A Dream Fulfilled

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21

Jesus said these words to His followers, bringing their attention to the fulfillment of the vision, promise and prophecy of His coming. I share that verse now because yesterday a vision, promise, and prophecy about Lauren's future was fulfilled in your hearing (or reading ;D). 

Yesterday the Greenhouse Arts Center opened its doors to cultivate the dreams of the next generation and encourage these little dreamers to make a difference in their world.

Lessons From The Storm

Matthew 14 opens with the horrific, senseless beheading of Jesus’s cousin, John the Baptist. In His grief, Jesus sought solitude and set out by boat to a remote, desolate place. But crowds of people, over 5000 men plus women and children followed Him along the shore. When Jesus landed at His destination, rather than criticize those who invaded His space, He had compassion on them. He saw their hunger and miraculously fed them multiplying a young boy’s lunch.

After this miracle, Jesus sent the disciples out in His boat while He went up the mountain to finally spend alone time with His Father. A furious storm arose, and the disciples struggled for hours until Jesus walked out to them on the water. Thinking He was a ghost, they were terrified, but Jesus encouraged them. Peter stepping out of the relative safety of the boat walked on the water toward Jesus, but seeing the wind, his faith faltered and he began to sink. Three words, “Lord, save me!” brought Peter into Jesus’s grip and back in the safety of the boat. And they marveled and worshipped Jesus.

Can this familiar story speak to us today? As I read and ponder this chapter, God has been revealing more and more to me. This Top Ten list barely scratches the surface:

How Do You Spend Time With God?

"How do you spend time with God?"

This is the question posed to a few of us contributing writers to Circles of Faith. Editors Elise and Kimberly want to share what it looks like to spend time with God. So often we hear the phrase and know we are supposed to spend time with God, but practically speaking, how do you do that? There are as many different answers as there are people.

So with further ado, click here to Circles of Faith to read In Your Words: How Do You Spend Time With God?.

And please share how YOU spend time with God! You may be able to provide just the right spark for someone looking for a fresh perspective.

The True Cost of Worry

Just like that, driving along, it came to me. Six little words that packed a huge punch.

"Worry robs God of His diety." 

Deity means: "The character or essential nature of God; One exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful."

Got that? Supremely Powerful...

When we worry, we are subconsciously saying, "God can't handle this one." We lack assurance that He is control. In essence, we're saying He isn't Supremely Powerful. We rob God of His deity.

The Christian life is not free of worrisome situations. The Christian life is freedom from worry despite the situation.

A Christian filled with worry is no better off than an atheist.

There, I've gone and said it. No "ouch" intended. 

For some reason, Christians often allow worry as an acceptable sin. If they’re worrying about a person, they think it indicates love and caring. If they’re worried about finances, they think they’re being a good provider. But worry is not from God.

Worry is meditating on the wrong things. It is allowing the disturbing circumstance to repeat over and over in your mind.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote from prison that despite his dire circumstances, he chose to rejoice. (Phil. 1:18b) And he encourages us to do the same:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:4-7

  

After telling us to choose to rejoice, Paul went on in to describe how. His antidote to worry = “do not be anxious, but..”:

1. in everything – not in some things, but in all things
2. by prayer and supplication – conversation with God and sharing your struggle with Him
3. with thanksgiving – we don’t need to thank God FOR the difficulties, but rather in spite of them, what can we thank God for?
4. let your requests be made known to God – not that He doesn’t know them already, but voicing them to Him helps give us clarity.
5. The peace "which surpasses all understanding" is abnormal peace. If it was normal, we'd understand it. God's peace is the peace that we experience despite difficult situations.

And it is His promise to us.

Paul goes on to tell us when the worry monster rears its ugly head, we ought to meditate on different things about instead – the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good reputation, excellent, praiseworthy. (Phil 4:8) If we do, “the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil 4:9)

Note that “the peace of God, ... will guard your hearts and minds...” preceeds Paul’s instructions on our thought life. And “the God of peace will be with you” follows it. 

You might say the “peace of God” and the “God of peace” are bookends surrounding our thought life, and the antidote to worry, putting God back on the throne and restoring His deity.  

What worries you, my friend? Can we pray together that you will be able to lay worry aside and think/meditate on Him? 

                             

(this is my post today at Laced With Grace)

Baby it's cold outside! Or is it???

Photo by Jan Lucas

The other day, several patients entered our office declaring, "It's so warm outside!" It was a sunny 34^o. After several overcast days of single digit temperatures, it seemed downright balmy.

But the same 34^o in August would be frigid.

This thing is – 34 degrees is 34 degrees.

Period.

