Category: General Writing

Last year at this time I reminisced about my mom and grandmothers.  After all, Mother’s Day is supposed to stir those kinds of thoughts and it generally does for me.  I’m thankful to have had my mom and grandmothers in my life and my mind is full of wonderful memories of them.  But this year, I thought I’d talk about another mother who has been a positive influence on me; and that is my sister.

My sister is twelve years older than I.  She got married when she was very young and moved away from home when I was only 5.  This provided a unique relationship for us.  She was not only my sister, but she was also like my mom because she was a “grown-up” while I was still just a kid.    

My sister and her husband moved into an apartment that was not far from my elementary school.  I remember walking up the hill after school to visit her.  They lived on the fourth floor with no elevator.  Of course that didn’t mean much to me as a kid, but they had their first child while living there.  So, as an adult, I can certainly appreciate the impact of climbing all those stairs during pregnancy and carrying basket after basket of laundry (including cloth diapers) up and down from the basement, which was technically 5 flights of stairs.  But my sister did it.  And at that tender age, she managed to be a good wife and mother in a less than conducive environment. 

When they moved into their first house, I occasionally visited on the weekends.  It was a like a home away from home for me.  There was structure, but there was also an element of freedom not found with mom and dad.  During their time living in that house, their second child was born, another beautiful baby girl. 

I have good memories of that house.  One day while helping her with the chores, I asked my sister where babies came from.  She told me that they came from seeds of love in our minds.  That answer satisfied me at the time, but for a year or so, I thought I had seeds in my head. 

Another vivid memory I have is learning to ride my bike in their basement.  I didn’t have a bicycle until I was 10 and I thought it would be very embarrassing to be seen outside learning to ride a bike at that age.  So I taught myself in their basement riding back and forth around the boiler. 

My sister and her family moved to their second house and life was good until one day her husband was seriously injured in a boating accident.  I was around 12 and didn’t grasp the severity of the situation at that time, but I knew that there was grave concern about the future of my sister’s family.  During their father’s lengthy hospital stay, the two girls lived with us.  Of course, being a 12 year-old, all I could think about was how those little girls followed me everywhere I went.  (If you read my last post, you’ll see that I hadn’t quite learned to be unselfish yet!)  However, one of my favorite memories of that time was my brother and I playing hide and seek with the girls.  When they would hide and we would come to seek them, the older one would say things like, “Don’t look behind the couch because I’m not back here.”  Of course, we would play along and look everywhere else before looking behind the couch.  And if we took too long, the younger one would jump out and surprise us.   They really weren’t too hard to find!  😊

The good news is that my sister’s husband recovered!  He was able to walk and have a full life.  (Praise God!)  And my sister managed to be a good wife and mother through that devasting experience.

I have always thought my sister’s homes were beautiful – she has very good taste!  And at their second house, they had a pool!  During their time living there, my parents moved so we lived about 2 hours away.  But after I turned 16, I could drive myself to my sister’s to visit.  I was in prime sunbathing shape in those days and took advantage of the pool as often as I could.  I remember one occasion of watching chipmunks popping their heads in and out of the stone wall next to the pool.  It was hilarious and something that I had never seen before, or since.  Too bad there weren’t cell phones in those days.  I would have had a great video! 

While they lived in that house, my sister and her husband were blessed by the birth a third beautiful baby girl.  And interestingly enough, there is a 12-year span between my sister’s oldest and youngest girls, just like there is between my sister and me.  I was already a senior in high school when that baby was born, so I didn’t see as much of her when she was little as I did the other two. 

A few years passed and I got married and had my own kids.  But my sister and I stayed close.  We would often meet at our parent’s house for holidays and other occasions.  I have the greatest picture of us and all six of our kids together – ages 2 to 23.  There are also some great shots of my mom, my sister, and I in our 1980’s outfits and hairstyles! UGH!

I remember many times through the years that my sister and I laughed together.  But there were also times that we cried together.  She was there for me during a very difficult time in my life.  She helped me with her wisdom and experience.  I still seek her advice on many topics.  We also share a love for God and His Word, which is an even stronger bond than blood! 

Our relationship changed as the years passed.  We are no longer the “grown-up” and the little kid.  We are peers.  As it always happens, an age difference that seems huge when we are young, seems to decrease as we get older.  My sister and I are pretty much in the same stage of life right now; all of our children are grown, and we are both grandmothers.  Well, she is also a great-grandmother, which I do not anticipate being for quite a while, so she is still the big sister!  Although many miles separate us, we try to talk regularly, but if we miss the opportunity, we are still firmly planted in each other’s hearts.  I am thankful that she is my sister. 

Mother’s Day is officially set aside to honor mothers because of the importance of their role in our lives.  Some folks see it as a commercial holiday.  Others, like me, see it as a chance to recognize not only our own moms, but also others who have influenced us in similar ways.  No matter how you see the holiday, why not take a moment to say thank you to the moms who have a special place in your life?  I’m sure they would greatly appreciate it. 

