My Backyard Fence

New Blog

2012-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start another blog. I will continue to post inspirational teachings here on My Backyard Fence. I have been feeling led to find an arena to express some, for lack of a better term, "hard truths" from the Scriptures. Not all media avenues are appropriate and are designed for lighter more friendly dialogue. I will be broaching subjects one would have to determine to read or discuss. I believe this year of 2012 holds some serious opportunities for "awakening" a new TENACITY for TRUTH. If we are Believers in and Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not be able to continue on in the status quo. We are going to be called to account for the reason for our believing. "See to it that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15 & 16. My Backyard Fence will continue with practical every day teachings as we watch and wait for the coming of our Lord. "Life is Just so Daily" as my little greeting card tacked to my kitchen wall reads. We still have to work on our relationships, raise our children, spoil our grandchildren, cook meals, mend the fence, fix the car, stop the leak, etc. It is called the mundane by some but holds adventure for those who would view it as such. If you want to hear what the Word has to say about some of those "controversial" issues and be challenged, as Christians in America and the World, head on over to http://tenacityfortruth.blogspot.com and feel free to give your opinion or just ponder. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Church."

Do you have the Giggles or the Niggles?

2011-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, during a conversation with my Sister, she told me the Lord had gotten rid of all her "niggles". Rather than confess I didn't know what that meant, I headed straight for my Webster's College Dictionary. The word "niggle" means: 1. to spend too much time and effort on inconsequential details, trifle. 2. to criticize in a peevish (cross) way. As usual, many things began to run though my mind, first being the title of this post. There is a little book out about "not sweating the small stuff". I think we spend a lot of time doing just that, "sweating the small stuff" which in turn makes us critical and just plain cranky! There are plenty of BIG things to get our attention. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:34, tells us that each day will have it's own troubles so don't add to it (my paraphrase). We can quibble daily over many things that would distract us from our walk of gentleness, faithfulness, love, patience, peace, joy, kindness, goodness and self-control. This conversation with my sister was so significant because a couple of days earlier, she was released from an extended stay in the hospital. She had suffered from a very serious, life-threatening infection. There had been many hours of prayer and concern invested during this time. When things like this happen that are basically life changing experiences, it causes you to reassess. I have written often regarding the Joy of the Lord being our Strength. So, in the same way the Lord can turn our Mourning into Dancing, He can turn our Niggles into Giggles! Instead of being so picky and anxious over things of little consequence, we can let them run off us like water off a duck's back. Prioritizing life's issues by importance and crossing off the things that are inconsequential will bring an abundance of freedom and joy. More time will be available to concentrate on the important things like nurturing relationships with those we love and expanding our borders of creativity. I'm trying to think of a better way to end this. But, then, perhaps I would just be "niggling". Until next time, keep "giggling".

Joy Filled Water

2011-06-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

Haven’t we been told for years to drink 8-8 ounce glasses of water a day to stay healthy? Have you ever tried that? Every day? Well, it isn’t that easy! I always wondered how they got that equation as a blanket rule. I personally don’t agree that a 107 pound person and a 250 pound person should drink the same amount of water a day. Nevertheless, water is crucial for our health and survival. Too much water or too little water has been known to throw off the balance of our system. There is water, however, of which we can never drink too much. Isaiah 12 is a beautiful messianic hymn of praise for the glorious hope of our salvation! Verse 3: “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Jesus told the woman at the well in John Chapter 4 “…whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” It would be nice if we could go through this life with uninterrupted rejoicing. The Fountainhead we drink from neither freezes up, dries up nor becomes blocked. In Romans 12:15, the Word of God exhorts us to: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” Some people seem to be able to stay right there at that source of joy, drinking continuously, in spite of what the consequences of this life bring about. Others appear to be forever “weeping” over this or that tragedy that has come their way. The word “rejoice” in this scripture is directed toward “learning of the well-being of others.” Weeping, in the same verse, has to do with “grieving or mourning as for a death.” James 5:13 states, “Is any among you sick? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.” In my quest to continually be “real”, I have learned that honesty is the best policy. I can’t fake it, formulate it or forge it! If I am sick, weak, depressed, sad, suffering, cast down or perplexed, I am sick, weak, depressed, sad, suffering cast down or perplexed. The word for “pray” in the above scripture means to offer thanksgiving as I call upon the Lord in my day of trouble. If none of us had a “day of trouble” we would never need to call upon the Lord! The reason we can do it with thanksgiving is because deep down, where that water flows, we know the TRUTH. We know God is in control; that he loves us; that all things work for the good of those who love him; that he will never leave us; that his love is great in and through us. It just happens to be our turn for “weeping”. So, we pray and do what Jude, the brother of Jesus said and build ourselves up in the faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Then before we know it, we are fulfilling the second half of that James Scripture and singing praises in the fellowship of Believers, Colossians 3:16 and building them up. Psalm 30: Joy always comes in the morning! As we go through these cycles of Rejoicing and Weeping, we are becoming more and more deeply rooted and grounded in His love and being filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19. Now, back to weeping and rejoicing with ONE ANOTHER. In the Book of John, Chapter 11, we read of the death of Lazarus. There were many mourners, wailing and expressing their pain and sorrow. Verse 35 tells us that Jesus wept. Why did he weep? Verse 33 tells us that when Jesus saw Mary, Lazarus’s sister weeping and the Jews weeping, he “groaned in the spirit and was troubled”. The Jews observed Jesus weeping and thought he was doing so because of his great love for Lazarus. I believe he was weeping for another reason. He knew the TRUTH that Lazarus was going to rise from the dead. I am of the opinion he was so moved by compassion because of Mary’s pain and the pain of the others that he was heartbroken for them and the tears flowed freely. We are told to love each other deeply. It is that kind of love that moves us as Psalm 34:18 expresses, “He is near to the broken hearted…”
My original plan for this post was to talk about our dreams and the fact that God never forgets our dreams even when we do and that our dreams have no expiration date. I have been rejoicing with my oldest daughter because she recently had a once forgotten dream fulfilled to become a Baker. It has been a joy to watch the details fall into place and know there are assuredly more pieces to the puzzle. Then my thoughts went to all the people who have recently lost their entire life’s possessions to tornado’s, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis or earthquakes. How can I say to them, “God never forgets your dreams” when every possible, visible “seed” for the growth of that dream has become non-existent? God is still the same. His Truth never becomes a lie. He will, in fact, “perfect that which concerns them”, Psalm 138. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus”, Philippians 1:6. There are some, in the midst of these disasters, who are able to rejoice “in the Lord” and proclaim his goodness and grace with thanksgiving. Rejoice with those. There are others who can do no more than weep in pain and agony in the depth of their suffering. Weep with them. Come along side and weep with them as you pray that they take hold of the strength to tap into the Fountainhead of Living Water and drink and drink until they are able to come once again or for the first time to joyfully draw water from the deep, quenching, sweet, clear as crystal, life giving Wells of Salvation!
God, you are faithful whether we are weeping or rejoicing. You are the same Yesterday, Today and Forever (Hebrews 13:8). Thank you for being that Fountain of Living Water. John 7:37 & 38, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” I am thirsty Lord! Fill my cup!

I've Lost the Lord!

