Do we think about our legacy?

I simply wanted to share one of my favorite songs. One that speaks volumes to me. One that makes me ponder about life and not only the here and now, but what I am leaving behind. I don't want my life just to be about today, but about what I leave behind for others. I want others to see Jesus in my life. I want to leave behind a legacy that makes a mark on this earth that reaches all the way to heaven.

Do you think of your legacy? Do you think of the impact we have on others? Just one smile, one hug, one word, makes an impact. Giving and sharing creates love that lasts forever. As you listen to this beautiful song it is my prayer that you are blessed. That you indeed think just as I about what our life says. About how far our life reaches others for the kingdom of God. Each life contains beauty, contains purpose. Our life can reach into the hearts of others pointing them to Jesus. It is my prayer that my life is shouting the sweet love of Christ.

ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY

There are times we feel so alone, but we are not. There are so many times we feel so weak, but we can find our strength in Him. We can feel fear of the unknown, but God gives us certainty of tomorrow with Him. We can get lost in so much of our lives and miss out on the beauty in those small moments that the Lord gives us. Through our loss, He makes a way for gain. Through our discontent He can bring more than enough. Through our pride He can show us how to live with humility. Nothing in this life is without His sight. He holds a purpose and plan for each of us, but we must turn to Him to seek what those gifts are. He will hold us up when our knees are about to buckle. He will wipe away our tears and bring joy. No matter what road we travel we can travel it knowing He is there. His love flows from a fountain everlasting. The depths of his forgiveness are endless. We can new life in Him. We can find life restored and renewed. We can find ourselves on our knees. Life brings us joy and pain. No one knows that more than Jesus. It is in Him that we find real life, true life, and life abundant. Whatever you are going through today, whatever has touched your life, whatever is bringing uncertainty, we find all we need in Him. We find peace, comfort and love. We can find understanding that surpasses all we are able to know.

Philippians 3:7-14 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet, indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind me and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

No Matter What

What is writing a blog if you cannot be honest, right? Isn't that what it is all about? For me it is and sometimes that is so very hard to just open your heart for all others to see. I have been dealing with a situation for a while now and the Lord keeps washing me with His word telling me, "It's not about you."

Do we really want to hear that when we are hurting? Being left out? Wanting so badly to be involved, but are not included? I started thinking, "How many of sentences are beginning with Me or I?" There have been many lately. And over and over again the Lord is teaching me, no matter what it is always about Him. I find myself saying, "But I want to help", "But it's just not fair", "But, shouldn't I get to be involved?" Again, all those "Buts" are all about me and my feelings. Our feelings can be tricky. Our feelings can trap us. And there we are wrapped with that dreaded "Me Syndrome". I think we all have it at one time or another, don't we?

It doesn't matter if I am involved or not. It doesn't matter if my feelings are hurt or not. It does matter how I react to those feelings, and hurt. If I continue to make it about me and how I feel, the Lord is not being seen. But if I humble myself. If I just step back away from feelings, and react in such a way that honors Him, then He is gaining the victory.

I can tell you, this is not easy at all. In fact it's down right hard to just step back and not think about all I am missing. It hurts to think of the memories that are not going to be there. But Jesus didn't die and die for me so life could be all about me and my feelings. He never says anywhere life is all about me. If I am standing in the spot light, He cannot be seen. But if I step back, pray, die to self, He will shine brightly. He will give me all I need. I need to be content in Him and Him alone.

I am amazed at how much He alone teaches me daily. I love it when He washes His word over me again and again, letting me feel His presence. When He speaks to me through His word He is forever showing me how much He loves me. When He died upon the cross it wasn't about Him, it was about His Father. It was about you and I. Everything He gave for us. And here we are still trying to make it about us after all He has given. He emptied Himself out for us to have life. It didn't mean that life would then remain all about us, but through our lives we would reflect everything back to Him over and over again, giving Him glory through our lives.

I need to follow His steps and just simply give, emptying out myself, getting rid of all selfishness, pride and feelings and allow Him to fill me, giving me all I need. Everything I need I can find in Him.

