Sent to the Principal

I'm just sitting here minding my own business this morning when the phone begins to ring. I glance down at the receiver and it says M Community School. The thought that immediately runs across my mind is, "What did he do..."

I pick up the phone and hear the voice of a man identifying himself as the Vice Principal. He says, "I have someone here who need to talk with you. Jonathan, tell your mom what you did."

After a few moments on the phone with Jonathan, the VP was once again on the line laying out for me what would happen next. Jonathan had shown poor judgment..., and it now was judgment time.

As I sit here tonight typing my mind wanders to the many, many times in my life when I too have shown poor judgment. Did I know what was right? Absolutely. Did I still choose to do what was wrong? You betcha. The Apostle Paul had this same struggle and spoke about it this way:

Know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:18-20

But there is good news! I do not have to live a defeated life. Yes the struggle with my sinful nature is still there. But through Christ Jesus, victory is mine!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

And the news just keeps on getting better!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, Romans 8:1-3

I have been set free. Free from the guilt of the law. Free from the grip of sin and death. Because of Jesus, I am free to live a life of victory over the desires of the flesh. It's by His power and in His strength that the enemy is defeated. No more guilt. No more shame.

Jonathan is a 13 year old boy and still has much to learn. His struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is no different than mine. For we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I am so grateful to know that like me, Jonathan's sins are forgiven and tomorrow is a brand new day of promise and victory.

Atmospheric Change

Do you realize that just by walking into a room you cause the atmosphere of that room to change?

Bet you didn't know you had that much power!

Think about it.., your boss, your friend, your family member enters the room in a really foul mood (it's always them and never us.., right?). What kind of a change does that cause in you? Do you avoid them, try to see what's wrong? What is your response? By their very entrance into the room, they changed the atmosphere.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15)

As a Christ follower, I carry the light of the Lord Jesus with me every where I go. By carrying His light into a dark room, I can immediately change the atmosphere of that room. In fact, it is my responsibility to allow His light to shine through me no matter what my situation may be.

How seriously do I take that responsibility? On a day when things are going my way - not a problem. But how about when things are going badly? Let's face it. Life is hard. We don't always feel like Mary Poppins dancing and singing around the house. Sometimes it takes more than a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

How can you change the atmosphere in those difficult situations?

• If you've messed up - show those around you how a Christ follower responds to messing up. Take responsibility and do the right thing.
• If you've heard bad news - show those around you how a Christ follower responds to bad news. Choose faith over fear.
• If you've hurt someone - show those around you how a Christ follower responds when hurting someone. Ask forgiveness and seeks to make things right.
• If you've been hurt, show those around you how a Christ follower forgives. Forgive even if they never ask you to.

What our world needs to see is that Jesus really is the only answer for all that this life has to offer. My friend, my family, my neighbors, my co-workers are all watching to see how my light shines regardless of the situation. How can I carry this huge responsibility? Where does the power come from?

You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

I am able, because God is able!

How will you change the atmosphere today? Let the love of Jesus shine through, no matter what comes your way!

Saturday Steps of Faith #9

This week I would like to change things up a bit. I would like to use today's Saturdays Steps of Faith for each of us to choose a Promise from the Word of God to take a Step of Faith and believe.

I invite you to join in. All you need to do is copy the button located on the left sidebar. Paste it into your post. Next write down the Promise from the Word of God you are taking a step of faith and believing. Maybe it's one you have stood upon in the past. Last, come back here and link up with Mr. Linky.

Here's the verse that I am choosing for this week:

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138:8

Nothing in my life just happens. There are not accidents. There are no coincidences.

The Everlasting God, who was and is and is to come has a purpose for my life. Can you believe it? Little old me. I love how it says He "will fulfill" it. Not might, not will try.., He will fulfill his purpose. I serve a God who never fails. Quit is not in His nature. He never leaves a project half done.

Why does He do it? Because He loves me! How long will He love me? Forever! Will He ever walk away from me? Not on your life!