2011-04-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been going about your business and realize your wallet is no longer in your pocket or you've left your purse in a cart in the parking lot of the local grocery store. There aren't many words to describe the nauseating lump that forms in your throat much less the incessant pounding inside your chest making your heart feel as if it would explode at any moment. Those feelings are all mild compared to what happens within you when you turn around and cannot find your child. Emotions arise from within because we think we have lost something of great value. What joy and sweet relief washes over you when you go to that lost and found or drive back to the lot to find that item right where you left it. Your emotions are mingled with warm tears as you discover your child was hiding in the rack of clothing just a few feet away from where you were at the brink of panic. Think about how Mary Magdalene felt that RESURRECTION MORNING when she went to the tomb and the body of her Lord was missing from it's place. She had seen him crucified and knew he had been buried and the stone rolled in front of the tomb. Now that same stone was rolled away and the Lord had been taken and they didn't know where. The disciples still did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Mary remained at the tomb after the other disciples left and she wept. She spoke to two angels in white inside the tomb answering their question as to why she was crying, "They have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have put him." How heartbroken and confused she must have been, feelings of hopelessness and sadness washing over her. Then she saw Jesus but thought he was the gardener. She said, "Tell me where you have put him and I will go get him." At that point, Jesus spoke her name, "Mary" and miraculously her spiritual eyes were opened. She cried out, "Rabboni!" (One of Value!) This cry of her heart was so much more than this one word could contain. She had found her Lord, the object of her love, her trust, her source of life. She had found the One she had followed through the dusty countryside; the One who had delivered her from demons; the One who was the Way, the Truth and the Life. He was not lost from her, he was found! Everything he had ever spoken to her was real. She ran to tell the others, "I have seen the Lord!" On Easter, we who understand what the early disciples finally came to realize, celebrate the RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus Christ and exult in the fact that "He is Risen as He said!" And through that RESURRECTION we have been raised to new life and that life is everlasting. Death had no victory over Jesus Christ, Savior, Son of God and death has no victory over Us who Believe, Joint Heirs with Christ, Children of the the Most High God! Happy Easter to you all! He has Risen Indeed!

(This Gospel account was taken from the Book of John, Chapter 20)

How can we Rejoice?

2011-03-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Apostle Paul told us in Philippians chapter 4 verse 4, to "Rejoice in the Lord always". He even said it twice, "Again, I say rejoice!" Rejoicing had become something of great value to Paul. I believe he had a depth of understanding that we sometimes struggle to grasp. I have asked myself as of late, why I haven't cried more over the disaster in Japan. Then, I turn around and read a blog post from a family that just lost a young 13 year old boy in an accident and my heart is broken in intercession. As for Paul, he was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, viper bitten and let's not forget that infamous "thorn in the flesh" he asked to be delivered of but never was. This is the same man who is telling us to "rejoice" always. Rejoicing can be nothing more that a heart attitude developed out of relationship and a firm trust that the object of that relationship, Jesus Christ, is true to His Word. If he said it, we can believe it. We rejoice because we believe that He has, in fact, ushered in the way of eternal life for us and that after we leave this fleshly tent of a body behind, we will put on a new, spiritual body and live forever where there are no "earthquakes" or "wars and rumors of wars". There will be nothing but perfection; Eternal existence without the presence of sin or it's consequences. Therefore, we can be confident of the Holy Spirit's desire and ability to lead our spirits as he will. We can give ourselves permission to abide in a place of spiritual reality and accept that we can rejoice and live life to the fullest and at the same time intercede and minister as He leads. We are not cold and unfeeling because we do not respond to every tragedy with the fervency we believe it deserves. We do not rejoice in the sufferings of others, but we do rejoice in the knowledge that this life is not the end. It is only the beginning to prepare us for the most amazing adventure we are unable comprehend with our finite minds, but only glimpse during those times of incredible connection when "the Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are (in fact) the children of God." Romans 8:16. We are children eternally, bought with the precious Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. In that is the rejoicing. So let us REJOICE: Celebrate, joy, triumph, delight, be overjoyed, jump for joy, exult, make merry, revel, for this is not the end but only the beginning. Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer."

Lord, we commit our will and our way to you in the power and strength only you can give. Amen!

Not a Property Owner

2011-01-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

I had such a great time at church last Sunday! Everything was great. The singing, the message, the fellowship. Amongst it all, one thing grabbed my soul and spirit in that special way you can all relate to. It was when Ed gave a snippet of what could develop into an incredible message of peace and freedom. He said, "I am a steward, not a property owner". Wow! That hit me with a ton of elation. I am sure it was a Spiritual Revelation. I began to think of all the things in life that I take ownership in that don't belong to me at all. My husband, my children, my car, my home, my pets, my clothing, my shoes, my food, my money, my talents, my abilities; none of these belong to me. You notice it is hard to get away from the word "my"? We are so used to grabbing and holding things. Along with that comes all the weight of responsibility to fix, heal, maintain, understand to the fullest, keep the peace, pick up the pieces, referee, mend, have the right answers, be successful, never fail. The list goes on and on. Yes, all those possessions are in your arena of life and you do have a responsibility toward them. However, there is a huge difference between Stewardship and Ownership. I Timothy 6:7 "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." God, our Father is the true owner of everything! We, ourselves, are bought and paid for by the precious Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ! Out of God's goodness and grace, he has given us everything we need to exist in this place. He is the Owner and we are the Stewards, the caretakers, the managers. On a train, ship or plane, a steward is responsible for the comfort of the passengers. In the U.S. Navy, a steward or Petty Officer is responsible for the Officer's quarters and the mess or kitchen. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein." Psalm 24:1 He is so gracious that he makes us feel like things belong to us. We have the freedom to do as we choose with all these. Bottom line, it is all God's. An example of this and I have experienced it personally, is renting a home. The home is so beautiful. You love it. On top of that, the owners tell you that you can do what you like to make the home really yours. Choose paint colors, wallpaper, carpet, etc. They only ask that you maintain it properly and let them know immediately of anything that breaks so they can make sure it is fixed properly. So, there you are, all comfy in your custom home and you get a phone call. The owner informs you that he/she has decided to sell the house. You really come to know it is not "your" home when realtors and potential buyers come trekking through each room giving their opinions on what they would change or do differently. Well, if you haven't noticed, most of life is like that. You change over the years. Your spouse changes. Your children leave home. Your clothes wear out or just plain don't fit anymore. Your car gets wrecked or stops running. You get laid off your job and have to get a new one. Yikes! Turmoil strikes. The truth of the matter is: Everything belongs to the Lord, even YOU and he can do as he pleases with you and that which concerns you. Yes, his gifts are great and we can have many blessings in this place. He also told us we would have troubles but not to worry because he has overcome the world and we can be overcomers as well. Isaiah 32:17 "And the effect of righteousness will be peace and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever." The key is righteousness, His Righteousness which allows us to be in right standing with God and to be Justified (just as if we'd never sinned). Those are the things of continuous peace in our lives. Jesus said "My peace I leave you." The things of the Kingdom of God are: Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Spirit. Those things are constants. The things in the world will change. They are not constant. Since our Father God is the owner of all the things we have been given to enjoy, we take special care to do our best. It is up to the Owner what ultimately happens. Isaiah says, as we walk in righteousness, we will walk in peace and quietness. We will trust the Lord not only in what seems to be positive circumstances, but in those things we deem as negative and have trouble understanding the reasons. We walk in the knowledge that we are laying up treasures in Heaven as we live our life in harmony with him. Let us take hold of the grace and sufficiency to walk in that restful place of inner trust as we carefully handle all the many gifts he has given us for life as we await that trumpet call and are ushered into a new dwelling place for the rest of Eternity. Have a victorious 2011!

