Don't Call Me the Crocodile Hunter!

It started out as any other weekday morning. I showered, dressed, ate breakfast and prepared to leave for work. As I stood at the dining room table gathering my belongings to head out the door, I caught a slight movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see a huge iguana...ok, maybe it was a lizard...posed on top of a box that leaned against the wall. One thing you have to understand about me is that, even though I have six grandsons who could all pass for the Crocodile Hunter, they did not inherit that trait from their grandmother. I hate lizards!! They remind me too much of snakes, which I hate even worse than lizards. In the past my first instinct would have been to call Sarah to bring the boys over to catch this dumb lizard. But, alas, Beford, MA, is a little too far away for them to come and rescue Nina. And the other four "Crocodile Hunters" live six hours away. Still no help! So I knew that I had two choices. I could leave and go to work and hope the lizard would miraculously find his way out of the house while I was gone. One problem...how would I know for sure that the lizard was gone and not just hiding, awaiting the opportunity to attack his unwilling host...ME? So I chose the second option...try to coax the lizard back out the door from whence he came. So I opened the door leading into the back yard and began trying to "shoo" the lizard in that direction. Not a good idea. Did you know that lizards can jump?? And guess who was standing between where the lizard was and where he wanted to jump?? I found out quickly that I CAN JUMP TOO!! It didn't take long for me to figure out that this was not going to work. I realized that the only way I was going to get this lizard out of my house was to try to smack him with the fly swatter. I really didn't want to kill him for fear that my grandsons would disown me. But I didn't see any other way. So after chasing him around the living room I finally was able to sneak up on him and...SMACK! I got him. Fortunately, I just knocked him silly, but it was enough to allow me to pick him up (with the fly swatter, of course) and toss him out the door into the back yard. I'm happy (I think) to tell you that he survived and is probably now plotting his revenge. Why am I sharing my lizard story with you?? Because God used it to teach me a spiritual lesson. How many times has that Old Serpent, the devil sneaked into my house without being noticed? When I've caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, my first reaction is to chase him out on my own. That doesn't work any better than it did with the lizard! The enemy jumps at me and sometimes scares the pants off me. I've found that the only way to deal with the devil is with Help...the kind that comes from our Father. I need to deal with the devil in the same way that Jesus did...with the Word. I just need to smack him with the Word and knock him silly. Then I can kick him out of my house. I know he'll come back...but I'll be waiting for him!
Remember Eph. 6:10-17..."Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."
Happy Hunting!!

Visions of...Dirty Windows!

This past Sunday, in our Women in the Word Life Connections class, one of verses that we talked about was 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." We talked about this verse and what it really means for us. Then this morning, God once again gave me a very visual illustration (since He made me a visual learner!) of how this verse applies to ME. As I've talked about in previous blogs, we have a bird feeder in our back yard. And might I say that it is Grand Central Station for the birds of St. Marys most of the time. In fact, we have to fill the feeder EVERY DAY. I'm thinking that pretty soon we'll have to make a decision...do the birds eat or do WE eat. Anyway...I love to watch the birds. I sometimes sit in our swing in the back yard for hours just watching the birds come and go. They are beautiful and very unique...in their appearance, in their choice of seeds, in their chirping, in their tolerance for being watched. While I'm sitting outside in the swing, there's nothing to obstruct my view of the birds. But this morning as I was looking at the birds (and squirrels) out my dining room window I made a terrible discovery...my windows are very dirty! As I looked through my dirty window I realized that the beautiful birds, each with their unique qualities, looked blurred and distorted. They were no longer clear and distinct in their appearance. Oh, I could still see them...sort of. But I could no longer make out the subtle little differences that singled out each beautiful bird. Suddenly God reminded me of 1 Cor. 13:12..."we see through a glass darkly..." In our fleshly bodies, we're looking through "dirty windows." We can't clearly see the plan and purpose of God for our lives. We can't clearly understand why God allows some things to happen. We can't fully understand why someone we love is taken from us....or why we're suddenly faced with a terminal illness. Why can't God see things the way I see it!! Dear friend...God DOES see it the way you see it...but He sees SO MUCH MORE. He sees the beginning AND the end. He alone knows the plan and purpose He has for your life and the lives of those you love. And He is directing the steps of every believer and leading us on the path of that plan and purpose. Right now we see through "dirty windows." But, thank God, 1 Cor. 13:12 doesn't stop there! The rest of the verse says "...but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." In that day...the great "then"...when I see my Lord and Savior face to face, I SHALL KNOW. Then...I will understand. Then...I will see clearly. Then...my windows will be all sparkling clean!

