This strange time of social distancing and staying home a lot and not seeing many people except for your family is the perfect time to let God clear away the crud in your heart. 

Don't be offended. You have crud in your heart. I have crud in my heart. We all do. Don't be surprised at that. God isn't. Read the verse on the left. That is truth. And the sooner we accept it as truth the sooner God can do His work in us to clear the junk out.

Sure. You can live with all that bad stuff. People do this all the time. People live their whole lives with poison in their hearts. Jesus says in Matthew 15:18-20, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the (person). For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the (person);"

Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, so one (person) sharpens another."

I tell my kids often that their true character comes out in how they treat the ones they live with; how we treat those we feel safest with; how we treat those people who we see day in and day out; those people who see us in the early morning and the late at night; our brothers and sisters, spouses and children. How we treat these people is a spotlight to who we are. That's why this time of just hanging out with family at home can give God the opportunity to clear away the garbage that lives in our hearts. When it is exposed to the light it can be cleared out. 

It's no use denying what is there. One of my children loves to kick against the boundaries this child so desperately needs to be safe and grow in wisdom and joy and love. How I respond to this shows who I really am. And I tell you -- I am not at all like Jesus sometimes. Instead of condemning myself for negative thoughts or irritation I can just hand it over to God and ask Him ot change me, to make me like Him. 

There is great power in getting alone with God and laying it all out in honesty and vulnerability. That lets Him in. Self-justification, excuses, blaming others -- all these kinds of reactions harm ourselves and our relationships with others and God. If you catch yourself doing any of that, stop and ask God to help you respond in love.

I've done it myself. I've read books and articles that encourage it, but they are all wrong. There is no formula, no right way to pray, no right way to talk to God because with that kind of attitude it is essentially us trying to manipulate God to do what we want Him to do. When people try to manipulate us and we resist or succumb to the manipulation, it is a bad thing. It doesn't encourage love or closeness or honesty. I want to share a couple of good quotes I read today from The Message Devotional Bible by Eugene H. Peterson:

"The living God cannot be used, manipulated or managed. Spiritual power isn't a matter of getting our hands on the right method or technology. The personal God cannot be reduced to an impersonal power."

"pagan worship was grounded in the belief that human actions provide the critical element for what happens in life, that the gods can be bribed to prosper humans. Viewed this way, Canaanite culture is hardly distinguishable from contemporary culture. A great deal of contemporary religion is little more than trying to manipulate God in order to get something from him."

This is a worldly way of thinking about God and relationships with others. If I do this, He owes me. If I do this, they will do _____. You see this in certain children. Children who are not normally "sweet" might start getting all sweet and cute in order to get something from their parents. When we indulge this behavior we reward manipulation and not honesty and real connections. 

God will not be manipulated. He wants to have real relationships with us. If He would bow down to our manipulation, it just indulges us and encourages and fosters dishonesty and more manipulation. He doesn't want spoiled children. He wants children who are close to Him. Children who want to spend time with Him. Children who lean on Him and find their strength in Him and who enjoy is presence. Why? No, it isn't for selfish reasons. God is not selfish. It is because He loves us and knows in this is where we will find true joy and contentment -- being in a loving relationship with Him. 

Doing things God's way is the best way to do things. Jesus says in Matthew 22:37 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

In John 13:34 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

Doing life God's way means loving Him and loving others -- doing what is best for others. Imagine if everyone in the world lived this way. That would be heaven. And actually, that will be heaven. We want you there! So, talk to the Father. He is very very good. And He loves you. Talk to Him.

As a parent I get it. I totally get it. And if you're a parent I know you get it too. 

What are we talking about?

Our kids just getting along. I've told my adult children at times (and the ones still at home) to just get along. They don't have to agree with each other. They don't have to be each other's best friends. There's no reason they can't be kind to each other and keep some of their own opinions to themselves and spend the time they have together loving each other. 

This goes for all of us. 

Especially in the church. God wants His children to get along. Jesus says in John 15:12, "This is My commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

He made a point to say that. It probably was an issue between His first disciples too. 

In The Unexplainable Church, Erica Wiggenhorn writes, "Could it be that the concessions we make in our churches actually are the very things God uses to make us more like Christ? Could it be that when the music displeases my flesh, but I choose to worship in spite of it, part of my flesh becomes crucified and my spirit strengthened?"

Prior to this statement she writes, "If we're honest, church division occurs more often over squabbles regarding practice than it does over essential doctrine."

What if this coming year we all gave God the gift of church unity across the board? What if we loved our fellow Christians wholly? If we gave them the benefit of the doubt? If we didn't focus on our differences, but focused on what brings us together? The gospel is simple as Paul writes in Romans 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved;"

What if we all loved each other rather than complain about each other and what if we allowed the Holy Spirit to do the convicting rather than we trying to do His job? Yes, there is a time for loving confrontation and if God is leading you to do this then do it. But more often than not, if we find ourselves criticizing a believer from afar it is just our flesh and not being done out of love. 

What if the entire Christian church showed great love for each other? What if we in the West remembered our persecuted family in the rest of the world daily in our prayers? What if we in the west chose to not take part in the indulgent lifestyle so celebrated in our culture and instead used our resources to help those Christian brothers and sisters who need our help?

Think on it. How better can someone love you than really love your kids? When someone shows great kindness to my kids I am so grateful. Maybe Father God is the same way. 

Jesus does say in Matthew 25:40, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Merry Christmas! And as we look to 2020, may it be characterized by the great love we show each other.

You know when it happens because you can feel it. And maybe I'm the only one who wants this and it sounds so childish. It sounds like I should be above it, but then I read Psalm 68:4 today. In The Message it says, "Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of the Cloud-Rider. Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!"

I love that "Cloud-Rider" name. That is God! Who else can ride clouds! But the last part is what I want to talk about, the "Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!" part. 

Wait! Back the truck up. What am I talking about? What can you feel when it happens? Okay, here it is: when I am with people I want them to enjoy being with me. I want to enjoy being with them. That's an indication of some good fellowship. Just enjoying each other. I thought about that when Psalm 68 commands us to simply, "Enjoy GOD, cheer when you see him!"

