Salute

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:29,30

My view of God can often be skewed. Instead of the loving Father the Bible says He is, I seek to find an unbendable, authoritarian army sergeant, just waiting for me to make a wrong move. My motivation to please Him stems from fear. Not the healthy reverential kind of fear, but a fear that expects the bomb to drop at any moment.

I noticed myself falling into an old familiar pattern yesterday. Contemplating a decision of enormous proportion, I assumed I had it all figured out. God requires A . . . plus my response, which would be B . . . which of course equals C. Right?

I had indeed heard from God, and my tendency is to run like the wind in the direction of His prompting. No linger around for confirmation - why wait? If the band aid must come off, why not rip it off and get it over with?

But after thinking about what God's Word says about His character, something wasn't adding up. God is never in a hurry, so why was I obeying at the speed of light?

Obedience is key in keeping in step with our Heavenly Father. But I think it is important to dialogue with God about His timing, and to seek clarity and confirmation through His Word before bolting for the door. More than a hand salute, God wants wholehearted trust.

We serve a God who is very much pressed to perfection, wearing the greatest medals of honor. But unlike a drill sergeant, God is a loving Father, wanting us to see His heart more than His hand.

Who are you saluting today? Your perception of God - or the God of the Bible?

The difference, my friend, can make all the difference in the world.

Exegesis

"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." ~ Matthew 7:24

As summer winds down and my kids head back to school, I will be taking my own seat at the school desk. With God's call to write, I've taken a good look at the industry, and what it will mean to really pursue my dream. If I've learned anything at all, it is just how much I still don't know.

I have longed, for years, to really sit down and study the Bible. Topical studies and book studies have been great, but they just haven't been able to reach the deep itch I have inside - to know God through His Word. Many things have attributed to my procrastination. I could get down on myself for waiting so long, but instead I choose to recognize God's perfect timing as I crack the books.

I've decided to begin a book called, "How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth." With my dictionary as my companion, I work to uncover words like exegesis and hermeneutics. (Kind of overwhelming, I know.) There was something that caught my eye this morning, as I began this edge of my seat adventure. It was written in the first page or two, and said:

"The problem is not understanding the Bible, but obeying it -- putting it into practice."

Ouch. Obedience is key to developing that love relationship with God. Are you being obedient to God's precepts today? What have you known about for years, but still haven't applied to your life?

Knowledge puffs up. It is not necessarily how much we know. It is more about how much we practice.

What are you practicing today?

One Line

One seemingly harmless little line. Who would've thought that it could alter eternity?

There are sometimes places God beckons us to -- forcing us to leave what is comfortable and familiar behind. I won't share specifics just yet, but let's just say that I've drawn a line in the sand.

A revelation from God this weekend came while camping with the Jr. High group. It was not what I was expecting, and I have to say that I still sit with my jaw wide open. His message was clear. His message pierced my heart. His message will change everything.

To my faithful readers, please pray for me. The decision is so new and fragile. Like a line drawn in the sand, one tide rushing in has potential to wipe my new commitment clear out.

Answering God's call does indeed demand all.

If God has been nudging you about something, maybe it is time for you to take action too. You are in good company . . . God's presence is the real deal.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. ~ Deut. 31:8

The Father's Heart

God the Father's heart . . . such intricate simplicity. In the throws of ministry, it would seem impossible to miss. Being the salt and light of the earth, in Jesus' name seems quite noble, and it is. But if we're not careful, working for God can become quite a distraction.

One of the greatest joys of becoming a Christian is being called to His service. God using the weak and foolish parts of us to shame the wise. Incredible. But while we are standing on the front lines, it is important to keep our priorities in check - especially in ministry. An intimate relationship with God must ALWAYS come first, before anything we DO for Him.

Without that strong bond, it is easy to forget why we are serving in the first place. Let's face it, church life is busy. Through meetings, prayer time, classes and retreats God's calling can become faint and distorted. Our idea of what other people need has potential to drown out God's simple message of salvation.

