Summer Splash

The pool is a great place to beat the heat on those hot summer days. When I was growing up, we enjoyed going down to the local park, paying our quarter or 50 cents admission, renting a mesh bag for our towel and sandals, pinning the matching number for the bag onto our swim suit, and plunging into the super crowded pool. You couldn't swim laps, and it was hard to jump off the diving board because of all those people, but we sure had a great time.

We don't have that big Olympic-size pool in the neighborhood I live in now. In fact our local pool is a very small one. There are no mesh bags to rent to put the towels in, and the cost is now $1 for the free swim time. Because we don't have our own pool, we have the kids take swimming lessons each summer. Last year and this we enrolled them into semi-private lessons so they could benefit from the 2 to 1 student-teacher ratio, which has made a huge difference in their ability to swim.

It's nice to see the progress they have made in just 5 days. At the first lesson they were all a bit shaky, but as the days have progressed, they have worked hard to apply what they've been taught. They're more confident and eager to expand their learning curve.

We need to be just as diligent in our study of God's Word. When we were new believers, we were off to a shaky start. Our knowledge of the Bible was limited in one way or another, and we didn't know how to fully appreciate all that lay within its pages. But as we took the time to read and study, the message of His Holy Word started making sense and began to permeate our souls.

The kids have one more week of lessons. We hope to re-enroll them again so they can gain confidence in their abilities. As we continue to read and invest our time in the Bible, we, too, will feel more comfortable with who God is and His plan for our lives. Why don't you take the time to splash into God's Word this summer?

Weekend Reflection

"Then Jehoahaz prayed for the LORD'S help,

and the LORD heard his prayer."

2 Kings 13:4a

Don't Knock the Knees

When we were kids and were running, jumping, and climbing as children are apt to do, we didn’t realize just how important our knees were. They never really gave us much trouble unless they were scraped or scrunched in our play. As long as they worked, we played.

Three years ago, while climbing Solomon’s Pillars in southern Israel, my knees began to ache. I was never a super athlete, but I considered myself decently fit and able to do a variety of athletic skills. It came as quite a surprise when twinges of pain occurred as I ascended the sandstone steps. Days later, as we climbed the steeps stairs to the tel at Beit Shean, the pain was back. I got to the top, but was a little winded from the effort.

Since then the pain has come and gone. There are weeks when my knees don’t bother at all, but other times when lifting up my leg to climb a small step makes me wince. I had never mentioned it to my doctor until recently. It turns out that my knee caps are slightly out of position. This causes the normal smooth movement of the knee to scrape the joint, causing the cartilage to wear down.

Years ago surgery was an option, but never a permanent and effective solution. Today, exercise and supplements are the prescribed treatments. I will never have those great knees that took me up into the heights of trees or down the ski slopes of my youth, but I have to be thankful that there are helps to reduce the problem.

As we get older and the body starts wearing down, be thankful for what God has allowed you to accomplish. Even the simple things, like getting up in the morning, with or without the creaks and crackles, are a blessing. Good thing I write. Typing doesn’t hurt my knees!

Mountaintop Faith

The view from Mount Carmel in Israel is amazing. One can see for miles on a clear day. It was on this mountain that a major showdown between true and false worship took place. The god who accepted the sacrifice by fire would be the One, True God.

The pagan worshippers went first, calling loudly, jumping wildly, and cutting their skin. After some time with no result, Elijah set about building an altar with a trench all around. He placed the bull on the wood, poured twelve waterpots of water over the offering, and called upon the name of the Lord. Immediately God responded by sending down fire that consumed everything, stones and all.

The people fell on their faces and starting proclaiming, “The Lord, He is God!” They could not deny the miracle that just took place. Elijah’s God was obviously the One and Only God.

We often underestimate the power of God. Over and over again He has proven Himself, many times in spectacular ways. So why do we have such a hard time trusting His word? Why do we have to be reminded time and time again that God will do as He says?

The Bible defines faith as “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) We have not seen God; yet we believe. Why can’t we believe in His promises? God may not answer in such dramatic ways as He did with Elijah, but He will answer and He will keep His word. Trust Him. As the Creator, nothing is impossible. Don’t let circumstances, false beliefs, or pride keep you from believing all that He has in store for you.

The Blessings and Cursings of Modern Technology

I enjoy modern technology. It’s great to be able to type directly into a word processing software and edit without fiddling with antiquated typewriter ribbons that leave smudges or holes in your page. I like telling my printer from the other room that I want to print out the latest article I’m working on. And, at the touch of a button I can access a world of information.