That's really what praise is about -- enjoying God. You know, I think we all want to be enjoyed. We don't want people to feel obligated to be around us. We don't want people to feel like they HAVE to spend time with us. I don't want that anyway. I don't want to hang out with anyone who doesn't want to hang out with me. Maybe God is the same way (but not in a self-centered way; in a perfect kind of way)? 

Jesus does say he would rather have us cold or hot -- not lukewarm. What's lukewarm except that we think we HAVE to be there. We aren't excited. We aren't passionate. We aren't really desiring to be with Him, but we feel we must be with Him. 

My son Hawk is great at this kind of discernment. He knows when someone is uncomfortable around him or sees him in pity or sees him like he is somehow not all there. Even though he doesn't talk or communicates in ways most people can understand, he understands what they are communicating to him. It doesn't get past him. If someone doesn't have time for him he doesn't have time for them. But when someone takes the time to genuinely talk to him he will respond. 

Do you want to be with Jesus, Father and Spirit? They know if you do. I think deep down everyone wants to be with God. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but worldly desires, cravings and lusts get in the way of what's really important and if we focus on the stuff the world says is important we can't enjoy God. Life is so much better when we come to the place where we enjoy Him; where we enjoy being with Him. Are you there yet? 

To enjoy hanging out with someone means you kind of get in sync with them. You kind of are on the same rhythm, the same understanding, maybe? 

We have a German student staying with us for ten days. This was not my idea. Not that I don't want visitors, but when someone stays with you for a while life is interrupted and routines change; things are done differently. This isn't all bad. Some of it can be quite good (which I have found out). But when told we were going to do this I sighed big-time. See, our life has a very solid routine. As I see it played out with a visitor around I think this is because of Hawken and my care for him. It works for us, but I was so afraid someone else coming in for 10 days would be bored out of his mind. I can let "Entertainer Jane" out for a few hours, even for a few days (which I often do if someone is just here for two days or if I go visit family), but E.J. is exhausting to Everyday Jane. I knew I couldn't let E.J. reign for ten whole days. 

Well, the time is going okay (even though we had two snow days this week -- wow -- snow days in early October). I think our guest is a bit shy but he's coming out of his shell and I think he is getting comfortable with us. I've seen him smile a lot and laugh. I don't know if our life is anything like what he thought an American household was like (maybe I'll ask him that today). 

Oswald Chambers writes, God "has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined in His ways . . . Spiritual truth is learrned through the atmosphere that surrounds us, not through intellectual reasoning." 

We're told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

How can we do that? we might wonder. "Always" and "without ceasing" is every second, every nanosecond of the day and night.

I think it gets down to this notion of Enjoying God. If we stay aware of His presence we can enjoy Him as we go about our lives. For then He is part of it all and that is what He wants. Not for Himself, but for us! When we let Him be part of all we do everything takes on real meaning, real purpose; the load of life is lifted from our shoulders and given to Christ. Everything is better when God is involved. Everything. Joy is more profound. Grief is easier to bear. Challenges are no longer impossible because God always makes a way through them or over them or under them. Everything is better. We can enjoy others more when God is there because He loves them so very much. He can give us understanding and love for absolutely anyone and everyone. And He will if we let Him. 

For the last few months my posting on this blog has lessened. For years I've been posting several times a week, but this year it has become once a week and now it has become less than once a week. This last time it has been three weeks since I've posted. It isn't that I don't want to post. I love writing. I write daily in my journal. I read many, many books (which good writers do). I long to write. And I have a dream of writing in such a way to reach a huge audience for Jesus. I have ideas for books. I've started and stopped. But lately I just think it doesn't matter anymore. If I never write another book life will continue and life is still very, very good. Great really. I have a beautiful grandson. Being a grandma is such a lovely gift from God. For years I was not content in my role as a caregiver because I was looking at it wrong. Thinking I needed to contribute in a "bigger" way to make my life count. That is thought influenced by the world's values. Our lives count just because God created us to be loved by Him and to love Him and others. That's it. We count because we are God's. Because He chose to create us from nothing. Just from His words and love. 

Thank you for reading my blog. I will continue to post but it might continue to be just once every couple weeks. I invite you to click on some of the several (way too many) categories that are listed on the side. There are some very good blog posts that might speak to you. Enjoy the people in your life. And let them enjoy you. And most importantly, enjoy Jesus. Enjoy Father. Enjoy Spirit! 

Tomorrow our son Hawken turns 20 years old. If you know me you know him. And if you've read my stuff for a long time you know about him. Real quick for those who don't: Hawken was born typically. Beautiful 8 pound 15 ounce baby with big eyes and a load of dark hair. I was in love (again). At 3 1/2 months he started having seizures. Fast forward to today, he's been my constant companion since. We tried kindergarten it just didn't work out well (he can't talk or walk or hold things or communicate in a way most people can understand). When he was a tiny tot we put him on a special diet in hopes of controlling his seizures. When his birthday came around I made him a special cheesecake because this went with his diet. My first attempt. The entire family realized we love cheesecake.

It's been a very, very long time since he's been on that diet (but he has a new medication that has dramatically taken down his seizures recently and now he laughs and smiles and smirks and howls with joy), but we kept having cheesecake and so I have perfected my own very easy cheesecake recipe.

I am going to share this recipe with you and I hope you will try it (if you like cheesecake). It's easy. Very easy. And very, very delicious (and it is traditional cheesecake -- not the whipped cream kind..though that kind is good too). I make a 9 x 13 pan of it because a typical pie pan just isn't big enough (so the recipe is for a  9 x 13 cake pan).

Jane's Traditional Cheesecake

2 1/2 sleeves of honey graham crackers (this is almost the entire box)
1 1/2 sticks of melted butter
4 packages of cream cheese very softened
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar 
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease the pan.
3. Put melted butter in bowl.
4. Fine crumb the graham crackers. Add to butter. Mix thoroughly.
5. Add 1/4 cup sugar to the mix (but even do a little less than 1/4 -- maybe like a 1/6th of a cup). Mix it in.
6. Press this mixture into the greased pan going up on the sides, making it even.
7. Bake for about 10 or so minutes. Take out and let totally cool.
8. Turn off the oven (cause you won't be using it for a while. I often do the crust in the morning and then do the cake part in the afternoon).