If it's been cold, 34^o feels like a heat wave, but if it's been warm, 34^o feels chilly.

It only seems to be cold or warm because of our feelings. The temperature is what it is, but we respond to it differently based upon how we feel at any given moment.

And our feelings are subjective. They are influenced by people around us, circumstances that we can or cannot control, health or hormones, the slow driver in front of us, the pants that no longer zipper up, the song that reminds us of something we want to forget.

How we feel about something doesn’t necessarily reveal the truth of a matter.

Today I'm over at Laced With Grace with some thoughts on feelings vs. truth. Join me in the conversation there.

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What fingerprints will you leave?

It started with a fortune cookie.

"A part of us remains wherever we have been." 

Ah so, very wise...

I'd been mulling this thought over for a week.

And then my mother-in-law passed away last Sunday.

At the cemetery, instead of taking a flower and tossing on the casket, we were instructed to place our fingerprints on it symbolically expressing the imprint she made on our lives.

My son took this photo and shared his thoughts:

“Fingerprints are evidence that something, or someone, has been touched. Today we left Nana with a collage of our identities as a symbol that we'll always be together. The irony is that every person was standing there smothered in her fingerprints from the many ways she had touched our lives.”

Then we received a sympathy card which says:

 “We never lose the people we care about....

Their love leaves an indelible imprint on our memories.” 

All this has me wondering about the imprint that I leave with the people I interact with. What part of me remains with those I love? What about people I barely know? When they see me, do they see Jesus in me?

Which brings me to one of my favorite songs. "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfosSggwQS0

And since they say it better than I can, here are my thoughts expressed by Sidewalk Prophets:

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I'm only just a memory
When I'm home where my soul belongs

.

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of us
Was my worship more than just a song

.

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

.

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

.

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

.

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change our heart
Do I live like Your love is true

.

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

.

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

.

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

.

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

.

I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that. I want to make a difference by extending grace, loving well, forgiving, caring for those in need, living in integrity. I want the fingerprints I leave on people's hearts to be those of Jesus. I want people to see Him when they see me.

What about you? What kind of fingerprints do you want to leave as your legacy?

Overcoming the Overwhelming

^“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are morethan those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-17

Did you ever feel like that servant?

“Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”

Did you ever feel like the odds were against you? That you faced an impossible task with insufficient resources? That the mountain ahead was insurmountable?

I did.

Click here to join me over at Laced With Grace today where sharing my thoughts on overcoming our overwhelming obstacles. 

Joy is a choice

When the Apostle Paul was in a Roman prison, he wrote several letters. His prison was no Ritz Hotel, and he was chained to a Roman guard night and day. His freedom robbed, he nevertheless continued on his mission. He opens his letter to the Philippian church by thanking God and praying for them. Then he goes on to say:


To keep reading and for a great tip on how to cultivate joy in troubled times, click here where I'm at Laced With Grace.

From Rubbish to Restored

SLOW DOWN!!! My husband Tony shrieked as I drove down the street. I thought there was mortal danger ahead and nearly caused some myself, but no - he wanted to scan the yard sale we were passing.

And that's why I don't drive when he's in the car. 

But this week, he was passing a house in lovely Franklin Lakes when he spotted an amp sitting at the curb. Being the master guitar player (and garbage picker – you didn’t hear that from me) that he is, he couldn’t resist. He stopped, and the owner told him that the amp was broken and Tony was free to take it. And being the master Mr. Fixit that he is, he did just that. He took it home and repaired it to work perfectly! 

This is life with Tony. 

Sometimes we feel like that amp - broken, useless, good for nothing but the garbage heap. At one time, we were new, clean and fresh, but life was hard. We might have been treated badly. Perhaps we were ignored or overlooked. Maybe we made some bad choices that hurt others or ourselves. And now we feel wounded or inadequate.

We feel like the amp out on the curb might feel – broken, defeated, alienated, separated from what could have been.

What we need is life with Jesus, the original Mr. Fixit. He takes our broken pieces and makes them like new.

Throughout Scripture, God restores His people, their health, their wealth, their hopes. He restored nations and order. He restored  “the crushed spirit of the humble and revived courage of  the repentant” (Is 57:15). He brought “sparkle to eyes” (Ps 13:3)

Jesus comforted the alienated and the outcast. He healed the infirmed. He made people useful and vibrant again. And He still does this today. If we let Him.

Will you let Him in today?  Will you enter into life with Jesus? How can I pray for you, beloved?

  

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10

Two Scoops of Grace - Book Review and Giveaway!

