Glory Charms

I set a goal the first of this year to make my gifts for Christmas. My family and friends already have all the knitted sweaters and scarves they want from what I've made before, so I didn't know where to begin. I thought I'd follow my own advice and start with a run through Hobby Lobby. I bought some beautiful beads and chains to make necklaces and bracelets. John gave me all the tools I'd needed from making fishing lures.

Blue Witness Charm Bracelet

What fun! I had no idea I would enjoy this new hobby so much. After writing for a few hours, I get out my beads and make jewelry. Amazing how the creative juices flow between the two crafts. 

My friend, Betty, and I shopped at Jo-Ann's--more beautiful beads and chains. John and I shopped at Michael's and Walmart--even more. I shopped for beads on Amazon. Whoa! I was surprised--and more surprised when emails from the stores announced sales events and included coupons. Even though beads became a big part of my world, I have been able to keep my article submission goals. 

My love for crafting jewelry caused a big portion of our living room to fill with inventory.

"What are you doing?" asked John.

Purple Wild Kingdom
Necklace

"I'm making Christmas gifts."

"I think you have enough gifts for a few Christmases. Have you thought about selling your jewelry?" He sparked an idea. I checked out how to market my beaded treasures on Etsy. They made it so easy to set up my business, but I didn't know what to call it. I looked at all my pieces and found a common theme. Crosses, hearts, fish and animal charms. Images of love, redemption and creation. That was the birth of Glory Charms, my store on Etsy. 

You're invited to come and look around. And when you need a gift, come again. Since I shop sales on the supplies I use, I can pass the savings on to you. Thank you in advance for visiting often.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I've been wondering how I could make Advent Conspiracy work all year: spend less, give more (of myself), worship God and love all. I don't want to get caught in meaningless Christmas shopping at the end of the year, so John and I went shopping at Hobby Lobby today, searching for craft projects we can work on during the year. I enjoy giving gifts I make so I think Hobby Lobby will be a place I shop this year and the years to come. The selection of yarn and crafts is endless. Like a kid in a candy store, I could spend hours looking for the perfect gifts to make.

Visit the Hobby Lobby closest to you or shop online. You can even sign up for email newsletters and savings coupons. The newsletters are filled with ideas for new crafts to pursue.

What ideas do you have for joining the Advent Conspiracy? Are you crafting gifts? spending more time with family members? I'd love to hear from you.

The Perfect Gift

Shopping for the perfect gift? Have you found yourself in crowded stores buying gifts with money you don't have for gifts that are here today and gone tomorrow? Our culture has led us to believe that money is love so at Christmas we spend more than any other time during the year.  Retailers receive billions of dollars on this kind of marketing. We buy meaningless gifts that get thrown away, returned or donated to charity. Where does it end?

A view of a few Black Friday shopping videos makes me not want to get out of my house on the Friday after Thanksgiving, a day when we think of all the blessings for which we have to be thankful. People searching for the perfect gift end up victims of pushing, shoving, trampling, fighting, stun guns, pepper spray, arrests and even patients in ambulances. Stores announce super sales--deep discounts. Yet, we still find deep discounts later in the holiday season. What's the sense of it all?

Each year I ask myself how can I avoid the shopping chaos and meaningless gift giving. When I watched the video above, tears filled my eyes. I can't imagine what the heart of God felt in every episode. He sent His only Son into this world to bring love and meaning and purpose to our lives. He sent the perfect gift, the gift of light and peace and hope. But we still look for something else that satisfies. We fail to realize that when God created us, He left a void in us that only He can fill. We can try to fill the void with money, possessions, food, drink, relationships or drugs, but they will not satisfy.

The love of God is all that satisfies. The love of God changes hearts and lives. I know, because it changed my heart and my life. This year, even though my shopping is done, I'm starting to think differently about the future. At first I thought it was too late, but it's never too late. I'm going through a series at church titled Advent Conspiracy. I hope you will go to the website, watch the video and click on some of the resources. Let me know what you think. Is it better to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all? It might mean a different kind of Christmas for your family and friends. Will you stand up to their scrutiny? Jesus did. He didn't get caught up in the culture chaos of His time. I'm thinking I don't want to any more. What about you?