Now for the cake body (after you know the crust is totally cooled -- don't shortcut this):
1. Put all the cream cheese into clean bowl. Mix thoroughly until very smooth.
2. Add eggs. Mix until totally mixed and smooth.
3. Add 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla. Mix thoroughly. 
4. Add to crust and smooth out.
5. Turn oven on to 300 degrees F.
6. Put in cake.
7. Now, here is the part you have to watch -- it takes a couple of hours to cook (or something like that). Just watch it periodically. Everyone's oven is different. When it becomes tan around the edges of the cake body it is done. You should also be able to touch top easily. You can stick a toothpick in it. It should come out clean.
8. Now for the patient part -- you have to let it refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Yes, 6 hours! You should make this the day before you need it. My husband tried it once when it had only been in the refrigerator for 3 hours and it just wasn't as good. So seriously, wait -- do it the day before.

And that is it! As I said it isn't hard, it just takes some time. Serve with canned cherry pie filling if you like (we do). 

And for those who didn't see my Facebook post, I want to say this again. People see me and my husband caring for Hawken and think we are something special. We aren't any more special than anyone else (I was going to say we aren't special, but God has created each of us beautifully -- everything God makes is special and wonderful and lovely and so on). And some may think it has been a huge sacrifice for me to care for my son Hawken daily his whole life. I've changed diapers daily since August of 1995 when my oldest son was born (except for during the trips I made to Bulgaria and Russia). One thing I can say is that I am an expert diaper changer.

There have been periods in my life I've been discontent, but that wasn't my son's fault. That was me looking in wrong directions and trying to figure out things that God had under His control (and didn't need my help). Or, I'd condemn myself thinking if I was more industrious I could be making an income at home (and sometimes that has happened, but more often not). And there have been days I've needed a break (like all caregivers do -- if there is a caregiver in your family, maybe you can give that caregiver a break -- just a few hours would be nice). But all in all, it is a privilege to care for my son. He is a delight. And really (and I know most of you won't believe this) he has taken care of me all these years (along with my husband). I have a mental illness (which is controlled most of the time with lifestyle choices and medication) and there have been times life has been very dark and depressive. I've had depressions that have lasted for several months. And all the while Hawk and his constant, quiet presence has sat with me and reminded me I need to stay on this earth until God says it is time for me to go. When will that be? I have no idea. None of us do. 

We humans (Americans especially I think) sometimes judge people on how they benefit society in a tangible, monetary or service way. Thinking our worth is in what we do. Thinking we only benefit our world by producing stuff or money or whatever. There's nothing wrong with any of that, but that isn't where our worth lies. Our worth lies in the fact that we were created by God to be in relationship with Him. He created us because He loves us and wants to hang out with us. He wants to be part of our lives. God shines through Hawken in a way He can't shine through anyone else. Hawk benefits our family and our church and everyone who sees him just because he is alive. Each one of us affects the people in our worlds. We are all so interconnected. Funny -- we at the same time think we need to "benefit" our society but then we also want to be fiercely independent thinking only in that is someone wholly human. I recently read a book where the author wrote that unless someone is sexually active that person isn't a whole person. Obviously, that isn't true. As Horton the elephant (one of my favorite characters) says, "A person's a person no matter how small." 

We can't say a person has to be able to do "_________" in order to live a full human life. Think of a child who lives just a few hours. There's purpose for that child. That child was loved (and still is). Love is a purpose. To be loved is a purpose. We are all to be loved. Loving someone else changes us. I know loving Hawken has changed me. Loving each of my children has changed me. Loving my husband has changed me. Loving Jesus has changed me most of all (but in loving others we love Jesus too -- what we do to others we do to Jesus). 

Oh boy -- I just meant to give you the recipe. If you are still reading I guess you wanted to keep reading. If you make the cheesecake don't eat the whole thing yourself. You'll get a stomachache (and always eat it cold). 

When Jesus was asked by the lawyer who his neighbor was (meaning who did he have to actually love like himself), Jesus told the parable of The Good Samaritan. The one who shows neighborly love in the parable is from the race of people the lawyer very likely looked down on.  I think Jesus means we are to love everyone who we come into contact with -- people who live near us; people we talk to in the store; people we work with and go to church with; people who we share a smile with; people who live far; anyone we can do good for; young and old; the beautiful and the ugly; the smart and the foolish; the ones who are nice to us and the ones who aren't. 

This morning we were shown a great deal of neighborly love by a wonderful family who lives not too far away. The husband and kids showed up and dug out our vehicles and our driveway. 

​This picture on the left shows what our place looked like before the neighbors showed up.

​And here on the right is how it looks now!

Our neighbors didn't have to help us out. I'm sure they could have found something else to do on this sunny day. Instead, they spent their time, their energy, their fuel and used their equipment to help us. 

One of the books I am reading these days with Hawken is a book about psychology. Recently we read about an experiment that was conducted. It was called "The Good Samaritan Experiment." The ones conducting the experiment wanted to see if certain factors would cause people to stop and help someone who was hurt. There were two groups of students. The first group was told they had just a few minutes to get to their next destination. On the way there they passed a man who was hurt (he was an actor). Most of the people in this group didn't stop (though some felt really guilty later). The second group wasn't given the time constraints. Many more stopped to help the man in this group. What the researchers found was that "being in a hurry" was the one big thing that stopped people from helping others (or at least that's what I got from it). 

Think about our society -- how hurried it is. How fast and rushed most people seem to be. I wonder if sometimes the enemy is behind our hurrying, our fast--paced lives. Maybe he gets us in such a rush we neglect doing God's work because we don't notice what needs doing; or, we feel what we're doing is just too important to be late for. 

I know there have been some really important people who have said the main thing is not to rush or hurry in life, but I can't seem to remember who these important people are. I looked up "hurry" quotes and found some good ones. I'll share them here:

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~Lao Tzu

"Once you stop rushing through life, you will be amazed how much more life you have time for." ~Author Unknown

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." ~St Francis de Sales

Jesus tells us the most important commandment is to "Love The Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind (which includes our imagination) and strength" and the second most important commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself." So, loving God and loving people. 