God's Lap is Big Enough

2010-12-15T23:21:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe it is Christmas Time, 2010. As usual, the things we think of at this special time of the year include: family, friends, food, gifts, joy, happiness, decorations and so much more. I love seeing the pictures of family members in the woods or at the local tree farm picking out that “just right” one for the living room or family room. A few Christmas Carols along with some hot cider or cocoa and/or a nice hot latte and in no time, the lights are lit and the ornaments sparkling. When all is set and we view our creativity, we who believe take the time to focus on the real meaning of the Season for us, none other than the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Most families enjoy nothing more than celebrating birthdays. We not only celebrate the day as special but the person as well. We marvel at their accomplishments; as children, how they’ve grown. It is truly a celebration of who they are! As Children of the Most High God, Creator of the Universe and everything within, we celebrate the birth, miracles, salvation, deliverance, life, beauty, glory, healing, ALL that has been given us through the Gift, the ONE in whom we are now joint heirs of the PROMISE of eternal life. Unfortunately, there are some things that can affect a “Merry” Christmas no matter how we look at it. Divorce, death of a family member or close friend, loss of finances, loss of home, sickness… the list goes on and on of the circumstances that can hamper or threaten to ruin our celebration. Most of these point back to the importance of family to all of us. My husband is in the process of researching his family history and is like a kid in a candy store when he discovers any new tidbit of information. Psalm 68:5&6 tells us that God is a Father to the Fatherless. He is a Defender of Widows and that “He sets the lonely in Families”. John 1:12, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--” Family is important to God. He has the capacity to spread his love evenly throughout the ENTIRE family. I have a little brown, long-haired Chihuahua named Rusty. He came first to my husband and I. Then about three and a half years later, Teva, our lavender calico kitten came along. There isn’t much difference in disposition between pets and children sometimes. We learned before we got Rusty that if you don’t want a lap dog, don’t get a Chihuahua. Well, that is so true. He loves to be in our laps. When he is in mine, all curled up and comfortable, he is quite content with the whole world. Well, little Teva wants lap time. As she approaches to curl up as well and get some attention, Rusty moves into his actor mode. He becomes “Alpha Dog” and expels the most vicious growl he can attain as he lunges forward to attack, only to be corrected as Teva is placed next to him. As long as Teva doesn’t attempt to be on the lap, they spend hours chasing one another throughout the house and giving their toys and food to one another. Well, competition, jealousy, intimidation, shyness, feelings of inferiority… none of these things can affect God’s love for us. Father God/Creator God’s Lap is big enough. Santa Claus is a finite part of Christmas and his lap can hold one or two or maybe three at the most and listen to the dreams and wishes of the children. Father God, the Infinite One, will reach down, pick us up and SET us in the position of family and not only listen to the desires of our hearts but give them to us as well. So, let’s be held by the ONE who has, through His Birth, Death, and Resurrection, fulfilled the PROMISE and given us the GIFT OF LIFE! “Merry Christmas!”

His Love Endures Forever

2010-11-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

Contemplating a Thanksgiving Blog Post, the contents of Psalm 136 came to mind. I had to enlist the aid of my sister, a wonderful Bible Teacher, to lead me to the address. I knew it was a Psalm and I knew the general vicinity. Of course, this gave us a chance to talk about Jesus! Our favorite subject of conversation! The words that kept echoing through my mind were, "His Love Endures Forever". These words contain the most valuable possession of my life. Yes, I possess Jesus within my entire being. Jesus, as a man, was God incarnate and GOD is LOVE. Jesus, who is God, sent His Spirit, who is God, to dwell within me. I POSSESS LOVE! It is that LOVE, that infinite; unending; universal; forever; all encompassing; all comforting; all strengthening; all consuming; all forgiving; all merciful; all understanding; eternal LOVE that I am most grateful for on this Thanksgiving Eve and every day thereafter. We love Him because He first loved us. He drew us, he wooed us, he wanted us to be with him FOREVER! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Send Reinforcements

2010-11-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

May God Bless our Veterans today! I am thinking of a troop of soldiers trapped by the enemy, surrounded, with seemingly no way out and things are looking quite bleak. Then, out of the blue, literally, comes a squadron of their own country's air forces and behind the enemy troops, reinforcements on the ground. The enemy is destroyed and the entrapped soldiers, elated, shout with triumphant glee. They couldn't have been victorious without Reinforcements. Within the word Reinforcements, we have relief, rescue, sustenance, treatment, service, aid, encouragement, salvation and much more. There is an account in the Bible where Israel is fighting against Amalek. Moses, the leader of the Israelites is holding up the rod of the Lord in his hands. As long as he keeps that rod in the air, the Israelites prevail. If he drops his hands, the enemy moves into victorious position. Moses grows weary and cannot continue. Behold, Reinforcements arrive in the form of Aaron and Hur who take hold of Moses's hands and arms and lift them high into the air. They hold this position until sunset and the Israelites are delivered out of the hands of the enemy. We are called in the Book of Jude to "Contend for the Faith". There are days we become weary and feel surrounded by enemies of many kinds. We cry out for help as those troops, through our communication system. In our spiritual battle, our system is nothing greater than prayer itself. Freedom is the objective of the battle. Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has freed me from the law of sin and of death." This is the Freedom we have received because of the sacrifice of God giving His Son, Jesus Christ for us. We become Reinforcements for one another in our daily "contending". James 5:16 Amplified Bible, "Confess to one another therefore your faults--your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins; and pray (also) for one another, that you may be healed and restored--to a spiritual tone of mind and heart. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available--dynamic in its working." At any time in life, we can either be the soldier held under fire by lies, accusations, guilt, shame, sin, all brought on by our enemy or the one coming over the hill to bring aid in the form of spoken Truth, encouragement, edification, comfort through our Risen Lord. Instead of being "given into the hands" of the enemy, let us be "rescued out of the hands" of the enemy by the weapons of confession (admitting we are weak and need support) and prayer (lifting one another up to the one who Himself admitted His own need for sufficiency through His Father and in turn intercedes for us daily). Ephesians 6:18 Amplified Bible, "Pray at all times--on every occasion, in every season--in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)". ...lifting one another up until "sunset". Then we can rest from the battle at His Return. "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20.

A Few Thoughts on Friendship

2010-10-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

"You have known me in good and bad times. You have seen me when I was happy and when I was sad. You have listened to me when what I said was intelligent and when I talked nonsense. You have understood me when I knew what I was doing and when I made mistakes. Thank you for believing in me, for supporting me and for always being ready to share thoughts together. You are a perfect friend." Susan Polis Schutz
I often think of the warm sentiments this message contains. The mug on which it is written used to hold the warm coffee I would sip as I thought of the fun times my friend and I had together. This mug has long since lost its handle and become a holder for my many pens and pencils. I don't drink out of it any more nor do I use many of the items found inside. It has been a long time since I have talked to the special friend who gave this to me. I tried to call her tonight but the phone was busy. I am sure I will reach her soon. This little saying, in my opinion, does describe the perfect friend. I began to think about how many people in my life actually fall into this catagory. I believe the catagory of friend can include your spouse, your sibling, your child, your parent, your boss and more. The role may be one thing and the friendship another. It's the ingredients that count. Then my mind went to social networking. We call these people friends, but how many of them really fit the description of friend. Probably most of them to one degree or another. A friend can be someone to whom you are emotionally attached, someone who helps or supports you, even someone who simply is not your enemy. There are several Bible verses that describe friendship. In John 15:15 Jesus told his disciples that he no longer called them servants but friends because he shared everything he learned from the Father with them. Of course, that now applies to us as we walk with him as His friends. In John 15:14, He says we are His friends if we do what He commands. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves us all the time. And in Proverbs 27:10, not to forsake your friend or your father's friend. Lastly, that "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother", Proverbs 18:24. I am thankful for all my friends and want to always be a good friend. I believe we need each degree of friendship we receive. I must say though that when we are privileged to have a friend or friends that reach the depth of the above saying and the afore mentioned Scriptures, we are truly blessed. I am truly blessed!

