Saved As I Can Be

But God commendeth His love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Jane (Doe) is what I will call this lady who was a dear friend of mine several years ago. Jane was at the time as active in our church as anyone could be. She was active in the women's ministry, a director of one of our children's Sunday school departments, sang in the church choir, wife of a respected deacon, mother of sweet children, and professionally successful.

I realize I've painted a picture of what sounds like the perfect Christian lady and she was from all outward appearances.

One Sunday morning during the invitation time and on the last verse of the invitation hymn, almost like a flash, Jane came running down the aisle and just fell on the altar steps. One of the pastors went and knelt by Jane and they talked for a good bit of time. Soon, she and the pastor went up some side steps that led to the baptistry and even sooner, there stood Jane in the baptismal water. People were shocked almost all 1,000 of them.

When the service was completely over, I asked Brian and our children to go on to the car because I wanted to linger and talk to Jane. When Jane came back into the auditorium I went to her and gave her a hug and in so many words congratulated her on her decision. She asked if I was upset with her and I assured her that there wouldn't be any Christian right with God who could be critical of of her.

Jane told me of her spiritual struggles for more years than she could remember, knowing she wasn't a born again Christian. She had walked a church aisle as a teenager along with friends but knew her profession of faith wasn't genuine. She married a fine Christian man which caused more conviction in her. When her children accepted Jesus as their Savior, again she felt condemned, knowing she wasn't saved. But on this Sunday morning, standing with her family with her fingers dug into the back of the pew in front of her, she had the feeling that at that moment, it was her last opportunity to get this thing settled. She laughed as she said how she almost knocked people over as she shoved her way out to the aisle. She said that she couldn't get to the altar fast enough. Now as we spoke, she confessed to feeling a freedom and love for Jesus she had never known in her 53 years of life.

When I teach ladies whether in Sunday school, Bible study class, retreats, or conferences, I never take for granted that everyone sitting before me is a born again Christian even though all would say they are a saved person. I'm always conscious that there could be one or more “Jane's” sitting in the room, ladies who know they are leading a phony Christian life. Ladies who walked a church aisle when the age of 10 rarely have any follow up. They sign a card, parents weep with joy, church staff are happy for the new soul added to the rolls but such a child can be left with the title of Christian without the real relationship. It happens all the time, but anyone who dies without Jesus no matter the circumstances will still face a Christless hell.

Therefore, I ask patience on the part of readers and your prayers as well with this next part of this blog because I feel so led to present a simple plan of salvation. Readers of this blog aren't just from Texas, Tennessee or a couple other states. Readers are from just about every state but I lost count of foreign countries after I counted 47 of them. Some are readers from countries who would be in a great deal of trouble if authorities knew they were reading anything Christian in nature. I pray for their protection every day.

It doesn't hurt for any of us to take spiritual inventory. I'm not out to encourage doubt in the life of a Christian regarding her salvation. We women are very chemical with our up and down emotions. There may be days when none of us feel very saved but inside we know better.

So where do we begin? Let's be very basic. I am going to give some verses from the book of Romans...the Roman Road, we call it.

The problem of sin for the unsaved person must be faced and dealt with. We read:

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

This is perhaps the most difficult of any plan of salvation. We don't like to think of ourselves as being sinners. We may even compare ourselves to some really good people but guess what, they too are sinners. Looking at ourselves in the mirror and saying, “I am a sinner” is very difficult. The willingness to repent, turn away from our sin may be unthinkable but this is the place to begin. Are you a sinner?...yes? Good, we can move to the next step.

2. Wages come to us when we are an employee and we get paid on a regular basis.

Romans 6:23 says:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”


Yes, there are those earning their way to Hell. However, God provided us with a gift. Gifts are free. I like gifts. I don't have to shop for one, don't have to pay for it, don't have to wrap it...someone else does all of that. How great is that? God has given us a gift...eternal life...provided through His Son Jesus Christ who died on a cross for our sin that we might have a wonderful relationship with God. The huge bonus is receiving the gift of eternal life.

3. So what steps do we take. We sure can't save ourselves. However Romans 10:9 tells us that if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe by faith in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. In confessing our sin we need to ask forgiveness of God and be willing to repent and turn away from our sin. To confess Jesus as Lord involves agreeing with God about our sin and our need for salvation. When we believe in our heart, we are placing our faith in Jesus, trusting that He died on the cross to pay for our sins.

This may all sound just too simple. God never wants to make salvation difficult for anyone. He loves you so much that He sacrificed His Son that you might be saved. All you need to do at this point is just to pray to God by faith asking Him to save you. You could pray a prayer as simple as this:

Dear God, I know I'm a sinner and am in need of your forgiveness

and salvation. I am trusting you in this moment as I turn away from

my sin and place my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Thank

You for saving me and for giving me the gift of eternal life. Amen.

If you have prayed either this prayer or one like it and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior at this time, please let me know and I will get some material to you to help you on this new road. It will take real courage for some who like Jane had struggled for years knowing you are not truly saved. You may be very weary of putting on the front like Jane did for so many years. Jane would say that it's not worth the struggle and it really isn't. I am praying for our readers and ask readers to pray as well for those who need Jesus to be their Savior.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your open arms, arms open to the unsaved, but arms that are open to those of us who are Your children already. May we regularly confess our sin, not wanting to take You for granted. May our relationship with You grow as we study Your Word and spend time talking to You on a regular basis. We love you. Amen.

Love Those Physical Checkups

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear

the Lord, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy body,

and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:7,8

Doctors were people I rarely had contact with even up until I went for “that” checkup when I was about to get married. All of those beginning years, I saw a doctor mostly if I had a sore throat and needed an injection to take care of the problem. When four years old, I had to have ten straight days of injections because of a dog bite I had sustained while on a trip to Wisconsin with my mother, grandmother and baby sister.

Then my 30's hit and all of a sudden, all sorts of things occurred with my health that required doctor's visits but they weren't all that often. As I got older, the visits became more frequent. I guess aging, wear and tear on the body requires such even though I try to take good care of myself.