After love we could say (maybe) it comes down to 1 John 2:15-17. In Peterson's The Message it says, "Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world -- wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important -- has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out -- but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity." 

Sure, there's a whole lot more we could talk about. There's a whole lot more about life, but what we want and what we're trying to get reveals what's really inside us. 

Matthew 23:28 says, "Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to man, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

That is a picture of ugliness. May it not be true of me or you. We can't hide from God. Depending where you're at spiritually that is a comforting statement or a frightening one. If it isn't comforting, seek Him. He'll get you where you need to be. He knows what will make your heart sing in this life. He wrote the song. 

(A note about the Maybe: There are some things I know to be true like: Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jesus died so we could receive eternal life; Jesus loves you and me. Father God is a good father. The Holy Spirit will reside in you if you want Him too. After that there are a whole lot of things up for debate and really just don't matter when it comes down to what life's about.)

The world is starving for real love (think Shannon mentioned that comment in a sermon two weeks ago). Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone wants to feel loved. You can see it on all the movies and TV shows produced -- characters looking for love or in love or falling out of love. And then you look on social media and there is so many people starving for affection or for attention -- they want to know they matter. Oh, if only everyone would open their hearts to God -- Jesus has been calling out all this time telling every single person he or she matters. 

The world has its own view of love -- a really screwed up kind of view. You see this everywhere too. People choosing each other and then leaving each other. You see marriages begin and marriages end. You see kids who are obviously troubled; adults who are troubled. So many have never experienced real love. So many have never even seen it.

And that is where you come in, where I come in. If we work on our own relationships and they are in a good place, we are showing the world love. People -- adults and children -- need to see real love. They need to see spouses loving each other no matter what. They need to see parents who love their kids. They need to see friendships that are lasting. You're doing something mighty important for this world when you love those in your life. When you put Jesus first and people second. When you "love your neighbor as yourself" as Jesus said. 

If you live in a peaceful home where love abides, you probably can't fathom what you have, what you have that is different than what most people have. Just know if you have peace you have an incredible gift.

Relationships take work, but it is the kind of work that reaps huge benefits for not only us, but our children, our families, our friends and the world arouund us. 

Show your world today what love is. Show your world how to do it. They need you.

Way back in the summer of 1993 I was temporarily stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. I was there for a photojournalism course. Our classes were during the day. The rest of the time was for assignment and for whatever else we decided to do. My roommate and I decided to take a month-long pottery course. It was only once a week, but it was sure fun. I learned just enough to know I really hope to try my hand at pottery again one day. I learned the potter has to knead the clay to get all the air bubbles out because air bubbles will wreak havoc on the finished project (probably make it crack). I learned the potter gets pretty dirty and she has to put effort into shaping the clay while it is on the wheel. learned that if you see a potter apparently make a beautiful object with no effort he or she is a super experienced and skilled potter! 

These experiences came back to mind this morning when I read about the potter in Jeremiah 18. Verse three says, "there (the potter) was making something on the wheel."

I am thanking God for His Awesome hands! The clay has no idea what the potter is shaping it into when it is on the wheel. The clay's job is to yield to the potter -- the one who has the vision for what the clay is meant to be. Unlike me (who shaped the clay into the only things I was capable of making it into), God is not limited by lack of skill or patience or vision. God is perfect and He is constantly working our lives into what He created us to be. When we yield to Him the results will be beautiful. When we don't yield to Him we make it tougher on ourselves and also prolong processes that might be mighty uncomfortable. 

Think about what would happen if the clay was able to rebel against the potter. The potter couldn't get anything done until the clay yielded. In a way actual clay can "rebel." It can for some reason not work with the potter. When that happens the potter has to squash the clay and start again. Sometimes this means the new creation will be smaller than the one originally intended.

This happens with us too. If we waste a lot of time going our own way, when we finally yield to God He works with what is left and creates something beautiful and useful to Him. Yet, it probably is different than what He intended (that we will never know. God doesn't tell us what would have happened if we had yielded to Him right away). 

None of these are new thoughts. People have been talking about God being the potter since people were potters. Yet, it is good to remember. The situations you are in, the people who are in your life, all of this God will use to shape you into who you are meant to be. We never have to stop growing. We never have to stop learning. Who we are today isn't who we were a year ago, even a week ago. Let God shape you. Yield to Him. The results will be fantastic!

Last night Father God gave me what I wanted for Christmas -- all my children (including my son-in-law) and husband laughing together and enjoying each other's company. It was absolutely lovely. And precious. Thank you Father! 

Another gift: today is sunny and 45 degrees where I live, warm enough to sit outside at my picnic table with my coffee, journal and Bible. I had on a pair of coveralls and read and thought about Luke 2:4-20:

"Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [e]Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.”13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

And I remembered that Christmas is all about Love. God can't love us anymore than He does. And I thought of the hours and days and weeks and months and years I wasted not feeling loved. Why do we do that? Why do we judge ourselves by unreasonable standards? Or why do we allow others to condemn us? Or why do we compare ourselves and feel inadequate when all the time the reality of it is is that we are loved. It has nothing to do with us being adequate. Of course we're inadequate! Yet, we are so loved. We are loved beyond imagining. And when Jesus came to earth in that little baby body it was the ultimate expression of love. He came to us in a form we can understand. He came to us so we could finally understand (at least a little bit) His eternal love for us.

Thank you Him today and tomorrow for His love. Thank Him for His Faithfulnes. Thank Him for loving you, for loving me, for loving everyone.

Merry Christmas!

If you or someone you love isn't living with a tragedy right now, it will happen eventually because this world is a fallen one. Yes, the world is filled with incredible and beautiful things, but it's also filled with sorrow and pain and broken hearts and misunderstandings and really rough times.

If you know someone going through a rough time and you feel bad for them, do something. Pity isn't wanted by anyone. Pity doesn't help. Pity might make us feel like we're human but people need us to show them they aren't alone. If you can give a meal, give a meal. If you can fulfill one of their needs, fulfill that need. It doesn't have to be big. 

We can't take away people's grief but we can remind them we hurt for them and we will help them. When our daughte died in 2013, many reached out to us in unique ways. Each gesture was able to bring some measure of comfort. It reminded us people cared. It reminded us God loved us. It reminded us we weren't alone. 

