Perspective is Everything

It was Farmer's Market day.  We finished getting everything ready, packed it up, and half of our family left to go sell.  Meanwhile, the other half stayed home to finish schoolwork, chores, and whatnot.  I had a small grocery list of necessary items that I needed to get before dinner that night, so with my little brother in tow, we went to the grocery store.

As I pushed the cart through the store, glancing from my list to the aisle description signs, I managed to locate the items one by one-- but not without a bit of a distraction.  You see, as we walked in the store, it seemed that my brother was dead set on getting doughnuts.  There was just something about them, he wanted them-- bad.  I just laughed when he mentioned them when we first walked in the store.  "Sorry, no-- those things are terrible for you."  But he didn't give up.  He kept talking about them.  As I searched for capers, he said, "Look, you just passed right by the doughnuts!" I didn't see them, but I had been distracted. I gave him my signature sarcastic grin, "Uh huh... nice try."  

"No, Amy, seriously, we don't do this all the time-- let's just have a treat just this once...please?"  

I shook my head, "No, it's turning into that we do do this all the time-- it's no longer 'just this once', we gotta cut back.  No more extra sugar."  I went back to my search for capers.

He still didn't give up.  A couple minutes later, "You just passed by them again!"  I stopped, turned and looked at him, "Really?  I've been searching this entire store for the stuff on my list and I haven't seen any doughnuts!"  He giggled and pointed, "Look, right there."  I looked.  Sure enough, I had just passed by them.  I was too busy getting the other items on my list to notice.

I had a mission, my little brother had an agenda. Our perspectives, based on that which was most important to us, tinted the way that we looked at the store.  Mine was to get everything that we needed for dinner that night and the next couple of days, his was to convince me to get a treat for those of us that had to stay home from the Farmer's Market.

This reminds me of the Christian walk.  

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ Jesus, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth."  ~Colossians 3:1-2

As believers, we have been raised up with Christ-- we are no longer slaves to sin, groping about the earth to find purpose and meaning.  We are the children of God, we have been given a mission to carry out before He calls us home.  It is this mission that should tint the way that we look at the world-- not as a home that should bring us pleasure, meaning, and happiness, but as a mission field in which ours is to make known the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Home is eternity, we'll be there soon enough.

It's easy to get caught up in the world's crazed quest for pleasure and happiness.  There are Christians that do it all the time.  The mad dash for the most money, nicest clothes, biggest house, coolest music, most mind-blowing movies, most popular Facebook account is contagious.  But it is so important that we remember who we are in Christ.  In Christ, we have no need for the world's "treats".  Is it wrong to sometimes have them, every once in a while?  I don't think so.  However, we must make sure that they are the exception and not the rule.  The rule is that we would be sold out for Jesus, fixing our eyes upon Him-- the Author and Perfecter of our faith, that His mission would be our mission, that His marching orders ever foremost in our minds.  

This is something that I struggle with, even throughout my average day at home.  Sometimes I get so caught up in my own agenda, what I want to get done today that I miss what God may have been requiring of me.  I may have been so focused on getting this job done, that I forget about the job that He may have wanted me to get done.  

If my eyes are fixed on Jesus and His mission for me, if the world falls apart around me, I will not be shaken.  But if my eyes are on the world, searching it for those pleasures or purpose, I will fall apart right along with it.

Be encouraged, my dear readers, keep your eyes on Jesus, set your minds on the things above-- keep your perspective in check, and you will not fall.

a simple, little word

One little word.

I don't get it.

It takes a long time to build.  But it can be destroyed in a single moment.

Babies get it-- why can't I?

One little word-- by it determines whether you will have peace or anxiety.  Hope or depression.  Joy or gloom.  One little word-- why is it so hard to comprehend?  Only five letters-- of mystery.

Trust.

I'm a planner.  I like everything completely organized, well thought out, and thoroughly planned long in advance.  I like to know all of the details of everything that I am to be involved it.  I want to know when it's happening, why it's happening, who's in charge, what the schedule is, etc, etc, etc, etc.  That way I'm ready to do my part thoroughly and with excellence.  But for some reason, life never seems to happen like that.

Things always happen, and get in the way of all my best laid plans.  Distractions, big or small.  Minor or major.  Things never play out exactly the way that we would like or expect.  Why?

