God’s love can be felt in even the worst of times

As the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States approaches, communities across the country are planning ways to honor those who died on that day.
I think most of us can remember where we were or what we were doing when the first plane crashed into the Twin Towers.
I had just dropped my two older boys off at school and was watching TV with my youngest who hadn’t yet started school. I remember watching in disbelief as news stations showed footage of the first plane hitting and even more shock as the second hit. I held my four-year-old tightly as I watched the attacks continue to unfold before my eyes.
The death, destruction and terror was more than can be imagined, but something we will never forget.
In the midst of the horror, something else was demonstrated – something powerful and moving. Men and women immediately began to rush to the aid of others. Some of these were firefighters, EMTs and police officers, others were citizens on the street.
Prejudices disappeared as true concern and love for others emerged. Race, economic status, religion were all melded into one, all were working for the same purpose.
God’s love just poured out of all involved.
For months after, many churches saw their attendance soar. People turned to God for help in their time of need or to thank Him for those who survived.
There have been other times when we have seen this happen, usually during disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.
During these times, God’s power and love is so evident it is hard to imagine how so many people miss it.
But many people do. As soon as their “need” for God passes they go on with their lives as before, making God a backseat passenger instead of the driver in their lives. As long as things are going well, they are content. But as soon as they “crash” into another obstacle suddenly they want God to take control again.
Yes, we should always turn to God in our times of need.
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
But what about other times? What about when things are just sailing along smoothly and all is right with our world?
Those are the times when we should be turning to God with thanksgiving and on behalf of others. It is when we should be studying his word and building a relationship with Him.
How much easier is it to turn to someone you know and love for help than to a stranger? We should learn to be in constant communication with our Lord. Turning to Him for decisions in our lives should become so ingrained in us that going to him for even the smallest trials in our lives is the first option, not an act of desperation.
So let us not forget those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks, let us remember their families, let us remember those that risked their lives, and let us keep them in our prayers. Most of all remember to keep praying and keep growing in your faith.
God is good, He is always there. He reaches down and lifts us up out of our despair – every time.

Silence can be a reminder to listen for God’s voice

I usually have my column written early on Tuesday morning but today I am sitting here staring at an empty Word document as deadline approaches. I also have noticed that my entries on my blog have been scarce over the last few weeks.
My columns and blog entries always come from some word the Lord opens my ears to during the week, sometimes in church, sometimes from the Bible, or in something I read or hear or even from a song on the radio.
Pondering why I haven’t received that word this week, I have come upon a revelation. It isn’t that I haven’t received the word, it is that I haven’t heard the word.
There is a big difference between the two. The Lord is always speaking to us, we just have to be attentive to hear what He says.
Lately I have let worldly worries and cares disrupt the openness necessary to receive the word.
Sometimes we get so busy with the day-to-day responsibilities and activities, we forget to stay always in a prayerful mode that allows us continuous communication with our Father.
With the boys starting a new school this year and all of the usual preparations for a new year, a recent move that I am still unpacking from, work and everyday activities it is easy to get caught up in my life.
When we are turning to the Lord asking, “Father, help me with this,” I think He is sometimes saying, “I am trying if you would just be still and listen you would know I am there.”
If we just be still and listen, we will know when God speaks to us and we will hear his voice. He has many ways of speaking to us. We just have to keep our minds open so we don’t miss what He says.
When the Lord is within a person he is communicating constantly with that person’s heart, conscience, soul and spirit.
He is carrying on a two way conversation with us 24 hours a day.
John 10: 27-28 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
God never leaves us, but sometimes I think the silence is a way to get our attention back on Him and off of the cares of the world. I know it has gotten my attention this week.
it is time to give my cares and worries over to Him and my thoughts back where they belong.