One person sent us a book of stamps. That came in handy for all the thank-yous that had to be written.

Another person bought us groceries. Tons of people brought food. Others made sure our other kids were cared for. People I hadn't seen in years showed up and gave us hugs. A bunch of my daughter's classmates had made her get well cards that were delivered to us. Those were so sweet. 

No gesture is too small when someone needs to be reminded they aren't alone. 

Don't tell yourself that thought you had about doing something is stupid or wouldn't mean anything. Take a chance. Love on that person. Sometimes little practical things are exactly what someone needs done. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but to the person who receives your gift of service, it will mean a lot. 

Possibly after you give you might not hear anything about it from the person. Give that person time. Sometimes situations are so overwhelming that we can existing in a fog and not aware of what's going on. It was only after several months that I began remember some of the details of the days leading us to my daughter's death. 

​"Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

I was listening to a podcast yesterday about perfectionism addiction (and no, I don't have this). The author being interviewed said something that we all need to hear. He said, "If you fail at love, you fail at life." 

He went onto to share a story about a man who heard him speak somewhere saying this in his speech. The man was a very successful businessman, super driven to achieve and in the business and financial world the man achieved a lot. But when he heard the above quote he said to the author, "You just ruined my day."

He told the author that he was on his second marriage and it wasn't going great. He had adult sons who he saw only once a year. Basically, his relationships were in tatters -- but his professional life was great.

What about us? What about you? What about me? Are our relationships growing or are they in tatters? There's not much time left to work on our relationships. Those are the things we will wish we spent more time on when someone we love or we are on our deathbeds. The relationships are what matter. 

Listen, we don't know how much time we have left. This could be the last day we live for any of us. You will never regret the time you loved; the time you tried to mend relationships; the time you spent talking and laughing and crying with others. But you might regret seeking after things that just won't matter. They won't matter when we are facing the end. They probably won't even matter in five years.

Jonathan Edwards wrote, "Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes."

Enjoy life but don't let stuff consume you. Enjoy the blessings, but don't live for them. Don't live to please people. Live to love them. Live to love God and them. We can always love. We can always be kind. We can give people real genuine smiles today -- showing off our teeth and letting the smile reach our eyes. 

Don't get caught in drama. Life is more than that. Don't get caught up in gossip. Gossip does no good to anyone -- just brings a sour taste in a person's mouth. If someone brings someone up in conversation say good things about that person or don't say anything at all. 

Be a blessing. Be Love to others. Be encouraging. Don't flatter -- flattering is not genuine. If you give compliments make them genuine -- real. Not fluffy. Notice people's hearts, their emotional state. Speak to their souls. 

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;" 
​1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

When a person is in love (those kind of in-love overwhelming feelings) that person is only concerned about the person he is in love with. She thinks about him nonstop. She writes his name on everything. His thoughts are filled with her wondering what she is doing; wondering what she's wearing; wondering when he can be with her again. Everything is about the person who is loved.

This clip from Elf is exactly what I am talking about:

We can be this consumed with loving God. Sure, feelings come and go, but that's how feelings work. 

I think of some of the questions I myself have asked God in the past: What is my purpose? When is this going to happen in my life? When will you use my talents? Why have you chosen this for me? 

No question is ever wrong to ask God. We should talk to Him about everything. But when we are focused on figuring out our purpose and plan maybe we have our eyes on ourselves rather than God. Maybe we are still looking at God but putting ourselves more in the picture than is really necessary.

Think back to being in love. When you are love you aren't wondering about your own purpose. You know your purpose at that time is to love that person. Your purpose is to be with that person. Your purpose is to make that person smile. 

I think we Believers can make this life more complicated than it has to be (at least I do). We start wondering if we're making a difference. We start wondering about our part. We start worrying we are missing God's will. 

We won't miss it if our eyes are on Him! We won't be wondering if we are making a difference when our eyes are on Him. We won't be wishing we'd get more acknowledgement if we are focused on God because we can never out love God. Never!

This isn't complicated but it sure isn't easy. Our natural way to live is to be focused on ourselves and our wants and needs. That's why we need God to help us live better (for when we get stuck inside ourselves we are doomed). 

Here are a few scriptures that relate (at least in my mind):

"for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17

"So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." Romans 14:20

"And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
​Deuteronomy 6:5

Do you remember how it feels to be in love? When those feelings are overpowering and you are sure no one ever has felt what you are feeling? 

Do you remember how you act toward the person you're madly in love with (if it is reciprocated)? 

You do things to make that person happy. You leave him little notes. You give her flowers. You bring him lunch. You plan special dates. You do this all to please that person, to make that person happy. You don't do it to make that person love you because you know that person loves you already. You just have to express your shared love because it is so so so wonderful!

Okay, you got it? Got those memories, that understanding of love expressions in your mind? Hold onto it while you read the next part.

This morning I read John 8:29 where Jesus says, "'And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.'"

Jesus always does the things that please the Father. 

I already knew that and you probably did too, but this morning it hit me in a new way. I thought, I could live like that too. I could live just to please my Father, to live to make Him smile; to live to express my love for Him because He loves me so so so much, and the more I love Him the more I will know Him and then the more I will love Him and on and on and on (and the same is true for you). 

We aren't to live the way that would please God because we have to earn His love or earn our way to heaven. No! We can live to please Him just because He loves us and we want to show our love back to Him. 

Just think how simple this would make life -- just live to please God. No more drama. A whole lot less stress. Probably fewer wrinkles and health problems too!

Sometime this summer, I don't remember when, I had a dream of two people I dearly love. I saw Jesus and my daughter Maggie holding hands looking at me. I knew they loved me but I also knew it wasn't time for me to be with them yet. They told me God had more for me to do here on earth. I think Maggie even waved and gave me a big huge smile. I hope I have that dream again!

This morning I was able to sit outside again while reading my Bible. Again, I drank a lot of coffee (the pot is almost empty now -- though Shannon had a large cup of it before he left). I read in Habakkuk. There are some great passages in this very short book. Habakkuk 3:4 says, 'His radiance is likee the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power."

