Rain and Reign

Homonyms – two words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. As a second grade teacher, this was one of my favorite lessons to teach. It figures. I’m a writer. I love words.

You probably expected me to talk about thankfulness this week, not homonyms. But this morning’s prayer time led me to discuss a simple truth: sometimes praying is difficult. Let’s be honest. Sometimes we don’t know what to pray or how to pray. Sometimes our gratitude sounds repetitive. Sometimes we lack words. It’s on those days I am especially thankful the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

We don’t show this side of our prayer lives to others. In fact, we’d rather hide it. I haven’t seen an article lately on prayers that lack passion. Am I the only one who struggles on occasion? I know I’m not. Sometimes we are eager to pray, our mouths bursting forth from the fullness of our heart. Other days our hearts seem half-empty, and our mouths follow suit. But when asked to pray aloud in church, we always find a way to pray, clothing our words with our Sunday best. Kind of like homonyms, such prayers may sound the same as those from a sincere heart, but they are different.

Sometimes our hearts are filled with praise and thanksgiving, and praying comes easy. Other times our hearts are filled with grief and desperation, and our prayers erupt from the depths of our souls. A prayer offered sincerely, whether in joy or anguish, is an honorable one. Jesus said, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

But still there are other times when our hearts are simply beating, and sincere prayers are laborious. Truth be told, most days our hearts are not overwhelmed with joy or pain. Most days our hearts read “average” on the barometer of emotion, and so seem our prayers; for from the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34) But emotions should not drive our prayers. It is a spiritual love of God that should fill our hearts, not just an emotional one. This love encompasses all of us, transcending both emotion and intellect. It is based on a personal knowledge of God, that because of Jesus, His Spirit lives within us.

So how do I pray from this spiritual love when my joy is waning and my angst minimal? How do I approach the throne of God in spirit and truth with a heart that is simply beating? Today was one of those days. I have many things for which to be thankful, and I have concerns to bring to God in prayer. But my words did not flow readily. I did not wish to pray out of habit, or with pretty Sunday words. I desired to worship, praying in spirit and in truth. God led me to pray just two words: reign and rain.

The two greatest needs I have every day, regardless of my mood or circumstances, are for God to reign in me and to rain in me. Just because God lives in me doesn’t mean I honor Him as ruler of my life. So I must begin each day by bowing my heart and submitting to His lordship. Also each day, I need His Living Water of refreshment to quench my thirsty soul. Especially on days when the emotional barometer isn’t worth reading, I need a shower straight from His heart to enliven mine. I can thank Him in advance, as surely God will answer these two simple and sincere prayers every time I ask.

If we had a heavenly perspective of our salvation, we would overflow with joy every moment of every day, constantly thanking God in prayer for our blessings. But we are humans, still fighting battles of the flesh for a victorious view. Yet while our emotional delight may not spill over 100% of the time, we should be grateful that neither does our emotional strain. God may allow days or even seasons of desperation when it’s easier to be on our knees than on our feet, but thankfully these don’t last a lifetime. Everyone experiences reprieve.

But regardless of our emotional state, our spiritual state is constant. Our relationship with God is secure, and does not depend on the force of our feelings, or the wealth of our words. For this, I am also thankful. So on days like today, when my mouth is barren and my emotions are as still as the fog out my window, I’ll simply pray for rain.

Slaying perfectionism with the sword of truth

Today I am pleased to recommend an outstanding devotional book for women. It's a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life by Joan C. Webb offers freedom to the gal like me who tends toward perfectionism. Most of us do, to some degree, recoil frequently after thoughts that we could have, should have, would have done better on a task or in a situation. If you're like me, you fight with overanalyzing your own mess-ups, instead of rejoicing in God's grace and His promise to work everything into good. (Rom 8:28) Joan's easy-reading reflections help free the mind to focus on God's unconditional love.

Joan is a recovering workaholic and perfectionist who communicates a message of freedom and renewal, coaching and teaching others to become who God has gifted them to be. She speaks nationally and internationally and has appeared on Christian radio and television. Joan is the author or coauthor of magazine articles, curriculum and eleven books, including The Relief of Imperfection. She even wrote study notes for The Women of Faith Study Bible. And believe it or not, I met Joan on Twitter!

Here's a sample devotional she has allowed me to copy and paste for you here. Another devotional will be posted on Samaritian Diva's blog tomorrow, Nov. 6 at www.samaritiandiva.com. There's an ongoing "blog tour" you can follow, and the schedule is here. Copies of the book can be purchased by clicking on this link.

Do It Again

Luke 5:5-6: “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.” And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! (NLT)

From my window just now, I watched a golfer prepare and then strike his little white ball only to flub it. It popped into the rough three feet to the right of where he stood. He slumped and shook his club. Then he walked over to the ball’s new position and hit again. It sailed through the air, over the bunker and landed near the hole.

Sometimes we do it well. (It might be parenting, working, exercising, praying, teaching—or whatever.) Other times even our best efforts yield less than stellar results and we slump inwardly.

I think Simon Peter probably wasn’t thrilled when he and his co-workers worked all night with nothing to show. As a professional, surely he practiced the latest tricks of his trade. Still no fish. Yet when Jesus said try again, he did.

We can, too. Like the disappointed golfer, we can walk a little further, steady our stance and try again. Our actions won’t always be flawless, since only God is perfect every moment of every day. Yet we can listen and obey his promptings to do it again.

Lord, I’m bummed, but I’m willing to try again. Please honor my efforts and bring worthwhile results.

Making It Personal: So you flubbed? I challenge you to try again—consistently for the next 3 weeks. What will you do? Cement your decision by writing it here and calling a caring friend to share.

Embracing Change

This past weekend we had the joy of spending time with some of our dearest friends at their lake house. Nestled in the tall trees of East Texas, we shared all of life for a few brief days. We walked in peace and harmony along the tree lined roadways, talking and listening to one another. Such time with friends is a treasure. Jesus calls us friends, too, and He longs for us to treasure our daily walk with Him.

