The World of More

As we enter into the Christmas season it is easy for us to lose our focus on Christ and fall prey to our cravings for more. The packages under the tree trigger all kinds of wonder and expectation for kids of all ages. The trouble is, the more we get the more we want--more money, more stuff, more food, more drink and more sex. It never ends unless we fill our cravings with Christ.

At creation, God, created a void in each of our hearts. That's where the cravings are. He created a hole in us only He can fill. Yet, He gave us a choice. He created us in His image but gave us a choice to chose His ways or our own ways. There is no end to the cravings unless we invite Jesus into our hearts. Once we do, He comes in and makes His home in our hearts. He cleans up the skeletons in the closet and gives us a purpose for living. Life takes on a whole new meaning.

Application
Have you invited Christ into your heart and experienced His peace and purpose? Once we know His amazing love, we want to live for Him and not ourselves. We understand the meaninglessness of our cravings as Solomon did. In Ecclesiastes he said, "Everything is meaningless." He had all the wealth and wisdom a man could have, but he fell away from the God who put him on the throne. He married into the cultures surrounding Israel and got caught up in human cravings and the worshp of idols.

Prayer
Oh God, our Father, help us keep our eyes on You during the Christmas season. Help us discover the world of more of You. Amen.

God is Making All Things New

In springtime, Daffodils, tulips, irises, and poppies show off their brilliant colors. Heavenly scents and blossoms on fruit trees enhance every setting. Trees that have been bare all winter, leaf and fill in the landscape. Earth becomes a paradise--until the wind blows and fills the air with pollen. Then sounds of sneezing and coughing interrupt creation's symphony. 

Not everyone can enjoy the beauty of Spring without symptoms of hay fever. Everything grows in the Sacramento Valley where I live and lots of people, like me, endure the season with sneezing, coughing, itchy, runny eyes and noses. Walmart, CVS and Rite Aid stock up on antihistamines to reduce the symptoms but often turn us into groggy zombies.

Once again, I'm reminded that this is not my home. In my future lies a real Paradise where I long to experience springtime forever without sneezing, coughing, itchy, runny eyes and nose. Jesus said, "I am making all things new," (Rev. 21:5). To me that means beauty without the pollen. Our heavenly home will have no need of it because everything will be perfect and permanent--no need to reproduce.

Thank you, gracious Lord, for the hope you give us of spending eternity with you in the place you have prepared for us. Amen.

My God is Bigger

Would you like to know how a dog thinks differently from a cat? If you pamper your dog, he will think you are god. If you pamper your cat, he will think he is god.

My puppy, Maggie, definitely thinks I am god. The day our neighbor captured this lovely picture of worship, Maggie was so glad she could go in the car with me. She brought joy to an otherwise stressful day. I had just left my husband, John, in the hospital after surgery to repair his broken ankle and Maggie and I were on our way to have dinner at my daughter Janell's house.

At the time of the picture, Maggie was four months old. She is ten months old now and has not lost any of her adoration for me. She follows me everywhere and depends on me for all her needs. Before I eat, she eats. When she sees me put on my walking shoes, she knows we're going for a walk and cannot hide her excitement. While walking, if we get to a busy intersection, she waits for me to pick her up to cross the street. When I read or watch a movie, she enjoys sleeping in my lap. And she sleeps by my bed at night. She gets up at 5:00 or 5:30 and if I don't get up with her, she cries until I do.

I hate to admit that sometimes I let Maggie down. There are times I long for a few more minutes of sleep and put her out by herself. On rainy days or days too packed with busyness, I don't put on my walking shoes. When I tell her good-bye, her eyes seem to ask, "Why aren't you taking me?" or "Why don't you stay home with me?" No matter how long I've been gone, she is always glad to see me. She twirls and jumps until I pick her up.

My God, the God who made Maggie and me and everything else in the world, knows my every need. He provides for me, protects me and is always with me. Even though I can't see Him, I know He is with me. He comforts, counsels and encourages me. Every morning I am amazed how He starts my day with more joy than the day before. I wish I could make Him as happy as He makes me. How wonderful it would be if I could bring Him as much joy as Maggie brings me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are a bigger and better God than I am to Maggie. Thank you for giving her to me. Thank you for my family and friends, for home and church and freedom to love and worship you. I pray for the person reading this blog, that he/she would experience your incredible, undstoppable love. Amen.