God knows that if we know what's coming, we can prepare for it.  If we prepare for it, and do an awesome job, ("Yay, look what I've done!") then what?  Is God glorified?  Whereas, when we are put into precarious situations, totally taken off guard, we are forced to rely on HIM for strength, to call on Him for direction, and allow Him to be glorified through our weakness.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't prepare-- on the contrary, the Bible calls us to "be ready in season and out of season" (2 Tim. 4:2a), but what if we stopped worrying about what "may" come, and focus on what "is" and trust God with the rest?

"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'  Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

~2 Corinthians 12:7-9

...more on this later.

Farewell, 2012

On this, the last day of the year 2012, you may find yourself, as do I, pondering the events of the past year and perhaps making resolutions for the new one.  Every year I have made resolutions.

 I found myself frustrated, looking back at what I had wanted to get done over the past year.  The plans that I had for myself.  Life always got in the way.  For some reason, the resolutions that I set always seemed to somehow get sabotaged.  Why does it feel like I can't ever get anything done?!

That's where I'm wrong.  True, what I wanted to get done didn't get done.  What I planned didn't get accomplished.  But is it true that nothing got done?  Absolutely not. God had His own set of resolutions, plans, and projects for me to get done, and His plans were beautifully established.

No, I may not have written any books this year.  But through a good deal of self-study and further inspiration from the Lamplighter Guild, I learned about storytelling.  God knew that I wasn't ready yet. Will I be this next year?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

I could go into great detail about the various things that God had for me this year, but for the sake of time and space, I will leave you with this encouragement,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Not that we should avoid planning and setting goals for ourselves-- on the contrary, I believe that goals are very important.  But we must always make sure that we are trusting the Lord with those plans and goals, and that we are sensitive to His will in them. God's mission-- not our mission-- must be in the forefront of our minds.  And His priorities, however small or insignificant they may seem to us, must be our priorities, in that we simply trust Him and allow Him to use us, to use our open hearts and hands to accomplish His will.  Yes, set goals, set resolutions, plan!  But don't allow those plans to get in the way of God's plans.  Don't allow Satan to lie to you, to call you a failure if you aren't able to accomplish any of your plans-- you trusted God with those plans, and He will bring to pass what He wills.  And that will be what really matters.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

~Proverbs 37:5

blemishes or marks of love?

Today I am going to share something a bit unconventional- I may even seem a little off my nut but please, just bear with me...

  The other day as I was vacuuming and mopping our engineered hardwood floors, I allowed a small sigh to escape my lips and a few grumbling thoughts loose in my mind.  I was looking at the terrible scratches on the floor beneath our dining room table.  We had tried so hard to take as many precautions against such scratches when we first put the flooring down.  We were diligent to put "sliders" on the feet of every piece of furniture- but unfortunately, as we came to find out, even "sliders" can allow a certain extent of scratches.

  I was beginning to feel ashamed and maybe even a little bitter-  Why can't we just have normal looking floors? "People" are going to judge me on these floors- thinking that I don't take care of them because they are so scratched up! (Anyone who knows me knows that I am generally what you would call a "neat freak"- therefore, if there is ever any implication of neglect I am usually horrified...)

  

As my mop glided over the blemished wood the Lord took my thoughts captive- and He dawned a revelation on me.  

"Amy, how did those floors get so scratched up?"

  It wasn't because we didn't take the necessary precautions against the scratches (sliders) or had not

Why Complain?

As I go about my life I find it easy to complain about almost anything.  I complain about a mess my brother left, how my sister left her clothes on the floor, how this needs to be done, and we need that... it comes all too naturally to me... sadly enough.  

I'm always looking for the "solution" for things.  I'm a troubleshooter (big time!) and I'm always working to "solve the problem"...  usually I feel like the solution is in our organization ("Things need to be MORE organized!") something needs to be fixed in our "system".  But I know that that's not the real solution- it may be part but not the whole.  

It's so simple:

Pray

"Until now you have asked for nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."
~John 16:24

No, it doesn't sound practical. No, it doesn't sound like things will get fixed *right now* like everything I try to do... in my flesh.  I forget that God knows the desires of my heart and He wants to fill them... but I need to ask first.  How could I forget my best friend?  He wants to bless me, He wants to take care of me- but how can He do it when I haven't asked for it?  Otherwise I would feel like I don't need to ever ask Him for anything- why pray at all?   

