Author: admin

As most of you know, I love this time of year. One of the best things about this time of year is the sky. To me, the dark seems darker, but the lighter seems lighter, all at the same time. I love looking at the sky, the clouds, and especially the stars. Even though I can’t reach them, touch them, or even fully comprehend them, there’s something about the stars that is humbling to me. Something about them puts me in my place. Something about them emphasizes to me the Magnitude of the One and the minimumtude of the me. We could all use some minimumtude at one time or another.

But as I sit in the darkness and look at the sky today, I stand amazed in His presence. Thank you God, for the reminder of Your Holy Magnitude as I gaze at the stars I can see, and all those that exist that I cannot see. Thank you Father for reminding me of Your Holy Magnitude as I gaze at my life here on earth, all those ways you’re working that I can see, and all those ways you’re working that I cannot see.

Repost – Cone Nebula – November 2022

Tony pointed out to me this week this amazing act of God. Do you see the work of His hand? Gaze at it for a minute and take it in.

What is it you ask? It’s a star making machine! Yep. The Cone Nebula is a “pillar-like cloud of cold, star-forming molecular gas and dust” according to NASA. It’s a star machine in the Heavens — it’s where stars come from! How cool is that?

Not to get into the weeds too far, this image was taken by a (VLT) a very large telescope (yes, that’s the technical name of the equipment – duh), located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The VLT is operated by the European Southern Observatory. They say this Cone Nebula is located fairly close to us, about 2,500 light-years away from earth. A light year is the distance a light travels in one year, nearly six trillion miles. So, six trillion times 2,500, who knows, you do the math. Anyway, they call that “relatively” close to our home towns. What in the world!?!? Actually, it’s out of this world…

Check out the video below from the ESO. It’s wild!

When I watch that I think of the word miracle. What is a miracle? An extraordinary event taken as a sign of the supernatural power of God. An event that requires the supernatural power of God to be accomplished. Each star made, each shining star released at the top of this nebula is a miracle. God of wonders…

As I’m star gazing that video, I find myself humming the song my 4 year old great-nephew Declan was humming this weekend, Million Little Miracles by Maverick City. Every single star produced by that Cone Nebula is a miracle. A gracious act of our Creator God. Hallelujah!

All my life, I’ve been carried by grace
Don’t ask me how ’cause I can’t explain
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here

I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve
I’ve got some scars, but that’s how you learn
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here

I think it over and it doesn’t add up
I know it comes from above

I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all

Just like the star machine, we are miracles on miracles, we’ve got miracles on miracles, and just like the stars in the Heavens, one, two, three, four, we can’t even count ’em all. The miracles we are, the miracles we have, the miracles we see…when we stop to think about it, it is a little hard to wrap our brains around, right?

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

The Apostle Paul knew a little about miracles, didn’t he? He was a miracle. He lived a miracle. He was even given the power from God to perform miracles. But when Paul thought on God’s mysterious plan revealed, the millions upon millions upon millions of little miracles, all he could do was fall to his knees and worship the God of Miracles. Shouldn’t we do the same?

As I was putting my chickens in last night — I’m down to two — I thought about how they’ve really not changed over the years. Even with only two left, they still fuss and squawk at each other. When I put them in last night I gave them a little talkin’ to on how they need to be nice to each other because they’re all they’ve got. I told them they shouldn’t peck at each other, they shouldn’t cackle at each other, or bump each other around. They shouldn’t steal each other’s food or edge each other out of this bug or that. I also told them, most of all, they needed to watch how they spoke to each other — it’s not always the peep that is peeped, but it’s sometimes the tone of the peep, and the loudness of the peep, and the attitude with which the peep is peeped that matters. The below log was first published in 2018. I needed another reminder in 2020 (election year…hmmm) and I need another reminder today.

WHEN DID IT GET OKAY?

You might have heard about my girls – my chicks – there are seven of them.  I love those stinkin things.  We do a lot of chicken watching at our house.  During the day they run amuck – they cover every inch of our 12, every day, and where they go, they go all together.  They’re flockers.  They stick together unless someone’s sitting anest.

