Daughter of Eve

I am reading an incredible book right now by John and Stasi Eldredge called "Captivating". I want to share something from this book that really caught my attention. They are talking about Adam and Eve - how Eve was not just an afterthought. She was God's grand finale - the crown of creation! Women are given relational qualities that speak of God - vulnerability, tenderness, mercy, intimacy, and fierce devotion. God gave both Adam and Eve the mission to be fruitful and to conquer - not just Adam. That is because woman is meant to partner with man in the great adventure of life. She is desperately needed. How wonderful is that? It gets better...

They go on to show that when God created Eve, he called her an "ezer kenegdo". This is a Hebrew term that is very hard to translate. We have heard it called "helper" or "companion" or "help meet". But these terms fall short. Hebrew scholar Robert Alter translates it as "sustainer beside him". Let me quote from John & Stasi: "The word ezer is used only twenty other places in the entire Old Testament. And in every other instance the person being described is God Himself, when you need Him to come through for you desperately." That is awesome! Here are some scriptures where the term ezer is used:

"Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword." Deut. 33:26, 29

"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help." Psalm 20:1-2

"We wait in hope for the Lord, He is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

These scriptures are in the context of life and death - where God is your only hope! John and Stasi go on to say, "If He is not there beside you...you are dead. A better translation therefore of ezer would be "lifesaver". Kenegdo means alongside, or opposite to, a couterpart." God does not call any of us, man or woman, to a safe life - remember Aslan who is definitely not safe, but always good? God calls us to live a life of risks - that's why we need Him to be our ezer. They go on to show us a woman who is very much a lifesaver - an ezer kenegdo - Arwen from The Lord of the Rings. She rides so valiantly to save Frodo - it's one of my favorite scenes and you know I love the line, "If you want him, come and take him!" Wow! Liv Tyler is so heroic in this part! The fate of middle earth rests on her shoulders!

I want to be an ezer kenegdo. I have wanted to be that all my life. I can see it now as I look back over my life. It is why I am the way I am. It is the answer to a question that has haunted me lately - really all my life. Why do I have this terrible need and craving for attention? The enemy has distorted this need - the psycho-babble world has turned it into some idiotic crutch and explanation for all my problems (ha!) - the church has turned it into something shameful and sinful (ha!). But what God is showing me is that it is really a base need of women in general. Men don't feel this constant need for attention and affirmation. I am beginning to see that even as a little girl, I wanted to be included in an adventure of some sort. I could sense the bigger spiritual picture even as a child. I could see my parents having a part in it, my friends, my church, etc. I just wanted to be included in that bigger picture - that heroic spiritual battle. I wanted to be desperately needed - to know that I possess something that fills a role no one else can fill. It is an even stronger need today in my life. As I approach 40 (quickly I might add...) I find myself jumping up and down and yelling at Darrel - "Here I am! Hey! Over here! Remember me?! The one you desperately need?! Your ezer kenegdo?! Come on! Quick! Grab my hand! Don't leave me behind! Take me with you on this incredible adventure!" All Darrel knows is that sometimes I am tremendously needy - it is a failure of communication in our relationship. He just feels a pressure while I'm just trying to get him to notice me and take me along with him. I think a lot of couples struggle with this. I think many women contemplate abandoning their mundane lives and striking out on some kind of adventure - even the adventure of being single again. Is it right? No, it's not what God has for us as women. It is settling for second best when we consider the option of divorce simply because we feel our lives are stuck in a blah rut. God wants our relationships to flourish the way He created them to flourish - He wants the men to see their wives for the ezer kenegdos they are! He wants the women to see their husbands for the priests and leaders and Indiana Jones' that they are! Then He desires that they, as one, strike out on this awesome adventure of life together.

As someone has recently dubbed me a "know-it-all", I have to laugh. I certainly know very little comparitively. I do not have all the answers. I only love to share with you the tidbits that God lays on my heart throughout the day. It is meant for encouragement and never for condemnation. I am a sojourner with you on this bendy road to eternity. Have a great day and we'll talk again soon.