There have been some things that seem to occur at every doctor's visit. I'm talking about our primary care doctor when we just go for general check ups. Among the things that the doctor or his nurse checks up front are: heart, lungs (respiration), tapping the knee, throat (“say ahhhhh”), blood pressure, temperature, pulse and there might be more depending on the doctor.

With my most recent check up, I got to comparing the physical check up to a spiritual one using some of those same procedures. We have heard over and over that our Lord Jesus is THE Great Physician. I wonder what kind of final report we would get from our Great Physician if He could run a regular check up on us that would be spiritual in nature. Let's compare some of the parts of our physical body that could be viewed from a spiritual stand point. How would we measure up...how healthy would we be spiritually from every part of us or would there be parts of us found to be lacking or unhealthy. I won't include everything a doctor checks nor will I put things in the same order as a doctor would. Let's do a bit of a checkup on our spiritual selves.

Lungs:

“Take a deep breath” is what we hear as a doctor moves his stethoscope back and front along the rib cage. He is watching for normal breathing but also for any infection that might detect. Without oxygen, the other parts of our body wouldn't be worth much. Even the heart requires healthy oxygen intake. In Genesis 2:7, we find that God breathed the breath of life into man. That was the beginning of physical breath so necessary for life. However, by God's Holy Spirit, He still wants to breathe the things of the Spirit into us, perhaps not into our physical lungs but into our spiritual being. He does this at the point of our salvation and we have the opportunity to live our lives with the Holy Spirit's breath bringing spiritual life beyond our comprehension into our beings. He loves more than we can know when we breathe every prayer to Him with great frequency. What is my prayer life like? Is it lacking or is it vital to my being. Beyond our salvation experience, the Holy Spirit should be our very breath spiritually speaking.

Heart:

The pumping of our physical heart keeps us alive. It keeps blood racing through every vessel in our bodies. I read one day that you and I should be so full of the Word of God that if we were to sustain a serious cut, we would bleed Bible. We know that couldn't happen physically but it's an interesting thought. The heart is the center of our physical being but is the very core of who we are spiritually speaking. In our culture, we think of the heart in a romantic way as well as a place from which our sensitive, loving feelings originate...those feelings we have for God and others. We may have to occasionally have blood tests that help detect if there is either too much or too little of something in our blood. The Word of God is that filter spiritually speaking that also keeps us strong and healthy spiritually. The biggest question in this particular area though is: Does my spiritual heart beat for the things of God? Remember that our spiritual heart is the core of who we are.

Temperature:

If the doctor doesn't do it, the nurse does...taking a temperature. It used to take what seemed an hour to hold that thermometer in my mouth. Now they have quickie little instruments for that. If our Lord Jesus were to take our spiritual temperature, what would He find. We know how He feels about spiritual temperatures. Revelation 3:15,16 tells us how God felt about the spiritual temperature of the church at Laodicea:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

God's disappointment in that church was evident. What is our temperature for the things of God? Are we hot, cold or pretty indifferent? A lot of our spiritual temperature is encouraged as we meet with the people of God at our own church. With Christian friends, we should be encouraged to be more for Jesus than we've ever been.

Knee-jerk:

Those little hammers all look the same. We sit with legs dangling over the edge of the examining table and the doctor does a tap on the front of the knee to see what kind of knee jerk he gets, thus checking our reflexes. He is looking for an immediate response. He knows if we cheat, or if the knee jerk is a natural reaction to a tap on the knee. You and I live in a society that deals with a lot with gray areas. I remember when in grade school that right and wrong were NEVER debated. We all knew right from wrong and also knew which one we had better choose. Whether at school, church, or with friends or any other place we happened to be, there was never a debate about the right thing to do. God is looking for an instant response when it comes to proper behavior or standards in our lives. We should have an immediate reaction regarding the right thing to do, like the knee jerk when tapped on the knee by a small hammer-like instrument. In today's society, I'm afraid there are many children and adults as well when confronted with a decision find themselves debating as to right and wrong. Our instant response should be that of doing what is right. It is the only acceptable response as far as God is concerned.

If we are going to be healthy Christians it will be much like being healthy physically. We all want a strong heart, healthy lungs, strong bodies, blood and oxygen that keeps us going. The same can be said for our spiritual being that comes only through a strong relationship with our Lord Jesus.

Dear Father, help me to be strong spiritually in every way knowing that I can't do it on my own. I want to be a healthy Christian that brings you glory in my words or behaviors. I thank You for Your love and direction in my life. I love you. Amen.

God's Will For My Life

Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers,

but as the servants of Christ, doing

the will of God from the heart.

Ephesians 6:6

All through my teenage years and even into my 20's, there was a strong emphasis of God's will for my life (and for others my age who happened to be present for some of the same preaching I was getting). No matter the church service, youth conference, or where there was a gathering of Christian youth, that subject would always come up. It didn't happen with every sermon but with enough of them to become bored with the subject. Then all of a sudden, around the age of 25, the subject dried up. I guess at the age of 25, a persons life choices seemed to be set in concrete with no more a necessity to approach the subject of God's will for one's life.

If one were to go to a gathering of Christian senior saints and the guest speaker preach on God's will for one's life, most might think the man had something wrong with his sense of timing. After all, can't he see the over abundance of gray hair and balding heads before him?

A few months ago, a very brave lady came to me asking about coming into my Sunday school class. She had been in the other ladies class, that is a wonderful class. She knew she would be making a really big change with leaving a class full of dear friends who had been classmates for a very long time. My guess would be that this dear lady is in her 80's but I'm not sure. In my mind, I'm thinking “Why now after so many years?” This usually isn't the time in ones life to make a major decision like that one. I did what I usually do...I tried to talk her into staying in her regular class. This is usually a pretty good test. She was determined and quickly let me know that she felt it was God's will to make the move. She wasn't mad at anyone in her class, but just felt God's leading in this particular direction. When anyone gives me that kind of reply, I never question them further.