As I dream about the future, as I make plans, Lord direct my path. I want my plans to be Your plans for me. I want each step today and every day in the future to be a step of faith and obedience. Father I am trusting you to fulfill Your purpose in me! Thank You for your lavish love. At times it truly overwhelms me just how much You love me! You are a Father like no other. I love you! In the matchless name of Jesus - Amen

How about you?

What promise are you ready to step out and believe?

Won't you please join me?

Thankful Thursday #13

Don't you just love Thursdays? I look forward each week to joining Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey for Thankful Thursday. Here are my five:

1. Thank You God for leaving your hand prints all over our lives. You continue to amaze me as I see things happen that could only be accomplished by you. Beth Moore has said, "Our part is to believe God. His part is to be God and do what is ultimately and eternally best". Thank you for being God in my life!
2. Thank You God for the promises in your Word. It's been said there is one promise for every day of the year. As I glance through the list, I am overwhelmed by your love for me. Thank God for being faithful to your Word.
3. Thank You God for leading me to a Church where I can belong. Looking for a Church can be so discouraging. But when you find the right place, it's home. Thank you God for leading me by your Spirit.
4. Thank You God for returning laughter to my life. More than any time in recent days I have been keenly aware of laughter in our home. Oh how I love to laugh with the ones that I love. Thank You God for the joy and laughter you have given.
5. Thank You God for providing for our every need. Although I list this one often, I don't ever want to take for granted the basic necessities and beyond that you supply. Thank You God that providing is not just what you do, but Provider is who you are!

How about you? What are you thankful for this week?

Extol and Exalt

I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalm 34:1-5

I just feel like extolling the Lord and exalting His glorious name Lord today. God has been so good to us. When I take a step back and look at His hand prints on our lives..., how can I not Praise His Name?

As I've written about on my blog before, these have been difficult days for our family. Randy has been virtually in bed since September with chronic, debilitating back pain. For weeks and weeks on end we hit brick wall after brick wall while trying to get him some help.

But when God begins to move..., things move in miraculous ways. In late February we really became discouraged. Led by God we went back to the Dr's he had before we moved to CA seven years ago. What a blessing these men have been. Men of wisdom and compassion who are willing to "fight for" their patients.

From one referral to the next I can see how God is moving, working everything out! Pending the approval of the insurance company (which is really up to God and not them anyway), Randy will have a spinal cord stimulator implanted in just a matter of weeks. This is a device that introduces low levels of electrical current to the lower portion of the spinal cord to block the sensation of pain. Basically, it causes the brain to sense a positive stimulation instead of the negative pain. Pretty amazing stuff.

One of the hoops the insurance company requires is a Psych evaluation to make sure that the pain he is feeling is actually physical instead of emotional. No problem! We figured he could go do his time, get the required signature and be on his way.

But God had so much more in store. What an awesome experience this was. The Dr.'s father was a Methodist Pastor. The events of the last 2 years of our lives were very similar to a situation that his father had gone through. He had seen first hand the toll that this took on his dad. The conversations they shared were not only about the physical, but also the spiritual. God used this Dr. to minister to Randy. But our God didn't stop there..., He also used this visit to minister to the Dr. at the same time.

God your praise is on my lips. No one can orchestrate these types of encounters but you. Proverbs 19:21 says,

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

I praise you God for fulfilling your purpose in our lives today! Thank You for directing us to the right Dr.'s at exactly the right time! You are never too early. You are never too late! You are always on time!

Praise Your Holy Name! There is NONE like YOU! You give strength to the weak, wisdom to the seeking and your Spirit to lead the way. You are our Rock, our Refuge, our Strong and Mighty Tower! You are our Shelter in the midst of the storm. You protect, redeem, guard, heal, raise up, restore and rescue! My soul boasts in YOU and YOU alone! You are so worthy of my praise!

Does anyone else feel like lifting up the name of Jesus today?