People Are Funny

It's amazing to me how we humans, in our sinful and arrogant state, think that simply because we fix in our minds that something is true, that it is. We can become so fixated on something that no matter how many times we are told the truth, we will choose to only believe a lie. I've said it before and now I'm saying it again, what we choose to believe or not to believe will never change the everlasting, eternal truth of Jesus Christ. Here is truth: Jesus Christ came to this earth by virgin birth, lived a sinless life, died on a cross and shed His blood as an atonement for our sins, was in the grave for 3 days and then was resurrected from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's right hand. He will return to rapture His bride, the church, and will ultimately return to this earth to fight the final battle and to rule and reign. There is one way to the Father, and that is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is essential truth - now there are a million non-essential truths that many people fight over. But the truth of Jesus Christ will stand the test of time no matter what anybody says. We can dispute it until we're blue in the face but it will not change. I'm sure you're thinking "Well, just because you say it's truth doesn't mean that it is..." you're right! The fact that I say it doesn't make it the truth. The fact that God said it does. In the end, the very word of God, His logos, will stand. It has stood for centuries, milleniums. It will stand until the very end and then live on in eternity. I pray that your eyes will be flooded with light today so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints. I love each and every one of you - no matter how many bad things you think or say - no matter what you believe - it is the same relentless love that Jesus Christ has for you! The only reason I can have it is because He has given it to me. Left to my own devices, I would have written some of the more volitile off a long time ago. But I can see your hearts through the eyes of the Spirit - I see your lonliness, your desperation to find something true, the miserableness you feel over your past and your present and your future, the hopelessness you have, the void in your heart because of a lack of love from others. Maybe you hate your parents, your spouse, a friend. Maybe you detest your dead-end job and your seemingly ignorant co-workers. Maybe the only way you can cope with every-day life is to lash out at others in the name of truth. I don't know. But what I do know is that Jesus Christ can take all the hatred, desperation, miserableness, hopelessness, and fill the void in your heart. He loves you when no one else can stand you. He is a Father to the fatherless, a lover, a best friend. He is the ultimate loving authority. He is pursuing you. You won't be able to get away - it's why you come to this blog each day and to others like it. David said in Psalms, "where can I go from Your spirit? If I make my bed in hell, there You are. If I fly to the heavens, there You are." Nothing you say or do will deter Him. You are on a one-way collision course with a greater destiny than you could ever imagine. Sooner or later you will have to make a decision. Your run-in with Him is inevitible. Lay down all your self-love and independence - give your life over to Jesus Christ - just see what He can do with you. I guarantee that if you do, you'll barely recognize yourself by the time He's finished - or maybe I should say you'll recognize yourself for the first time.

Another Big Weekend

I think, in a way, our life is in a sort of rut...we keep having one big, incredible weekend after another! I guess if we have to be in a rut of any sort, I would prefer this kind of rut - it definitely keeps things exciting! Darrel and I and the FUNatics spent Saturday at the city park running a food stand for the 150th anniversary of Barton County. It was very hot and not a lot of profit for our group, but as always when the FUNatics get together, a great time! The guys from the Rev 375 band showed up with their guitars and djembes and we all sat around singing and laughing while the kids ran their legs off playing. We started around 10 in the morning and were totally wiped out by the time the fireworks started at 9:45pm. We had so much good help, and although the kids were absolutely sick from all the cotton candy and running, it was worth it just to have the time with great people. Yesterday we catered a housewarming/open house party for our doctor. We did hors'deovres like meatballs and marinara, crab dip, brushetta with herbed cream cheese, salsa, guacamole, cookies, fruit - lots of yummy stuff! Then we went to Pittsburg with Doug, Brian, & DeAnn to eat at Chicken Mary's. Such good times there as well... To end our weekend, early this morning we woke up to the sounds of sirens and flashing lights to find our backyard neighbors having a small fire in their screened-in sun porch. We were so relieved that it wasn't the whole house and that everyone got out ok. I think we finally got to sleep around 5:30am. God is so awesome - He is watching out for us so carefully! There was minimal damage to the inside of their house, and we can thank Him for His loving care for us! So this afternoon, the kids and I are going to the pool and just relax!

I wanted to post today about several thoughts that have been going through my mind this weekend. The first is how wonderful it is to have good friends! This weekend God brought several wonderful friends into my life to encourage me and to carry me through a hard time in my life. I was so down this last week due to some situations where someone I trusted with my very heart let me down. I was tempted to give up on everything in my life. Somehow I found myself online chatting with DeAnn (by the way, her blog is excellent - www.mustardseedmusings.blogspot.com ) and without asking too many questions, she just simply prayed for me. Later I found out that her prayer was that God would send me a friend that day to lift me up. Well, here came one of my girls from the FUNatics that afternoon talking me into going to the pool with her and her kids - NOT what I wanted to do, but ordained by God. Not only was that an encouragement, but there at the pool was my best friend, Jill, who let me cry on her shoulder (again something I DON'T like to do). By the end of the day I was on my way to getting over this slump. Then yesterday evening I had the awesome chance to visit with another wonderful lady who I consider one of my best friends in the Lord as well, Debbie. She has encouraged me so much over the last few years to keep going when I feel like I can't do it anymore. Good friends are a must in this life - and I am finding that in order to get these good friends into my life, I have to first reach out and be a good friend as well as reach out and ask for help sometimes.