We can sit and have ourselves a pity party when things don't go according to how we dreamed. We can sit and wallow in our pride when we are left out and others step in our place. We can cry tears of regret when loss comes, but just what if, what if, we changed that? What if instead of our pity party, we threw Christ a party of praise for giving us life? What if I cried tears of joy and spent my days in laughter over all He HAS given? Pride is the root of all evil. Lets say that one again, PRIDE IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. With pride there is NO room for anything else, much less room for Jesus to shine.

So, as I face my situation I am going to make it about Jesus instead of me. I am going to remember His words and wash myself in Him daily as I struggle daily. As I struggle as long I focus on Him, He will wash me in His grace and fill me with His love. Instead of thinking of me, I need to be in prayer for everyone around me, including me. I need to pray for the glory of the Lord to shine. I need to pray that all will come to know Him. I need to pray that He will guide me, and help me stand in Him and Him alone. It doesn't much matter where I stand if I am not standing in His word.

Life hurts. It really does. We want to be a part of others. We want to included. We just want to be accepted. And there is nothing wrong with that, unless it begins to be the center of all we are. It's when we make it all about us, leaving out Christ that causes us to fall. I need to know I am accepted in Christ. I am included in Him and He is a part of me. That alone is enough. Everything else is just added blessings, and you never know, we might just find more blessings waiting when we are willing to give up self in order for Him to shine.

So, I ask you to pray for me. I ask you to pray that I die to self and I allow the Lord to shine through me in every situation. He is teaching me so very much. Praise the Lord I am a work in progress. There is no perfection in me, except for Him, living through me. And my friends, He is what it is all about!

Proverbs 16:18-19 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Proverbs 13:10 "By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom."

James 4:6 "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Philippians 2:3-4 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

RESURRECTION IN MAY by Lisa Samson

ABOUT THE BOOK: May Seymour graduated from college with the world at her feet and no idea what to do with it. A mission trip to Rwanda brought her a sense of purpose in loving others. So when the genocide began she chose to remain in the village, which was subsequently slaughtered. Only May survived.
So, May journeyed to heal on the farm of Claudius Borne, a sweet, innocent old man who understood plants and animals far better than people.
Years later, having not stepped a foot off Claudius' farm, May learns an old college flame, now a death-row inmate, is refusing to appeal his sentence. Can she convince him to grab hold of life once again? Their surprising friendship turns the tables, for the prisoner, Eli Campbell, has a deeper faith from which to draw than she. Eli slowly begins to pull May from her cloistered existence. With the help of Eli, their tiny town, and ultimately a renewal of faith, May comes to life once again.

MY REVIEW:

Lisa Sampson poured her heart into this book. You can see that just by the depth of these characters. They are so thought out and poignant for the reader. This book carries issues that broke my heart. We see the poor black farmer, who lived his life alone, yearning for more. We see May, torn from faith and self, pouring herself into the people of Rwanda. We witness the torture there and we see how May must now not just live with the physical scars, but those buried deep within. We watch Eli, a sweet young man go off to war and come home a different man, trying to bury what he has seen, but cannot. It is eating him alive and he now makes a choice on one fateful day, taking the lives of others. He is imprisoned and on death row. We see these characters find life through death. We see them reaching for more and trying to release the past to get to the future. But is it possible without Christ? Without a strong faith?

I am not sure if I enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written, but for me it was painful to read. Nothing of this was on the back cover, and I wish I would have been prepared for what I was about to read. It is one book that will make you ponder about life, death and resurrection. For May, she found Resurrection. She found life again, and for that I can find beauty in this book. My favorite character was Claudius. He carried life within him although he was searching for more. He did find joy in May, in helping her, and just in her company. It was a blessing for him to find her on the road that day as she was crawling to find safety. She found it, she found it within Claudius and his love. He showed the love of Christ in for others and forgiveness in wrongs. He was just what the Lord ordered for May to bring her to resurrection.

This book was a gift from Thomas Nelson for it's review.

Is it just me or is something off?

As I turned on the television last night I found myself flipping through the channels. If it isn't the show that is offensive it is the commercials around it. Have you seen these new shows lately? And what about all these advertisements? It will make a heart do flip flops. What happened do good television like when I was a kid? What happened to respect and honor?

