent. So, what does that look like? How do we know we really repent? Yes, there's the Godly sorrow vs worldly sorrow, but still......how is it evident in my life. There was a passage that said we are to bear fruits worthy of repentance. Huh? Ok, so don't keep sinning, PROVE that I'm repentant, right?      Esau, for instance, sought his fathers blessing, but was rejected. Although he sought the blessing with many tears, he was not repentant. In Ezekiel 14, God set His face against those who would not repent.      But, whenever people sought repentance - whole heart repentance - they were heard. They were forgiven. They were shown mercy. Restored. Job 42 tells us how he repented and the Lord restored AND then blessed him.      Hosea 6:1 (Amp) come and let us return (in repenta...

     Jesus is coming back. Some days I'd like that to be very soon. But, He's coming back for His people......the Church. He is coming for a pure, spotless church. So, obviously, that is taking longer.      Jesus called out sin. He forgave repentant ones. Shouldn't we call out sin as well if we strive to be like Jesus? But, like the rich young ruler, we cannot give up our wealth - our sin, whatever it may be. Grace covers it all we believe.      I WANT my sin exposed. That's why I read His Word that points it out to me. That's why I like Pastors to call me out, even when it hurts. Even when I disagree. Even when I have rationalized and stubbornly continued in it.      Church, it's time to wake up. It's time we took off blinders of grace and recognize the purity He calls for, the holiness, the Jesus-likeness. God is calling for us to be broken, to die to self daily, to be intolerant of sin in our own lives and in the lives...

     There are many irritants to our world, point being "OUR": meaning nobody else should occupy our own agenda, including our driving.       I've tried to chill - I've prayed for that dear old man who didn't use a signal. I've said "bless her heart", she must be having a bad day for not waiting two seconds til I go by before she pulled out.       But, over and over I lose it and mutter under my breath or throw my hands up in disgust.       However, I think I've finally let Holy Spirit God give me direction for this dilemma. You see, I only have Christian music playing on my radio and often I'm joyfully singing along. Of course, if there's a boom boom musical car next to me at a light I have to turn mine up!      So, today, I realized how wrong I've been, how hypocritically correct. Ok, I get it God - I SHARE the road, I'm going to my destination and so are they!     ...

     Jesus asked people what they wanted or what they sought from Him. I've always pondered that question and so I would answer Him this way:        I want to continue with Him. I want MORE. I want to live Jesus, breathe Him. I want to be desperate for His Word. I want to know Him for just knowing HIM - not just for being wise in scriptures - not for knowing more than other people.      I want to know His character, His ways, His purposes for me. I want to be obedient to Him, to His will and not mine. I want to want what He wants!      Jesus said "Come and see". I want to go, not wait for Him to come to me. He didn't say I'll show you the way, I have to come to Him. This means leave where I am. Leave safe, forgo ordinary, quit mediocrity. Stop being lazy in the discipline to pursue hard after Him. No more distractions allowing sameness.      COME - He says - leave discouragement, make a move toward H...

     This is what it means to me. I respect your right to believe what you believe. I do. But, I get a sense that this doesn't come back the same way for you respecting mine. (Or vice versa)      So, how shall we coexist in this world of "whatever floats your boat"?  How do we respect each other and not get into the next great debate when we talk?  What became of "do unto others as you would have done to you"?  Why is there only hatred and animosity about what we believe?      God knit in a "free will" gene in us, therefore we are indeed free to do and say and believe whatever we want. We make these choices every day. Are they all correct?  Usually only in our own eyes.      But.....we must live in the same houses, towns, cities, countries....together. In close proximity. In unity-ish. It can only be because we choose to love anyway.      As for me - I will show respect to you. Won't y...

     What do you do with regrets? Where do they go when you tuck them away until you are reminded of them once again? How do you handle wasted years? Do you hide your past from people so they won't think less of you? But what if your friend is going through something you've gone through, wouldn't you tell them how you made it?  What if you see a younger person about to make a huge mistake, just like you did, won't you tell him!?      God's Word says in Joel 2:25 that He restores what the locusts have eaten. I want to think this is how He does that. He allows you to help someone thereby using your "stuff" so that He can redeem others. Yet, we are scared to tell, we'd rather cling to our sadness because it's where we have become comfortable. We think our business would be best left hidden.      Is there a sure fire way to be free of things in our past? No      Should we allow God to give us voice to help another on thei...