When I think about this week and the hurt I felt down to the very core of my being, I am in awe of how in the midst of it all I hear the Holy Spirit nudging me to put myself out there again - to trust - to be vulnerable - to love. It's hard to do that when you are absolutely sure you are going to get blindsided again - to be "thrown under the bus" so to speak. I can't say I've done it to the fullest, but I have made steps in the last few days to melt the coldness I let sneak over my heart. Mainly because I find when I shut my heart off to others, I really shut my heart off towards God. It's hard to trust what we cannot see - we are blessed when we do. Allison Krauss sings a song that says, "I do believe, but help my unbelief..." That is my constant cry.

Lastly, I had a conversation with a friend recently about fathers and mothers. I thought about my children and how blessed I am to be with them 24-7. (I know, I know - those who know me are gasping right now...) It is a blessing and I am so fortunate to be able to stay home with them and teach them - many mothers would give their eye teeth to be able to do it. Yes, sometimes they get on my nerves - but sometimes I get on their nerves too! I love it that they have the freedom to come to me and tell me what's on their hearts. It is a privilage right now that I think won't last forever. I get to hear their spontaneous hopes and dreams and fears and jokes and random musings. It is awesome. I hate it that Darrel misses out on that sometimes. I want him to have that relationship with them too. I thought about my growing up years and realized that above all else, that kind of freedom was what I wanted. Freedom to be myself and share what was inside of me with my parents. But as with so many, I found myself retreating instead to a place that I perceived as safe. We all do it. We lose that spontaneous freedom to be ourselves to the many pressures and stresses of life. Hurtful things are said, betrayals happen, and we retreat. I want to encourage you today if you are a parent - find that place of open honesty with your kids. It starts with you being open and honest with them first! Let them ramble on and on - it's in those ramblings that God has shown me who they will be someday. Don't work so much that you miss these tender years of their heart. Don't be too busy... don't be too preoccupied...don't be too obscessed with perfection. It was a sad scene at Kelsey's last softball game - a couple of parents railing at their daughters to basically be professionals at the age of 9. Wow, I heard the comment, "THIS IS IMPORTANT - NOW QUIT SMILING AND FOCUS!" How stupid (pardon my bluntness). Was that softball game really that important? Was it worth tearing down her self-esteem and throwing fun out the window? Will anyone really remember what the score was, or whether or not someone struck out, or whether the pitcher walked someone? How ridiculous we become sometimes in pursuit of living out our own dashed dreams through our children. Do we really think we will hear those spontaneous hopes and dreams and musings from our children after we have exploded all over them either privately or publicly? No, we will not - they will retreat. I wonder if that dad will ever know the real seriousness of that whole situation. I wonder if he will ever look out and realize that in the eternal scheme of things, one softball game is not important enough to kill a child's spirit. People all around us dying spiritually and then going into eternity without Jesus Christ - now that's important. Teaching our children to hide the word of God in their hearts and to be light in the darkness - now that's important. Pitching technique? Whatever... We miss so much - as parents in this dark world, let's wake up to what's going on and reconnect with our kids and with what's important to God.

Check out Brian's blog too - www.shakenfree.blogspot.com They are such talented writers! Hopefully by the end of this week I will have figured out how to put links on this thing. Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by.

This is my calling?

My brother-in-law, Doug, taught Sunday School for us on Sunday morning. He did such an excellent job teaching out of the first chapter of Jeremiah. God spoke to my heart during this lesson and I just wanted to share a little bit with you this morning. God told Jeremiah in verse 5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." I couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be to have heard those words from the mouth of God - to have that kind of security in your life! No having to deal with a bad self-image, no wondering "am I really called by God?" or "God hasn't chosen me has He?" going on here. Knowing you have God's approval before you were even born - WOW! But I don't think this was an exclusive statement for Jeremiah only. I feel that God has spoken those words for each of us in our own distinct callings and in our general callings to be His witnesses.

God goes on to tell Jeremiah some specifics of his calling and to give him courage in it. Verses 7-12 says, "But the Lord said to me, 'Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whoom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them [their faces], for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, 'Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.' Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?' And I said, 'I see a branch or shot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter].' Then said the Lord to me, 'You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.'

God spoke so plainly to me about Darrel's and my calling in Him through this passage. He has called us to root out and pull down strongholds of the enemy, to destroy and to overthrow those principalities, then to build and to plant in God's people. Then He assures us that He is actively watching over His word to perform it. How wonderful and secure! Again, not an exclusive calling - I think we are all called to do this same thing in different ways. But one thing is the same in all circumstances - God is actively and alertly watching over His word to perform it!