During the day they wander and at night they’re cooped up – it’s one of those two story jobs.  Settling in for the night is a process, which doesn’t voluntarily begin before darkish.  When dusk hits they instinctively head for their coop.   Settling in for the night is a process for them.  They take turns going in and out before the doors close.  They run in and think about roosting then they run out for one last bite.  In.  Out.  Bite to eat.  Drink.  Hop up.  Hop down.  Jostling.   They chase each other and squeeze each other out, jockeying for the best roost position.  If one tries to go up the ladder before another thinks they should, they get a peck or two on the head.  Maybe even a pluck.  Ouch Georgie Girl!  Poor Ethel is always the last to ascend she’s most often pushed, pecked and bullied.  It’s a tough crowd.

After finally ascending to the coop, the jockeying for position is not yet over.  They move, they ruffle, they peck, they squawk.  It’s constant.  I try to intervene, to restore calm, but I’m reminded that it’s what chickens do.  They’re animals – fowl, technically.  They have a pecking order. 

One thing I’ve noticed is that we, me, I, have chicken-tendencies.  We, me, are not so different from them, really.  We do the same sometimes.  I know I do.

After watching the news the other day, I started thinking how very similar we are to my girls.  We treat each other the same way my girls treat each other, and it’s permissible and acceptable.  I wondered to myself – when did it get okay?  When did it get okay to be mean?  Push.  When did it get okay to call people names?  Squawk.  When did it get okay to degrade other people?  Bump.  When did it get okay to mistreat others?  Peck.  When did it get okay to speak our minds without care for others’ tender hearts?  Pluck.  When did it get okay to say what we want, regardless of the cost to someone else?  Scar.  When did it get okay to bully?  Jostle.  When did it get okay?

Clearly, my chickens have not heard about the Greatest Commandment.  Sometimes I act like I’ve not heard it either.

The most important commandment is this:  Hear, O Israel! 

The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,

All your mind, and all your strength.

and your neighbor as yourself.

Mark 12:29-31

According to Jesus, this is the most important commandment.  Notice He gives us a few directions before we are to love each other.  His directions are just that – listed in order of importance.  First, he gets our attention.  Then He identifies Himself.  Next, He tells us exactly what we must do.  He says:

Listen up folks!

I am the only God!

You must love Me with absolutely everything you have – heart, soul, mind, strength,

Only when you do that can you love your neighbor as you should. (Beth’s paraphrase)

Only by putting God first in our hearts, in our souls, in our minds, with all the strength that we have, can we love others as we should.  He knew we would struggle with love because we are human, that’s why he gave us the directions – He’s shown us how to work this love thing.

God did not tell us to love our neighbors if we want to, if they love us first, if they’re loveable.  He said love your neighbor as yourself.  Do we do that?  Do we love each other as we love ourselves – maybe.  Maybe that’s our problem.

Paul tells us living in the Spirit – heart, soul, mind, strength – produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We can pretty much tell if we’re living in the Spirit or living in the world by the fruits we produce.   Will they know I’m a Christian by my love?  By my words?  By my deeds?  By my eyes?  By my life?  The fruits are not to be practiced occasionally, they are to be how we live our life.  They are to be practiced consistently.  What a wonderful world it would be if we all immersed ourselves in the fruits.

We peck.  We bump.  We shove.  We squawk.  We pluck.  We scar.  We jostle.  We act like animals.  We act fowl.  That’s the truth.  Ugh!  We need a Cross check.  We are sinners living in a fallen world but that doesn’t excuse our actions.  Because we are His we are to be of the world and not in the world. When did it get okay to peck, bump, shove, squawk, pluck, scar, or jostle each other?  It didn’t.  It never did.  It’s just not okay.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him.  I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me.  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.   I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!  Philippians 3:8-11

This scripture was referenced in a book I was reading recently.  Seen it a million times.  Today it stopped me in my tracks.  You know me.  I have this running dialogue in my head.  Some of you do too.  Maybe one of the reasons it stopped me in my tracks is because the author asked if this passage described me (you) and if that’s how other folks would describe me (you).  Wham!  Right upside the head.  I fall to my knees.

Piece-by-piece.  Bit-by-bit.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. 

