"Quotes" from Max Lucado (Fear and Temptation)

This quotes (or sections) are from Max Lucado's newest book, "Max on Life"...

(This section is actually from his book "Fearless", but is stated again in his new book)

When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety lover do anything great? Can the risk-averse accomplish noble deeds? For God? For others? No. The fear filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasculates greatness. No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear.

Lately I would describe myself as being in a dry season in my Christian walk...a wilderness of sorts. When I read this quote from Max Lucado in his new book, I took note. Below is an excerpt from Max's new book and it has to do with temptation.

In the wilderness you think the unthinkable.... (Max then mentions about Jesus being tempted) And "one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" (James 1:14 NASB). Temptation carries you and entices you. What was unimaginable prior to the wilderness becomes possible in it. A tough marriage can make a good man look twice at the wrong woman. Extended sickness makes the stoutest soul consider suicide. Stress makes the smokiest nightclub smell sweet. In the wilderness you think the unthinkable.

For that reason the wilderness is the maternity ward for addictions. Binge eating, budget-busting gambling, excessive drinking, pornography-all short-term solutions to deep-seated problems. Typically they have no appeal, but in the wilderness you give thought to the unthinkable.

I have struggled in both of these areas, and thought it would be beneficial to share what Max wrote here at my blog...

I Miss the Altar...

This past week I got to visit another church with some friends of ours... I noticed during the invitation time that people could come up to the front of the church and kneel at the altar to pray...this made me think of the churches I grew up in. During the last part of the service members could come up to the front and pray at the altar... So what kind of praying was going on at the altar???

-First time decisions to receive Christ as Savior

-Prayers for healing

-Prayers of supplication

-Prayers of confession and repentance (and much more)

I remember the times I went to the altar to pray. Normally it was prayers of confession and repentance... The altar call meant business... I remember how nervous I would be getting up in front of all the people to pray at the altar, because I knew that people might be wondering why I was there (because my mind at times would think the same thing about the people that would go to the altar). It also seemed very normal to watch people (and myself) walk away from the altar in tears... Again, there was just something about going up in front of the church and visibly showing your need for Christ that made it feel more serious...The altar seemed like a sort of holy place to me.

So this weekend, I was reminded of how I wished in every church there was a time where people could go to the altar and settle whatever issues they needed to with God...BUT then I thought about the verse in Romans 12 1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

These verses reminded me that I do not need a physical altar, but that my life is to be a sacrifice to God... In some sense I should be laying my life down on an "altar" daily... dying to myself, and dying to my will and desires. If I waited to do this only on days where I could go to a physical altar I would be wasting the precious time that God has given me. I can't afford to do that...

I still love the idea of going up in a church (building) and kneeling at the altar before God, but I am also reminded that I need to be laying my life down daily before God and the Church (body of believers) as that living sacrifice referenced in Romans 12.

I hope that each day I will be placing myself more and more on the altar...

Random Question :)

AS Christ followers we all struggle with some sin from time to time that we cannot seem to "break free" from. I know for me I am still fighting my battle with "Fear". My sin is that I do not trust God and believe what His Word says... "Do not fear..." I am wrestling with this sin, and my hope is that I will "break free" from fear one day.

So today I have a question for you, or a fill in the blank to be more specific.

If I broke free from the sin of __________, I would finally be able to ____________ in my life. "

Here is an example of what mine would look like...

If I broke free from the sin of FEAR, I would finally be able to MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT IMAGINING THE WORST CASE SCENARIO in my life.

I would love to hear your "break free" stories... Do Share...

No More "Mrs. Nice Girl"

This past weekend I was able to attend a simulcast of a "Living Proof Live" event. One of my favorite Bible study teachers, Beth Moore was in Chicago live, and she was live via video in over 5oo other places... I think the final count of all who were attending (live and through video) numbered over 125,000....that's a lot of women, and a few brave men :)

Beth's theme verse for this particular conference was Proverbs 31:26 (New King James Version) She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. I don't know about you, but I sure do want to open this "BIG" mouth with WISDOM, and of course I want to be KIND too. In today's post I won't touch on all eight points of why we need to speak with wisdom and have the "law of kindness" on our tongues, but one thing Beth talked about really stuck out to me.

Beth talked about how being kind is not the same as being nice. She said "nice is fine, but kind is divine". She then added that we can fake "nice"through flattery and other kind of ways, but you can't really fake "kind". God is kind.

One of Beth's eight points stated that "Kindness is not an action. It's a disposition." That really hit me. (This is me thinking now, not Beth). Kindness is not so much in the acts we do, but who we are...Who we are in Christ.

So all this kindness talk led me to ask myself if I am kind... I would have definitely described myself as kind, and honestly I think if people were to write down words that describe me they may write "kind" on the list. But after Beth went through scripture after scripture where the word "kind" was referenced I began to think of myself in a different way. I think a better desorption of me would be to call myself "nice". Ok, let me say there is nothing wrong with the word "nice", of course I want to be nice, but that statement about how "nice" can be faked but kindness cannot, convicted me.