Another one the writer in me loves is Habakkuk 2:2. It says, "Then the LORD answered me and said, 'Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.'"

As I read I thought of Jesus sitting beside me, His arm around my shoulders. I stopped reading and just pictured that. I pictured me leaning my head against His shoulder. I pictured Him smiling. I thought of the peace that would bring. 

And you know what -- it did. It brought peace. It brought joyful tears. It brought a sense of presence. 

The first commandment is to "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, your mind and your strength."

Loving God with all our minds means we need to love Him with our imaginations. Our imaginations are gifts from God to enhance this life He's given us. What better way than to think of Him? To picture Him? To imagine being with Him?

Often, people use their imaginations to worry, to fear, to stress. I do this too. But we don't have to! We can choose not to use this incredible gift in a negative way. 

Oxford Dictionaries says Imagination is "the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses."

That is a glorious capability God has given each of us. Oh, let's choose to use it well!!

The meaning of life -- people search for it. People think about it. People grab hold of causes to try and bring meaning to their lives. Sometimes people choose to make careers or success or monetary gain or politics or power or family the meaning of life. 

I personally  have questioned my purpose -- what am I here? I think of all the the things I do daily and know they are part of why I'm here, but in of themselves they aren't the reason I'm here. 

The meaning of life comes down to a song lyric -- to love and be loved. 

Jesus said it like this:

"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

Loving God and others with all we do and say and think gets to be pretty difficult when ourselves get in the way. The only way to truly love and be loved is to get past ourselves and love. 

That's the great thing about spending time in the Bible. God's word will help us get outside ourselves; help us lay ourselves aside so we can get on with really living. Throughout scripture we are told to look up to God; to love Him; to praise Him; to honor Him; to respect Him. This isn't because God is on some ego trip. This is because He knows if we are looking to Him we can see others and ourselves rightly and we won't get caught up in screwed up perspectives. We can see the bigger picture and just love. 

Early this morning after changing Hawk and the bed pad, I covered him up with his blankets, turned on his heating mattress pad and laid down beside him for a few minutes. I held his left hand and spent time in quiet with him. He smiled. I entered his own little space, his bed with rails; his corner of the house. 

Often, love is like this -- just a few minutes giving someone your attention. Letting that person know he is loved; he is worth your time; he is more important than any agenda you might have. 

We can do with this with Jesus too. Just sit with Him. Listen. Tell Him you love Him. And see what happens.

I'm in the third book of the Margaret of Ashbury trilogy by Judith Merkle Riley. I've read it several times. Though this will sound a bit strange, I think of Margaret as a friend. I adore her! She gets me thinking. Recently she was observing her brother-in-law who is a smug, shallow individual. She watched him grin a self-satisfied grin as he admired his shiny armor and stirrups while sitting on his charger. 

The guy is smug but he's satisfied at that surface-level of thinking. I kind of envy that. I kind of envy the thought of just thinking about what's right in front of me and not thinking beyond that. There's a bit of eternity in that way of thinking. Just living in the now.

There are two kinds of people -- those who think deeply and those who don't. Neither is better than the other. There are benefits to both. Possibly we can switch to the other kind of thinking, but I kind of think we are born into one or the other mindset. 

A problem occurs when we expect others to think like we do. If I am a deep thinker and judge another person because she is not, I am wrong. Or if a surfacy thinker judges me for my thinking too much, she too is wrong. 

We should seek to understand each other rather than trying to mold each other into our own image. When we seek understanding we are fulfilling the second greatest commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

No one likes to be judged. If we left all the judging to God we might be a lot more loving and Christ-like. Yeah, people frustrate each other and do each other wrong, but why waste time judging? Forgive and move on. 

The psalmist in Psalm 119:17 requests something of God. He says, "Deal bountifully with Thy servant, That I may live and keep Thy word."

We can deal bountifully with each other. Think good things of each other. Say good things about each other. Do good things for each other. Love, believe in, hope for.

Paul writes about love eloquently in 1 Corinthians 13. He writes, "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails"

Just think if we lived and showed this kind of love daily to all in our lives! 

Let's try. 

A friend of my husband's who my husband hasn't seen for quite a while was on his mind. He felt like he should pray for this friend. So he did. 

But he went a step further.

He contacted his old friend and told him he was praying for him. That telling ended up being a big blessing to the friend. 

We all must have people we suddenly pray for. Maybe if we do, we ought to tell them. I haven't met one person who is offended by being told I prayed for them. 

I heard something on the radio that said something similar. The lady said that when she thinks about someone she gives them a call.

What it tells me is that when someone comes to mind, we need to do something about that person. Maybe pray. Maybe call. Maybe write a letter. Maybe all three! 

God created us to be in relationship with Him and each other. Thinking of someone just doesn't happen. There's  a reason for it. Make it a good reason with your actions. 

"He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19d

I read a post about radical acceptance and I just had to share. Think on those two words: Radical Acceptance. 

Apply them to how you view yourself. 

We are to love our neighbor as ourself BUT if we haven't embraced the persons we are we cannot embrace any one else in a real way. 

I'm not talking about accepting secret sins (or blatant sins), but we all have human failings that we might condemn ourselves for. Maybe we say something like, "If I were only stronger;" "If I were only smarter;"  "If I were only prettier or thinner or funnier."

You get the idea. We put ourselves down, the very people God created. That ought not to be.

How about instead you accept that part of you you've never liked? What if you look at that trait objectively and ask yourself and God, Why did God make me like this? And ask it honestly. He'll give you the best reason for He doesn't ever make a mistake in His creation process.

I'm sure some of you are tired of me using my family as examples but they are some of the best examples for me to use. Let me talk about my husband. What a man! My husband has so many gifts and talents. One of his areas he needs to work on is snacking.  It is easy for him to eat a whole bunch without realizing it while watching TV. Well, his weight got to be unhealthy and he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. That isn't good, BUT it caused him to take his health seriously and now he is at a very healthy weight and working out with some of the high school guys at school. He feels better than he has in a long time, and he is sticking with a healthier lifestyle. And wjen he snacks he's in control of it. 

His problem ended up benefitting him. 