Wow, complete surrender.  Surrender of thoughts.  Surrender of lifestyle.  Surrender of things, even good, but ungodly.  Is that true for me?  In the verses before, Paul laid out his life, a mini-autobiography.  You see, Paul was quite the man before he met Jesus on that road.  He was living the good life.  He was the ultimate Jew – from the tribe of Benjamin.  His tribe, along with the tribe of Judah (who came from there?) were the only tribes that returned to Israel following the exile.  One of the “it” tribes.  Paul was a Pharisee, a learned man, highly esteemed, highly revered.  He knew the law inside and out, moreover, he lived the law – to the strictest letter – to a T.  Paul was the real deal.  So, when Paul’s life did an about face, complete surrender, and he made the claims that “everything else is worthless,” he’s saying that his knowledge, his power, his position, his life, were nothing compared to knowing Christ – priceless.  Remember that commercial?  What’s in your heart? 

What does complete surrender look like to me, to you?  Am I willing to chuck everything I have so that “I may have Christ and become one with him.”?  That’s a toughy isn’t it?  Let’s go around back – what am I willing to chuck?  Am I willing to toss out anything that keeps me from becoming “one with him”?  You see, we do get to pick and choose what we will and will not take to the dump.  He gives us free will.  Here’s the thing though, until we lay it all down, not just the things we’d like to get rid of, we will not be “one with him.”  Some things in our lives and our hearts are easy to toss on the heap, some things not so easy.  What’s in your heart?  What do we need to kick to the curb? 

I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me.  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Paul’s transformation revealed to him that he simply couldn’t be good enough.  He couldn’t count on himself, by following all the rules, towing the line, doing the right things at the right time.  No matter what Paul did, or what we do, we simply cannot be good enough to inherit the kingdom.  There is not one thing we can do – Christ has already done it.  God used His only Son to make us right with Him.  Believing on the Son, faith in the Son, is the only way.  Even rule followers cannot enter the kingdom without faith, not even Paul, not even us. 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12

As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.   I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!

Paul trusted Christ, he had faith in Christ, and as a result he was reborn.  Paul experienced the resurrection power of knowing Christ and his life was transformed.  The things Paul previously thought were important were no longer important.  I feel certain that before his transformation, Paul used the same absolutes we use.  I will forever be a Pharisee.  I will always follow the law.  I will never follow this Jesus.   But, Paul surrendered and look what happened – just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of God the Father, he was living a new life, a life that will be resurrected from the dead to live for all eternity. Remember, Paul thought he had it all before.  After meeting Jesus, he knew he had it all.  So, what are we hanging on to that is worthless compared to Christ?  What do we need to discard, take to the dump, get rid of, throw out? 

Canadian Geese. For some of you, I need say nothing more. Over the past three weeks, they’ve started landing in our front field, our soy bean field. They swoop in about 7:00 pm. They swoop out some time during the night because they swoop back in starting at 6:15 am, or so.

There are many recommendations on how to move them on. So far the repeated foot chase with arms flapping, a git holler, and waving scripture cards has not been successful. Oh, they move when the Worst-Best comes close, but only about 10 feet. They’re diligent about the claim they’ve staked.

Despite our frustration with them, their swooping in is interesting. The other morning, while walking the Worst-Best, I watched as they gathered – party time in the soy bean field. The first dozen or so came a honkin’, circling, and then they picked a spot in the field. I guess they were the ones who planned the vacation itinerary and they were told to go and grab a table. The Farmer has assured us that they don’t eat too much and they are just passing through — we shall see. Anyway, after they’ve gotten a table, they then start arriving from all different directions, north, south, east and west — a group will come honking in and get settled, then another group will do the same until we’ve got 100(?) or so buggers.

The thing I noticed when they came swooping in, what I thought was dangerously close over my head, was the sound they made. Not the honking, but the sound of their wings and the sound of the air as they cut through the sky. Even when they’re not honking, they sound like a rush, their flapping wings, their angles, their formations, generate a powerful force, an undertow, a sound. Aside from the obvious honking, they generate this loud hum, they generate a buzz.

It fascinates me that they may not be announcing their arrival with their honking, but you can hear them moving, you can hear them in action, at work. It reminded me of that saying: Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary.

As believers we should live our lives so that they point to Christ, always. Sometimes we can create a hum, or a buzz, without using any words at all, with just our actions — good or bad. Every one of us is called to preach the Good News — don’t get hung up on the word preach, it simply means to tell others about Christ, that obviously takes words. But sometimes, we think we have to have a big long speech ready in order to do that, we think we have to honk-honk. Not so.

Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’–but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? James 3:14-16

Yes, we must use words for telling others the Good News, but sometimes we need to create a buzz with our actions too. We have to remember there’s an undercurrent, or an undertow in the world, it is spinning pretty fast, and there are many voices vying for the attention of those we want to introduce to Christ. The audible hum or buzz of our lives, can create a powerful force in people’s lives that gives us opportunities to talk about Christ, to use our voice, to honk, if necessary.

David Clarkson, the prayer writer, was a theologian born in 1622 in the UK, Bradford. Suffice it to say he’s no longer with us by about 300+ years, but his impact is still felt. Clarkson was what was considered a nonconformist — that’s exactly what it sounds like — he did not conform, fall in line, keep in step, with the Church of England. He was not obedient and did not comply with those teachings. Many years later there were others who were nonconformists who escaped the Church of England and that’s why we’re right here in the good ole USA.

I’ve said before — I just love these dead men — eeeeewww, you say. I don’t mean that in a creepy way, I say this with complete reverence and honor. The Puritan Fathers had a way of putting things that just struck right to the heart of a matter. Maybe I like them because they spoke of Our Lord in a way not spoken today, they didn’t beat around the bush. Maybe I like them because they held Our Lord God in such high esteem, in a world that tramples His blessed name. But, I probably most like them because they spoke absolute truth at a very tumultuous time — boldly, directly, and unapologetically, they called a spade a spade, without remorse. So concerned were they that all people accept the salvation of God, that people repent of their sins (yep, we’re sinners), that people enter into His Kingdom for all eternity, that they really didn’t care about political correctness, couching phrases, softening the blows, presentation, or hurt feelings.

I just love this prayer. I’ve been meditating on on it for a couple of weeks and each time I read it I gain more and more understanding. I don’t know about you guys, but I need grace every second of every day. Grace upon grace.

This prayer is such a greater reminder to me of exactly who I am, absolutely nothing without Him. I know because I’ve highlighted all those things in that prayer that I am (ouch!). But more importantly, about exactly who He is. I’ve underlined and exclamation pointed all those things He is (Amazing!). The Spirit Giver, The Mind Transformer, The Vision Giver, The Obedience Giver, The Wisdom Giver, The Heart Transplanter, The Out With the Old — In With The New God, The Light Giver, The Soul Seeker, The Clarifier, The New Creator, The Chain Breaker, The Peace Giver, The Lover of My Soul, The All Powerful, The Door Knocker, The Life Changer, The Grace Giver.

Who doesn’t need every single attribute of God in their lives. I definitely do. I need things I don’t even know I need. He is willing, certainly able, and desirous of our call to Him. He knocks, we need only open the door a crack and He will break it open with almighty power and come in and bless us with His presence and renewing grace.

Try printing the prayer and marking it up — you, Him. Then maybe praying, Lord, give me this heart, put this new spirit into me. Lord, open this heart that has been too long closed against you. Break down these strongholds that keep you from me. Amen.

I had a party on Monday for some of my dear friends, some I’d worked with for 36 years, some only a handful of months. I wanted to honor them and do something special so we had a picnic at a nearby pavilion. It wasn’t a practical picnic — I took the good China. Gasp! Yep, I took real flatware and glasses. We even had cloth tablecloths too. Practical picnics have paper plates, plasticware and disposable tablecloths because they’re…practical, sensible.

You see, I like pretty things. It may not always seem that way because I’m also very practical and life’s practical doesn’t always lend itself to pretty. But I love flowers, and glass, and sparkle, and sometimes I just like being practically impractical.

I went early to the party to set up. Anybody remember how the wind was blowing on Monday in these here parts? As I’m trying to put these 15 foot tablecloths on the tables with gale force winds blowing, I’m sinking a little inside. I wanted everything to be just right, I wanted it to be special for my guests. Eventually, the wind died down enough to get the cloths on and the table partially set. It was pretty.

As I stood there looking at the glassware sparkling in the sun, I thought for an outdoor gig with lots of wind, it was pretty. Everything wasn’t exactly where I had planned because heavy stuff had to be strategically placed to hold it all down, but it was still pretty. As I’m looking across the tables the thought came to my mind that this is exactly what the Lord has done for each of us. He has set the most beautiful table for us, His honored guests.

He has brought out the very best of everything for us. Everything is exactly where He’s planned. There’s nothing disposable at His table, because His guests are not disposable. And to be honest, His table setting seems a little impractical to us, it doesn’t quite make sense to us. But it does to him. We think why, how, it’s not practical for someone to die in my place. But it makes perfect sense to Him.