I have been so guilty in the past, and even today of being nice to others because it somehow benefited me. Yes, I do like be be nice, but I have been nice to others by flattering them...making them feel good so that they would think good of me. I hate that about myself, but at the deepest level of my heart I still want to please people and make everyone happy with me. I have been nice and flattered others to get people to like me.... Not so good.

I could really go on and on about this subject, but for today I just wanted to say that I want to say so long to "Mrs. Nice Girl", and hello to having the "law of kindness" on my tongue so that I may truly touch others with God's kindness, not my own false flattery. This world needs a touch of kindness, and it is only God's kindness lived out through His children that will encourage a world where true kindness seems to have disappeared.

Dear Lord, teach me how to speak with wisdom, and help me to truly speak with kindness to everyone I come in contact with. May they see You in me.

Pushed Out of My Comfort Zone (Part 1)

I have to break this story down into separate posts, or else I think readers will see the post and think too long and say goodbye :) I have to go back a little bit to set this post up so it will make more sense to you.

I was introduced to Jesus at the age of nine and this year I will be 40... This fact tells you that I have had knowledge of Jesus for about 30 years. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at age nine, but feel I really did not understand my decision of what it means to be a true follower of Christ until my 20's. BUT regardless of that fact, I have always known that as a Christian I should be sharing my faith on a regular basis. During the past 30 years I have shared my faith, but here and there, and not on a regular basis...not as Jesus would want me to.

Over the last 5 years I have been convicted of the fact that I don't share my faith with others...that I don't share the good news of the Gospel with others... If I get real honest with myself I would just have to admit that I am down right scared to share my faith boldly, and if I am even a little more honest with myself I have been ashamed to share my faith. The bible has much to say about those who are ashamed of Jesus, and it is not at all good...it is terrifying.

In the past I have put too much stock in the approach of sharing my faith only when asked about it by others, or else when there are those NEON FLASHING moments in life that tell me that this is a good time to tell whomever about Jesus. There have been instances in life where I have brought up God with others, but only once in awhile. Things needed to change in my life, and I really felt like the Lord was showing me my sin in the area of telling others about Him.

One TV program that helped me during this time was "The Way of the Master" hosted by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. I could probably write a whole long post about this show, but for time sake I will just say that God used this program to show me my lack of love for those who are dying and going to an eternity without the Lord...which is Hell. Wow, it is weird to use that word anymore...I don't hear people (even in the Christian circles) talking about Hell anymore...Even I don't like to say that word to people, but Hell is real, and a place that none of us want to go when we die.

I know there are some out there that think "The Way of the Master" approach is bold and it can turn people off, but the reality is that sometimes we have to be bold...and that may put people off... The Bible is clear too that many will reject Jesus...so we shouldn't be surprised when people reject Jesus...reject us.

There are those that say we should evangelize using "relationship evangelism" (build relationships with others first, then witness). I am not ruling out this approach at all, as there are those people that the Lord will put in our lives to build relationships with and hopefully they will come to Christ as we share our faith with them. BUT how many people do we come in contact with that we will never really have a chance to build a relationship with??? More than we could ever count... When I have my eyes open to this fact I see a whole world out there that I come in contact with daily (that is if I leave my house).

OK, all this to say the Lord has awakened me to my lack and sin in the area of sharing my faith, and He is awakening me to the world around me... I am only at the beginning stage, but my eyes have been opened to those around me that do not know Christ. I do know Him, and I have a responsibility to share what I know about Jesus... I don't have an excuse anymore...not like I ever did.

I knew that I couldn't keep this post short :) So I will wrap up here with an experience that happened to me a couple of weeks ago... My best friend came to see me from New York, and I will say that she also has been on a similar journey as myself with God opening her eyes to the fact that she should be sharing her faith as well. The only thing is that she has been on this journey a bit longer and the Lord has been challenging her to share her faith boldly. She has been pushing herself out of her comfort zone for the last couple of months when it comes to witnessing to others. She has really encouraged me in this area more than she knows.

A couple of weeks ago while she was visiting we went through a McDonald's Drive-Thru. As I paid the cashier I said something about witnessing to the cashier, and then my friend told me to give a tract to the employee at the next window (I already passed the cashier)... All of the sudden I just panicked and said that I couldn't...My friend then told me that I was going to do it... I had too (not in a bossy way, but in a down right challenging and convicting way)... As I waited to get to the second window, I realized how crazy I was acting... I knew my friend was right... I had to give that employee a tract...how could I be ashamed to give a simple tract to an employee??? I was afraid, and I knew that I had to do it. I mean, if I can't give a tract (publication with the message of Jesus on it) to a stranger, how would I ever actually have a conversation with someone about Jesus. I was convicted to the core, and although I was still nervous I gave the woman at the second window the tract. This was a turning point for me, and soon I would be challenged once again in the area of sharing my faith, only this time I would be doing more than just giving a tract away.