Of course, with the advancement of technology, there are always risks: of hitting the delete button instead of save; of losing your files because of a crash in the hard drive; or of someone taking your personal data and using it for their selfish gain.

I was recently subjected to the latter. Somehow someone got access to my debit card and used it for a small online purchase. Because of the circumstances of the charge, I suspect someone from within a large online company I deal with may be to blame. If I hadn’t been checking my bank account for something else that day, I would not have noticed the charge until a month later when my statement would have arrived in the mail.

First I checked with the company the charge seemed to be from. They had no record against my account for that transaction. I immediately notified my bank, but because the charge was in the “pending” section and not an actual debit yet, I couldn’t do anything but wait for the amount to hit my account. Until then, I closed that debit card and had a new one reissued. My fast action may have saved me from many other charges that could have been made to my account.

In our world of modern technology, it pays to be diligent. The added convenience has brought added problems. But if we keep our eyes open, we can limit the amount of troubles, and still enjoy the blessings.

If the Shoe Fits

I’ve been having the toughest time trying to find a certain pair of shoes. I will be going to a book expo and for weeks I have been trying to find a stylish, yet comfortable pair of shoes that will match the suit I’ll be wearing. Hmmm…stylish and comfortable. Talk about an oxymoron!

I did finally locate a pair that is nice looking and practical (maybe not as comfortable as I’d like, but I should be able to manage a good 4 to 6 hours on my feet). The problem is that I picked up the wrong size. I fluctuate between an 8 and 8 ½, depending on the shoe. Because I was in a rush, I grabbed the 8 without walking around in them. My mistake. I need the ½ size more. When I went back to see if they had the bigger size, the store was all out. I need to go to another store miles away for the proper pair.

Thankfully, no matter how big or small our shoes are, Jesus Christ is the proper fit for everyone. With Him, one size fits all. Unfortunately, we are to blame if we don’t accept His free gift of eternal life. He will not force us to believe in Him; He just makes Himself available.

Have you tried Jesus on for size? You may be surprised at the perfect fit He is to your life.

As For Me and My House

What if a line were drawn in the sand, daring us how to live? What if, as our society becomes more and more secular, there is pressure to silence the Christian? What if you will be publically ostracized because of your belief in Jesus Christ?

Times are changing. More and more of the values many of us were raised with are disintegrating into a blur of political correctness. Right and wrong have been skewed to the point we don’t know if we are coming or going. True Christians, as in those who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior and who daily try to live for Him, are becoming rarer because others have allowed themselves to have compromised faiths.

Joshua had led an effective campaign in the conquest of the Promised Land. But he and the other Israelites failed to completely drive out their enemies as the Lord had prescribed. This left a remnant of false faiths that became a major stumbling block to the people of Israel. As the influence of Joshua and his leaders faded through time, so did the resolve of the Israelites to remain faithful to God. They began to serve Baal and other pagan gods and to follow their evil practices.

Joshua had warned the people that they would have to choose whom to serve. He said in Joshua 24:15, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

We can compromise and water down the Gospel, adding to or distorting God’s Word to our liking. Or, we can be obedient and follow His commands even if society doesn’t agree with us. The decision needs to be an individual one. The Bible tells us that one day each of us will stand before God and be accountable for our actions. Are you going to step across the line in the sand and follow Him, or are you going to hide behind public opinion?

As for me and my house, we choose to serve the LORD.

Weekend Reflection

"Through God we will do valiantly,

For it is He who shall tread down our enemies."

Psalm 60:12

Sun and Shade

It’s been very hot lately, far hotter than the average June temperatures we’ve come to expect year after year. It makes one really appreciate the shade when you can find it.

Sun and shade are interesting word partners. When it’s hot, the shade provides refreshment. It makes you feel all that much cooler, so you can catch your breath from the heat. But when it’s cold, the shade is not where you want to be. You want to be in the sun so you can draw in as much heat as possible. Each word is appreciated when the other is not.

Grace and mercy are interesting word partners, too. Grace is unmerited favor. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Because of sin, we deserve punishment; but through God’s grace (undeserved favor), we get His mercy. Both go hand in hand to show us God’s love.

God wants to extend His grace and mercy to you, in good weather and bad. Don’t get stuck in the heat of the sun. Grab the shade of grace God extends to you so you can appreciate His mercy.

Can You Hear Me Now?

The other day while I was shopping at my local warehouse store, I saw a woman on her cell phone. She kept saying, “Hello…Hello…Hello?” Obviously she had a bad connection.