I think we Christians age 30 and above very often get locked into activities and service opportunities we feel we are doing for the Lord when we are really doing some of those things for our own personal satisfaction. I'm convinced that many Christians get bogged down in church activities without ever seeking the will of God regarding their areas of service. How much better for us if we are actively involved in one spiritual activity that is God's will rather than serving in five or six activities that aren't.

For years I've seen church members who are frustrated even to the point of becoming problem people in their congregation. They often are big name people in the church who have their fingers in every area of church life. It's so easy for this to happen. Subconsciously, I think we believe it convinces other folks what good Christians we are. Some may think that but in it all, there is only one opinion that counts...Gods.

Several years ago, I had a job with a Christian agency that I dearly loved. I began to get restless, unsettled as if God were “rustling my nest.” I couldn't figure it out. It was a good work and why shouldn't I stick with it, but the restlessness continued. My boss was shocked when I resigned giving a two week notice. I had no prospect for a job, but knew if God were leading, He would provide and He did just that. I was doing a good work but it wasn't what God wanted me to continue doing. I left, found a good job and in a couple of months met Brian and within months and within months of that, we were married. God has His plan for us no matter our age or stage of life and although we might be serving God in a good way, it isn't good if it isn't God's will.

My big point is that no matter our age, God can tap us on the shoulder to get our attention in order to present a new plan to us. For people over the age of 60, the normal reaction is to say, “I'm too old for this big change in my life right now.” God's personal will for us has no age consideration. God would never lead us in a direction that would be impossible for us to do for Him. He knows, despite age, health concerns, etc, what we are capable of doing for Him.

Several years ago when I became a nursery director, I found myself supervising children who were birth through three year olds. I started out with a staff of 72 ladies. One of the first things I needed to do was to try to acquaint myself with the nursery staff. One lady stood out to me. She was in her 60's and was proud to let me know that she had worked with the toddlers for about 30 years. She also let me know that her job in the nursery was God's will for her life and He had never led her to do anything else. I got the impressions that she was serving me notice that she was there for life. I gave each nursery staff lady a sheet with questions regarding the nursery ministry just wanting to get everyone's input for new ideas and suggestions. Consistently, ladies reported regarding this one lady in the toddlers that she was mean to the children, wouldn't change diapers, wouldn't even pick up the little ones to love on them, yelled at the children as well as at the ladies she worked with. I guess this had been going on for quite awhile.

I made an appointment with the lady. We had friendly conversation and then I began to probe. I had questions for her such as: “How is your health?” along with some other personal questions. I learned that she had chronic back problems. She lived in constant pain. She said she couldn't even carry a bag of groceries from the car into her house. She suffered from migraine headaches, never knowing when one would strike. I offered her another position where she wouldn't have to pick up children, where she could do her share of the work but she didn't want to make the move. She gave me no choice but to remove her from the nursery work. What bothered me about this was that she should have gone to the previous nursery director and resigned ten years prior to my time with her. She forced me into an impossible position, that of removing her from ministry. She was a risk in so many ways around the children and it couldn't continue. It didn't mean that there wasn't anything else she could have done. She ended up totally dropping out of church...what a shame.

Believe me, I'm not saying that everyone should resign their church responsibilities. I do think we should be very real about who we are and where we are in life. Health issues often play a huge part in what we are capable of doing. Family responsibilities change that demands we change with them. We need to give serious thought and prayer as to what God wants of us in serving Him. I have seen folks, good people who in their 50's on up, decide to give up everything they've been doing for the Lord to “let the young folks do it now.” WRONG...the wisdom of senior saints is needed in church life. The youth, enthusiasm and energy of the young are needed just as much. The key is for each person seeking God's will for their life no matter the stage of life they find themselves in. He has something for each of His children to do in this wonderful Kingdom work of His.

Lord Jesus, thank You for every ability and gift You've implanted in me to use for Your service. Help me to always seek Your will with regard to every opportunity for service presented to me. I want to be doing what You want me to do, not what a nominating committee things would be a good opportunity for me. Grant me Your wisdom in the choices of service I make and then continue guiding and directing me as I serve You the best I can. I love you. Amen

Am I The Only One?

These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me ye might have peace. In the world

ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Since high school, I have loved reading biographies, especially of great Christians. I read of some I had never even heard of before, but in reading about about them, often felt I had a new friend after finishing the book. In my youth, I enjoyed hearing about the ups of life of these great people, but skirted around the problems each had.

One famous preacher I came to admire was C.H. Spurgeon, that great preacher who is still thought to be the greatest preacher since the Apostle Paul. With no sound system in his day, his voice would resound all over any place, large or small, where he preached the Word of God like no other. The interesting thing I saw about him, however, was that he suffered tremendously with the problem of depression. After preaching, he would often have to go straight home to lay on his couch in a darkened room. He would lay there for hours and sometimes days. Back then, people didn't know about depression like we do today. We have come to know that there are types and levels of depression and what can hopefully be done about any of them.

Beginning in high school, I found myself often with what we called “the blues.” I had a teacher my freshman year, who detected this problem in me. I'm sure she carefully observed me for quite awhile before she ever spoke to me about it. I didn't know what it was but it was the pits as far as I was concerned. Ms. Nave was a wonderful, sensitive lady that I think any students in the high school would attest to. I had a couple of classes with her. At times after a class, she would simply say, “How are you doing today, Glendarae?” I'm sure she would have wanted to hear more than my one or two word replies. So even through college, I fought the same battle. It was never a problem that ever required seeing a doctor because as I matured, the bouts with depression became less and less. It also helped that I recognized some of the triggers that brought on a season of “the blues.”

A Bible person (I don't use the word “character”) I have come to admire through the years is Elijah. What a might man of God he was. He placed himself totally at God's disposal but he came up against a very difficult season in his life. The steps that led him to this season of discouragement and depression are steps that I believe leads to any of us taking to the couch of depression. Let me hasten to say that I realize there are folks who suffer from a depression that requires medication. For many, depression has a chemical cause and fortunately there are medications to handle that problem. When I've occasionally spoken with a woman friend struggling with depression, my first word of advice to her is to suggest she see her doctor for a complete chemical work up. That will often reveal a lack or over abundance of certain chemicals in ones system.

