I think of the times I’ve messed up in my Christian walk and it fascinates me that God delivered me over and over again. His kindness is so amazing. This passage jumped out at me last week:
“We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to Your miracles; they did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. Yet He saved them for His name’s sake, to make His mighty power known.” (Psalm 106:6-8 NIV).  

All of Psalm 106 is like this.  The people kept sinning and He repeatedly delivered them because of His compassion and love for them.  (Of course, they did have trying times because of their sin.)  “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”  (2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV).  I wonder how much more He would have opened His hand to them if they had been repeatedly faithful to Him.

James 1:17 (NKJV) says every good thing “…comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” His forgiveness and deliverance are abundantly good things. God’s kindness and favor should melt our hearts. He didn’t have to create us. He chose to do it. (James 1:18). He wants to be with us. How much more should we bow down to Him in every deed, every thought, and every word.

And despite knowing everything about us, He’s preparing our eternity with Him.  “…as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ “ (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV). I always thought of this as meaning no human eye/ear/mind (and maybe that’s what it means). But it does say no eye/ear/mind. That makes me wonder if even all the angels and creatures in heaven haven’t seen what God has prepared for us. Some of those creatures have a multitude of eyes, so that would be pretty amazing if even they haven’t caught a glimpse of it! Revelation 4:6 says the apostle John saw four creatures around the throne of God who were “full of eyes in front and in back.”  (I’m thinking nothing gets past them. They don’t even sleep! Rev. 4:8)  Maybe the great unveiling of what God has prepared for us will be a first time viewing for all the eyes in heaven too. The Greek word apokalupsis means ‘revelation’ (as in the book of Revelation) or ‘unveiling’.

He has already unveiled His goodness to us in so many ways. First and foremost, Christ saved us (because HE LOVES US). Then He unceasingly walks with us, guides us, forgives us, delivers us, has mercy upon us, and even talks with us. We should gladly bow down to the God who is for us and with us.

All of this reminds me of Revelation Song, which is based on verses in Revelation, chapters 4 & 5. Click on the link below and sing to our Worthy Lamb who has shown us much mercy.

Shagufta

“Revelation Song“

This isn’t the message that I wanted to write for today’s blog.  I was going to write about shoes (from a spiritual perspective of course) but that will get bumped to next month.  God wouldn’t let me fall asleep the other night until I got back out of bed and wrote this. If this article ruffles your feathers, please know that it’s not my intent to offend. I asked Him to convict my heart if anything I have written isn’t from Him. (So far, so good!) So here it goes…

Over the past couple years, God has convicted me to be more discerning in what I voluntarily take in with my eyes. Once when I was watching CSI, God told me that I’m watching crime as a form of entertainment. You may argue that it’s “not real” or it’s “just acting.” But if God is against something in the natural realm, such as murder, sorcery, sexual sin, etc (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV), then why would He be ok with the portrayal of these things in the form of entertainment? If God had novels and movies in heaven for entertainment, do you think they would contain crime, sexual sin, sorcery, etc? No? Why not? Because they have no part in His Kingdom.

If we’re devoted to the movies/TV shows we watch or the novels we read, and if they’re not ‘of God’, then we’re giving ungodly things a place in our heart. You can’t be devoted to something unless your heart is involved. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” The massive following of some books, movies, and television shows speaks of people’s devotion. If I give part of my heart to the things of this world, then that’s one less part that His “wellspring” can flow through.  Living in this fallen world, I want all the life He has to offer through that wellspring.

If all this sounds puritanical, I challenge you to take it to God. Lay your entertainment at His feet. If you’re confident in your choices, then you have nothing to fear by doing this, right? Ask Him to search your heart. Does He want you to give something up? If He does, realize that it’s because He wants to make room for something better. He wants to make more room for the things of His Kingdom.  And I’m sure you’ll agree that we need more of His Kingdom here on earth.