The leaves were still changing while we were there. Some changes were obvious, and others more subtle. Our lives are like those trees that go in and out of seasons of change. Spring and fall are seasons of obvious change, like times of new births and marriages. But the changes of winter and summer are less obvious, like stable career seasons and mature discipleship. Winter is so still and barren we wonder if there is any life happening. But if we were to look inside the tree, we would see life, change and growth. This is true with us, too. Regardless of the season, change is always occurring.

As long as we remain connected to the vine of Christ, we will continue to grow and change. This is His design for us. We will never be perfect this side of heaven, but we will be perfected. Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6, “For He who began a good work in you will perfect it.” He goes on to say, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12-14)

What a prize indeed! To be in His presence, to enjoy His fellowship, and to be changed into His likeness as we walk toward the brighter days of heaven. We are called upward, to reach toward heaven and relate with God even now. Ultimately we will see Him face to face, and this is our ultimate gift. Until then, we have the blessing of not remaining in our damaged state of existence, but being transformed in heart, soul and mind so that we can bring Him glory. But we must realize that this change process is a blessing. Paul embraced this God-led journey, continuing to press onward and upward.

Our goal is to be changed, to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ, and we must be guided every moment of the day by prayer and the Holy Spirit to make the right decisions that will bring about the right changes. The kind of changes that are important in our walk with God can only come about by walking in the Spirit of God - following Him, trusting Him and obeying Him. Only God can change us into His likeness. We cannot.

As you walk on in obedience, God will continue to work in you and change you to be more like Christ, who was and is perfect. I pray you welcome His perfecting hand as you enjoy this season of change.

***

For similar thoughts presented in video format, please view my October segment on the WebTV show, "Fresh Start", with author, speaker and friend, Karol Ladd.

The Three W's

When your mother notices you haven’t blogged in a while, it is definitely time to blog. Thankfully, God has worked in my heart in such a way that I don’t take that as a criticism, but a compliment. It is encouraging to know that someone is missing my prayerful reflections.

Amazingly, God had already prepped me today for Mother’s prodding. This morning He spoke to me in my prayer time and gave me a three point sermon. Since I don’t preach, I knew it must be meant for Prayerfully Penned.

My three points in less than 20 minutes

We pray in many ways, at different times and for different reasons. Today, I was reminded of an essential three. Regardless of the day or season, I should always pray about my will, willpower, and wisdom.

1. Philippians 2:13 teaches us that it is God who works in us to will and to act for His good pleasure. God works in us to will. That means He works in our hearts to put the desires there that He wants us to have. When I was just a teen, He revealed this truth to me at a youth revival. I can honestly say it was the first verse that made a serious impact on my life. I realized, perhaps for the first time, that I was worshipping a living God, one that had access to my heart, one that could change my heart. Thankfully He did. Even now, however, I don’t always desire the right things. My will is innately selfish. So the first prayer point I should be sure I hit every day is to ask God to align my will to His.

2. Willpower is the energy to act upon the will. If I want to work out, but never act upon it then my will is not exercised and neither is my sagging body. To act on what we want takes more than want. It takes drive, determination, energy and self-discipline. These seem to be directly proportional to the strength of my desire. I may want a lot of things, but only those I want badly enough will I actually pursue. For example, a day doesn’t go by that I don’t find a way to eat. Even if I’ve been working around the house all day and have no food in the refrigerator to prepare, I’ll order a pizza. I’m pretty determined when it comes to eating. Philippians 2:13 says God works in me not just to want to do the right things, but He works in me to the point of doing them. So I need to pray every day for the energy, drive and determination to accomplish the desires He has put in my heart. I must ask Him to strengthen my will so that it becomes powerful to the point of action.

3. Finally, I was reminded to pray for wisdom. We can have the right desires and an abundance of energy, yet remain fruitless for Him. God has given me the will and the willpower to speak boldly of the truth of His Word. But if I do not have wisdom with regard to audience, timing and word choice, I may not only be ineffective I may do damage. I may also neglect other God-given desires in the process. To be most effective for God we must be wise. We must seek His mind to make decisions that glorify Him. “For the LORD gives wisdom…” (Pr 2:6) These days, many people are quick to share their worldly advice, but God is the only source of true wisdom. Last month I talked about this topic on “Fresh Start”, a weekly webcast hosted by my friend Karol Ladd. If you’d like to hear more about wisdom by viewing last month’s show, click here. Wisdom comes from God, and He longs to give it in abundance to those who ask Him.

As a former educator of children, I spoke often of the three R’s. As an educator of believers, I’m speaking today of the three W’s: will, willpower, and wisdom. I pray they transform your prayers as they are mine.

What now?

A new season is upon me. I am no longer a stay-at-home mom. A stay-at-home wife yes, but as for mothering, it’s all long-distance now.

We spent last week driving our daughter 22 hours north to her new home, a small Christian college in gorgeous Mid-Atlantic country ,where she will busy herself with new friends, continue to swim competitively and study art. She is experiencing a little of heaven on earth today, and for that I am truly grateful.

But what now for this mom, this leader-learner lady, this former school principal turned Christian writer, Bible teacher and mentor? God only knows, and I take comfort in the fact that He does.

Today, He reminded me that He has plans for me. I love it when God is so obvious, don’t you? And not only obvious, but often humorous! In the past few weeks I’ve been reading The New Eve: Choosing God’s Best for Your Life by Robert Lewis. I took it with me on the trip thinking I’d continue reading, but of course was too busy, or at least too distracted. So this morning when I picked up the book, I hadn’t the foggiest notion of where I had left it last. I opened to my page marker, my latest memory verse index card, and was stopped in my tracks. After shedding tears of joy and sorrow this morning over this change of season, I found myself staring at the next subsection in the book entitled “Married Empty Nester”. Now you tell me that isn’t evidence of God’s living activity! And to think He cared enough to orchestrate such timing! I must wipe away my tears and rejoice in such amazing love.

So what now? God only knows. But I can be assured of this – as long as I continue to pursue Him and His plan, He will continue to show up and guide me along the path. I pray that you, too, recognize God’s living leadership in your life today.

The Greatest Joy

“The greatest joy is knowing God.” This truth greets me every morning on the back porch as I sit on my swing awaiting my dog to return from her morning toddle around the yard. It is engraved in a simple flower pot that a dear friend gave me years ago, which occasionally even has a flower in it, thanks to my loving husband.