Elijah was a thorn in the side of two people, Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel is thought to have been about the most wicked of women to ever live. I've never known of any couple who has named a new baby girl Jezebel. Even people who have never read the Bible seem to know to stay away from that name. It was through those two people that Elijah found himself so depressed, he couldn't figure out how to get himself out of it. Go to I Kings 19, Elijah’s problem with depression can be traced. Now believe me, books have been written on Elijah and this phase of his life. I'm no expert but in reading this chapter, there are some things from a lay persons perspective that have been of help to me, triggers that I can avoid that have helped me tremendously in my adult life.

* Great spiritual victory

Satan loves this one. One wouldn't think that any kind of victory could trigger the blue moods but it can. Any high point in our lives can do that...job promotion, new car, new house, answered prayer, etc. Add your own things to that list. Elijah had just had two back to back victories...killing the priests of Baal and praying down rain after a great drought. One would have thought Elijah was walking on air but that wasn't the case.

* Great opposition

Needless to say, Ahab and Jezebel were not happy campers in all of this. They already had a deep hatred for this prophet of God. They weren't mildly upset...they put a “hit” out on him. They wanted him DEAD in the worse way.

* Great physical weariness

In order to escape, Elijah literally ran 70 miles for his life. The way he took was rocky and involved running up and down hills. Not an easy flight. That would wear anyone out.

* Great loneliness

Elijah had a servant who traveled with him. During all of this, he left his servant along the way because he wanted to be alone. This wasn't the smartest move on Elijah's part.

*Great self pity

This area leads to some things Elijah experienced, none of which were of any help to him. He was hungry and thirsty and needed that refreshment. God provided that for him. While God was doing that, Elijah was entertaining all sorts of negative questions about God. At this point, Elijah was almost suicidal. His thinking was on the dark side, his body ravished in so many ways. He was even to the point of thinking how fortunate God was to have him as he was about the only faithful servant God had.

We find Elijah responded to God's care of him. God never walked away from Elijah. He continued to use him and love him. God led Elijah to a brighter day as He will you and me. I could have written more about about this but for my own sake, I was looking at the steps Elijah took, steps I want to avoid in order to benefit from what were some of Elijah's very human mistakes. I'm speaking from my own point of view and don't mean to take something so serious in too simplistic a way to the point of being offensive.

What are some things I see that will help me in avoiding those “pit” times:

• If I don't know it by now, spiritual opposition waits around every corner.
• Facing fears is a most important part of life. God is of great help with this.
• I must not isolate myself. We are surrounded by people who love us but pick from among them carefully I want to be around me during dark times.
• Drop the self pity. Elijah even complained to God that he was about the only one left still serving God faithfully.
• I have to keep myself fed and hydrated. Whether I'm hungry, thirsty or not, I can be mentally affected if I don't take care of this important part of my physical being.
  

Elijah needed a new vision and God gave it to him. In fact, God spoke to him in a still, small voice. You and I can be encouraged in that God wants to speak to us in the same way. God speaks and encourages us in the way He chooses. Our job is to always be on the alert, listening for what He has to say to us. Much of that will come from God's word. We must stay in it whether we feel like it or not.

Elijah remained accepted and usable by God. God made us...He knows us inside and out. Despite our weaknesses and even strengths, He's always working with us. He always wants what is in our best interest. We just need to quit running over hill and dale and give Him the opportunity to minister to us.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for all the ways You minister in my life. Forgive me for not trusting You, for doubting You when I know better. Thank You for Your love. Protect my mind and my heart so that I might be faithful in serving You. Amen

Quilts of Love

And the LORD said unto him (Moses),

“What is that in thine hand?” And he said, ” A rod.”

Exodus 4:2

 

Moses, after having been raised in the palace in Egypt, in adulthood found himself in trouble. He saw an Israelite being abused and murdered the offender. Out of fear for his own life, he fled into a wilderness area. He became a shepherd for the man who would become his father in law. That was quite a fall from prince to wilderness shepherd. One day, however, God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He had a special job for Moses to do that caused Moses great concern. God wanted Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses did what I think many of us have done with God on occasion. There have been a few times when I have felt God's call on my life to do something and suddenly I thought up 10 reasons as to why I wasn't equipt to do the job. Most of the time though, God has called me to things that involve abilities He's already put in me that maybe I didn't know I had.

Moses had leadership abilities, but God also saw in Moses a heart for spiritual things. Of all things, as Moses was questioning this call on his life, God asked Moses what was in his hand. It was just a crude rod, a tool that was commonly used by shepherds...nothing fancy, but practical and useable. That's what God wanted Moses to see about himself....nothing fancy, practical and hopefully, useable.

Her name was (and still is) Lois Lanoue. For her, it started several years ago, the wonderful ability of sewing. Not every seamstress can glance at a bolt of fabric and imagine a finished product from that bolt, but she could. I always found it interesting when I took her fabric shopping. I just stood back and watched as her beautiful hands (she had the most beautiful hands) touched and felt of various fabrics for quality, texture, and patterns. She generally kept several pieces of fabric on hand but sometimes, she just needed something different. After all, a call would have come saying that a new great grand baby was expected and she had to get busy.

When my Mother-in-Love's children learned they were to become grandparents, Mom was just about the first one notified. Mom had seven children. Really, she gave birth to eight but one baby girl was still born. From her seven children came 21 grandchildren. I can't really count how many great grandchildren Mom had but it is in the ball park of the mid fifties. Every great grandchild got a hand made baby quilt made by her accomplished hands. There was never a duplicate. Each quilt was made with each individual baby in mind. She never viewed this ministry of hers as being a chore.