I will end for now, and pick up with Part 2 of my story titled, "God Shows Up at TGIF".

Are you up for a Challenge?

Hey Dear Bloggy Friends...

I have fallen a little short with my "Movie Monday" posts as of late, but I will soon pick that up again. I have seen some really good Christian movies, and would like to share that information with whomever would like to read it :)

But onto the reason for today's post. Last week I was listening to Nancy Leigh DeMoss on her Revive our Hearts Radio program. She had a guest on the show (Janet Pope) that had memorized 14 books of the Bible and over 100 specific chapters in various books of the Bible (that info is what I remember...not exact numbers). I was so inspired listening to Janet's story, and as her interview went on I could tell the effect that memorizing scripture has had on her life. The Word of God was truly living in her heart and had changed the way she lived.

It was so beautiful and amazing when Nancy asked Janet if should would quote certain chapters from the Bible. I don't even think Janet knew that Nancy was going to ask her to quote the chapters that she had learned from memory. I loved sitting there listening to Janet read..no not read... quote God's Word from her heart.

Last week's radio shows challenged me to do the same thing Janet did. The challenge is overwhelming and seems impossible for me, since my memory is not at good as it used be... I wondered how I would even be able to retain entire books of the Bible from memory, but I serve a miracle working God and all I can do is to step out and try. Well, Nancy's ministry had a challenge to memorize the entire book of Philippians (4 chapters) by the end of the year (I think it is by the end of the year), so I decided to take the challenge. Not only did I decide to take the challenge, but I asked my best friend is she wanted to memorize the book of Philippians with me, and she was more than happy to join me in this task :)

My friend and I are well on our way to memorizing chapter one of Philippians. It has been such a blessing to try to memorize God's Word in this way (whole passages). I am praying that what I memorize will stick with me, and not fade away...more than that I am praying that God's Word will truly work its way into my heart, and then change my heart. I don't want to memorize God's Word, just to say I memorized it. I want it to change my life, and you know what... I think it will.

So is anyone out there in blogville up for the challenge of memorizing whole books of the Bible, or individual chapters? Let me know, so I can encourage you as you embark on this wonderful adventure. In Hebrews, God tells us that His Word is living and active... I sure do want His Word to be alive and active in my heart...Do you?

(Janet Pope has a book that she wrote to help you memorize scripture... I will be getting it soon. I think the title is "His Word in My Heart")

Some Thoughts on Marriage...

This month I will have been married to my hubby for 16 years... In the beginning of our marriage I couldn't have imagined we would make it to 16...shoot I didn't think we were going to make it past 3 years... But because of our Great and Powerful God we are still together and we are in love...not the love that is found in a romantic chick flick, but real love...the kind that takes lots of work, and most importantly God to make it last. I don't know if I am going to be able to transfer my thoughts into something that makes sense on this blog, but I am going to try to. So here it goes...

My husband has been reading a Christian book on marriage (and no I didn't give him this one...he bought it himself which totally shocked me :) It is really having a positive effect on him. I have noticed in the last month or so that he is really trying to make some changes when it comes to our marriage...Changes of his heart. Pursuing God to help him do things that are really hard for him. If I summed it up I would say he is seeking to become less self-centered by becoming God centered. As that happens he becomes more serving to me...thinking of me before he thinks of himself.

About two months ago my hubby and I went through a rough patch... We have done so well for so long, but you can never get to comfortable in a marriage, and I believe the rough patch brought to light things that still need to be worked on in our marriage. I think that is about the time that my husband started reading the book I referenced above. The Lord also showed me many areas that I lacked in when it came to our marriage. So for the last two months my husband and I have been working on our marriage through lots of communication and prayer. It's a long process, but one worth going through.

OK, so in the midst of this process I thought of something. I do believe that my husband and I should work hard on our marriage and do everything possible to make it the best it can be, but if our focus is that we work on things in our marriage so we can be happy, then we have missed something. Don't get me wrong I do want to be happy, but even when I experience the best day with my husband there is still something that is missing deep down in my soul. A happy marriage will not totally make me feel fulfilled...it's not suppose to. God is the only one that can fill up my soul completely.

So what am I trying to say? In the pursuit of a good marriage, I need to keep my focus on God. I know that God wants me to truly serve my husband and be the wife that He created me to be. The wife that God wants me to be is impossible for me to be on my own. I totally need God to strengthen and empower me to be selfless so I can truly serve my husband. If I truly let God work through me then more than likely I will have a happy marriage, but having a happy marriage is not the end result, but an overflow of God's work in my life. And that empty feeling in my soul will be more filled because I will have been seeking God to empower me to what only He can do through me. So in the end my husband will benefit, but I think I will have even benefited more because I will have drawn closer to God. Does that make sense???

