Whom He has brought together ...

Roland Martin has his take on Valentine's day and I understand perfectly well where he is coming from. Having my hair done this day, I was given to think about it some - we have a God of love. I was reminded of when the husband and I met and fell in love.

My stylist Lynn was in with another stylist Cam. Cam was doing a lady's hair who is getting married tomorrow. She moved here from North Carolina, had met her man on E-Harmony and they'll be husband and wife tomorrow.

It was a February my man and I met on the internet, having since blended a family, having one child with each other. He was in ministry, something I recalled was told in my early teens would be part of my life. This young lady's man is an assistant pastor. They are blending a family. Their story sounded so familiar to my own.

Lord, the marriage you created for Adam and Eve give them. Have them entwine their lives with you an invincible 3-fold cord. Bless their day and bless their lives, their children, their ministry, the fruit of their hands. May the blending of their families be a sweet aroma unto you. Amen.

Today, I was reminded that God ordained the love of a man and a woman and that he is a God of second chances - not one's of our own making, but of His choosing. Don't conform your life to the commercialism of holidays - like the festivals of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's, the Resurrection, Memorial, Independence, and whatever you commemorate, but make the way you live a holiday like these pre-programmed or spontaneous in that you celebrate meaning not ritual.

As for Love:

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels,
but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.

And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.

And if I dole out all my goods, and
if I deliver my body that I may boast
but have not love, nothing I am profited.

Love is long suffering,
love is kind,
it is not jealous,
love does not boast,
it is not inflated.

It is not discourteous,
it is not selfish,
it is not irritable,
it does not enumerate the evil.
It does not rejoice over the wrong, but rejoices in the truth

It covers all things,
it has faith for all things,
it hopes in all things,
it endures in all things.

Love never falls in ruins;
but whether prophecies, they will be abolished; or
tongues, they will cease; or
knowledge, it will be superseded.

For we know in part and we prophecy in part.

But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be superseded.

When I was an infant,
I spoke as an infant,
I reckoned as an infant;

when I became [an adult],
I abolished the things of the infant.

For now we see through a mirror in an enigma, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know as also I was fully known.

But now remains
faith, hope, love,

these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

T, the blessings of the Lord be with you.

It is always a blessing to spend a morning with Lynn and an added pleasure to have breakfast at Moes; but today was a blessing indeed! And a lovely springboard to a special weekend.

Escalation of commitment

Mounting a surge calls for a dedication to fully resource an effort or goal. There are actualizations we all would like to accomplish; but are we committed. I want to acquire a healthier weight; but am I committed? I want to obtain a higher level of learning degree; but am I able to even to stretch to the extent called for? It was my own efforts that gave me pause for thought ...

Jesus said to Peter _{[John 21]}, 'do you love (agape - like I love you, unconditionally) me' to which the response was 'yes, you know my affection for you'. Again He asked getting the same response. A third time He questioned Peter - 'are you fond (have affection for - denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling _[Strongs]) of me'? Was some increased level of uncertainty accompanying a saddened Peter's third reply?

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I made it _{[Heart of Worship]}
Mine has been colored so; is your commitment sad?

What are you committed to? It's easier to say than to do. It's not the thought that counts at the end of the surge; it's the actualization.

Answer this, what are you willing, or not willing, to do?

If this is really your response to this desire of your heart or another, how are you really responding to Christ?





An escalation of commitment requires evidence of an all-out, unconditional, dedicated response. Lord stay me I pray!

Giant Face Off

God is so so so amazing!

