Our Bible Study ended and families began to congregate in the hallway where the buzz of indistinct chatter filled the air.  I navigated my way through the crowd when a discernible sound drew my attention.

A young girl spotted her friend and called out her name in such a way that I could almost feel the delight in her voice.  It was as if she found something that had been lost. Her spontaneity and affection were so telling that I actually said, “Wow, I wish someone would greet me that way.”

Though my tone was merely conversational, the fact that the words leaped out of my mouth was significant. In the book of Luke we read that what we say flows from what is in our hearts. It was evident that the young girl’s greeting was heartfelt; so too was my statement.

It had been less than two weeks since my sister and dearest friend Cheryl died, leaving a hole in my heart the size of a fist.  She had been ill for several years, but had recently entered the hospital with stage 4 cancers.  She had loved and served the Lord for over 30 years, whether on her feet or from her sick bed.  Cheryl’s testimony was so profound that over 1,000 people attended her service. Several of them sought out family members in order to share their stories about how she had changed their lives for the better.

My tears stream from a twisted mélange of sorrow and hope. Her death has touched parts of my soul that had been unstirred until now.  I have prayed for hundreds of people who have lost loved ones.  How had they reconciled their losses?  The sense of unfinished business is intense when someone you love has died. There are things you want to say and do, questions you want to ask, and love you want to give.

At Cheryl’s hospice bedside the family would wait for an opportunity to communicate with her because she really did not have the strength for conversation. As I watched her sleep my thoughts would cycle through heartbreak for the family and contempt for her suffering. I prayed repeatedly, “Lord are we really going to lose her?” It felt truly unbelievable.

I braided Cheryl’s long wavy hair and stroked her face. She was leaving earth and I wanted to send her off with the biggest hug ever; as her older sister it just seemed right for both of us. But her body had become too frail for that. I would settle for a kiss on her forehead, and a knowing grin.

Back in the church hallway, just seconds after I spoke, I was literally tackled from behind.  Catching my balance I turned to see a beautiful little girl peering up at me.  She was about 8 years old, African, with lovely braided hair.  I did not know her name, but she had her arms wrapped tightly around my waist.  I looked into her darling little face and said, “You heard me?  I didn’t think anyone heard me…thank you for the hug!”

She gave me a big smile and I knew immediately that God had inspired the child’s purposeful actions. Her hug was strong, affectionate, and greatly comforting. Strangely and wonderfully it was characteristic of the hug that I had hoped to give to my sister.  I was stunned once again by the thoughtful ways that God works in our lives.

We read in Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you know not what is the way of the wind, or how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you know not the work of God, Who does all”.

The child ran off to find her friend and I remained to collect my thoughts. I wondered if God had made Cheryl aware of his intervention.  Could she see what had just happened and did she know what it represented?  I’ll ask when I get to heaven … shortly after I tackle her with a big hug!

Matthew 5:4 NLT God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts ..."

Luke 6:45 NLT A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

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On Christmas morning I got out of bed and headed for coffee when I noticed a very slow, soft, and picturesque snowfall through the kitchen window.  It was brief, but being a native of New England, snow on Christmas brought me back in time.

I recalled the day when I saw the largest snowflakes ever.  It was on Christmas Eve; I was about 8 years old, and we were leaving my grandparent’s house to return home.  To a young girl the experience was enchanting.  Enormous flakes fell from the sky like wafers and I was in a picture perfect world.

Back in my kitchen with coffee in hand …I smiled. I was glad for the nostalgic interlude as it inspired me to write and actually finish a blog for the first time in over a year.  Thank God for the ability to recall the blessed and better days of the past that so helpfully calm and stabilize the present.

Our family had been on a tumultuous journey.  During my writing hiatus my sister faced her third cancer surgery.  My mother and her husband returned to New England to be with the family and we constructed an apartment in our home where they now live.  Shortly after relocating, my mom had a cancer-infected kidney removed.  My father had a heart attack, a stroke, and open-heart surgery, and my husband, already dealing with physical disabilities, broke his neck in an auto accident.

While the years of childhood enchantment have gone, the wondrous gifts that drop from heavenly realms have not.  The Bible tells us in Isaiah 55:10-11:

“Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of My mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do; they'll complete the assignment I gave them".

As our purposeful God commands the rain and snow to fall - so too He sends His Word to heal (Psalm 107:20).  Happy New Year friends.  Believing for a better 2012!

Psalm 107:20 NLT He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

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Albert Einstein said that coincidence was God's way of remaining anonymous.  Even this esteemed twentieth century brainiac knew that some things in our physical world could not be explained by science, law, or reason.

Throughout my years as a Christian I have observed with awe, God’s considerate and deliberate dealings with man. It is impossible to ignore His purposeful intervention with people and His tenacious endeavors toward accomplishing His will on the earth. 

God does nothing haphazardly, so on those occasions when our physical and non-physical worlds function synergistically and deliver uncanny outcomes, it is more than coincidence; it is divine design!