Sometimes people feel they have a bad connection with God. They can’t understand why He doesn’t answer their prayers. Often they feel the problem is on God’s end. They don’t want to acknowledge that their own behavior (a.k.a. sin) may be hindering their communication with Him.

God wants to make contact with us. He wants a connection that will develop into a meaningful relationship. But since God is a Holy and Just God, He cannot tolerate sin. Habakkuk 1:13 says, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.”

The Bible tells us we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The size of the sin doesn’t matter; it still creates static on our end so we don’t hear His answers. Jesus alone bridges the gap that separates us from God. Jesus is that lifeline, that direct and unbreakable link to the Lord Most High.

Do you want God to hear you? Or rather, do you want to be heard by God? Ask Jesus to clear out the lines of communication so He can say, “You can hear Me now!”

Disappointing Developments

What do you do with disappointments? Do you try to pull a lesson out of the situation so you can move forward, or do you brood about the incident for a long time? Disappointments are tough, and if they are recurring, even the most optimistic person finds it hard to be hopeful. The best way to handle these situations is to give them to God, constantly.

When we get a paper cut, the injured area stings for quite awhile. We may put on antibiotic cream and a band-aid, but hitting the injury, or even getting it wet, causes pain. So it is with disappointments. There is pain, but as we daily give them to the Lord, He touches us with the healing salve of His love that soothes our minds and hearts.

Dealing with disappointments is not easy, but we don’t have to handle the ache alone. Turn the hurt over to the Lord, and let Him bring you comfort.

A Tuesday Reflection

The problems of our country have really been heavy on my heart. Last week I asked the Lord for some encouragement, and He gave me several wonderful verses. So instead of writing out a normal post, I am sharing the Scripture as an encouragement.

“Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD,
for I have called upon You;
Let the wicked be ashamed;
Let them be silent in the grave.
Let the lying lips be put to silence,
Which speak insolent things proudly and
contemptuously against the righteous.
Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
From the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the LORD,
For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
For I said in my haste,
‘I am cut off from before Your eyes’;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.
Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!
For the LORD preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD."

Psalm 31:17-24

Tinted Windows

As I was driving on Sunday, I spotted a yellow sports car with very unusual windows. Instead of the normal clear auto glass, this car had yellow tinted windows. I couldn’t imagine looking at a yellow world. The woman driver must like the distortion since it must have cost a pretty penny to exchange out all that glass.

God’s Word shows us the correct way we’re to view the world. Unfortunately, we make changes to the way we’re supposed to see things. We impose our will instead of submitting to His. Jesus tells us in John 14:15, “‘If you love Me, keep My commandments.’” That means all of them, not just a select few. If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we need to honor Him by our obedience. We need look at the world through His eyes.

Do you view the world with distorted lenses? Ask the Lord to help you see things His way.

Weekend Reflection

"Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart,

All you who hope in the LORD."

Psalm 31:24

A Test of Endurance

A lot of kids are already out of school. I see more activity on the streets; a lot more kids in the stores with their parents. My children, however, don’t get out for another two weeks. Because they had extra time off during Christmas break, they now have to endure nine more days of school.

Waiting isn’t always easy; particularly when your goal is in sight. Often we want to ease our work load because we’re too tired to put out our best efforts. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

We are to strive to do our best always. We’re not to slack off at the end. We need to finish strong in all things, especially when it comes to our spiritual life. Despite the circumstances around us, we are to hold on, hang tough, and to trust the Lord of All who watches over us.

Christians need to be finishers. If we use our own efforts and energies, we will fail. If we seek God’s strength for the task He’s given us, we will succeed. Ask God to help you pass your test of endurance.

Marching Orders

All soldiers get orders from their commanders. All have directions they are to follow. As Christians, we are soldiers of the Lord, and we, too, get marching orders. Some of us will be sentries: standing guard through prayer. Some will be scouts: sent out to scope out the territory to see where the troops will work best. Some soldiers will be the leaders, guiding and teaching the recruits. Others will be the corps of engineers, ready to build bridges and roads to keep the troops moving forward.

There are so many occupations for a soldier. No job is too insignificant. Without the support of all, the army cannot function properly. Without the members of the body of Christ, the church cannot function properly. We need that physical, emotional and spiritual support.

Have you received your marching orders yet? Has God told you what He wants you to do? Sometimes we aren’t listening. Sometimes we aren’t expecting our orders to come any minute. Sometimes we are in a holding pattern until it is our proper time to act.

If you’ve been given your orders, great! Get out there and use your gifts for the glory of God. If you haven’t been listening, get into the word so you can hear when the Lord calls. If you are in a holding pattern, keep praying. God will reveal your gifts in time.