I don't think it can be said any more clearly than from The Message:
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

What a day that will be! But till then...I think I need to wash my windows!

I Know How I Designed It

This morning a dear friend sent me an Encouragement for Today devotional from the Proverbs 31 Ministry. In light of the events of last week, this devotional spoke volumes to my exhausted heart and mind so I want to share it with you all. Please take time to read it and I pray it speaks to you as much as it did to me.

I Know How I Designed It
by Van Walton

"...we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

My amazing husband can do anything. He's a fix-it man. There isn't anything he can't repair or create. He rebuilds damaged computers for family and friends, repairs weed eaters and garage door openers for neighbors, and rescues broken furniture from trash heaps. Recently he brought a chair home from a dinner party. It wasn't a gift and we didn't steal it. Someone sat in it and broke it!

After two days of taking the chair apart - performing what looked like orthopedic surgery to me, you know when pins and screws are inserted to keep bones and joints from further damage -- followed by a little gluing, sanding, and staining, the chair looked brand new.

"Wow!" I said, impressed.

"Sit in it and rock back," he encouraged.

"Rock back? I don't think so! What if I break it?"

"Oh, believe me. You won't."

"How do you know?" I asked, not convinced.

"I know how I designed it. I know the pressure points and how much stress it can take" he responded with a smile of confidence. "Go on. Sit in it and rock back."

I sat down and rocked back.

The chair was solid. I don't care who sits in it, or how they land in it now, it will not break.

I think about the times we don't believe we can handle any more stress. The pressure seems overwhelming and we cry, "Time out! I can't take any more!"

God responds, "Trust me. You will not be destroyed. I know your pressure points. I know how much stress you can take. I know how I designed you."

I cannot describe the peace I felt when I related the work of my husband's hands to the work of God's hand.

Of course He knows how much I can take. After all He is my Creator, the one who bent down by the river and fashioned me with His hands. He's the one who knit me together in the depths of my mother's womb, the one who is called the Potter.

He knows the exact temperature needed in the kiln to create the perfect clay vessel. He knows how hot the fire must be to separate the dross from the silver and gold. He knows how much pressure a diamond or emerald must withstand in order for it to come forth solid and brilliant. He knows how long the irritant must sit in an oyster before it becomes a pearl.

My Father knows exactly how much I can take. He knows because He designed me. With that realization I am able to trust Him and smile at the future, no matter how hard life is today.

Reminders

This has been a trying week for our church family at VBC. But once again God has used what we consider to be tragic circumstances to remind me of some very important truths.

1. Life is short and uncertain. We don't have any promise of tomorrow...or even the next minute.
2. I need to cherish every second that I have with those I love.
3. I need to be sure that I never take my loved ones or my friends for granted.
4. Every day I need to tell my family that I love them.
5. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life...and our ONLY source of comfort in times that try the soul.

I don't want to miss this opportunity to tell my friends who may be reading this...I love you all dearly!

Little Adjustments

I have worn glasses or contact lenses since 2nd grade. I have tried all the styles. The ones I like best are the ones that actually fit on your face! My current pair is a bit more flexible than I’d like and I don’t think I wear them the same way twice. I’m constantly adjusting them. Their latest problem is loosening screws. Today, I was adjusting them when I decided to tighten the screws. Just a few little tweaks and they fit so much better on my face – like they were designed to do. The Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, “Just a little adjustment is what the Lord wants from you, too!” I’ve been concentrating so much on making big adjustments that little ones don’t seem worthy. He made His point and I’ll be making those small adjustments, too!
~by Sheila More

I Want To Be A Whale!