Jesus asks us to pray and ask God for things- so that our joy might be made full.  He desires us to have joy- to have good and wonderful things... how disappointed He would be if He was never able to bless us because we never asked...

Why complain?  Just pray.

So... you want to go back to Egypt???

  In the 17^th century a small band of people huddled into a cargo ship bound for an unknown land- yes, unknown, but it promised freedom.  They were running away from religious tyranny- slavery, bondage.  King James severely punished anyone who would dare to believe in God any differently than his own sick and twisted Catholic views.
  So a small secret church formed.  They met until it was unsafe to meet any longer in England.  They moved to Holland and lived there enjoying religious freedom. Soon, after 12 years, the “Separatists” as they were called, began to fear for their children's heritage.  Would they forget their mother tongue- English?  Being around the Dutch children so much they had begun to be majorly influenced by them.  That was one of the major points that drove the pilgrims to leave Holland and set out for the unknown land- America. 
  The journey was hard, the sea was rough, and space was cramped (I would love to go into more detail on this but your attention span warrants that I move on...) but the pilgrims made it to America- in the dead of winter. Now you know the rest of the story- of the first Thanksgiving that took place that next year after the harsh winter.  
  So let's move forward about 100 or so years. Ah, you know the time- 1770s the American Revolution.  Don't you remember learning about all of the brave generals and soldiers that fought for our freedom? Your freedom here in America was bought with a great price- blood.  The winters were tough- the air was cold, the food was short, diseases thrived.  Our men were not professional soldiers as were the British, but were common people- farmers, blacksmiths, doctors...  giving up pay for several years to fight for freedom- that of their own, that of their children, and that of you.  The odds were stacked so far against them; one would wonder how they survived much less how they won the war.

  I believe that God had His hand on this nation from the beginning.   

  From when Christopher Columbus- “Christ Bearer” set his foot on our soil believing it to be India to now, I believe that God is holding this nation together.  When His people, His children adopted into His family by the blood of His Son, were in distress, unable to praise His name as they believed that He told them to, He delivered them out of their bondage, fought the battles for them, and gave them a desirable and fruitful land as an inheritance.  Have we all forgotten?  Have we forgotten the mighty hand and outstretched arm that delivered us?  We aren't the only ones.
  Several thousand years before 1776 God's chosen people, Israel, were in bondage in the land of Egypt.  They were slaves to Pharaoh, unable to leave.  They grew to so many that Pharaoh declared for all of the baby boys to be thrown into the river- to drown.  They cried out to the Lord for deliverance.  And He heard.  He sent Moses to set His people free, to smite Egypt with wonders- to reveal the power of the Lord God.  Finally, they were permitted to go.  After 430 years of bondage, Israel was free. 
  God led them by a cloud through the wilderness as they made their way to the Promised Land. Soon, the road got tough.  The children of Israel complained- they were thirsty, they were hungry.  “Would that we were back in Egypt!”  they cried out.  Then the Lord provided drink.  He provided food.  But after being temporarily satisfied (they got sick of the food that He provided) they again cried out- “Would that we were back in Egypt!”
  What does that have to do with us?  I'll tell you.  Back at the revolutionary war, we fought for liberty- freedom.  Freedom. Freedom of religion.  Freedom of speech.  Blood was shed for this cause.  Lives were spent.  People sacrificed their money, their time, themselves. For this cause:  freedom. God moved in a mighty way to deliver us from the bondage of England.  From having to serve a human king (“No King but Jesus” was a motto of John Hancock and John Adams) from having to keep quiet about what we believe to be true. What happened?  250+ years ago we cried out for freedom to govern ourselves. 
  Now, we cry out for the government to take care of us.  We don't mention the name of Jesus publicly because we are afraid of offending someone. We aren't allowed to speak out against people because it would be a “hate crime” (Freedom of speech?)  The cross has become offensive, the Ten Commandments are banned from the walls of public schools (They might convict somebody or something like that). We don't pray in public schools- we aren't allowed. (Freedom of religion?) We murder innocent babies on the altar of self but we call it “abortion” or a “medical procedure” and squabble over the fact of whether an unborn  baby is really a person or not.  (All men are created equal- unalienable rights?  Life? Liberty?)
  It seems to me that we are throwing away everything that our forefathers worked so hard for.  They shed their blood for the cause of freedom- what would they think if they knew that in 250 years we would be murdering our own children?  What about their freedom? It looks like we are shaking our fists in the face of God saying, “We want to go back to Egypt!  This is too much work!”  The road has gotten tough- and now we are complaining about what He has given us. Do you know what happened to the Israelites when they did that?  When they despaired and cried saying, “Would that we were back in Egypt!”?
  It was after Moses had sent out spies to the Promised Land.  When they returned all but Joshua and Caleb told of the horrors of the land, frightening the people, causing them to forget all that the Lord had done for them and all that He had promised. The people despaired and said, “Would that we had died in Egypt!...Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?  Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:2a-3 emphasis added)  Then Moses fell down before the Lord and the Lord spoke to him saying, “How long will this people spurn Me?  And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them...” (Numbers 14:11b-12a emphasis added)
  The Lord has provided us many signs.  He has done countless wonders in our midst.  How long will we spurn Him?  How long will we refuse to believe in Him as a nation?  The Lord is indeed slow to anger- for we have yet to see His full wrath on our country.  There is still hope...  We have a choice:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and you descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers...”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a