A Fishing Story

2010-09-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

There I was on the dock fishing from millions and millions of gallons of water imprisoned within the banks of Bryan Lake in the state of Washington. My line was cast and it was time to remove the slack. I reeled in a little, then a little more. Hmmm. Feels like a fish on, albeit a small one. I continued to reel in. Soon, the weight appeared above the water. What? What in the world was dangling from my #4 hook? I blinked my eyes once, then twice. It was. Yes, it was... a pair of black sunglasses spinning as the swivel unwound the fishing line. Not only was it a pair of sunglasses, the name Oakley appeared in bright white lettering. That was only the beginning of the significance of my “catch”. I cleaned them off and tried them on. They were bent perfectly to fit my face, as, like most people, one ear is a tad higher than the other. I heard from the Lord instantly. “Don’t you think that if I can put those sunglasses on the end of your line, I can take care of all your needs no matter how big or how small?” After some research on line (not fishing), I discovered this particular style of Oakley sunglasses are worth over a hundred dollars. Naturally, I had to spread the “good news” of how God provides. I love it when he uses object lessons from His creation to illustrate a truth from his Word.

Today is my 38th birthday. Before you say, “Hmm, does not compute,” let me elaborate. 38 years ago I was Born Again, just like it says in John Chapter 3. I can say before that time I had become emotionally dull being dead in my trespasses and sins, Ephesians Chapter 2. I think I had moved beyond the ability to worry about anything. I just didn’t care anymore. After I became alive in Christ, my emotions became alive as well. With that new life, came the ability to worry. A definition of worry is: to feel uneasy or anxious; torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret (Websters Dictionary). You’ll notice worry is an action word or verb. It takes effort to worry.

What stands out to me in that definition is the word, torment. Why in the world would anyone in their right mind want to torment oneself? The only way we can be right minded is to be like minded with the Word of God and stand in a position of trusting what He says. God means it when he says he will provide all our needs, protect us, teach us, never leave us, guide us, counsel us, comfort us, etc..

As with the sunglasses, not only did they fit my face, they were no ordinary sunglasses, they were top of the line. Our Heavenly Father wants to give us the best. He does answer prayer. As we walk with him through the years, we learn to trust that ALL things are truly working for the good for our lives even though we may not know the reason for everything that happens. The key to that trust which has no room for worry, is His love for us. Something to note is that where worry is a verb, trust is a noun meaning: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence (Websters Dictionary).

Love and trust are both nouns: PERSON, place or thing. Ponder the fact that God is Love. It takes work to worry, it takes rest to trust. As we abide in Love itself, trust becomes an outcome.

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

On this day, I remember my Father who was in the Navy and part of the cleanup crew after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He rarely spoke of it. However, it had a profound influence on him the rest of his life upon this earth. He dealt with depression and was hospitalized not just once but several times. I watch the History Channel and weep with the old veterans as they reminisce. So much sacrifice. It seems as though freedom requires a constant contending. It does not come cheap or easy. My heart cries over all the white crosses, past, present and future. Yes, future. We would not be human if we denied the fact that sacrifice has always been involved in freedom. It is for human freedom life is given. As Americans we can recount the freedoms for which we fight: religion; speech; the press; right to protect ourselves; right to assemble; to vote, etc. Mainly, the right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As Christians we understand that over 2,000 years ago, the ultimate sacrifice was given by God of His only Son so that mankind could be set free and receive true life, not only in this time frame but in eternity as well. The freedom we have received is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And Love your neighbor as yourself." The right to be in "right relationship" with our Creator, our Father God and the freedom to walk in unbroken fellowship with one another. Then again comes the contending. Just as in the physical realm we must contend for our freedom or it will be taken from us, the spiritual realm holds the same dangers. In the Book of Jude we are told to contend for the faith which has been given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. As we realize our American freedom does not depend on the strength of man alone but through the Grace of Almighty God, our freedom as human beings comes as we believe in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ as the Only Way to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. So, please take time to pray today and in the days to come not only for our great country of America, "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave", but for our Troops who are fighting to make it so and our Veterans who understand the price. Let us love one another deeply through our mutual faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and pray for one another as we contend for that which brings Freedom.

Blessings!

From Darkness to Rejoicing

2010-04-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

A few thoughts regarding the Cross for this precious Easter: There is so much activity around this Holiday. Many rushing about to find the right Easter basket and goodies to add to it. Then, of course, the right dress or suit and tie. For me, it is another opportunity to rejoice in what our Saviour has done for us. I can't help but be amazed when I consider the utter darkness that surrounded the crucifixion, even to the crying out, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" Jesus took every mentionable and unmentionable sin, suffering and sickness upon himself. While hanging there, he even refused a drink that would have not only quenched a bit of his thirst, but also dulled his pain for a moment. He accepted the full extent of darkness for our sake. In my line of work I see people all day long. Many have their necks adorned with a chain of one kind or another and on that chain, a cross. Men and women, boys and girls. I see many types of crosses from diamond studded to wooden. What stands out most to me is that some of the crosses hold a replica of the body of Christ and some do not. There are three specific crosses that come to mind. The one that bore our Lord Jesus and the ones on either side of him that bore the two thieves. Those thieves were experiencing their own darkness at that time. They knew it was the end for them and they knew why. They were indeed guilty. Unbeknown to them, the one hanging between the two was the one that at that very moment was bearing their guilt and shame right along with them even though he himself was guilty of nothing. What a deep, dark hole of fear, pain and separation was before them. The inner agony must have been unbearable. Then, a last flicker of hope and faith arose in the heart of the one thief and from his lips he spoke, "Please remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus replied, "This day you will be with me in Paradise." Only at that time did the Lord admit to thirst as he proclaimed, "It is Finished" and gave up his Spirit to the Father. Through the excruciating pain he was suffering, the rush of emotion that must have gone through this thief! To know that his sin was forgiven, his guilt removed. Eternal life was his. To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. The thief was with Christ that very day. Three days later Jesus did exactly what he said he would. He rose from the dead victorious over death and the grave. All of this to fulfill his purpose. No more guilt, shame or separation. The plan was complete to reunite us with the Father and give us the gift of eternal life. The Cross I wear is empty. Jesus is no longer suffering on the cross nor is he in the grave. He is Risen as He said! He is Risen Indeed! Because of that Cross, occupied then empty, we have gone from Darkness to Rejoicing. HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOURS! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Building Tabernacles