And I think the same goes for all our bodies as they age. We have to be more deliberate in keeping ourselves healthy. That benefits us as we age more than we know.

My area I have condemned myself for is the way God made my brain. Yet, my brain is me and He created it the way it needed to be created so He could use me in the way He wants to use me. Again, God doesn't mess up when He creates us.

Maybe you don't think you're thin enough. Why are we so obsessed with being a certain weight in our culture? You're probably absolutely adorable just the way you are. Quit looking at others. Maybe that woman you think is so thin and beautiful struggles herself with her weight and she eats nothing. Looking at someone else and wishing we had what they have is not right for them or us. It isn't healthy and all it does is tarnish our own life. God Himself told us not to covet anything of our neighbors (this is one of the 10 commandments). That includes their appearance.

Radically accept yourself. 

Radically accept others. Let God be the Holy Spirit for a while. Let God work out their problems. Of course if God leads us to say something we need to, but if not, let's just love others and pray for them. If we try to "fix" someone and God hasn't led us to do whatever action we are taking, it will just feel like condemnation to the other person and condemnation causes a person to curl up inside. Exactly the opposite of what our "Fixing" was meant to do!

Radically accept the day and whatever weather God blesses us with.

Radically accept those interruptions to your plans. Maybe God has something better for you than your plans. 

Radically accept your limitations. There are blessings in limitations. There is blessing in weakness. 

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
​1 John 4:7

I've been hiding the sugar bowl from relatives who probably haven't given it a thought since the last time they saw it on my grandma's table back in 2013. Then again, if they even noticed it at the time they probably didn't think about it because it was just a piece of Grandma and Grandpa's life that had always been there, like an old chair or refrigerator.

It sat on their table for decades (my whole life and then some).

After Grandma died I brought it home proudly. It reminds me of my grandparents and my childhood. I wanted it to be on my table -- kind of like the legacy of the sugar bowl!

Of course after sitting on my grandparents' table for decades and being at my home for maybe just a few months, someone broke off one of the handles. Coming to my house often means things get broken! 

I was so irritated!

We fixed it with patience and super glue. 

Do you know what we found out? It had been broken sometime in the past. The little top had been glued back on in its early life in Rural Sherrard, Illinois (or maybe it was before they lived in the Big White House on the Hill -- which was named after them. It's called 'Christensen Hill."). 

I thought of the sugar bowl this morning after reading something Michael Card wrote:

     If Jesus is truly our paradigm (means example, but paradigm sounds so much cooler) and pattern, as we confess he        is, then like him we must constantly be searching for new and creative ways to give ourselves to others for
     his sake . . . There 
     is a level of giving that we can achieve only through brokenness, but the burden is light precisely because the One who
     places it on our lives never completely takes his hand from under the weight. He never stops pursuing us, even to
     the very last moment of our lives.

We should do the same with others -- never stop pursuing them with love and truth and compassion and joy. Card says it doesn't require anything at all "except surrender."

Ooo, that's difficult though -- surrendering our rights to the time and money and talents and comfort God puts in our lives and give it all away through loving Him and others. I tell you, it does take some broken souls to do that impossible task. When we are broken Jesus can get through those cracks to reach that other soul. 

It doesn't work too well with sugar bowls though. For a year or more Grandma's sugar bowl had only one arm attached. When broken it sat on a high shelf with its severed arm inside its belly. I was not going to lose that arm. 

Did you see it took patience to fix it? It wasn't mine. Shannon took over and glued the arm back on successfully. 

Once it was fixed I filled the belly with sugar and set it beside my toaster. It still hasn't made its way to the table permanently. Maybe it will. It is pretty (prettier than the silly sketch I drew). 

"But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children . . . we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children." 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11

Like a parent. 

That's devotion.

I'm a bad mom today. 

Not that I did anything to call myself that, but it is what I don't want to do that makes me a bad mom today:

I don't want to make supper.

I don't want to drive my kids over 20 miles so they can go to a dance. 

I don't want to have to do anything but be me and veg on the couch and watch a silly TV show, or sit with a book and read and drink some coffee.

My husband is tired too. He's been working all week at a school that is challenging (though he loves it but it takes a lot out of him). You could say we're both drained in the kid department. 

I've got good kids. They don't cause much trouble. One of them is in need constantly and the two youngest aren't needy like they  used to be, but they're the ones who are excited about the dance.

Long ago, dances were my favorite part of high school. I always, always, always went to dances. I don't think I missed one in all my four years of high school (and our school had a lot of them). I loved to dance. It is so much fun, so I guess that makes me feel even doubly bad that I don't feel like taking my kids to the dance because I know how much fun I used to have.

Sigh . . . . (those dots mean a pause...My adult son told me they mean to some people a passive-aggressive moment, but to me they mean a pause).

Big Sigh . . . (another pause).

It's almost 5 p.m. in my world so it's time to start supper.

And we'll have to leave in 2 1/2 hours for the dance.

You know, Parents, it's probably okay to sometimes do things for the kids with a lack of enthusiasm. Sometimes just showing up and being there is enough. 

And probably all I need is a quiet Saturday morning and some cuddle time with my husband Saturday night. Hey, tomorrow is Saturday! I guess my break is coming. 

Love doesn't always have to feel good. Sometimes it doesn't even have be apparent. That doesn't mean it isn't there. 

​I am so thankful for that!

A few summers back I got to feed a giraffe. Of course it was just a piece of lettuce but it was so much fun. I then envisioned myself being a giraffe zookeeper. I'd feed them. They'd love me. Maybe they'd make their happy noises when they saw me. Maybe they'd name their children after me. It'd be incredibly fulfilling (and I know I am incredibly ignorant of what it means to be the keeper of giraffes). 

In reality, I was just given the lettuce by a giraffe zookeeper (and so was everyone else in the giraffe feeding line). We had to follow the zookeepers' rules; and they looked on to make sure we didn't feed the giraffes anything else; and made sure we treated those gentle creatures correctly. The zookeepers were vigilant and in charge. You could say the zookeepers are on guard in order to protect the animals from any threat.

