I truly couldn't care less!

Monday, August 14, 2017

I work with some pretty interesting people. They are intelligent, hard-working folks who make our team incredible. In my opinion, we work very well together. 

Do you know the one thing that has never crossed my mind about our team or about the people we serve? Prejudice. 

I can honestly say that our service is the same whether we are dealing with someone who speaks Spanish or Swahili or English -- whether they are Christian or Mormon or Buddhist -- whether they are Caucasian or Hispanic or of African descent -- or whether they have a high or low IQ.  It just really doesn't matter. 

So I can't understand why people get all bent out of shape about race or religion or anything else. I live in the United States of America. I expect my fellow Americans to accept and love each other no matter what. No matter what. 

And if we disagree about something, let's sit down and talk about it. Don't run over me with a vehicle or blow my brains out. Let's agree to disagree and move on with our lives. 

Jesus was the best example of acceptance, don't you think? He befriended tax collectors and Pharisees -- neither of whom were particularly liked or trusted in that day. He welcomed pesky little children who were viewed more as a possession than as a full-fledged human. He even protected and included women in His ministry -- that was unheard of. He was pretty radical.  

Acceptance shouldn't be radical. It should be natural. But that depends on us. 

Lord, help us to be blind about the differences we have with each other. Help us to accept each other for who we are -- precious in your sight. 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 32

Sunday, August 13, 2017

I have been crucified with Christ

and I no longer live,

but Christ lives in me. 

The life I now live in the body, 

I live by faith in the Son of God

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

So Many Funerals

Saturday, August 12, 2017

This may seem a little random, but today's post is about coping with the loss of those who have breathed their last breath here on earth. 

One of my friends at work just said goodbye to her grandmother. 

Lizzie's roommate from last year just lost her grandmother. 

Lizzie's friend from high school unexpectedly lost two friends last week due to a car wreck. 

We have countless friends throughout our lifetimes who have passed away. 

Bill has lost both of his parents and all his aunts and uncles. 

I've lost my parents and most of my aunts and uncles. 

Lizzie has lost her birth father. 

So what do we do with death? How do we cope with the agonizing loss of a parent, a sibling, a child -- someone particularly close to us? I guess we all deal with death differently and I'm not sure there's a right or a wrong way to do it. But life is full of death so deal with it we must. 

The first year is, in many ways, the hardest as we walk through days of particular importance: birthdays, holidays, etc. Unexpected moments of longing consume us. Memories flood our hearts with warmth. Difficult days of painstaking housekeeping tasks cloud our vision. But we must remember that our loved one wouldn't want us to get lost in the tears and sorrow. They would want us to remember them and to live. 

I don't know how the unbeliever does it. For it is only by the strength of my Lord and Savior that I can face each day and live my life victoriously. He gives me hope. He gives me peace. He gives me comfort in knowing that He is taking care of His children -- those on earth and those with Him in heaven. He gives me the ability to hold my head up and focus on Him. By training my eyes on the Lord I find that I don't sink into the raging waters of grief arounding my feet. Instead He holds me close. And I live. 

So I take a deep breath and steady my eyes on Him. I celebrate everything I can about those who now are with Him. And I know that one day I will be with Him, too. 

He wants to take away our anxiety.

Friday, August 11, 2017

“Cast all your anxiety on him 

because he cares for you.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How many times and in how many different ways does God have to reinforce this message?  

• He loves us. 
• He wants us to have peace. 

He loves us:

Psalm 136 states repeatedly that His love endures forever. 

Nehemiah 9:17  tells us He is a forgiving God--which means He loves us

Psalm 68:5 says He's a defender of the vulnerable

He loves us as Father (John 17:11, John 17:25, Col 1:2, Col 3:17,)

1 John 4:8 plainly states that God IS love. 

God loves us so much that even when we were awful, rotten sinners, He let Christ be crucified for us. ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭5:8‬, John 3:16)

He wants us to have peace:

Psalm 9:9 says He wants the oppressed to find refuge in Him. 