While it is important to reach the world, disciple the fold and support our church's leadership, balance is key. It is in the ceasing of activity that God is best heard.I challenge you to take some time this week to simply be still. Then sit and listen. Who is that one person you can add value to, by pointing him to the cross?

Pastor Dave said something that grabbed me today. "We can be so busy doing stuff that we miss the Father's heart."

God's message will always be that of salvation. Don't let the noise drown Him out.

Pinned

I nestled into my seat at church on Sunday. Second row from the front, in our cozy little corner, with pencil ready. Little did I know, my warm seat and the strength of my husband's arm over my shoulder wasn't going to save me from what came next.

God's arrow.

Pastor Jon began the sermon talking about camping . . . and searching . . . looking for supplies, looking for a good spot, for a good tree . . . and then zing.

Out of nowhere, God pierced my heart with the seventh commandment. "You shall not commit adultery."

Bam.

I was surprised at the pool of blood that ran through my body and seemed to pour out of my feet. Adultery? Me God? One by one, God began showing me all of the things I have put in the place of Him.

I was heartsick, dumbfounded, unable to breath.

I am not talking about the marriage break up kind of adultery. I speak instead about tiny little compromises I've made, here and there, that meant God no longer had first place in my heart.

I had cheated on God.

It is so easy for us to wander down the rabbit trail of life and suddenly find ourselves pinned underneath an 800 pound boulder. As I pondered the message later on, God showed me my boulder, and what it would take to break free.

I am waiting for God's rescue, I know He will come. His Word says so.

What about you? Have you lost sight of your First Love? When was the last time God meant everything to you?

Call to Him . . . even if it means crying from the depth of your own caverned heart. God is crazy about you.

And He stands ready to rescue.

Hearts Wide Open

Yesterday's message was amazing. I watched, as one person after another, shared the deepest part of their heart. Broken marriages, bouts with cancer, alcoholism and infidelity - it was exposed for every eye to see. I've never seen such courage.

I sat astounded at the poise of each participant. They looked like they had been speaking in front of people for years. Words were delivered with great care and deep conviction.

While every story carried a different set of circumstances, the moral was always the same. God's love stepped in, and made what seemed impossible - possible.

So my question for you today is this. What is your story? We all have something to say. How has the Lord rescued you? Was it from yourself, or from the hand of another?

I challenge you to take notice this week of the pit you have been pulled out of. Your story speaks of God's amazing goodness.

Your story matters.

Daddy's Girl

I watched my daughter giggle from deep down the other day.  It was a typical evening.  Mark was watching the Giants game, and I was puttering around in the kitchen looking to start dinner.  She sat curled up, in what has come to be her favorite spot.  She was experiencing the best part of her day.  There was no cartoon involved, nor did a toy catch her gaze.  With a nose nuzzled into the cool smell of after-shave, Makayla delighted in her Daddy - and he in her.  

I've been reading a book over the past week or so, about the idea of God being my Daddy.  It is a strange concept for me to wrap my mind around - I don't know why I struggle so much.  Wanting to crawl into His lap, longing to belt out the song of my heart and dance on top of His over sized feet - yes, this is all true of the little girl inside.  So where does my struggle lie?  I've come to realize that my concept of God can be somewhat skewed.

Romans 8:28 paints a rainbow portrait of God's unmistakable love for me:  And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love  him, who have been called according to his purpose.  

There are some truths that take a really long time to sink in.  It will take several bounces on the knee for me to really trust that God, my Daddy, is safe.  One inch at a time, this little girl is bound to resurface.  Regardless of my circumstances, regardless of how I might "feel", God loves me.  His Word says so.

I long to enjoy the sweetness of complete abandonment some day.  Like my precious little curly cue, I hope someday to surprise myself with a giggle of delight . . . by just enjoying God - knowing that He holds everything, including me, in the palm of His hand.