Note to my readers:  Happy Mother’s Day to my sister!  And to you, whether you are a mother, have a mother, know a mother, or love a mother, have a happy day on Sunday.  And… Thanks for reading! 

P.S.  I will not be able to post next Friday as we will be away at our granddaughter’s college graduation.  I’ll be back online on May 20^th. 

The title of this post is from a poem that I wrote a few years ago.  I thought it might bless YOU! 

Something great happened 
On the day you were born
Something that touched people’s lives
The hard work was over
The promise fulfilled
The receipt of the sought-after prize.

Your family rejoiced 
On that wonderful day
For your presence changed everything
A welcomed addition
A blessed event
A new life that came into being

Your needs were many
In those earliest days 
But your family was always there
To give you their strength
To give you their love
To give you their most tender care

In time you grew up
So you could stand on your own
And give back to your family so true
To give them your strength
To give them your love
To give them the best of you
 
Your family was blessed
On that day you were born
But your heavenly Father, even more
He saw you that day
He knew you’d believe
For He called you a long time before

Your first birth was needed 
For you to arrive
At the place you would answer God’s call
Now you’re born again
Now His seed lives within
Now God is the happiest of all

As much as you’re loved
By your mom and dad
God’s love is far greater yet
For you are His child 
For you are His joy
It was YOU that He yearned to get*
 

Those of us who are parents know what the birth of a child means to us.  It is probably one of the greatest highlights of our lives, and one of the hardest at the same time.  That beautiful baby that we anxiously waited for so long to arrive, was finally here!  But taking care of them could be unexpectedly difficult. Newborns are pretty much helpless, so their needs are many and their demands are fairly constant.  Add to that sleepless nights and lifestyle interruptions, and parents can feel overwhelmed.  I can’t tell you how many times I cried right along with my newborn because I didn’t know what else to do.  But looking back now, I consider those moments to be some of my most precious experiences because I have great kids, and I love them a lot.      

Although, I can’t remember my own infancy, I know that my parents must have shared a lot of the same emotions and experiences because they loved me.  They wanted me to grow up straight and tall.  They cared for me and taught me in the best way that they knew how.  I can still hear my mom’s voice admonishing me, “The world does not revolve around YOU!”  (Boy, did she say that a lot!)  Her point in saying that was to teach me not to be selfish.  All children need to be taught this because their lives begin with the whole world revolving around them of necessity.  Loving parents understand this and are happy to take care of their children.  But they also know that their children must learn that cannot stay self-centered.  A well-rounded life is an unselfish one. 

We probably all have known people in our lives who are self-centered.  Sometimes they are not so pleasant to be around.  I knew someone once that no matter what you said on any topic, she could turn it around to be about her.  I used to marvel at her skill for doing that.  I would intentionally say things from time to time that I thought she couldn’t possibly turn around, but it seemed she always managed to do so.  It’s actually kind of sad for those folks because they are missing so much of life’s fulfillment by keeping their thoughts so focused on themselves. 

The reason we cannot be selfish is because of the principle of giving and receiving.  It is a Godly principle that always works.  Selfish people seldom give, so they seldom receive.  And since they are not receiving what they need (or think they want), their attention is spent on their lack.  And their efforts center on taking what they need instead of receiving it.

So, we see that being selfish is not a good thing.  But does that mean that we should never think about ourselves?  Of course not.  There are always times that we must focus on our own lives.  Times of need, times of celebration, times of reflection all come to mind as ‘self-caring’ times.  It is okay and necessary to take care of ourselves.  If we don’t, we won’t have anything to give, and we’ll end up not receiving what we need either. 

Perhaps, you might have had thoughts like I did.  Selfishness was so appalling to me that for a long time in my adult life, I didn’t take care of myself.  I tried to be constantly giving because I felt that receiving was selfish.  The result was that my needs grew and my ability to give shrank.  Eventually, I was so depleted that I began to fail at everything I did.  This resulted in my thinking, “what is wrong with me?”  Although, I didn’t realize it at the time, that was being selfish.  My thoughts were constantly filled with my own inadequacies, and my focus was always on my failures.

My deliverance came when I realized my importance to God.  God chose me and YOU before the foundation of the world to be His children!  He knew on the day we were born that we would answer His call.  He knew that we would be His sons whom He would love with all His heart!  Sons that He would rejoice about having in His family!  That makes me and YOU very special!  Oh, I’m still inadequate on my own, I know that.  But God made me and YOU adequate to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12)  He gave me and YOU the gift of holy spirit.  We have His abilities in us now.  And we have access to God’s unlimited resources! 

Thinking of ourselves in these Godly terms is never selfish because we are giving the glory to God, and not boasting of ourselves.  We never have to feel second-rate because we belong to the family of the one true God.  We never have to suffer need because God promised that He will supply all our need (Philippians 4:19).  And we are sufficient because God made us so. 