When we first feel the call of God on our lives, we are pumped - wired - hyped up! We just know we are going to be the next Billy Graham! We think it will be filled with a holy kind of glamour - excitement around every bend. But what most of us find is every-day monotony. A very un-glamourous life filled with heartache and trouble. I think that by the time God finished telling Jeremiah about his calling, Jeremiah knew his road was not going to be glamourous. I think he was shaking in his shoes! He was going to have to deliver a hard message to the people and then there was going to be major fighting going on - against Jeremiah! If we honestly ask God to show us what our calling is going to be like, we will see that it most likely will be filled with hard things. Jesus tried to warn His disciples about it before His death and resurrection. I think it is because we live in America that we have this "cushy" view of what it means to be "in the ministry". We think we will be jetted across the country or across the world in luxury preaching or singing or ministering to millions or else we have dreams of being televangelists or superstars. Jesus didn't have a place to lay His head. We associate succes in ministering the gospel with material things. I don't think Jesus did that. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows. I don't discredit those who have material things - that's not the point. But those situations are few and far between. I think the majority of Christian men and women are called to the trenches - the battlefields of the everyday existance, getting their hands dirty dressing wounds. Giving every last cent they have and more. A life of sacrifice for others. Overcoming not only physical circumstances, but overcoming the temptation to fall into depression, self-pity, discouragement, frustration - all so that others can go free from the bondages of sin. Rooting out, pulling down, destroying, overthrowing, then building and planting, sowing, tending, watering, then reaping, harvesting.

I'm the same as anyone else - we all find ourselves discouraged because we are on the go every minute teaching, counseling, talking to, encouraging others. Finding no time for ourselves for some fun together as families. Taking the phone calls late into the night and early the next morning of those struggling with things in their lives. Spending the time in prayer and in study to feed those dependent on us. Feeling and carrying the burdens of others as well as our own. It can seem anything but glamourous. In fact we can question the very nature of God if we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity. We can question whether we are truly called to this life - isn't there something easier I can do? For some of us, we can count the cost of this life and decide we absolutely will not pay it and walk away. Yes, you can find an easier life - a lighter way, but I feel sorry for you if you choose that path. Our lives are hard at times, hectic at times, filled with sorrow, heartache, and trouble. But this life is also filled with joy, satisfaction, happiness, strength, perseverance - the eternal blessings of sacrifice far outweigh the temporal fix of earthly self-indulgence. In the end it's all going to burn - you can't take it with you they say. But the things you gain from living out your calling to it's fullest are things you can and will take with you. They are eternal things. They are treasures laid up in heaven.

I want to encourage you today in your calling. I'll leave you with verses 17-19 which say, "But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins! Arise and tell them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed and break down at the sight of their faces, lest I confound you before them and permit you to be overcome. For I, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land - against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome]. And they shall fight against you, but they shall not [finally] prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you." I think that is encouragement enough for anyone...

Part Two...

I know, I know - I said I would post this the next day. Of course if you know us at all, you know how incredibly busy we've been the last week and a half. But I do have to say it is with great results - we had our first Revolution 375 last Friday night. It was absolutely mind-boggling how God brought people and then moved so miraculously in their lives. I am still in awe over how our fabulous band came together and completely ROCKED! It was a lot of work over the past few months, but now that we have one under our belt, we will know better what to do next time (and what not to do!). Saturday night, Darrel and I went out to dinner with some good friends of ours that we just don't see but once a year, even though they only live 45 minutes away. We had a very good time catching up. Sunday was the Phipps Father's Day BBQ (as well as my dad's 68th birthday), and we swam until evening. Then it was off to the drive-in with Ray and Jill and Doug and Sandy. Poor little Jonah woke up Monday morning with a touch of the flu so we have all just crashed for the last two days. Then last night Doug fixed us an incredible dinner - beef tenderloin 'kabobs - we rolled ourselves home...

Let's finish up with the Beattitudes. Verse 7 says, "Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!" We could say those who desire to see others the way God sees them. I have to remind myself of this scripture constantly. You see, it is my human nature to do just the opposite. If you have read my blog at all, you will find many posts on this subject. I can't encourage you enough to show mercy, show mercy, show mercy! We want others to look at us through God's eyes, don't we? And even if they don't, Jesus sees us for who we REALLY are - and He loves us still. I love the Chris Tomlin song "Indescribable" when he says, "You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same - You are amazing God!" When God shows us the depths of others' hearts He expects us to love them the same just like He does. None of us deserve a break - none of us are sinless - none of us deserve redemption or salvation - but yet that's exactly what He give us freely - so freely we should give.

Verse 8 says, "Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous - possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!" Let's say it this way - those who do not have a false agenda. How many times a day do we find ourselves seeking our own way - to fulfill our own desires, our own lists? I think He's talking about our motives here. When we seek His way of being and doing things right, we will surely find Him! Realizing again that it is all about Him and not about us. We are not in control and never will be - so let's just take our hands off our situations and allow God's agenda to rule and reign!

