New Year, old problems...

I've been thinking, I know, always a bad idea! But every time the New Year celebration rolls around, do we not always say this year will be different?

How can it be though, if we are going into it with the same problems?

Isn't that what crazy is - doing the same thing expecting different results? I would like to suggest we stop thinking of fixing everything ourselves and let the LORD do it in His time.

He being the utmost and Creator of the heavens and the earth, still does not overwelm us in the fixing. Yet we seek as a people to pack on the plate of issues to be fixed and then just want it done right away. What an interesting breed we are!

Can't I just lose this weight? RIGHT NOW! Can't we just fall back in love? IMMEDIATLEY! Can't he be mine? FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

I wonder, no, I'm pretty sure God is asking, "Can't you just hold on, who do you trust?"

See, I think we are more comfortable in the dysfunction of trusting ourselves; we are downright shaky when it comes to trusting the father. And let's face it, He knows the ropes. He made 'em! Our ways to get things done, flat out don't work. We need the LORD to show us; He has shown me, it may not be A,B & C, but rather, C, B & A. That may be the process of uprooting the pain and sadness. That may produce the good fruit.

Let us take every day for what it is this year and first off trust the One who created, came and died, beat death in ressurection and is alive and active right now.

He wants so badly to love on us.

Can't we let Him?!

Senses...

It occurred to me yesterday as I was listening to Travis Cottrell sing “Annie’s song,” the LORD DOES fill my senses. As I took a walk on a trail that edges the Pacific Ocean, I realized how breath taking the world is through the gifts of my senses. Senses that are gifts to me from my heavenly father; so much so, I thought I would take a moment and share a few:

· The fragrance of a fresh Christmas tree; what I call “green perfume” (like Marilyn in the Misfits)
· The sight of snow, so undisturbed and clean, as if God just laid out a white perfect blanket down for all to see.

· The touch of the felt patchwork stocking my mom made for me.
· The sight of a rushing river, moving rapidly and smoothly against river rocks.
· The taste of a peppermint candy cane.

· The sight of Christmas lights glowing all around a tree.
· The sound of thunder, a little scary, but mostly amazing and powerful.
· The aroma of chocolate chip cookies being baked to give as gifts.
· The sight of White Christmas on my television.
· The sound of O Holy Night.
· The sight of the perfect shade of green, one that comes when the sunlight shines through a leaf on a tree.
· The sweet and tart taste of cranberry sauce.
·The sound of bells; any bells. Little tinkle bells, big ol’ church bells, or sleigh bells.
· The sight of Christmas wreath’s on doors.
· The fragrance of hot apple cider.
· The warm and magical touch of the Santa Ana winds.
· The sound of Christmas carolers.
· The sight of the Nativity, grand scale or home-spun.
· The touch of a crackling fire, warming my chilled skin.
· The sight and sound of a four-man band playing carols at the entrance of the boardwalk. All the while taking in the sight of the sun dancing on the ocean.
· This next one practically takes all senses, but is a tradition and love of mine. Going to see the Nutcracker Ballet. The colors, the music, the art of dance. It is like dessert for the eyes and ears.
· The fragrance of good food, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and sweet potatoes, Oh my and don’t forget pumpkin pie.
· The sound of my mom saying Merry Christmas on Christmas morning.
· The aroma of fresh brewed coffee on Christmas morning.
· The smell of fresh air, anywhere.
· The sound of a note being reached in perfect harmony.
· The sight and sound of Clydesdale horses; all horses for that matter. (I’m a girl with that horse – love thing). But there is something about them galloping in the snow.

Now the last thing I want to note is not a sense, as in the 5 senses; but I do believe it is a sense of God and His nearness.

· The hope I have in my heart. For dreams to come, for memories to savor, for present moments to be handled with care and love. I love that at this time of year, I feel that the LORD gives me that sense of Joy and Peace and that He is present.

Merry Christmas!

Pay attention to the break-through

I have recently gone through what I would catagorize as an earthquake. Not the kind that is reported on the news with a richter scale number, because frankly, mine would be off the charts. No, this was a soul earthquake, and I feel the LORD allowed it. You see He wanted to shake that which could be shaken, to leave that which could not.

Or I should say who could never be shaken. The rock on which I stand.

I was living in a wrong state of my mind. One that was depressive, critical of myself and just all around dillusional. And that is not the life He has planned for me.