I recently posted an entry called Place in this World.  It concerned, Bella, our new baby grand-daughter who was adopted by our daughter and husband last month.  Something extraordinary happened shortly after that entry was posted that I would like to share.

Our daughter-in-law, Michelle, told me that she had been searching for a black baby doll to give to Julianna, Bella’s new 4 ½ year-old sister. Bella is African American and her new family members are Caucasian, so this would be a sweet and thoughtful gift for Julianna. Michelle had visited some local stores and had not yet found the doll.
 
As she spoke, I remembered that I played with a black doll more than 40 years ago; it was special to me so I kept it.  I immediately unpacked the doll from storage.

Similar to Bella, the doll had a beautiful face with dark curly hair, though her outfit was worn and her body needed to be cleaned. I intended to give the doll to Michelle so that she could fix her up as a gift for Julianna, but she said that she would continue her quest for another. She felt that since it was my personal doll I should be the one to pass her on.

So the next day I bought the doll some new clothes, washed her, fixed her hair, and proceeded to dress her, when I noticed the branding that was embossed on her back. I decided to read it and what I saw was undeniably divine design.

The name "Bella" was imprinted in quotes on the doll’s plastic body! I could not believe my eyes! I blinked and stared; I don’t recall for how long.  All I could say was, “Wow …God …you are amazing”!

It didn’t take a genius to recognize the author of this outcome! God set something in motion years ago that He had just brought full circle.  I grew up playing with a beautiful black doll and branded on her back was the name Bella! What a coincidence

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

• (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NLT) "The Lord gave me this message: 'I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.'"
• (Galatians 1:15-16a NLT) "But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles…"

Before Bella was, God knew her and He had defined her place in this world.  She was born for a purpose and for our family!

Psalm 68:6a NKJ God sets the solitary in families;

To learn more about Bella's story visit Adoptablog

Some people have difficulty believing in a God who was killed on a cross.

In biblical times they thought, “This Jesus cannot be a king, and He certainly isn’t God; He is more likely a wrongdoer, a criminal. Crucify Him”! 

Mankind is capable of considerable error.  We fail, and we judge another’s weakness; we fear, and we judge another’s fate.  

The religious minds of the day could not accept Jesus’ message because it did not agree with their belief system.  He professed to be their Messiah, yet He did not establish the earthly kingdom that the Jews of that day expected.  In fact Jesus became an offense to them by what He said and did. 

John 1:17 says, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ".  Jesus was the message of grace to a graceless crowd.  They had only known the law.  So His sentence and execution were easily justfied.

They tried to use the scriptures to discredit Him.  Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states, “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree you must not leave his body on the tree overnight.  Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse ...” 

This scripture was indeed written about Jesus, but as a matter of truth, not for purposes of condemnation.  It was written about the amazing sacrifice that He would make.  The sin placed upon Jesus when He hung on the cross did make Him accursed.  

Even God the Father separated Himself from Jesus when He was on the cross.  We read of Jesus’ distressing cry in Matthew 27:46 when He recognized the Father’s discontent; the Father was repelled and wrathful in the face of such vile and evil darkness.

As Jesus writhed on that cross He wrestled with all the powers of evil; something only God could do.  The atmosphere must have been teeming with dark spiritual activity … and then, in probably the most powerful moment on earth, He died. 

Jesus truly was the God who was killed on a cross! You can believe! Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3)

Acts 15:11 NLT We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

Romans 6:17 AMP For sin shall not (any longer) exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law (as slaves), but under grace (as subject of God's favor and mercy).

If you have seen the children's movie Finding Nemo, you are familiar with one of the main characters in the film, a female fish by the name of Dory. Dory had a mantra which she recited throughout her journey, it was “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming”.

Dori lacked short term memory skills, and though her handicap made for some hysterically funny scenes, it might have been her demise if she had not found a way to keep herself in the flow of life. Fortunately, Dory kept swimming. 

Having struggled with a bad cold for the past few days I woke up after a second restless night and told myself to, “just keep going”. There are times in life when putting one foot in front of the other is all you’ve got.

The same is true when we go through periods of worry or stress. In those times the mind gets clouded and it can be difficult to think. Creativity is stifled, physical strength depleted; again we just keep...

At some point in Dory’s life she must have made a decision to press on despite her limitations. I know that I am talking about

Psalm 95:5 NIV The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

Proverbs 24:16 NLT The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.

Although I am grateful for the thread of perpetual hope that God has been faithful to weave into the days of my life, the year 2009 was nonetheless a serious one for me. Looking over the events of those 365 days, I felt sad.

On New Year’s Eve I almost gave way to self pity, but remembered the passage in Proverbs 24:10 that says, "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" …I’m not going to live small; nope, not going there.

While my problems are real, they are small compared to the sufferings of others. The truth is, I know in a big way that life is not about us. God sees our plight and He cares about every hair on our heads. However, He is likewise concerned about the greater good. It’s about His focal and eternal purposes on the earth. This leads me to my next point.