Most of us have at best a mere taste of this “greatest joy”. This ultimate joy is not in knowing about God – God is the Big Man in the sky, the one to whom many pay homage on Sundays. It is not in knowing who God is – God is the Almighty, the King, made known to man in the flesh of Jesus Christ. This utmost joy is not even in knowing God’s many attributes – such as love, patience, graciousness, faithfulness, justice and mercy.

No, these ways of knowing are merely academic. Most people with the ability to learn can be taught about God, who He is and what He is like. Just like a math course, knowledge of God at a certain level can be obtained through scholarly study of the curriculum. God’s curriculum is, of course, His Word. But these types of knowledge do not bring the greatest joy.

The maximum joy that we can experience is “knowing”, not knowledge. I know a lot about Erwin McManus these days. He is one of my new favorite authors. His full name is Erwin Raphael McManus and he pastors the Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, California. According to the Wide Awake book jacket, he is an author, speaker, activist, filmmaker and innovator originally from El Salvador. He’s married to Kim. They have two children and a foster daughter. And that’s just a snippet.

From reading his book, I can tell he is all about dreaming and pursuing God-sized dreams. He admits to getting bored easily, having trouble completing things, and losing focus on the finish line. (Does this give you a clue why I might relate so well to him?) He is easily distracted and probably ADHD. (By the way, there is often a direct correlation between ADHD and intellectual giftedness.) Ironically, he has completed more things in half a lifetime than most men in a full one. Most importantly, he loves the one true God in all of His three persons.

I know a lot about Erwin. But I don’t know him from Adam. I only dream of the someday when I will meet him, fellowship with him, and collaborate with him. (How’s that for being an optimist!) Only then can I truly say I know him on some level.

“The greatest joy is knowing God.” Jesus said to His Father, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). We often think of eternal life as simply "forever life". But it is so much more! It is forever joy, a joy that comes from knowing God! And it begins on the day we believe.

Jesus said, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, (the ability to know God, the greatest joy!), and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). This belief happens now, on earth, while we are yet in the flesh. And God’s promise is that with belief comes eternal life, a forever life of knowing God not just knowing about Him.

Have you truly believed? If so, have you truly embraced this great promise of God – the opportunity to know Him intimately, not just intellectually? This never ending, supernatural fellowship with God is indeed the greatest joy!

The Living Water Well

It is definitely summertime in Texas, where the temps are hovering around 100 degrees. When it gets hot, there are two things we can do: either embrace the heat or avoid it.

If you’re like me, you probably avoid it as much as possible by staying indoors in the cool air-conditioning with a glass of pink lemonade! (Of course, this choice is doing nothing for my tan.) Or if you’re like my in-laws, you may avoid it by vacationing in a cooler place, like the Colorado Mountains. If you stay a month like they do, you can not only avoid the heat, but avoid a high electricity bill, too. Pretty smart!

The other choice we have when it gets hot is to embrace it. Those who do this will usually draw near to a body of water – like a lake, an ocean, or a swimming pool – and have an ice chest of water handy. They know their bodies were not made to endure excessive heat too long. They must keep their temperature down and body hydrated.

There are other kinds of heat that we experience in life. Financial struggles. Relationship issues. Work stress. When we experience such things, guess what. We handle these kinds of heat in the same two ways – by avoiding or embracing.

We often avoid the heat of life by withdrawing, hiding, secluding ourselves from the issue, from family and from friends. If we do this for too long, we may find ourselves lonely and depressed. It then becomes easier to befriend things we shouldn’t, like drugs or alcohol or forbidden fellows.

Another way we avoid the heat of life is to take a vacation like my in-laws in a less heated place. It may be a physical removal from the heated situation, or it may be a running away of sorts, taking an emotional or intellectual vacation from the situation at hand. On occasion this may be exactly what the Great Physician orders. But, making a habit of running to work or to hobbies can be a way of escaping rather than embracing a difficult reality.

Instead, God wants us to embrace the heat we find ourselves in, and trust Him to use it to mold us, like metal in a fire. Regardless of how we got in the hot seat, God can use the heat of the fire to burn away our impurities and soften us, making us more pure and pliable for His beautiful use. God will use those heated times to make us more like Christ if we will embrace the heat in the right way. To embrace the heat of life, just like a hot day, we must surround ourselves with plenty of water, the Living Water.

John 7:37-39 says, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, `From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' "But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

But now Jesus has been glorified, at the resurrection; and just as He promised he left behind His Holy Spirit, the Living Water, to live in those who believe in Him. Jesus said it will flow from within. When we are walking in a right relationship with God, nothing will stand in the way of the Living Water well flowing freely inside us. It bubbles up to overflowing, so that we may drink from it all the time.

In John chapter 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Jesus emphasized we must “drink”. It is an action, and an ongoing one. Even though we are given the deposit of the Holy Spirit, we must choose to drink of His Living Water every day.

On a hot summer day in Texas, a drink of water refreshes our parched mouths, regulates our body temperatures, and replenishes our dehydrated bodies. Similarly, the Living Water – the Holy Spirit of God – will refresh our emotions, regulate our minds and replenish our souls.

When the heat is on, deal with it, embrace it and conquer it by drinking continually from the well of Living Water that God has put inside you!

Free to be

I hope you’re enjoying the summer months as much as I am. It’s hard to believe July 4th has already come and gone. As I listened to the sound of fireworks on Independence Day, and watched their colorful display, my mind was captured by the lights and beauty in the night sky. For fifteen short minutes, I thought of little more than the blessing of freedom. I realized that some around the world listened in fear to the booming sound of warfare, while I fearlessly enjoyed the crackles of our country’s annual celebration. As a nation, America is truly blessed.

But just like the Israelites in Old Testament times, we often take our blessings for granted. God repeatedly showed the Israelites His faithfulness and compassion – leading, protecting, and providing for them – but time after time they demonstrated unfaithfulness to Him in return. Nehemiah 9:16-17 says their forefathers “acted arrogantly; they became stubborn and would not listen to (God’s) commandments. They refused to listen, and did not remember (His) wondrous deeds which (He) had performed among them.”