I am so tired of seeing vampires, witches and demons! What do we really expect when we surround ourselves with this? Do we expect blessings to abound as we are allowing such to enter not only into our homes, but into our hearts?

It is a sad day when we cannot turn on the television or pick up magazine or book that leaves us wishing we didn't see the caption or cover. These images do not leave our minds. They stay there, drowning out all that is good. Trash in and trash out. What we allow our minds to feed off of is what will come out of our mouths and what are actions will model after.

So much killing, death and sadness. What happened to goodness and joy? What happened to real laughter that takes over the room? What happened to drama and suspense without sex! Sex might sell for some, but it doesn't sell for me. I want to see more. I want to see emotion and love. Look at all the old movies. They held passion and intrigue without tearing apart everything we believe in. Do we even believe in anything anymore?

If someone came into your home today and seen what was on the television or on your book stand, could they see Jesus? If someone got in your car today and turned on the radio, what would they hear? It is downright scary what is happening to us. The world is shouting so loudly we are allowing it to drown out our common sense. Can we hear the Lord through all the destruction we are allowing to enter our minds through our senses that He gave us to enjoy beauty?

The more we watch these shows, the more we allow these demons and vampires to enter our mind through the world of reading the less we are filling our minds with pureness and goodness.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:25-26 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

Ephesians 5:11-12 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

I think it's time to turn off the television and think about what we are allowing our families to watch. It's time to look beyond Hollywood, the cover of a book and what our friends are reading and stand up for what is right and moral. It's time to turn down that radio that is filling our minds with trash and fill our minds with those things that make us focus on good not evil.

There are many good shows, there is much good music and books that fill us with such wisdom and love, but we must weed out the garden in order to let what God has planted in us grow.

I turned on my television and immediately saw two shows in line with demons and witchcraft. Commercials wanting our youth to focus on vampires, and music that makes us shake our heads. Why? Why do we allow this? We seem to just be going with the times and no one is standing up saying, "Hey, wait a minute. Should we be reading, watching, and listening to this?" Instead it's almost as though we follow what others are doing. Instead of following may we have a conscious to take a stand against what is taking over the minds and hearts of people across this land.

All it takes is a little, just one thing. You can't have a little sin. Sin is sin, and we are being washed in it daily. It is time to wake up and see what is in front of us. Not only turn off the television, not just throw that book away or change the station, but take a stand and make a difference. We are to be the light of the world. We are to walk in what we believe. So, what is it that we believe? May our actions speak faith, and may our words speak Christ to a lost world in need. May we be bold to make a difference and may we find our strength in the Lord to walk away from a world calling our name.

MONDAY QUOTES

There are two types of people - those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are." ~Frederick L. Collins

When we make it all about us we miss so very much. When we make it all about another we gain so much more!! If we walk into a room expecting all eyes on us, are we are so far off base. But if we walk into a room focused on all others, we find blessings in those smiling back. We tend to make life all about us don't we? We seem to wrap ourselves in the attention of others. The more attention we can harness the more important we feel. In that moment we need to realize the insecurity that is causing us to seek to be right smack dab in the middle of everything. That does make us seem important doesn't it? When we are trying to surround ourselves in others we are almost trying to hide ourselves in their contentment.

When we are content with ourselves, we can stand alone and find beauty all around us. We don't have to follow another to feel important or to be noticed. When we are secure within ourselves we can walk into a room and focus on others. I love those people who just walk around and shake the hand of another, give a warm hug and welcome to smiling face. Those people who walk into a room not expecting to be noticed, but by far noticing everyone around them speaks volumes of the depth of love they carry for others.

When we can walk into a room being confident of who we are it speaks louder than words. We don't walk into a room thinking we are better than another, but just being comfortable in our own skin, not trying to jump in an other's pocket trying to wear theirs.

When we take our focus away from us and plant it on others we have the gift of watching them bloom right there where they are. Just taking time to enjoy the company of another we seldom talk to is a gift. Simply reaching out to someone we have yet to have a conversation with makes them feel at ease and makes them feel important. It is a gift to others to just reach out and share, asking about them, being concerned for them, and just wanting to know more about them leads us to growth and brings relationships with people into our lives that impact us powerfully in ways we never expected.