Mary's Song

Mary's Song is recorded in Luke 1:46-56. It is beautiful worship, expressing joy in God our Savior. He knew well Mary's humble heart and He knows each of us who love and serve Him. God's shows His mercy to all generations and performs [His] mighty works, which may seem upside down to our world. Check this out:

"He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:50-53 NIV).

Mary knew Scripture. She knew the character of her God and even as a young woman, she experienced a loving and worshipful relationship with Him.

We may strive for importance, but this is the person God chose to give birth to His Son so He could live among us and show us how to love God and live for Him. When the disciples asked who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless you change [from wanting to be important] and become like children [He meant childlike-not childish-innocent and trusting], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-5 NIV). 

This picture of Mary shows me the innocence, humility and faith that Jesus talked about. I hope this season you will look at Christmas in a new way, through Mary's eyes to experience true worship, the first step in Advent Conspiracy. God bless you.

Upside Down Advent

Many years ago when Jesus came to earth, He turned the world upside down with the truth about forgiveness and eternal life. He was the fulfillment of Scripture, but His own people who knew Scripture did not recognize Him.

In more than two thousand years since Jesus came as a baby the first Christmas, our gift giving to celebrate His birth has become a mega marketing opportunity for retailers. Our concept of showing love means spending billions of dollars on gifts that somehow end up back in the stores for exchange, in thrift stores or the trash. So how do we resist buying into the big debt and meaningless gifts?

What did Jesus do? He gave Himself. Can we do less? After all, it's all about Jesus, right? And if it's all about Jesus, it begins with worship. Mary set the example for us in her song:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One
has done great things for me - holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors (Luke 1:46-56 NIV). 

During this advent season, our church is studying a series titled Advent Conspiracy. I hope you will check out the website, the video and resources. I downloaded the audiobook to my iPhone so I can get more spiritually fit while I walk and get somewhat more physically fit. It's all about worship, spending less, giving more (of yourself, time and resources) and loving others.

I would like to know your thoughts about Christmas consumerism. Are you doing anything differently? I have to confess, this may take some adjusting for me. What about you?

Surrender

King Zedekiah had a keen sense of God's presence and, time and again, he called for Jeremiah to hear what God had to say. He didn't like what he heard. "Surrender to Nebuchadnezzar and live," Jeremiah said. "If you do not, Jerusalem will be destroyed and you will not escape."

Consider how hard it would be for one king to surrender to another. Not the most honorable thing, right? Zedekiah watched a few Israelites  move to Babylon and they lived. Some stayed in Jerusalem and some escaped to Egypt where they died by famine or sword. The king rejected God and chose to stick it out in Jerusalem. The Babylonians laid siege against the city for two years in which Zedekiah had many chances to change his mind. He did not and Nebuchadnezzar burned the city to the ground and captured the king. The last thing he saw was the murder of his sons. Then Nebuchadnezzar gouged out his eyes and put him in heavy bronze shackles until he died.

What would Jesus say? The answer is in Matthew 10:39. "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Surrender takes humility and faith, and that is what Jesus requires. He gave His life so we could be forgiven and live with Him forever. How can we give Him any less?

Jesus comforts us with His words in Matthew 11:28-30. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Although King Zedekiah had an awareness of God's presence, he did not like what God required and died for his choice to stay in Jerusalem.

Do you know a relationship with Jesus? If not, don't discount an awareness that you might have that He is near. I had the awareness more than twenty years ago and it caused me to call on the name of Jesus and surrender. It was a good thing. I asked God to help me live more like Jesus and He changed my heart and my life.

Lord Jesus, I pray for the person reading this post, that he would experience your amazing, life-changing love. Amen.

My Lifeguard

Captivated by the underwater beauty of Monastery Beach near Monterey, California, I lost track of time. It was exciting to dive into the huge waves and be lost in the yellows, blues and oranges of the fish and sea urchins, the changing colors of the kelp as it reflected the sun. Although my scuba instructor urged me when it was time to go ashore, I lingered far too long and forgot about the surf high above my head. Lulled by the ebb and flow of the surge, I didn't pay attention until I was nearly out of air.