But God, being a God of forgiveness and compassion, “slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness,” did not forsake them. Instead, it says God gave His good Spirit to instruct them (v. 20), and He continued to bless them and expand their territory. Nehemiah says “(the Israelites) reveled in (God’s) great goodness.” But then, “they became disobedient and rebelled” against Him again (v. 25-26).

This is the sin nature of humankind. God blesses man, and man “disses” God. We recognize God as the Creator and Giver of all good things, but show Him little respect in our daily lives. We don’t appreciate His good instruction for how to live. Instead, we take advantage of the freedom God has given each of us to make choices, and we choose our own way rather than God’s way. We’re happy to receive His blessings of family and food, and especially the blessing of freedom – but the gift of guidance? No thanks, I’ll find my own way.

And so He lets us. God gives us the freedom to figure out life the hard way if we choose. But He also offers us the freedom to study His Word and to come into His presence in prayer and to know Him intimately as our friend! We have freedom in Christ to walk in fellowship with the living God and enjoy His presence each and every day! How crazy are we to refuse such blessings! Instead of taking the high road, we choose the hard road.

When I was in sixth grade, a long time ago, our entire student body watched a popular movie starring Marlo Thomas called, “Free to be you and me.” I don’t remember a lot about the movie, but the title makes its message clear. The movie taught the principle of individual freedom. But being a secular movie, it didn’t teach freedom in a biblical context. So here’s the truth. We are free to be either people who walk through life the hard way, following our own selfish desires, and experiencing the consequences that follow. Or we are free to be people who walk through life God’s way, bringing glory and honor to Him and enjoying an abundance of blessings.

In America, many men and women fought to give us the freedoms we enjoy, and for that we are most grateful. But it’s God who gives us the freedom of choice – the ability to think and make decisions. Many people learn about this freedom by making poor choices and walking away from God’s guidance. There are numerous accounts of such people in the Bible. If we want to walk a brighter walk, we must choose to learn from their experiences. We are free to be you and me. The “you and me” our selfishness drives us to be, or the “you and me” God designed us to be. The “you and me” the world seduces us to be, or the “you and me” the Word says we should be.

God gives us the freedom to find our own way in life. But that’s a kind of independence I’m really not interested in. Why choose a blind path when God offers to light the perfect way? And His light shines brightly year round, not just on July 4th. I’m choosing to walk a brighter walk, and you are free to join me!

One good marriage used by God can impact the world

I haven’t once watched “Jon & Kate Plus 8”. But like most Americans, I’ve heard this week of their proclaimed fate. My view of how their marriage difficulty could be addressed is posted online at EverydayChristian.com.

Today, I read of another marriage. One that I’ve not heard spoken of before. Consider the marriage of Pilate and his wife. Yes, Pilate, that governor who gave up our Lord to be crucified. I’ve always thought of him in such a negative light.

Actually, he’s just a sinner like me. Given the circumstances, I don’t know that I would have responded as a leader any differently. But I don’t think God would have had it any other way. I mean, if we Christians truly believe in the sovereignty of God and the sacrifice of Jesus given by God to reconcile us to Him, then Jesus had to go to the cross. God saw to it that He did. And I think He may have let Pilate’s nameless wife play an important role.

It would be easy to read right past Matthew 27:19. But it’s in there for a reason. God included every verse for a reason. In verse 19, we find Pilate determining what to do with Jesus, having found Him unworthy of the death sentence. He had a custom of releasing one prisoner to the crowd at “the feast”, likely referring to the Feast of the Passover. So he asked the crowd whom he should release to them – Jesus, an innocent man, only guilty in Pilate’s eyes of claiming to be a king but not worthy of death; or Barabbas, a convicted robber and murderer.

Now we come to verse 19. While Pilate was in this decision-making position, his wife sent a word to him saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

You see, back then, dreams were taken a lot more seriously. God used dreams to influence men in certain ways. Many believed that dreams were omens. The wise men that followed the star followed their dreams, literally. They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod after visiting the Christ child, and instead, returned to their country a different way (Matt. 2:12).

Pilate’s wife had a dream. This was not incidental to the outcome. It influenced Pilate in his decision. He listened to his wife, and had nothing to do with Jesus. He gave the decision to the people to make. Later in the passage, we read that Pilate washed his hands with water in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (v. 24).

What if Pilate had not listened to his wife? Or what if she had not shared? He might have responded in a different way. Instead, Pilate might have said, “He is not a candidate for the death penalty. Release Him!” But that was not God’s plan. The reason Jesus had been taken to the Governor to begin with is because the religious leaders lacked the authority to impose the death sentence. They needed the Governor’s ok.

Although Christ’s crucifixion was horrible, it’s what opened the door for us to be saved from the death penalty that we deserve for our sinfulness. It’s what allows us today to experience an everlasting love relationship with God.

God gave Pilate’s wife a dream, one that she felt free to share with her husband, one that her husband felt compelled to take seriously. Pilate and his wife communicated. They had some level of respect for each other. No, we don’t know how much, but we know their marriage was at least functional. They hadn’t thrown in the towel. And God was able to use it to help accomplish the greatest act of love ever known to man.

If you’re married, how healthy is your relationship? How is God using your marriage to accomplish His plan?

On the back side of the storm

I've never done this before and won't make it a practice, but today I feel led to double a post on both my blogs. Something tells me the message God gave me last night in the midst of the storm might minister to more than just my girls on Daughters By Design. I think He has a message for all of us, young and old. Be encouraged today in the midst of your storms!

***

Spring has long ago sprung, and summer has already begun. But today at my house the spring storms are still in the air.

Last night, the storms were so severe I was in the closet for twenty minutes! The tornado and fire truck sirens howled, and my dog Moo eagerly joined the alarming chorus.

The tops of several of our trees were sheared straight off. Huge limbs lay in abundance around our house in both the front and back yards. As my mother used to say about my room, “It looks like a tornado came through.” And it may have.

When the storms quieted down, Papa Jeff and I were left sitting in the dark without any electricity. So we decided to venture out in the car to see what damage had been done. Fortunately, we saw lots of standing water and broken trees, but no displaced people or broken homes. Many storms are far worse.