Bottom line... You can work hard to have the best marriage you can, but realize that even if you attain what the world calls a good and happy marriage, you may still feel very empty. On the other hand, work hard to be the wife or husband that God has called you to be by surrendering to God and the work He wants to do to make you the wife/husband He wants you to be. In most cases I would think you would have a good marriage, but good marriage or not you will have something that cannot be taken away from you... A closer walk and relationship with God...there is nothing sweeter in this life.

OK, it is 11:30 and my brain is shutting down, but I hope at least some of what I was trying to say was understood... Until next time...

New Year, New Look, New Vision

Happy 2010!!! God willing, this year will be different for me.

My title refers to a new year and a new look. The new look refers to my blog design. I am in the process of getting my blog redesigned in hopes that it will reflect my "New Vision" for 2010.

2009 was a year that kept hitting me with the truth that everything I do should be to the honor and glory of God. Now I know that I will never attain perfection in my life, and have EVERYTHING in my life honor God, but it has to be my goal. So with this idea I am going to attempt to honor God with my blog.

Although I would like to think this blog does honor God, I know it has not at times, because this blog has been a stumbling block for me. HOW?

- This blog has been a place where I have sought the affirmation of men (women).

-This blog has caused me to covet what others out there in blog world have.

-This blog has led me to jealously, insecurity, comparison and pride.

OK, I think you get the picture. Really anything in my life can cause the above sins to surface, but at times these sins surfaced through my blogging experience. I am thankful that God allowed me to see these sins, because now God can free me of them if I repent.

On the other hand, this blog has been a wonderful experience for me. I have got to know some very special blog friends. I know it sounds crazy, but if you blog you understand. I have been encouraged and challenged more times than I can count by others in the blogworld.

This blog has also allowed me to keep up with family and friends since I moved five years ago. I think the most important thing about this blog is that for the most part it has been a spiritual journal for me. Amidst the crazy posts about my life and the countless pictures of my family and friends, there have been a handful of precious blog entries that documented my experiences with the Lord. Experiences I don't think I would have written down. Experiences that might have been forgotten as I age (this old mind is a slippin :)

So this year, this blog (and many other things) will be under evaluation. My goal is that only the things that will help me grow closer to God will remain in my life. I am a stubborn woman, and my human nature can be so strong, but God willing I will make the choices that will honor Him, and help me TO KNOW HIM better.

Happy New Year!!!

PS. Thank you Holly for a wonderful new design... If you are looking for a new blog design, click here to visit Holly. She is wonderful and loves the Lord :)

Fill in the blank...

It is almost time to celebrate the most wonderful birth in history. The birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...Jesus Christ. Are you ready?


Familiarity can be a good thing, but familiarity with the Christmas story can be negative if you just listen to the story as one that you have heard hundreds of times before...a story that no longer engages your mind and moves your heart toward love. Personally, I have fallen into the trap of treating the Christmas story too casually and have forgotten what the baby in the manger truly represents. This Christmas, I don't want that to happen, so let us pray together to see and hear the Christmas story with new eyes and new ears.



In the Bible, John writes "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14-first part of verse). As many have said, Jesus was born to die, but the story did not end with his death, but a wonderful resurrection. Oh we have so much to be thankful for this season. No, we have so much to be thankful for everyday.


Today, my question is more of a fill in the blank question. Feel free to leave your answers in my comment section. (I finally filled in the blanks with my answers...just replace your answers where the blue section is)


The night that Jesus was born_Peace, Fulfillment and Pure Love came to the World.
The night that Jesus was born longing, meaning, purpose, and Truth came to my life.


Let us see with new eyes and hear with new ears this Christmas.
Merry Christmas!!!

(will be Cafe Chat question on Thursday too)

I am the Rich man (or woman)!!!

This post came about as a result of me watching the Francis Chan video (see the post on my blog about two down). I was nervous about watching a video called "Lukewarm and Loving It", but at this point in my walk with Jesus I do want to know the truth, even if I don't think I want to know.



The whole video is so good, but only about five minutes into the video I had a revelation of sorts. Francis Chan was talking about how over 50% of the world live on less than $2.00 a day. I think we all have heard that statistic stated in some way or another in the last decade. Francis then mentioned about the verse from the Bible that talks about how difficult it is for the rich to enter heaven, and then it just clicked in my mind. I am the rich, and it is difficult for me to enter heaven. (Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.")


I think I always thought that verse pertains to the people in the world that are billionaires, millionaires, superstars, but not me. I am not rich, or at least I thought so. You see in my myopic view I was applying that verse to me living in America, but I don't just live in America, I live in a world... a world so much bigger than what my selfish eyes can see. According to the statistic of over 50% of people that live on less than $2.00 a day, that would make me filthy rich...a billionaire!!!