The ladies had an awesome evening at our study! We are still with Max and the 'Cure' - dealt with 'pausing on purpose'. I just love watching the holy spirit move through the room, on people's faces and body movements. It's wonderful to be part of such a thing. We could see our attitude about our giants - the very areas in us where God wants to do His thing. Oh my - not what it should have been.

facing the giants
the aroma of our attitudes ...
about a right spirit in not someone else, me
straight is the path ...
if God's Word say 'do not fear' 365 times, that is at least one for every day
need rain? prepare for rain!
give God your best; let God do the rest
chose not that same ol' tape we play, but to listen and believe the voice of truth

I haven't chosen a school yet, but I was led to have a meeting at Biola Monday. Elisabeth prayed and shared what Biola would be for me and what it would cost. Have to count the cost, don't we. I saw this big ol' giant begin to completely fill the room, but I could still see Elisabeth and hear her tell me about how nothing is bigger than God; that it is all possible. We prayed, and I departed not with hope; but the white towel was still in hand. I was reminded of that at our study.

I had been waiting for God to speak to me about my righteous indignation about a thing at work and how that very indignation smacks of simply feeling bad that I had been passed over. I heard myself saying, at the study when sharing it, that 'indignation that is righteous doesn't not yield in the face of appearances'. God answered me with my own mouth.

We answered these questions, which is where we spent the predominace of our night?

• what is the reason for your existence in one sentence?
• does your calender reflect it?
• if not, how do you bring change to your calendar?

This question was a little too close; we didn't like it? Many of us balked at saying what God had told us as the answer. Surprised? How many of us say God made me talented/pretty/someone people need/a gifted _____ - whatever the answer is? And we dare to speak the answer - our life lies to our calendar!

One lady who had previously felt she had no vision, shared a dream she had long had - she had acted upon it this week. How many of us have these buried treasures.

At our study we were reminded to trust and obey - that God would make us 'Hinds Feet in High Places'. And that if we trust God, there is nothing He cannot do.

I had today off and 'Facing the Giants' was on - hmmm... another Lucado item. I was reduced to tears as God showed me how to face my giants. He is doing something wonderful in my life and the lives of these ladies. So wonderful, that for a moment I saw the one who dances putting on her ballet for which I wrote somethings, and the singer sang, and the artist created the scenery, and the one who speaks to people spoke. Can you see it? He is working in us all.

Some went out, in the O.T. under Joshua, and saw giants, two came back and saw an opportunity to see God's glory.

Because when you go forth with the attitude of however it goes, 'I will still love you Lord'; anything can happen. The circumstances may not change to the naked eye; but they change nonetheless. He meets us in our circumstances, like Daniel's 3 buddies in the fiery furnace. God is answering prayer, healing physical and emotional hurts. His way. In His time. And He's using us.

Let the people see the message He gave you? How's your calendar lookin?

The youngest who was watching the movie with me asked why the people were crying; I was unable to voice the answer. He looked at me and gave me a precious hug and I smiled at him. I was crying too. My rain is coming.

Lord, I'm preparing for rain; help me face my giants! With You, nothing is impossible.

Road not taken - there and back again

flipside

today I need to pick a school - yeah me. I decided to go back; complete a bachelors. Somewhere in this day, I need to get the plan on track. You know, step out on faith. Now here's the criteria, somehow with business as a basis, I would like

• a christian-based institution,
• a focus on either communication, psych, english or writing
• a flexible program - distance/online, off-campus, combined

hey but the driving factor is cost, of course - even though tuition reimbursement is involved. So the realization is any or all of the three above may have to yield to the driver. However, we serve a God of Wonders.

Order my steps Lord; help me today.

Okay following this epiphany of going back to school to which the husband whole-heartedly supported me, my immediate supervisor announced retirement - a position I could go for, but generally covets a degree. What timing? That threw my mind into high gear - how to get this all together in an effective, efficient manner. I sought advice and the result is I enrolled in a mentoring program - and actually have the mentor of my dreams - someone I respect professionally and personally. I'm excited about that. I've gotten some college planning advice too.

Before I get my arms around this, I learn that my supervisor's replacement has been taken care through a musical chairs sort of internal action. Okay, some of the intel behind the decision hurt, but at the end of the day when I stopped spinning off of it all, it comes down to 'that wasn't meant to be'. In the long run, the chair that at this point becomes empty is available now. We'll see what God's will is for that. One thing is sure, if I can cement it in my head (but that would be me working, huh?); it's not by might, nor by power, but by Him.