Being a soldier of God is a commitment for a lifetime. But just think of how rewarding it will be when the King of kings tells us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Smear Tactics

Two days after my pedicure I noticed that my right big toe was smeared at the tip. I was rather surprised. I had made it a priority to watch how I walked, to wear only sandals, and to not bump into anything, particularly for those first days. Yet here I had a nice smudge that essentially ruined my $17 expenditure.

So what was I to do? I could retouch the tip with a color close to the one on my toe. But when I went to the store to match the color, I discovered that this was very difficult when you can’t open the bottle and take a sample. Everything I tried was an obvious mismatch.

I couldn’t even go back to the salon to pull out the same bottle. I probably couldn’t find the exact one I used, and I think I’d be too embarrassed to ask to do my own touchup. Nothing except removing all the polish from my nails and reapplying a whole new color would do.

Sin is like a smear on our lives. It leaves a mark that we cannot fix. No matter what we do, we can never get things back to its original state. Only God can make things whole. Only He can take the smear, smooth it out, and reapply it to its proper place, leaving no marks or discolorations behind. No longer are we like filthy rags as the book of Isaiah states. Through His grace and mercy, He can make us clean and useable.

In the Mood

Last week I decided to get a pedicure since we’ve been having perfect sandal wearing weather. Although it wasn’t very crowded when I walked in, the salon was rather quiet. It was nice to sit in the comfortable chairs with the automated body massage tackling some of the knots and tightness in my back and shoulders. I really enjoyed my pampering session.

When my toes were freshly painted and drying under the special lamps at the front of the store, I had a chance to observe some walk-in customers. One lady came in with her two young daughters, probably five and eight years of age. She wanted a pedicure for herself and a manicure for the girls. The youngest looked cute in her little floral dress, eager to pick her favorite color, pink, from the nail polish rack.

The older girl, on the other hand, was rather aloof. Instead of picking a color, she sat down on the big couch in the waiting area. Her mother asked if she wanted to get her nails done. The girl shook her head. When the manicurist asked her if she liked manicures, the girl responded. “Oh, I like them. I’m just not in the mood.”

I had to laugh to myself when I heard her response. Although I hadn’t expected that answer, I had to admire her spunk since she knew at such a young age what she did and did not want.

Sometimes we aren’t in the mood for reading the Bible. We get caught up in our activities and the running of our lives that we don’t feel like making the time to sit and read His Word. Unlike a manicure Bible reading is vital to the life of a believer. It is meant to strengthen, encourage, exhort, rebuke, uplift, and edify us. It brings hope, joy, peace, and love. A manicure will only make us shine on the outside; the Bible fills our hearts so we shine on the inside.

You don't have to be in the mood to read God’s Word. Make some time, even five minutes a day, to open up the Holy Scriptures. Eventually you will be surprised at the new mood God creates in you.

A Laughable Moment

My kids and I saw a very unusual sight the other day as we pulled into the dentist’s parking lot. Sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked pickup truck was a large golden retriever, looking as if he were ready to zoom off on some great adventure. It was so out of the ordinary, yet he looked so natural behind the wheel as if he had sat there a million times. I tried to take a picture with my cell phone, but by the time I got into the camera mode, the owner had walked up and was preparing to drive away. The kids and I did have a good laugh about it, though.

Sometimes life gives us unexpected situations. The ones that make us laugh, of course, are the best. There is something about a good laugh that can turn our whole day around. Bad moods and crummy attitudes disappear, dull days become more joyful, and tears magically fade away.

Enjoy those unexpected moments of laughter. They are a gift from the Lord that brings fun and refreshment.

Weekend Reflection

"Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses."

Psalm 107:28

Trying Times

Thomas Paine wrote in 1776, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Even though that line was written over 200 years ago, it’s very applicable today. Recent court decisions, outrageous bills, and certain political sentiments seem to indicate a major downward plunge in values and justice. Does this mean we give up hope?

Psalm 42 tells us no. In verse 5 we read, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Our hope is not in presidential candidates, economic stimuli, fluctuating fuel prices, and a misguided judiciary. Our hope is in God!

We cannot know what tomorrow will bring, but we can know the God who watches over tomorrow. There are plenty of promises in the Bible that tells us we are not to worry…about anything. God is in control. He loves us. Even though we may experience trying times, He is with us. He will take care of us. He will strengthen and guide us as we turn to Him and give Him our trust.

Don’t look to the world for hope. Look to Jesus. He is the perfect comfort, strength, and support you need.