As the video went on Francis so passionately explains how money and riches (even if we think we don't have money) cloud our view of God, and the more money we have the more we find comfort and safety in it, and not God. As I watched the video I just sensed so many ways I trust money and not God...how I wrestle with giving up things I want and think it is a sacrifice. Oh, how sinful and foolish I am. I don't see God for who He is... High and mighty and lifted up. I think too highly of myself, and I don't want to anymore.



Francis also talked about the story in the Bible of the rich man that wanted to know what he could do to have eternal life, and when Jesus told him the last thing to do , which was to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and follow Him, the rich man walked away... he couldn't do it. I don't want to be that rich man. (Story found in Mark beginning at verse 17)



The verse above from Matthew says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven...that sounds impossible, but I am reminded in the Bible that with God all things are possible ... So yes, even a selfish woman like myself that has not viewed God the way He deserves can change and follow Him. Lord I need you so...




(Feel free to watch the video below to see the whole message)

Computer Crash

It figures that when I want to do some blog posting that my computer decides it doesn't want to work anymore. There may be hope to recover my C Drive, but I may have lost some beloved documents and about a month and a half worth of my family pictures :( Oh, and all the emails I have been saving in my Inbox, because one day I would do something with them. My husband warned me to back up my stuff, and I would have...one day.

I am actually borrowing my hubby's laptop to do this post, and tomorrow I will call the computer doctor and see if my hope of saving my STUFF are lost.

This is the small stuff of life that feels big, but through this situation I see that God is working in me to make me more like Him. A few years ago this could have wrecked my day, or a month or so... I would have been mad at the world, or at least my husband...I would have found a way to make it his fault :) BUT NOT TODAY. Yes I am bummed, and I feel a bit upset, but I do see this as something that just happens...no one to blame...no damage done really. So, I leave this post with hope...whatever happens will be OK.


FYI: 365 community... I will do my picture post when I get my computer fixed. I didn't stop :)

What are we really saying?

Hey All, (I am summarizing this story, so check out the Family Life website to listen to the archives if you want to know more)

I wanted to jot down a few thoughts on the blog after hearing Dr. Meg Meeker speak on Family Life today this past week. She was talking about her book that deals with the father/daughter relationship, and how very important a father is in a daughter's life. There are probably many things that I could list here that Dr. Meeker said that were wonderful, but one thing she said really stayed with me.

Dr. Meeker was talking to the hosts of Family Life about how fathers should not compliment
their daughters on physical aspects (like looks, weight, athletic ability), but rather compliment them on their character...things to do with the heart. (Again, check out website for full story)

Dr. Meeker also talked about how common place it is for women to greet each other with things that have to do with their weight. Like, "Have you lost weight? You look great." When she said that I totally agreed with her. In my own circles, I have commented several times about my friends losing weight and how great they looked. As well as many friends over the years telling me I looked good because of the weight I lost.

What are we really saying when we use these terms?

We talk so much about how it is important not to focus in on the physical things, but then a lot of our talk does just that. I tell someone they look great because they lost weight... Isn't that saying that they didn't look great before? Of course I am just focusing in on the weight thing, but even if we didn't talk about a person's weight, what other things do we say to each other.

-Hey, I love that new outfit on you.
-Your hair is beautiful... I wish I had hair like yours.
-Your kids are so well behaved.

I could go on and on...

Dr. Meeker's comments, just made me think about how so many of the compliments I give and receive are based on physical things. Things that will one day fade away.

I am not saying that we shouldn't compliment each other on physical things, but I wonder how much we feed into other's minds that the physical things are important when we spotlight them?

What do you think?

Lessons from an Infomercial

I love a good infomercial, but I can't watch them too much because I will end up wanting to buy the product the infomercial is advertising. But over the last couple of days I flipped on a certain infomercial that had to do with weight loss. This time not because I am looking for the next big thing to help me lose weight, but more out of curiosity.

This particular infomercial was talking about an amazing new body shaper that can make you look like you lost at least two dress sizes, and it did. I will say right here that I am not against body shapers, as I like them and I would probably buy this particular shaper if it was on sale at some store, but it was what the woman selling the shaper said that got me thinking.

The woman selling the shaper was talking with another woman that was quite sad at the way the top half of her body looked in her clothes. The woman with the shaper promised the unhappy woman she would be happy very soon, but first she would have to submit to having her waist measured. The brave woman let herself be measured and her waist was almost 50 inches. The lady with the shaper asked the woman how she felt about that number, and she basically said that it was too many sweets that got her to that number. To which the host of the commercial told her to keep eating the sweets, and then she gave the other woman the shaper to try on. (paraphrasing the conversation)

I am sure you know what happened next. The woman came out of the dressing room, and she was so happy, and after being measured again with the shaper on she lost almost five inches. Happy Ending.

Later I started thinking about what the lady selling the shaper told the other woman that was unhappy with her body. She told her to keep eating the sweets. So my spiritual wheels were a turning.

