Freedom

Tomorrow is Christmas Day. Exactly one week from tomorrow will be the first day of the new year! I love new beginnings. I love the ponderings that often come with the onset of a new year. I love the freshness that a new year brings. At the beginning of a new year many people make goals for themselves, often called resolutions. I have made many resolutions over the years. Some have been met. Many have not. That's okay. That does not stifle my enthusiasm for the new year. 

Some may say that every new day is like a new year. Each day holds potential to be different from the last. Certainly every day that we are given is a gift and should be lived purposefully, but a new day is mere hours away from us...no more that 24 hours apart from the last one. A new year takes 365 days to wait for until we are given another one. That's why it's special. I value each day. I am thankful for each day and for every year. 

As I look back over my life and forward into this new year I hope to live this one with the greatest purpose. Freedom is my holy word for this year. Since 2012 I have had a key word for each new year.
First, it was Grace.
In 2013 it was Discipline.
In 2014 it was Action.
This year it is Freedom. 

As I ponder these keywords I feel like they are all going to somehow join together this year. As I sit here and reflect these are my thoughts: We must walk in grace toward one another and toward ourselves. As we have been shown so much grace from God we should extend that same grace liberally to those whom we meet. We should be disciplined within ourselves whether at work, in the home, at school, in ministry or any other thing we may put our hand to.  Dreaming and planning are fun, but at some point we must have action to go with those dreams and plans. Also, our lives should line up with our words, especially if we are professing Christ and His love for this world. The old song sums it up well, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love..."

Finally, we must walk in freedom. We must be free in our spirits, not bound by things that seek to hold us down...whether anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, grief, sorrow, poor self-image or any similar thing. If we allow others to define us then we do not allow ourselves to be free. If we seek to define others, we seek to enslave and wield a power that is not ours to wield. If we walk in love, we wield a power that keeps us free and may even help to set others free. 

If we live our lives with grace, discipline, action and freedom I wonder how our lives might change. I wonder how we may impact this world around us. I don't know about you but I plan to find out. 2015 here I come!!

Through the Lens of Love

Imagine how different people might be if we build them up rather than tear them down. Whether someone makes mistake after mistake or just doesn't seem to measure up...just imagine. It's not always easy to see others the way the Lord sees them. We are often so short-sighted and temporary minded. God sees the eternal picture through a lens of love we so often cannot comprehend.

We are not different from one another really. In fact, we may be just a few bad (or simply different) choices away from being just like the ones we scoff at. How different our world and the world of another may be when we decide to really walk in that love we say we have for others around us.

I am not saying we should support bad behavior or that we should automatically trust everything said or done from another, especially when that trust may have been broken before or even over and over. I look around and see so much disconnect and brokenness. I see people out there hurting who are isolated from others and guarded.

They cannot often reach out for many reasons. The walls they built around themselves are often so tall and so thick. They seem to push us away by their words or actions, but what if.....What if we loved them anyway? Consistently and sincerely, without expectation of anything in return. "Impossible!", you say?

The bible tells me that God is love, and in another place it says love never fails. If God is love and love never fails, then I conclude that God never fails. Some would argue that God often fails. He fails our expectations. He fails to reconcile us to some who we prayed for. He fails to provide what we want or need. Sometimes we feel like God has broken our trust, so how can we or why should we love others fully and completely? Why should we allow others to love us?

God is love. Love never fails. God never fails. When we become persuaded in these truths our vision starts to become a little less short-sighted. When we allow God's love to truly wash through us and over us, we find we have an abundant supply to love even the most unlovely of people...and actually mean it. We no longer love them because "it is the right thing to do". No, we love them because we finally have a glimpse, a taste, of how much God loves us. We cannot help but be compelled by His love to love Him, love ourselves and love others.

Some people may be harder to extend love to. Maybe it has to be done from a distance or through our prayers, but it can be sincere. We will face many disappointments in life and many challenging people. I would encourage you to become so persuaded in the Lord and His ability to transform you and those around you.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples, "But who do you say that I am?” We all have to answer that question for ourselves. I don't understand everything that the Lord does, but I am completely persuaded in Him.

I trust Him and I know that He can create beauty from ashes, joy from tears, life from death,. I know what He has done in my life, what He has seen me through, help me overcome and completely turned around. I know how often He has blessed me and how often He has been my Comforter.

When I look back on how He has kept, me , loved me, restored me and forgiven me, then how can I not love others? I often fail and it is easy to get caught up in the drama of tearing down another. However, I am persuaded that:

God is love.
Love never fails.
God never fails.

I pray you would be persuaded as well.

Comfortable Silence

How long are you willing to wait in silence to hear God speak to you? 

Developing a habit of prayer, where we talk to God, can be difficult. However, our talking to God is easier than our sitting still before Him and listening for His reply or His instructions. What if we had to sit silently before Him for five minutes? or ten or twenty? Are we willing to really "Be still" before Him so that we may "know that He is God"?