Puppy Love

John and I have puppy love. Her name is Maggie and she was born Christmas 2009. She has brightened our home since February 18, 2010 with her cute playful ways. She's a toys and twings (AT&T) puppy. She spreads her toys over the family room floor and then she brings in twigs from the yard. Maggie twirls, tumbles, and rolls. She jumps, barks and chews. She chews A LOT! Our grandson Kurt loves to run with her and play ball. They make quite a team.

Thank you, Lord, for Maggie who brings laughter and joy into our home again. She is an awesome blessing to us. Amen.

Heaven is Here

Jesus said, "I am making everything new,"(Rev. 21:5). The newness started for me when I first believed, but I know a great day is coming when we will see Jesus face to face. What a glorious day! Until then we have these things to remind us His love and promise to us:

Creation:
The pines at Mt. Lassen seemed to stand more majestic. The Feather River flowed with rushing white water over boulders and logs. I wanted to run through the lush meadows as Julie Andrews ran on the hills in The Sound of Music. The fish in Lake Almanor jumped with exuberance whether for fun or feeding on flies. The songs of the birds sounded sweeter.


Friends:
When Jesus was here, He called twelve men to be in His small circle of friends. He knew the value of companionship. He needed relationship and so do we. My friends inspire, encourage and pray for me. When I can do the same for them I feel vital and fulfilled.

My friends know my interests, likes and dislikes. We meet for lunch or prayer or just to have fun. Sometimes we serve in church or community programs together. I depend on them for fresh perspective on issues that challenge me. When I am down, God causes one to call me at just the right time. I am amazed when He uses me in the same way.

Purpose:
The more we experience God’s love, the more need we desire to respond, to give something back. When God created us, He gave each one talents and abilities we can use to tell others about the wonder of God. We love others because God first loved us. Fulfillment comes from using our gifts whether we are preachers, teachers, singers, bakers, doctors, writers or custodians. Whatever we do, if we do it for God and others, we find our purpose.

Animals:
In my favorite picture of Jesus, He is carrying a black lamb on His shoulders. Although I usually relate to being the black sheep in His arms, the picture reminds me that God created animals for His and our pleasure. While riding my bike on the American River trail in Sacramento, I saw a coyote and appreciated the untouchable beauty in his markings. The squirrels on our backyard deck bring my husband John and me great entertainment. They play and chase each other and they eat what John puts in the feeder houses. When their food is gone, they look at us, squawk and bang their front feet on the trellis.

Some day I want to be as wonderful as my late dog, Boo, thought I was. She waited at the door every day at 5:00 for me to get home from work. And when I worked in my home office, she sat on my feet. She loved going on walks with me and she loved teasing John. Even though we miss her, God gave us a picture of her in His arms and He is giving her treats until we get there.

New Heavens and New Earth:
When Jesus said, “I am making all things new,” I believe He means He makes all things new from the first time we believe and trust Him. He also told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them (us too) and if He went to prepare a place for us, certainly He would return to take us to that place to be with Him. That place will be better than the Heaven we experience now because there will be no sin, pain, suffering or death.

In the New Heaven we will walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. God will be all we need—our light, life and worship. We could dangle our feet in the River of Life or eat of the Tree of Life or we enjoy a good book. Whatever we enjoy doing, it will be there. I can hardly imagine. What glorious expectation.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for lavishing your love on us and giving us hope. Amen.

Sanctity of Life

My dear friend, consider this. Before the world began, we were in God’s heart. He created us in His image and He loves us. It is hard for me to conceive that God knows all about me and He still loves me. He is always with me and will never leave or forsake me. Amazingly, the God of all creation desires a relationship with me. He knows how many hairs are on my head and has ordained the number of days I will be here on earth.

When God made me in my mother’s womb, He designed me with gifts and callings He promised never to take back, not even if I don’t use them. But if I am willing, He can use my talents, abilities and resources for His glory. He can even use my personality and my past for His purpose. I am overwhelmed.

My Friend, He created you too. You are His masterpiece and He loves you more than you could possibly imagine. Max Lucado says that if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. He loves you with an unconditional and everlasting love. I would like to suggest you let go and let God love you. He cares about everything that happens in your life and He wants to bless you. You can trust Him. He will hear you when you cry out to Him and He will answer. I know because that is how I came to know how much He loves me.

The following verses have captured my heart and I hope they have meaning for you too. I am praying for you.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-19

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Me and You and a Dog Named Boo

God gave my husband, John, and me a little angel fourteen years ago. Instead of wings she had white fluffy hair all over her body and her name was Boo.