Spiritually, I am like the lady that said her problem was "too many sweets". Symbolically, the world is like the woman that was selling the shaper telling me to "keep eating the sweets" , but just put on this shaper that makes it look like I haven't had too many sweets, but in reality nothing really has changed. On the outside I might look different, but no true change has taken place on the inside. I am just fooling myself.

So today I ask you, can you relate this story to real life and how we as Christians fool ourselves into thinking we have solved our problems, when all the while nothing has changed? I would love to see your opinions.

Are you being polluted?

James 1:27 (New International Version)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The verse above was one of my memory verses a couple of months ago. I chose it because my husband and I were talking about adopting in the future, and the first part of James 1:27 was a reminder that God is pleased when people look after orphans. For the record I just want to say that I know there are many ways one can look after orphans, and I would say adopting is one way. But today my post is not at all about orphans or adopting, but something that has been running through my mind the last week or so.

This past week I was going through my memory verses, and when I read James 1:27 it was not the first part of the verse that stood out, but the second part of the verse. The part "to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" just jumped write off my little index card, and into my heart. Why? Because without a doubt this week, and probably a good portion of my life I have been polluted by the world. I am of course speaking spiritually, and not at all about physical pollution.

I called a friend this week to tell her about how I was feeling. I shared this verse with her, and I told her that I thought it was so interesting that God paired looking after orphans and widows with also keeping oneself from being polluted by the world. Somehow to me those two things seem in different categories, but yet those two things were "Religion" that God accepts as pure and faultless. I think there is something that God wants me to see from this verse.

A second thought that came to me is that I am not a victim of the world. Yes, the world can press in on me from all sides, but I think for the most part I am the one that "pollutes" myself when I engage in what the world has to offer. Which I can tell you is pretty empty when I am laying in the bed at night thinking about everything I did during the day. So many things that I did seemed good or right at the moment, but in the end were empty and didn't contribute anything spiritually speaking.

So for today, I will end this post and will pick up with it later after I do some pondering about this verse with the Lord. But I leave you with a question, and I would love for you to share your responses with me... Are you being polluted by the world? How?

Blessings to you...

"Jimmy" (August 4th, 2009)

I definitely paused when deciding whether or not to publish this post. Why? In the past, and sadly even today I have drawn attention to myself to get praise or feel affirmed by others. If you are reading this you know I decided to publish this entry :) I guess my hope in publishing the story is to challenge and encourage others that may act and think like me.

If you knew me, you would know how I struggle at times with being a walking contradiction. I don't like this about myself!!! My heart wants to do one thing, but my mind (and hang-ups) don't pursue the path of my heart. I could go on and on with giving you examples, but I will camp on one for today to explain what I mean.

One thing that really gets to my heart is the plight of the homeless. You know the people you run into everyday that hold up signs asking for help, work or food. Now I know not all people that hold up a sign asking for help are homeless, but I would figure that a good many of them are indeed homeless. Any time I come across someone that is asking for help or money I want to do something. Often I dig down deep into my purse to find some money, and in many cases I have given someone a dollar, or maybe five if I have it (between you and me, when I have money I could always give it).

I want to help so much more, but here is where my mind stops me, or shall I say my Fear stops me. I am just going to be honest here... Many times I am afraid to get close to what I call the homeless. Why? In short, the answer is my SIN. I think thoughts like, "What if they are sick?", or I take a look at them and see how dirty and sometimes, smelly they are, and I don't want to get to close out of fear of catching what I perceive or imagine they might have. I hate that part of myself!!! I want to love people, all people like Jesus did and does. I know I am no better, but my mind doesn't always go there with me. My heart just wants to help the homeless, and I just want to either hug them or love on them in someway, but I do not.

Recently, I have been challenged to tell the people I encounter in this way about Jesus. What good is $20.00 to someone who may not know Jesus at all? Someone that is lost and going to Hell. That is a big question I have been asked, and one that I have really been thinking about lately.

In the past I have said "God Bless You" to those that I have given money to. That is a good practice to tell people "God Bless You", but so many people, even non-Christians say "God Bless You", and in our society today it seems like it has become a catch phrase, something we say very casually without much thought to what the statement really means. I even thought that in radical cases people have even labeled themselves as gods.

A friend challenged me to ask strangers, which in this case would include the homeless, if they knew Jesus. Jesus does change everything. This has not always been easy for me, but it is something I have been convicted of in the past. OK, so I gave you all this back story to get to my real story (I hope you are still reading).

Yesterday, while in a supermarket parking lot I saw a man on a bicycle. I pretty much settled in my mind that he was homeless, or at least in a very extreme living position. From a distance, I saw him approach a woman heading to her car. Part of me wanted to help this man, but part of me wanted to hurry inside the store. I chose to hurry inside the store.

From what I saw I think the woman either ignored him or probably quickly gave him the "NO" answer to whatever he was asking her. He was not so close to me, so I thought I would make it inside the store without him seeing me.