It's when we go outside that box or circle that we really find ourselves and what a gift to spend time with another person. Sometimes all one needs is a smile, or just to say, "Hi, how are you?" How sad to spend life making ourselves the center of everything. How empty of a life is that? But just think how much fuller life would be, how much sweeter if we just reached out daily, making a difference in the lives around us.

When we realize it's not all about us, we will see the whole scope of love that the Lord really carries for His children. We all want to be loved and accepted. We want to be comfortable. And there are just some people who make us feel awkward, small and as though we just don't belong. But the amazing fact is, the only person who can make us feel less is ourselves!!

So today wherever that room is you are walking into, be that person who steps out of the box, out of that comfort zone and reaches out to others, taking their hand and reaching to know the heart of a man. Giving of ourselves, hiding behind Christ, allows others to see the sheer beauty of His love. When we reach out it lets others know they are welcome in our life, and what a feeling that is..

Can you see that Elephant? It's huge!

Have you ever felt as though there was an elephant in the room? You know you see it, it's HUGE, and you can't walk around it or even leave the room without bumping into it. It is so big you cannot ignore it.

Sometimes it may be a situation, a person, a feeling, anything that makes us feel as though we are about to be squashed by this huge elephant unless we escape. But many times there is no escaping. We must face that elephant, face our fears, and our inadequacies. Sometimes that elephant makes us feel so very small. Almost as though we don't exist. It envelopes the room and swallows us in, taking us as prisoner. It makes us feel an unease, captivating every sense we have. We can't take our eyes off of it, but yet we don't want to look at it either.

We have all been in those rooms, filled so thick with pain or anger you could cut through it with a knife. You might even need a saw. We allow pain and hurt to overtake our lives. Just a moment walking into a person can cause us to cringe at knowing what will happen. With our emotions so raw, just about anything can set us off. Sometimes you just want to get up on that elephant and ride off never to return. But is the best thing to do, really? Shouldn't we face our fears? We have to face some difficult moments in life. Some that seem so huge, but once they are passed we really understand it wasn't as big as we once thought.

God is bigger than any fear we have. He is bigger than any problem. When we give Him all our anxiety and fear, He fills us with peace and confirmation that everything will work according to His will as long as we follow Him, not allowing our emotions to take over, spilling out actions and words we will never be able to take back.

We naturally want peace with those around us. unfortunately it doesn't always happen like that no matter what we are doing. But we can stand with Christ as our side, knowing we do not have to step to an others level, but we can stand with grace in every situation. We can be strong in knowing if we just allow Christ to speak through us and move through us, others are going to take their eyes off the situation at hand and see Him shining through, instead of that elephant taking up so much space.

I am learning not to hold all those anxieties in, but pray and allow God to show me what to do. Trusting in Him. It is never good to hold pain and anger in. It simply makes us sick. And it makes every situation worse. Nothing gets better by ignoring the problem right in front of you. It's when we let go of the pride, let go of trying to be right, and acknowledging that peace is never going to come unless there is love and forgiveness.

We don't have to shout how we feel. We can speak with love with a tender heart towards those around us. They too know there is an elephant in the room, so if take that first step to solving the problem they will see the grace before us and know we are genuine in wanting peace.

Ever try to lead an elephant around? They don't want to budge. So sometimes we just have to face it and once we do it's amazing how it just simply lifts out of the room as though it was never there, giving space for love, for growth and opportunities for God to move. If we just leave that elephant there is takes us space. It takes up time, and wastes a whole lot of room where love and forgiveness could be planted.

Ignoring or running from our problems does not solve anything. It just creates more anxiety. Hurt creates more hurt unless we are willing to let it go. Why do we want to hang on to it? Sometimes I think that hurt has been our comfort blanket. It has been there for so long we are afraid to let go and see what will happen in that moment we let go of that security we have been holding to for so long.