Parents task is to teach children to be a light to others

Churches across the nation have been praying over the school students in their congregations and communities as new school years begin or are close to beginning.
They are asking for guidance for the students and the teachers in the coming year, that they may have minds open to learning and the ability to make good choices in the face of many temptations that are placed in front of them in schools and out in the world.
As our church prayed for our children one of the fathers of young children asked protection over them as they were “sent out into the darkness with wolves.” The first thing that went through my mind when I heard that was how literally children take things and that any little ones who hadn’t been to school before may think they are really being sent out into the dark with the wolves. I could see some tearful first days of school with that image in their heads.
Of course, we realize what he meant and it is a great metaphor. He followed it up with saying it is a parents job to teach their children to be a light in the darkness. That is so true.
We can’t just expect our children know how to be an example to others they are around, how to lead others to Christ, or even how to say no to wrong choices made by those around them  unless we teach them.
I remember when I was in high school and I would hear other students at award ceremonies, graduations and other events giving speeches that talked about God’s influence in their lives.
I wondered how they even thought to say what they did and would even feel slightly uncomfortable because I didn’t understand their relationship with Jesus but wanted to know how I could feel that way.
Sure I went to church and could recite bible verses and stories and knew Jesus as my savior but had never been taught how to have a relationship with Him.
Our job as parents is to raise our kids to have that relationship and to be comfortable talking about Him and sharing Him with others.
When anything comes up in their lives, big or small, they should know the first thing to do is pray.
On the first day of school my boys and I prayed together, when the air conditioner broke a few weeks ago my youngest son and I prayed together. I have learned that by praying with them, not just for them, they are learning to turn to prayer as well.
The first time I asked my youngest to take over a prayer he surprised me with how comfortable and confident he is in prayer.
When I hear the youth pray at church it brings joy to my heart to hear them demonstrate that relationship they have with our Father.
By teaching our children to have a real relationship with the Lord, we are teaching them not to be fearful of showing others that they are Christian even if that means the decisions they make aren’t always the most popular or most fun to those around them.
By being true to who they are they set and example to others – they are a light in the darkness. And maybe, if we raise enough of these lights, the darkness in this world will start to recede and the wolves will turn and run and the Lord’s light will shine brightly.

Beginning of school year can be scary for new students

A new school year may mean the end of summer but it also means the beginning of a new “social season” for many students.
The long, lazy days of summer become times to meet up with friends from past school years, head out to high school football games and enter back into the frenzied pace of school and extra curricular activities.
It can also be a scary time for students entering into a new class or school who haven’t had the chance to get acquainted with new classmates.
Usually by the time students enter junior high social groups or “cliques” have been formed. By high school those groups may be so tightly forged it is hard for someone new to be welcomed into the group.
Some new students naturally have an outgoing personality and have no trouble finding their way into a new group of friends. Others may be shy and wait for a welcome opening.
Being friendly and welcoming to those students should be a goal for those who already have a firmly established group of friends.
They should put themselves in the new students place and think of how they would want to be treated, of what would give them a good start to a new year and, in many cases, a new life.
If the rest of their group of friends is hesitant about welcoming a new face they should take the initiative and encourage the friends to be welcoming.
Romans 12:13 says, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
While that can mean many different things, used in its simplest form hospitality means a friendly and generous reception of guests, visitors or strangers.
It doesn’t take much to smile at someone and offer a kind word, but it can mean the world to someone who is in a sea of unfamiliar faces.
Kindness, gentleness and goodness are three of the fruits of the Spirit. All should be used when dealing with other people.
So if you see a new face at the beginning of the school year, or at any time during the year, make the effort to go up and introduce yourself. You may even make a new best friend. You will definitely make the beginning of a new school year much easier and brighter for that new student.
If you are the new student, you can’t go wron exhibiting those same three fruits of the Spirit ­­– kindness, gentleness and goodness.
Don’t let fear keep you from reaching out to new friends.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says,
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
He has many wonderful things in store for you, including good friends.

Good news

   The Lord has been helping me through the trials I have been facing one by one. We cleared a major one with some good news Wednesday.
   A spot was found in my breast in a routine mammogram a couple of weeks ago. Immediately upon hearing that fear fell over me. Then when the nurse left the room and I was waiting for the doctor I worked to clear my mind and turned the situation over to the Lord. In the quiet of the room I heard the words to the chorus of the song "Healer" by Hillsong.
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Then I knew everything was going to be ok. I went back for some more tests last Friday. When I got the results Wednesday everything was normal. No cancer. Thank you Jesus, you are amazing!