As we drove around, I looked at the back side of the ferocious storm that had left its mark in our yard. Surprisingly, I saw a beautiful rainbow. It occurred to me the rainbow wasn’t on the front or in the middle of the storm. It came on its heels, following behind after the intensity of the storm had passed.

In Genesis, God promised Noah he would never again destroy “all flesh” of the earth by a flood, and the rainbow was his sign of this promise. But there is an even bigger message in the rainbow. It reminds us that God is in control of every storm. It is a symbol of his power to limit a storm’s impact, to determine its magnitude and decide its end.

We all face storms and many are of another kind – life storms that move in our direction seemingly out of nowhere. Like rain storms, they are dark and scary. They are beyond our control. They can cause damage and even threaten our lives. We wonder if they will ever end.

When you experience life storms like failure, loss and heartache, I pray today you will always remember God is at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of every storm that comes your way. He is always present and always in control.

Next time you find yourself in a storm, anticipate the rainbow. It will surely come!

Pollution-free Living

I read the NASB (New American Standard Bible). Why? Because a very important youth pastor gave me a copy of it when I first came to understand the reality of Jesus and what he did for me. It was actually this pastor's own Bible. He’d probably be happy to know that it has gone to good use. I ought to look him up!

The pages are written on and falling out so much so that I decided it was time to get a new Bible to take with me to church. I feared every week some loose pages would go flying down to the floor, slide under the pews out of my reach, never to be seen again. So recently I purchased a new Key Word Study Bible. What version? The NASB of course!

But that is not the only Bible I own, nor read. Actually, these past few years of Bible teaching have led me to realize the importance of studying the Bible from several translations, as its meaning is expanded significantly. There are many free websites that allow you to look at several versions of scripture at once. http://www.studylight.org and http://www.blueletterbible.org are two that I use.

Yesterday I ran across the verse 2 Corinthians 7:1 written in the New International Version. Since the NIV is not the version I read on a daily basis, the wording brought the message into a whole new light for me. Here it is:

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

“Contaminates” got my attention. Did it you? What contaminates me? Contaminate by definition means to make impure, dirty, or unfit for use. Contamination is pollution.

Our neighbors on both sides have a pool. They do a great job of keeping their pools free from pollution and contaminates. They are able to enjoy them because they stay clean, fresh and fit for use.

My life is like those pools. I have to keep it free from unwanted things and ready for use. This verse reminded me to take a moment to examine the pool of my life. What’s in there, and what do I need to clean out so my life is fresher, more useful and more enjoyable?

Just like caring for a pool, caring for my body and spirit takes time and effort. But the refreshment that comes from enjoying a contaminate-free life is worth the effort!

A Mixed Bag

Hello Friends of Prayerfully Penned!

My last post about the “Impending Doom of Christians” may have sounded like a loss, but it won me a spot as a regular blogger for EverydayChristian.com. I do hope you’ll stop by this website on occasion. I’ll be posting there at least twice a week. For those of you on the Feed Blitz list, I promise you will not be emailed all those posts! No worries! It is a separate site, unrelated to my blog list. I encourage you to check it out!

The title of my last post was purposely a little “over the top” to grab your attention. Certainly we Christians are not doomed. The post was in response to another Christian article, one I felt compelled to share with you. I find that I am prompted to write primarily on two occasions: 1) after reading the Word and receiving new revelation; and 2) after learning something new from another source that impacts my faith. Since I’m doing both daily, I find I am writing more and more, and having a grand time!

As a result, this blog has become a bit of a mix of devotional thoughts, book reviews and current cultural issues, and I do hope you will stay tuned! This particular blog is morphing into a more diverse collection of writings, and I pray it will continue to inspire and challenge you in your walk of faith. I want to thank those of you who have been with me for a while, and welcome those of you who are just tuning in. I am honored to think that God might use my limited writing skills to speak some word of truth or encouragement to you.

A Word for Today

Speaking of learning, boy did I learn something new today! I’ve written a full account which should be posted to EverydayChristian.com soon, but here’s a taste to whet your appetite.

At PowerLunch at Prestonwood Church today (my home church), I heard Author and Speaker, Brigitte Gabriel speak to an overflowing and captivated audience of hundreds, who burst to their feet in a standing ovation at the end. Raised in Lebanon, she and her family were Christians and came under attack by radical Islamic terrorists. Her childhood story was fascinating enough, but the majority of her entrancing speech was about the presence of radical Islam in America.

Gabriel founded the American Congress for Truth, or ACT, in order to raise the awareness level of our nation to the threat of radical Islam, and to fight for our national security. She is the New York Times Bestselling Author of Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America; and her latest release is They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It.

Paul E. Vallely, Major General U.S. Army (Ret.), said of her latest book: “This book gives dire warning of what is to come if the Western world does not take responsible action to protect its people. The United States is the primary target as Islamic radicalism attempts to spread its worldwide dominance.”

Gabriel encouraged today’s audience to look at the history of other nations for some lessons. She said, “Europe has become Eurabia.”

Many of you know that after much prayer I have adopted the label “Brighter Walk” for my ministry identity. It encapsulates many things, but one of which is the idea of intelligence. To walk as a Christian should include the use of our God-given minds for intelligent pursuits which will glorify Him. I pray you will join me on this journey. We need smart Christian leaders to guide our country through this historically significant time. I hope you will journey on to EverydayChristian.com and read more about radical Islam through the very intelligent eyes of Brigitte Gabriel.

Impending Doom for Christendom?

Do you consider yourself a Christian, a Believer, and/or an Evangelical? "Christianese" is rampant in our culture and perhaps to a fault. Like church denominations, religious labels can be counterproductive to the Church, dividing us like political party lines. Regardless of your answer, if you label yourself Christian, whatever the variety, your world is shaped to some degree by others who also claim the name. Understanding how your world is shaped is a key to successfully living out the purpose God had in mind for you when He placed you in it.

A recent article entitled The Coming Evangelical Collapse by Internet Monk Michael Spencer is fiercely stirring the religious pot in America. Since thousands and perhaps even millions of Americans of many faiths are discussing it, Evangelicals would be wise to take note and learn of their impending doom. Yet their act of learning, or rather their absence of, is one of the contributing factors to the Evangelicals’ grim diagnosis.