God has brought out the best of the best, the most beautiful. The place settings of love, hope, grace, mercy, comfort, peace, and so much more. You can look at the table and see such things. But most importantly, He has provided the food and drink for us to feast on, Manna from Heaven to sustain us, and Holy Water to quench our thirsts, eternal salvation, His Son Jesus Christ.

You see, we have all been invited to this beautifully set table. A table set for us by God. Whether we come, sit and partake is completely up to us. Are we tired of trying to feed ourselves with absolutely everything this world has to offer – careers, money, relationships, running, sports, children, busyness, etc., etc. — only to be hungry for more? We cannot satisfy our hunger and quell our own thirsts. There’s only one way to do that, and it is to pull up to the beautifully set table and feast on the Lord.

Today is my last Wednesday at Bowles Rice, a place were I’ve taken up space for the last 30-few years. You see it’s time for me to transition to a new chapter, a new season in my life. I’m super excited about the opportunity I’ve been given to quit my day job so to speak (Tony says I’m a quitter since I’m not old enough to be called a retiree — I’m down with that!) and dedicate myself to my other full-time job of wife, mother, laundry lady, housekeeper, sous chef, lawn mower, horse mother, flock tender, chief cook and bottle washer, and grandmother to-be to Baby Boy Wright. We are some busy people.

Although I’m doing something I never thought I’d do, counting down the days (Can I get a woohoo?!?!), it is a little bittersweet. You see I’ve been blessed (truly) to go to work each day with people I love so much. People I’ve been honored to encourage and people who have carried me. People God put in my life for a reason, a season and a second. Our life here is but a blink. It seems only yesterday I was starting my career as a wide-eyed-22-year-old-know-it-all-single-girl and in a flash I’m humbly packing up my desk, hopefully a little wiser for the years, and expecting my first grandchild — did I mention it’s a boy? But, of course, we’re told how quickly time goes by, aren’t we? King David wrote:

Such beautiful, beautiful, thought provoking words. King David encourages us to live in the moments of life. He says life is but a breath (our next one depends on God), spend your time wisely (think about what we’re doing – does it really matter?) and remember what is most important of all, trusting in the Lord our God (our only Hope). The Gospel is all rolled up in these verses.

Just as our seasons change from winter to spring to summer to fall, so do you lives. We have specific roles in each of our seasons of life, but only one purpose – to glorify God. Sometimes we get that messed up, don’t we? I don’t know about you, but sometimes, unfortunately, I’m much better at living to glorify Beth than God. Only for what Beth wants. Super selfish. Completely forgetting, or remembering and completely ignoring that my sole purpose for opening my eyes this morning, for taking my next breath, is to honor my Creator.

I sometimes work frantically to fill the eternity hole in my heart, which can only be filled by Him, with every other thing in life — work, house, cars, animals, travel, money, friends, family, toys, noise, busyness — all things in and of themselves not bad, but all things that can be used to fill the eternity hole, replacing the only thing that can actually fill the eternity hole, Jesus.

King Solomon helps give us a little perspective:

These times, they are a changing. My under heaven is going to look a little different in the days to come, but my eternity will not. All my hope is in Jesus. What does your under heaven look like? What does your eternity look like? What do you put your hope in?

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.  Proverbs 4:23

Well, obviously, that’s not the only thing we need to guard.  We must also guard our gardens!  Clearly, our hearts are the most important things we must guard, as the scriptures say as a mirror reflects a man’s face, a man’s heart reflects the man.  Ouch!  But, gardens rank up there pretty high in the guarding group.

Gardens are important, we need them for a couple of reasons.  The obvious reason is because we need to eat.  Sure, we could pick up some tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, and other produce from the market, but there really is something super cool about tending a garden whether it be a flower garden or food for your table.  Those things we grow ourselves look more beautiful and taste much better.

But what happens when an unwelcome guest shows up in our gardens?  We’ve had one of those guests in our garden at least three times this year.  I know this because this is the number of times that Tony has replanted.  Before each replant, we have to add more protection.

As we were adding one more layer to our fencing the other night, I kept thinking about the lengths we’re going to to protect our garden, as well we should.  It’s an irksome battle against wild kingdom.  Looking at the chicken wire, colored strings, whirly gigs and sparkly decorations that move in the breeze, all saying KEEP OUT, I thought to myself, goodness, just how high are we going to have to make this fence in order to keep our unwanted guest out?