At one time, her quilts had a lot of embroidery done on them, a lot of hand work. As she aged, Mom had to change her tactics as the sewing became more difficult with her eye sight not being what it was at one time. Still, each quilt's fabric was chosen by her, chosen with love. So many times, I saw the fabric and bunting on her twin bed as she worked to bring the precious quilt together

Mom's funeral was this last week. One of her son-in-law preachers was asked to speak at the funeral. In the process, he asked that baby quilts be brought to the funeral and, boy, did they come. Quilts were laid out on the back of pews at the front of the chapel. Not a one was like any other. Over the last several years, she had sewn all of those quilts.

When the funeral was over, we headed to the cemetery. It was a very cool and windy day so knew the service there would have to be short. When all of the cars arrived, car doors opened and from the cars came swarms of children. These great grandchildren, many now in grade school headed for the grave site. The thing that was amazing was seeing each great grandchild wrapped in his or her baby quilt as best as a child's body can be wrapped in a baby quilt. The children were just looking for a way of keeping warm. They didn't see the significance of standing at the grave side, wrapped in individual quilts. What a sight. Many of the quilts looked faded and the worse for wear, but that's the way she would have wanted it. It was a tribute in quilts for a Godly saint who had found a unique ministry in serving her family in a very special way.

Lois Lanoue was not a highly educated lady. She had given her life for her family and as best I can tell, each of her children knew they were dearly loved. She was a quiet person. My memory of her will always be that she was a true lady. She knew how to dress appropriately, sit with legs to one side with hands nicely folded on her lap. She wasn't a critical person but would speak up for right or wrong in her own way. She loved the Lord. I don't know how many times I passed the open door to her room when she lived with us and saw her with Bible, a devotional book or spiritual material on her lap. She loved attending church and Sunday school. She had wisdom that doesn't come from a university degree. Her wisdom was from the Lord with knowledge one earns from a life lived long and well pleasing to the Lord.

For Moses, a rod led to much greater things. Although Mom had been sewing garments for her children for years, when the great grandchildren started coming along, she couldn't afford elaborate gifts for each one, not that it was expected. She took a good look at what she could do that was going to be meaningful. It's almost as if God asked her, “Lois, what is that in your hand?” The answer for anyone who knew her well, knew the answer was: “A needle.” She used her ability that had been so much a part of her life. Today although she is in Heaven, she lives on here in many ways, but especially through a myriad of baby quilts.

I wonder what the rest of us would answer if God asked us what we have in hand that could be of service to Him? We all have those gifts God has instilled in us, gifts to be used for His kingdom and glory. Once we recognize those things God wants us to use for Him, we will know an unusual excitement, enthusiasm in serving God. Whatever that is in our hands that we choose to use for Him will be blessed in abundance.

Father, I thank you for the examples you have brought into my life that includes my mother-in-love. I want to be used of you and may I be your willing and obedient servant, no matter what you call me to be or do. May I be willing to use whatever it is You have place in my hands. I love You. Amen.

The Transparent Christian Woman

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where

the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass

the glory of the Lord, are changed into

the same image from glory to glory, even

as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:17,18

Over the last ten or so years, the word “transparent” has come to the forefront in our culture's vocabulary. It's an old word but maintains it's meaning. However, we're hearing it more and more. Politicians from the White House down to the mayors office of the smallest town in our country have all talked about being more transparent in their dealings with the public.

What is transparency? We might say that it's like glass in a physical sense. Glass in our windows are a necessity but just because they can be seen through, there can be problems even with glass. If windows are dirty, seeing clearly through a window may be skewed. In some of the old churches and cabins in the mountains near here, some of the glass in windows has been poured which causes a ripple effect in the window glass. You can still see through them but again, whatever is on the other side of the glass may appear to be warped.

Transparency as we are looking at we human beings, means that we are totally honest about who we are and who we want to be. It means that you and I strive in every way to be real in everyday life. These things are not the front we put up before others. These things are who we are even in the privacy of our lives when we are alone and no one else is around.

My husband and I have really had some smiles since talking with our daughter Beverly in recent days. She and a friend took their children to a special event. On the way home, our nearly five year old granddaughter Madelyn fell against the metal arm of a bench and got a pretty bad cut on her forehead. Of course it hurt and really bled but they got to a hospital and she bravely endured receiving six “string band aids” which is what the name is for stitches at that particular children's hospital emergency room.

While on the way to the hospital, Beverly prayed aloud for the situation they found themselves in. She prayed out loud with Madelyn for wisdom for the doctors, easing of pain and healing of the wound. Later when at the hospital, in their private room, Madelyn quietly said to her mom, “That prayer's not working.” Madelyn heard the sincere prayer of her mom but as far as she was concerned, the healing of the hurt just wasn't coming fast enough. I must hasten to add that Madelyn is one of the praying-est little girls I know of. She loves to pray and already at her young age, knows more about prayer than most adults. I believe God dearly loves the total honesty and yes, transparency of little children.

The thing is, I believe God dearly loves the total honesty of any of His children. We can do that without questioning God or being offensive. I know there have been times I have prayed about some things that I haven't gotten an answer for and I've felt like saying, “Lord, this just isn't working.” God wants us to be people of transparency and this is where real, genuine transparency begins...in our honest relationship with Him. Perhaps the main person we are the least transparent with is with God. We know He knows and sees everything about us but we are very often dishonest even with Him. I feel from the top of my head to the sole of my feet that the only people capable of true transparency are young children and Christians, Christians who are in right relationship with God. How can we expect a God- cursing, people-abusing, Jesus ignoring person to be transparent...just can't be done.

Let me suggest sometyhing that can help people in being more transparent. I suggest that one must step completely away from a life of pretense. When we live in a world of pretense, then we aren't being honest with ourselves, let alone others. We women are really good at this thing of pretense because of our growing up years. We grew up being pretenders. Do you ever talk to yourself when no one is around?...come on, honesty remember? As little girls we pretended and in our play, we talked to ourselves a lot. We played school, lining up our baby dolls to be our students. We cut out paper dolls, dressed them and pretended where they would go and what they would do as we moved them about. We played dress up with our mom's curtains or whatever we could get our hands on. We loved clopping along in our mom's high heels. We pretended...and by the way, we still do and it's not an insane thing to do, but it's not a good practice. During some bad, stressful days, pretending can ease the tension. However, that pretending can become hurtful when we seek to be someone before others we know we will never be. 