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward YOU (and me); that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Having been given all these abilities allows us to freely give and freely receive God’s blessings.  We need never be selfish because God cares so fully and completely for us that our thoughts can be unincumbered by worries.  We know that God is always able to be whatever we need Him to be; and to provide whatever we need Him to provide.  Claiming all these promises isn’t selfish, it is confessing the truth of God’s Word. 

It might seem like a paradox, but our most unselfish thoughts come from always remembering who we are and what we have in Christ.  When we are thankful for all that we’ve been given, and rejoice in all of God’s blessings, we will be ready, willing, and able to be our best for God and follow His example of unselfishness.

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

YOU and I can be thankful for our earthly families who did their best to raise us properly.  And YOU and I can be thankful to our Heavenly Father who called us both to a life of peace that surpasses our understanding.  There is no room for selfishness in our lives because God has filled YOU and me with all spiritual blessings through the new birth, which is Christ in YOU (and me), the hope of glory!    

Note to my readers:  YOU are special to God!  And to me!  Thanks for reading!

*Poem is personal property of Terri Lee

When I was young, there were some people who were called “the beautiful people”.  They were stylish Hollywood stars and rich socialites who led glamorous lifestyles.  They were trend setters and fashion icons.  They were the rich and famous.  (There was even a TV show about them called, “Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.”)  They were touted as the people everyone else wished they could be.  Of course as a young person, I thought their glamorous lifestyle seemed exciting.  Who wouldn’t want to have all those cool clothes, fancy houses, and parties with hundreds of their ‘closest friends’? 

But I grew up.  Reality replaced fantasy and life left little time for day-dreaming.  Yet, for a while deep down, I still kind of wanted to be like the beautiful people – maybe on a smaller scale.  I thought I needed a trendy haircut, stylish clothes, a big house, and the right circle of friends to be happy.  Then I actually did grow up and I began to understand the ways of the world.

Scheme #1 – Unattainable standards

Our society has determined the standards for what is called beautiful and for what is considered successful.  Hence, bombarding us with the images of “the beautiful people”.  Somehow, the beautiful people became the standard, howbeit, an unattainable one.  And this is because no matter how beautiful we are, the standard will point out our flaws.  And no matter how successful we are, the standard will up the ante.  The result is a lifetime of striving and never really being fulfilled.

People who get caught up in this scheme can spend their lives never accepting who they are or appreciating what they have.  We’ve all seen it.  Women (mostly) who take extreme measures to change their appearance because they cannot be content with the way they look.  Or others whose careers are the central theme of their lives, and they have no time for family or friends.  Both are constantly seeking to attain a standard that eludes them. 

Scheme #2 – Copious criticism

Have you ever noticed that often in the world, criticism flows like a firehose but praise trickles like a dripping faucet.  The world is quick to judge and even quicker to criticize the things we think or do.  And constant criticism is stifling.  Criticism can be such a habit for people that it seems like every word they speak is critical.  I think sometimes people may not realize how hurtful their words can be.  Other times, it seems that they are purposely trying to thwart our efforts or discourage us.  Sometimes we can let criticism roll off our backs, but a lot of times it paralyzes us.  And that is the scheme’s design.  The world would have us doubt and question ourselves whenever possible.

Scheme #3 The grass is always greener…

This scheme produces dissatisfaction by comparison.  Maybe we are struggling in our lives, but we look at our friend’s lives and think that they are doing just fine. We might become jealous.  We might have thoughts like, “If only I had whatever they have, I could be happy.”  Or maybe, “If I had (or had not) done whatever, I would be as well-off as they are.”  Meanwhile, our friends may not be feeling very fortunate at all, but we don’t see their struggles.  In reality, the grass is not greener on the other side.  What is more commonly the case is that we don’t recognize the value of our own grass because we are too busy envying someone else’s.   

Scheme #4  Why bother?

This scheme is the culmination of the first 3 schemes listed.  Worldly forces would have us quit trying or give up altogether.  By flaunting a standard before us that we cannot attain, by criticizing all that we think and do, and by coaxing us to compare ourselves to others, the world wants us to be disheartened and think, “Why bother?  Nothing is going to change anyway.”  If the world can trick us into thinking that our efforts are futile and our lives are worthless, it has successfully accomplished its goal of suppressing our initiatives, thus by default, accepting its lies. 

We as Christians are often able to recognize these schemes, but we are not immune to them.  Any of us might fall prey to measuring ourselves against the world’s standards or being critical or becoming jealous.  BUT we also have the ability to change those thoughts and put on the thoughts of God’s Word instead.  The world screams inadequacy at us, while the Bible says that we are perfectly equipped. (2 Timothy 3:17)  The world calls us losers, while God says that we are super conquerors.  (Romans 8:37)  Society says we’ll never measure up, while the Bible calls us masterpieces.  (Ephesians 2:10) 

We must decide to whom we are going to listen.  If we listen to the schemers, we will indeed be miserable and unfulfilled.  But is we listen to God’s Word, we will have our needs met and live an abundant life.  (Philippians 4:19 and John 10:10)  The choice is ours.  Cling to the words that God speaks and resist the adversary’s rhetoric. 