A monster wave carried me to the beach, a very steep beach. My hands hit first, but I forgot to plant my fingers into the sand and the surge pushed me back out into the deep. Again my hands hit the beach and I  tried to climb out of the surf instead of holding on until the second surge passed. This one pushed me onto my back and pushed my mask and regulator off my face. I panicked. Underwater the oxygen tank and the weight belt equalize themselves but they weighed close to 100 pounds coming out of the surf. I could not turn over and crawl out of the water. The 10 foot waves tossed me back and forth. I saw my life pass before me. I didn't think I'd make it back to my kids who waited on the beach. The instructor signaled for help and seven men pulled me out of the surf.

Life is like the underwater beauty. Captured by my lust for life, nothing satisfied. A lifetime of poor choices and broken relationships led me into a pit of despair. I am thankful that somewhere in my experience, I had the sense to say the name of Jesus. He rescued me from a life of destruction and lavished His amazing love on me, a love I didn't deserve. I've never wanted to be without His love again. He promised He would always be with me and He has kept His promise. I have joy today because of all He has done.

If you feel trapped in a life of unmet expectations, I have good news for you. God loves you and waits at the door of your heart for you to invite Him into your life. Say His name and know His love. Read His word. It's a love letter to beat all love letters.

Lord Jesus, I pray for the one who is reading this post, that he will experience your love and presence, that it will change his heart and life for your glory. Amen.

The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)

Do you feel like the lost sheep? I have good news for you. Jesus said the angels in Heaven rejoice over one lost sinner who comes home than for the ninety-nine who are not lost. I have been lost and lonely, but I'm thankful that God never gave up on me. At the point of my greatest need, I said His name and felt His love and presence. I never want to feel far from God again.

I started reading the Bible and over the years God has spoken to me through Psalm 23. I've learned that the more my wants are in tune with what God wants for me, I have no wants. Here are some things God wants for each of us:

• He wants us to be well fed, spiritually as well as physically. While junk food is not good for our bodies, neither is it good for my soul. We can't feed on our favorite verses in the Bible and forget the rest, or read a quick devotion on the run each day and expect nourishment. God wants us to study His word and spend time with Him in prayer.
• God wants us to follow Him. By studying the Bible, we learn that God's ways are not our ways. I chose my ways for too many years and learned I needed God in ways I didn't know or understand. Now I want more of Him and less of me in my relationships, work and pleasure.
• God wants us to face our fears. I spent a lifetime avoiding conflict and fear, but I know that God is with me today--that greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world. I can trust Him to lead me through my fear and conflict.
• God wants us to feel His presence. He might prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies, but He is with us. He anoints our heads, gives us strength and confidence. He refreshes our souls.
• God wants us to find our way Home. He gave His only Son to be the Way, the Truth and the Life for each one of us. He leads us Home and His goodness and mercy follow us. God has our backs. We have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to.  

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to a favorite hymn of mine, "Gentle Shepherd," sung by the Gaither Voice Band. The prayer from Gloria is so appropriate for this generation. Turn up the sound, close your eyes and be blessed.

Too Busy?

Do you feel that there just are not enough hours in the day? You start to tackle your lists and you face one interruption after the other. Let me suggest, the issue is not time or being too busy. The issue is priorities.

I'd like to show you a object lesson. The objects are rocks that represent your priorities. If you have not seen the rock demonstration, I hope you'll take a few minutes to see it--worth your time.

The days my lists cause me stress, I look to Jesus and consider how He got everything done. He came to save the world but He was plagued with interruptions. On the way to do whatever He set out to do on any given day, people cried out to Him--one to see, another to hear, another to stop her bleeding, some to be delivered from demons, still others to be cleansed of leprosy. Jesus did not consider these interruptions. The miracles fit into His plan because He had great habits and priorities.

• Jesus spent time alone with the Father. "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray" Matthew 14:23
• Jesus attended weekly worship. "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom" Luke 4:16
• Jesus spent time in small groups discussing spiritual truth. "Be on your guard against men," He warned His disciples in Matthew 10:17.
• Jesus served others. On His mission trip in Mark 10, Jesus took time to bless the children, talk to a rich young man, and heal a blind beggar.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic are Your ways. Teach your priorities. Show us how to be compassionate and merciful, even on our most stressful days. Amen.