Casting down imaginations, and every high

thing that exalteth itself against the

knowledge of God, and bringing into

captivity every thought to the

obedience of Christ.

II Corinthians 10:5

 

Can we, with little Madelyn, be perfectly honest before God and even say, “It's not working.” We don't have to fear that people won't like the real us or that God will be mad at us. My first concern is to please my Heavenly Father and allow Him to take care of the rest. Honesty doesn't have to be offensive. In fact, honesty is meant to be a very meek and healthy way of life.

I've been reading in the four Gospels all of the red letters where Jesus did the speaking. I've shut out all of the circumstances and events (black letters) and am just reading what He has said. You will find no person more transparent than Jesus, even at the risk of losing friends, making enemies and even facing danger.

If we just let Jesus work in and through us, we'll never have to try to remember who we were yesterday or last week. We will walk in the freedom of true honesty and transparency. I hasten to add that our family and closest friends deserve our being consistent in our daily walk. When we meet new people, we won't have to think about impressing them with a fake front. We can walk in the freedom of just being “us” ...being who God created and wants us to be. This isn't really too difficult when we rely on our Heavenly Father to instruct and lead us as we walk with Him in close relationship which really is the key to it all.

Father...transparency is so much easier than putting on a front for others. I have my strengths that You've put in me but have my weaknesses that You know about as well. There are days when I have to say with Madelyn that “it's not working.” I want to be honest before You and others. Help it be so in my life. I love You. Amen

Stinkin' Thinkin'

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he....

Proverbs 23:7a

If you and I were to list every single sin we can think of, I wonder how long that list would be. The problem with sin is that it doesn't just happen. For either a short amount of time or an extended period of time, a sin in some form has occurred first in ones thoughts. Those thoughts are developed through things we experience over time.

 

Thoughts begin developing from the moment there is recognition of life on the part of a very young child. What happens from that time on stems from experiences in the home. When a child is school age, there begins a process of a child having to process events of life as they occur in different arenas other than in the home. At this time, there is more separation from parents and there begins to be input from other human beings. Some of this input comes from Sunday school teachers and other adults in the church setting. School begins too soon for many young children. It is in the school setting that a child's thinking can become confused. There can begin to be confusion between what has been learned at home and then teaching from teachers. It's not unusual for some teachers to even suggest to their students that they are to pay more attention them than their parents. Older children begin educating younger children regarding facts of life and often working on a child's moral thinking. I won't even go into the area of bullying that children may experience that can do real emotional damage.

The process continues and the world continues to bombard us with how we should think and behave and all of us have absorbed more of the world's philosophies than we should. However, now, unlike that young child going into the world for the first time, we have had choices through the years as to how we're going to think and about what. I'm afraid we have sometimes almost harbored old hurts and former negative experiences with no attempt to allow God to help us clean it all out, get rid of it and enjoy the fresh air of forgiveness and clean thinking.

Brian and I just finished doing some redecorating in my Sunday school classroom. We knew we had to do a paint job on two walls but we had no idea what else would need done. We stripped off an old border. It was a thick, very old mess. We then noticed wallpaper on the lower part of the wall that would require removal. How could I have ever thought that the job would be to just paint and put on a new border. We came across the metal vent in a lower wall that let in cool air in the summer and warm in the winter. Brian being Brian pulled it out of the wall only to find crud galore that was already smelly. He scraped, caulked where needed, cleaned and painted the vent which made all the difference in the world.

We could have painted and bordered the room til the cows came home but that vent, left to itself would have created some serious odor and even allergy problems. We couldn't see all of it until it was pulled out of the wall, checked, cleaned and scraped.

A lot of times, we feel we do some pretty good personal housecleaning. We may go to great lengths to doll ourselves up, put on a good front, but without cleaning out the crud of the world's influence, those hidden thoughts that don't honor the Lord, we will continue to poison and hinder us spiritually with stinkin' thinkin'.

The Psalmist's prayer in the verse below is for three things. I wonder how many of us would be able to pray these three things without hesitation before God. He first asks God to search him (that's checking the overall spirit and attitude of the person). Searching isn't a casual “look/see” but a close scrutiny. He also asks for God to know his thoughts not that God doesn't already know everything about us. It's the thoughts that have come as a result of the attitude, experience and spirit of the person. This indicates to me that God knows our thoughts better than we do and we need His Holy Spirit to reveal openly to us where we need to repent and confess the sin of wrong thinking. He asks God to try and test him. I don't think many of us would even be ready for that part even though as a spiritual exercise, it is good for us.

Are we courageous enough to pray this prayer with the Psalmist that we might stand before God with clean thinking and purity of spirit.

Search me, O God, and know my

heart: try me, and know my thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

AMEN and AMEN!!

How Thirsty Are You?

O God, thou art my God;

early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty

land, where no water is;

Psalm 63:1

The church bulletin needed to be done, so along with the materials I had typed at home, I went to the church work room to get the job done. However, I also had another task in mind that needed done while our ancient copier coughed out the bulletin for Sunday. (I would venture to think that you probably didn't know that Noah had a xerox copier on the ark. I think we inherited it after it being passed down through the years.) Determined to clean out a cabinet, I went armed with my broom and dust pan ready for the task. It didn't take long but thanks to the dust flying, I thought I would die of thirst. That's always an exaggeration when someone says something like that, but I know what they mean.

 

Sometimes my physical thirst has been mandated. If the doctor orders I have lab work done, I'm usually told not to eat or drink anything after midnight. I ordinarily wouldn't drink or eat anything after midnight, but just knowing I'm not supposed to causes me to stir during the night with a desire for a drink of water. It's the same if one is going to have surgery. When I go hiking on a mountain trail, there have been times I left my bottle of water in the car and it's then I notice my strong thirst for a good drink of water.