Today, which school will it be? The Lord is my mentor; I shall not want...

Early Morning Clouds

Surly nomadic clouds marched intently across an unlightened celestial plane, some darkened while others boasted of hope and expectation with a few subtly lined with promise. Their fleeting reign of purpose would refresh the land.

Don'tcha just love how the Lord just brings things together in your head in a neat little package wrapped up like a gift!

Sunday at Couple's study part of what we went over in Moments Together for Couples was Fathers as Servant-Leaders. Well with most this concept sat okay, but with some the discussion was discomfiting. It said:

"Serving his wife rounds out the husband's and father's role. Some men cannot understand the biblical definition of a leader as a servant. Even though He was Lord, Jesus said, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matt. 20:28).
As your wife's servant, can you name her top three needs? What worries her? What circumstances quickly put her emotional gas tank on empty?
Men, let me challenge you to lead, to love and to serve."

My wonderful husband was actually able to answer those questions. My point though is for devotion today I was reading Meyer's "Stooping to Rise" and he says:

When our Lord stooped to live visibly amongst men, He refused to avail Himself of the homage due to His original nature. He had been in the form of God, but was content to veil His glory, to assume the form of a servant, to be made in the likeness of men. In the cradle of Bethlehem, in the home of Nazareth, in the voluntary limitations of His earthly ministry, in His obedience to the death of the cross, there was the hiding of His power. He refused to use the attributes of His intrinsic Deity, that He might manifest the Love of God, that He might bear away the guilt of the world, and work out and bring in an eternal righteousness. Therefore He is exalted and bears evermore the name of Jesus---the Saviour of the world.
The Apostle says, let this same mind be in you; think these-thoughts; follow in the steps of Jesus. We must show a holy emulation as to who shall stoop the lowest, and follow the master the closest. The most urgent Matter for each of us to consider is not whether we are orthodox in our creed (though that is not unimportant), but whether at any cost we have the mind which was in Christ, whether at any cost to ourselves we are manifesting the love of God to those around us.

As any of us lead, this is so very important to incorporate into our walk to have any Godly success. Any who know my husband might raise an eyebrow or snicker (now stop that!) when I say he is such a man, because he definitely has a stand-his-ground, firm nature; but he constantly makes an effort to understand, please, and be a blessing to me. I realize too that Jeremiah 5 says the Lord is my Husband and so He initially set the ultimate example.

Thank you Lord for the gift of your Word, your Love, and for the gift of my husband.

2 things to live by ....

• Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
  When dealing with difficult interactions or worldly people pray this! Cast aside any arrogance and possible disdain for insight and wisdom.
  
  
• And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
  Don't leave home without Him! Don't do anything without instruction; this does not mean do nothing. Do what you know to do. To borrow from the movie, Sleepless in Seattle, "Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breath in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breath in and out...". Then when God takes you beyond that do not tarry; go!

_{Exodus 33:13-15} revisited.

Parabolic Pearlz

One child explained to his friends about how it was with his father. He tells him, he says, "I am your child so give me all that I am entitled to. After all I didn't ask to be here, you know. This is your house, so you keep it clean. I am simply here because of your love--you brought me here and so you have to care and do what's best for me. You are unable to do otherwise. It is against your very nature isn't it? "

Then he says to them "Now I am heading back to my 'ol man's house. Dinner will be waiting and I want to get the best of it. Not reheated stuff. Cya! " The others looked after him in awe. But his brother who he had left behind, amongst them, got up to go also.

He says to them while waving "I need to get home also so I can get the table set. Dad always has such delicious treats for us. So l am going to get the dishes tonight and straighten up the kitchen before I get to some work he wanted me to do. It is the least I can do. He never leaves me wanting for anything. I can't even imagine what it would be like if he hadn't adopted me. I'll see you all tomorrow".
_{parabolic pearlz from suge's shelz ©2006}

Which are you? Some children of God are only too aware of a sense of entitlement to the kingdom of Heaven and demand "pay up ". While others never forget it is the grace of God and live to show their appreciation. Road rage, abortion, war are caused by entitlement. The disciples argued over who would sit next to Jesus -- whew, who earned/deserved that?