Verse 9 says, "Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!" These are the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to help people become whole. I have been pondering some on this verse over the last week. Again, it is not in my nature to be a peacemaker or peace maintainer! I am rarely the first one to initiate ammends. God is helping me to change that. I feel Him so close and constantly nudging me to be quick to say "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong". I hear Him in my spirit encouraging me to take the high road and keep my mouth shut when I really just want to stir things up with someone. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to "Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will ever see the Lord." Then he goes on to tells us to watch out for one another so that no one fails to secure God's grace. Constant confirmation to show us that this is important - I want to see God, both now and for eternity. I want to see Him in my everday life working and moving and making an impact on those around me. How does that happen? Well, apparently by me allowing the Holy Spirit to transform me into a peacemaker and a peace maintainer.

Verse 10, "Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are thsoe who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" These people will never give up! They aren't knocked on their can every time something comes their way. And if they are, then they get up and keep going! Doug was telling some stories from Promise Keepers, and he told about Dennis Rainey asking his daughter what had they done as parents that made an impact on her life - she said it was that they never gave up no matter what. I love that - I want my kids to see that same determination in Darrel and in me. People who are natural fighters are sometimes looked down upon by those who are more "golden retrieverish" (is that a word?). But God puts a fight in us for a reason - what we view as our weaknesses are really just our strengths out of balance! When we learn how to operate in the Holy Spirit - how to be Spirit-controlled and Spirit-led - we find that this urge to fight can become a great tool for persistance! We don't back down to the enemy and we don't stay down when we're knocked down! We go to battle in prayer - some of the greatest prayer warriors I know are also great passionate fighters. God put it in us to use for good, for His kingdom - to advance it, not to tear it down. We are going to have trouble in this world. Not everyone is going to embrace the message of Jesus Christ with open arms. As our society plummets toward the return of Christ, it also becomes more and more volitile towards this message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus spends the last few days of His life trying to clue the disciples in on what was going to be in store for them. As verses 11, and 12 go on, He tells us that our reward in heaven will be great. In other words - keep your eyes on the eternal and not the temporal. These trials and persecutions will pass, but heaven will never end.

Thanks for being patient with me as I try to find the time to sit for a while and post from my heart. I love each and every one of you. Thanks for sticking with me! Have a great day.

Blessed are they...

Last night we met for prayer for our upcoming Revolution 375 service and Doug, my brother-in-law, mentioned a passage of scripture that I hadn't thought about in a while. He was reading out of the Message Bible from Matthew 5:3. I love the beattitudes and enjoyed looking through the notes I had taken while listening to a very wise man, Doug Marks, speak on the topic.

Verse 3 says, "Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" Mr. Marks brought out that the phrase poor in spirit could be said as those who have no "stash" to fall back on or to impress with. Wow - how many times do we depend on our hidden stash of past accomplishments or talents that God has given us? We pull them out when we feel insecure or when we want to make sure others know how important we really are. Or perhaps in a physical sense, we don't like to find ourselves in need of anything. We scrape and plan and hoard so we will never find ourselves in a difficult situation. But God wants us to give all that we have for others. That sometimes puts us in a difficult position financially - but God always comes through. It is a trust issue. The righteous have never been forsaken and God's seed has never begged for bread. When we truly rely on His provision and abundance in our lives, we are free to give until it hurts - and then give some more!

Verse 4 says, "Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!" Again, it could be said as those who realize the true condition of their heart. I have seen people who pine away for things and loved ones lost using this scripture as an excuse for excessive mourning. That's not what it means at all! It means that we are blessed when we finally realize that we can never achieve righteousness on our own - that our hearts are too full of sin. The only remedy is Jesus Christ's shedding of blood for our attonement. Yes, we mourn over the condition of our hearts, but we are comforted by the fact that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and we have eternal life with Him!

Verse 5 says, "Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!" Let's say those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit - meekness is not what we think it is. People think that being meek means being a wimp. I like this definition: bridled power. We surrender our will to be led by and controlled by the Holy Spirit in all things. The scripture says we are spiritually prosperous because of this! If you find yourself struggling or feeling spiritually bankrupt, check out how much you are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you as well as how obedient you are to His call. When we act out on our own with no care for what God says, we find ourselves in an unprotected environment, open for the attack of the enemy. We don't become doormats when we decide to operate in meekness - we simply allow the God through His Holy Spirit to "channel", for lack of a better word, that power within us in the directions He wants it to go. We are submitted to His authority and not operating in our own authority.