Trusting God brings hope. Faith increases our growth. And letting go gives room for blessings. Whatever your holding onto today it's okay to let it go. That person you have been avoiding? It's okay to take that first step. That situation that is making you a nervous wreck? It is okay to let go and let God wash you with strength and grace. Trust Him today and just watch how that elephant leaves the room when we face him head on. Facing our fears gives light to to a new day with Christ leading the way!!

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?"

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

COURTING MORROW LITTLE by Laura Frantz

What a lovely book! I fell in love with Morrow. To see her living in the 1770's, a time where life was hard in Kentucky building a home and raising a family. Morrow loses her mother and baby sister at any early age and carries the scars. On this day she also loses her brother as he is taken captive by the Shawnee Indians. So Morrow is left alone with her father. For her safety her father sends her away to live with an aunt, but Morrow's heart is always longing for home, for a peace she cannot seem to find. Now that Morrow is older, her father is in growing weaker, she travels home to be with him. Morrow holds anger and fear in her heart towards the Shawnee around them, but her father has a heart of love and forgiveness. He is a powerful light in this book of Christ's love and Morrow soon finds this peace within her own heart, but her heart is also falling for one that is forbidden, a Shawnee, who has captured her heart. I love watching Morrow grow, let go of her pain and reach out to love. These times are turbulent and man's inability to get along so to speak rages. This book takes us on a ride of romance, love, faith and living with uncertainty. Life is all about choices and Morrow has to make many of them, but she has the Lord leading her each day. These pages are full of growth and letting go. Morrow had to make a decision to let go of the past in order to have a future and what a future she has. This is one you will love to have for a summer read. It will take you to another place and time, captivating your imagination.

This book was a gift from Revell for it's review.

“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Laura Frantz credits her 100-year-old grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in 1792 and settled in Madison County, where her family still resides. Frantz is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington state with her husband and two sons.

It's not just a trial run

Looking through cards this morning I came across two that had on the front, "On the Move". We are always on the move aren't we? When I think about it we are always following something, either our own hearts, a dream or even another person in our life. It makes me think of those disciples that left everything to follow Him. Usually when we leave something or a place we pick up everything we have and bring it along. We pack for days and grab everything that is of importance to us. But the disciples who followed Christ did not do that. He doesn't even say they asked for time to pack or made a list of all the things they would need for the trip. Did they count the cost? Did they really understand what they were doing? In some ways I think they knew what following Jesus meant, I just don't think they had yet grasped the full meaning.

They left behind everything. Everything! We can hardly even go to the store without our phone. We can't make it through a weekend without our computer and we sure can't make it for a trip without having everything that makes us comfortable and content. When we think about it, don't we just seem to make each trip about us? What will I want? What will I need? What will I bring for each day, each occasion?

When making a decision we can even sit down and write out a pros and cons list. We write in one column all the blessings and things that will make me happy. In the other we write down all those things that might be difficult and bring hard times for me. Even in the pros and cons list it is still all about us, isn't it?

Yes, it is smart to think about things. It is wise to count the cost. It is even wiser to open our eyes to the whole situation, but like the disciples I don't think we fully grasp the situation until we have been there for a while, living it and walking the path before us. There is nothing like experience to guide us. The disciples followed Jesus. They left all they owned and walked with Him no matter the cost.

In Luke 14:25-27 it says this: "A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everything else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be my disciple."

Jesus knew the cost. He knew some would love and some would hate when followers left everything to follow Him. He knew He was asking a lot, but He knew what it would take to give all. When we choose to follow Jesus not everyone is going to understand. Friends will turn away and family will not understand. This world does not want to be friends with someone who follows Christ. Jesus knew the hard road ahead and He wanted those following Him to understand the cost. They were giving up everything. Even themselves. They had to die to self. That is what picking up your own cross means. It means it is no longer about me, but about Him.

Jesus was telling these following Him that everything else in their lives would have no comparison to Him. If their children threw a fit and didn't understand their faith, were they willing to walk the mile? If their friends mocked them and left them alone, were they still willing to go? If their parents disowned them and told them not to come back, could they in fact still follow Christ? I must say this is hard. Jesus never says anywhere that following Him will be easy.

