Wednesday, February 22, 2017

I'm gonna delete that!



 I’m a writer.  

It’s taken me a long time to call myself that…but I love writing.  I may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I have a small following...YOU for instance.  

There’s a creativity that blossoms, even surprises me, when I’m in full-writer mode, and in partnership with the Lord.   

 One of the amazing things about writing is the power the author has over everything they create.  The author gets to decide because—that’s what authors do...create.  

·        I decide...
  •  who’s good and who’s bad
  •  who’s redeemable and who's not 
  • how people will look 
  • where they will live
  • who's kind and who's a meany
  • their occupations and even if they're good at their job

I control the reader’s emotions with the written word.  Leading them to where I want them to go.  Then in a snap of the finger, I can change my mind and use the delete button...I can change everything turning it upside down...because I’m the author.

In the fictional writing world, I have this power, but not in the real world.  There have been occasions in my life when I wish I had a delete button or a rewrite.  If I had a do-over, I wouldn't eat like a person out of control on any given holiday...and I wouldn't say or do hurtful things...I just hate it when I do that! 

I can't delete or rewrite the real life stuff...but…I know another Author who can. 
"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."    Hebrews 12:2  (NKJV)

Jesus can wipe the slate clean.  He can throw my delete-able behavior into a sea of forgetfulness.  He can set my feet on a new path.  He can give me a fresh start and a new beginning.   He is the Author and Finisher. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Psalm 51:7 (NKJV)

He says, "I'm gonna delete that!" 






Wednesday, February 15, 2017

The Birthday Gift

One of our 10 grandkids turned three a few weeks ago.  It was his first birthday to really get it--to understand that he was the man of the hour. 

There was no less than four occasions that the Birthday Song was sung to him over the course of his birth week.  Each time his face brightened up with a huge smile.

His father posted a video of one of his birthday celebrations.  Our grandson was instructed to prepare himself to receive his gifts.  He sat down on the floor and folded his hands in his lap anticipating that first gift.  I watched this video over and over...mostly because...he's my grandson, but also because of the expectancy on his sweet face as he reached out to receive that gift. 

He had no idea what awaited him inside that wrapping paper--that part of the equation was meaningless to this little guy.  Someone had selected a gift...just for him and wrapped it up...just for him.  He reached out, took the gift and eagerly began to tear it open.

I understand better, as I watch my grandchildren live out their lives in simplicity, why Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children." Matthew 19:14 (ERV)

I wonder what my face and actions look like when I reached out to the Lord in anticipation.  Is it childlike expectancy or adult apathy?

God's gifts are numerous and He gives them freely.  So--get ready--your gifts await you!

Happy Birthday!


Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The Past


Recently, someone reminded me of another person's past sinful behavior.  The person speaking to me shared this scandalous thing as if it was unforgivable.  Without question, the sin was shameful, but was it unforgivable?

It's an interesting thing about past misbehavior.  We Christians say, that we are 'forgiving people.'  And...we are...if we really like the person who has done the wrong.  These people we can find the grace and mercy to forgive.

But...what if the guilty one has a horrible past, or we simply don't like them...what then?  Do we choose who we will forgive based on our feelings?

Hummm!  What if you are the one in need of forgiveness?

Should you be forgiven only if others find your sin forgivable or better yet...if you're likeable? 

I heard a sermon recently from I Samuel 30.  The pastor told the story of David making a bad leadership call that resulted in a town being burned down and people taken captive. 

By the time David and his men came to the town, it had been burned down, and their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. 

Yup.  David messed up, but he didn't run away from his mess.  He faced it.

David was in great distress because the people in their bitterness said he should be stoned. (They were thinking of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.)

This week, if you are harboring unforgivenss towards another...don't fuel those feelings.  I challenge you to stop reliving, replaying and even re-posting things that are not edifying to you or to the Body of Christ.

Instead do what David did.  He found strength in the Lord his God.

Here's another great truth....forgive as you have been forgiven!

Good bye past...hello future! 


 

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Just Follow the Instructions--It's Easy.

Last spring we bought a swing for our deck.  It nearly killed my husband and me, as we struggled to put that crazy thing together.  I laid out all the pieces, studied the instructions and looked over the package of nuts and bolts.  We can do this, I coached myself--I was sure of it.  We just have to take it step by step.  Go slow.  Reason it out.

About 20 minutes in, things were not going as planned.  I'm sure most people reading this can identify with these feelings due to; unhelpful instructions or missing parts!   

Someone had to be called to task!

I spent nearly an hour on the phone.  Sometimes waiting and sometimes making my demands to the manufacture of the swing.  Finally,  I told the man, "Listen, you gotta give me more."  The poor customer serviceman was giving me $30 off, (pretty much because I couldn't follow the directions) but I had to win.  I said, "$5 more and I'm good, I just have to feel like I'm winning after being on the phone this long."

He said,  "$5 more will end this?"

I replied.  "Yes."

He said.  "Done."

I thought...man, I should have asked for $10.

The manufactures directions may seem simple to some while others will labor over each word.   We think--Hey, I can do this--next thing you know you're on hold for 30 minutes with a hornets nest swarming in your bonnet!

I read this scripture the other day and thought--that's easy.  I can follow these instructions.  Why do people have a hard time with this?  It's all God is asking--His words not mine.

In Micah 6:8 in the Living Bible it says, "No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God."

Fair, just, merciful, and walk humbly with God--I think I can do this...I wonder how long I'll be on hold, if there's a problem.

Book Release

    The Journals of Tori Drake Click on the book cover to order on Amazon. Book Review: I consumed this book in three days. Although it was ...