So the next time society tries to trick you into thinking its way, stand up and say, “Not today, world!  I am what the Word of God says I am.  I have what the Word of God says I have.  I can do what the Word of God says I can do.  And I will be what the Word of God says I will be.” 

Note to my readers:  Never forget that God loves you! (and so do I)  Thanks for reading! 

What is commonly known as Easter takes place this Sunday.  I don’t particularly like calling the holiday, “Easter” because that is not really a Biblical term.  But regardless of what it’s called, I appreciate that it is so widely recognized and celebrated as the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  A more accurate designation for the day might be “Resurrection Sunday”.  But I doubt that society will change it at this point.    

The angel’s declaration to the women at the tomb as recorded in the gospel of Matthew is probably the single most important statement ever made to mankind. 

Matthew 28:6

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Two thousand+ years later, our hearts still thrill at the sound, “HE IS RISEN”!  Those words changed the world.  They changed the course of history.  And they changed us. 

No other event in the history of mankind has ever had such a long lasting, life-changing impact as the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Think about it.  Without the resurrection, there would be no Christians.  There would be no hope for this world, and there would be no future for us.  Without the resurrection, the adversary (the devil) would have free reign. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ redeemed man to God.  The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made as the Passover lamb and his subsequent resurrection fulfilled all the legal requirements necessary to reconcile man back to God and free him from the clutches of the adversary once and for all.  In fact, man’s redemption and salvation are so totally legal that they are above reproach.  They are a done-deal! 

To the non-Christian, the resurrection may seem of little consequence, however, nothing could be further from the truth!  For those of us who are saved, the benefits of the resurrection are beyond comprehension.  Could any of us imagine what our lives would be like without our salvation?  Could we conceive of a lifestyle that didn’t include a relationship with our heavenly Father?  Could we envision our despair if we didn’t know that we were going to heaven?  All of these things and much more are ours because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

Jesus Christ paid the price that unlocked the door so that we could enter into the throne room of God as His beloved children; and stand in His presence without any sense of sin, guilt, or shortcomings.  We have all the rights and privileges that being a child of God affords.  We have peace with God.  We have joy and hope.  We are loved.  We are free.  (And that is just scratching the surface!)

So, no matter how you observe the holiday this Sunday, let it be a day of praise and thanksgiving for the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made in laying down his life for us; and for what God wrought in Christ when He raised him from the dead and set him at His own right hand in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:20).  Our salvation is completely and absolutely complete.  Because of our Savior’s resurrection, we are now children of God with Christ in us, the hope of glory, and nothing in this world can ever change that!   And although this Sunday may be set apart as a special day of recognition, we know that all these things warrant our praise and thanksgiving every single day of our lives! 

 HE IS RISEN!  Hallelujah! 

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Note to my readers:  Happy Resurrection Sunday!!  Thanks for reading!

This time of year, our excitement is kindled by new life exploding all around us.  The days grow longer as the sun’s light and warmth loosen winter’s cold grip on our lives.  Flowers begin to show their dazzling colors; and leaves and grasses turn bright green in their awakening.  Almost overnight it seems that the slumber of winter gives way to the clarion call of spring.  We can see it on people’s faces. The sullen expressions of winter’s grey are replaced by the enthusiastic smiles of springtime’s cheer. 

Spring is my favorite season.  I love the onset of warmer weather.  I love the influx of color and the return of the sweet sounds of the songbirds.  It is a time of regeneration, and a time of renewing.  Think about it.  We till our gardens to prepare for new growth.  We do spring cleaning to rejuvenate our homes.  We head to the ‘great outdoors’ to revitalize our bodies.  And in the midst of all that, our minds are refreshed as well.

It seems that the onus of wintertime can be like a cloud hanging over our heads.  Even if we are fans of winter, by the end of March we are usually tired of the cold temperatures.   For most of us (except the winter sports enthusiasts) the cold weather is uncomfortable.  And for just about all of us, the short days tend to impede our ambitions.  Who wants to go back outside in the cold and dark after you’ve hunkered down for the evening?  But springtime changes all of that.  We don’t mind being outside at night when it’s warm.  In fact we look forward to the nighttime activities that spring ushers in.  Some of my favorite memories are of campfires, fireworks and star gazing on summer nights.

Springtime is the happy transition from winter to summer.  Not only is springtime beautiful, but its gradual warming also prepares us for the hot days that lay ahead.  It would certainly be a shock to our systems if it were below 0° one day and above 90° the next!  Spring and fall both afford mild temperatures to offset the extremes of summer and winter.  Both seasons are enjoyable, but to me, spring is waking up and fall is preparing for sleep.