Math Challenge

My junior higher was working on a take-home math puzzle the other day. It was formatted in crossword-style, and you had to fill in a variety of numbers by answering the questions. However, the questions were set up like, “The product of 9 across and 5 down.” You couldn’t get some results without the answers from others.

My son was doing fairly well. He had most of them completed. But then he got stuck and couldn’t go any further. That’s where I came into the picture. I had done fairly well in math in my day, so when he handed me the sheet to look over, I thought, “No problem.”

However, the puzzle was true to its title. It was a challenge. If you had a single number wrong, the rest of your numbers would be wrong. One digit could affect the success of the entire puzzle. I ended up (for my own sanity) making a copy of the puzzle and then reworking it from the beginning. I was able to see where my son had missed vital clues and where he had made crucial mathematical miscalculations. After I pointed out a few of his mistakes, I had him restart the puzzle. He was successful that time around.

It’s amazing how one little error can affect the whole outcome. Bad choices are like that. When we choose not to be cautious about our actions, or we decide to do something that is inappropriate, we suffer the consequences. Our life becomes a domino effect, one bad choice cascading into a series of problems that can affect us for years. Only when we check our choices by God and His word can we get the right answers in life. His help is always 100% correct.

Trying My Patience

Are you impatient? Do you glance at your watch on a continual basis because you’re waiting for something or someone? Do you pace the floor while you’re waiting? I used to be impatient, especially when I was growing up. I’d get nervous if we weren’t somewhere on time, or get frustrated if someone wasn’t punctual.

As time went on I realized I couldn’t control the circumstances. My worry didn’t affect traffic or how fast someone made a meeting. I was only hurting myself since my impatience led to stress on my body and nerves. So I did what people say you should never do: I prayed for patience.

Of course, God knows what’s best and He has a sense of humor. Instead of giving me patience immediately, He made me wait. He gave me innumerable circumstances where I had to wait…and wait…and wait. But God’s timing is perfect timing. He showed me that He is in control; I am not. In a perfect world there would be perfect time; but we live in a fallen world and we have to accept that not everything is going to run smoothly.

Am I totally patient now? Absolutely not! But I have noticed that circumstances that would have driven me nuts many years ago do not affect me like they once did. I can thankfully say that I am not one of those people who sigh loudly or make comments because of a slow teller or customer. I would still like to get my errands done on time instead of waiting for people to show up, but I don’t stress about it. I pray about it. And as I pray and give my circumstances to the Lord, I feel strengthened and comforted because I know life is in God’s hands. I need to trust in His perfect timing.

Are you impatient? Pray for the Lord to help. He will try your patience in the most ideal way.

Our Expectations

We expect a lot from people. We expect them to be on time, to return phone calls, to keep their promises, and to follow through. What happens when they don’t meet our expectations? There are usually two courses of action to follow: we can either drop our association with them or we can accept them as they are.

But what if this person is a friend? Should we re-evaluate the friendship because they aren’t reliable? Are they a friend, then? I think prayerful consideration must be made. You need to ask the Lord if this relationship is to continue. There are times when He will say you need to move on. But there will also be times when God wants you to hang in there, even when you feel like washing your hands from the whole relationship.

Why would God ask you to keep being friendly when the other person doesn’t seem to have their act together? Perhaps God is calling you to be an example of a true friend. Maybe God is testing your heart to see if you will be faithful when everyone else is faithless; to reach out when everyone else wants to pull away. Maybe He is using your example to show unconditional love to someone who doesn’t feel all that loveable. Maybe He is trying to teach you that you need to do what is right in God’s eyes despite what another does to you, expecting nothing in return. Maybe He is trying to show you that you are expecting too much.

Being a friend by God’s standards should not require us to wait for an expected response. Give the matter to the Lord. Pray for His guidance. He will make you love more than you thought possible.

Busy Signals

For the past two weeks I've been having sporadic e-mail problems. Normally I have my mail from another e-mail account routed to my main e-mail page, but lately I've been getting "busy" messages. The signals are not getting through. Sometimes my mail comes in perfectly. Other times I have to go directly to the other e-mail page, which never was very user friendly. My main frustration is that mail I've been expecting will come in hours after it has been sent.

Thankfully my "e-mails" to the Lord get to their destination instantaneously. The God of the universe has the best communication lines and never sends out busy signals. Although He may not answer as fast as I would like, I know He has received my messages. There will be an answer, just not in my own timing.

Psalm 34:15 says, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry."

Want clear communication? Want your message to be heard? Send your prayer out to God. His line is never busy.