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Tenatively Firm plans

I'm a planner by nature. If we are going to set out on a trip I like to know where we're going, how we're going to get there, where we're staying, how long we're going to be there. My motto has always been, "We don't plan to fail, we fail to plan".

I have a friend who is very much a "fly by the seat of your pants gal". I won't name names..., but she knows who she is. Every time we plan on going somewhere she is always at least 15 minutes late. Me, 5-10 minutes early.

Whenever we make plans, they are always considered tentative until you see her face to face. Even then, they more than likely will change just a bit. Though it's often an adventure, it can be a bit frustrating.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11

Aren't you glad that there is no guess work when it comes to God. How long do His plans stand firm? FOREVER! What are His plans for you?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

What is the purpose of God's heart through all generations? For you and I to love Him. For you and I to accept His free gift of eternal life. Oh it's free to you and me. We only have to choose to turn from our sin and choose to follow Him with our whole hearts. But that free gift cost Jesus His life. He shed His blood on the cross of Calvary so that we could live - forever. He paid the price for my sin and for yours.

How long has this plan been set into motion? Since before the foundations of the earth. My God is completely trustworthy. He is consistently consistent. He is always faithful. His intentions toward you have never changed.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love
for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

As we walk the face of this earth, often our plans change from day to day. I am so grateful that I serve a God who never changes. He was the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His heart is always for me, never against me. He loves me like no other.

Father I thank you that I was on your heart before the foundations of the earth. Thank you for having a plan and a purpose for my life. Thank you for never running out of compassion for me. You are always "for me", always drawing me to you. I surrender to your plan Abba Father... In the name of your precious son Jesus - Amen

The Perfect Day

Yesterday we had the best time! We got up early and drove to church in Noblesville. The hour drive didn't seem long as we talked and things that were going on in each of our lives. We attended White Rock Fellowship which is currently meeting in a brand new movie theatre. The nursery, children's church and the main worship are all in different theatres. The entire service was awesome. My son enjoys the comfy seats and the cup holders. He thinks every church should have them.

I've been told that when it's time to baptize, all of the members brings jugs, coolers, whatever they can find to haul as much hot water as they can bring. They then dump the hot water into a horse trough that has been placed right out in front of the theatre. It's quite the attraction.

In fact, the time they baptized a young man who had been saved during his time in Iraq was coming into the theatre to see a movie. He stopped to see what was going on. After several believer were baptized he asked if he could too. Revival just about broke out right there in front of the theatre.

When the service concluded we headed off to BD's Mongolian Barbeque. Now that may scare a few of you off..., but it is so yummy. You create your own stir-fry. They have a buffet line set up with 3 stations.

1. The first is filled with raw meats of every kind including, prime rib, NY strip, pork, lamb, chicken, shrimp, scallops, crab to name a few.


2. Next you add all of the fresh veggies you want. The selection is wonderful. You fill your bowl until it is heaping.


3. Then you head to the third stations where you fill a little bowl with your choice of sauces, Black Bean sauce, terriyaki, soy sauce, BBQ sauce, fajita sauce, mongo marinara, pad thai, and the list goes on. Then comes all of the spices you can think of to finish off your own personal concoction.

This is what my bowl of raw ingredients looked like. Shrimp, Crab, pea pods, pineapple, lots of sliced mushrooms and an egg that will be cooked and folded in.

Now it was time to have the "Grillerz" dump my bowl on the grill and start cooking. They use these really long metal bars to stir fry the ingredients.

And here is the finished product. Trust me it looks so much better in person than in these pictures from my cell phone. (I see a curly noodle on my plate. Hmmmm, must be from the person whose food was being grilled next to mine.) One thing I don't recommend, getting between a 13 year old boy and his stir fry. He polished off two great big bowls. He is very adventuresome with the spices. Why is it that his always tastes better than mine?

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

If the Word of God is true - and it is! Then my son was given to me straight from the heart of God! No question about it!

Thank You Abba Father!