2010-02-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

As some of you already know, I am quite fond of pink trees. It has become quite a tradition for me to announce the sighting of my first one to anyone who will listen. Of course, whomever is with me at that moment, if it happens while they are driving (sorry Honey) would think we were about to hit something with the car. I literally scream, "LOOK! THERE IT IS! THE FIRST ONE!" Well, it happened. I spotted my first one. I proceeded to call and make my proud proclaimation to my daughter who in turn announced that she had spotted one three hours earlier. I determined it mattered not which one of us made our discovery before the other. What mattered was, that they really existed and that meant only one thing. Spring has Sprung! I don't care what the calendar says, to me they are a sign of Spring to arrive once more. You might be wondering what Building Tabernacles has to do with Spring. Let me explain what I have been thinking. The pink tree in itself points to the real target, that of the wonderful, warm, colorful, newness of life brought on by the Season of Spring! Spring means the beginning of spending time outside, children laughing, lawnmowers running, birds singing, picnics, fishing, boating, etc., etc. It is the SEASON I am looking for. Then I began to think of the time Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the mountain. He was transfigured before their eyes and Moses and Elijah showed up as well. They witnessed His glory and two men who according to their standards, were no longer among the living. Wow! Talk about an exclamation, "LOOK!" And then came the idea, "Let's build three tabernacles. One for you, Jesus and one for Moses and one for Elijah." "This is great!" ( A bit of a paraphrase here.) Then came the cloud that enveloped them and God spoke, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!" As there are so many amazing things that the Season of Spring encompasses, it is really Spring that we focus on. Everything else is a result of it. We may try to capture all the activities, aromas and sounds but they are only passing. The wonderful thing we can count on in this world is that Spring itself will return. Sometimes we can "build tabernacles" when it comes to our walk with the Lord. He does something incredible in our midst, like the transfiguration and we want to stay right there. I believe it is our human nature. He thrills us and we enjoy it so much that we fix our eyes on the amazing situation. We want to soak it up and keep it close to us and in our hearts and never lose it. We become comfortable with it and it may even become an object of worship without our even realizing. God is saying, "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!" We can't hang on to the results of Spring. The flowers fade, the leaves eventually die and all turns gray and we focus on those things and lose the life that is in the other seasons because we want it to be like Spring all the time. We can't build a tabernacle to the great things we see God doing or we will never move on to the next step of what he wants to do. "Present interpretation and fresh revelation are always needed for life with a living God." (a quote from a book I once read) The pillar moved; the cloud moved. Let us always be ready to move. A tabernacle sounds permanent. Again, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..." and move on to the next "season" he has for us. Let us exclaim loudly, "LOOK! There HE is!" And, as we are so doing, let's enjoy this earthly Season of Spring to the fullest!

Stand in Awe

2010-02-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

I love to memorize Scripture. I began doing it as a new Christian. We used to have Scripture quoting "contests" during Sunday morning services. It was a wonderful way to get the Word in our hearts and lift our Faith level. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God", Romans 10:17. Recently I memorized Hebrews 12:28 and 29, "Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and AWE, for our God is a comsuming fire." Everything around us can be shaken, life can be turned upside down literaly as we know, but the Kingdom we belong to which is not of this world, can never be. It is solid and unmoveable because the King is solid and unmoveable. "He is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:8. I woke up singing, "I stand, I stand in awe of you. I stand I stand in awe of you. Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of you." Let us fix our eyes on Jesus today and not on our circumstances and let him AWE us as we watch what he does in our lives and in behalf of those we love. What a wonderful, AWESOME God we serve!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-02-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my beautiful Daughter Kim, "The Ungourmet" who is also having a Bloggy Birthday, I began blogging a year ago this month. I don't blog as often as a lot of my Bloggy Friends. However, I love having the opportunity to share the things that inspire. My plan this year is to post more often to hopefully encourge and "spur" others on in their relationship with the Lord and those whose lives they touch from day to day. Life puts us all in the same Bloggy Boat so to speak and as the saying goes on a little greeting card I have, "Life is just so Daily" so I believe we need to encourage one another daily as we wait for the return of our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My passion remains the same as it reads in "about me".

Blessings to all my Friends who have left comments over the past year. You have certainly blessed me. I love visiting each of your blogs and learning from each of you.

Love, joy and peace be yours this day!

After the Storm

2010-01-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how clean and crisp the air feels and smells after a rain storm? It is so refreshing! You just close your eyes and breathe it in. It even has a way of "lifting your spirit" so to speak. For a day or two you feel happy; you're smiling and you sense the same from those around you. In like manner, the storms of life have an impact on our inner being. Recently, one of those storms hit my life out of the blue. I was blind sided. I knew there was an incomprehensible tension I had been experiencing for some time but couldn't put my finger on it. In one moment a very close relative exploded in anger and expressed that they could not deal with my "drama queen" actions any longer and were going home, cutting short a visit that had been intended to last a bit longer. I was crushed at first and burst into tears. I had no idea what was happening. Well, having learned through many years of walking with the Lord that everything happens for the good and being open to growth, I did the only thing I could and cried out to God and said, "What in the world is happening here?" Now, I will digress a little bit. Years ago, I asked the Lord to help me be like Mary, the mother of Jesus. When she was told by the angel what was to happen to her regarding pregnancy, carrying the Savior of the world, etc., she "pondered all these things in her heart". I have the tendency to get excited and blurt out everything the Lord shows me and THAT'S A LOT OF BLURTING! I had made some progress in the "pondering in my heart" part. The part I wasn't doing so well with was harnessing the need to process my thoughts out loud. I had not realized how much I did this until this particular "storm" hit. By processing out loud this way, in other words, expressing what I needed to get done for the day; what was broken and needed fixing; how tired I was; how I had to go to work that day; needed to walk the dog; forgot to call so and so; didn't get the dishes done; needed to help so and so do this or that; had to cook dinner; forgot an item at the store; wish I had more time to..., etc., you get the picture, I was creating an atmosphere of constant turmoil. Wow! I really did not realize what an impact I was having with something that had become shear habit and the pressure I was unwittingly putting on others to deliver me from my "dilema" which was really no "dilema" at all. God is so gracious to give Wisdom if you ask him and you "count it all joy when you encounter trials of many kinds". The Book of James teaches us this and says all these trials will give us patience and "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (Chapter 1 verse 4) My desire is to continually grow in the Lord and mature and have his nature expressed through my life as I walk in relationship with Him. His Word says that he promises to perfect that which concerns us. So, back to my recent storm. All is well, the clouds lifted, restoration reigned, smiles returned. There will be many visits to come. And I am learning that as I ponder things in my heart more and reason together with the Lord regarding my days activities, peace is able to rule in greater proportion in my heart and home. The air is fresh again and the Son is Shining! My resolution for 2010 is to be a "peacemaker" in and out of my home. It brings added meaning to the Scripture that says. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue". "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you my Lord."

My Big Brother

2009-11-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends! As you have noticed, I haven't blogged for a season. I think I was going through a "Blogger Wilderness". I have been trying to decide just why I blog and if it is necessary. I have thought about whether or not to change the nature of my blog. Should it be more personal, etc. There are so many blogs in Bloggerville... would I be missed? Well, I've decided the important thing is that at some point the things I say encourage someone or even inspire them to write a new blog post. As Believers, we are part of one another and any "word" we might speak to benefit someone is of value. I believe the enemy of our souls would want to silence as many of us as he can. However, we need to "let His praises ring". The Scriptures say that if we won't praise His name the very rocks of the ground will praise Him. He WILL be praised! I could write a lot more about praise, however, I would like to share a beautiful revelation our Jesus gave me the other day. I was driving to work and I began to think of my big brother. His birthday is in a few days. My thoughts went back to a time that as a young girl, my brother invited me to go with him and his friends to the movies. Going to the movies on a Friday night was a common practice for me and my brother and sister. All our friends went as well. Most of the time I went with my big sister or was dropped off at the theater by someone. I think I was 11 or 12 years old at the time I went with my brother. I was so proud of him and was honored that he would take me with him. It was important to me that he be proud of me. There was another time when I was a young adult of 19 that he spoke out in front of his own fiance and said, "Doesn't my little sister have pretty eyes?" It just made me beam inside. Now, as the rest of us, my big brother was not and is not perfect. There were times we fought and times he treated me badly and said unkind things to me. I could list them here but I choose to remember things like the big smile on his face when our family watched him graduate from boot camp and when he came home from Viet Nam looking so grown up and handsome. That's the way it is with love. First Corinthians 13:5 says "...love keeps no record of wrongs." There came a time in my life I began to care more about what someone else thought of me. Now to the revelation. During my drive, I did begin to think of a lot of the negative things that happened when I was young. Then the Lord lovingly invaded my thinking with His thoughts. The ideal big brother, in my eyes and some of this I had with my big brother, is one who will put his arm around you and protect you. He would stand up for you no matter what. He would fight for you. He would teach you by his words and his example. (My brother did teach me to stop throwing a baseball "like a girl".) He would listen to your problems and not judge you. He would counsel you for your good. He would forgive you. The list goes on and on. Sound like anyone? Yes, Jesus is the perfect Big Brother. This is yet another aspect of our Lord being ALL in ALL!!!! He will never hurt you... never leave you... always be there... always forgive... always believe in you! John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (13) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." NIV Jesus is the only begotten Son and we have become His brothers and sisters. I am extremely proud of my Big Brother and my earthly big brother likes to know... I think he is pretty cool as well. "Happy Veteran's Day, Big Brother!"