Shagufta ^..^

This isn’t what you think it’s about. Not clothes. Not cds. Not cool Star Wars action figures.
Food.
Here’s me going to the grocery store: Get my purse. Get my coupons. Check the coupons to throw out the expired ones. Find new ones to cut out. Find purse again. Look for flyer that I pre-marked for specials. Reason that I can get a new flyer at the store, and – hey! – I’ll remember what I want. Find purse again. Grab shopping list. Go down and start car. Think about how cold it will be in the store and go back up for a hoodie. Finally get to the store.
Now it’s not always like that. Sometimes I don’t bother looking for the pre-marked flyer at all.
Point is: aren’t I making it far more complicated than it should be?
I could just pickup my purse, my coupons, my flyer, and my hoodie, and off I’d go.
Now maybe your shopping routine isn’t like this, but I’m sure there is something in your life that you think, “Couldn’t I make that simpler?”
We know all the right words: streamline, simplify, time-management. But putting them into action isn’t as easy. I can open a document on my computer with two clicks. I can’t decide what to wear without going through 5 or 6 tops to go with 3 or 4 pairs of pants.
You know what else I can “simplify?” Prayer time. Yup!
It’s fine to have your prayer spot, prayer bible, prayer cross, prayer rock, etc, but I find that sometimes right here, and right now is better. Right where I am standing, sitting or walking.
Sort of, pick up the purse and pray.
God doesn’t need me to be in the perfect spot. He just wants me to be. I don’t have to have the right anything. And prayers have no expiration dates!
Now don’t get upset and lock me in my prayer closet. I think that having all the specials that people have for their prayer time is great. I have a place on my couch that’s just perfect for me, my Bible and God to spend time. But during the crazy times it’s the kitchen, the stairs, my car – wherever!
God hears me. And I don’t need to bring a hoodie.
Peace!
Barb

I’m currently having a wonderful experience. 

Truly.

Mommy is visiting me right now and I love it!

I know how childish this is all going to sound, but as usual I will have a point by the end.

My mom hasn’t been out this way in about three years.  She and my dad would visit my sister (in CA) and me every year, but since Dad died in 2006, Mom hasn’t made it out.  I am so excited that she’s here!

Wait, I mentioned that already.

The thing is when she is here, I feel like a kid again.  It’s her chance to mother me, and I’m all for it!  She’s there to tell me that everything is going to be okay, and that someone will hire me.  I really like it when she makes me dinner.  She came to rehearsals and video shoots, and Girl’s Night Out, and I’m like a little kid saying, “See Mommy!  Did I do good?”  She was so impressed with the cast and crew, and tells me so (and most of them).  I go to bed knowing she is here, and wake up knowing she is here.  She encourages me to eat better (less sodium, more fruits and veggies, milk, etc), and exercise.  She’s there to listen to me, and I can listen to her.  She gives me guidance, but makes the choice mine.

By now, any regular readers have figured out where I’m going with this.

Let’s apply this to God everyday.

Everything I love about my mom being here is what I should love about God being with me all the time.  He comforts me.  He encourages me.  He is always with me.  He listens to me and talks to me.  He guides me.  He doesn’t make my dinner, but he gave me the talent to cook it myself.

I feel this way about God so often, but what if I took this child-like enthusiasm and applied it to my life everyday?  How enticing would that be to people who don’t know God?  How encouraging would it be to others who are drifting?

The thing is – it’s a choice that I need to make.  It’s a choice He wants me to make.  Delight in my Father being with me every moment of every day.

It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll try, because He will be there every time I ask, “Daddy?”

Peace!

Barb

Currently, one of my favorite shows is Overhaulin’ on the Discovery channel.

I love this show! “The owner gets tricked; while the car gets tricked out.” They ‘steal’ someone’s car, overhaul it in seven days and return it to the unsuspecting (but at this point distraught) owner. Along the way they have ‘insiders’ who are people (family and friends) who know the truth about what is happening and are in on it (some of them even help out). They have an amazing team that deconstructs the car, replaces engines, transmissions, sheet metal, stereos, etc, and then gives an amazing paint job. Oh, yeah, and they work around the clock to get it done. My favorite part is the happy ending.

These cars have value to the owner even if it is junk when it is ‘stolen’ from them. They were inherited from parents, or received from a brother who shipped out, or where a husband proposed to his wife or maybe it’s just their only form of transportation. They think it’s been taken from them, and they are really sad to think they will never see it again. There are tears, hostility and regret on those faces.

When they find out what was really going on…you should see those faces! They are reunited with their car, their piece of the past, their last gift from their dad. Of course they love the improvements! It’s what they would have done themselves (probably) if they had 40 years of automotive experience and a team of the best. But the emotion at receiving this incredible gift; they are so grateful. They can’t believe that all this was done for them. They feel so undeserving.