There are folks or other creatures in the Bible who have gone through times of physical thirst.  God's people in the wilderness ran out of water and didn't see any prospect of finding any. God chose to provide water for them from a rock. In Psalms, we find a hart (deer) panting for the water brooks. In fact, David spoke of his personal thirst for God in the Psalms. Jesus is seen in Scripture on at least two occasions thirsting. He met a Samaritan woman by a well and asked for a drink of water from her. From the cross, Jesus cried, “I thirst,” that was a heart wrenching cry that just added to the agony of the hour.

I have been so blessed as I have looked at verses from Scripture that have to do with having a thirst for the spiritual. If we are honest, our thirst for God can ebb and flow but that's not what He intends. When Brian and I were engaged, I really wanted to see him more often during the week than I could, but because of distance, we saw each other only two or three times a week. I guess I could say that I really thirsted for time with him. God wants the same from us, a thirst for Him and He isn't satisfied with two or three times a week nor should we be.

“Soak” in some of the following verses with me as we evaluate where we are in our thirst for God and His Word. We are never meant to be “dry-as-dust” Christians so join me in a spiritual “look-see.”

John 7:37---In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

Matthew 5:6---Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psalm 42:1,2---As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

John 4:14---But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Isaiah 55:1a---Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters...

Revelation 7:16,17---They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

There are so many things in our day that can rob us of our thirst for God. Those things may not always be negative such as health problems, financial difficulties, family problems or psychological conditions. We can be just as distracted by positive things like social activities, hobbies, TV, travel, computer activities and any other such things that seem to demand our attention because they are necessary or fun. In it all, God can be so easily squeezed out.

When we feel a nagging spiritual thirst, it means checking our spiritual routine and what's been missing that would create that spiritual thirst in us. What have we neglected in our spiritual routine....time in the Word, seasons of prayer, faithfulness in church attendance and service and being the witnesses we are supposed to be. Let me add here that an overabundance of church activity will not quench spiritual thirst. Too many of those activities can serve only to wear us down if doing too much or if not doing what we do in God's strength.

There are times when my spiritual routine may be what I want it to be, not that I can't improve. I may be having a time of sweet fellowship with the Lord, but I have a thirst for even more of Him in my life. He loves to fill me with that Living Water that is refreshing, soothing and strengthening.

May we never be found dehydrated when it comes to the things of God, especially when He stands ready to fill us up with that Living Water that is always available to a thirsty follower.

 

                                              Fill my cup, Lord...I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul,

Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

One Woman's Servant Spirit

Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:...

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant...

Philippians 2:5,7

I made up my mind prior to our move here to Tennessee almost two years ago, to make only two or three really close friends. I love everyone in our church and feel closer to some than others. I grew to dearly love our pastor's wife Brenda and then Jody came into my life. Diane and Lowell were two people I couldn't get away from, not that I wanted to. They took Brian and me under wing from our first day at church. Both of them had grown up in this area, and were married 47 years. A friend told me Diane was a cheerleader in high school here in Townsend and that came as no shock to me. Even now, she was always bubbly with an almost constant smile that could light up the church auditorium. Physically, she was short but stood head and shoulders above so many others when it came to heart.

When I write a blog, I don't like getting personal, spending time on one individual, but in this case, it's just different. Diane went to Heaven this last Saturday morning. It was so very sudden...an aneurism in the brain. For all I know, this ball of energy and enthusiasm had no major physical problems. It was so quick...so sudden...and from a human standpoint, so devastating. She and her hubby had gone to Georgia to finish up some work on a house there. Lowell returned home...alone.

We started our ladies Bible study last week. On the Sunday before, Diane told me to be sure to save her the materials from that first session so she could stay caught up and that she would probably be back for this weeks session. Diane dearly loved the Bible study group but that came as a result of her love for God's Word that she faithfully taught to children in Sunday school and the Wednesday evening children's program. When we finished one Bible study series, she would ask a day or two later, “When do we start the next study?” She loved the learning and teaching process that came because of her love for the Lord.

I don't believe we are to put people up on pedestals. It can be a very long fall from the top of one of those things. However, I do believe we are to learn from other seasoned Christians who have a testimony that is proven. The Bible tells us that younger women are to learn from older ones. In this case, the older woman (me) learned much from the younger (Diane) in this brief time we had together.

Proverbs 10:7a says: “The memory of the righteous is blessed...” If you were to look in my one Bible in particular, you would see a list in the margin next to that verse. There you would see listed 18 names, names of women who have gone on to Heaven, women I have loved, admired and learned from.

Grace encouraged me to write. She saw some small smearings of ability, I guess, in that area of my life.

Carolyn taught me what it was to be godly and a business professional all in one.

From Doris, I learned something about the sweetness of a meek and quiet spirit.

I could mention others on that list but won't; however....

today, I added Diane to that list.

I don't believe in living in the past. However, I don't mind revisiting this list. There should be a gratitude in all of us for those who have gone before us, who have taught us so much and who have contributed through their godly influence to whatever positive qualities there might be in us.

When thinking of Diane and her influence on me (and I'm sure others), one word popped into my mind right away....SERVANT. Many women in churches want to do the convenient and attractive things. A genuine servant doesn't mind cleaning the church bathrooms even when no one knows they are doing it. They are willing to jump in and do the unlovely that no one else wants to do. They are encouragers in the toughest of times.

When I had my bad fall in October into the church basement, I was taken right away to the emergency room. Pretty quickly I was taken to have an MRI done to check my head and neck. When wheeled back to my “cubicle” in the ER, there she stood...Diane. I was a bloody mess (pardon being graphic). She stood at my right side, holding my hand, helping the nurse clean me up, and patting my arm wherever she could find a place on it that wasn't torn up. Diane always had a smile, quick sense of humor and she was so loving and comforting that it can't be described. When I look back to that horrible day and evening, I think of Diane, one of God's servants willing to do the unlovely but it seemed to come as natural to her as breathing.  That evening, she was “Jesus with skin on.”