How interesting our prayer life and our walk with the Lord may become if we truly sought Him in silence. Can you imagine what church may be like if we, as a body of believers, truly sat still long enough to hear the Holy Spirit?

What if we agreed beforehand that we would wait upon the Lord? Initially, that silence would be very awkward, doubts would enter our minds as to whether the Holy Spirit would speak, and no doubt, somebody would have to say something to break the silence.

I have participated in prayer meetings that had a holy hush come over the group, but that hush only lasted maybe two minutes. Before God could reveal Himself somebody would speak up and that hush would be gone. 

I wonder what we deny ourselves when we deny the silence. What do we deny God?

I challenge you to daily seek that silence with the Lord. He may not speak to you right away. Perhaps He will allow a period of conditioning to occur. Maybe He will tell you something new everyday. I don't know, but if you never settle yourself before Him to be still and allow the silence between you and He to become comfortable, then you will never know either.

I also challenge myself to seek His silence more and to be confident in what He speaks to my heart and my spirit. Many blessings to you all.

Maybe We Should Just Go Naked

This month marks one year that my family and I have lived in our current home. It also marks one year since we began fellowshipping with a local church in our community. In addition, it marks one year since I went through a difficult process of separation and healing from another beloved group. It has been a year of sorrow, regret, loneliness, joy, new friendships, isolation, misunderstandings, reflection, meditation, prayer, evaluation, observation...all kinds of -tions. 

It has been a year of growth. It has also been a year of fellowshipping with many other believers from other churches. From baptists to pentecostal to full gospel to Methodist and non-denominational, we all had one thing in common. Jesus. It did not matter if we sang hymns, praise and worship or spiritual warfare songs, I noticed that God always responded to sincere hearts. He does not seem to have a favorite genre. If He did maybe it would simply be called 'complete and sincere surrender'. 

A year ago I was weighed down in my spirit. I felt blacklisted and ostracized. This, in turn, built walls of suspicion and insecurity around me. It was an internal conflict, because, on one hand I could recognize the walls forming. On the other hand, I was in the process of healing and these walls were kind of like scabs. They formed a protective layer on the outside while the inside was still tender. 

Much of God's saving grace came when my aunt told me of a weekly prayer meeting taking place not too far away. I was craving prayer...and a place to let my guard down. The meetings were incredible. The presence of the Lord was so tangible and I felt such freedom in my spirit to truly worship the Lord without fear or prejudice. My healing seemed to truly manifest itself week after week. I saw unity amongst many churches as different ones would come together to pray and worship. The denominations varied and faded away when all seemed to join together in one accord to praise and worship the Lord. 

Earlier in the year I wrote about old coats and the comfort an old coat can bring. It read in part: "Many of us may have a favorite coat hanging in our closet. Maybe we have had it for years. It might be worn but we just cannot seem to discard it."

The point was that we often drag  around old hurts, wounds and other things like an old favorite coat. At the time I thought I was being asked to wear a new coat...and maybe I was. I struggled with the fit of the new coat. It seemed tight, stuffy, itchy and just never seemed to fit. So, as I struggled against the new coat I found that my eyes were no longer on Jesus. I was too busy tugging on sleeves or pulling down on the hem. I was constantly fidgeting. 

I have recently discovered a solution for those pesky new coats that just won't fit. I have decided to just go naked.

It's risky, but I won't have to worry about fidgeting so much. So, when and where shall I go naked? A familiar quote comes to mind, "Go big or go home." Maybe I'll just go everywhere naked. It saves a bit of decision making and no one can feel discriminated against. In fact, I encourage you all to consider going naked as well. (For those of you prone to taking things quite literally, please continue reading before posting new pics to your Facebook profile.)

When the Lord took me to Australia ten years ago, one of the amazing things He did was to heal me of so many wounded places in my spirit and soul. I remember, as I sat in my friend's living room, seeing myself in my mind's eye. I was standing naked amidst a pile of rubble as far as my eyes could see. I felt so exposed (no pun intended). As I saw that I knew that the rubble surrounding me was the walls He had torn down from around me. He surrounded me with love and acceptance while there and, before I knew it, I was being healed and emboldened. 

Fast forward to this past year and you may understand why I could so quickly recognize the walls forming. I did not want to be trapped behind those walls again. The Lord told me once that, even though I thought He was allowed behind my walls, when we keep others out we limit God's ability to work in our lives. He works through those around us. His gifts, His grace and His love are hindered when they have to try and pass through walls we think are there for our protection. They may serve a purpose for a time, like scabs. Eventually, the wounds must heal, otherwise those walls can lead to our destruction. 

As this year has worn on I have learned to fidget less. I am learning more to be okay with who I am and how I was created. I think we all struggle with wanting to be accepted from time to time. My struggle was seldom voiced but often felt. I felt so different from so many. I think I am a shape shifter, because if I am supposed to fit into a round hole, then I am square peg. If the hole is square then maybe I become a heptagon or if the hole is triangular then I am sure I become anything but what is intended. You get the idea. 