Perfection is an unattainable goal

Perfection is an unattainable goal. Unfortunately it is something some of us expect of ourselves, or even worse, others.
People in high profile professions often find that not only are they expected to perform to the higher than normal expectations that come with their job, but they are expected to perform perfectly, no mistakes, no errors in judgment, absolutely no blemishes.
Not only does that put the person at higher risk for heart attacks, strokes or other possibly fatal health conditions, it also sets them up for failure.
When it comes to expecting perfection in ourselves, what we have to remember is that we don’t have to be perfect and mistake-free to be worthy of God’s love. He knows we aren’t perfect, he doesn’t expect us to be. That is why he sent us Jesus.
If God can forgive us for our sins, our mistakes, we should be able to forgive ourselves. We need to learn from the mistake, put it behind us and move on.
Expecting perfection in other people is not only wrong, but depending on the way it is expressed, it can cause hurt, anger and frustration.
People who find it necessary to point out what they perceive as mistakes made by other people in a cruel or spiteful way are not only hurting their target but also are directing attention to just how imperfect they are themselves.
We are supposed to act in a Godly manner – with compassion, mercy, kindness and love.
Remember when the slogan “WWJD – What Would Jesus Do” was everywhere from T-shirts to bumper stickers? I think that needs to regain popularity.
It is something we should ask ourselves before every decision we make and every word we speak. If the answer is that no Jesus would not say or do that, than we need to stop and figure out how Jesus would handle the situation.
When we speak without thinking, call someone names, tell people how horrible we think they are, write angry letters full of name calling and curse words, scream at people over the phone or leave nasty, biting remarks on a Facebook page, we are definitely not doing what Jesus would do.
Instead, when a mistake or decision is made that we don’t agree with and simply don’t feel we should ignore, we should go to the person and discuss the issue in a calm manner. Ask why they did what they did and be prepared to actually listen to what they say. Then explain your side and tell why you feel the way you do. Don’t accuse, don’t belittle and don’t be purposefully hurtful.
When we demand perfection of others, we are reinforcing to them that they are expected to be perfect. That is wrong thinking. God doesn’t expect perfection and neither should we – not from ourselves and not from others.

Marriage reflects God’s love for the church

Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” With this verse God instituted the basis of the marriage relationship.
Marriage is God’s idea and should reflect the way God loves the church. The love of God is unconditional – God loves you no matter what and you should love your spouse in the same way.
The covenant made between husband and wife when they get married will hold them together through the highs and lows of marriage and any trials they may face.
One of the happiest days of my life was the day I married my husband. It was after we both turned our lives back over to the Lord and committed ourselves to living by His word that we knew we were meant to be husband and wife.
By continuing to follow Him and turn to Him with life’s decisions our marriage will continue to be a blessed one. Of course there are hurdles we face and we will continue to face, but when we pray about them, both separately and together, and continue to support one another, the Lord will carry us over them to continue on the path He has planned for us.
I have learned one thing we need to banish from our marriage and our minds are negative thoughts. Negative thoughts cause worry, stress and bad feelings where they don’t need to be. God doesn’t want us to worry. He will take care of all of our needs.
If you think negatively, then negative things will happen. If you claim victory over those parts of your life, then you will overcome.
Rich has told me not to think or speak negatively or even talk to other people with negative thoughts on a situation – to just pray about and claim that victory that is our gift from God. (Are you starting to see why I am so blessed to have him as a husband?)
Another thing marriage teaches us is to put other people’s needs before our own. If you have a list of priorities in your life God should be at the top and our spouse should be second.
One of the things that brings me the most joy in my marriage is to do things for Rich to make his life easier and make him happy. He does just as much for me as I do for him, but it really wouldn’t matter because when we are serving in a Godly manner it doesn’t matter if it isn’t reciprocated – it will still bring us joy.
What matters is thinking of his needs and desires as well as our own. We have to put aside our selfishness. If we are focusing only on our own wants we will have an unbalanced, and probably unhappy, marriage. We have to support one another. We have to realize how valuable our spouse is in both our view and in God’s view.
I look at my husband as a gift from God, to be the one beside me during my lifetime to share the trials and triumphs, to be a companion, a helper and a spiritual leader for our family. I thank God each and every day for bringing him into my life.
Matthew 19:5-6 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”