Spencer states, “Being against gay marriage and being rhetorically pro-life will not make up for the fact that massive majorities of Evangelicals can’t articulate the Gospel with any coherence.” Regarding evangelical youth, Spencer writes, “Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it.”

Spencer makes many valid arguments for his case, arguments that should inspire us to change. We need to recognize individually our personal weaknesses in living the Christian life and take action. We must admit that not only have we fallen short of the glory of God, we have fallen short of the plan of God for our new life in Christ. Spencer suggests that “we need new evangelicalism that learns from the past and listens more carefully to what God says about being His people….”

Yes, it is time for us to learn both the history of our faith and the wisdom of God. Assuredly it is time, too, for speaking up for the Judeo-Christian values upon which our country was founded, and time for fighting the battles for freedom of religion and religious speech. But if our zeal for our religion outweighs our zeal for our relationship with Christ, we have missed the point. Ultimately, such misplaced zeal may prove costly to the Church at large.

Surely we Evangelicals are long on lecturing and short on learning. But in seeking to add more intelligence to our primarily “emotion-driven” faith, we might choose as our first area of study – “How the World Has Impacted Our Zeal.” Where is your zeal placed today? Is it found in your church, your cause, your culture, or your Christ? History teaches us that when Christians unite their passion for Christ Himself, the Church Itself is saved.

A Gift of Grace

What a gift we have received in the Lord Jesus Christ! Ephesians 2:8 tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." God's grace granted us the faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our one and only Savior, giving us the only prerequisite necessary to eternal life with Him. By God's grace we are made able to believe, and by God's grace we are then saved through the gift of faith.

Both faith and grace are gifts of God in the myriad of gifts He generously distributes. Author Amy Clipston uses her amazing gift of storytelling to tell about a gracious gift of another kind in A Gift of Grace. Another book in the Amish Fiction genre, this story pulls at the heartstrings of belonging, beliefs, culture and values. Instant motherhood and a clash of cultures makes this new book a fun fiction read for the Christian fiction enthusiast, like my dear friend Glenda who can hardly put it down. Enjoyable and tender, this is sure to be a favorite for years to come.

Your Family and the Changing Times

Family time is precious time. Ironically, in this struggling economic season family time may actually be a surprisingly positive byproduct of a seemingly negative situation. Less money on hand may equate to less time away from home and more time in the nest.

You may find yourself wondering, what on earth do we do with this "extra together time”? Well, it may be time to search out those board games. You know – Monopoly, Clue, Life, etc. If you’re like me, you probably have enough stored in a hall closet to open your own game store.

Perhaps you’ve decided to let go of those premium movie channels on cable. But I bet you’ve hung onto those old family movies and videos from years gone by. Or maybe you’re wondering what you’ll do on weekends now that you’ve rid yourself of those monthly boat payments. If so, maybe an occasional camping trip will provide a new bonding experience for your loved ones.

Speaking of camping, how about a FREE family getaway to an overnight camping haven! Sound too good to be true? Well someone has to win it!

If you blog, simply join in the conversation about families on your own website. Post a few tips for your friends, and pass along this same invitation to join in the conversation about family time. Laity Lodge Family Camp wants many people passing the word about the importance of family time and the gift of Family Camp. One of us “e-conversationalists” will win a free weekend at the Laity Lodge Family Camp in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, just for spreading the message of the importance of the family! For those of you who cannot enter, you may still want to visit their website to see the many weekend opportunities to get away with your family in the coming year.

While these times may be trying economically, this Pollyanna believes that every cloud has a silver lining. Let’s treasure this opportunity to refocus on one of God’s greatest blessings – the family.

Brain Power

Even as I booted my laptop to write this review, I was captured alive by the power of the unending internet, seducing me to click on such links as “Christian woman making two grand from home working part-time on the computer” and a video of Rick Warren discussing his position on traditional marriage. Ten minutes later, I now powerfully reclaim my day’s agenda, thanks in part to Shane Hipps’ Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith.

Shane not only addresses the internet in this powerful book, but the entire Print Age, tracing the effects of such media as the written word, photography, radio, and television. But this non-fiction read is by no means dry. It actually goes down like a delightful chocolate milkshake, one I didn’t want to put down and didn’t want to end. I look forward to a second glass.

Every believer and follower of Christ will walk away from this read with an expanded mind. Evangelicals might note Hipps is a Mennonite and his beliefs are woven in the fabric of his work. However, shaping the readers’ mind theologically is not his goal, and any occasional theological difference I may have encountered while reading did not distract me from our shared purpose –awareness. We agree on this main point – if Christians are to walk successfully in this new age, we must become aware of the forces of the age in which we walk.

Hipps’ work fulfills its back-cover promise to awaken readers, opening eyes so that nothing looks the same again. It has stamped my thinking with a permanent reflective question, “Am I responding solely to the hands of the Potter, or am I resigning to the spinning forces of our culture?”

e-encouragement

Encouragement. What is it, really? Courage comes from the word heart. So to encourage literally means to build or strengthen the heart. God charges us in His Word to build up others and ourselves in Him, even daily, so that our hearts will be protected and prepared for a life of service to Him.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1Th 5:11).

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13).

Recently, I was invited to participate in a new way of encouraging others in the Lord through the use of the Internet. WebTV4Women.tv is a new one-of-a-kind FREE e-community for women, driven by some of the most nationally-recognized leaders in women’s ministry. It is an honor to work with such an incredible group of ladies.

I invite you to join my friend, author and speaker Karol Ladd, for a Fresh Start to your week. This weekly WebTV show is a brief Monday morning webcast, including a devotional by Karol and an additional segment or two by some of her friends – one of which is me! I am so excited to have the opportunity to join her in this new venue, sharing God’s love internationally through the Internet and encouraging others in their spiritual walk.

This week’s Fresh Start show includes my interview with friend, Lynn Nikaidoh, a remarkable woman who has remained steadfast in her faith despite the tragic loss of her stepson. Please take time today for a Fresh Start to your week, and receive strength and encouragement for your soul.

Click here to watch the 3/30 edition of Fresh Start!