I may never settle completely in one place, church, town, state or country. I have often been told I have gypsy blood. For me, I just see so many people yet to be met, loved, encouraged or acknowledged. At times, it can be frustrating to be in one spot for so long. I have to say that I think this past year I have been slightly rooted for the purpose of growth and cultivation. I confess, I sometimes dream of being transplanted, but I understand. Patience cannot be cultivated in a hurry. 

So, as I look back on this year in review I have decided to:

-Love more and judge less.

-Remember that God can be found where sincere hearts abound.

-Stop trying on coats, just go naked.

-Be myself and know that is enough. 

-Keep my eyes on Jesus.

-Be bold as instructed by the Lord.

-Let the Lord love me and be okay when others may not. 

-Be willing to be wrong.

-Be willing to be right. (Sometimes this is hard when it means that someone else may be seen as wrong and it could cause injury)

-Always be willing to be amazed.

-Remember that, oftentimes, the more we learn, the less we know...especially regarding the Lord.

For me, going naked simply means to just come as I am before the Lord. No pretense. No conforming to more than the word of God. No coats...and no hats for that matter. Just as I am, without one plea. Completely accepted. Never rejected. Standing naked in the presence of my God. While, at first,  you may feel awkward and 'exposed', know that He will clothe you in His love and in the light of His glory. Standing naked before God is very liberating. You can commune fully and completely with Him, knowing that you are created in His image and He sees the beauty of His creation when He looks at you. 

I am thankful for this past year. Whenever the Lord reminds you that He knows you by name and you see His hand at work in your life, you cannot help but be amazed...and humbled. His love is more than can be shared without you having that firsthand experience. I encourage you to seek Jesus. He is not a trial basis god. He does not do 'tricks' for  your entertainment. However, when you finally do say yes, then you will know. Jesus. There's just something about that name. 

This concludes my year in review. Many blessings to you all. 

Draw Close to the Savior

If your prayers were hands
What would they hold?
If your prayers had feet
Where would they go?
If your prayers could speak
What would be told?
Would they whisper
Or shout to the Savior?

Do you believe when you pray,
Or do you hope
And then dismay?
Are you tossed to and fro'
Back and forth each day,
Or do you set your face
Toward heaven?

Do you stand upon the
Word of God?
And know that your feet,
With God's peace, are shod,
Is your armor intact
Upon your bod
Or are you naked,
Afraid and unsure?

Does the weight of the battle
Try and hold you down?
Do you succumb
To fears and feel as though
You'll drown?
Cast off your restraint,
And make sure you are found
Resting in the care of our Father.

They are but shadows
That taunt and tease,
They seek to destroy
Your faith and peace,
But if you'll look close,
Then you will see,
Jesus, the Light
Of the world.

If you draw close
To His light,
You'll see the shadows
Have taken flight.
They can only thrive
In the cloak of night,
So draw close,
Draw close to your Savior.

When your faith seems weak
And your prayers unheard,
Go back, go back
To God's holy word.

When you've done all
You can, then stand,
And stand some more,
Trust that your answer
Is at your door.

Keep your face toward heaven,
And crucify
Your passion, your strength,
And also your pride.
He has never left you,
He stays by your side.
His grace,
It carries you through.

When the naysayers come,
And come they will,
Lock your door,
Keep them out,
But love them still.
They cannot understand,
And some never will,
So hold fast,
Hold fast to your Savior.

If you don't give up
And you don't give in,
Rest in the father,
Draw your strength from Him,

It is then that you'll see
Your prayers take form,
As they grow
Hands and feet,
And suddenly
Begin to speak.

Your prayers will have power
To transform and renew,
But often, before they do,
Your prayers must first
Do a work in you,
So draw close,
Draw close to your Savior.


Why do we pray? We pray out of desperation. We pray out of hopelessness. We pray as a last resort. Often our minds cannot will our eyes to look up at the Savior. The shadows of our needs bear heavy upon us and sometimes it seems our strength has failed. Our prayers can sometimes make us feel as though the answer will come out of our strength, our perseverance and our sacrifice. We can tell that is happening when we begin to feel that weight pressing us down. When we begin to see ourselves as failures and begin to fear the outcome based on our prayers, it is then we may want to stop and evaluate what's happening.

The enemy is cunning and if he can shift the responsibility of answered prayer to us, rather than our Savior, then maybe he can wear us down. Maybe we give up because we feel inadequate and unprepared. We're supposed to take our needs to the Lord in prayer. We are to cast those needs upon Him with faith, believing that He will meet those needs according His will, His word and, sometimes, His revelation to us. Jesus exchanges His peace for our cares and worries. When we rest in Him we can come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy.

Our prayers become powerful when we realize that it is not we who have the power. We are but willing conduits of God's Holy Spirit. We should pray in obedience to His word and by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers become filled with power when we become yielded to Him and filled with His Spirit.

