September 2008 – DebraBee

September 28, 2008

Shaky Ladders & Cornerstones

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Where are we to go?

Well I’m not sure.

What are we supposed to live on?

We will figure it out.

I wonder how many of us have stepped onto such shaky ladders in our lives, merely hoping for the best yet assured of nothing. We need to step first upon the cornerstone.

Job 38:6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone

Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone

September 27, 2008

Not Yet Revealed What We Shall Be

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

I live out the exchanged life of continually giving my degradations to my Father and He in turn gives me mercy, compassion, forgiveness and love. I can’t always see the changes in myself because I am too close to who I still am. I can still feel the pangs of selfishness, envy, lusts and other multitudes of my soul nature. In the agony of still knowing how far I have yet to go I am humbled.

This is when my heavenly Father will send someone to me to bring clarity for how He sees me. Out of the blue someone will share with me how “beautiful” I am. I know this is not about my outer appearance but it’s a deeper word meant to describe the inner heart I am being given. Such timely words keep me encouraged. I long to hear more of them but my heavenly Father knows well not to tempt me with too much praise. He is wise.

What will I be when I truly am like Him? Such beauty is beyond my imagination.

September 26, 2008

Remember The Poor

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Let’s talk about the economy. How many people do you know who are terrified in this moment about what will happen next? I was watching BBC News America yesterday and they had a small blip about the “newly homeless” fallout of the recent economic trends. I have to say it was ironic to hear them speak about, “I can’t believe this is happening to me.” I found myself wondering about the other homeless poor who we have been ignoring for years because they didn’t look like our “middle class” selves. Why has no one been down to the park with a microphone in hand to find out why they are sleeping in their cars?

We really need to adjust our thinking as a nation. We need to see all the poor and I mean really see them. What would it take for the wealthiest nation on earth to open her charitable hearts up? Do we really need a wake-up call from above in order to shake us out of our complacency? How comfortable can you really be if you have six coats in your closet and one of the poor has none? How many pairs of shoes do we need in our closet when there is someone who has none?

It’s a sobering reality check to look around our homes and really take inventory. What if everyone who has plenty shared even a small portion of what they had with someone who had nothing? How many lives could be changed? Hope doesn’t necessarily mean putting a bible in someone’s hand, sometimes hope is feeding someone who has been praying to God for a meal because they are so weak and tired. In that meal, they would know there is a God who answers pray and you were the one he used.

I truly love the power in prayer but every now and again I am reminded to get off my knees and go be someone’s answer to prayer. Soon I hope it won’t just be now and again but that it would be a consistent way of life and not just for me, but for all the saints.

Gal 2:10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do

September 25, 2008

Who Are You Working For?

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Recently I found myself saying to someone “this is not my life, it’s just my day job.” Later when I thought those words over I realized I was only living half my life to the full abundance promised me. Since I spend 8-10 hours a day attending to my job needs, that’s a pretty good chunk of my available time. Let’s be honest, my job isn’t one many would want to have as it can really wear you down with lack of creativity or real challenge. I must remember though, it’s a job my Father put me in and there is a blessing here I am stopping because my attitude has become complacent. It’s time I refocused again on the word that tells me to rejoice in each day because the Lord has made it.

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

September 24, 2008

Kindred Spirits

I met a girl a couple nights ago whose heart was burning with a flame so bright I couldn’t help but notice. I asked her name and hugged her. I have never talked with her before nor do I know anything about her on a personal level. Yet standing there spending time in her presence we spoke of things which inspired us; our Lord and all that He was doing in our lives.

I still marvel at meeting kindred spirits in Christ. They feel closer than even family and you just recognize them whenever you meet them. I have come to know there is so much more to this world than what we see on the surface of things. I love looking for my brothers and sisters, especially those who have yet to recognize themselves in Christ. These hearts of goodness are just bursting at the seams with curiosity to know and find Jesus. It’s a real treat each time we are allowed to cross their paths and encourage them in their journey.

1 Thes 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

September 22, 2008

The Puppet Man, Terry Fator

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The puppet man was in Redding and I never thought I’d find myself saying this with my own lips but……”I scored tickets to see a ventriloquist!” Even typing such a sentence makes me shudder as it seems such a long way from my rock concert bragging. Having seen Terry Fator however, my voice is now shouting to anyone in hearing distance, “Have you seen this guy yet? NO? Are you crazy? He’s fantastic!”

The man is not only funny but truly an amazing singer both with and without the puppet voices. What’s even better is how generous he is with his time and star factor. He honestly gets it that the public who pays to see him wants to take these memories with them so he doesn’t mind us blazing away with our cameras.

His range is “everything” so it doesn’t seem like any genre is off limits; country, hip-hop, soul, pop, jazz, rock. You name it the guy can make it not only work but you may well want his recordings of these cover songs. After he’s made a fan out of you with laughter and enjoyment he finally reveals what’s really lurking deep in his heart, compassion. His sister suffers physically but she makes puppet socks by hand so each one sold goes to her care. He put out a cd of music he wrote and every penny is to go to a research endeavor for disease cures.

It’s about time a “good guy” got to have a voice in our entertainment world.

September 21, 2008

Stuffed Animals

We had an overnight trip out of town this weekend and when we finally rolled back into our driveway it felt great to be out of the car. Opening the door to our home is when the real fun begins. The tribe of pets comes to greet us and at first they seem rather grateful to see us. This lasts about a couple minutes. Walking away to put our bags up and change clothes, suddenly these grateful creatures turn into master inquisitors.

The dog begins to sniff at every article we have brought home with us, wanting to know where we have been and what other creatures got to enjoy our company. The cat merely prowls up and down the hallway moaning his discontent that we didn’t ask his permission to be gone for longer than an hour.

Sitting down for a cold ice tea it’s time to wonder if “stuffed animals” would offer just as much comfort?

September 19, 2008

Where Are The Minstrels?

The musicians who can captivate your attention while not really playing a structured song are the truly talented. They are the story tellers. I long for the story tellers of our new generation. Not the ones who can repeat, “slap that b**%$ up” but I am talking of the real story tellers who strike the chords of our hearts. The minstrels who strum the hope within our very hearts.

Eph 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord

September 18, 2008

Dividing Soul & Spirit

I run and I run but I just can’t seem to leave myself behind. I long to have my soul’s behavior catch up to my heart. It would seem the longer I am in this light of hope the more I seem hopeless. Slowly I am learning how much at odds are my soul and my spirit.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

September 17, 2008

Fortress Of Solitude

“I don’t need you! I can make it without you so there’s the door!”

Honest confession time….I spoke these words to someone I professed to love. Although it wasn’t anytime recent, the words still haunt me in a way I can’t describe. I wonder now how such words could have come out of my mouth?

The absoluteness of my screamed words would not to be as clear cut as I might have thought. I did walk away from this person but I really couldn’t make it without them. Now on the surface this may sound like a needy thing but it was far from what it looked to be. It took many, many years to come full circle in understanding.

I found ways not to need this person and even drew myself into such a pit of independence I nearly drowned in the quicksand of “self”. Around the quicksand I managed to build the “impenetrable” fortress of solitude. All the while I was dying of loneliness and lack of hope.

Years later as my heart has been softened by my heavenly Father, I was stunned to notice that the very person “I didn’t need” was back in my life. We have come full circle and found a place to admit we need each other. Not because our feisty personalities have become dormant but because we have seen “unity and love” to be who we were always meant to be.

Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.