In the normal course of most days I am drawn to consider the suffering of mankind - a necessary exercise for a deep-feeler like me. Before I learned of the power of prayer, I considered my emotions to be somewhat of a handicap. However, lifting the desperate needs of others up to God, the One who has the desire and power to visit and rescue people in their misery, has become my consummate duty, privilege, and comfort.

In 2009 alone I heard that we experienced close to 250 major disasters worldwide, endangering 58 million people. For example, in January, 200 people were feared dead when a passenger ferry sank off the coast of an Indonesian island during a storm. In February bush-fires in Australia rendered more than 7,000 people homeless and caused death and injury to hundreds. In March, a 28 year old man killed 10 people in the worst mass shooting in Alabama history.

Globally, wars and natural disasters have killed thousands of people and left even more impoverished, in ill health, or separated from loved-ones. The fall-out from such trauma is far reaching.

There is more. Each year in the U.S. alone, almost a million children are victimized, and 1,500 to 2,000 of them die from physical abuse. Worldwide, women and children are kidnapped or sold for exploitation. Over the course of centuries the moral fiber of mankind has degenerated to such a degree that sex trafficking has become a gainful business.

Although disheartening, we must give attention to such realities if we are to function as a society. Human rights advocate, Gary Haugen said, "God has a plan to help bring justice to the world—and His plan is us."

We prefer to look away from these things because the truth is painful. But as responsible citizens of God’s kingdom and occupants of the earth, we must face and courageously uphold it. The convictions, passions, and love that God has placed inside of us exist for a reason. What are we doing with them?

Hebrews 10:24, says, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works". Diana Scimone has made it her mission to raise the awareness of child sex trafficking. I urge you to visit her website at The Born2Fly Project. Diana does not believe that she can stop the madness overnight because the problem is mammoth. However, she is doing her part to educate and mobilize. If enough people get involved, our efforts can make a difference.

By focusing on something outside of our problems that thread of perpetual hope that God weaves through our lives can be decisively grasped.  At the end of the day we will have spent more time praying for, doing for, and concerned about God’s purposes, than our own.

So on New Year’s Eve I almost gave way to self-pity, but was reminded to think bigger than myself!  May we all vow to reach well beyond ourselves in the year 2010. The outcome promises to be no small thing!

Proverbs 24:11-12 NIV Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?'

Matthew 25:35-36 NIV For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Mother Teresa said, "The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done".

Imagine loving someone desperately, though the individual does not reciprocate the sentiment; this is unrequited love, love that is unanswered or unreturned. 

In 1 John 4 we read that God is love; He is the originator, embodiment and essence of all that love is! He exists as love, passionately extending it to, and over us. Yet, His gestures are often unnoticed or ignored.

The Bible tells us that God said: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature." God purposely made us in His likeness so that He could have intimate fellowship with us; so that we could accept Him, and genuinely reciprocate His affection. Furthermore, He did this with the purest of intentions; evident by the fact that He gave us a free will.

He could have assured Himself of our life-long devotion. He could have been our addiction, our solitary passion!  But true to God’s character, He chose instead to give us the freedom to embrace or to reject Him. The God who is love, wants our devotion to Him to be heartfelt, not mandated.

I listened to a teaching by Winnie Banov recently. She pointed out that love is a wooing experience, not a legal or lawful responsibility. If we really love someone we are drawn to them and we willingly abandon ourselves into the relationship.

God hungers for reciprocal love; He wants those abandoned and tender moments with us. Let us respond and return His sentiments, and experience the ultimate success of loving.

1 John 4:16 NLT We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them

Acts 14:17 NLT but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.

Romans 1:20 NLT For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

If I had followed in my father’s footsteps I would have become a plumbing contractor, but my dad discouraged it.  I eventually understood his reservations, as I was not wired for the job. 

My father wisely discerned the dichotomy between the raw realities of his job and my developing aptitudes.  It was not unusual for him to forge metal pipes, or to carry a bathtub up a flight of stairs on his back.  I, on the other hand, spent my time riding horses, dancing, and writing poetry.  There wasn’t anything about me that matched a plumber’s qualifications. I just wanted to be like him.  

As an adolescent my desire to be like my dad meant taking on his profession and doing the job that he did each day.  I later recognized the things that I most admired about him were character traits.

I observed how he cared for others.  As a result people, even strangers quickly adopted him into their families, and they would rely on him for input or help with decisions or problems. People just seemed to feel better when he was around.

Author Maya Angelou wrote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel".

It is not the good works that we do for others that matter most in our relationships, though these are both necessary and beneficial; it is our manifest belief in the individual that matters. This is a Godly principle that my dad understood.  We are all created to fulfill a matchless destiny. Knowing that someone believes in our ability to fulfill that destiny is compelling.

Jesus was the absolute Master at this! Consider the sensational change in the life of Mary Magdalene … and what about the 12 disciples?  Jesus’ investment in their lives was so believable, His confidence in them so empowering, that even after He was physically taken away, they went on to revolutionize the entire world!

Following in His footsteps, the apostle Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church. “I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles”.  By caring about and believing in others we validate their personal worth.  These are the sentiments that capture people’s hearts.