Okay, raise your hand if you know where I’m going with this. (how many of you raised your hand?)
Someday we will be overhauled. We will receive new bodies, be reunited with loved ones who have gone before, and all because Someone is working 24/7 to make sure it happens. He has amassed a team of experts, and some amateurs, to prepare us. This is an incredible gift for which we are grateful, and I know that I, for one, feel very undeserving.

We get to participate in God’s Overhaulin’ by being insiders. We can be the one’s that help people find out about this incredible opportunity. That make that connection between someone who doesn’t know and Jesus who is just waiting to give them this amazing gift.

I want to be an insider. Don’t we all?

Oh, give me a chance I could probably find a biblical analogy for Deadliest Catch. Wait! I know –

Peace!

Barb

Now I realize that being a solo act I shouldn’t have much to say here, but since I brought it up…

There are a lot of things I really love about kids.  Everything is new: good and bad, joy and pain.  They get so excited about things.  Their emotions are completely unhindered.  They are so honest (unless, of course, they’ve done something they shouldn’t have, and then: “It wasn’t me!”).

I am biased enough to say that I think my nieces and nephews are the greatest kids in the world, but I am open minded enough to acknowledge that they have some really stiff competition out there.  And they certainly aren’t perfect.

That being said, they have given me such great examples of how I should be living my own life.

One of my nephews received a pirate ship jungle gym when he was about six.  He was so excited that he couldn’t finish a sentence before he was on to the next.  Eventually, he just stopped talking and raced from item to item until he wound down enough to talk, and then all he talked about was the pirate ship over and over again.  Such naked enthusiasm, unrestrained and uncensored.

One of my nieces would explain about horses; everything I wanted to know (and some things I didn’t) about horses.  Breeds, riding styles, horse care. She loved them and wanted everyone else to love them too.

I have watched them take large and small roles in plays because all the roles are important.  They have participated in competitions, and won some and lost some, but still tell me about all the fun they had, the mistakes made, and everything they learned.  They have made friends and lost friends, and learned to trust again.

I’ve also watched as some of this has been eroded away by time and experience.

But wouldn’t it be great to live our lives with the freedom of emotions, and the spirit that we had as kids. 

When was the last time we were so excited about God in our lives that we couldn’t finish a sentence?  How often do we talk about Christ with all the tiny details that we can fit into the conversation?

When I get to talk to someone about Jesus in my life, I like to think that even if I am not the one to bring them to the Lord, I am a rung in the ladder because all roles are important, large or small.

Parents brought their children to Jesus, and He rebuked the disciples when they tried to keep them away.  Jesus held them up as examples to us all.

And what great examples they are.

Peace!

I went to get an oil change today.  Not for me actually, but for my Jeep. 

You know the routine.  Every three thousand miles (or so) you have the oil changed.  Every six thousand (or so) you have the tires rotated.  The list goes on and on.  The higher the miles, the more extensive the service required.

However, if you don’t keep up with the services, a belt breaks or a hose cracks, and then you are really in for it.  You’ll probably have to call AAA and get towed into your mechanic.  Pumps get damaged, engines over heat, expenses rise.  So we keep up with the tune ups.

But when was the last time I had a spiritual tune up?

I really don’t have a schedule for routine spiritual maintenance, but I should.  How often do I find myself mired down in sludge?  Distractions during prayer time, over scheduled volunteer time, lack of focus when I read my Bible.  Next thing you know I’m broken down on the side of the ol’ Roman Road.  No good to anyone.

I can’t imagine that I’m alone in this.  We all let things get away from us, and it usually happens one little bit by bit.  By the time we realize what’s happening, it’s time for the tow truck.

Now we can’t avoid all the troubles that come our way.  There are always struggles that crop up like a dead battery in Phoenix in August.  But what are we doing to head off the problems we can foresee?  The ones we know are coming.  We are promised trouble all the way through the Bible, but we should also be prepared. 

So I want to know – what’s your spiritual maintenance schedule?  I am in need of my own and looking for suggestions.  I’m sure there are other people out there in need of one too. 

Be a spiritual mechanic.  Add a comment to this blog with suggestions, ideas, and comments, anything you can think of that has helped you with your own Spiritual Tune Up.

When I have mine worked out I’ll post it here for anyone else to fine tune to their own specifications.

Time to roll!

Peace!

Barbara