Dear Lord,

May we be ever mindful of the importance of prayer. May we become less mindful of our own importance. I pray that we may each be led by Your Holy Spirit. I pray that signs and wonders would follow us simply because we willingly follow You. Fill us with Your knowledge, power, peace and presence. Instruct us in Your ways. Keep us in Your love. In Jesus's Name.
                                                                                                            ~Amen

Challenged by the Lord

Nearly two weeks ago the Lord issued a challenge to me. I was reading in John 14. The story was of Jesus talking with two of his disciples, Thomas and Philip. He was explaining that He had to go away but for them not to worry. He assured them that they knew the way. They were perplexed and could not grasp what He was saying. I have always been struck by the fact that, though the disciples were confused and questioning Jesus, He understood. Jesus understood that they did not understand. 

That is such a wonderful example to us as believers. We need to understand that sometimes others really just don't understand. 

As I became reacquainted with the story I read something else as if for the first time. In verse 10 Jesus asked Philip a question. He asked, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."

There it was. Four words that I felt the Holy Spirit ask me directly. "Do you not believe?" Yes, Lord! I believe, but I knew what He meant. He was asking me, challenging me, how much do I believe? How active was my faith willing to become in regards to the needs we had and the needs others have? 

That question would not go away. Everyday when I would think on things I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, "Do you not believe?" Every time doubt crept in. Every time I looked in the natural and wondered how. Every time I heard reports from doctors. Every time I looked at the faces of others around me that showed their struggle. Every time I heard the Holy Spirit gently chide me, "Do you not believe?"

That question began to translate itself more specifically. "Do you not believe that God still heals today? Do you not believe that He still performs miracles? Do you not believe that He can supply all your needs? Whose report will you believe? Are you willing to really pray and seek My face? Are you willing to be bold when others cower and are afraid? Are you willing to be the only one standing on My word? Are you willing to proclaim by faith what has yet to be seen in the natural?"

"Do you not believe that I AM?"

"Are you willing to stretch your faith in desperation and in expectation?" 

The devil would taunt me, "What if you are wrong? What if your faith is not enough? What if........" Then the Holy Spirit would say again, "Do you not believe?"

Four days later this question would become crucial. Our family was faced with something that required real faith. It required more than hoping and more than being slightly confident. It required more than a casual conversation with the Savior. It required more than skimming the pages of God's word. It required real time in God's presence and in His word. It required a choice everyday. Everyday that question had to be answered. Sometimes several times a day. "Do you not believe?" 

This question became a comfort as it challenged me to really wear, run and walk in my faith. I am so thankful the Lord has challenged me and also given me a word to cling to. He knew the battle that was just before us. I pray you are encouraged and that you would seek the Lord and be challenged with the same, "Do you not believe?"

The Fate of a Nation

The story of David and Goliath is familiar to most Christians. It is one of the first stories from the bible that children will learn while in Sunday School. It is an epic battle, a classic underdog story where the good guy prevails against all odds. The battle alone stands on its own as a fantastic testimony to the favor and power of God at work in a believer's life. 

I was reading the story again a few days ago and was struck by the other awesome part of the story. First, let's recap the events in order. Starting in chapter 17 of 1 Samuel we read:

"Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them."

The great face-off begins.

 "And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and hewas armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him."

Goliath was a big guy, about 9 feet and 9 inches tall. His coat of mail weighed about 125 pounds on its own and the spearhead weighed about 15  pounds. It is safe to assume he was a very intimidating figure. He begins to taunt the men of Israel saying,

"Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

Goliath wants to fight one-on-one, kingdom against kingdom. Winner takes all. 

Saul and his army, being led by sight and allowing fear to dictate, were very afraid. The taunting went on for forty days. It was after forty days that David is sent on an errand by his father. He is to take supplies to his brothers and the army and also send back word of how his brothers are doing. He obeys his father and delivers the goods. 

While David is there he hears Goliath and his words spoken against Israel. All the men around him become afraid. David asked them, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David doesn't ask what happens if they lose the battle. He only wants to know what is to be done for the winner whom he rightly assumes would be one of Israel's men. The men answered him and news traveled quickly to King Saul about what David had said. 

"Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” 

David's confidence did not waver. I wonder what must have shown on David's face that day when he stood before the king. He was young, most likely still a teenager, yet he was able to persuade the king of Israel to let him fight. This was a winner-takes-all battle and the fate of a nation had just been placed in the untrained hands of a young shepherd. The story continues,

"So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off."

David did not get a crash course in how to be a soldier. The armor didn't fit and he knew enough to know that the armor would be a hindrance, even though it was created for protection. He took it off and chose to go as himself. His confidence still did not waver. 

"Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine."

The battle was upon him and his weapon of choice was his sling and a few stones. He may not have know how to wield a sword but his sling was already battle tested. He went into the battle armed with what he knew how to use. 

"So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

Goliath was offended. His taunting continued with contempt. David was unaffected. 

"Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that theLord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

As David looked at his adversary he prophecied his victory and Goliath's defeat. His confidence did not waver. His confidence was not in himself, rather it was in the Lord. 

"So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Butthere was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it."

"And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent."

" When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.”