David used entitlement with Bathsheba but not when as God's anointed he served king Saul and let him live. It was not entitlement that served Laban seven years more for the right to marry Rachel which had already been earned. Paul left the service of entitlement to serve the lord-left what he saw in the world as right to serve what was right in God's sight. Jesus left at a manger all that was his right to die upon a cross for our sins. What entitlement have l earned; do I deserve? And yet, we are told... Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Less is more. Only empty can one be fully filled--Ever drink all your cup contains so as to make room for the maximum replenishment? It is at the feet of Jesus that one can look up and see fully into His face and all that He is.

Only what's done for Christ will last.

little things looming large

Dummy that I can be, mid-August I left my wallet (all my worldly belongings) in a shopping cart at the market. About now you are saying 'how dumb is that'? Well, who know where's my mind was, but I anchored my shopping cart up on the curbing near my car - reached in grabbing the grocery bags and stepped back to the 2nd row seats to put them in the minivan. Since my keys were in the car door, I simply removed them and went around to the driver side and drove off. Well, my wallet (did I mention my life) was still in the shopping cart. I realized all of this far too late, and the wallet disappeared 'off the face of the earth' without a trace.

Today, (long since any hope had died) I have picked up my wallet from someone who lives nowhere near where I left it, which seemingly was tossed by someone as 'good riddance' - and while the money and credit cards (reported missing) were gone - some of my life was still in there.

What was I supposed to learn from this besides 'keep track of your stuff'? I learned a lesson being taught to me all week. 'The Lord is still Lord'. His time is not mine. What is important to me, is it really so important? Where are my treasures? (I guess that is more than one lesson). I'll close in saying it was a very favorite wallet, providing me more organization than I've had since; and I am blessed to have it back in my possession. Finally, God IS in the little things.

"I never did mind about the little things," from Point of No Return.

My life has order again. Good night!

doomed to dispar...?

I watch movies all of time - you may have already suspected this. Old, new: it doens't matter! Action, drama, comedy, romance, suspense, most any genre - it is my favorite means of escape. Movies I really enjoy, I generally watch more than once (with the exception of some that are so affecting that I don't think I can handle another viewing), but - there are many that I've watched countless numbers of times. One of my current binges is with Mr. and Mrs. Smith (M&MS) and also the Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Now l just watched Armageddon for the umpteenth time and my mind took up that movie and M&MS. Here is where it went. We need to work together and be on the same page to do so or things don't go smoothly and problems are increasingly likely to be encountered - those very problems are not going to be resolved as best they could be.

Armageddon is a thoroughly suspenseful and enjoyable all-star (Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, among so many others ) action drama laced with romance. In Armageddon, two groups of people teamed together with the support of another group for the noble cause of saving the world from complete utter destruction. With this highest of motivations, and even calling upon God Himself, their efforts still self-destruct. Until they get on one accord instead of self-driven motivation, they are in a losing battle beaten mostly by themselves.

I plan to treat M&MS on its own merits, but in this comparison, you have a couple who have been co-existing with separate lives/agendas. They found themselves needing to together fight forces against them, but initially they were ineffective. As they band together, a symmetry develops between them, wondrously danced - watch closely - with which they were able to overcome overwhelming adversity.

Our church just recently went through a very painful destructive parting of the ways. Odd, huh? - since Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Those of us who remain are moving into the dance of oneness as the Bride of Christ giving great effort to focusing on His lead. It is not the 'Rodney King' can't we all just get along? for doing God's will is at risk - and that is the very crux of the matter. Even 'co-laboring disciples of old, like Paul and Barnabas (who wrestled with this issue at some point and time and resolved to go in separate directions) weren't deep enough to overcome such disparity?

God help us! Keep us one, Christ-minded, in you! Thy kingdom come - Thy will be done.

"That's marriage isn't it?" from M&MS.