My husband saw a funny meme the other day that talked about the seasons in Florida.  The list of seasons included a couple of “fake springs”.  I laughed because we can all relate to the times when the weather started warming up and we thought, “yea, spring!”.  But then it got cold again.  That is fake spring!  There can be multiple fake springs that just seem to taunt us.  And a fake spring can end abruptly with the onset of “premature summer”.

Springtime offers us new beginnings.  Although it happens every year (at relatively the same time), it seems to surprise and delight us with all its budding foliage and bright sunshine.  It offers us a change of lifestyle from winter’s seclusion.  It awakens our outlook for brighter days ahead.

It is only fitting that this time of year is also the time that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Talk about a new beginning!  That was the pivotal point in history that changed everything forevermore.  It was that occurrence that enabled us to become born again and gain eternal life.  It was that occurrence that sealed the devil’s fate forever. 

Just as springtime awakens growing things, the resurrection awakens new life in us.  And just as spring supersedes winter, our new life supersedes our old one.  Our new life is more beautiful than all the blossoms of spring, and more delightful than all of its sunshine.  For all that the Lord’s resurrection gave us, we are thankful, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable.

Note to my readers:  Enjoy the new birth of spring and the new birth of you!  Thanks for reading! 

Shadows are a familiar part of life and can be useful.  Ancient cultures used a sundial to tell time.  It was the shadow that the sundial produced that denoted the time.  Even today, we roughly judge the time of day by the length of the shadows we see.  In Florida, the premium parking spots are the shaded ones.  Floridians are always seeking shadows in which to park.   Figuratively, shadows are used in literature to convey a variety of ideas.  Physical shadows are artistic elements in photography and artwork.  Stage-lighting designers are keenly aware of the importance of shadows.  A well-placed shadow can add dramatic effect.  An ill-placed one can obscure an actor’s face. 

When I think of shadows, I remember my shadow on the sidewalk when I was a little girl.  I waved my arms and jumped around to see if I could do something that my shadow could not.  (I had just seen the Peter Pan movie.)  But my shadow did everything that I did without fail.  So I proved to myself that my shadow was attached.  Yet, for a short time, I would still challenge my shadow – just in case.   

As I got older and started watching scary movies, shadows became a source of fright.  Somehow the innocuous shadows of daytime would become ominous threats at night.  In the dim light of nighttime, a quick glance at the shadow of a coat hanging on the hall tree might look like Frankenstein and scare me.  Even as an adult who knows that monsters are not real and never watches scary movies, I can still get startled on occasion by an unfamiliar shadow at night. 

A shadow is defined by my friend Merriam Webster as, “the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light.”  I like that definition because it accurately describes how objects react to sunlight.  They don’t block the light, they intercept it.  Have you ever sat under a shade tree in the heat of summer?  It’s cool and comfortable because the tree intercepts the sun’s heat as well as the light – hence the shadow that you’re sitting in.  Inanimate objects may reflect the light, but living things absorb it.  Either way, it is intercepted. 

As adults, it’s not usually the physical shadows that intimidate us, but the figurative ones.  Perhaps, when you read the title of this post, you thought of Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  The emphasis of the Hebrew word for shadow in this verse is darkness.  Sometimes people focus more on that darkness than on the next part of the verse that says, “I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”  Because of that, people get stuck in the dark figure that a shadow casts. In fact, another definition that MW attributes to ‘shadow’ is: “a source of gloom or unhappiness.”  If we are stuck in the shadow of death, we will definitely be gloomy and unhappy!  Consider this… logically, if we are stuck in the shadow of death, it must mean that someone or something has intercepted the light before it reached us.  Doesn’t that sound just like the world?  All the schemes of the world are designed to keep the light of God from reaching us. 

So how can we escape that darkness if we’re stuck in it?  By taking a step. It’s just that simple.  A shadow is a fixed area corresponding to whatever is making the shadow.   When we step outside that area, we will no longer be bound by the darkness it has produced; and we are free to walk in the light.  The shadow is then beneath us, not above us.  And one way that we can take that step is by claiming the rest of Psalm 23:4; “I will fear no evil: for Thou (God) art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” 

Several times in the Old Testament, it also talks about us being under the shadow of God’s wings.  The word for shadow here denotes shade, defense, and protection.  Being under God’s wings is a figure of speech symbolized by how a mother hen or duck hides her babies under her wings.  I actually witnessed this happen.  We were on vacation and had just finished dinner at a nice restaurant, which had a pond out front.  We stopped to look at the pond just as a mama duck waddled up onto the bank and called her ducklings in for the night.  We watched a dozen baby ducks crawl underneath her and disappear.  Once they were all tucked in; they were hidden, warm and protected from harm.  That’s how God takes care of us.  He covers us with His strength and surrounds us with His defense and protection.  The only way a predator could get at those baby ducks was by fighting the mother.  The only way our predator can get to us is by fighting God Almighty!  And that is a battle that our predator absolutely will NOT win! 

