I Would Be Very Afraid

I think I would be afraid.

The revival sermon is one on obedience.  The wrath of God on disobedient people.

The pastor refers to Joshua, chapter 6, and the destruction of Jericho.

The people of Jericho were afraid.  They were tightly shut up in their walled city because they feared the sons of Israel.  They knew, they had seen and had heard of the parting of the sea.  They feared this God they had turned their backs on.

The walls came down and everyone - everyone - even childen and babies - were killed.

God's wrath, His punishment on a disobedient people.

Hard to hear, hard to imagine.  My throat tightens and I think . . .

I would be afraid, right now, at this moment, if I did not belong to the Father.  If my sins had not been forgiven and I was not one of the redeemed I would be very afraid.

But I was not, for these people did not resonate with me.  I'm one of the redeemed.

Then he continued. 

On the heels of this victory came a devestating loss.  Once again God's chosen had sin in their camp, they broke the covenant, the redeemed were unblessed.  Did you hear me clearly?  The redeemed were unblessed.

This is when I start to squirm.  An unsettling feeling overtakes my zealous confidence.  This isn't new; my brain, heart, and soul were not hearing this for the first time.

Disobedience.  Delayed obedience.  My heart races.

The redeemed punished.

My disobedience lays itself before me and I begin to fear.  This God I love.  This God who gave His life so I could live.  This loving God.  When will my punishment come?  Today?  Tomorrow?  Years from now?

 A God of judgement and wrath.  The part we all want to leave out.

I sit in my pew but in my mind I lay prostrate before Him, ripping my clothes and throwing ground on myself as I cry for mercy.  Forgiveness.

My cry is quickly heard for I am redeemed.  Peace overtakes me as always when forgiveness spreads itself over me like the cloak of love it is, from the God of wrath who is the lover of my soul and who my soul loves.

My God of love.  My Jesus who saved me.

He is hard to fear. 

Because of -

This love that has wrapped itself around me and brought me out of the depths of real fear.  The fear of death and the fear of worse than death.

If He did not belong to me and me to Him . . .

I would be very afraid.

He's Got Me

Be careful.

I say it everyday to He's Too Good To Me.  Right after my morning kiss goodbye, which he gives to me while I'm only half awake, I say - Be careful.

I calculated that I've said it to him at least 20, 760 times, if not more.

Most mornings it's followed by a silent prayer to my Father God - Take care of him, Father.

Yesterday Izzy rode her bike to a neighbor's house.  The rule is she must call when she gets there, even though it's only four houses down.  She did.

But last week she didn't.  Time passed and I began to get that little nagging feeling.  Seconds more passed as I walked outside and strained to see down the street.  My mind started to dance scenarios around.  There's no bike laying in the street, but there's no bike in the drive, either.  Why didn't she call?  And then . . .

I see her, running and playing, forgetting all about me and my be careful.

They leave to drive in their cars, to run errands, to go to work, to go play.  Always with my be careful.

I want them to be safe.

But that's already happened.  They've already been saved.  We're already delivered.  Our future is secure.

But I don't always feel safe.  Pain happens.  Scenarios dance around.  Conflicts abound.

Sometimes I'm a scaredy cat.

My history of scars holds me down from the bravery my God has enstilled in me.

God's name is a place of protection - good people can run there and be safe.  Proverbs 18:10 MSG

This morning through the walls I heard my little Joshua Max, in his sweet boy voice, say -

Be careful, sissy.

Haven't I commanded you?  Strength!  Courage!  Don't be timid; don't get discouraged.  God, your God, is with you every step you take.  Joshua 1:10 MSG

Caution in this world is wise, but worry is not.  The righteous can be free from worry.

Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.

Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. 

It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Phillipians 4:6-7 MSG

He's got me.  Whatever happens, God's got me.

What the Word? Wednesday

What the Word? Wednesday is back with a song.

I think everyone will know this one.

Enjoy.