The Rose and the Cross

2009-08-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

"You lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a Rose trampled on the ground, You took the fall and thought of me above all." Those words to the popular song "Above All" sparked significant meaning to me this past Sunday during Worship. Each day I look out my door and in my small yard is a very large metal cross. In front of the cross is a very small red rose bush. The story behind the cross began a couple of years ago when a young man named Daniel was killed in a car accident. The loss was great to the family and they wanted to memorialize Daniel by placing a cross at the scene of the accident. This particular cross came from the top of an old church building that was being torn down. It turned out that the family decided to reject this particular cross because of the sharp, jagged edges and protrusions around the screws that held it together at the base. That cross was replaced by a smoother, safer memorial. My husband and I were asked if we would like to have the former cross and I suppose just because it was a cross, we said, "Yes" and found what we considered a proper spot for it. You see, that young man was our nephew. For my recent birthday, my daughter gave me the small rose bush and it seemed a good thing to adorn the plain metal cross with the beautiful little rose. That is what led to the following inspirational thoughts. I Corinthians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." That particular metal cross was rejected because of the potential to cause harm to those who might take hold of it. How many people reject the cross because to them it would cause pain. It would, in their thinking, cause them to lose their life and the things of this world that they so enjoy. It might make them have to sacrifice themselves in some way... maybe go to a foreign country and become another Mother Teresa. Perhaps feeling that prick from the sharp edges bring conviction of their need for a Savior would make them run the other way. I think of ways I rejected the Cross of Jesus without even knowing it as I was growing up. One example was the time I scribbled over a note a Christian girl wrote in my yearbook about God. I was embarrassed for other friends to see it, even though I believed in God. A lot of the time that rejection can be intentional or because of a lack of understanding or revelation of the truth regarding the Cross. Even when we intentionally reject the Cross, its reality is not negated. The sharp edges and pain that it seems to cause are to bring us to the place of brokenness and repentance and confession. Then as we allow the Love of the Cross, Jesus, the one that was rejected, the Rose that was trampled for us, the edges become smooth and touchable. We embrace it. We come to love it back and want to sit at its feet and receive all it has for us because it was for us it was created.

The Sound of Grace

2009-07-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share something on a more personal note today. I asked the question in my last post... "What does Grace sound like." Taken, of course from the beautiful hymn: "Amazing Grace". I shared about one meaning of Grace being "operational power". We all experience those times of what I will refer to as "plodding along". We live in the mundane a lot of the time. After working a 30 hour week and taking care of things on the home front and getting up and doing it the next week and the next is part of my life. In the midst of it, stands Jesus. Always there, always loving, always in my thoughts, moving me through this life one day at a time. My Sister called me this morning and said that she wanted to "sing" me a Psalm. She did. It was Psalm 34:1-6. Her voice was so sweet and the Holy Spirit took the Words straight to my heart and tears came to my eyes. An older gentleman stopped by my counter (retail) at work yesterday and as no one else showed up in the line (a God thing), he shared the meaning of a beautiful silver ring adorning his hand. It had various stones which to him represented the plan of Salvation. After he shared, he asked me where I stood in light of that plan. I showed him my bracelet with the name of Jesus and words of hope displayed on it. We talked Jesus talk for a few minutes right there in the store and encouraged one another. To me, these are "sounds of Grace". One source of operational power comes from one of us to another as we walk in unbroken fellowship with our Lord. As I have said before, we encourage or put courage into one another. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to, "...consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Other "sounds of Grace" or "unmerited favor" are those times a disgruntled customer shows his/her disdain at any effort of service I might render and I take a moment in my heart to lift that one to Jesus, and speak a kind word in spite of their behavior. They may be suffering some untold trial or just be an unkind person. Life is so full of opportunities to express the "sounds of Grace" and opportunities to receive the "sounds of Grace".

Thanks for listening and please.... "May the Sound of Grace be with you now and forevermore." How beautiful the Sound!

"What 'in the world' is Grace?"

2009-06-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in so long I was missing myself! Well, I'm back and am going to share some thoughts on one of my favorite subjects: Grace.

Most of us know some of the meanings of Grace. Two come to mind: Unmerited or undeserved favor and operational power. We know that we are saved by Grace (unmerited favor) and we are able to make it in this life by Grace (operational power). Most of the Epistles in the New Testament include the words, "Grace and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ", with a few variations such as the word "mercy" being added. The title I chose: "What 'in the world' is Grace?", came to me in conjunction with, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Grace (unmerited favor through Jesus) was sent to the world not to condemn, but to save. Jesus left the world and sent Grace(operational power through the Holy Spirit)to those who were waiting. Both aspects of Grace are alive in and through us who wait daily upon the Lord through uninterrupted fellowship. When the branch abides in the vine, there is uninterrupted fellowship. The life flows from the vine to the branch providing all that is necessary for health and well being. 2 Peter tells us that we have been given everything we need for life and godliness. So, back to Grace. We now, as the Body of Christ Jesus, having true fellowship with Christ and one another, are able to extend Grace (unmerited favor and operational power)"in the World". First to the Family of God and then to those who would come to Jesus through that Grace. We are "Grace 'in the world'".Every day we are challenged to extend undeserved love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.None of us deserved Grace nor deserve it now. That is why it is called "Grace". No one we come in contact with deserved or deserve it. That is why it is called "Grace". It is impossible for us to extend it without uninterrupted fellowship with the Father and true fellowship with one another. When we fellowship with one another in the true sense of the word, meaning, as equals, we are free to extend Grace. As we realize no one is better than the other; no one is more deserving or of greater value, true fellowship occurs and Grace flows. As far as the World is concerned, there is no fellowship, only that of unforgiving, jealousy, envy, striving, bitterness, resentment, selfishness, rudeness, backbiting, hatred, anger, competition, self-consciousness, inferiority and on and on. Beloved, if you are in Christ, you are in the World but not of the World. You are of the Kingdom of God and you have been set free to walk according to His Grace. "Amazing Grace. How sweet the Sound." Let the World hear the Sound through us as we walk in fellowship one with another.

I think I will talk more of Grace in the days to come. What does Grace sound like?

Grace, peace and mercy be yours today through God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

BarbaraJean

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

I found this poem on Prayer Central and I could not have said it better myself so I decided to share it today.

A Mother’s Prayer

Before a child is first conceived, A cry goes up, "Lord, Let it be."And from His throne room way up there, God’s ear is tuned to a Mother’s prayer.

Then as the tiny seed takes shape, She whispers, "God, please keep him safe."And the angels all stop and stare, To see God listen to a Mother’s prayer.

Through pain and blood on that special day,"Lord, give him life," she’s heard to say. And with a deep and gentle care,God listens to a Mother’s prayer.

Then daily as this little child grows,"Keep evil away!" the angels are told.And by the swords and shields they bear, God has heard that Mother’s prayer.

Then one day as the child is sleeping,"Let him know Jesus." she mutters while weeping. The angels are shouting and the trumpets blare, As the Father above hears a Mother’s prayer.