A Heaping Portion

When I read or hear the word portion, I naturally think of food. I’m embarrassed to admit, but all too often at mealtime I’m longing for fairly large portions of whatever is on the menu, while simultaneously battling this desire in my mind, knowing that God would probably prefer my portions to be smaller than larger for the sake of His temple!

So when I hear the verse, “The Lord is my portion,” (Lam 3:24) my mind naturally thinks in terms of sustenance and amounts of it. This is not incorrect in theme, but somehow I knew there was more to this truth that my mind had yet to wrap around. Today, God led me to a more complete understanding.

Portion is an English word representing a Hebrew expression with deeper meaning than simply an amount. The Hebrew word for portion is used most often in the Old Testament in conjunction with the acquisition of land or property, and means more than simply a share or a part. It encompasses the ideas of possession, inheritance and award. Try substituting one of these three words for portion the next time you think about what God is to you.

Selah.

The Lord is my possession. He gave Himself for me long ago. But He gave Himself to me in a love relationship when I surrendered my life to Him. As with my earthly husband, I do not own him, but I know that “I am his, and he is mine.” (Sol 2:16) We belong to each other. Like all blood relationships, the Lord is mine in an everlasting kinship.

He is my forever Father. His love overwhelms me.

The Lord is my inheritance. He is my heritage and my legacy. I receive life with Him eternally because He adopted me into His royal family. My birthright is oneness with Him. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1Co 6:17) He no longer calls me servant, but friend. (John 15:15) His companionship is eternally mine.

He is my forever Friend. His fellowship completes me.

The Lord is my award. Not that I am rewarded for anything I have done, but by His grace I am awarded such a prize as the Lord Himself! By His Spirit, He lives in me. “For we are the temple of the living God.” (2Co 6:16) "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) By His grace, I am reborn with His powerful presence given to live in me.

He is my forever Force. His power enlivens me.

God is much more to me than some measurable amount of momentary sustenance. He is an immeasurable spring of continual satisfaction. The Lord is not merely my daily ration; He is my constant source of abundance. He is a bottomless banquet of everything I need, a never-ending portion for this hungry soul.

Food for Thought: As a believer and receiver of Christ, I am never unloved, alone or powerless. I am always loved, accompanied and powerful.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8)

Linking Souls to Daisy Chain

By now, most of my friends know that these days I am prayerfully penning more than these occasional entries, with the hope that God might use me to write something of significance to be read by a few more than frequent my little ole’ blog. If not, that’s ok. I love you guys, dearly! But writing books has been a dream of mine for a very long time.

I can still envision my first attempt at writing a book – notebook paper folded in half, hamburger style, turned sideways to form a book, and adorned with those blue notebook paper lines vertically positioned on its pages. It began in Chapter 1 and ended by Chapter 3. Short and sweet, complete with dialogue, third-grade printing and stick figures. It was something about a girl and her mother – my happy little world about that time.

Well, enough of Memory Lane. Today’s entry is not about my book writing, but a new friend's. In my recent journeys, I have had the pleasure of making acquaintance with one, Ms. Mary DeMuth, author of several Christian fiction and non-fiction books. I gladly agreed to participate in a “blog tour” in celebration of her newest release. My review of this captivating novel is below.

Meet Mary and Daisy Chain.

***

Defiance, Texas is a real place as far as I'm concerned. I can see the faces of her people, smell the stench of the rendering plant, and hear the voices rising from the church pews. Mary has a way of descriptive writing that breathes life into her characters, making them jump off the page and into your heart.

Mary bravely raises questions of faith in the minds of the characters, including the presence, power and sovereignty of God. She tells an all-too-believable story of secrets and sins in the lives of Christians. Daisy Chain never had a dull moment tempting me to put it down. Much to the contrary, I read this book in two sittings, putting off tasks in order to finish all 300 plus pages.

Like the bestseller, The Shack, the storyline is dark and the journey difficult. But in Mary's work we find biblical truth weaved seamlessly throughout its pages. The believer and nonbeliever alike will enjoy the read, and walk away with both satisfaction and hope.

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Click here to buy Daisy Chain, by Mary DeMuth.

(No, I’m not getting a commission! Ha!)

Visit other bloggers on this tour!

An Undeserving Nation

When you hear the name Jonah, what comes to mind? Probably a big fish. That’s pretty much all I could pull up about the story of Jonah until I set my mind to further study. Now if you’re a biblical scholar, you probably should be reading someone else’s blog. But if you’re like me, you don’t lack intellectual promise but are far from realizing your potential in understanding the Holy Scriptures. No big deal, you say? Take another look at the state of the union and then try to convince me. The time has never been more crucial for Christians to absorb and apply God’s Word.

So what do I think of now, after further study, when I think of Jonah? I think of a man unworthy to be used by God, a gifted man who was born among the chosen people of God and proud of it. He lacked compassion and mercy for those who were not like him, and did not hesitate to tell God how he felt. He ran from God, whined to God, argued with God and avoided His calling.

What did God do about it? He chastised him, rescued him, used him and continued to teach him. What a loving God! Jonah knew how loving and kind God was, and ironically that’s exactly why he ran from serving Him. Jonah selfishly hated the idea of God showing mercy to an undeserving nation, and even more so, for God to use him in the process.

Conservative Christians, may we ask God to reveal in our own hearts such selfishness! Is it possible that we don’t like the idea of God showing mercy to the undeserving and especially in asking us to be personally involved? After all, their ways are wicked! They have fostered relationships with evildoers! They have chosen death over life and foster fear over hope!

Who are we to have been chosen by God to be a part of his royal family for eternity, but not put on His love, compassion, kindness and mercy, even for those we deem unworthy? And who are we to declare the unworthiness of anyone?

We have a lot of negative to say about our nation and leaders right now. Perhaps rightfully so. But our godly judgment of the circumstances must not create such pride and self-centeredness that we would fail to desire God’s mercy for all people, and fail to be available for Him to use us in the process. If we become so self-seeking as to abhor the idea of God showering His compassion on our own fellow citizens, even refusing God’s directions for our individual involvement, we just show how undeserving of His favor we ourselves are.