Isaiah 25:4 states that He is a shelter, a shade

and a sanctuary. Sounds peaceful to me. 

He is the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). 

He is the God of peace (1 Thess. 5:23, Judges 6:24). 

He who comforts you brings you peace (Isa. 66:13). 

He brings healing (Exodus 15:26)

He will provide (Genesis 22:14

Psalm 56:4 says: in God I trust and am not afraid. 

John 10:10 expresses His desire for us to have fullness of life. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is such a short list of Scriptures but you get my point. God loves us and wants us to be at peace. Forget the excuses. Forget the quest for trying to have control over things. He wants to take care of it all. 

Lord, I don't know why this is so hard. We know what we're supposed to do -- let You take care of us. But we don't do it. Why is that? Take our worries. Take our anxieties. Replace them with confidence in You and with Your peace. 

The Thief

Thursday, August 10, 2017

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last week we covered the issue of trust. God has proven He is trustworthy, don't you think?

So who is it that is TOTALLY untrustworthy -- twisting the truth at every opportunity, trying to steal our joy all the time, and lurking in the shadows for the chance to destroy us? The thief. The wolf in sheep's clothing. And angel of darkness. Satan himself. 

Well, this Scripture shows these two as polar opposites: Satan tries to deliver death and destruction but Jesus brings abundant life. 

Do you see the big difference in the verbs in that last statement?

Satan "tries" but Jesus "does."

And what is the key? For those who have a personal relationship with the Lord, Satan has no authority. None. He can "try" all he wants but Jesus will always be victorious. 

So what do we do when we wake up in the middle of our spiritual nighttime and realize Satan is trying to burglarize us?  Remember that he cannot stand the name of Jesus. I can visualize his cringing in distress at the very mention of it. So this is what we should say OUT LOUD for Satan to hear: 

"You have no power over me! 

In the name of Jesus Christ 

leave me alone!"

Then thank God OUT LOUD for His love and protection. Claim His victory over Satan. And rest knowing God has done it. 

Lord, you alone are God. You are the giver of life. Thank you for protecting us from the thief. Help us to remember to give You ultimate control over our lives. 

Hot Dog!

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

What has four very short legs, a disproportionately long back, is black, grey, white and brown, and full of energy? And a long waggly tail. And sharp tiny teeth? And stole my heart the moment I saw him?

You may have read about him on FaceBook already. He is an 8-week-old dapple dachshund named Benny the Jet. What a cutie pie! Bill and I gave him to each other for our 35th wedding anniversary. 

Now why on earth would we give each other a puppy for our anniversary? I don't know. It seemed like a good idea. Did you know that we were supposed to give each other something made of coral or jade? I can't really see that happening. So it might as well have been a puppy! 

So for the next 14-17 years, Bill and I will be celebrating our 35th anniversary. Sounds like a good way to stay young. 

Lord, thank you so much for gifting us to each other 35 years ago. We were made for each other -- truly! Help us to celebrate the life you give us and to return our energies for your service. 

The Quest for Wisdom

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

So give your servant a discerning heart

to govern your people and 

to distinguish between right and wrong. 

For who is able to govern this 

great people of yours?

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Solomon was given the opportunity to ask God for anything. Rather than request riches or power, he asked for wisdom. God was very pleased with Solomon's request -- so much so that not only did He give him his request for wisdom but He also gave him wealth and power. 

We could learn from this. We should always seek a discerning heart -- whether we're working with our children or with an entire nation. 

And the rhetorical question is intriguing: who is able to govern this great people of yours?

What is the answer? I would suggest that the answer is, "God."

I know I can't supervise my people very well. It is only by God's direction that I am able to be equitable and kind to them. So it is God's governing through me that gets the job done. 

Lord, create in us a clean and discerning heart that we might make you proud every day.