How interesting that the king didn't even know which family David belonged to. He was just some kid who was confident in His God, brought before the king and given free reign to fight Israel's battle. It almost seemed like an afterthought that the king even thought to ask who he belonged to. 

"Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”"

"So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”"

What I found so amazing is how David was entrusted with the fate of a nation. He started out his day delivering cheese and bread to his brothers, soldiers in the king's army. He ends up in front of the king because of the confidence he showed in his Lord. He didn't wake up that day intending to go to battle. He was simply obeying his earthly father when he delivered the goods to his brothers.

Even though one of his brothers scolded him and questioned his motives David seemed to have had selective hearing. He did not even respond to his brother's accusation. 

His confident words were relayed to the king. It is just as likely that if David had been degrading the king, his strategies or anything, then that news would have traveled to the king as well. Our words are important. His words gained him an audience with the king.

He was not intimidated in front of King Saul. David remained true to himself and even his limitations. He knew the armor was not meant for him. His faith in God was so certain and so real that it impacted Saul. David's confidence in God was contagious. Saul had been dismayed and fearful, but he became willing to let David fight. 

David went and he won. He took the only weapon he was trained to use. That was all he needed. God went before Him and that was truly his greatest weapon. His words to Goliath indeed became prophetic as Goliath fell and Israel prevailed. David knew he was going to win before he even knew he was going to fight. That is awesome. 

May we be found to be so obedient to our Heavenly Father as David was to his earthly father. When we get within range of a battle may we have true and confident knowledge that the battle is already won, even before we know we may be the ones going in to fight. David stood in the gap for a nation that day. We are called to do the same. We may be the only one willing to go into spiritual battle for those we see in need. 

We may be scolded and have our motives questioned by those closest to us. May we also have selective hearing and only answer to that which which seeks to edify. 

When we find our words have gained us an audience with the most unlikely of people may we always be true to who we are and know our own limitations. Go into battle with the weapons you have been trained to use. Speak to your adversary with a propecy of victory. 

David was a willing vessel that brought honor to his father, to his God and to his nation. May we be as willing as he.

How to Sweeten Bitter Pills

She had worked in the local drugstore for years. She loved her job. Everyday she filled prescriptions and dispensed the medications needed by her local community. She had gotten to know so many on a first named basis. As she worked behind the counter she would often chat with different ones while they patiently waited for their orders to be filled. She always had a smile and knew how to make everyone feel at ease. She would carefully go over any questions they had about their medications and console them with any concerns or fears they may have had. She really loved her work and felt blessed to be able to consider her job a calling.

One day she received a call from her doctor. He wanted her to come in and discuss her latest tests. The tests had been routine and she had no concerns or problems to report the last time she spoke with her doctor. She sat in the little room waiting for the doctor. After a short wait he came in. He went over her tests results. Some of her levels had tested low and he suggested medication to help get the levels back to where they needed to be. It was a minor setback. He assured her she would fully recover with the help of the medication. She looked down at what the doctor had written. She was familiar with the name of the medicine but had never had to take it herself before now. 

The next day she found herself in a different drugstore. She was now on the other side of the counter, waiting to be served. As she stood there a mix of emotions washed over her. She had not expected to feel this way and, at times, she had to fight back tears. Finally, it was her turn to be waited on. She handed her prescription to the pharmacist. He looked it over and smiled kindly at her. She waited while he filled her order. As she stood there he began to chat with her. They made casual conversation and he seemed very pleasant. They talked about their shared profession and she lightly joked about how she had never been on the other side of the counter. He smiled an understanding smile and his eyes seemed very sincere. 

Although he knew she was also a pharmacist he began to explain the medication to her. While she listened, she looked into the bottle and was surprised at how big the pills seemed to be. She gave a small gulp at the idea of having to swallow such large pills. Once he finished his instructions she went home. 

She sat down on her sofa with her medicine bottle in one hand. In another was a glass of tea. She knew she would need something to wash the pills down. She removed two from the bottle and held her head back. Taking pills had never been easy for her. She took one pill and placed in at the back of her throat so that it would travel down quickly. She took a quick drink of her tea and then made a face. These pills were horrible! They tasted so bitter. She looked at the other one with a bit more dread. She did the same routine and made the same face. Yuck! How could something relatively small taste so bitter? 

After her first dose she sunk back into her seat and a few tears began to roll down her cheeks. She felt defeated and shuddered at the thought of the continuing doses of medicine yet to come. However, her doctor was clear. She must finish the bottle completely in order to restore her levels. She thought about all the times she had dispensed this very medicine to others. She never gave any thought to what it must have been like to have to take these pills. Some were on a long-term program with their doctors and needed refill after refill of the very same thing. Others only had to take short rounds to help restore their levels. 

She sighed. After one dose she now had new insight into how hard it must be for her patrons to return to the drugstore week after week to receive theses meds. She also remembered one or two isolated incidents of this prescription being abused. She sadly recalled the times she had to refuse to fill the prescription due to abuse. 