What Would You Do?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Each day we are faced with millions, and that’s not an exaggeration. There are the more obvious decisions – what to wear, what to eat, whether or not to make that dreaded phone call, etc. And then there are the less obvious, but perhaps the more important ones – how will I respond to this situation, what I will choose to say, will I take time to listen to him or her, what will I do….

There’s a TV show on ABC this season called “What Would You Do?” It’s all about the decisions of people. The other day I caught a few minutes of an episode in which they placed a very real-looking baby doll in a car seat and left it locked alone in a car, accompanied only by recorded sounds of an infant’s helpless cries. It was amazing how many people walked by uncaring or even oblivious to the would-be dangerous happening.

There were those few, however, who were so moved out of compassion for the life inside that they immediately responded to rescue the child. Some called 911. Others began combing the crowds for the baby’s mother. When the pseudo-mom arrived on the scene, each of these who were filled with compassion for the child did not hesitate to unleash their righteous anger on the woman. The “mother”, an actress, responded with indifference which proved to heighten the Good Samaritan’s horror and pleas for care and responsibility. What would you do?

Likely, you would claim to respond like those above filled with compassion for the life of the child. However, is it possible there are thousands of decisions a day that beg our compassionate response to which we turn away and harden our hearts? I have a dreaded feeling this is true. Sadly, I predict that all too often we choose our own comfort and complacency over compassion for others.

I read something interesting today in Amos 1:11 that caught my attention. This verse conveys that Edom had transgressed against God by stifling his compassion. His violent acts and angry rampages, and likely those of his descendents in the country bearing his name, were a direct result of and happened “while he stifled his compassion.” And in doing so, he “maintained his fury.” What deadly decisions were made in the mind of man! By choosing to suppress the God-given ability to feel empathy for others, Edom consequently chose to sustain rage. It was a decision.

In our family, we remind ourselves and each other often that each of us is just one bad decision away from disaster. Decisions are crucial, and perhaps none more important than those that involve compassion for others. Jesus felt compassion for people, and showed compassion in many ways, the greatest of which was in giving His life for us on the cross. Ironically He said, “I desire compassion, and not sacrifice.” (Matt 9:13, NASB) Yet His sacrifice was the greatest act of compassion in history. But it was because of His compassion for us that His sacrifice was made. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12), because He first had compassion for us.

Stifle compassion, and sustain complacency, bitterness, even fury? Or stifle such self-centered, negative feelings, and sustain compassion? What would you do?

Lessons for the Labyrinth of Life

Mazes have always been one of my favorite pastimes. I don’t know why, but as a child I remember doing whole books of them, and drawing countless more in various shapes and sizes, challenging friends and family members to successfully find their way through my creative masterpieces.

Not surprisingly, then, is the fact that I loved to play with our family’s labyrinth. You know labyrinths, those wooden boxes with the tilting tops and silver balls. How I enjoyed trying to make my way around the dividing walls without falling in the holes.

It struck me how similar living is to playing that labyrinth. There are several kinds of players. The first is the one who doesn’t play at all. He finds it so frustrating that he chooses not to enjoy the challenge.

Another is the one who is overconfident, falsely believing that his skill and intelligence can conquer this little ball in a box. He relies on his own will to make the ball go where he wishes, and when it doesn’t, he becomes more and more frustrated, resulting in more and more failure until he finally gives up altogether.

Another player is the competitive one. He’s all about speed, and mistakenly believes that faster the ball rolls, the more effective he will be. This player is determined that speed will triumph over holes, and continues to speed up his race, even though the ball keeps dropping in the traps repeatedly.

The overconfident and the competitive players win on occasion. But the player who wins consistently is the smart one. This player is strategic, persistent, focused and self-controlled. He focuses on the end goal, identifies the path before starting, and proceeds slowly, but confidently.

While maneuvering through the pathway, this player doesn’t view the barriers as obstacles, but constructs to be used to his advantage to help move him toward his aim. The smart player moves steadily toward the goal, but knows when to pause on the journey for a thoughtful look at what is ahead.

The smart player does not plunge into holes of distraction, which take him completely off his path, nor is he anxious by their presence, as he knows this will only cause him to fall right into their traps. Instead, he remains aware of the pitfalls nearby, and works strategically to avoid them. He doesn’t get agitated or give up, but remains committed to the target, turning the tables calmly, slowly, and with precision.

We are called to run our individual races with endurance, and run so that we may win! We can be victorious if we will move through life with confidence, calmness and courage like a master labyrinth player. And as Christians we should be the most victorious, for our ability to play life well comes not from ourselves, but from God’s powerful living presence in us.

Sitting Ducks

There’s something about feathered friends that attracts me. I remember as a young girl making a bird-watching book, and keeping an illustrated journal of birds that I saw in our backyard. Ok. Now you know what a truly nerdy girl I was! But God can use anything to get a message across to us. Today, He used a duck.

I hope you’re laughing while still reading, as I’m laughing as I’m writing. You see, I passed some ducks on the way out of my neighborhood today. I happened to notice that one duck was alone, seemingly trapped behind an iron fence, while his three buddies were waddling about on the other side having a grand time while he watched. It occurred to me that very often that’s how we live our lives. Not the waddling part, but the fenced-in part. I began to ask myself and God, what fences me in? What do I get trapped behind that keeps me from enjoying fellowship with others? What keeps me from experiencing the joy of the freedom I’ve been given in Christ? In what areas of life am I just watching, rather than participating, and why?

I drove on, and returned quite a while later to find the exclamation point on God’s lesson to me. The lone duck was still there, looking forlorn through the fence. But the other ducks were long gone. Now he wasn’t trapped mind you, he could get out, he just wasn’t trying! Meanwhile, opportunity had flown. Life had moved on without him. Wow. How I don’t want to be like that lone duck in 2009!

I pray for you and for me that 2009 is a year of getting up and around whatever fences us in, so that we might experience all the joys of life that God allows to come our way. Let’s resolve not to miss anything this year because we sit idle behind our fences. First, let’s pray that God would reveal what fences us in and keeps us from life as it should be. Then, let’s pray for the courage and strength to get up and get over it! Jesus did not come to set us free so that we could jail ourselves in, but so we could have life and have it abundantly! (John 10:10) Let’s embrace and enjoy fully abundant lives in Christ this coming year!