My nephew, Jonathan, was quick on this one.  High five, Jonathan - you are exactly right - Victory in Jesus.

Katie and her two precious bugs commented all the correct lyrics.

Since this was taped Maxster has added new lyrics.  He now also sings,

He taught me what He was doling.

Thanks for playing.  See 'ya next week.

Max's First Fish

I Have the Ugliest Dog

. . . in the universe.

She's a sweetie, rescued from a shelter about nine months ago.

My dog, Josie, died in June of last year.  Some anniversaries aren't meant to celebrate, but they roll around anyway. 

Josie was a grand lady and I loved her very much.  There is a window above my washer and dryer that looks into the backyard.  It was Josie's yard - she just shared it with us.

For weeks after she died I couldn't do laundry without crying, my eyes always drawn to the cool spot under the trampoline where she died or the wooden cross in the corner of the yard that marks her grave.  I dug out a book I read several years ago, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, because I remembered he wrote about pets being in heaven.  Tears would feel my eyes night after night as I tried to sleep because I could feel the lonliness she left and I missed the secure presence that was her in the dark.

So, I replaced her as soon as I could muster the strength.

Or so I tried.

Josie was a beautiful black bordie collie-something, and when I saw this

beauty she tugged at me in a strange way, so we brought her home.  She looked like my Josie-girl.

I love her.  I try to embrace the differences between her and the greatest dog that ever lived.

But . . .

there's this one difference . . .

that is a little hard to get used to.

She went from the above picture . . .

to the ugliest dog in the universe.

She's also camera shy.  And she needs a bath.  And she needs a trim - at least half of her does.

Isn't it weird how she looks like two dogs cut in half and pasted together?

When I do laundry and watch her out the window I can't help but think about the part that looks like it doesn't belong.

Reminds me of the part of me that doesn't belong.  The sinful dirty rebellious not-created-in-His-image part I've embraced.

I look forward to heaven.  To that day when I become brand new.  Where I will not sin - because there will be no sin.

Until then, I'll just have to settle for being ugly.

Do pets go to heaven?  Randy Alcorn writes,

"It would be simple for God to re-create a pet in Heaven. He’s the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason. Consider parents who’ve acquired a pet because of their child’s request."

He also says, "If we believe God is their Creator, that He loves us and them, that He intends to restore His creatures from the bondage they experienced because of our sin, then we have biblical grounds for not only wanting but expecting that we may be with them again on the New Earth."

So, maybe I'll see Josie again.  Maybe my Father will recreate her for me. 

She'd like this dog I named Jessie.  This dog that can't replace her but needed a home and love just the same.  This dog that is a constant reminder to me how ugly I am.  A daily reminder to work on change.

I prayed for God to give me another Josie - guess He thought I needed this more.

Miss you, girl.

What the Word? Wednesday

What the Word? Wednesday is back with a vengence.

This week will stump you all.  Maxster is in fine form with this word - if you can call it that. 

I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say no one will get this right.

Well, maybe Emme.

Good luck, and remember I'll hold all guesses until tomorrow. 

Check back here, same time same blog, for the answer.

Nobody's even close - so here's a little hint.  You follow it and it doesn't start with a G.

That one really wasn't fair of me.  He butchers that word.  If I had not had the help of props when he first said it I never would have figured it out.

Instructions.

It should make everyone feel better to know none of his sisters could guess it either.

Thanks for playing, y'all are alot of fun.

If I Was Six Years Younger . . .

Funny the conversations you have with your children.

Izzy and I put up more jelly the other day.

Plum, my favorite.

I'm standing in the kitchen and she says,

Mama, with your Chacos on and your Ocoee Ministries shirt on and your skirt on you look just like Aunt Penny standing at the stove.  Are you sure y'all aren't twins?

Baby, you forget the six years older than her I am.

Are you sure?  Maybe Grandma tricked you or something.

I'm sure, but I wouldn't mind being thirty-nine again instead of forty-five.

Then we talked about what things might be different now if I was six years younger.

