The Holy Spirit in Action!

Yesterday, I told you I had something up my sleeve.  Well...it's still there, but I want to preface what I'm excited to share with you - with something else, first.  You see, what I am about to share had a huge impact on me because of something that happened to me when I was in jail.

What?!*#  Did she say she was in jail?!   Yes, well, I wasn't going to tell you that little detail since I figured it might freak some people out and I could loose credibility in some peoples eyes.  Suffice it to say...it was definitely not a typical experience for me.  Matter of fact, my major in college was Criminal Justice.  My goal was to be a police officer.  Never in a million years would I have pictured myself in jail.  Long story short...  I was actively involved in pro-life work, got involved with Christians in Operation Rescue,  it wasn't appreciated and I found myself eventually sharing a jail cell with one female criminal and a toilet.

I was grateful for the toilet - but more than a little disappointed to discover that my new "room mate" and I didn't speak the same language. There went all my visions of grandeur!  I mean, I had imagined myself to be a female version of the apostle Paul!  I was, after all, standing up for the rights of the unborn! The God-given right to life!   Unfortunately, the language barrier put a major damper on things.  My bubble burst and I finished my time there  considerably more humble than when I entered.

Two days before I got out, I decided...with great reluctance... to go to the "prison chapel".  I was not a happy camper as a guard escorted my lone self to the proper location.  Feeling dejected and foolish, I walked into the designated room for the bible to be studied and was met by the female chaplain.

Guess what?

She recognized me!  The bizarre thing is that she had never seen me before, nor had I ever seen or even heard of her.  But she knew I was a Christian!  When I walked in she came up to me with a twinkle in her eye that partnered with a warm and compassionate smile as she welcomed me with the words, "You're with Operation Rescue, aren't you?"

My jaw dropped and I was speechless for a few seconds.  Finally, I asked her how she knew who I was?

"Oh," she matter-of- factly stated, " every week for the past year, as the bus brings Christians from Operation Rescue to the prison, the Spirit over this entire place becomes noticeably stronger. The bible studies increase in quantity as well as quality!"

I  have no idea what that bible study was about.  All I could think of then and what continues to impact me to this day - almost 25 years later - was the miraculous power and presence of the Holy Spirit. I was witnessing...

The Holy Spirit in Action!

What's Up My Sleeve?!

Where did that expression come from, anyway?  If anybody knows, feel free to share.  Then again, I could just look it up on Google.  Everybody knows that Google Know All.  Okay, I may be sounding a little sarcastic...but I can find out a lot on that little ole search engine!

Anyway...what is up my sleeve?  Alas, I must go to work...an event that prevents me from immediately sharing with you what I am very excited about.  But I must give you a hint.  Two purposes will be served.  

1)  It will be fun.  (And we all understand the importance of that three letter word).

2)  It will help me to be accountable.

You see, what I am excited about and am looking forward to sharing with you has to do with making an impact in this world - in your world as well - that is life changing!

Oops!  Looked at the evil clock!  Gotta go!

Until next time!

A Matter of Heart...

You always wanted to know what you would be like when you grew up. Of course, when you were a teenager you thought anyone out of high school was grown up. Then you got to college and realized that an adult was 30 years old and a middle aged person was 35. Yep! That was my firm belief, anyway. Alas, when I reached that age I quickly changed my tune and sang in a different key!

My first strong clue that I was off-base was when I hit the mid-thirties without experiencing a mid life crisis. You see, as I matured I realized that middle age doesn't set in until you are 40! Yes, my knowledge of people was certainly abounding! So, I adjusted my thinking cap and waited. Time passed and passed and passed until one day I looked in the mirror and to my horror I saw the reflection of a womans face with two problems that do not belong together!

Yes, I had both wrinkles and pimples! How can this be!?! Must I yet again re-evaluate the life of a human being? Or perhaps I had ascertained life correctly - but I simply wasn't normal? I have to admit that that thought had some merit. Over the years I noticed that other people my age were getting older...but I wasn't. How could that be? Wait a second...my daughters are normal and they are getting older.

I, therefore, decided that getting older was perfectly fine...it was the getting old part that didn't thrill me.

One day, with much consternation over the age issue, I spewed verbal vomit all over my husband as I bemoaned the condition of man - vs- age.

"I don't want to get old!" I cried.

"Don't worry" said my husband. He picked up a book and turned it over to the picture on the back cover. "Look at this picture of Chuck Smith...he's still riding a motorcycle in his 60's."

You could see the immediate look of relief that washed over my face. It was true. Chuck Smith was a man I very much admired then and continue to admire today. And there he was...on a motorcycle with a big grin on his face! My heartfelt thanks to you, Chuck! When I looked at your smiling face, I realized that the issue of age encompassed more than mere numbers. It was and continues to be...

A Matter of Heart.