There is a cost to everything isn't there? When we take a stand for something we believe in, we give it all we have. When we are so passionate about something true, we are willing to go the extra mile. Jesus wanted those following Him to have passion in their faith. He wanted them to understand the road would not be an easy one and He didn't want anyone to just take lightly following Him. He wanted those who were there to think about the cost and to understand the call.

When we give all we have. When we lay everything down, Jesus then picks everything up. He carries our load. He knows the cost, for He is the One who gave all for us. He laid it all down on the cross He wore for us. A cross that was meant for us to carry, He picked it up and carried it the whole way so we didn't have to.

He doesn't want our walk with Him to be a trial run. It's not something we just experience for a day and when we feel that ping to follow our heart again we leave Him at the cross to go live our own life again. It's either all or nothing. He doesn't want us to be with Him just through the blessings and the easy stuff. He wants us to stay for those hard days and through the uphill battles. When we do stay, we put our trust in Him and Him alone. Believing in the Savior who gave all.

Can you see Jesus the hours before the cross? Do you think He had a pros and cons list? Do you think He was thinking what is best for me? He counted the cost and He gave all He had for you and I. He did what was needed so that we could have life. And not just any life, but a life with Him.

I can tell you my mother doesn't always understand my beliefs. My children don't always understand the passion I hold for Him and what I am willing to give up. And isn't that what we as selfish people wonder? What is this going to cost me, and what do I have to give up? When we follow Christ it is no longer about us. We cannot let anything in life try to be in competition with Christ. Our devotion is with Him.

But you see there is a great blessing here. When we choose to follow Him, He blesses us and washes us with His grace. He is forever there for us. He knows our needs and He will provide. He will make us complete in Him. When we have Jesus we find contentment in Him. There is nothing else in this world that will satisfy as He does.

Through verses 28-33 Jesus is teaching those around Him what it is to count the cost. He doesn't want them to make a decision lightly. That is how much He loves us. He doesn't force us to follow. He asks us to come. But He asks that when we come we give up everything for Him. Now, He doesn't just leave us empty. He fills us with everything we need. He gives us joy instead of happiness. He gives us life instead of death. He gives strength instead of weakness and faith instead of fear. He gives wisdom where we are lacking and understanding where we are trying to find meaning. He keeps promises when all other fail. His word is true where this world is false. He is that compass to guide us in the dark, giving light to our path.

I don't want someone else to follow Christ just because I do. I want them to follow Him because their heart, that has been searching, can find all they are in Christ. In Him life is complete and all possibilities are opportunities for a greater life found in Him.

Walking with Jesus almost eighteen years ago changed my life. I was made complete and whole in Him. Each day in life is a journey onward, but we must wonder where that onward will be. With Jesus I know no matter where life takes me, He is right there guiding the way if I will just lay myself down and follow Him. Nothing in this world can give me what I really need outside of Jesus. When you weigh the options, and count the cost is there really any other way but to follow Him? If we choose me, that's all we are getting. A temporary life in this world. But if we follow Him, we gain much more. We have everlasting life!!

We are to love our family and friends. We are to love the church. But without Christ we must realize we wouldn't have any of those things. Without Him we have nothing, but in Him we have everything! To follow Him we must be ready to face opposition and rejection. We must be willing to stand for our belief in Him when all others turn away. To do so Jesus will give us all we need to stand with Him. It is when we choose to stand with Him that we really find who we are and all He created us to be through Him, Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life-is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

Ephesians 1:13-14 "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Working On A Puzzle?

Do you ever look around and just wonder what people are thinking? Maybe why they make the decisions they make or what has happened in life to make us who we are today? Sometimes things just don't seem to make sense at all. No matter how much we try to put things together we just can't seem to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

Puzzles intrigue us and keep us busy trying to figure them out. My grandmother loved puzzles. She would get one out and finish it in a week. She would buy that special glue so she could keep together what she had created from hours of tedious work. It wasn't just tedious, but work she enjoyed. It brought a smile to her face and gave her added joy. It was just simply something she loved no matter the hard work. Adding piece by piece over time it all came together to form a beautiful picture. One that looked almost perfect as she hung it on the wall.