(emphasis added)

And we have a promise:

“and if My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

There is hope for America.  The Lord always has a way for us to be redeemed.  If we humble ourselves, repent and cry out to the Lord He promises to hear, forgive us, and heal our land. Our nation is in distress; she is sick, she is hurting- she desperately needs healing. She needs the fire rekindled that was lit at her birth- a fire for the Lord, that she would be a blessed nation in His sight- a city on a hill, glorifying Him.

What choice will you make- life or death?

Blessing or curse?

Humility and healing- or pride and destruction?

...and Sometimes Big Things

I told you I would write more about the week...  so here I am :)

Saturday was the very last day.  We went early that morning to Planned Parenthood Orlando to hold up signs, pray, and preach.  We had gone there twice earlier in the week (Tuesday and Friday I believe) and both times they had illegally turned on their sprinklers to deter us.  Think it worked?  Not a chance.

Saturday was no exception- except they decided to wait to turn them on until we were all standing on the sidewalk unsuspecting.  As the cold water sprayed on our faces and on our denim (you know that was fun), we were thankful for it- it was so hot standing right out there in the Orlando sun.  Really hot....

It was a bit later in the morning that I saw Daddy from the other side of the parking lot calling to a young man who was at his car and seemed undecided in whatever he was doing.  His wife was already in the clinic and he didn't appear to be moving from his position at the car- ignoring my father's pleads to just come and talk- so I walked back onto the sidewalk in front of the mill.  I didn't notice that his wife had come out of the clinic until Hannah came and said to me, "That guy and his girlfriend have just been sitting there talking..."  I turned to look over and saw them hand in hand walking over to the fence where my father had been beckoning.  A surge of joy flooded my body as I raced over- I wanted to see God work!

Believe me, I did.  As I listened to their story I kept feeling the urge to fall to my knees and cry like a little baby.  The Lord's Hand was revealed to me and I felt so much joy that I wasn't sure how to handle it.  Allow me to explain.

If I can figure out where to begin...

The couple, aged 22 and 23, had 3 children already. The first was born when they were 15 and 16 years old.  Now, expecting their 4th, they felt as though they did not have the financial means to take care of another child nor did they have any support from their family.  They felt like the abortion would be a quick and quiet way to take care of it.

They thought the baby was very small- between 6 and 14 weeks.  But when the young woman went in for the abortion, she laid down on the ultrasound table and felt the baby move. She found out that she was actually 20 weeks along.  She said that she knew that there was no turning back now.  She couldn't have the abortion- in her mind now it was a real baby-she felt it move.

Her husband had been hesitant about the whole thing.  He dropped her off and began driving back to their home to relieve his brother from watching the other children.  As he was driving he prayed, "God, if You are there and you don't want us to go through with this- have her call me right now."  He took the cell phone out of his pocket.  It rang in his hand. Guess who it was?