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).  God’s light is so bright that even His shadow is light!  So if we abide in God’s shadow, no darkness can overcome us because light dispels darkness.  Even the tiny light of a match’s flame pierces the darkest night.  God is our protector.  He is our refuge and our fortress.  We need never be stuck in the shadow of death because God has called us and placed us under the glorious shadow of His wings.

I love these verses:  Psalm 91:1-5

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 

Note to my readers:  We can always count on the shadow of God’s faithful protection.  Thanks for reading! 

My mom regularly cautioned me to, “Watch what you say.”  Those words came to my mind the other day when I was talking to our financial advisor.  I told him that I was looking for a part-time job.  And I began to tell him all the things that I couldn’t do.  He stopped me and said, “Forget about all that, there are plenty of jobs out there that you can do.  Just decide what you want to do and go for it.  Companies are crying for workers nowadays.” 

I was embarrassed because I usually don’t talk like that, and I didn’t realize that I was being so negative while I was saying it.  The experience kind of woke me up.  Sometimes, we may just spout words without really thinking about what we are saying, but that can get us in the soup.  It is important that we pay attention to the things that we say. 

We all make mistakes and unintentionally say the wrong thing.  Unfortunately, that is going to happen because we are not perfect.  I am particularly guilty of saying things in jest that are not funny.  It’s like sarcasm, but I don’t mean to be sarcastic because that can be perceived as cruel mocking.  I think I’m trying to be humorous by being ironic, but I actually come across as being moronic instead.  I find myself often saying, “I’m sorry.  I was trying to be funny.”  I’m always forgiven, but I always wish I had not said what I did.   

Without thinking, we can occasionally say thoughtless words that can hurt someone; or careless words that can discourage them; or even cruel words that can break their hearts.  I certainly don’t want to be the source of causing any of those things, and I know that you don’t want to be either. 

There was a popular saying a few years back, “Engage brain before opening mouth.”  That is good advice, but we don’t always remember to do it.  So how can we get sharper?

Another old adage is, “garbage in – garbage out.”  The first step in watching our words is to put the proper thoughts in our minds.   If we fill our minds with negative ideas, we will give out negative words.  But if we fill our minds with positives, our words will be positive.  We know that God is light, and His Word is light.  If our minds are full of God’s Word, we will give out light.  And our words will edify, exhort, and comfort people because they are light.  We are always safe speaking God’s words because His words are not only light, but also truth.  However, speaking God’s words does not mean that scripture verses are the only words we ever speak.  It would be pretty hard to get to know someone by just reciting scriptures to them!  It means that the foundation of the words we speak is rooted in our understanding of the scriptures.  Then our words will be positive, and full of light and truth. 

The next step is to slow down.  It is often our words spoken in haste that get us in trouble because we haven’t taken the time to sufficiently engage our brains before speaking.  Maybe we are so anxious to be heard that we just blurt out something.  Or maybe we simply misunderstand the context of the conversation.  In any case, when we jump in hastily without forethought, we can misspeak. 

Another step is to listen, which goes hand in hand with slowing down.  A good listener is genuinely interested in what others are saying.  A good conversationist is usually also a good listener for that reason.  Have you ever been riveted by someone recounting an incident?  You were listening.  But sometimes in conversations our minds wander, or we are anxious for our turn to talk.  That is not being a good listener.     

The last step is to “mean what we say and say what we mean.”  Doing this involves all the previous steps.  In order for us to mean what we say, we cannot speak flippantly or hastily.  And to say what we mean requires thoughtful listening and formulating our responses accordingly.  Both require a sturdy base of positive thoughts in our minds.  Of course, God’s Word is the best source for those positives!  And we should also remember that God helps us in every situation, even with the words we speak. 

I will slip a word of caution in here, though – don’t allow the fear of saying the wrong thing stop you from talking.  The Bible calls the tongue an unruly evil that no man can tame (James 3:8).  So, it is certain that we will say the wrong thing from time to time.  When that happens, we apologize and ask forgiveness if we’ve hurt someone.  Then we move on and try to do better the next time by practicing the steps above.  We also cannot forget that the greatest learning often comes from correcting the mistakes we’ve made. 

Being mindful of what we say is a good habit to develop.  And the simplest way to accomplish that is by filling our minds with so much of God’s wonderful matchless Word that there is no ground left for the negatives of the world to take root (an ongoing endeavor).  And when our minds are full of God’s Word, we can’t help but be full of His love as well.  Then, when His love has filled our hearts and minds, we will act accordingly in what we do, and in what we say.  God is able to direct our steps in our actions and in our words.  We can still be bold while watching what we say!!

Note to my readers:  Happy talking!! Thanks for reading!