As the world presses in on this teenage life, She calls for his destiny through agony and strife. Then God responds, to a faith so rare, That compels Him to answer this Mother’s prayer.

Now all grown up and on His own,She prays for him by letter or phone. And God stands by with His right arm bare, To listen and answer the Mother’s prayer.

Before a grandchild is conceived, A cry goes up, "Lord, Let it be."And from His throne room way up there, God’s ear is tuned to a Grandmother’s prayer…

Do overs

2009-05-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful that we get "do overs" in life. My Pastor was sharing about his granddaughter this morning. She is a beginner toddler. In other words, she is just beginning to walk. He talked of how she will take a step or two then totter a bit and fall down. Of course the falling down is actually sitting down or being caught in the arms of a parent or grandparent. He explained how the falling down didn't mean she was a failure. She is just learning to walk. I know in my own life, at times, I consider myself to have failed when I fall down or in other words, don't do something "right". When I use unkind words or have an "attitude". When I get grouchy when I am inconvenienced. Or... I just flat out want it "my way" and am being selfish and self-centered. I don't do these things on purpose, but will realize at some point that I have "fallen" into that state of mind or that state of "sin nature". Then I hate the fact that I allowed myself to be that way. Well, hmmm! Maybe I should realize I do belong to the human race and God knows I am dust and... he gives me "do overs" every day. He says, "That's okay, Honey. Get up and try again." I will try again and again because I love Him and my life is guided by love for Him and others and He knows my heart. He actually knows it better than I know it myself. I am so blessed that He promises "never to leave us nor forsake us". We will fall down at times but those beautiful arms of the Savior will catch us and stand us aright and aim us in the right direction and say, "Go for it! You can do it!" And we really can! Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

ALL Again?

2009-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Well, here's that word "all" again. Colossians 3:23 & 24. "Whatever you do, work at it with All your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Doing everything whole heartily is the same as putting your whole heart into something. How do we do that without becoming completely exhausted. Paul writes in the last verse of Chapter 12 of I Corinthians, "And now I will show you the most excellent way". That statement leads us into the "Love" chapter of Corinthians. Everything we do as God's children is measured by Love. Love toward Him; love toward one another; love toward our families; love toward the world. The world's attitude many times is to do a half hearted job and receive an instant reward with no regard for the benefit of others. As we daily surrender our lives to Jesus, becoming living sacrifices, he is able to Love through us and give us the desire and ability to "do the good works" he spoke of and "glorify our Father who is in Heaven." Instead of exhausting us, it becomes a pleasure and part of our nature as we take on His nature as we are daily being filled with the Spirit through Relationship and the Word. What is unnatural for the world is natural for us because of Jesus.

"Father, this new day I again give you ALL my heart. Be glorified through me so others will be drawn to you and your goodness, graciousness and kindness. Let your Love flow through every thing I do and say. I want the world to know your Love, sent through your Son, Jesus, my Savior. Let them see you through me. Let me be an example of True Love. Your Grace is sufficient for me to accomplish this. I love you."

Resurrection

2009-04-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

May the Resurrection Power of our Lord be with you today. Happy Easter! He is Risen! Amen.

Treasure

2009-04-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Wow! We have a BIG Lord! To think that there are times that we feel a lack of security or we worry about life and how we will live. Colossians, in verses 16 and 17 of chapter 1, tells us, "For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him ALL THINGS hold together." There is that word "ALL" again. He sees the big picture ALL the time. We see with limited vision. That is where faith comes in. Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." Looking through the eyes of faith, we are able to see. Forward vision is faith seeing the future through the eyes of God and knowing that he has our best interest (His will for us) in his capable hands and that "ALL things work together for the good...". He will not leave "one stone unturned" as the saying goes. If we allow, he will tear down every stronghold that keeps us from receiving the full measure of himself into our lives. The full Treasure... 2 Corinthians 4:7, which we have in these jars of clay. We have the Glory of God, Christ, in these earthen vessels. Again. Wow! Open our eyes Lord to see your Greatness in and for us! We were born to be your dwelling place, oh, God. We surrender all to you. We put our trust in you, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. All knowledge is in you. All understanding is in you. Let us "contain" you within these vessels as we are able through your ability and let us pour forth of your Glory and your Truth and your Encouragement to those whom you put in our path to do so. We are humbled at your Magnificence and in awe that you would privilege us to hold the Treasure that You are within our very being. We are forever grateful. Amen!

Therefore...

2009-03-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

"Therefore encourage eachother with these words." I Thessalonians 4:18 The prefix "en" means to cause a person to be "in". In other words, when we encourage one another, we cause one another to be "in" a state of courage. There are so many, many experiences we have to face in our everyday lives. Some of us are extroverts and some are introverts. Each face those experiences in a different way. What causes anxiety in one may not cause it in another. Thank God we are not all the same. And thank God that he is familiar with all of our ways. Our personalities were designed by him within our mother's wombs. There are different things that affect our personalities and sometimes they seem altered. He promises to "perfect that which concerns us". Psalm 138:8 As we walk with him and allow that perfecting, he is able to restore us to a place of his original design. In other words, he sets us free to be who we were meant to be in Him. He uses each of our brothers and sisters to aid in that work. "As iron sharpens iron so one man/woman sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17. We can actually partner with the Lord in the work he is doing not only in our own lives but in the lives of others. As we are "en" couraged through the Word, we can "en" courage others in the truth that, "We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us" Philippians 4:13. I love the story of Joshua. Joshua was to keep God's Word in his heart and on his lips and to be strong and courageous as opposed to being terrified and discouraged. The reason for the courage: God would be with him always. The victory was his. Be "in" courage today no matter what you are facing from the smallest to the greatest endeavor. God is with you! Blessings!

The Sound

2009-03-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

Over a year before I started blogging, I would send My Backyard Fence out as an email to a specific group of people... now I am enjoying touching more lives with what I hear the Spirit saying. Here is a post from January of this year... hope you enjoy.

Have you ever been so excited you could hardly contain yourself? That is what is happening to me at the moment of this writing. The reason? I just read a fascinating article about a new and mysterious “sound” coming from space. The scientists can’t figure it out. As I read the article, I was overcome by the Spirit and was actually weeping tears of joy! Our Lord is coming! What came to me was the word the Lord has been speaking regarding a “new song”. I have been having intermittent mini-visions I will call them for lack of a better definition, of that "song". I wrote before of how we are that song and of the fact that we, as individual notes, are written on the “staff”, who is the Lord himself. I have been seeing that staff as it ribbons its way through our cities; our rural areas; our towns; our cities; our countries; our world. It is awesome beyond explanation. It is a love song without measure. It is graceful love. God is the master conductor; the master composer; the master musician; the master vocalist. I can’t even begin, with my limited vocabulary, to express what I am feeling inside. I want to spread the excitement and enthusiasm as a huge blanket across the hearts of all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Of all people, we hold the promise of eternity; the hope of glory. I want to position myself on that “staff” exactly where God wants me and even as I express that hope, he reminds me that he has and is positioning us exactly where he wants us. “The steps of a good man/woman are directed by the Lord.” He promises to position us. The last verse in Hebrews chapter 9 tells us that “He will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Not only that but at some point, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord!”

Are You Looking?