Do You Know the Way?

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

This morning when I read my Bible, God showed me something I hadn't thought of before. He's like that. He saves beautiful insights for me for times I especially need to see them.

I read how Jesus called His disciples. First He called Andrew. Then Andrew brought his brother, Simon, to Jesus and Jesus gave him the name Peter. The next day Jesus called Philip and he told his brother, Nathanael, about the Messiah whom Moses prophesied about--Jesus of Nazareth.

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

That's something I might say. "Are you kidding me? A famous person from Carmichael?"

Nathanael went along with Philip and heard Jesus say, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"How do you know me?"

"I saw you under the fig tree."

Then Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God."

You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that. To tell you the truth, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. John 1:50, 51

Jesus painted a picture of Jacob's ladder, but this morning I realized that Jesus is the ladder. I imagined a glorious stairway to Heaven. I had to find a picture for you and I picked one that has sides, because I didn't want you to fall off on the way up. The truth is, Jesus is the stairway and neither you nor I can fall off. He is our protection and He will make sure we get there.

Thank You, Awesome Lord, for the adventure in Your word for people in the family of God. Thank You for providing the way and thank you for leading us through this life and Home. What amazing love! 

Jesus Prays for Us

During Jesus' last days with His friends, He knew which one would deny Him and which one would betray Him. He knew His friends would scatter, each to his own place. He said to Peter,

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you. Luke 22:31

We all face Satan at some time or other in our lives, but we can be comforted knowing Jesus prays for us. We are not left alone on earth to defend ourselves. God gave us His word to inspire and encourage us. He gave His only Son for the forgiveness of our sins.

Has Satan knocked on your door? Tempted you beyond what you feel capable of resisting? Say the powerful name of Jesus and trust Him to lead you away from darkness and into His light. He loves you, my friend.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for recording in Your Word that you pray for us. After you prayed for Peter, he became the rock of the early church. Strengthen us in our walk to live our lives pleasing to you. Amen.

To God be the Glory

Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

Writers love to see their bylines and work in print. I'm no different. Yet, I have to caution myself against pride. I cannot take the credit for the work because that glory goes to God. I prayed for the opportunities and when I accepted them, I prayed every step of the way for God to inspire me and show me the right resources for the projects. When the blank screen stared me in the face, I prayed for the words that would touch people's hearts. I prayed for God's help in the editing and rewriting and more rewriting. And after I packaged the project for submission, I prayed before I pressed the "send" button or put the manuscript in the U. S. Mail.

I am thankful for God's calling on my life to write things that touch others' hearts, and even more thankful that He is faithful to finish the work He has begun in me. My God is a wonderful Partner and Friend.

Father God, thank you for your gifts and callings. Thank you that you never leave us alone to accomplish Your will. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

What Now?

The United States Supreme Court overturned Proposition 8. The people of California voted twice to keep marriage between a man and a woman. However, the court decided what it thought was right. We may not agree, but I believe God is in control.

If you are like me, you are discouraged about our country of the people, for the people and by the people. In a time when it looks like our government is getting too big, some might ask, "What now? What are we supposed to do?" Keep loving God. Keep loving people. Jesus came into our world as a light in the darkness. He says to His people, "You are the light of the world." Although He ascended into Heaven, He works in each of us to love others. The only way people will come to know the truth is through God's amazing love as it flows through us.

We may not love sin, but like Jesus, we can love the sinners, whether they steal, kill, covet or are sexually immoral. I once lived outside of God's plan for my life, but His love and mercy changed my heart. I surrendered my sin nature to God and asked Him to take control of my life. It has not been a burden to me as I first thought. God is taking the mess I made of my life and turning it into a message so others will experience God's lavishing love on them.

Something wonderful happens when we turn our hearts to God. Check this out.

The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17 

If you are reading this and never experienced God's love, say His name and He will answer. He loves you with an unconditional and unending love. Now is the time of your peace.

O Lord, I pray for the world we live in. Help us to trust you no matter what happens. Help us to know you are here with us and that you will never leave or forsake us. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Happy Father's Day

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Happy Father's Day to God, my Savior, Mighty Counselor, Prince of Peace, and Friend. He is my confidence, faith and hope. Because of Jesus, I have an eternal inheritance.