Fire Escape or Escape Artist?

Hey there! I've got a question for you. What do the things in the following three paragraphs have in common?

Entertainment: T.V. Movies, video games, serfing the net, games, sports (watching or participating) The list is endless.

Reading: You might pick up a book at the library. Purchase a good fiction or non-fiction at your favorite bookstore. Order it online on Amazon. Read online. Listen to an audio book.
Perhaps you are reading because it's required for your education. You might "bury your nose in work, reading, school" etc.

Miscellaneous Fun Activities: Shopping, Manicures/Pedicures, Arcades...

ANSWER: (Read backwards)
escape. of forms be all can They

Are any of the things I mentioned, wrong? Of course not. Not in and of themselves. But when we do anything for the sole purpose of escaping pain, then we have simply done one of two things. We have either created our own personalized fire escape...or become an escape artist.

But I'm learning to distinguish the difference between having fun and using fun as a means to escape. That's the question we all need to ask ourselves. It is sure helping me. When I realize I'm only doing something because I want to escape pain...then it gnaws on me until I deal with things head on. You might be good at confronting situations and dealing with it. If not, perhaps...like me, you need to ask yourself the question..."Am I doing this particular thing and using it as a...

Fire Escape or Escape Artist?

Fire Escape!

Nobody likes fires...at least not when it is destructive. We definitely don't want a fire to come near us and burn us. As a matter of fact, death by fire has to be in the top ten list of ways we don't want to die. If you were caught in a building that was on fire, I'm guessing you would be headed for the nearest fire escape.

Actually, there are two fires we want to escape. I will talk more about one of them tomorrow, but today what I'm thinking of is one that most people do not like to talk about. I don't blame them. I personally hate the subject. But it's reality.

I'm speaking of Hell. Most people avoid that topic like the plague...unless, of course, they are in swearing mode. Unfortunately, though most of us recoil from even thinking about it, that Abyss is a place of torment that has been likened to fire and brimstone. It exists whether we like it or not. We cannot wish it away.

Some people feel better about it if they say that Hell is simply where God is not. The main problem I see with that thinking is that it almost makes it sound inviting...if you don't want God in your life anyway. I am certain God would not want us to fall victim to a type of thought world that would deceive us into thinking that Hell is "not so bad".

If you know how to escape that fiery torment, it is because you know that Jesus is the only one who can save you from that Fire and you have asked Him into your life. You could say He acts as the ultimate...

Fire Escape!

A Small Adjustment Can Make All the Difference.

Over the past couple of days I've mentioned the fact that we all have our ups and downs that we have to deal with. The word, we, is our biggest problem. We think we have to deal with our problems and in a sense we are supposed to. In a sense. What am I talking about?

You remember Psalms 23? You've probably either read it a bazillion times or you are at least familiar with it. With good reason. It teaches us some amazing things, but the other day I was reminded of one thing that, if ignored, negates everything else in the Psalm. As a matter of fact, it is so important to understand that our walk with the Lord is virtually meaningless if we don't grasp the first line of this Psalm. What is it?

The Lord is my Shepard. That's it. As a matter of fact it is only a part of the first sentence but it is so significant it stands alone. The sentence doesn't say, "The Lord is the Shepard". It says, "The Lord is my Shepard." You see, all the things God promises in the rest of that psalm are in store for the people who can say, The Lord is my Shepard.

But in order for Him to be our Shepard, we have to be willing to follow Him.

What does that entail? Is it really that easy? It may sound easy, but letting anyone other than yourself guide your decision making and direct your steps definitely goes against human nature. But God is not "anyone". He is our creator as well as Father. He is perfect. Time does not affect Him. He can look at His children right now and see them in the future. It doesn't do any good to try to hide anything from Him because He already knows everything about us. Our past hurts and pains as well as our present ones are known to Him. He has compassion on us because He truly understands us...better than we have ever understood ourselves.

We have limited God to the position of judge. But He wants a relationship with us. That's why He is called our Father. That's why we have been adopted into His family. And that is why David, in Psalms 23, begins it with ... The Lord is my Shepard.

A small adjustment can make all the difference.

A Spiritual Catalyst

So, yesterday I asked if God cared about our despair. Well, obviously He does. You and I know that...but it sure doesn't feel like it sometimes. I mean, some days I'm fine when it comes to being able to control my out of control emotions. Other days, well, I feel like my feelings have been taken over be an evil dictator! Can you relate?

Why do I say this? Because I wanted you to know just how scared I get. How anxious I get. I know me. I know what I would have done in the past under the circumstances that we find ourselves in right now. I would have freaked out. But shear fear has driven me to desperately remind myself of God and His promises.

Good or bad, desperation can drive us to do things that we normally wouldn't do. For me, even though I've been aware of verses like Be anxious for nothing... and He causes ALL things to work together for good for those who love Him...this is the first time that I have clung to those promises in desperation. But when I did that I discovered that the panicky feeling I was feeling began to subside.