He learned this from Jesus … as he sought to be just like HIM!

Colossians3:10 NLT Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Matthew 4:19 NLT Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

He uses the rub between people to communicate matters of relevance.  And this is not only achieved through our casual contact with one another, but also through a divinely inspired plan that is otherworldly, powerful, and strategic.

John 3:16 NLT For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:9 NLT God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal lift through him.

Proverbs 20:22 NIV Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Matthew 6:14 NIV For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Romans 12:18-20 NIV If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

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This podcast is a summary of the lessons that I learned over the years concerning the management of anxiety and depression. This particular message was delivered live and is "unedited", so please forgive any personal references between the speaker and the audience.

A great victory can be won just by understanding the truth about what we fight in the arena of anxiety and depression, and there is more. By applying our faith, and by using the various tools available to us, we can be free to live a joyful and abundant life. Please click the Media link above and take a listen. I pray that you will be encouraged and changed by God's power - through the truth that you hear!

Psalm 94:19 NIV When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Colossians 1:15-17 MSG He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Philippians 4:5-9 MSG Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reverend Tom Ascol said, “Self-deception is an insidious condition. You will never meet a person who knows he is self-deceived. By definition, those ensnared are completely unaware that they are.”

The self-deceived are often used to defy truth and reason. They employ weapons of absurdity and irrationality, yet they believe in their causes as strongly as the righteous.  But when lies are unshackled from the mouths of the unjust and truth is stomped by corruption, when the innocent are assailed and wickedness is endorsed, when faith is pretentious and God is mocked, sin will abound, and… we grieve.

There is a great uneasiness that comes to God’s true followers in the face of such senselessness.  We shake our heads with wonder.  We pray.  We wait for His intervention and deliverance, but more… we learn.

We look to Jesus and learn of His grace. The Lord wants us all to make it and He is not only thoughtful, but He is proactive about it. Where the law identified and demanded punishment for sin, through our belief in Jesus’ extraordinary sacrifice on the cross, we obtain grace.

Jonah 2:8 NIV "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs…”

Romans 5:20-21 NIV The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 4:16 NIV  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The woman described above was me. For some of my adult years I struggled with anxiety, depression, and finally panic attacks. I was in emotional bondage; dying inside, but desperately wanting to live.

Everybody has their own version of happiness. Mine was to understand and liberally embrace the life that Jesus died to give me. So, even in the dark times when I could not see beyond my fears, I fumbled and reached in God's direction. Thankfully He was there.

The Bible tells us that God would dwell in a dark cloud. So even in our most desperate times, He is with us. He became a very personal help in my time of need. He showed Himself strong when I was weak, and He embraced me with a love that radically transformed my spirit, soul and body.

I still pray the name "Jesus", but not out of fear, as I am no longer the woman on that couch. One day I looked up and HIS light had undeniably pierced my dark cloud. I was thawed, calm and unafraid; ready to live that life that He died to give me!

2 Chronicles 6:1 NIV Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud…"

Psalm 46:1 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

On July 4, 2009 in New York Harbor, after an eight year hiatus, hundreds of people climbed the stairs to the crown of the Statue of Liberty.  Public access to the crown had been prohibited for nearly a decade after the September 11, 2001 attacks because emergency evacuation down its narrow, double-helix staircases did not meet safety codes.

Additionally, certain areas of the 354-step climb to the crown are so ominous that some visitors have been overcome by claustrophobia, panic attacks, and heat exhaustion.  And for those having such difficulty, the winding and constricted stairs allow no option to turn back.

The English Poet, Francis Quarles wrote, "He that hath no cross deserves no crown". The challenging ascent into the statue’s crown is an illuminating example of man’s mounting journey through life; the higher the calling, the more arduous the climb.

Some years ago I experienced a personal struggle with anxiety and depression. Unable to change my circumstances, I became iimpeded and could barely function day to day. I was emotionally stuck enroute  . . . yet, I knew that I must advance.

Fortunately, the climb is not to the swift, strong, or privileged, and it is not about skill or technique.  So I dragged myself through each second, minute, hour, and day.  My ascent was slow and clumsy, but by wholly believing God’s Word, and by earnestly applying His principles, I was able to make my upward step-by-step journey a triumphant one.

Lady Liberty continues to welcome the tired, poor and homeless, and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.  Both structurally and symbolically, she represents a hopeful call to all people to come up higher. Regardless of your cross, attain the crown!

James 1:12 NIV Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

2 Timothy 4:8 NIV Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

As I began to process her death, I shared her story with others, but it seemed that those who heard barely acknowledged my words. I was disheartened by their lack of emotion, so I examined my expectations.

It did not take long before I realized the obvious. They didn't know Doris personally, so they simply could not relate or empathize. No matter how much I reminisced I could not bring them to where I was. Hearing was not the same as knowing.

I applied this observation to the most important relationship ever; that of God and man. Again, just hearing about Jesus is not enough; there is no relevance without personal knowledge. We must know Him.