When I first met Jeanette Levellie, I'd already known her for years. We first became friends after she commented on my post and then I commented on hers and then emails followed as kindred spirits knit together. Finally  last August, we met in person at the Philly Writers Conference. Smiles and hugs abounded. I'm so happy to announce that Jen's dream has come true. Her first book is published!

Now you can share with me the delight in reading Jen's words. Her warmth, wit, and wisdom radiate through these pages. Jen puts a comical and spiritual spin on stories and events from everyday life. You'll smile, sob, laugh, cry, and draw closer the One who scripts our lives.

Here's the official blurb about Jeanette, the book, and her awesome giveaway. The contests ends at midnight May 10, 2012:


About the Book
What do drive-by diaper stores and God have in common? When is blabbing an acceptable habit? Why should you beware of moths and sligs? In her entertaining, uplifting style, award-winning author and humorist Jeanette Levellie weaves 72 amusing stories with affirming Biblical truths. These soul-nourishing examples of God’s favor and grace will help you:

• Laugh when you find cow patties in your field instead of daisies
• Discover the bottomless heart of God
• Grow in your acceptance of yourself and others

Welcome a vacation from stress as you discover the sweetness of Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top.

You can buy the book here.




About the Author
A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Bigger, a popular feature in the Paris Beacon News since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars.  She is also a prolific  speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL. with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

Visit Jeanette on her blog, On Wings of Mirth and Worth, at www.jeanettelevellie.com.




Jeanette’s Giveaways
You can win one of ten free downloads of my debut humor devotional, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top for your eReader. Here are the very simple rules:

For each share of this post link on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog, you will receive one entry.

For each like on Jeanette’s Author Page or my Two Scoops Book Page on Facebook, or follow on my Twitter page or this blog, you will receive one entry. If you already like and/or follow me, mention that and I will count it.

Please send me ONE comment to tell me how many times you shared, liked, or followed, so I can give you the correct amount of entries. I reserve the right to verify all information given me, and disqualify anyone from the drawing who falsifies information. (Do not leave comments here to be entered, you MUST go to Jeanette’s blog post for the giveaway.)

Contest starts today and ends midnight, May 10, 2012. Jeanette will announce the winners in a blog post Sunday, May 13, 2012.

….and a $100 Gift Card Drawing~~~WOWZA!!!

After you have read/reviewed Two Scoops, check out my blog at www.jeanettelevellie.com for a contest to win a $100 gift card by answering ten easy questions about the book! After I receive your entry, your name will go into the hat for a $100 gift card to one of the following places (your choice): Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Ruby Tuesday. This giveaway will run until August 10, 2012 so there is PLENTY of time for you to enter!

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This cannot be the end....

This poem, written by Maude Carolan Pych, a truly gifted poet of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group, is so powerful I couldn't NOT share it with you.
May this minister to you this Good Friday.

THE PIETA

After the earthquake

the peals of thunder

the flashes of lightening across the sky

After the curious crowds dispersed

Mary sat in ominous dimness

upon a mound of earth

at the base of The Cross

holding the body

of her Son

She cradled Him

in the hollow of her lap

close to her bosom

as she had

when he was

her baby boy

Mary removed

thorns of mockery

that encircled His forehead

and tossed it to the side

Straining to see in the shadows

she carefully picked

fragments of thorn needles

still stuck in His lifeless flesh

although they couldn’t hurt Him

any longer

With her fingertips

she tenderly closed the lids

over His dark, vacant eyes

and smoothed

the disheveled, matted hair

…then she kissed Him

O my beautiful Son…

Tears flowed

down her face onto His cheeks

mingling with dried blood

With the edge of her garment

she wiped some blood away

John came

and rested his hand

upon her trembling shoulder

He was now her son

She was now his mother

Mysteries

too deep to comprehend

swirled in her mind

like the flap and flutter

of wings and overshadowing

Son of the Most High

and David’s throne

like pregnant Elizabeth’s joy

when the baby leapt in her womb

and the Baptizer himself, when grown

proclaiming his younger cousin

“The Lamb of God, Who

takes away the sin of the world”

and Simeon’s prophesy

that Jesus would be

a Light of revelation

to the Gentiles and the glory

of the people of Israel

Where is the Light?

Where is the glory?

Where is the throne?

Overwhelmed by sorrow

so intense it stabbed her

deep, deep in her inner parts

Mary cried out in anguish

and rent her robe

Was this what old Simeon meant

long ago in the Temple

when he held Jesus in his arms

and said a sword would pierce

my very soul?

O my Son, my beautiful Son…

I cannot fathom the ways of God, but

I do know this cannot be the end

Maude Carolan Pych

Thank God ~ that was not the end!

Wishing a blessed Resurrection Day to all!