Did you know that dynamic dads are fathered by God? I'm a parent, but being a child of God has not always been evident. Tears well up in my eyes when I think of how selfishness got in the way of my mothering. If you are a father (or mother) and have regrets, I have good news for you. Our God is the Father of second chances. It's never too late. Don't struggle alone. Ask God to help you, and He will. He helped me by turning the mess I made of my life into a message.

Once I experienced God's lavishing love, I could not contain it--I had to share it. There is something amazing in the next verse of 1 John 3. Check this out.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

God accepts us as we are, but he wants us to be like Jesus. This verse is proof of that. How else will God's light shine into this dark world?

Rainy Day Blessings

John and I drove 6 1/2 hours from our home in the Sacramento area to the Lost Coast of California, 5 1/2 hours of winding roads. I'm glad we didn't pull a trailer or travel in a motor home as we have in the past. The first day was a beautiful sunshiny day. John's son, Jeff and his girlfriend, Patti, barbecued a yummy dinner of cod, salmon and corn on the cob. We watched a grey whale travel up the coast -- amazing!

The next day it rained all day. Our plans for surf fishing or touring the coast were replaced by kicking back in our room with an ocean view. We caught up on reading books and magazines and we meditated on God's beautiful creation. I even found time to write.

For dinner we chose to stay in the privacy of our room and enjoy the view. John barbecued delicious pork ribs and served them with salad and baked potato. Later the sounds of the waves crashing the shore lulled us to sleep. We woke refreshed the next morning with the sun coming through the fog, and traveled back to the Sacramento valley.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the rest and for your awesome presence. Thank you for your beautiful creation on the Lost Coast of California. Amen.

The Kitchen Table

I learned to read at the kitchen table by reading the newspaper and the Bible to Mom and Dad. I taught my sister, Montie, to read at the same table. She and I did our homework there. Sometimes we argued.  After school we found cookies or strips of baked pie dough topped with sugar and cinnamon. Most important to my faith, is that we learned how to pray and trust God at the kitchen table. Mom took us to church and Sunday school, but Daddy stayed home. Paul wrote to a similar family in the Bible.

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into the flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (1 Timothy 1:5-7).

Timothy's father was a Greek but his mother and grandmother were believers and taught him the faith that was the foundation of his ministry. We each have different backgrounds and circumstances, but when we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we have many things in common. Great love, joy, peace and hope.

Thank you, Father God, for your changeless love and faithfulness. I don't know where I would be today without them. Thank you for the godly home I grew up in. Thank you for all the ways you bless my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

How Do I Forgive Someone Who Keeps Hurting Me?

Forgiven

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. Ephesians 4:32-5:1

We forgive because God first forgave us, for His sake and for ours. If our offender admits what he did was wrong and asks for us to forgive, then the right response is, "I forgive you," not "You're forgiven."

What if the offender doesn't admit wrong doing? What if he doesn't ask for forgiveness? Forgive him in your heart, but don't go and say to him, "I forgive you." What good would that do? Release him from the pain. Do not let it fester inside you and cause more pain and bitterness.

But how? I don't feel like it. We cannot forgive in our own strength. That is why Jesus came.

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me. Psalm 28:7

I have found that forgiveness is a process, not a transaction. It happens at different levels and over a period of time. I may not be able to forget the pain, but I can forgive through the strength of Jesus Christ my Lord at work in me.

Father God, help me to forgive, even when I don't feel like it. Help me to be more like Jesus. Amen.

Unforgiveness the Size of a Mulberry Tree?

Did you know that the number one killer of human life in America is unforgiveness? The very thing man has the most problems with is the reason Jesus came.God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Jesus had strong words about unforgiveness. He said, Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him (Luke 17:3-4). Think about it. If someone hurt me seven times in one day, and asked me seven times to forgive him, I would find it very difficult. What about you?

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith" (John 17:5).