Feeding time at the zoo is necessary to keep all the animals alive, healthy and well-behaved. The zookeepers know exactly what to feed each animal and they are meticulous about it (see my story above). If they feed them the wrong stuff the animals could get sick; they wouldn't thrive; and if the food is toxic to that animal, it could cause that animal's death.

It takes work to keep animals healthy.

Same goes for us. 

It's always feeding time for us.

It's always feeding time for our minds, our hearts, our souls.

What we let into our lives governs what comes out of our lives. If we want to live godly lives we have to feed ourselves the right food. 

Jesus said in Matthew 15:17 that "the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart."

He also says in Matthew 7:17 that "every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit."

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." 

And one more scripture (for now). James, Jesus's brother says in James 3:11, "Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?"

We are the gatekeepers, the guardians of our hearts, our souls. What we expose our hearts to will leave its mark. 

If we are tempted in an area we know is not godly (which will happen to all of us for we are all human), we need to do something about it. What can we do? 

If we look to the world for help, very likely the world will tell us to go for it. Satisfy that lust. Satisfy that temptation. We all deserve to be happy, don't we?

But any action, any thought, any deed that goes against God and His word will not produce good things in our lives. They may give momentary pleasure but it will end up costing us more than we realize. We can't be friends with God and we can't live for Him if we seek stuff in the world. 

So, what do we do if some temptation keeps bombarding us in our thoughts? What if we are constantly angry toward someone? What if we are constantly bombarded with thoughts of unfaithfulness or lust to commit sin, to lie, to gossip, etc. (there are all sorts of sins that the world now says aren't -- our world has turned God's ways upside down and inside out)? 

Each time that thought comes to mind, pray about it. Give it God. Tell Him honestly how you feel about it. Tell Him you can't see what would be wrong with following that desire. Tell Him how you feel it wouldn't affect anyone else (but it will by the way -- we sin in private, the consequences end up out in the public). Tell Him to help you see it as He does. It isn't a sin to have a temptation. It is a sin to carry it out (in thought or deed). When this temptation comes into your brain, say (out loud if necessary), "I take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)."

Maybe it doesn't feel like that is helping, but it will. Keep on taking that thought, that lust captive to Christ, every single time it threatens to overtake you (and it is a threat).

What if you have already committed that sin? Why turn back? Why bother? Maybe you think it would just be too complicated to turn back now.

God will take us out of the mud and dirt and sin of our lives at any moment. We just have to reach out to Him.

What we focus on is what we are feeding ourselves. 

Even if everyone says it is right, if God says it is wrong, then it's wrong. And if there is something God says is wrong, it is because He loves us and knows what is best for us and knows what will eventually bring great fulfillment and joy to our lives. 

Who you listen to is who will influence you.

Listen to God. He loves you so so so much! The world (meaning world thought not the God's creation) does not love you. The world will use you and even make you feel important for a time, but once you are all used up the world rejects you. God doesn't do this. He doesn't reject anyone who comes to Him.

God doesn't want "any to perish but for all to come to repentance (meaning coming to Him and being in relationship with Him, letting Him guide you; letting Him be your Father)." 2 Peter 3:9c

Often, it's not about the words. 

Often, it's about how the words are said and who is saying those words. 

Last night in my house a couple of people I dearly love got angry at each other. The first said something that wasn't really any big deal but the second reacted strongly and things went downhill from there. I did what I could but the second party wasn't happy and the first party wasn't happy either. 

I was thinking about it this morning. I prayed about it. I was writing about it and reading my Bible. And what came to mind was this (and it will be so simple to many of you): the reason why the second party reacted so strongly was because she really wanted the approval and acceptance of the first party. And when the first party seemed to not approve of what she did, she felt rejected and consequently lashed out. 

No one wants to be rejected. No one wants to feel belittled. And sometimes even if those feelings aren't there -- we aren't being rejected; we aren't being belittled -- we think we are and react to what we think is there. And then the person who we are saying is rejecting us is then angry because that person wasn't doing anything of the sort.

Misunderstandings.

Big time misunderstandings.

I dare say misunderstandings are the reason for most of the pain in relationships. 

We all want to be loved for just being us. We all want to be given the benefit of the doubt. 

You know, I believe we do this all the time with God. We pray about something and things get worse. Or we experience something negative and interpret it wrongly. We tell ourselves God must not be pleased with us. God must be shaking His finger at us. 

Take God at His word. Don't interpret events through negative emotions. 

Take God's word and believe it. Realize it is true. Realize there is no agenda in them. What God says He will do. What God says He is, He is. 

And be gentle with those who love you. Even when they mess up they very well might be trying their best. 

Love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:7

Our church family is putting on VBS this week. It's called Cave Quest. 

Every day there is a statment the kids learn called a Bible point. They are in order:

Jesus gives us hope.

Jesus gives us courage.

Jesus gives us direction.

Jesus gives us love.

Jesus gives us His power.

As VBS is known for, the songs are catchy and by the fourth day you find them playing inside your head.

(Unfortunately, I only know a few words from each song so the same phrase keep playing, "Light it up! Light up the world.")

One of the neatest things about VBS this year is something that is called "God sightings." 

At the end of the VBS day we all get back together and the kids tell of God sightings they had since the day before. After a few sightings are shared, a little candle is put on the cross.

I love this! I love the question of, "Where did you see God today?"

And since the kids know it will be asked the next day, they keep a look out for God. 

What is a God sighting?

A time, a place, a moment when you see God present.

How do you know God is present? Here are a few verses to guide you:

"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." James 1:17

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
                                                                                                                                               Galatians 5:22-23

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
                                                                                                                                                               1 John 1:9

Is there anything or anyone good in your life? That and they are a gift from God. That's a God sighting.

Have you experienced love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control in yourself or from others? Those are straight from the Spirit. That's a God sighting.

Do you have tasks to do each day? Do you have good work to be part of where you bless others and benefit your world? That's a God sighting.

Have you ever been forgiven? That's a God sighting.

And if we realize something is a God sighting, we can then say, "Hey, thanks God." Or "Thank you Abba Father." "Thank you Jesus." 

God's not picky how you thank Him. But it is a very good thing to have a thankful heart.

Psychology Today says, "Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so. In addition, gratefulness—and especially expression of it to others—is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy."

So, how about you? What's your God sighting today?