Every church dinner, of which we have many, found Diane in the kitchen. She could be found organizing the food tables, serving, doing the dishes and cleaning up the mess. Diane was my substitute pianist. It wasn't something she relished doing. She kept telling me that playing for a service wasn't her forte but she was willing to do that for me on the one Sunday I had to be away. With many emergencies that occurred in our church, Diane would be there or call to check on folks.

I love Philippians 2:5-8 as I view those verses as being about the clearest photograph in words about Jesus that we can find in Scripture. If we are to be like Jesus and having His mind, being a servant is going to be a part of that process. Among other things, the very Son of God came among us to serve. That has always been amazing to me...from Heaven to earth, to serve. Diane isn't the only servant I've come across in my lifetime. I am blessed to find myself in the presence of others right now. One of the highest honors we can receive is to bear the title of servant. Servants are servants because they love Jesus and because they want to be more like Him with every day. Diane never wanted attention for herself. Anything she did was for God's glory.

So, my thanks to Diane for the lessons she taught me when she didn't even know I was looking. There are women watching you and me all the time when we aren't aware of it.

I'm just one person who has learned and benefited from this dear servant of God. May her influence be multiplied many times over in those of us who remain.

Thank you Father for the influence of godly people in our lives. Thank you that they were teachable and that through their learning, I have benefited. I keep my eyes fixed on You knowing You are the ultimate Teacher. Thank you for Jesus...the ultimate Servant. Help me to have His mind. Amen.

The Blessing of Distractions

But Jesus called them unto him, and

said, Suffer little children to come unto

me, and forbid them not: for of such

is the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:16

Most people don't like distractions, but they are all around us and take a variety of shapes and sizes. Most distractions that come our way look like people...that's because they are people. These people don't mean to cause any confusion and may not mean to distract. They just want our undivided attention no matter what they see us doing.

There are several distractions that really bother me a great deal, such as...

• Phone rings while I'm trying to complete a project.
• Someone wants to talk when I'm watching a really good TV program.
• When someone sees me reading a book, they may want to tell me the how the story ends.
• Someone interrupts me when I'm teaching a Sunday school lesson.
• Out with hubby, driving in the mountains and we have car trouble.
• An animal runs out in front of my moving car. Fortunately I've never hit an animal.
  

 

We all know there are distractions but what is a distraction. A distraction is something that draws ones attention from an object of focus. A distraction is a bump in the road or a burp in the course of life but always untimely.

We read of any number of distractions in Scripture. People we read about there were not immune from them. Since the beginning of Genesis all the way through Revelation, there have been distractions.

• Eve had what turned out to be an unwelcome visitor in the Garden of Eden.
• Moses was tending sheep and suddenly a bush caught on fire.
• David went out on his balcony to catch a breath of fresh air and came across a real distraction on a nearby balcony in the form of a beautiful woman bathing.
• Daniel was praying at a window and was arrested.
• Saul was headed to Damascus where he hoped to round up a bunch of Christians to persecute when a bright light distracted him and he was never again the same. On that day, he even underwent a name change and became known as Paul.
• Peter was up on a roof and a dream distracted him...a dream of a huge sheet with all types of animals on it. 
  

 

Think of all the distractions Jesus faced:

• Little children ran to him, climbing on Him because they were drawn to Him.
• He was asleep in a boat that was tossing and turning in a horrible storm and the frightened disciples woke Him up.
• Four friends lowered a disabled friend down through a hole in the ceiling of a house where Jesus was teaching, hoping their friend could be healed. (When was the last time someone made a hole in your roof and lowered a stretcher down through it?)
• When a 12 year old boy, Jesus remained behind with the priests in the temple talking with them when His parents interrupted the learning time.
• The Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were always interrupting Jesus' teaching.
  

 

We've all been there and I'm afraid I have usually regarded distractions as negative events. Distractions for the most part aren't intentional. People just feel they need an answer or just need the attention of someone. We all tried to teach our children to not talk when grownups are talking. We've asked them to not talk to us while we were on the telephone. So, we've concluded that distractions are necessary evils in the course of life but what do we do with them.

 

Several years ago, a dear friend taught me about a spiritual practice of hers. She said that when she first wakes up in the morning, one of her first prayers is asking the Lord to allow only those people He chooses to cross her path that day. She includes in that, any event...the usual or the unusual. She said that as a result, when something negative in nature comes her way, she automatically regards it as something from the Lord. She views people in the same light.

 

Distractions in the form of people probably reveal a need of some sort. That person may need ministered to in some way, so God may interrupt our day with an opportunity to serve Him and help another person. We would probably be less irritated if we could view distractions as opportunities in disguise, as opportunities for service or to get our minds refocused where they should be.

 

Interruptions are distractions, but whether we speak of interruptions or distractions, I have to wonder how many of them have been Divine Appointments that I have missed, but that God intended me to handle in those moments. Sometimes it would be hard to tell the difference. If my day has been dedicated to God, I feel I should think in positive ways more than negative ones with regard to the various people or things that appear in my life in the course of my day. 

 

I wish we could realize that we are on this earth to be servants and ministers...God's representatives...Jesus with skin on. Whether saved or unsaved, there are people who need us. They need our encouragement, advice, help in any number of ways and yes, definitely need our prayers and at times, even our tears. I'm not saying that we should ignore our daily responsibilities. That would not honor Him. There have been times when I've taken on too much that in many cases, I wasn't meant to get involved in. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct what He wants us to do and when He wants us to do it. I get on overload when I haven't asked the Lord to direct my day. God knows what you and I can reasonably handle and be effective. Bathing our day in prayer will always be helpful and meaningful. When viewed from God's perspective, no distraction or interruption should be considered a “whoops” in our day. God NEVER says “Whoops” nor should we as we walk through our day, whether we be interrupted or distracted.

Dear Father...I give this day to you. Whatever it is...a phone call, someone dropping by the house, an accident or the electricity going off...may I regard the events of my day to be under your control. Holy Spirit, guide me...I give my day to you knowing that under Your leadership, I will consider any person or event a Divine Appointment. May I stay in close communication with You. I love you.....Amen