While I can no longer introduce you to our dear Doris, I can introduce you to Jesus. The Bible tells us that He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. If you invite Him in, you will know Him; He will become your Savior, your Comforter, and your Forever Friend!

Revelation 3:20 NLT Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Psalm 116:15 NLT The Lord cares deeply, when his loved ones die. 

 

During a five day bout with the flu, on a venture from the bed to the couch, my telephone rang.  It was a friend calling to tell me that she was on my front porch. When I opened the door she greeted me with a large container of homemade chicken soup; still warm. She heard that I was sick, so she made me soup to help me heal.

As I took hold of the container, I had to force away the tears of gratitude that pressed against the back of my eyes. I was privy to my friend’s hectic schedule, her personal health problems, and her family’s financial difficulties. I recognized the real value of her gesture, and I was truly stunned by her thoughtfulness.

She rushed off to work and I closed myself in with the quiet and solitude of my condition again. I expected to drag myself through the remainder of the day, but that was not the case. While my body was achy and tired, my spirit had been lifted and encouraged. Because of my friend's gesture I felt better; she had brought me more than soup!

Proverbs 15:30 NLT A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

You have a matchless, purpose driven, divinely appointed place and calling in this world. Without you the world would be lacking. Without you the exact spot on earth where you are right now would be empty, and all the people who you have touched throughout your years on earth would be different.

In fact, you are so important that God Himself made it a point to become familiar with you even before you were born. He has distinguished the number of hairs on your head. His love for you is distinctive.

Sadly, people will fail you, but Jesus will not. On the contrary, as the embodiment of love He showers you with affection and fidelity; the essence of who He is protects and nurtures you as His beloved.

Put aside life’s disappointments and focus on the Lord’s rightful consideration of you today. Let the truth of the scriptures that follow find a place in your heart, and embrace your calling. Your unique imprint and unrivaled destiny cannot be fulfilled by another. 

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

2 Timothy 1:9 NIV ... who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time...

 

God thoughtfully created earth, a visible kingdom for our pleasure and habitation. And He generously spread evidence of Himself throughout, in order to compel us toward Him. May we not take these gestures for granted.

How often do we disappoint or insult our Creator by looking upon a sunset, a waterfall, or a blossoming flower without recognizing their divine significance. God’s intricate and sustaining handiwork upon the earth is a living depiction of His creativity and love.

He has placed us in a picture full of beauty; our world is bountiful in things that are pleasant to our senses. We see His great glory through the upholding of time and the endurance of nature. What attention to detail He has illustrated in His care for us. We are warmed by the sun, and nourished by the rain; by daylight we see, and by twilight we rest.

Martin Luther said, "God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars". Yet we still have the ability to disregard the passionate and graphic evidence of God that dances from rain to sea, and seed to plant.

I wonder what our world would be like if God decided to roll up earth’s canvas. Suppose He chose to remove the light? Without wind or rain, would the earth be clean; how would it smell? If the rivers were stilled and vegetation withered, how would we be sustained? Suppose that there was no more sound, no breaking waves or brushing leaves, no music; what if God was no longer creative, generous, playful and loving?

Such devastation cannot be imagined from One so faithful. Our God has truly given us all things to enjoy! Thank Jesus today for the touch of time, the scent of life, the vista of expectancy, and the sound of heaven.

Oh, beloved, behold the evidence! Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Romans 1:19-20 NLT They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Grandma was tiny in stature but considerable in character. She had learned to be entirely satisfied with the simple life; she was passionate about people, not things. She loved with organic sincerity and meekness. As a compassionate woman it was not unusual to see her eyes wet with tears over someone’s family crisis, or the latest news report.

Because grandma was special I expected the moment of her death to be imposing or angelic. It seemed terribly anticlimactic and out of balance for her to simply expire like everyone else. I expected it to be better for her! Since she had lived so remarkably I assumed that her passing would be distinctive. But it was not. There was no symphony playing, and no visible light beams shone from heaven to usher her from this life to the next. The wonderful lady just stopped breathing and was no longer here.

I wrestled with confusion about the experience until God graciously put it in perspective for me. The lack of ceremonial display at her death should not be a reflection of her life in any way. Life is relevant only for as long as we are here, but eternity is forever! The real action, what truly matters at the end of an individual’s life, resides on the other side of death, so of course what we see when the soul leaves earth lacks totality.

Grandma died at age 96 of heart failure; the only time that I ever saw her ill. Several days before her death, grandma had a spiritual visitation. The incident frightened her so much that the hospital staff moved her to another room in an attempt to comfort her. She said that two women entered her room and mocked her. They told her that she would die in the hospital and that she would never see her home again. She said that they ridiculed her repeatedly until the voice of a man from outside her door demanded that they leave. She never saw the man.

I received a call regarding the incident and rushed to the hospital. On the way, I asked God for wisdom so that I would know what to do when I saw her. God was faithful. He conveyed to me that grandma did not have the assurance of salvation, and that her life was literally hanging in the balance between heaven and hell. I was surprised, as I had thought for years that she was a Christian.