Finally, verse 6 says, "Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!" Those who long for God's nature and character shall not be disappointed - they shall be satisfied because they shall find it! God isn't trying to hide Himself from us. He longs for us to long for Him and His way of being and doing things right. He wants us to seek, ask, knock - and not to stop there, but to keep on seeking, asking, and knocking! When we hunger and thirst to become more like Him and to operate in His character and righteouness, we will certainly be filled to overflowing. He will not withhold good things from His children. I think that in today's society, we try to fill the hunger and thirst in our hearts with temporal/physical things like food, alcohol, relationships, sex, entertainment, etc. But God wants us to realize that when we feel that emptiness inside, it is He Who is calling to us - He longs to fill that void inside. Turn to His word when you are battling a temptation for something that will ultimately destroy you. Turn that craving around and use it to fuel your search for Jesus! It will take some hard work at first - your flesh is used to having whatever it wants when it wants it. But it will bring a satisfaction and a peace to your life.

I'll write about the remaining beattitudes tomorrow. Have a wonderful day searching for Jesus and finding out about God's character through His word.

Sacrifices

Hello again all! What a busy weekend for us - Darrel went to Promise Keepers and I had practice with the Revolution 375 Band. Things are going so well and I know that this Friday's first Rev 375 is going to be incredible! I am so excited to see what God is going to do with these "motherless, fatherless" "John the Baptist" kids! If you think about it this week, pray for those in our community who need to hear the message of Revolution 375 - those who need to find a home in Jesus Christ.

Darrel talked about the last leg of a life fully lived - sacrifice - in Sunday School yesterday morning. I've been kicking that around in my head ever since - I always know what I'm supposed to post about Monday mornings because I have usually dreamed about writing it the whole night! When we talk about making sacrifices, most people's minds immediately go to all the missionaries they have known or heard about - those who have left everything they had and knew to go into deep, dark foreign lands to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to some unknown tribe. Maybe it brings up images of giving up the very things you love the most just to be closer to Christ. But for most of us, God is not calling us to a foreign country and if we are honest about God's character and what He did for us through Jesus Christ, His Son, we would realize that He does not require us to give up things we love to attain position with Him. I'm more prone to think that a life of sacrifice is filled with small, everyday things along the way.

Maybe God is asking you to sacrifice your time in mentoring someone or helping out a friend. It could be that God is asking you to sacrifice your shyness in reaching out to a co-worker or visiting a fellow church member who is sick. Maybe He is asking you to sacrifice that extra $20 you save a week in giving it to someone in need (or even someone who isn't in need...). Could it be that God is asking you to sacrifice your pride in going to that person who hurt you and making things right? These are the everyday things that can trip us up if we're not careful. These are the potential stumbling blocks in our lives. "Couldn't He just call me to Africa? I mean, I'm willing to give everything up for the sake of the gospel, but I am NOT going to apologize for something I didn't do...!" Sound familiar? Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us - not only in giving up His life, but in the events leading up to His crucifixion. Remember how they tormented Him, lied about Him, assaulted His character, spit on Him, cursed Him, beat Him and on and on. And what does the scripture say? That He did not speak a word in His defense. He could have had them all wiped from the earth in seconds - but He took it. How many times a day do we feel we have been misrepresented or unfairly treated - do we sacrifice our pride or do we defend it? How many times do we hang on with all our might to the things we have, afraid of losing them or doing without? If we would loosen our grip a little, we would find that God is not some sadistic meanie Who can't wait to take things away from us or deprive us of something. We would find that when we let go with a willing heart ready to sacrifice, He mostly gives it back! God wants us to pursue our dreams - in Him! He longs to give us the desires of our heart when we trust Him first!

I remember back when I was in high school, I showed quarter horses. I loved my horse, Steppin' Dandy. I had so much fun riding and going to horse shows. Then when I was in college, my mother decided that we would have to sell the horse. It had always been an issue between my mom and dad. She felt she had to give up the horses because she loved them too much. It devestated me to watch it all go. I have never had a horse since and it has always been a dream of mine. Now my daughter, Kelsey, has developed that same love and dream. But I think in the back of my mind, I have always felt like I had to sacrifice that dream - that if I gave in to it, I would somehow lose something with God. How like the enemy to twist things around. I can never attain a higher standing with God by sacrificing something. He simply wants me to obey Him. Jesus Christ has already done it all in His death and resurrection. I even know people who think that by going on a "soda fast" they will get more of God - let me assure you, unless God has specifically spoken to your heart to do something like that, you are NOT going to impress God with giving up soda pop for a week. Sometimes we make God out to be ridiculous don't we?

Let's make the sacrifice of love this week. Give of yourself to others, give of your time in prayer and service of those around you. Sacrifice on the side of love for others. And remember to pray for Bart as he has had his surgery and for his family - definitely something worth making a sacrifice for, don't you think? I love you all - have a wonderful day!

