Get A Life!

When the end of your work day is at hand, there is just so much temptation to hurry home to that comfortable couch and the ever ready remote control. Of course we keep wishing for that exciting life and are ready to jump into it any day now; right after our favorite show is over.

I have a confession. I am tired when I get home and by the time traffic is done with me, I barely have a coherent thought for conversation with my husband. He tends to look at me with worry if I’m not chatty.

Wandering into my small living room I have but one wish this day. Enough energy to turn around and get a life! I think I will point the remote control back at myself and change my channel.

Dirty Laundry

We live in such a culture of gossip it’s hard to get away from it even if we wanted to. You’d have to live in a cave away from people altogether not to be exposed to it. I have a real bone of contention for what passes as acceptable news media in this day and age. The more someone is “messing up” the more we want to know about it. Many years back Don Henley wrote a pop song called “Dirty Laundry” which nailed commentary then and probably more so now…..

“I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose
They love dirty laundry”

Sponsored by DVL Television

There is such a thing as good gossip!

Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

When You Are Near

When You Are Near – By Jeremy Camp

There’s no need to say a thing when I’m before you.
In this silence I feel refreshed with peace.
Break this noise that binds the voice that tries to speak.
Open my eyes to see Your gracious, sovereign reach.

It’s hard to talk when I feel that You are near,
When all is quiet it’s the beauty that I hear.
This hidden place where I know that You’ve calmed my fears.
I know that You’ve washed my tears.

The seasons of change I’ve faced have never left me wounded.
Only scars of hurt, but never deeply rooted.
This healing I have felt, no burden can replace.
Redemptive hope has been the story of my pain.

It’s hard to talk when I feel that You are near,
When all is quiet it’s the beauty that I hear.
This hidden place where I know that You’ve calmed my fears.
I know that You’ve washed my tears.

All is lost without the breath of life You give, and You give so much.
I want nothing more than You, so here’s my heart

It’s hard to talk when I feel that You are near,
When all is quiet it’s the beauty that I hear.
This hidden place where I know that You’ve calmed my fears.
I know that You’ve washed my tears.

Lip Service

“I’ll call you later” he said.

I waited, staying up late into the night but my phone never rang. Disappointed again, I finally turned off my cell phone and took my tired body to bed.

Our trusting natures are whittled down by life’s experiences and many are seemingly small to the “caller” in life but never to the one waiting for the “call”. Have you ever met that small child who is so willing to believe you have something special in your closed hand? Over and over again they will choose the ‘left or right’ fist; that is, until the game is played just one too many times with the “something special” not being delivered.

Lip service is so common practice in our generation we don’t even look at it anymore for what it really is; a lie.

Joy & Pain Intermingled

Joy and pain can be intermingled. Yesterday was one of those days and I strived to change the pain portion but could not. My pain was not of my making but caused by another and yet I doubt they even knew how deeply the knife was in my heart by their actions. In that moment I could hear the whispers of the old man wanting to be resurrected. I heard him speaking to me of anger and retaliation but I recognized his whiny voice quickly this time and refused to enter the arena of contention.

With tears burning my eyes and needing humbleness I did not feel, I picked up my phone and called my sister. She spoke for me where I had no words. She was my strength when I could not walk my path. Once more I was refreshed and I later gathered with my family to find joy in my heart again. Glory to glory I continue on day by day.

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

1 Thes 5:14 ….comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak….

California Wildfires

It’s been strange days here in California with all the fires. When I leave for work in the morning the air is so thick with smoke the sky is no longer blue and the rising sun is blood red in color being filtered through the haze.

I looked at the satellite photo from yesterday and the red dots are all around the valley I live in. These are but a few of the natural disasters going on around the globe. I have no comment of worth on such matters but it does get one’s attention.

Admit We Need Help

The air has been thick with smoke many days now making it hard to breathe easy. I can’t help but to equate it with the news channels also bombarding people with how awful everything is. It reminds me of those schoolmates who loved to stir up trouble where there was little to be had. I don’t dismiss that it is a struggle with the current condition of our economy but I will never understand the need of our own national and local news to bury people with discouragement.

On the other hand I don’t believe that putting one’s head in the sand is an answer. We really should look more closely at the truth of our situation. We have an opportunity to be reconciled with our King both for ourselves and our nation but we have to first admit we need help.

2 Ch 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Need For Emerging Greatness

I was watching a movie with my husband when a line jumped out at me enough to stop it altogether. The character had said, “greatness only emerges when needed most” and this made me wonder at why the writer had gone down this path of thinking. The rest of the conversation was an example of how circumstances brought out that greatness with mention of war or calamity.

Now I would agree these are certainly moments of great distress that bring out courage and bravery but I also think there are other situations given absolutely no attention happening every day which also draws upon “emerging greatness”. Of course these stories will never be headline news or even a footnote in history books but humility isn’t looking for a pat on the back.

I am thinking upon the man or woman who prays in desperation for the lost souls of those they love and even those they don’t know. This takes a call to action, dedication, fervency and a need to be humble. “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.” They are often shunned and disrespected by those they give up their time to help. This is the true understanding to love others more than yourself.

I found myself in agreement with the writer of the movie. To have “greatness emerge” does take war or calamity, and we are in a very real battle. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does…For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are living in a time where this greatness must emerge now because it’s most needed!

Path Of Life

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Unrequited Love

Unrequited love is the most exasperating kind there is. To chase after someone who doesn’t acknowledge your love back.

I had been that lover of self, ignoring the beauty offered me. I snubbed the heart of one who had shown me mercy and compassion. I ignored His pleas to come to Him. I preferred the party of the world and my own attentions.

Still He chased me with tender calls in the night; in the quiet moments of pain he poured soothing oils upon my open wounds. I did not thank Him. I did not stop to look at His open arms waiting to hold me, to help me heal. I ran as fast as I could in other directions. When He’d call me with whispers of love I would turn up the volume around me louder so as to drown out what He was speaking.

I called Him a liar when He had only spoke to me in truth. I tormented His heart when I accused Him of letting me down, though I had never asked His help in such moments of need. I dressed Him up in the clothes of clowns and fools. In time I knew He would lose interest in me.

I was wrong. My faithful lover waited for me. He still desired me though I had sullied myself with the filth of the world. He had numbered my wanderings and put my tears into His bottle. I do not deserve His love but He forgives me all. He washes me clean and removes my shame. His love is wondrous and bountiful, why had I ignored it for so long? He comforts me in the night and fills me with joy in the days. I now run to be in His arms, I long for His coming again.

Sol 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine.