History (His story)

Every good story has a beginning, middle and end. God promised it would be true of His story (history) too. I am glad His story is still being told. However, too many things point to an upcoming end. Here are some things to think about:

The world has not seen anything before like the catastrophic storms in recent history. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis leave outrageous paths of death, destruction and devastation. Some say all these storms have something to do with the change in earth's atmosphere as well as the change in the sun's gravitational pull. While these things have scientific explanation, I believe they also have spiritual implications. God destroyed the earth in a flood the first time, but He said the next time it would be by fire. Do you see the connection I'm talking about?

Jesus promised at the end of the ages there would be wars and rumors of wars. We have always had wars, but the wars we have now are in the middle east. Although these people have been fighting for centuries, this is where the earth had it's beginnings--in the Garden of Eden. Could it be that this is the place of earth's endings?

As 2012 draws closer, many people speculate the end of life as we know it. Jesus said no one would know the day or the hour, so I don't pay attention to specific predictions. What Jesus said, is for us to be watchful and prepared. Are you ready, my friend? Do you know that if the end came you would be in Heaven with our Lord? You can be for sure. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." [NIV]

God saved us with His amazing love, my friend. He loves us just as we are, but He wants us to be like Jesus--doing wonderful things for the glory of His kingdom. Yet He doesn't expect us to do it alone. He promises to be with us always and to strengthen us to stand firm to the end. Isn't it incredible to know that Heaven is within your reach? Believe in the Lord Jesus, beloved. He doesn't want anyone to be left behind and neither do I.

Thank you, Lord for your amazing love and your plan to have us with you forever. I am praying for the ones reading this right now that they may know you and serve you forever. Amen.

A Christmas Past

After working with my little Cherub Choir in Wiesbaden, Germany, I headed over to the nursery to pick up my son, Jason. The year was 1970 and he was two years old. It was dinner time for the kids when I showed up and I waited and waited and waited for the childcare helper to bring my little boy to me. Finally she said, "Mrs. Stratton, we can't find Jason." My heart sunk. "You are welcome to come in the facility and look in any of the hiding places you think he might crawl into. Pregnant with my daughter, I couldn't kneel very well. While I peeked around and called for Jason, thankfully, the helper called the Security Police. "He must have slipped out the door when we released the children to the dining area," the helper told the police.

It was dark outside and I began to panic. Others joined us with flashlights, searching the outside perimeters of the nursery. Cars zipped by and I worried about Jason's safety. It seemed like hours before someone asked, "Are you looking for a little guy this high with a gray, hooded sweatshirt?"

"Yes," I said. My heart leaped.

"My friend, Jennifer, saw him when she was going home from Girl Scouts and took him home with her. She was afraid he was lost."

"Where does she live?"

The kind little girl took me to her friend's house. I could hear Christmas music when we walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Jennifer opened the door to a beautifully decorated home--flickering lights on the tree and presents crowding the base of it. I was so glad to see my little boy, but shocked when he shouted,"I don't want to go home!"

Speechless, I wondered if the people thought I abused him or something. Fortunately he had no marks on him. Then I realized that Jason was caught up in the Christmas spirit. While I was teaching five to seven-year-olds the meaning of Christmas and some carols, Jason was having fun with his new friends. He was safe and I was thankful. After we shared a cup of hot chocolate with Jennifer's family, Jason took my hand and went home with me.

My wish for you this Christmas Eve is that you experience God's lavishing love on you. Merry Christmas.

The Rose

Read: Psalm 145:15-16

Verse: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 4:8 NIV

Walking through a shopping mall parking lot in early evening, I found a beautiful, long stem, red rose on the ground. Its leaves were torn but the flower was perfect. I thought at first it was artificial. I picked it up, took it home and put it in water. The rose responded quickly. Its loveliness and aroma filled the room and I wondered how anyone could throw it away.

The rose reminded me of myself – not valuable in the eyes of this world, but God saw something special in me. He picked me up from a pit of despair. He rescued me from my selfish, self-centered life. He gave me a new heart of compassion. As the rose lifted its petals and leaves in response to the water, I respond to God’s love by telling others how much He loves them and helping them learn to trust Him with whatever concerns them. God’s love is more powerful in our lives than the water is nourishing to the rose. It works in believers to accomplish good works. With his love he gives each one talents and abilities to perform our tasks and he stays with us to inspire, encourage and strengthen us.

Prayer: Thank you, Father God, for not abandoning me but showing me your love at just the right time.

Thought for the day: God holds blessings for us we know nothing about until the proper time.

A Little Bit of Love

Many times I searched for pet dogs on petfinder.com and dog rescue sites. John and I got our hopes up on a few but most of the time we never heard from our application submissions.

Last week our luck changed. We heard about Maggie, a one year maltese little girl, that was available. We submitted another application. I was hopeful. John was sceptical. A response came with before and after pictures of Maggie's grooming. We saw so much love in her face and we wanted her. We sent pictures of our home with our application proving that we were good candidates for Maggie's new owners.