When I arrived at the hospital I leaned over grandma’s frail body and asked her if she believed that she would go to heaven when she died. With minimal strength she whispered that she had not been a good enough person. Wow what a statement! All her life, she gave and gave and gave to others; she WAS a good person! But in the hours before death, when she was closest to facing her Maker, she was confronted by her unworthiness. What a beautiful example of why we need a Savior. Even the best among us cannot reach God without accepting the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

I said, "Oh grandma, it is not about that; nobody is good enough. Jesus is not looking for your goodness; He is looking for your heart! He will cleanse you from your sin and make you ready for heaven". I was privileged to share God’s great love and gift of salvation with grandma, and she accepted Jesus as her Savior.

She continued to have visions until her death; however after that day they were encouraging manifestations of beautiful white horses, and friendly faces that brought her comfort. Then, one night her heart stopped beating and she quietly left.

So it is true; grandma’s death was not equal to the way that she lived. However, her time in eternity will far surpass any desires or expectations that I had for her! She lives eternally, in her eternal home, with the eternal God! It doesn’t get better than that!

Psalm 116:15 NIV Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.

2 Peter 1:11 NLT Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Luke 10:38 NIV As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Gracian’s statement is so true. We use an eye-balling standard of judgment with people.  We myopically size them up based on a narrow list of criteria. Then, without consideration of the whole person, we mindlessly slap an invisible label on them and carelessly move on.  It is shameful how systematically we do this, overlooking the fact that every person is made up of body, soul and spirit. Oh, what substance and richness lay within people, unheard and unappreciated if we settle only for what they seem… as opposed to who they are.

Every now and then, by the grace of God, we are eclipsed by something wonderful that causes us to take a second look and hopefully lend an ear. At the time of this writing much of the free world gave that courtesy to Susan Boyle.

Susan was a 47 year old Scottish woman with a dream of becoming a professional singer.  She auditioned on the show, “Britain’s Got Talent”, and the video of her performance had circled the globe through the Internet.  The video was so stunning that it had been viewed more than 40 million times on YouTube alone.  I watched it myself a dozen times with torrential tears. 

Susan’s appearance and mannerisms were unassuming and slightly peculiar.  She was an atypical contestant, because she was not outwardly glamorous or hip.  It was evident that the judges and audience were dubious about her singing ability, as she was quietly scorned up to the second that she opened her mouth. 

Then came Susan's moment. This dear lady sang, "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Misérables", and her very first words caused the auditorium to literally erupt with cheers!  Her humble presence and magnificent voice sent an undeniable message of beauty and grace to every ear. Her voice opened the door for us to know her.  She was more than she had seemed!

The Bible says in James chapter 2. “… If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, ‘Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!’ and either ignore the street person or say, ‘Better sit here in the back row,’ haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?” 

I believe that God used the fulfillment of Susan Boyle’s dream to get our attention. He expects us to care equally about all people.  He wants us to look beyond the jacket of those we meet.  It is His desire that all would have opportunity to sing!

1 Timothy 1:5 NIV The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The old song, Up Where We Belong, inspired this entry.

Last spring a bird built a nest under the roof of our front porch where she laid her eggs.  Soon after, two baby birds were born.  We listened to their tiny chirps, and watched them stretch there little necks toward mama when she flew in the groceries. They seemed like a happy bird family.

Then one day as I passed by the porch door, something caught my eye. One of the babies had fallen several feet to the concrete floor below and he was barely moving.  I alerted my husband who went out and gently lifted the little fuzz-covered guy back into the nest. 

We wondere

Psalm 30:1 NIV I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

James 4:10 NIV Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

John 1:5 NLT The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Jesus looks on us with the gentleness of a dove, seeing through eyes that are untainted; His vision is unveiled, so He sees us in the purest sense. His gift of salvation presents us as faultless before the Father. His eyes are deep-set; the depth of His character beckons for our attention. His deep calls to our deep. He cries from His essence, “Come”.

Lock eyes with Jesus and let the wells of water that spring from Him cleanse and renew your human soul. Like waterfalls that rush over stone, soil, and flora, everything is washed, and your relationship with Him is refreshed once again.

Frolic with Jesus and lack no good thing. Respond, engage, and prepare for the privilege of being His bride.

Song of Solomon 4:9 NIV You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

Mark 1:35 NLT Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

As a practical part of my Bible college training I was required to go with one or more people to a store and purchase items as we felt directed by God. Then we were to bring the items to the home of someone who we did not know; the address being one that the Lord led us to.

It was early December and the stores were bustling with shoppers. My husband joined me and we prayed for direction concerning the excursion and visit. God was faithful to lead us.

After shopping, I knocked on the door to a white farmhouse in town, and an older man answered. He was holding a telephone to his ear, though he was not talking. The man stood a foot or two back on the other side of the storm door. I thought that he might be intimidated because the upper panel of the door was missing and there was no physical barrier between us. He stared at me as I introduced myself.