He turned the car about face and drove a half hour back.  that is where you first came into the story- she came out, they talked, and they came over to talk to Daddy.

That in itself if awesome- but it was actually everything else on top of that that blew me away.

They had been waiting weeks before they could get the money for the abortion.  If they had the money when they first wanted it, she would have had no reason (in her mind) not to abort the baby.  Not to mention that it happened to be the week of Operation Save America's National Event- the week we just so happened to be there...

Everything seemed to be going wrong, creating more and more financial trouble.  Their transmission in their SUV was messed up, their home's roof started leaking...

Their 1-year-old son, who usually sleeps all through the night, was up all the night before crying.  They were up with him, trying to calm him down, and having more time to think about the next day's "procedure".  I believe that child was crying for his little brother or sister's life.

The young woman had a Christian friend that had been trying to talk to her and sit down with her.

Coincidences?

They appear to be the mighty hidden hand of God to me!

God's hand is on that little baby...  She has already touched lives, drawing them closer to the Lord.  She will be a mighty warrior one day- she has already conquered Satan's attack to take her life.

I hope that reading this story was as encouraging to you reading it as it is to me writing it.  That whole week was an encouragement- to see other believers practicing what they preach- to hear stories of persecutions, babies saved, people turning their hearts to Christ- it was awesome.

God is surely at work among His believers!

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

It's the Little Things...

Yes, I am finally back :)

A couple of weeks ago my family and I attended Operation Save America's national event in Orlando, FL.

The week went beautifully- we witnessed at least one baby that was saved.  I will be writing more on this later but I wanted to share this little faith building story...

UCF was one of the places that we went to share the truth of the gospel, the truth about abortion, and to get Personhood petitions signed.   We went there a few times during the week but the particular day I'm talking about was Wednesday...

It was a HOT day...  we were all sweaty, thirsty (the water bottles we brought weren't very refreshing tepid), and dog tired.  Momma promised James a special drink.  Most of you already know this but our family drinks water exclusively- rarely do we ever drink anything like juice or soda- so when Momma promised this to James he wasn't going to let her forget!

It was lunchtime and we all hopped into the van to go get something to eat before going home to relax and freshen up before the night rally.  We were driving around until we found a Checkers and went to the drive thru.  (Ok, normally we do not do fast food it's - so bad for you!- but this week was an exception ;) )  Daddy ordered burgers and a few fries and drove through- knowing that we had water bottles for drinks.   James piped up, "What about drinks?!?"  Momma remembered her promise.  "Oh!  Sorry, sweetie, maybe we will get something on the way to the rally tonight- I forgot..."  He was satisfied with that answer- he knew he would get it- eventually.

We got up to the window and a middle aged man inside took the payment and told us that we would have to wait a little while so to pull around to the parking lot and they would bring it out to us.  (I guess it might take some time to prepare 10 burgers at once)  As he handed back the receipt he glanced into the back of our 15-passenger van.  I'm not sure if he could see the sweat, the grime, or the exaustion but...

"You have a lot of kids back there, eh?"  Momma grinned and said, "We have 9 childen."  He nodded (wheels were turning) "Ok, you guys pull around and I'll see about 9 surprises."

We waited- what seemed like a half hour- and someone came out with our food.  We figured the kind man must have forgotten so we didn't worry about it and began to pull out.  As we neared the exit we saw the man with two drink trays and a few extra cups on top.  I couldn't help grinning- like really, really wide.  as he gave them to Daddy he said, "Any time you come by here I'll make sure your kids are taken care of."

As we passed them out we discovered to everyone's delight (we would have been happy with just ice water at that point!) that each of the 9 small cups contained Sprite.  Violet, having apparently never had it before, dubbed it "spicy water".   :)

As we drove away I asked James, "Who do you think told that man that you wanted a special drink?"

God did.  He knew that we had been working hard all that morning in obedience to His Word.  He knew that we where hot and sweaty, He knew we were all tired, He knew that we needed a little faith building.  So He sent it- in the smallest for that nobody else would have really considered.    He told that man, "You take care of those children- they are Mine and they have been about My business today."

I am planning on writing more on the subject of that wonderful week but I figure that is enough for now.  Be encouraged that God does see all- He does care about even the little things...

"You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me..."

Psalm 139:5-6a