The world surely seems crazy right now.  Division, unrest, and fear abound in every corner.  So much conflicting information floods our minds every day, that we may often feel overwhelmed or confused.  I have seen friendships ruined and family relations strained over differences of opinion on things as trivial as which news outlet’s information is correct.  To me that means that people are paying too much homage to those news outlets.  I’m not saying we can’t watch the news; I’m just saying we can’t make it our source for truth.   As the old hymn says, “This world is not my home.”   We can’t afford to get caught up in all the worldly schemes. 

To that end, I wrote a poem.  I think it might bless you, especially if all the worldly falderal is bothering you lately.  It’s called, “Not Inside or Out”.

I looked at the world
And all I could see
Was turmoil and chaos
Surrounding me

Bad news filled my ears 
Day out and day in
It seemed like a battle 
That no one could win

So I retreated inside
To my own little space
Certainly there I could find
Relief from this race

But inside or out 
No peace to be had
Something was missing
That I needed bad

It wasn’t until 
The Bible’s pages I turned
That I found the help
For which I had yearned

For only God’s words
Are the truth in this life
And only God’s love
Can put an end to all strife

If this world is your friend
Disappointment will reign
If you trust in yourself
Your strength will soon wane 

But when in God you trust
And His Word you believe
You’ll have His power 
To surely succeed

So don’t be afraid
Of that worldly view
For God’s Word provides
A loving haven for you

Under God’s wings
You can safely rest 
For God is your Father
And You are His best

The world’s design is to tear us down, which is the total opposite of God’s design.  God wants His children to be victorious in every situation.  God loves His children and knows each hair on their heads.  To the world, we faceless tools to be used.  God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  The devil, who is running the show these days, is darkness and there is no light in him – not one speck.  God is always on our side, ready and willing to make bare his arm on our behalf.  The battle is not ours, but God’s.  (2 Chronicles 20:15)  So let’s keep the worldly trappings in their proper perspective and triumph over all the ploys of our adversary. 

Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

With God, we are more than conquerors!  But we should not forget that being conquerors means that there was something that needed to be conquered. 

Note to my readers:  God’s Word gives us a sound mind so that we can overcome the craziness!  Thanks for reading!

I have a friend who is a great example of giving.  One time while attending a church event together, on our walk from the car to the meeting, she asked four different people if she could assist them in some way.  Meanwhile, I was thinking things like, “did I remember my pen?” and “I hope I get a good seat.”  It was an eye opening experience for me, for sure.  My friend had developed an attitude of giving that permeated her actions.  I want to be like that.  But how do we develop a strong attitude of giving?

The first step in doing that is having our needs met. We cannot give anything if we have nothing to give.  God promises to meet our needs in Philippians 4:19.  And when our needs are met, we are free to give.  When we trust that God is the source of our supply, we can be unincumbered in our giving.  Like I’ve heard it said, “You can’t out-give God.”  God supplies our needs not only to bless us, but also to enable us to give! 

To be clear, there may be times when our needs are great, and it is necessary for us to focus on ourselves.  There is nothing wrong with that.  It is not selfish to take care of ourselves when we need to, and it doesn’t change our attitude of giving. In fact at these times, we may find it difficult to accept help from others because we still want to be the givers.  But just as we must be meek to receive from God, we also must be meek and allow others to give and get blessed.

The next step in developing an attitude of giving is to recognize what we have to give.  Of course, the greatest thing that we can give is God’s Word.  For God’s Word provides people with all the information that they need to be saved and made whole.  And being saved opens the doors to all the resources of a loving Heavenly Father.  However, there are many other important things that we can give as well.  Things like – our kindness, our wisdom, our time, our energy, our hospitality, our pluralities.  Sometimes, we may limit our thinking by the idea that giving is just giving presents.  While giving presents is a wonderful thing, the attitude of giving is so much more.  It is putting others before ourselves, (which isn’t hard to do when we know that our needs are met).  And it’s being willing to give even if it’s not convenient at the time.  It could be offering a shoulder to cry on.  It could be lending a helping hand.  It could be speaking comforting words.  It could be as simple as a smile or touch on the arm.  But no matter what we give, the greatest way to give is with love. 

Love tenderizes, love energizes, love is the basis of all true giving.  God set the example in John 3:16, where it says God so loved – that He gave…  God gave His only begotten son because He loved.  And it was the greatest act of giving that the world has ever seen because it was the greatest demonstration of love ever exhibited.

Have you ever been blown-away by someone’s thoughtfulness?  That’s a sure sign that love was involved.  Recently, some friends got together and gave me a precious gift.  It was definitely an act of love.  And you know what the best part is?  They got blessed as much as I did.  That is by Godly design.  There is joy in giving.