I smiled so not to worry him, and explained about the mission that I was on; telling him that the Lord led me to shop for, and deliver, gifts to his address. As I spoke, his eyes got wider and his jaw literally dropped. He continued to hold the phone to his ear; still not talking.

It appeared as though the farmhouse had been subdivided into apartments and the man was living in a one room studio. I noticed a small bed behind him pressed up against the wall. This blessed me because we had purchased a twin-size heating blanket. We knew that buying a size-specific gift was risky, but my husband and I both felt that God was leading us in that direction. Seeing this little bed confirmed to me that we had stopped at the right home.

I lifted the wrapped package to pass it through the opening in the door. The man reached for it apprehensively, in slow motion; still holding the phone to his ear, still not talking, and still staring directly at me. I assured him that there were no strings attached to the visit. I said that I was a Christian and that the visit had been ordained by Jesus solely to bless him.

Then I bent to the ground where I had placed a second gift, and raised it cautiously to the opening. It was a happy little live Christmas tree, two feet tall, and fully decorated. It was at this point in the visit that I witnessed the divine impact of my call. The man’s eyes left me for the very first time and locked onto the little tree. There was a dramatic change to his countenance. His facial expression softened, and he smiled as if the tree held particular significance to him.

Then he excitedly put down the first package and reached in my direction with his free arm, wrapping it tightly around the base of the little tree. The heating blanket purchase spoke to me, but it was the tree that spoke to the man. It appeared to be the evidence that he needed to believe my words.

As I turned to leave I said, “Jesus did this to let you know that you are loved.” With the phone in one hand and the tree in the other, he gave me a big knowing smile. We hope to visit him again one day. But until we do, I will pray for the man with the phone that didn't talk, and the tree that did!

Isaiah 30:21 NIV Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 NLT There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us ... It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

There are times in life when even our most sincere prayer and best efforts yield no visible results.  We are confused and ask the question, “Why”?

This position is especially true of women because of their birthing nature. Women have an intrinsic desire to see newness brought about.  When women labor over anything they inherently expect a certain result – a baby.  So, when an experience does not bear the intended result, they wonder if the labor was in vain.  "If there is no birth, has the time been wasted"?

Let us examine the birthing process.  Birth begins with conception, an idea, a calling; something brand new, that becomes.  New life lives in a place that is not visible to the naked eye where it is incubated until delivery.  We hope to bring something forth in the end; but what if we do not see the result of our labor?  What does it mean when we carry the burden for something that is never revealed?

I was pregnant four times, but I carried only three children to full term.  My second child was miscarried.  I do not believe for a moment that the conception and early growth of that child was in vain.  In God's infinite wisdom He simply chose to count her among the inhabitants of heaven, and I don't have the ability to see her there.
 
Remember Job?  We read in the first chapter of that book, that Job lost everything he had including his 10 children.  Then, in Job 42:10 we read “… the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before”. God returned everything to Job in duplicate.  For instance, before the devastation Job owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels and 500 yoke of oxen. After the restoration Job had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen.

But what of his children; in verse 13 we notice that God gave Job 10 children, the same number as before, not 20.  It seemed that God did not double the number of Job’s children as He did with his livestock.  The fact is, the 10 children who died were counted by God because they still existed.  Job could not see them with his human eyes, but they were alive to God.  It is not always about a result that we can see.

David says in Psalm 131 …”I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul…”  There are times in life when no matter how much prayer or effort we devote to a cause, the result can appear futile. The challenge is to accept outcomes that are beyond our control.  We must understand that God orchestrates the conclusions to all matters for the greater good.

Like David, we have the ability to quiet ourselves when we struggle with the “whys” of life. The scripture clearly indicates that David did this as an act of his will.  He chose to stop concerning himself with the answers. God has given us this ability.  So carry on.  Your prayer and best efforts are not in vain. What you cannot see still counts!

Psalm 131:1-2 NIV My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

I recently celebrated my birthday and it brought back memories of a conversation that I had with my mother years ago concerning my entrance into the world.  She described my grandmother’s reaction when my mom informed her that my name would be Donna.  My little Italian grandma loved the name because it had an Italian origin. She waved her arms and joyfully skirted around her kitchen.

Then my mother said that on the day I was born my grandfather stood outside the hospital nursery and danced. She said that one of the nurses actually asked my mom if she knew who the funny little man at the window was!  That was my grandpa, loving his new baby granddaughter, and rejoicing over her entrance into the world.  Wow, what a marvelous beginning I was given to build my l

Ecclesiastes 7:8a NIV The end of a matter is better than its beginning...

James 5:16b KJV ...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

ed and governed to allow strategic access to the interior of the holy city.  Likewise there are gateways to our human interiors. Whether the spoken words bring healing or harm, they have equal access if we do not vigilantly guard our gates.

Nehemiah 7:2-4 NLT I said to them, “Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day. And even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards, everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes.”

m into the script 30 minutes before the curtain call.  It was fascinating to watch his unrehearsed character evolve.  

As the streetwise, disadvantaged outcast in the corner of the stage, his character was compelled by the witness of true love that he saw among Jesus and His followers.  He very curiously observed them from afar… and then from a closer proximity until his interest drew him from the position of onlooker, to participant.