Jesus replied, If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted into the sea,' and it will obey you (John 17:6). Check this out.  A mustard seed is the tiniest of all plant seeds and a mulberry tree grows to be over thirty feet. Its roots go down deep into the ground and become as large as the tree. It survives in just about any climate. Like unforgiveness, the mulberry tree grows on very little. It doesn't take much for the pain of someone's words or actions against us to grow into unforgiveness, which grows into holding grudges, which grows into bitterness. Out of control, unforgiveness dries up our bones and makes us sick physically and spiritually. Without forgiveness, our bitterness can lead to disease, malice or murder. 

We don't have to be sick with unforgiveness. With a tiny faith, we can trust Jesus to help us forgive others as He forgave us. Is there someone you need to forgive? Don't let it fester inside you until it's out of control. Jesus came to set you free from this kind of suffering.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for forgiveness. Help us to share your love and forgiveness in our world. Amen.

Why Would a Loving God Allow This?

After the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, many ask, "Why would a loving God allow this?" My question to them is, "Why do you blame God?" When He created man, He gave him a free will, to love Him or reject Him.

We live in a broken and hurting world. It's been this way since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve fell for Satan's lie that they could be like God. Man has rejected God's love and set themselves up as gods of their own lives. They have eliminated prayer from schools and other public places. So how can they blame evil on God?

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (with Him), John 3:16.

You might ask, "Why do the good people get hurt along with the people who committed the terror?" Over and over again God has demonstrated that He can use evil for good.

A good example is Joseph, who was a good man, his father's favorite son. Yet his brothers hated him and wanted to kill him. Instead, they sold him into slavery where he was falsely accused and spent time in prison for several years. He could have retaliated, but he gained a reputation as a model prisoner. God used his ability to interpret dreams to rescue him from the dungeons. Joseph interpreted the King's dreams and earned the position of governor of the land.

During a seven year famine, Joseph's brothers came to him for food. They didn't recognize him at first, but he presented himself to them and forgave them. He told them, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good, the saving of all these people (Genesis 50:19).

Do you see the major difference in the way people responded in the two stories? There are those who react under the circumstances and choose to reject God. And there are others, like Joseph, who respond to God in the midst of suffering and reflect on His goodness.

What will you do? React and reject or respond and reflect?

Thank you, Holy God, that you are always with us, and that you will never leave or forsake us. Help us  respond to your love and to live under your will and purpose for our lives and not under our circumstances. Help us to rise above our anger, disappointments and suffering to reflect on your blessings in the midst of our challenges. Amen.

Is Hell Real?

The Darvaza Gas (takes a few minutes to load) Crater in the middle of the Karakum Desert in the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan is not a natural phenomenon, but the results of a soviet drilling accident in 1971. The crater has burned with unquenchable fire more than forty years. It is located northwest of Afghanistan and northeast of Iran and is often referred to as the Door to Hell. 


Revelation 20:10 says, "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

When I visited the lakes of burning sulfur in Yellowstone National Park, I thought about what the Bible said. The lakes were clear and beautiful to look at, but boiling hot with unquenchable fire. It reminded me how sin is--so attractive and wonderful at times, yet its pleasures are temporary, the consequences are deadly.

Jesus said these things about hell:
"The subject of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (eternal suffering outside of God's presence) Matthew 8:12 emphasis mine.

"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire" Matthew 18:8 and "If your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown int the fire of hell." These are figures of speech. God doesn't want us to cut off our limbs or gouge out our eyes. Sin starts in the heart and we have to ask ourselves, "Is there anything in my life that causes me to stumble? If so, we need to surrender it to God.

Many ask, if God is loving, how can there be an eternal hell? Because God said there is. God is righteous, loving and just at the same time. He created us for His pleasure, to worship and adore Him. However, some choose not to love God. Instead, they choose their own ways. I did that for many years, and I am thankful that God heard my cry of despair and loved me. He forgave me for choosing my ways over His and now I only want to do His will.

Jesus said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (that is life with Him).

Eternity is forever. We can choose to accept what Jesus did on the cross for us and live in His presence or die for our own sin and live outside of God's love (in eternal suffering).

Lord Jesus, thank you that you loved me so much that you took my sin to the cross and paid the price for my righteousness. You did not deserve that punishment and I did not deserve your grace. I am awed by your amazing love. Amen.