     I remembered to flip the calendars to June finally, on the 3rd day. Really, wasn't it just yesterday that I flipped them to May?! I don't need to tell you how fast time flies.....you know this.      I find myself suddenly nearing "older" and that is unbelievable - inconceivable - impossible. My parents were OLD. Now I am that age. Even my second born is nearing middle age....whaaaaat?!      Yesterday, I was just married (reality is that it's almost 50 years). Yesterday, I had a baby girl who looked like me. Yesterday, she was still a baby and I birthed a baby boy who looked like his daddy. Yesterday, they went to school and then suddenly, they were teenagers. Oy.      I blinked, I didn't record each thing. I didn't play enough. I didn't love well. I let it pass without a thought. I never said STOP - wait - let's talk - let's savor these moments.      Yesterday, came grandchildren, now, they're young ...

     Ever find yourself out there? Left field, left out, left behind? Just.......left?      Well, that's exactly the "right" place to be, according to the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:15 says "Be holy in all your conduct." It says ALL, it doesn't say only at church, or only at home, or only at work. What if, after you die, people go through all your stuff; all your books, your DVDs, your daily planners, your emails, and your internet activity, what will they see?  Will they see a life of purity? Holiness?      Left field, the place of holiness, is actually a place quite free from the burden and weight of sin. It's truly a "happy place". Hebrews 1:9 says "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."      People are supposed to be able to look at Christians and see what God is like. Are people drawn to be a Christian by the way...

.    I heard it said that old people are wise. Wait, when does this occur? Because I'm pretty old now and yet I'm not seeing much wisdom happening here. You would think it would just BE - poof - one day I'd wake up and be wise. But I keep on doing really dumb stuff.      I think it's easy to quote "been there, done that" simply by the fact that all these years have been lived and gone. So, somehow I need to figure out how to use all the dumb in order to use it for wise. I think I can do this. But when I've always done a thing a certain way and it goes bad again? Slap my forehead, let's do different! Say ugly words that can't be taken back? Bam! Hush! If anything I've learned, but not necessarily practiced, it is Phillipians 2: 3b.....in  lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.      I don't always have to be right - I want to be - but I don't have to be. Solomon asked for wisdom. James says I can too, so, yes, I...

     "When He comes in our day, no one will be able to speak except God. When God is through speaking, you will know how He sees what you have done." Henry Blackaby      We have indeed lost the fear of a Holy God. When God judged His people Israel, time and again He destroyed. In the time of King Josiah, everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes - moving toward another judgment. (2 Kings 22:11 - 23:3) But Josiah trembled at the Scripture that had lain covered in debri and led his people to repentance.      When was the last time the Word caused you to tremble at what it was saying to you?  Do we realize that some of our sin, had it occurred in Bible times would have us stoned? When there is no fear of God, there is no fear of sin. If our sin doesn't cause us to feel bad, then we feel like it must be ok to do. Yet, generations are already receiving judgment.....godless homes, divorce, sexual sins, cheating, blaming, etc. Take ...

.    I've seen poverty, the 3rd world country kind of poverty. The shock of seeing it never eases. The shock of seeing barefoot children running after your bus because they know you've brought food. Not toys - not candy - not even clothes.....food is the important issue. Clean food, clean water, such a luxury for them.      I've seen these precious people worship. Weeping and crying out to the God who provides and answers prayers. Desperate prayers, earnest prayers, fervent prayers. It doesn't matter what language. Work weary arms raised in praise and thanksgiving. And this after walking perhaps miles to even get there.      I've seen worn women raising their babies, sacrificing for them from their meager supplies. Yet they smile. Genuine smiles. They are grateful. They are beautiful.      They are beautiful to God. They are beautiful to me.      Me: rich and fat and rested      Me: lazy and s...