She shook her head as if to clear her mind. She went to her bookshelf and pulled down a book. This book was to be read in conjunction with the pills her doctor had ordered. She bowed her head and gave thanks. She opened her bible and began to read. She read several stories that reminded her of God's provision. She was also reminded of His love and care for her. She knew that it rains on the just and the unjust. As she continued reading her spirit began to feel uplifted. In no time a few hours had passed and it was time for her next dose. This time as she took each pill she realized the bitterness was not as strong as before. She realized why the doctor had suggested the bible to be used. As she was reminded through God's word about His love and provision it seemed to sweeten the medicine.

She laughed to herself as she remembered a song about a spoonful of sugar helping the medicine to go down. God's word had just become her spoonful of sugar. It reminded her to be gracious and to know that any help received was a gift from the Lord. His love is so lavish and undeserved it can sometimes intimidate, especially when one like herself had been used to dispensing rather than taking the medicine she now faced.

She looked down at the pill bottle and read the label. It was written in short form. It read, "R.F.O." It stood for Receiving From Others. She had tasted pills of Joy, Happiness, Sorrow, Love, Kindness, Loneliness and others. While many had their unsavory tastes, none seemed to be so bitter as these. She was thankful for the care of her Physician. He knew what she need to restore balance to her life...to her levels. She was also thankful to the pharmacist that filled her prescrition. He was genuine, kind and understanding. Although they really didn't know each other, in those few minutes together while he worked she had learned enough about him to know he cared.

She had met other pharmacists throughout the years that were not so kind. Sometimes they would withhold a medication that the Great Physician had ordered for another. She knew this because she often received some of the patrons they had turned away. At those times she took extra measures to make sure they received the best care she could administer. She knew that if she did not then they may need further medical care to deal with the injuries suffered from an apathetic pharmacist. 

Before she retired for the night she prayed once more a prayer of thanksgiving. Not only was she thankful for the care she was currently receiving but she was thankful for her job which also happened to be her calling. Yes, these pills were bitter but they were necessary. Now that she knew just how bitter these pills were she made a mental note to recommend God's word when she next dispensed the same medication to another. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep and thought about the sweetness of His word. It certainly helped those bitter pills go down. 

Shadows

Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Shadows.  Why did God make shadows? Do you think it was an oversight on His part? Did he forget to 'break' off our shadow when He formed us, like when the edges of a new mold get trimmed away? What purpose does a shadow have?

As I read the verse in Psalms it caused me to recall how scary shadows can be. Children, and even adults, can sometimes get frightened through the night with the shadows they see around them. If you throw in a little wind through their curtains, ordinary objects suddenly become ferocious monsters, vampires and a host of other unseemly entities. Horror movies always seem to make the most of shadows in the night and the fear those shadows bring. Shadows can be exaggerated and become even more frightful. Shadows seen in the dark are seldom good. 

A shadow is defined as "a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface."

So, why did God make shadows? You cannot touch or hold a shadow. It cannot be caught (except in the cartoon, Peter Pan). It has no scent. What purpose could a shadow have? Can anything good come from a shadow?

While you may not be able to touch or hold a shadow, a shadow can be felt. What about the shadow of a tree? We call it shade. On hot, summer days we may search out this particular shadow and let out a little, contented sigh as we find a brief refuge from the heat. When clouds blow through they sometimes shadow the land with an even greater shade and also provide a barrier from the sun's scorching rays.  

Shadows can also alert us to the presence of others. When we are walking we can often avoid a collision with others because we first caught a glimpse of their shadow. Likewise, the shadow of cars on the highway or even in a parking lot, when we are trying to find a place to park, can aid us in our safety and pursuits.

Shadows may also provide comfort. We may glimpse a familiar shadow of a friend or loved one and be comforted in the presence and 'shade' of their love and care. Shadows can provide whimsical fun through the art of shadow puppets. Some shadow artists have even taken their art to a whole new level by acting out stories simply be utlizing the power of the shadow. Shadows seen in the light of day are seldom feared because we see what is casting the shadow.

So, what about the valley of the shadow of death? Though shadows cannot harm us, they can scare us. When our minds become darkened with our cares and anxieties, depression or fears, the shadows can seem very real. Though we may not be able to touch a shadow we can feel the weight of the shadows as our thoughts remain in that darkened place. What is the 'body' in that valley that is standing between the light and the surface? I wonder, when we are walking through our valley, what kind of shadow unforgiveness can cast. It seems it may definitely stand like an ominuous shadow between us and God. Doubt may be another. What about unresolved hurts and conflicts? Maybe forgiveness has occurred but somehow the sting has not gone away. Many, many things can cast shadows in our valley. 

Some bible commentators define the valley of the shadow of death as a dark, dismal place. A place where the darkness seems to permeate to the very marrow of your bones. Remember, it is a journey through and not a destination. On this journey we are promised that the Lord and His protection will travel with us. We must remember what the psalmist said, "I will fear no evil; For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

 In this valley of shadows we can come face to face with our fears and become conquerors and overcomers through the word of God. The shadows would seek to convince us that we are alone and on our own. They would try and persuade us to think that we must battle with our own strength and our own wit. 