Christians all over the world throughout time and cultures, have thrived more when in the midst of suffering and persecution than any other circumstance. The agonizing grief they experience actually becomes a catalyst for spiritual growth. I know it isn't the desire of their hearts to have to deal with turmoil. But I truly believe that it's because in desperation they cried out to God and clung with tenacity to His promises. I never thought that desperation could actually become...

A Spiritual Catalyst.

Does He Care About Our Despair?

I'm going to be frank with you. The past year was one of the most difficult years of my life. No, my husband and I have never been rich. We've been among the many people who find themselves right on the "border". We always made just a little too much to receive help when it came to any kind of financial aid or government assistance.

So, we sacrificed and told ourselves that we didn't have to own a house. We did't have to have a clothes budget. Would I have liked insurance? How many times did I wish I could go on a two week vacation? True, we couldn't have what others had but we dealt with that little reality and were okay with it. Somehow our needs would be provided...and God always took care of us.

Fast forward to today. Our financial security makes our previous years look like a piece of cake. Has God left us? No. But what He is allowing - or not allowing - in our lives makes the past look like a walk in the park.

On top of all that, I continue to deal with medical issues that I can do nothing about. Each day I wake up to yet another 16 hours of fighting despair, loneliness and pain as I go through another work day that requires an emotional energy and stamina that is beyond my capacity to deal with. Or so it seems. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a pointless prison.

The good news is that that is just what I feel like. The reality is that God has not left me. I refuse to get angry at Him because the circumstances around me are difficult. God knows what He is doing...or allowing. I know in my head that we shouldn't let feelings dictate our actions, but I can only apply that line of reasoning for so long before I'm spent!
So what does God think about all this?

Does He Care About Our Despair?

More about that tomorrow.

A Maximum Impact

Yesterday I told you that someone suggested to me that instead of my placing a lot of focus on how much time I have, I should ask myself..."What am I doing with my time?"

At first I thought, "Hey, that's a good question. What am I doing with my time?" But a few minutes after I posted that thought on this blog, I realized that it could be a very irritating question. I think of all the people, myself included, who are working as hard and as fast as they can just to meet the bare minimum requirements of life. We get very little free time and maybe, just maybe we can actually squeeze in a little downtime.

Then somebody asks us what we are doing with our time? Kinda makes you want to hit someone if you are exhausted from a long day! So what does a person do in those circumstances? Cave in with the discouragement of someone who is spinning their wheels all day to simply pay their bills? What about a meaningful life? Are people like us relegated to futility?

No! You are in a unique position right now! Why? Glad you asked. I remember a book I had a while ago. The title alone says it all. Out of the Saltshaker, Into the World. That's where you and I are everyday. In the world. Whether it is in an office, at a store, at home or driving from one destination to another - whatever it is, we are in the world and we have the opportunity to impact the people in our sphere of influence.

How do we do that? That's up to you to decide, but I do know one thing. We need to let God's love influence whatever action we do take. It may simply be a smile on your face throughout the day. And BTW, if you are on the phone a lot...smile while you're talking. The person on the other end can feel it. Seriously. The point is, somewhere, there is someone you could give an encouraging word to. You would be amazed to discover the influence you can have in peoples lives. Be creative. Whatever you do, let God's love be at the root of it and you will have...

A Maximum Impact!

The New Anomaly

Many of us have had difficult upbringings. We come from dysfunctional families that have affected us in different ways based on numerous variables.

Unfortunately, most of us fall into that category now-a-days. Of course, there are always exceptions. I remember when coming from a broken family was a departure from society's norm. Today a person is almost considered an anomaly if they were raised in a completely healthy family environment. If you fall into that category, I'm really happy for you. Seriously. But if you don't fall into that niche please don't fret because I've got great news for you!

You are not only not alone, your life dovetails with a group of people that were the ancestors of the greatest person to walk this earth. A person who was actually God in the flesh. We celebrated His birthday a few days ago.

He came from one of the most dysfunctional groups of people I know of. Many of Jesus' ancestors did some pretty scummy things. For instance...

Jacob tricked his father into giving him his brother's birthright.
Rahab was a prostitute.
King David committed adultery then murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with.

I could go on, but the point is clear. Jesus had both a gnarly family tree and difficult life circumstances to deal with. He was surrounded by people who hated, rejected and despised Him. But as Jesus allowed Himself to be molded into what His Father wanted Him to be, it is my guess that although the outside world He lived in was hostile and pained Him greatly, His inside world was protected.

Our inside world - our emotions - can also be protected and healed as we let God lead, guide and fill us with His Spirit. The healing restoration began when we joined the family of God. A family that many today consider "dysfunctional". Some people may see us as...

The New Anomaly.