I got out of my care and hurried to the doors, but just as quickly I heard someone behind me say "Excuse me." I knew who it was. I turned to see the man on the bike, and he asked me if I had a dollar so he could buy some sugar. I had never heard that one before, but I wanted to give him something, so I told him yes. I reached inside my bag and found a dollar and I gave it to him and he graciously told me thank you.

In that split second I was trying to think of something valuable to say to him. There was so much to say, but nothing came to me at first. The man then asked me my name, and I told him my name, and then I asked what his name was too. He said his name was Jimmy. He was smiling at me. Here is where I knew I needed to say more than "God Bless You", so I blurted out something like, "Jimmy do you know Jesus?". He replied something like, " Sure do-He's my friend-he's every body's friend."

I didn't exactly know what else to say, and I started to say something when I noticed that Jimmy started to cry, and he wiped his eyes. WOW, what an awesome moment that was for me. I can't remember exactly what my last words to Jimmy were, but after his tears I closed our conversation and told him goodbye.

I entered the supermarket feeling so many emotions. I fought back tears as I walked down the grocery store aisles. So many thoughts entered my head.
- I wished I had said more about Jesus.
-I prayed that Jesus would take my few words, and speak to Jimmy's heart.

One of the thoughts that buzzed through my mind was the fact that Jimmy asked for a dollar to buy sugar. What homeless person is going to buy sugar? I thought about how people say that many times when people are asking for money, that they will end up using it to buy drugs or alcohol instead of using it for what they really need. I have kind of adopted the belief that it doesn't really matter what they end up spending the money on. They will one day answer to God what they have done, but I just need to do as I feel led in situation like this one.

In this situation I did think Jimmy was lying, and that he probably would spend the money on something different. However, I didn't really care so much about that because I know Jesus can speak to Jimmy's heart if He chose to.

I got in line to purchase my item, and as I sat my item down I heard someone behind me say my name. I turned to see Jimmy in line behind me. Guess what he was holding? A big bag of ice, and a small box of SUGAR packets. He quickly showed me the sugar packets. I think in some way he showed me the sugar to prove to me he really did what he said he was going to do with that dollar of mine. You can imagine how humbled I felt in my heart at that moment.

I asked Jimmy what he wanted the sugar for, and he told me that he likes to drink ice tea. Me too... I wanted to do so much more to help, so I asked him if I could buy his two items. He told me that he got the sugar from the Dollar Store next door. He did that the minute I gave him the money. Humbled more.

I bought him the ice and he profusely thanked me. Jimmy's countenance looked cheerful. We talked a bit more. Jimmy asked me where I was headed and he told me where he would soon be going. I don't remember all we said, but I ended the conversation telling Jimmy that I would pray for him. Then I left the store.

I have a feeling Jimmy doesn't get talked to very often, or that he is probably isn't treated as if he matters much.

I don't want me sharing this story to come off as a look what I did story, because honestly I didn't do too much. My flesh wants to praise myself for doing a good deed, but my spirit rejoices that God used me in a small way to make Jimmy smile, and maybe even for a moment Jimmy didn't feel like an outcast.

God showed me something huge yesterday. Honestly, what are the chances that Jimmy would show up in a line behind me with a box of sugar in hand? Moments earlier I was thinking why didn't Jimmy come up with a better line than he wanted to buy a box of sugar. God was so gracious to me by allowing me to encounter Jimmy with that sugar. It just confirmed to me once again that I am not to worry about the results of what I feel God is leading me to do. I am just to obey.

I probably will never run into Jimmy again in my life, but I can rest assured that if Jesus is after Jimmy's heart heart than he will know it. I can also rest assured that God will use everyday events like this situation to humble and make more pure a wretched sinful heart like my own.

I have had a wonderful vacation so far with my family, but I think my experience with Jimmy will stay with me for a long time. It maybe one of my best memories from this year's vacation. Thank you God for meeting me and Jimmy in a supermarket parking lot.... YOU ARE GOOD!!!

Could you sign this card?

I was watching a new show on TBN that features Arthur Blessitt talking about how to share your faith with others. I have been really challenged by his love for our Savior and how he has abandoned himself to the will of Jesus for his life. On the last episode Arthur talked about a card he received or found when he was in college, and how that tiny little card (and he still has it today) changed the way he viewed being a follower of Jesus....

The words on the card are as follow... "Lord, Glorify Yourself today at my expense, send me the bill. Anything Lord, I set no price. I will not dicker (means to barter)or bargain. Glorify yourself. I'll take the consequences."
Then there was a little place where you could sign the card.

Arthur said that he had such a hard time with this card, because at the time he was afraid to sign that card...he didn't know if something bad would be in store for him... Long story, short...He wrestled this through with God, and the rest is history...

At the end of that segment (I think these were Arthur's words)... He said, "So Glorify Yourself- I'll be the donkey to carry Jesus into Jerusalem that the crowds may worship and praise, Hallelujah to the King.."