She was an energetic and playful puppy most of her life. She loved for us to chase her around the house and yard. She loved sun bathing on the deck or at our favorite Lake Almanor campsite. When we took her for walks on warm summer days, she would lie down at the edge of the water and enjoy the waves splashing over her.

Every day at five o’clock whether we were at home in Carmichael, California or camping in our motor home, Boo went to her chair and barked. This was our special family time of conversation and cocktails before dinner. Boo didn’t care about conversation or cocktails. She waited impatiently for her treats.

Boo brought John and me exceeding love, joy and companionship. She was a great part of our family. She loved the grandchildren and company, but only for a little while. When she had enough she would escape into a closet and we often called her out closet dog.

Some day I want to be the wonderful person Boo thought I was and love as unconditionally as she did. Through her example I learned to worship and wait on the Lord in a more reverent manner.

Our hearts broke the more we saw Boo’s health failing. At the end she had a stubborn kidney infection and she was blind. To complicate matters, she began to have seizures. John and I and Boo’s doctor did all we could for her but she never recovered from the last seizure. We had to say goodbye to our precious pal but she lives in our memories. John barks at five o’clock, but he hasn’t started chasing me around the house—yet.

God gave us a wonderful vision of Jesus holding Boo in his arms where it is always five o’clock and He gives her treats.

Will We see Boo in Heaven?
I hope so. God created animals before people and He preserved each species through the flood during Noah’s time. A golden age is coming when we will live in harmony with all creation. “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6, New International Version).

Thank you, Lord, for the awesome blessing of Boo. We miss her terribly and ask for your comfort and healing. Amen.

Bethlehem Village 2008

Standing alone at the well, fetching water, I began to interact with the children walking by. “Would you like to help me fetch water to take home?” Until then I didn’t know how much kids loved playing in the water. They couldn’t wait to get their hands on the ladles and fetch the water. Many stood in line to do this ancient chore and while they were busy I explained that in Bethlehem during the time of Jesus’ birth, there was no running water. The women in the village had to go to the well about four times each day to get water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. “And when they couldn’t go, what do you think they did?” I asked. Speechless, the children waited for the answer. “They sent their oldest son to do the job for them.”

I pondered the life changing experience of the Samaritan woman in Sychar who met Jesus at the well. The love of Jesus changed her and she went to tell the people in town about the Man who told her all she ever did. “Could He be the Expected One?” she asked. The people from town came to the well to meet their Savior. During quiet moments at the well, I thought to myself that my experience was very much the same as the woman in Sychar. When I met Jesus, He took away my sin and gave me a job to do too. That’s what I was doing at the well – teaching children.

I thought about the visitors to Bethlehem Village set up in the courtyard of Sunrise Community Church in Fair Oaks, California. What did they expect? They came and felt the intimidation of the Roman soldiers. They walked the crowded streets with scared animals. They visited busy shops and the Wise Men’s camp. They visited the shepherd’s camp and heard the angels sing. They saw sweet Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Their hearts must have burned with the wonder of that first Christmas. It is the hope of everyone who worked re-enacting this historical event that our visitors felt the love of God in all we did.

If you have not visited Bethlehem Village in the courtyard of Sunrise Community Church in Fair Oaks, California, I hope you will plan to attend as a visitor or enactor in December in 2009. You will be blessed.

Who Am I?

Who am I that God loves me and cares for me? David asked the same question more beautifully in Psalm 8: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” NIV

In Psalm 139 David wrote:
“You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” NIV

I am in awe that the God of the universe loves me, even as I sit here in my t-shirt and blue jeans without makeup and with uncombed hair, a spooky sight for a woman over 60! No one else would even look at me, but He knows my name and the number of hairs on my head.

He actually loves me so much He sent His one and only Son to die on a cross for my sinful nature so I could be in a relationship with Him forever. This has been His plan since the beginning of creation. There is no way I could ever understand this, but I accept it by faith.

The Psalms demonstrate that David had an intimate relationship with this God of the universe. They are filled with prayers of deep emotions. Prayer is the link between us and our awesome God, a God who loves us and knows our needs before we could ever say them in our hearts or with our mouths. Through prayer and reading His word, He has become the desire of my heart, my deepest longings. He hears my prayers and teaches me His ways.

Thank you, Father, for your extreme love. Help me in my response to love you and others more to fulfill your plan and purpose.