Have you ever held up your arm to block the sun on a bright day? By doing so you cast a shadow upon your face or eyes to protect from  the sun's rays. If we lower our arm, the light of the sun is restored fully upon us. Perhaps we do not realize that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death that we are actually holding up the very things that would block the Light of the Lord and keep it from shining upon us fully. Maybe when we lower our fear, doubt, unforgiveness, hopelessness, worry and any other shadow causing thing, it is then we will feel the fully restorative warmth and power of the Light of God's love and virtue. 

So, why did God make shadows? 

-For comfort

-For laughter

-For safety

-For protection

-To help us face our fears

As you walk through your valley of the shadow of death may you take comfort in remembering that the Lord goes with you. Also, shadows are exaggerated reflections of often ordinary things. The shadow of death is just that...a shadow. It is an exaggerated reflection and it may be exaggerated to the extent of our fears and their many faces. Draw close to Jesus and His word. He is the Way, the Truth and the Light. Lay down anything that would cast a shadow between you and the Lord. Take comfort in His presence and His protection. May your faith consume your fears and you remain victorious through Jesus. 

Many blessings to you. 

Heart Burn

Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

This is taken from the story in Luke 24 about two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus. As they journeyed they were discussing the recent events of the crucifixion and Jesus' tomb being found empty. Somewhere along the journey Jesus joined them, but their eyes were restrained from recognizing Him. Jesus asked them what they were talking about and why they were so sad.

In verses 19-24 they responded, "...“The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

They gave it to Him straight, as they saw it with their eyes and comprehended it with their minds.

Jesus replied, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Verses 28-31 go on to tell us, "Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight."

As I read this story today a few thoughts came to mind. How often do we go through something and try to understand it simply with our natural senses of sight, sound and feeling? How often do we reason the events away, discuss and dissect? How often do those circumstances defy our previous expectations?

I have no doubt these two disciples were heartbroken, confused and hurting. In fact, they were so caught up in how they felt that they could not recognize Jesus when He joined them. The scripture says their eyes were restrained. It does not say what restrained their eyes from recognizing their beloved friend. Perhaps it was the mix of emotions and confusion that blinded them to the fact that He was walking with them through all their pain and loss.

Once He heard their story he began to minister to them with the word of God. He began to remind them of what the word said about the Messiah. Whether Jesus is fighting the devil in the wilderness or consoling two friends during grief, He always used the word of God. Should we do any less?

When we have to stand and fight against an attack of the enemy we need the word of God. When we are trying to process mixed emotions and sort through confusion, we need the word of God.

As they neared their destination, still unaware of Jesus in their midst, Jesus indicated that He would travel on. They insisted He join them and so He stayed. It was not until He was seated at the table with them to break bread that their eyes finally beheld who He was.

This tells me that we must be willing to invite Jesus in and, more importantly, be willing to dine with Him. It is in that fellowship that we can truly know He is in our midst.

The two disciples realized in hindsight that they should have recognized Jesus. They said, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

They were simply too caught up in the moment to realize He was with them all along.

I wonder, if we were to tell Jesus about the current events in our lives, which scriptures He would expound upon to minister to us. That is a humbling and exciting thought to consider. Jesus knows exactly which word in His word applies to our lives at any given moment. Then, if we invite Him to stay and break bread with us, I wonder how our eyes might be opened.

What a beautiful to picture to behold! May you be blessed on your journey and not fail to recognize the Master walking by your side. May your heart burn within you as well. 

Communication Can Be Awkward

As much as I value and love communication I won't always share what's on my mind with another. Often the reason is because if I share then I feel like the other person's response may be simply be out of duty or obligation, especially if what I share is related to how I feel about something.  Sometimes I don't share because, even though I may have a valid opinion, maybe it is not my 'place' to provide input. Sometimes when I share it can make another feel awkward, nothing really gets resolved and I (maybe both of us) are left feeling less likely to try that again.

Communication is tricky, especially if there is not an already existing foundation of trust or friendship between the two parties. If effort is not made, then misunderstandings can occur. People assume you mean one thing when maybe you mean another, however they do not always ask for clarification. They just run with what they think they know or heard from another. You might call that miscommunication, failure to communicate adequately.

A lack of communication between two people is difficult. When you add more people into the equation, then the difficulty and possibility of miscommunication is magnified. So, why would a large group not be able to communicate with each other? I don't know all the reasons but here are a few:

-"I don't want to stir up trouble."

-"It's not my place."

-"What's the use? It won't do any good."

-"My opinion is not worth much."

-"I am scared to speak up."

-"If I speak up someone may retaliate against me."

-"It will work itself out."

-"I feel like I've already tried but no one is listening."

I am sure there are other reasonings but you get the idea. Maybe you aren't the only feeling the way you do. Maybe others would also like to talk about  the issues. 

Communication is not always neat and tidy. Sometimes it can be messy, stirs the emotions and challenges us to continue listening even when we don't like what is being said. The key is to not stop listening. Make sure you understand what the other person is saying or implying. Though you may not like what you hear, if you have accurate information then you can at least make wise decisions from that. 

