Author: debrabee

Memorial Day is here and as we sit at home relaxing or enjoying our barbecues with neighbors and friends I want to remember those who have given all they have. In some cases this has been lives laid down. Seeing caskets still coming home with flags of our nation draped over them never gets any easier and like most, my first reaction is to want to ask for our sons, daughters, brothers and fathers to all come home to this land of freedom. It’s a common reaction not to want those we care about come into harms way.

The bigger picture is to see our freedom is not paid for once only by past generations but it continues to be a fight we must endure. We must be willing to stand guard always for the liberty of those not strong enough to fight for themselves. This freedom we fight for is not spoken of on the nightly news but it is a fight to the death and I speak of death to our spiritual voice.

Our freedom and pursuit of knowledge is key for healthy living. I don’t deny I get twisted up about those who would use our freedom to push evils onto ourselves and our children but I am one who believes in the bigger truth that light overcomes darkness. The absence of light breeds hatred, contempt and a lonely emptiness. All the ills of the world come from darkness. Darkness lacks freedom to pursue our hearts; it keeps us in bondage to death.

The good news is that darkness cannot penetrate light. When you turn on a lamp at night and open a window into darkness, did you ever notice it’s not the darkness that comes in but it’s the rays of light that go out overcoming the very depths of blackness.

I like to think of each and every soldier we send into other nations as possible lights for freedom; to shine as torches into closets of darkness, sharing new understanding that others don’t have to live as captives but can come into places of liberty. They can emerge from darkness to follow light and live in hope.

From Isa 61:1…..”To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”

Big game hunting is tricky. I have never been one eager to kill but it’s time to shoot the enemy lurking around family and friends. I suspect he’d like to take me down too but being the cowardly sort he will instead come at the ones wearing less armor in this day. They haven’t yet equipped themselves fully to start hunting but they are preparing their own gear and will soon take the offensive. In the meantime I have a job to do and that is to guard and protect those I care about.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

“I like red.”

“I think blue is best.”

Each painted what they felt to be the perfect color, one over the other.

Purple was the result, a royal hue was born.

His ways are many and He weaves our differences together, making a colorful tapestry for the bigger picture.

My inner compass keeps me following a path that would steer me away from harm. At least that’s what I think it should do. Some days this arrow pointing directions seems to get stuck. I am seeing it point in a direction I’d rather not go because the path seems hard. Let’s face it, I’m an easy going kind of girl and I’d much prefer walking through a shady glen with easily visible water sources. To walk in arid places with no water in sight can be scary. I’m not a big fan of heat so not seeing the shade trees isn’t making it any easier to follow the arrow.

The compass has never been wrong though so I prepare myself for another trail hoping it will be a quick trek. I wanted to take some bottled waters but I am sure I mustn’t bring anything with me this time.

Matt 10:10 “take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker is worth his keep”

Every year at the same time there always seems to be the “crises” or commodities event that causes our gas prices to soar through the roof. This year is no different and we are seeing these price reflections at the pump. There have been a few headlines that the oil companies are pointing fingers at everyone but themselves and I admit apathy to even read them. Why should we be interested in reading them when it’s so painfully clear our esteemed leaders seem to be helpless to do anything to change this?

I dislike taking cheap shots at those in power because I want to be supportive of our democratic government. I will say, “What have you done for me lately?” This will also be reflected in my pen as I mark off those boxes for my voting card. I will only check off names I feel are actually listening to my voice and not the lobbyist picking up tabs for their golf junkets.

Here’s a great news story I’d love to see….”Today Senator Joe Smith turned down lunch with the lobbyist John Greed in favor of meeting with his constituents.” Or how about, “Governor Jim Smith seen riding the bus today because he agrees gas prices are out of control.”

Fair is honest but greed is a sickness that infects everyone it touches.

Let me dance the fool

Jester I am for others

If I but make one understand

My dance is sweet

Let me dance the fool

Jester of the royal court

If I please my King

My dance is sweeter still

We win over others best with love while laughter softens hardened hearts.

Are you a gambler? By nature we all tend to bet on something or another, whether it be harmless outcomes of movies or the more common outcomes for sporting events. Whether or not you put your money down is a personal matter but I like to keep mine in my pocket, being satisfied if I merely chose a winner.

Curiosity about life and how people approach it makes me wonder at why we gamble with the greater things. Our very lives, those of our children and even our friends. This curiosity has been making me ask even more questions the last couple of days. On the medical side of life many of those we love and care about are sick and will spend every dime they have trying to be healed by doctors. Some of these friends have life-threatening illnesses.

For those who have faith I find myself in wonder at why some will not gamble on God’s healing power as a gift to us? Perhaps it is lack of belief or maybe it’s something deeper. Would we want to be seen by our friends and family having a complete stranger with no medical background lay hands upon us and pray? I suppose society has stigmatized real miracles to their own detriment.

I am addicted to my gambling however. To outside eyes I am living my life as a gamble that Jesus is truth and if I gamble on him being truth than I accept he is the same yesterday today and forever. I believe he is still healing and instilling this gift in the body of Christ. Sometimes going forward for something new means leaving something old behind. For myself that’s usually shyness and pride.

Gambling on the chance there is no God and hell does not exist seems like a losing bet to me and surely one without hope. My own gambling addiction makes this life fun to live as I look forward to the beyond.

She was the last girl to wander the edge of the ocean. Many things she saw and admired; wonderment lighting up her face. Feeling the sand squish between her toes; the soft underside of her feet would feel no jagged edges of rock; no prick of a thistle; no burn from a sun’s heat, as long as she never wandered far from the wet, soft sand. Looking behind her she could see footprints momentarily sustain shape before lapping water elongated them, until finally they blended back into specks of mere possibilities.

Breaking surfs provided an orchestra of sound. A tempo changing just slightly with deep, drumming throngs, and light tremolos of echoing waves bouncing against distant rocks. With eyes closed she stuck out her tongue to taste the sea’s salty mist. Breathing in deeply she inhaled the freshest air she had ever known. Overwhelmed within her senses she delighted in a security of happiness. Nothing of an outer world could touch her here. Her dance was innocent; a promise of enjoyment for everything she saw before her. Skipping just along the wave’s outer edges, she watched as each of her footsteps pushed the water out from under her weighted footprint, feeling a simplistic joy at how her existence was enough to change the smallest grain of sand. Maturely recognizing this epiphany, she smiled knowingly, understanding how she could make a difference in this world.

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” C.K. Chesterston

I was intrigued by this very thought on two separate planes. That of my imagination to give color and flair to my dragons but also the reality indeed dragons do exist. I have often thought of my dragons as Goliaths but that hasn’t been descriptive enough because they don’t seem to be playing fair. Instead of being on the ground coming at me face first in a match I can see before me, they tend to take flight and fly quite out of my field of vision. This gives them the advantage of flanking me from behind when I least expect it. They also have foul smelling fiery breath that singes my body from distances I didn’t think possible. My only hope is to gear up and be ready for battle always.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Eph 6:10-18