Not too Deep...but I get it.

I have a situation in my life that I can't change. The situation is between me and someone I deeply love, and the power to do anything about it is out of my hands. I could harp about it and whine about it and remind over and over how it bothers me and how it is probably not the right (or even healthy) thing to do, but that won't cause the change. I have given some very compelling pleas and offered up a number of solutions, but the power to change is not mine. It's not my decision to make. I see how this is putting a wall up in our relationship but I can't do anything about it...or can I?

I can see, through very foggy human eyes, how God must feel when He gives us the Truth and sets the choice out before us and so often we choose unwisely...frequently holding on to things He died to set us free from...holding on to the old self. I see how that causes a distance in our relationship with God - yet He loves and waits for us to make the choice to change. But until the choice is made and true repentance comes, the relationship is different. God can't choose for us.

God's Holy Spirit must be the convictor and bring my loved one to repentance, but the choice to change is theirs, not mine. Only then will the change come and only then will the relationship be healed. In the meantime I guess I can do something about it, I can pray.

Light in the Darkness

So, I’m not really sure where this is going to go...let’s just follow it for a few minutes. This morning, while on the edge of awake, but really still asleep, a bright light hit my face and my first reaction, even before opening my eyes, was “wow that’s bright – I wonder where it’s coming from”. I really thought it was some sort of giant spot light in my face – not sure from where – but keep in mind I was still half asleep – my imagination was in full throttle.

I opened my eyes and looked at the light – it was coming through the tiniest of cracks in our bathroom door. Not at all giant or huge but making a profound impact on the darkness of morning. All at once a flood of childhood memories came streaming into my head of early mornings at my Nana and Papa’s house. My brothers and I asleep on the foldout couch in the den and the adults quietly sneaking into the kitchen for their morning coffee. They tried to be quiet and not disturb us, but as soon as one would turn on a light, even in the back of the house, the brightness of even a pinpoint of light streaking into the den would wake us.

I don’t know what all that has to do with anything but isn’t it funny where our minds go early in the morning when sleep isn’t quite over yet we’re still far from awake?

Once I had come to my senses, I headed out to see where the light was coming from and what the necessity of having it on was all about. I was drawn to the light to learn more. To my surprise I discovered that it was past time for me to wake up and that I needed to get out of my jammies and into some clothes and get to work – time was running out – I had overslept.

I’ve tossed that moment around in my head most of today. What keeps coming to me are the verses that say, “God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all” and “we are the light in a dark world”. It didn’t take very much light for me to think I was under interrogation this morning. A tiny bit of light broke through the dark morning and disturbed my sleep. Is it possible that only a tiny bit of God can break through the darkness of our lives and disturb our sin? That in fact, we are drawn to the light and have a need to learn more about it – whether it’s the light of day or the light of God?

In Genesis 1:4 it says that “God separated the light from the darkness”. He did it on purpose. And on purpose He calls us to be set apart – holy – from the rest of the world. I never really thought about about it but there must have been a reason He wanted the light separated from the darkness, otherwise He wouldn't have done it. I'm sure it was to show the vast difference.

I think that many Christians don’t really understand, or even often think about, the profound affect (and effect) living their daily lives in Christ has on the world. A life lived for Christ, no matter how small, pierces the darkness and people are drawn to it to learn more. We don’t have to be a Beth Moore or a Billy Graham to be a piercing light in a dark world. Our single small life can break through a dark life and draw them to the source. But before it’s too late, we need to wake up, get out of our jammies, put on all our Christlike clothing and get to work letting our lights shine before men.

Tuning In To What God Has To Say....

Yesterday my family was in Dallas and we attended Brookhaven Church with my Mother. We were there because it was Molly’s birthday and because Stephen was “staring” in KidzStuff as Stephendiana Jones, the Great Adventurer. However, as is usually the case at Brookhaven, we got more than we went in for. Brother Glenn preached the first sermon in a new series called "FREQUENCY – Being In Tune with God."


I’ve joked for years that his sermons are written as if he has followed me around all week and I’m secretly his life example. But this time I’m sure it was true. Bro. Glenn preached a hard-hitting, Bible backed sermon on how we were created with the capacity to communicate with God, but many don’t have the Power (Jesus) or use the Power (the Holy Spirit) and how nothing in our lives – no matter how big and wonderful and more and more and more of whatever it is – will ever satisfy us until the communications between us and our maker is in great working order.


It wasn’t deep theology – it was simple truth that we’ve probably heard before, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like Bro. Glenn was using me as the “what not to do” example. See, I’ve really been working on my communication skills with God. Talking to Him frequently and about most everything and doing my best to hear what He’s saying to me. For the past few months, I’ve been completely dependent on Him for all my needs – everything – not just the spiritual stuff but the day to day things like my job, food, finances, emotional support, strength, rest, my relationship with my husband and my (lack of) kids. My prayer life has really been the source of that dependence. Without being directly plugged into my God, there is no way I would have made it through. My life has been hit with some pretty tough situations in the last few months. You know that saying,” what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? Well I have asked several times, “Are you trying to make me stronger or are you trying to kill me?” I know that He loves me and He’s making me stronger by making me weaker as I become more and more dependent on Him.


Now, I know there were many individuals in church on Sunday and each of them probably walked away with something different than I did. I can see where the sermon could have been considered strictly a “come to Jesus” or a “come back to Jesus” sermon; or where some could have taken away that life is not all about what we can accomplish or accumulate for ourselves or that we need to live for a purpose bigger than ourselves. All of those are true and needed to be heard by someone in the sanctuary, but I needed to feel my God’s love and know that He is so anxious to talk to me and hangs on my every word just like I should hang on His every word.


He didn’t have to do what He did for me, but He did and I’m so amazingly grateful and so deeply in love with the God who sent His only Son to live, die and live just for me. I want Him to be the one I talk to about everything and I desperately want to know what He has to say on every subject.

If you’d like to Listen to Brother Glenn’s sermon – here’s the link…It’s worth the time spent!
http://www.brookhavenchurch.com/sermons.html

All the Small Things

Psalm 86:17 says "Show me a sign of your goodness. When my enemies look, they will be ashamed. You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."



I've been asking God to show His goodness to me - even in the small stuff. He's doing just that - I'm going to do my best to have my eyes and ears open to what He's doing. I'd love it if you'd join me and post your small stuff too!