But in the break-through He gave me, would you believe I kept trying to return to the sadness.

Just like a human.

I want to not only experience the rawness of the break-through's with the LORD, but I want to pay attention to the rebuild that follows. Oh how dear and close I want our relationship to be and how many times do I wonder if I rush right past HIM so fast, because I've got places to go..

Help me father to pay attention to the break-through. So that the rebuild can be real.

Starry Sky

Star light, Star bright..

In my studies of the word of God over the years I had remebered hearing about how God told Abraham that He would make his decendants like the stars in the sky; the sand on the shore - too numerous to count. So imagine my surprise when I go on vacation to southern Oregon, and God shows me personally.

Let me explain.

I went up just recently to the area of my upbringing, Jacksonville/Ashland Oregon area. Beautiful place, in my opinion, stunning picture of God's creation. One of the things I was so excited about doing while up there is attending the Applegate Christian Fellowship. I listen regularly to Pastor Jon Courson and Ben Courson (Peter-John Courson just happens to be my Pastor here in So. California, so lucky!).

The friends I was staying with lived right across the street from the church (DO NOT think residential, this is a country road up from the church; country, country, country!) I decided to go to church one night by myself and after they dropped me off they said call us when you need a ride home(I unfortunatley did not know there number, OOPS!).

So I decide to walk home. In the dark, no, I mean the DARK. No city lights allow for some darkness in the country, but I set out in the stillness. Half way up the road I realized two things:

A) I might scare an animal; which made me now walk a smidge faster and start praying out loud.

and B) when I looked up I could see the stars clearer than I ever had.

Here is what blew my mind, there were so many stars I could see clearly, but behind those bright diamonds was a blanket of stars so small, they looked to be like sand on the shore.

And then it hit me, this verse I had remembered hearing:

Hebrews 11:12

12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

I had originally thought this was in Genesis, but last night in my homework of the Patriarch's (Beth Moore) God confirmed the miracle which He had shown me.

And what a sight, right then on that walk, I still was a little freaked out by a possible animal in the dark, but honestly, I couldn't take my eyes off the sky.

I couldn't stop looking at my God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and how He was communicating with me!

An email worth posting...

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 ) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 ) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 ) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 ) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) I belong to God Do you know Who you are?

'The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace...

Something to chew on…

Just recently, I heard of a Christmas dinner being held to give people a chance to relax and treat themselves during this hectic holiday season. Now first off, I am leaving this loose and with hardly any details, because, I think this happens a lot and the last thing we need to do is point and blame. This is just something we should all be aware of.
What grabbed my attention is that the tickets for this event were A) limited, and B) $25.00/per person and $15.00 for children under 12. Now one question sprang to mind and one concern.

Question: What on earth are they serving?

And concern, during this financially difficult time (which for some did not just start, a lot of people try not to live out of their means and have had to sacrifice events before this financial downfall.)

Are they really going to exclude the very people this would be a blessing for?

What about the single woman who would like a beautiful and safe place to go so that she could get all dolled-up? But does not have the money right away and when she does, her ticket is gone. What about the family who needs a breather from the stress of how to pay for the holidays? But can’t afford this? It seems to me it is excluding the very people it should include.

I truly believe that if one is going to plan an event, one should make sure that everyone can attend. If that means it has to be scaled down from fancy catering to old-school potlucks, then so be it.

Now, in all fairness, I am sure they didn’t set out to exclude, but these things never happen obviously; let us not be a people that ignore the subtly of traps and be smart in our caring. When Jesus fed the multitudes in John 6:10

10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."

He could have just giving thanks to the father for the loaves and fishes and then thrown it out to crowd and let them divvy it up. Quite frankly the LORD would have still provided. Because that is what He does.
But I think Jesus shows us a picture of calmness and thought when He says this. Let us follow and have the heart to give, but the mind to be aware and organized.
Sometimes the poorest person you will meet in a day just needs time or thought. We love and serve a God who has (Thank you LORD) EVERYONE in His sight. He sees the starving orphan, the crippled soldier, the homeless man, the locked-up juvenile, the struggling family, the broken marriage, the addicted woman, the heartbroken woman. He sees all faces, catches all tears. But I for one do not want to miss an opportunity to be part of a blessing for whoever needs it.

It is not my job to decide who receives blessing; it is my privilege to possibly be part of that blessing.