Good Food

Darrel and I love to go to unique restaurants - when we are on a trip, we look for something out of the ordinary. Not necessarily a "chain" restaurant - sometimes we look for the little "dives" which turn out to be the best places. Today I simply want to encourage you to feast on some good food - God's word. Wednesday night Bible study has been studying a series of scriptures on various topics that affect our lives. As I have been preparing for tonight's lesson and the new course we are going to take with these scriptures, I am struck by the awesomeness of God's word. In all the wishy-washy, shifting sand of our times, one thing stands strong and sure - enduring the test of time - God's word. I was visiting with one of our girls last Sunday about finding God's path for us to walk. How do we do it? Well, scripture tells us that God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we become practiced in hearing God's voice speak to us through His word, we will find that power to live our lives victoriously - the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! Resurrection power in us - how wonderful!

Today I want to encourage you to come away from the "fast-food-chain" junk that assaults our minds and hearts - turn off the television, the computer, the radio, whatever. Instead of blog-surfing today, find a quiet place and sit down at the table of the King of Kings. Dive into His word and find those rare jewels and nuggets of wisdom. Let His word shine a light on your path - ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate each step you should take. Of this I am sure - when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. He's waiting with baited breath to spend some intimate, quality (& quantity) time with you! Open your Bible, strap on your feed bag, and chow down!

I love you all - have an awesome day!

Our Secret

Darrel and I have been married for almost 11 years now. In our society today, that's a long time! We both have a wonderful heritage left to us by our family - examples of staying together no matter what - passed down by our grandparents and our parents. We have determined in our hearts and covenanted together that divorce is not an option for us. We are going to see this thing through. A few years back, God began to speak to me about how my marriage was a reflection of my relationship with Him. He is still teaching me about it today. When I am distant and disconnected in my relationship with Darrel, if I look closely, I am the same way toward God. When I am unable to receive from him or give of myself to him, again I find I am unable to receive from God or give of myself to Him. I started to look through the scriptures to find out just what was expected of me - so typical of my human nature to try to find a list I could perform! God led me to two specific passages.

Now before I share them with you, let's talk a bit about the whole topic of submission. In our culture it is a nasty word. The anthem of our society is "you don't have to submit yourself to anyone!" followed by lots of "hurrahs!" But God feels differently about it - He does expect us to submit ourselves to Him and to others in our lives. For husbands, it's God - for wives, it's husbands - for children, it's parents. That's God's umbrella of authority. When we stay under that umbrella, we are protected from many assaults of the enemy. God is very clear that if our husbands are encouraging us to commit sin, then we are not to submit to that - but when it comes to daily life and everyday decisions - big or small - we are to submit to the final authority of our husbands. Darrel and I discuss everything, but in the end, his word is final - that's the way it will be done. God has blessed our marriage so much because we have chosen to follow His word.

Does that mean that I always feel like submitting? No. Does it mean that I always feel that Darrel is doing things right? Of course not. But it is a choice - we do not live by feelings, we live by faith. Now, let me share these scriptures with you. Ephesians 5:33 says, "However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]." 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, "In like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives, when they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him - to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband]."

Wow! That's a mouthful - but there's so much wisdom there! If you look at it in the light of 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter), it's easy to see that these things are simply the offspring of true love. Now notice that these scriptures are not if/then statements. As women, we like to say, "Well, if HE would do what he's supposed to do, then I'D do what I'm supposed to do!" It just doesn't work that way. When we want to see change in our relationships, it always has to begin with us. We have to take the first step. If we wait for the other person, we'll be waiting forever. Change begins in us first, then in them. The same is true for husbands - if you want to see changes in your wife, then the first step is yours - you have to begin to change as the Holy Spirit leads and convicts you. When God began to show me the areas of my life where I did not truly love Darrel in this way, it was a big deal to me - I felt like I had had it all together, but I was certainly not loving Darrel the way the scriptures were telling me to. I did not prize him, adore him, admire him, praise him, enjoy him. If fact, I was spending much more time criticizing him, scolding him like a child, punishing him for not meeting my expectations. Then God really got my attention - He began to show me that not only was treating Darrel that way, I was treating my Lord that way as well. I was critical of the way God handled things, I would withdraw from Him to try to "punish" Him for not meeting my expectations. I lashed out at His people because I was unhappy with Him. How humbling.