God set up the law of giving and receiving. When we give, we receive.  It’s just that simple.  It works for saint and sinner alike.  Have you ever known someone who spews negatives all the time?  They generally receive the same.  But when we give out of love, it allows God to open the floodgates of His blessings upon us.  We are never poorer for giving.  Yet, we don’t give to receive, we give because it pleases God.  With Him, the return on our ‘investment’ is unequaled because He loves us that much!

The last step in developing an attitude of giving is – start giving.  Look around, the world today is an unhappy place.  But we can begin to change that by giving freely from our love-filled hearts, all the remarkable things that God has given to us.  Love changes things and love is giving.

Note to my readers:  Let’s give to our heart’s content and see what God will do!  Thanks for reading! 

I had a Bible teacher who told us that it is important that we always remain coachable.  I’ve endeavored to be so, but never really thought of what that meant.

Merriam Webster says that the verb ‘coach’ means:  “to train intensively (as by instruction and demonstration)”.  So logically, to be coachable means that we must be willing to receive that kind of training.

We often think of coaching in the context of sports.  All sports teams have coaches.  From the professionals down to the peewee teams, coaching is a vital part of the competition.  Even if you are not a sports fan, you probably know of some famous coaches like John Madden, Vince Lombardi, and Woody Hayes (for you OSU fans) to name a few. 

Good coaches are able to successfully motivate their players to perform their best by pushing them beyond their comfort levels during training while reassuring them that they can do it.  Good coaches know how to balance the pressure and the reward. They operate good principles.  They are able to maintain order and momentum without stifling potential.  Good coaches are respected and generally appreciated. 

In sports this process is very recognizable, but what about in other fields?  For example:

Good teachers are like coaches.  They do more than merely convey information.  They train their students by making sure that the information is understood, and by welcoming open and honest debate.  Good teachers instruct their students on how to apply knowledge and think for themselves.  They demonstrate by example and build enthusiasm for learning in their students.  Good teachers are often remembered as role models.

Good bosses can also be like coaches.  Good bosses realize that contented employees are more likely to be loyal and produce quality work.  They know that their employees are valuable assets, so they motivate them without alienating them.  Good bosses promote teamwork without being taskmasters.  They respect their employees, and their employees respect them.

Good parents are always coaching.   Their lives are spent in communicating information, refuting misinformation, encouraging good behavior, reproving bad behavior, and correcting error.  They are patient and consistent.  Good parents train their children to be the best that they can be in whatever they do.  They love their children and celebrate with them in their successes. 

Those are just a few examples of people who coach us.  There is profit in listening to good coaching because we all need training in this life.  We need instruction because we don’t know everything (even if we think we do!).  We need encouragement, especially in the tough times.  We need guidance if we’re heading down the wrong path.  And we need to experience the satisfaction of success so that we can keep going day after day.

To be coachable means that we are willing to listen, willing to accept instruction (even if it’s not what we want to hear), and willing to change if needed.  Being coachable involves meekness, cooperation, being honest with ourselves, and having open lines of communication.  Being coachable is NOT being a wimp or a dishrag.  (Try calling an NFL player a wimp sometime!).  And it does not mean that we do everything that we are told without question.  We are still responsible for our own integrity.  We are coachable when we are not arrogant or self-absorbed.

The greatest coach ever is God.  He coaches us through His Word.  Think of all the scriptures that you know – do they not impart truth?  Do they not show you the right way to go?  Do they not correct you when you’ve gone astray and encourage you to get back on track?  When you believe them, do they not enable you with success?  Of course, they do all of these things and more!

The Bible is full of instruction for every facet of life, and it is the right instruction!  There is motivation in the Bible, the kind that brings us to a positive outcome.  There is also exhortation, edification, and comfort, the things that are necessary to encourage us.  And there are promises that provide us with an abundant life.  God’s Word is full of wisdom so we can not only know the score, but we can also know what to do about it. 

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is a description the Word that coaches us.  We must receive this Word with meekness, hold on to It with conviction and release It with boldness.  It contains all that we need to know about life and godliness.  It declares God’s Will for our lives.  And, It reveals the opponent’s game plan.  (What team wouldn’t like to have that information!)

In sports, a coach’s success is measured by the number of victories his team achieves.  God’s team’s victories are innumerable!  And not only innumerable, but also miraculous.  And not only miraculous, but also eternal!  God’s record of success is beyond compare! 

Being coachable allows us to receive all the wonderful things that God has in store for us.  It allows God to encourage us to a more worthy endeavor.  And it allows Him to direct our steps toward the ultimate victory – heaven – with steppingstones of success all along the way!

A big key to being coachable is having meekness, and meekness implies humbleness.  When we are humble, we are not ashamed to admit that we need help.  We are not afraid to ask God for His aid. And when we receive His answers, we are strengthened so that we can help others also.  Like so many things of God, it is a wonderful cycle! 

Note to my readers:  Stay coachable.  And don’t forget that meekness is a fruit of the spirit –  (Just sayin’). Thanks for reading!