What if it really is not your 'place' to contribute or to start the conversation? If you see it happening or are involved in a second-hand kind of way, then I would suggest you simply encourage those who can do something about it. Encourage him/her or them to pursue understanding, to do the hard yards by being pro-active. Encourage someone to step up and step out of their comfort zone. 

As parents we encourage, almost demand, that our children learn how to resolve their conflicts. We teach them what the bible says about love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet we, as adults, harbor dark thoughts toward one another. We don't resolve conflicts. Rather, we let them fester and boil over and then agonize at the results of something that we had an element of control over. 

Whether the lack of communication is in our home, our business or our church we need to be mindful of our part. Cast aside fear and 'be the change'. Pursue that change in love. Don't be demeaning nor demanding. The best way to be heard is to be willing to listen. 

May you live long and communicate often. Much love to you all. 

Can We Pet the Elephant?

"Mommy, look! There's an elephant over there!" The mother quickly tried to hush her wonder-filled child. "Shhh, be still. Don't stare." The child could not help but stare at the massive elephant that he saw. Try as he might, he could not contain himself and again said to his mother, "Mommy, can we pet the elephant?" His mother quickly looked around and bent down to whisper to her child, "No, we musn't pet the elephant. Be still. Not another word."

As the child's mother began talking with others around her the child began to wander around the room. He never took his eyes off of the elephant. He wanted so much to go over and pet it. As he walked around he saw another adult that he knew. He thought a moment and quickly went over after one quick glance at his mother. She was engrossed in her chat and did not seem to notice.

He approached the other adult and tugged on his sleeve. The adult looked down, smiled and asked what the child needed. The child quickly pointed to the corner of the room where the elephant stood. "Can you take me over there to pet the elephant?" The adult's smile faded and a puzzled look came upon his face. "What elephant?" he asked. "I don't see any elephant."

The child scratched his head and looked at the adult as if to say, "How can you NOT see the elephant?" However, the child walked away. As he looked around the room he began to notice that everyone was talking to each other but no one was looking at the massive elephant standing now in the middle of the room. In fact, the more he looked at their faces the more it seemed that everyone was purposely not seeing the elephant.

The child did not understand this. He could not figure out why no one wanted to look at the elephant. A couple of other children came into the room and the first child watched as their eyes got big and they each exclaimed to their parents about the elelphant in the room. He saw his friends get hushed just as he had been by his mother.

The other children came over to him and asked if he saw the elephant. He told them that he did and then he told them how everyone else seemed like they were refusing to see the elephant. The children could not figure out why the adults were acting so bizarre. Why didn't anyone want to talk about the elephant in the room?

Good Girl

Sitting in the darkness
By herself
All alone,
Hoping that
He'd stay away,
But knowing
That he won't.

He then walks
Into her bedroom,
With that strange
Glint in his eye.
He walks
Ever so slowly,
All the time
She's asking
"Why?"

Still he keeps on
Walking,
With that strange
Look upon his
Face.
That's when she
Starts pretending
That she's any
Other place.

Soon after he's
Finished,
Soon after he's
Through,
He gets up,
Looks at her,
Then quietly
Leaves the room.

The next morning
When she awakens,
Everything
Is just the same.
The dog is barking,
The sun is shining,
And her mom is
Yelling her
Brother's name.

She sits down
At the table,
And eats her
Breakfast slow.
Her father looks
at her and says,
"You're a good girl, you know."

This poem could be anybody's story. It is lived everyday in countless homes around the world. I often write from an empathetic viewpoint. I share this now in hopes that it may somehow give a voice to the voiceless. Maybe it will empower just one to break their silence, although when their silence is broken they often bear the brunt of the secrets revealed. Homes become broken, children become displaced and lives are forever changed. Sometimes that is good and what is necessary. Sometimes it is not.

How can we, as adults, as teachers, as mentors or as any responsible person dare to take up the cause of one we suspect is caught in such a life? It is quite often a double edged sword, guaranteed to cut you just a little. On the one hand we bear the burden of having a responsibility to protect, even to err on the side of caution for the sake of the child. That burden can be heartbreaking. On the other hand, if we remain silent and do nothing, what then?

If we suspect someone is in trouble and do nothing are we not condemned by our inaction? We can certainly expect to be condemned by our actions. You can expect to be misunderstood. So, what do you do? Do you turn a blind eye? Do you secretly pray that someone else will see, know or suspect and do what you are unable to do?

If you suspect someone is being victimized, then please consider the best course of action for the sake of the child. Gather resources, partner with someone for advice and follow protocol if you are in a position that has guidelines already set in place. Don't turn a blind eye. Yes, that double edged sword may cut you, but the bleeding will stop after a while. Your pride or loss of popularity will recover but that child may not.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse, please tell someone. Find a trusted adult, family member, teacher or  pastor and get help. You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline. It is completely confidential unless you choose to reveal any personal information. That number is 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Dare to be different. Do what is right.