As I stand there pondering, trying to conjure up other defenses, the thought struck me that those layers of protection served two purposes – to keep something in and to keep something out — to protect something inside the fence and to keep something destructive outside the fence. Hmmm…

Should I not also do the same for my heart? Do you see the parallel?  Things in our lives can penetrate our hearts and destroy them – the consequences of poor choices by ourselves or others – the pride of thinking we can do all things through us who strengthens ourselves – allowing those things of the world to enter into our hearts and take root – compromising on the little things – opening the gate just a crack to only have it slammed wide open to the flood of destruction.  You get what I mean, right?  As I look at the garden, I think goodness, if I guarded my heart the way I’m guarding the garden, what would my life look like?  If I added some of the protections and defenses to my heart that have been added to the garden, would my life look different?  I think most definitely.

We live in such a deceptive world.  The evil one prowls about looking for someone to devour.  He has a special eye for those who have a heart for the Lord.  Why so?  Because those who belong to the Lord have something that satan wants – a heart for God.  The evil one is not seeking those who don’t believe or follow Christ – he already has their hearts.  The evil one is seeking to turn hearts for God to himself.  If we are not guarding our hearts, in broad daylight and hushed nightlight, he will leap our barriers and devour our hearts.  Yikes!

The evil one is quite wily.  Just like I felt sorry for our unwanted guest and wasn’t too concerned about her hanging around more and more frequently after all she had babies to feed, satan preys on our emotions as well with the things of this world.  Loving people will obviously feel compassion for a self-destructing world, but it doesn’t mean that we let down the guards on our hearts.  We must lean in to God and allow the Holy Spirit to fuel us with strength.  We must put on the full armor of God – the first two pieces are the study belt of truth – we must know the truth – and the body armor of God’s righteousness – the body armor is the barrier that protects our hearts!

We must use the resources the Lord gave us – chicken wire, colored strings, whirly gigs and sparkly decorations – the Word of God, Prayer, the Holy Spirit, Christian friends, and a Biblical Church family.  All these things will keep out those things that are destructive to our hearts.  We are not to go it alone, we must use all the defenses the Lord provided to us in this battle for our hearts.

But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one.  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Think a little today about your heart. What’s the condition of the fence around it? Is it keeping out evil or does it need to be fortified?

May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

All you can do is all you can do, and I’m doing all that I can.

Chase Outlaw, Bull Rider

We were watching bull riding one night on television and after an unsuccessful ride, Chase Outlaw (no kidding, that’s his name, how cool is that?) was interviewed.  Of course, they asked these meaningless questions in a roundabout way.  Like, why didn’t you stay on – because I fell off?  How did you fall off – I didn’t stay on?  Will you do better next time – if I don’t fall off and I stay on.  You know what I’m talking about.  Chase Outlaw had only one answer for the announcer, which he said with a little frustration – All you can do is all you can do, and I’m doing all that I can.  I love it!  He answered their roundabout silly questions with a roundabout seemingly silly answer, but was it really? 

I think a lot of us in this world feel that same way – All I can do is all I can do, and I’m doing all that I can!!  We too may say it with a high pitched voice and a little frustration.  But, I think we’ve got it backwards.  It seems there’s this constant barrage.  The world is constantly asking for more, isn’t it?  Our churches are asking for more doers.  Support this cause. Advocate for this group. Fight for justice for this.  Our employers are asking for more doers.  Add this to your list.  Do this, do that.  Another deadline. Our families are asking for more doers. I need. I need. I need.

Let heaven fill your thoughts.  Do not think only about things down here on earth.

Colossians 3:2

Our churches, our employers, our families, our clubs are all important and all have a right to ask us to-do.  And there are many more important social justice, political, civic and community groups vying and clamoring for our attention.  But sometimes, I think we lose perspective.  When we lose perspective we forget the purpose, we get it backwards.  And sometimes we even forget why we’re doing what we’re doing and who we’re doing it for.  When we lose perspective we too may say – all you can do is all you can do and I’m doing all that I can – at a sqweaky pitch.

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.