So I ask myself...Could I sign that card Arthur received so many years ago??? Honestly, I don't know that I could sign it fully yet... I am wrestling my way through this question too...But I tell you that when all is said and done, I would want my name on that card...

2000 Years

Every time I listen to this song off Travis Cottrell's CD, Found I feel compelled to answer the questions that the song poses... The music to the song is beautiful, and I find the music helps to lift me to a place of worship and thinking about God. If you can, find the song and listen to the words with the music, but if not at least read the words below and ponder the questions from the song....

If I could see 2000 years ago
Travel back in time and walk in the Day when just one man turned this world upside down

If I could be a guest at the wedding, and Taste the wine that was water moments before
Would I realize what was really in store
That there would be so much more

Would I fall down and worship?
Leave all that I treasured behind?
For a chance to be closer To the Man who might Be the One who saves my life?

If I could hear His voice call to Lazarus Stand
and stare as my friend stumbles out of the tomb
Witness blind men see their first morning sky
Would I believe what He says to be true

If I was there the night soldiers took Him away
Would I flee the scene like most of His friends
Then watch on the cross what I thought was the end
What would I do then

Would I fall down and worship?
Leave all that I treasured behind?
For a chance to be closer To the Man who might Be the One who saves my life?

And what would it be like After three days gone by
Would I believe what they said Or wanna see with my own eyes
Put my hand on the scars
Only then realize My Lord, my God, alive

Will I fall down and worship? Leave all that I treasure behind? For a chance to be closer 'Cause He is still alive And the One who saves my life!

(I pasted and copied these lyrics...I think all the words are correct)

Do you take risks???

(Taken from my weekly meme at the Internet Cafe... Would love to hear what you think)..


This week's Chat will be a little different, but I hope you will leave today feeling challenged in your spirit. A couple of days ago I watched a video that was posted on my friend's Facebook page. After viewing the video I started thinking about how I live out my walk with Jesus. I hope today you will do the same thing.

Before you answer the question, please click here to view a 3-4 minute video of pastor, Francis Chan (Make sure you are viewing the "Balance Beam" video).


In light of the Francis Chan video, how do you live out your Christian walk with Jesus? Do you always play it safe? Or do you take risks?

In one or two sentences, what do you want to be said of you, and how you lived out your life for Jesus when your time on earth is finished.


In answering the first question, I would like to say that I don't always play it safe, but when I watched Francis Chan's demonstration on the balance beam, I seemed to recognize myself holding on to that balance beam for dear life....requesting of God that my life just go pretty smoothly with maybe an occasional bump in the road. BUT, in my spirit there is a longing to take risks for God... Jump into living this Christian walk out in full abandon. Every now and then, I do take a "risk", but that is not the norm... I want that to be different...oh so different :)

There are probably many sentences I could come up with, but I guess the longing of every Christian would be that when they reach heaven, he or she wants to hear Jesus say, well done thy good and faithful servant.

Popped Into My Head...

I know I don't have a large number of people that visit this blog, but for those of you that do I just had some questions pop in my head...

Are you truly happy and content with your relationship with Jesus? Are you experiencing the abundant life that He wants for you? What are you going to do to get where you need to be?

For me, I think although things seem good in my walk, I would have to answer no... There is this longing in me that has been there for a long time now, and I am either going to do something with it through God's power, or I am not... That is a sobering thought... I have so much more to say, but I need to think it through a bit more...

What Counts?

OK, I have been wanting to post this quote since I read it, and many of my bloggy siestas and friends that took the Esther study will probably remember this quote...I will write out the full quote, but then I will highlight with color the part that really got to me... (the font size is doing its own thing..sorry for all the changes :)

"When, because of your faith, your life too becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite opposite to what the situation seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your personality; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our relationship with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our resemblance to him!

Wow... Beth also said (about this quote) that our relationship with Christ counts to us, but to the world it is how much we look like Christ. She is so right...

Sometimes I look at myself and find that it is easy to live my Christian life out within the confines of my Christian circles and friends... But always nagging at me is the fact that I remember Jesus saying that if the world hated Him, they would hate me too... I too remember that He and his followers suffered much persecution, and I can barely label anything in my life as persecution. Jesus also said that I had to lose my life, to truly find it... So why, do I try to hold onto my life and control things...

The call of Jesus is not as I always thought it to be... It is hard, but it is the only life I truly want deep down in my soul, although fear tells me to play it safe, and coast on what God has already done in my life. But, in my soul, I say it is not enough to just coast through life, I want more... I need to know Jesus like He intended me too... Wow, I didn't realize all this was tied up in my heart and mind, but it helps just getting it out :)

OK, before I close...what do you think of the quote above? Any reactions???

This comes from Beth Moore's Study on Esther...she quoted this excerpt from The Queen and I. I believe the original author is Ray Stedman, but Beth said she got it from Charles Swindoll... OK, I hope I gave everybody the right credit :)