When the call came that we could adopt her, John bought her a bed, food, bowls, collar, jacket and leash. We drove two hours on our 16th wedding anniversary to pick her up. She's adorable and has so much love to give. Her first night here she slept in her kennel all night without complaint. In the morning I got up and took her outside for potty. Then I put her in bed with John and me. She showered John with kisses and then me and then John and then me. This went on for at least twenty minutes. We couldn't stop loving her and she couldn't stop loving us. She is an amazing little dog and fills up the hole we had in our hearts after grieving the loss of our Boo doggie.

Relationships Instead of Resolutions

What could happen if we focused on relationships instead of resolutions in 2010? What will have to change in our lives to concentrate on our relationships with God and others?

Paul said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead,” (Philippians 3:10). Ouch! Share in His suffering? Does getting to know Christ and learning how He wants me to live mean sharing in His suffering?

Yes, my relationship with God is personal, painful and powerful. He made it personal with His love for me, painful by Christ's suffering on the cross for my sin and powerful in His resurrection. He did it all for me and you but it doesn’t mean anything to us unless we pursue Him. He said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (Matthew 7:7-8).

In my seeking God I grew hungry and thirsty for everything about Him and I discovered only He quenches my thirsts and longings. Only He knows the desires of my heart. In my pursuing Him I found Him faithful. He became my refuge and strength, my joy and song. He gave me a new perspective and He is continually transforming me. For many years I was hung up on my past—divorce and broken relationships, but because of Jesus they do not define me. I can forget what is behind me and strain toward what is ahead, (Philippians 3:13).

God reached down to me in the messiness of my life and He loved me. In response I will spend my life loving Him and others. God can use the ashes of my life to speak to someone else who is hurting. “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands,” (Psalm 63: 3-4).

God is in Control

Proverbs 3:5,6

During these uncertain times it is easy for me to lose heart. The day I lost my high stress job and the days and weeks that followed caught me wondering where I fit in this world. Sometimes I felt like I wasn't needed without a job to go to. When my retirement and investments lost value, I questioned how I could I ever get back all I have worked for.

I kept reading my Bible and spending time in prayer. I discovered each day is a glorious gift. When I walk or ride my new bike in the mornings I am in awe of the beauty that surrounds me and I find myself thanking God for blessing me so richly. I have found more time to write and work in Vacation Bible School (VBS). Working in VBS was fun and stimulating. I can't forget the incredible blessing of being at the church among the children. I felt loved beyond any love I have felt in a long time. It brings tears to my eyes!

My husband, John, loves to go to Lake Almanor. It is beautiful and we have been there in June and July this year for a week to ten days each time. We are going again in August for a couple weeks. We love camping and fishing, but we also love driving into the towns of Chester and Susanville, California. Sometimes we explore other, smaller, high mountain lakes and we are amazed by the beauty and simplicity around us.

Sometimes I get stressed, thinking I need to be at home at my desk. I am thankful to God for my laptop and for wireless connections in town. I can stay connected with publishers, friends and family by checking my e-mail in town (John loves going to town). God has blessed my writing efforts whether I am in Sacramento or camping. He is taking care of business!! This summer a couple friends asked me to work with them on a book idea; I have been asked to teach workshops at Sunday school seminars and I have an interview with Sacramento News and Review regarding a letter to the editor I submitted in June. Every day I pray that I can be the wife John needs to bring him closer to God. I believe that prayer is being answered during the same time that God is taking care of my writing business.

I rely on the scripture of Proverbs 3:5,6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)

What about you? Do you have an encouraging scripture that is getting you through troubling times?

From Passive Aggressive to Compassionate

Our first camping/fishing trip for the year got off to a roaring start. The wind whipped against the motor home and brought down the awning before we got out of Sacramento. Once that was fixed we were on our way. We arrived at Whiskeytown and launched the boat in the horrendous wind, hoping that during the night it would calm down. It didn’t. In fact by the next afternoon it brought rain and it rained hard all night. The following morning we pulled the boat from the lake in the wind and rain.

Stuck inside the motor home for two days I read a great book, A Tale of Two Sons, based on Luke 15:11-31, by John MacArthur. By the time I finished the book, I had identified with the three main characters in the book, however, not in the same order as the Bible story of the Prodigal Son.

I first identified with the passive-aggressive elder brother. During my young years I tried to do everything right but I was not happy. I was impatient and judgmental. Frustrated and disillusioned I took the lifestyle of the prodigal son and did things my way. I made some bad decisions that left me lonely and depressed. After I made a total mess of my life, I cried out to God. I didn’t feel worthy of a life with Him and I told Him I didn’t want to go on living.

I heard His small quiet voice say to me, “Could you make it through today if I promise to stay with you?” Tears filled my eyes. “I guess I could,” I whispered. I picked up my Bible and I started reading. Peace came over me like I had never known. The following day I started off the same way, reading my Bible and praying. At first I didn’t know what to say and I just said, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus,” over and over. Later I thanked Him for His word, faithfulness, and fellowship. Day by day I added more of His attributes and I talked to Him about things that concerned me. Today He is my best Friend.

Like the Father in the story, I pray for my family. He must have prayed a lot. Why else would he anticipate his son’s homecoming? I think it’s because he prayed for it. And so I pray for my family and I anticipate the wonderful homecoming we will share when we all get home to be with our Lord.

“This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:24

Thank you, Lord, for the hope of coming home to You some day.