Her age, what she might be doing, what her sisters would be doing. 

 How much better I would look.

Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marching across your face. - Name that movie.

Izzy ended our conversation with this -

We wouldn't have Max - we'd just be looking forward to him.

I'm honestly not sure if there was sarcasm in that comment or not, 

but I kinda think so.

Does my girl look tired to you?  Maybe I'm working her too hard??

Nah.

One Thousand Gifts . . .

The summer storm rolls in with a wind that breaks the branch.  There will be clean-up, but for now the slight drop in temperature brings a smile that surpasses the dread.

The power flickers and I glance at her face, knowing what is coming. 

Her eyes are round, her smile big.

Do you think the power will go out, Mama?  Oh, I hope so.

Anticipation and excitement.

Candles and oil lamps and board games.

Her sisters felt it, my sisters and I felt it.  I sometimes now feel it.

The dream of living in another time and place.

My list continues . . .

electricity

indoor plumbing

cell phones

computers

crock pot

washing machine

central air

cable and choices

dishwasher

But with all of this knowledge and convenience did we lose something?

Did we leave something behind?

Do we neglect?

My list continues . . .

board games

reading out loud

tent-making

early to bed

early to rise

rocking babies

I Spy

walks in the park

evening baths

cloud watching

naps

tickles

magic shows

legos

My list, #129-151.

If She Keeps This Up . . .

If she keeps this up I'll have to hire a personal trainer.

Problem is, can't afford one 'cause all my money is going to secret ingredients.

Wish y'all could reach in here and taste this one.

It resembles a German Chocolate (but it's not) with finely chopped Macadamia nuts. Filled with a smooth banana creme and topped with her secret icing.

Oh. My.

The flavors are doing a jig on my tounge.

Official taste tester, that's me.

Official weight gainer, that's me.

A Soft Place to Fall

I remember a scene from a movie years ago but I can't remember the movie.  That's funny, I think.  Just one scene from a whole movie - with hundreds of scenes and a name and big stars. 

In this scene a man and woman are dancing to a country song in a bar.  Somewhere in the song were the words, a soft place to fall.

That's all I remember.  I don't remember the song, who sang it, or anything else.

Just those words - a soft place to fall.

Something happened here last night that got me to thinking about those words.  Life throws us here and there, up against this wall and that one, we face this giant and then another one.  There are questions without answers and dreams falling apart around us and tears that won't stop falling.

And sometimes, what was our soft place to fall, is now the hardest thing in our life.

Life has taught me many things.  I cringe at the thought of all out there still left to learn.

But this I know for sure.  The earlier Jesus is your soft place to fall the sooner you will find your strength.

We don't have to be strong always, we can fall apart.  And waiting through it all is Jesus, the victory over all heartache.

Thinking those words and saying them and typing them is the easy part.  Sometimes, believing them is the hard part.  But we must.

When the flesh of Jesus left this world He left with us a promise.  In John chapter 16 He explained that He would send a helper.  Some translations say a comforter, some say a friend.  The Holy Spirit.  All of the above.

The world breaks its promises, people hurt us and disappoint us.  We make mistakes. But, in the midst of all this pain, Jesus left words to prepare us for these times and His presence to see us through them.

We are never alone.  We have a helper who will not leave us confused, He will remove all doubts and reveal to us which way to go and what to do. 

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He shall glorify Me; for he shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 
John 16:13-14

We will never face the future alone.

We will never face the future alone.

We will never face the future alone.

Our soft place to fall.

I googled and searched and found the movie and the song.  Of course, Jesus was not the intent here, but as always, He is the answer.


To that young man I love - remember to search for the answers in the right place.  Remember all who love you.

My darlin' girl, as you fall - from a skint knee to a broken heart - I am here.  Always will be.  But I, and all those around you, can only do so much.

Your strength lies within yourself - He placed Himself there years ago when you said yes.  He patiently waits for you to fall on Him. 

To you both -

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God!

Proverbs 3, The Message