Life is a puzzle isn't it? We can look at the picture on the box and it seems so beautiful, so simple, but yet so complex. We gather all the pieces out on the table and begin putting them together. Getting all the ends and putting together that outer layer always seems easiest. It's when you begin moving closer to the center that it really gets hard. You can place all the colored pieces just where you think they will go, but sometimes even though it looks so perfect, like it is in the right place and the right shape, it just doesn't fit. The more you try to place it there, the more you struggle. You end up with this piece in your hand and you just don't want to give up until you find where it fits.

We can have all the pieces laying out in front of us and realize it just doesn't look anything like the outside of the box. We get in our mind this perfect picture. One that we think seems so easy, until one day we lose a piece of the puzzle. We need that one piece to bring it all together for us, but we have no idea where we lost it. We search and search for that one piece, and it seems like it was right there in front of us, so close, but then it slipped and we are stuck trying to find it.

Family can feel like this at times. At once you thought all was perfect. Everything just seemed so simple, until one day, one day out of the blue, a piece just seems to fall away and your family that you thought was glued tight comes apart and falls to the ground. It's funny how everything just seems to fit and then one day it's like somebody knocks that puzzle off the table and you are left scattering to find all the pieces.

It might be your children, your marriage, maybe you have lost your job, maybe illness has hit your family out of no where and you are sitting there trying to figure out how everything changed overnight. In just one split second life changed. That perfect picture is no longer longer there, but a picture has replaced it and your stuck trying to figure out who all those people are inside that frame.

Sometimes it seems as though everything around us is changing and we are simply trying to find our way through the maze. We once could find our way around when everything was familiar. Now we look around and everything is moved, changed and even the surroundings are not the same. So we stand there confused. Not knowing what to do and how to fix this puzzle. Looking on the outside it just seemed so easy,but it was when you opened that box that all the pieces got tossed around.

So, what do we do now? What do we do when everything just doesn't make any sense anymore? No matter how hard we work at this puzzle, no matter how much time we put into it, it just isn't coming together like you thought it would. Do we try to fix it? Do we leave it alone? Do we, what? What do we do?

You know what we do? We go to the only One who makes sense. Jesus Christ. We lay before Him crying out for help. We beg Him to show us what to do. We cry out to Him for strength. We ask Him to wash us with His wisdom and understanding. Even if we cannot understand the situation or those around us, we don't have to. All we have to do is place our faith and trust in Him. See, He sees each piece. He knows where they all fit. He sees the outside of the box and He knows the inside even better. No matter how mixed up all those pieces are, He is the One who can put it all back together. He is the One who can make sense out of what we cannot see clearly.

Sometimes I just want to throw all those pieces down and cry, giving up. Because no matter how much I try I am not going to have the outside of that box. But I cannot give up. I can however let go and let God. I can back away from the puzzle and trust Him with all the pieces.

I seem to have one of those more difficult puzzles, you know the ones, those with over a thousand pieces. But even the most difficult and time consuming puzzle God knows just how to place it all together and He has the glue to make it all connect just right, leaving us with sometimes a more beautiful picture that what was on the outside of the box. All those mixed up pieces can come together, but sometimes those harder puzzles just take more time. We must have patience. From the time we pick up that very first piece and hold it in our hands looking at all the possibilities to the very last when it finally all comes together, it is the time and love we put in that really binds that puzzle together.

No matter what size of puzzle you have in front of you today, no puzzle is too big for God. In those times we cannot understand, step back and allow God to wash us with His understanding that surpassing everything. When we are just simply tired of trying to fit it all together. Step back away from the puzzle, giving ourselves a rest and allow God to work each piece in His time. He will pick up the pieces and know just where they fit and where they don't. He will even take that imperfect piece that was lost and bring it to the center of that puzzle placing it in that perfect spot. Sometimes all we need to do is back away and let someone else work on it for a while. If your having trouble fitting your pieces together, take a step back, lay it down and give God a try.

Proverbs 3:5 -6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me Your ways, O, Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I will wait all the day."

Romans 5:5 "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."