Ephesians 2:19 NLT So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Hebrews 7:19 NLT  For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

I prayed to overcome a feeling of hopelessness and God filled my mind with a garden.  Join me in this garden of hope where our faithful Creator unshackles the mind, and renews the spirit.

~ As we wrestle with unbelief for a better day, we stumble upon a garden of hope. In this garden an array of flowers surround us with incomparable beauty, and an elevating bouquet. We feel the soft brush of virgin growth, and sense a fresh purity of life, as the flora around us wave upward toward their Maker.

The atmosphere tugs on our hearts and beckons for our participation.  Compelled, we acknowledge the wonder. We remove our shoes and dance among trusted c

Romans 5:5 NLT And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Now that we have raised our three kids to adulthood, I marvel at the super-human efforts of my own parents.  Growing up, I figured that my parents were responsible to take care of me, so they probably knew what they were doing. When I became a parent myself I realized that parenting is mainly a “learn as you go” experience; an education gained on our knees, under-fire, and quite often, just in the nick of time.

It is not unusual for a parent to take a militant stand concerning a child-rearing matter, when at the same time he or she shudders at the thought that the decision could be wrong. Fortunately, we are not expected to know all the answers.  We are, however, responsible to put great faith and effort into doing our best, and living an authentic life before our kids.

Author Clarence Budinton Kelland said, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”  So, if your decisions are caring and deliberate, and your witness is consistent, your believability will be a contagious influence on your children.

God is a present help in the time of our need.  Pray and trust in His established and eternal principles to give you the wisdom you require. As parents it is our challenge to

Proverbs 22:6 NIV Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Matthew 5:16 NIV In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Howeve

Luke 12:32 NLT So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Hebrews 4:13 NIV Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Ephesians 2:6 NIV And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 1:12-23 NLT And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Isaiah 32:3 NIV Then the eyes of those who will see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who will hear will listen.

Psalm 91:11 KJV For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Our family watched a movie about one of the most historical events ever; “The Nativity”. The way the film portrayed the personality of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was curious to me because she rarely smiled.  Being the mother of Jesus, Mary was a world-changer, so I expected her character to meet certain expectations.

In the movie Mary was portrayed as a responsible young woman who lived with her family in a region under Roman governance.  King Herod was the ruling authority at the time. Herod was considerably threatened by rumors of another King emerging in the land and he made regular attempts to identify his rival. Sadly his

methods imposed treacherous and sometimes lethal assaults on the common people.

As I observed Herod’s desperate efforts to protect his monarchy, I began to see reason for Mary’s stoic countenance. It was not unusual for Roman soldiers to sweep into an area without warning in order to intimidate, capture, or kill.  Mary lived in a day when public abuse and punishment were marked. The striking sight of a human corpse in a tree or dangling from scaffolding was not uncommon, and the emotional effect of such scenes had to be reckoned with. As a result, the movie portrayed a Mary who had to manage her passions and emotions like anyone else in order to cope with the dissonance in her day.

Considering Mary’s calling to be a world-changer I was expecting a very different Mary; one protected from ugliness, pretty much glowing with joy, skipping through life under a God-beam.  With each on-screen appearance I searched Mary’s face for a hint of happiness.  And then I got the revelation; the character portrayed in the film was the more accurate one. God was identifying the disparity between the 'human' person, and the 'superhuman' or 'supernatural' God.

In order for Jesus to be born as both God and man, a human vessel was required.  Mary was the perfect representation of humankind.  She was a young woman living in and grieved by a sinful world, moved by humanity’s deprivation, unpretentiously waiting for the promised Savior’s appearance. God overshadowed a respectable and willing vessel to incubate the perfect union of flesh and Spirit.

So Mary did not live an advantaged life in the protective glow of a God-beam.  She was not the product of royalty, and she did not possess exceptional powers.  She was simply real, and she was willing.  God seeks real people to fulfill His sensational purposes.  They are the ones who will honestly say, as Mary did, “May it be done to me as You have said”.  From such an allegiance the world is forever changed.

Luke 1:38 NIV  "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

I had a thought to do an Internet search on the life of Adolf Hitler. What I read about the man inspired this entry.

We are all familiar with Hitler’s twisted policies of territorial conquest and racial subjugation. Under his command, approximately ten million innocent people were mercilessly massacred. Hitler murdered human beings without respect to his conscience, when at the same time he upheld a lesser principle against eating meat, because he opposed the slaughter of animals. Incredibly, he executed entire families in his death camps, yet the man went out of his way to protect animals.

Hitl

2 Corinthians 3:2 NKJV You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

Matthew 5:8 NKJV Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

I have a friend who has three dogs. She told me that someone opened their dog pen and the fence around her house, and the dogs ran out.  An attentive neighbor saw the dogs running through the neighborhood and caught the two oldest, but the youngest, just a puppy, ran off alone.

Isaiah 30:21 NIV Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Song of Solomon 8:4 NIV Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.