Colossians 3:23-24

Ah!!!!!  Our hearts.  That’s always where it starts.  Not a soft heart – anyone can have that.  Not a good heart – anyone can have that.  Not a nice heart – anyone can have that.  Not a heart for people – anyone can have that.  But, a heart for Jesus – everyone can have that.  Having  a heart for Jesus will impact our churches, our employers, our families, our communities. It’s a heart issue.  But, it cannot be done backwards.  Jesus must come first.  Being doers in our churches, for our employers, for our families, for our communities, for social justice, in our serving, must be an out growth of our heart for Christ.  Our doing cannot be a way to Jesus, it’s a result of Jesus!!  Being committed to Jesus, having a relationship with Jesus, serving Jesus is where it must start.  If not, it’s church for church sake; employers for employers sake; families for families sake; communities for communities sake; it is social justice for social justice sake; when it should be for Jesus’ sake.  True social justice cannot be taught.  If it doesn’t start with Jesus, it’s just a good people thing, not a God people thing.  It’s just doing for doing.

Our purpose is to please God, not people.

He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

If we keep our focus on Him, if we keep perspective, we will be busy, but our attitude may not be — all you can do is all you can do, and I’m doing all that I can!

Jesus, all for Jesus

All I am and have and ever hope to be.

All my ambitions, hopes and plans

I surrender these into your hands.

For it’s only in your will that I am free

Jesus, all for Jesus.

I’ve been doing a little self analysis, you know, pondering, trying to figure out what makes me tick, or why I do some of the things I do. It’s a life long process, but when something makes me go hmmm, I try to dig into the hmmms.

A few weeks ago I had my gallbladder removed. That’s a hmmm in itself. If we don’t need a gallbladder to live, why do we have one? Another hmmm for me was that I went into the hospital and less than four hours later I left having had a robot take pics of my innards, and with one less organ than I was born with. Another hmmm, that organ was sucked out on a Wednesday and I went back to work on a Monday.

But here’s the thing that really made me go hmmm. Two days after this procedure, it seems like cheating to even call it surgery, I took a walk to start getting back into the groove. Albeit a short walk, I had to start somewhere to get back to my miles a day. Tony walked with me as I went 20 yards down the road. I said to him that I was going to have to start trying to walk upright because I was kind of protecting my belly, and he said “you always walk looking down.” Out of all the hmmms in this story, that’s the big hmmm. Of course I humphed and denied it, I’m not a bent over walker, I’m just a bolder walker. You know, a girl on a mission.

But, you know what happens once someone says something like that to you, you’re then super self-conscious about it. So, I’ve been taking stock of my walking, and… he’s right. I walk looking down almost constantly. I don’t stand up straight, I lead with my head and plow forward, shoulders rounded, tilted forward. I notice that I do this on my outdoor walks, down the hall at work, making my way to the other side of the Wal-Mart store, etc. Now I know why my mom always used to tap (smack) me on the back and say “put your shoulders up.” This never made sense to me, who wants to walk around with their shoulders touching their ears, but I knew what she meant. Stand up straight.

This very wordy lead in is to say that I’ve been examining my posture lately. You know, our posture says so much about us. Now I’m no posture expert and I even hesitated writing this knowing I just might be reminded of it. But our outer appearance says so much about our inward feelings, doesn’t it? Our posture determines whether or not we are approachable, wounded, afraid, hurt, bold, etc. I know, it sounds funny, but how we stand does make a difference, in more ways than one.

I’ve been thinking about it. Who would want to approach me if they can only see the top of my head? Or, who would want to approach me if they have to run to keep up with me? It’s really made me think (overthink) about my posture. I’m now consciously trying to stand up straight (whatever that is), relax my shoulders (so I don’t look so uptight), roll my shoulders back (so I don’t look like I need protection), and lift my chin (so I don’t lead with my head or look like a turtle). All of these adjustments cause me to slow down a fraction and adjust my gaze upward. That’s the hmmm.

My posture can reflect where my gaze is centered, on me or on Him. If I’m looking at my belly button and charging forward, I cannot look to the heavens from whence my help comes from. If I’m looking down, my eyes only see me, I’m only looking at myself, most likely my feet and where I’m going to place them next. But, if I’m standing straight and my gaze is lifted upward, I won’t see where I’m going, I will see where He’s leading me. Hmmm.

I lift my eyes to you O God, enthroned in heaven. Psalm 123:1

We cannot look up if we’re looking down…physically or spiritually.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. Amen.