Today if you are struggling in your relationship with Jesus, take a look at your marriage. If you are struggling with your marriage, take a good look at your relationship with Jesus. They mirror each other - you may think you have a vibrant Christian life while your marriage stinks, but if you look honestly at your heart, you will smell the stench coming from it too. It might be hard at first to find something nice to say to your husband. To find things to praise him for or to appreciate about him. But once you get into the habit of looking, they will pop out at you more and more. I can say today that I absolutely and scandalously adore Darrel. To me, he is the best at everything. Did I always think that way? You know I didn't. He did everything different than my dad and my family. But the more I adapted myself to him and defered my "superior opinions" to his, I began to change in my heart toward him. Now I am fiercly in love with my Darrel and it is easier each day to overlook faults - scripture teaches us that love covers a multitude of sins. That's truth.

So Thankful

I am so thankful that through the work Jesus did on the cross for us, we have new lives. "New lives?" you ask - looks like the same ole' same ole' to me day after day... I'm not necessarily talking about the outward life - although that is new if we will let it be new - but inside, in our hearts, we're new! No matter what we've done in our lives, because of the blood of Jesus applied to our hearts, it is as if we never did them! When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and ask Him to wash away our sins by His blood, we take on the righteousness of Christ - when God looks at us, He sees His Son!! He no longer sees Diane the selfish, controlling, manipulative, cruel, critical sinner - He sees Diane the righteous! Do I feel righteous? Do I act righteous? Do I do righteous things? Of course not - not all the time. But isn't that the point? Darrel and I were discussing this last night - how so many people feel that they attain heaven by being saved and then keeping themselves holy before God - what a paradox! We can never "keep ourselves holy before God"! Our righteousness (our way of being and doing right) is like filthy rags to Him. But when we accept His righteousness in place of ours and realize that it is Jesus Who does the work in us and through us, we are holy and blameless in His sight. It is so hard for us to understand that. We like to think that we are in control of eternity - that somehow it has something to do with us, when in reality it is all about Jesus.

Now let's think about not only how we see ourselves, but how we see others. When we truly grasp what Jesus has done for us, we should be able to grasp the fact that He has done it for others, too. The psalmist David says that the mercies of God are new every morning. That means that we can never run out of mercy and grace for our lives - our awesome God has an abundance enough to last for eternity! When we realize this fact, how can we do less than offer this same mercy to others? Just like God does not see our sin, when another person has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins they take on the righteousness of Christ as well - they are no longer the person they used to be. Have their actions changed? Have their feelings about themselves changed? Have their behaviors changed? Not necessarily - it takes time just like it takes time for us. But do not be fooled - He Who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it in us! Darrel forever reminds me when I feel it is necessary to execute judgement on someone to think of how I would like to be treated if I was in their situation. So often we want to use an unbearably high measuring stick for others while using one about 2 inches tall for ourselves. Let's get real about extending mercy and grace to others in our lives. First realize that it is extended to you through Jesus Christ. Then put down the selfishness that drives you to make others pay, and adopt that same attitude that Jesus Christ had when He poured out His life for us. I love you all and pray that together we become mature, fully-devoted bond servants of Jesus Christ!

Pruned

I am no gardener - in fact, as my children will readily tell you, I usually kill any plants that enter our home. It is amazing that I am able to grow the flowers in our front yard. I enjoy the flowers and I love the vegetables that come out of the garden, I'm just terrible at remembering to do certain things like water the plants, pull the weeds, etc. Just a few minor details, right? I'm pretty sure it's the whole ADD thing - "oooohhh, something shiny...!" It is a challenge for me, but one I'm getting better at - if my little flower plot goes well this year, I may even branch out to a small vegetable garden next year.

Last night at our Wednesday night service, the message was based out of John 15. Jesus says, "I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser." Somehow, I don't think Jesus or God the Father struggle with ADD. In fact I know they don't. Later in verse 2 Jesus says, "and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." God doesn't forget to take care of us. Sometimes I think that maybe He might take a break once in a while from the whole pruning thing, ya know? I've been pondering what it means to be pruned. Well, the amplified uses the word "cleanse" as well. I also know that when we prune a shrub or tree, something usually ends up getting cut off. I think it's a painful process at times. I can feel God pruning me this week - cutting off pieces of me that don't profit me - pieces that don't aid in producing good fruit. They are things like selfishness, idleness, laziness, feelings of complacency, mediocrity. God is proud of His garden - He wants it to be it's absolute best. This is why He is constantly working with us, pruning us back, watering us with His word and His Spirit.

Weeding out these unwanted characteristics in my life hurts. Especially those weeds that go down deep - the ones I've been ignoring for quite a while, hoping they'll just disappear by themselves. The temptation for me is to turn my heart away - to give God the cold shoulder for hurting me. But you know, that's no good. I can't live that way - I need Him too much. So Father, please be gentle in this process, but use the sharp clippers please - make everything clean and precise. Heal these spots where You have done Your work - I don't want them to grow back. Reach down and change me, mold me, shape me. Help me to continue to bear good fruit - fruit that will remain.