I want to be a whale. Not literally, that’s for sure. We all know the story of Jonah and the whale. Jonah was a regular guy, like you and me, when God gave him specific instructions. And he did it…eventually. It took a horrible storm and getting swallowed then spit back up by a whale for him to do it, but he did, finally, do it. What about the whale? Sometimes, when you are trying to teach your 4 year old about obeying, you need to look at things a little differently. Imagine, here is this whale, swimming around, minding his own business, when God says “Bart,” (because God has a plan that only you can do, no matter who or what you are) “Do you see that man floating in the water over there? I want you to go swallow him up.” Now, did the whale question or tell God something he already knew? “Are you sure God? I don’t usually eat men.” Did he worry? “What if he gets stuck in my throat?” No. He swam out on faith and did what God told him to do, because he knew that God had a plan and would take care of him. If that wasn’t enough, a while later, God said “Bart, I want you to swim to shore and spit that man back out.” Again, did he question? “What? I just swallowed him. Now I am supposed to spit him back out again?” Or Worry? “If I get that close to shore, I’ll get stuck. What if I don’t’ make it back?” Or doubt? “Maybe I wasn’t supposed to swallow him in the first place...I thought that was what God had said, but maybe not…” What did the whale do? He swam to shore and spit the man back out. No questions, just obedience. So my last question to Ashton this morning as he was getting out of the car to go to school was, “Ashton, are you going to be Jonah today? Or are you going to be a whale?” And his answer was a smiling, loud and proud “WHALE!” So I got to thinking as I got back in the car, listening to Ashton as he walked away singing “I’m gonna be a whale today. I’m gonna be a whale today.” I think I want to be a whale today too.
~by Avie DeMorat

Ask and You Shall Receive??

Last week I learned a couple of very important spiritual lessons from my little 3 year old granddaughter, Kiana (who just happens to be the most beautiful, the most intelligent, and the sweetest granddaughter in the whole wide world...and I am completely impartial). Anyway, last Tuesday, my daughter, Rachel, was driving home from work. Her husband had met her in Niceville to "hand off" Kiana to her so that he could continue to his second job. Rachel didn't know it at the time, but Kiana had asked her daddy for french fries before the "hand off" and he had told her to "ask mama." After Rachel picked up Kiana and started for home (Niceville is about 30-45 minutes away from Crestview where Rachel lives) Kiana did just what daddy told her to do and asked mama for french fries. Rachel said "No, we're going home and I'll fix you some supper." Now to say that Kiana was less than happy with her mama's response would be an understatement! She began to cry, as most children would. But after 30 minutes of crying...not throwing a fit, just crying...Rachel began to think that something other than withdrawal from french fries might be wrong with her, especially since she had seemed to not really feel well that morning. When they reached home, Kiana was still distraught. Rachel took her inside and held her and loved on her, all to no avail. Finally, in a desperate, last ditch effort, Rachel said "Do you want to talk to Nina?" (In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm Nina!!) Rachel had barely gotten the words out of her mouth before Kiana immediately stopped crying and said "I talk Nina!" It didn't take my daughter long to figure out little Miss Kiana. She knew that if she could just talk to Nina...she'd get her french fries!! Unfortunately, Nina wasn't at home to receive her phone call; and even if she had been there's no way Kiana could have gotten her french fries from me...even though I would have tried to figure out a way! The lesson for me was a two-fold one. First of all, Kiana knew just who to go to with her need. She knew that Nina was the answer to her lack of french fries. Do we know Who to go to when we have a need? Or do we try to get our need fulfilled on our own? That doesn't always works well, does it?! Our Heavenly Father knows our needs before we even have them...and He has promised to supply ALL our needs. And there's where the second part of my lesson comes into play...sometimes what we THINK we NEED is not good for us at all. Kiana really wanted french fries. But mama knew that what she really needed was good vegetables...not greasy french fries. How many times do we ask God for something because we REALLY NEED IT, GOD!!?? But God, Who knows our hearts, lovingly says "I don't think so! That's not good for you!" God wants to give us the things we really want...but there's a stipulation. Ps. 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Before the "desires" comes the "delight." When we delight ourselves in the Lord...when we seek our happiness in the Lord, in Who He is, in His being, and in His love...He WILL give us the desires of our hearts. The Amplified Bible adds even more...He'll give you not only the desires of your heart but "the secret petitions" of your heart also. The secret is that when we're delighting in the Lord, OUR desires are HIS desires. It's no longer I WANT, but HE WANTS. And we are always assured that what HE WANTS is GOOD!! So my lessons??? Go to the right place for my needs but always go delighting in the One Who loves me and knows what I REALLY need!