2009-03-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

Thank God for the entrance of Springtime! Signs of it are everywhere. I was reminded of a time a few years ago when my husband and I were taking a drive in the country. My mind was preoccupied with wandering thoughts. Then, as if to awaken from a comfortable afternoon nap, I hear the words, "are you looking?" Whipping my head around in an attempt to see just what I was to be looking at, my focus fell upon one of those beautiful pink, blossoming trees that I love so much. I have been known to thrill at the sight of them as they signal Spring is here. My husband did not want me to miss the moment. As I mused over this remembrance, the Lord began to speak to me by His Spirit those words, "are you looking?" Our lives can be consumed by so many things. We can feel the stretching of ourselves in various directions. Perhaps as a mom or a dad, a teenager, a student, a boss, an employee, an athlete, a teacher, a politician, a police officer, a contractor, etc., etc. Life in this world has it's demands and it's distractions. To be successful, we have to focus to do a good job at that which we are called. In the midst of the picture of life, we need to answer the question, "are you looking?". As we "look" we shall "see". Psalm 123:1&2: "I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven... so our eyes look to the Lord our God till he shows us his mercy." The Lord delights to show himself in our midst. We can "look" in the same way a photographer looks through the lens of his or her camera and sees the big picture and then brings the focus clear on the central object he or she is desiring to capture. Then that photographer "sees". The Lord is always present, waiting for us to give him place as the central theme in the picture of our individual lives. Ah! What beauty is ours to behold as we "capture" the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus in all of our circumstances.

No Worries!

2009-03-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

How many of you have seen a little child worry? The "norm" for little children is not to worry. I received one of those email prayers this morning from a friend and one part stood out the most. It was the part about not whining or wimpering over things we have no control over. That is a hard one at times. Philippians 4:6&7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I think the "norm" for little children is because they "trust", without any conscious effort, their parents or guardians. They are free to eat, drink, play... be themselves because they have gotten used to having all their needs met (another God promise). A favorite scripture of mine is in Isaiah 23:6 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you." When children walk in that place of trust, they are free to be and to become. Now I know in this world we don't always see this. There are many sad situations because of the sin factor. However, I am talking here of the "norm" or the ideal which I believe we can have in God's Kingdom which is not of this world. God is the perfect Father. As we trust in Him completely when situations are in or out of our control, we can walk in that freedom he intends for us. It is a daily thing. God's Kindgom is a Heart thing, an inner Kingdom. As we live the Kingdom life on the inside no matter what the circumstances, it affects our entire being. Peace.... body, soul and spirit. I want to receive the wonders of His Kingdom daily... "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it," the Words of Jesus, Luke 18:17. Have a Peace-filled day!

Freedom

2009-03-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." FREEDOM. YES, FREEDOM. John 1:12 (amplified) "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in--adhere to, trust in and rely on--His name." John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

"Happy are the people whose God is the Lord." I believe "happy" starts with "joy" on the inside. I have been thinking of this word "Freedom" lately. As God's people, what are we free of or from? We would all make a list. Some of what it would contain would be: sin, guilt, shame. But, what about things like: anxiety (that is a big one these days), gossip, bad attitude, pride, discontentment, rudeness, etc. The first three, sin, guilt, shame we can accept as a work accomplished on the Cross. The others, we struggle with at times. We can look at each of those "offenses" individually or we can look at what is behind them. The word is "choice"! That, to me, is our greatest FREEDOM. We are free in Christ to choose how we want to live. Those iniquities were nailed to the Cross and buried right along with sin, guilt and shame. That is so exciting! That is what makes the people of God happy people. No matter what the circumstances of life bring our way, we know that we are FREE to deal with them according to the Word and the Spirit of God. We used to sing a chorus, "Satan had me bound but Jesus set me FREE..." Therefore, if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed"!

So, our job is easy. John 6:29: "The work of God is this: to believe (adhere to, trust in, rely on) the one he has sent."

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. I'd love to hear yours.

Amber Alerts

2009-03-02T20:33:00.000-08:00

Every time I hear or see an Amber Alert, my heart is tugged with compassion. I instantly go to prayer. My prayer is not that the Lord will find the child but that the Lord will cause the child to be found. I am often reminded that Psalm 121:4 tells us that "...he who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."In other words, he doesn't miss a thing. The God who knows how many hairs we have on our head; clothes the lillies of the field; knows when a sparrow falls from the sky, knows the location and situation of every person on this globe at any given moment. Unimaginable isn't it, except by the Spirit? Although the pain of separation and the unknown can be overwhelming at times, we can take comfort in knowing that our God is still on the Throne of the Universe. We don't need to be stymied by the things that would attempt to throw us off course. A wise funeral director once told me during the course of dealing with a death, to watch out at intersections when driving during that season because it was easy to become distracted in our minds and not see a stop sign or another vehicle approaching. In the same way, we can become distracted and not see the danger coming during difficult times. By His Grace, we can "be self-controlled and alert..." and steadfastly trust. I Peter 5:8&9.

Through our God...

2009-02-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

This entry is a copy of a recent "Backyard Fence" I sent via email to my "list". Now that I have a new blog, I felt it warranted being posted for hopefully a wider audience. Spreading my "Passion"...

What a great promise for us in this day of turmoil and uncertainty for the entire world!!! "Through our God we shall do valiantly; it is he who shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 60:12. So many are fearful of the future. We are hearing this from all quarters. But, we as God's people need not fear! We are hearing that also from all quarters. We can make those Words real or just allow them to be lip service. WE NEED NOT FEAR!

I am not extremely educated regarding our armed forces. However, I know there are divisions involved. The words come to me of units, platoons, ranks, etc. I am sure a lot of you can define them better. As I was sharing thoughts with the Lord the other day, these are what came to mind. We are all, as God's people, part of an army. There are many, many scriptures relating to fighting; battling. 2 Timothy 2:4 is one of them, "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier". As soldiers for the Lord we need to fight first to not allow ourselves to be distracted from the battle. Of course, our battle is so different than that of the world. We have the most powerful Commander in Chief, the Alpha and Omega! Our weapons are so different. Now, back to the divisions. We can look at people we see and hear about as being so influential for Jesus and think, "I want to do more for the Lord and the Gospel and people." God has placed us all in divisions. Some divisions seem to cover the whole world, some whole nations, some cities, some small rural communities, some, families and yes, some simply a spouse or family member as a caregiver. God is God and he has placed each one of us exactly where he wants us, to influence our "division". The size of our individual unit may change from time to time depending on the season of our lives. Hearing from our Commander and obeying His instructions is what is crucial no matter what the sphere of our influence. No one division is more important than the other. The important thing is the unity in purpose.

The Lord is reminding us daily to keep our eyes "...fixed on Jesus...". No matter how long we have been in the army, the commands change daily to fit the strategies for that day. "Present interpretation and fresh revelation are always needed for life with a living God." Paul Billheimer.

Watching & Listening for orders for this day... Christ's love compels me.

"I'm Sorry"

2009-02-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about how many times you hear or say, "I'm sorry"? I work retail and every day I hear people, mostly women, say "I'm sorry". They may be removing their items from their cart or writing a check and in their opinion, not moving fast enough or whatever. Men apologize for not taking their wallet out of their pocket fast enough. They may not use the exact words "I'm sorry", however, you can tell by their body language that they are feeling pressured to move faster. People apologize for coughing, sneezing, handing something to someone "the wrong way", using a cane... You can add your own here. It all boils down to the fact that we seem to be forced to feel like we are inconveniencing those around us. If you look up the word "sorry" it really doesn't fit in those situations. I spend a lot of time telling my customers they don't need to be sorry. Are we actually apologizing for being part of the human race? Are we apologizing for living? Where does the need to say "I'm sorry" or have an apologetic attitude all the time come from? Psalm 103:14 says that the Lord remembers we are "dust". We are ALL dust... from the least to the greatest. From the poorest to the richest among us. No one is better than the other and we all "...have been given the right to become sons of God, to those who believe on His name." John 1:12. So, I think we should stop "apologizing for living" and just "live".