God Is In the Remodel!

For some of you I know the word remodel or makeover conjures images of a dream come true. You probably have thought long and hard about the colors you would choose and how perfect things will look. You may even look at magazines or spend hours online looking for the perfect color scheme and fabric. I hate to disappoint those who have the passion for remodeling. You will not induct me as remodel president. You see I love the finished product, where the final snapshot is revealed. However it is the process that takes place before the finishing touch that gives me both a literally and figuratively headache.  I appreciate those who paint and work hard to display beauty.  We are in the middle of a living room and dining room remodel.  My grandmother, has the joy of finally remolding a bit.  I’m so thrilled for us and especially for her, however, in my brain the word remodel means getting rid of stuff.  It means disruption and distraction.  It means sorting through items and throwing away.  It means rearranging objects that seem okay to me right where these are.  The irony is that I know everything will look beautiful when it is complete.  The new paint already makes everything look brighter and like another place entirely. 

I often have the same response in relation to spiritual remolding…  I wonder if most of us have a similar response.  We love the result of God sanctifying us, and becoming Christlike. I don’t believe most of us want God to clean out our messiness, and refine us.  It is painful and inconvenient and it leaves us exposed.    In the end and even in the between, I envision that our Savior is likely saying see my child, all of this remolding and pruning is for a divine purpose, I’m conforming you into the image of Christ.  You only see glimpses of beauty now, but on that final day you will see the completion of my flawless work in whole.  Our dining and living room remodel will be worthwhile and beautiful upon completion. Now we see only small glimpses of the final reveal. This is true for those who walk with God. We cannot see the all revealing beautiful work of Christ just yet.  We are offered beautiful in our lives but sometimes we can be so busy being distracted by the mess in front of us,  we miss the amazing progress occurring.  God is teaching me I can trust Him to refine me. In a spiritual sense to perform a renovation on my mind and soul.   Remodeling takes time. Our spiritual transformation will take longer, and the results at times are far less noticeable. Isn’t great to know that our Heavenly does not leave His work within us incomplete?  By faith in his promise, we can know God is able and willing to display His glory as He confines and refines us!   

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.” Isa. 64:8

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29

My friends on a fun note I have to know are you a remodel junkie?

Why Laugh?

Dedicated to Margaret Long and Madeline Ellis

If you are around my family much there is one element that is present at any family gathering.  Well if you count food as one, there are actually two elements present.  The one I want to focus on here, as we have entered into 2014 is laughter. There is rarely ever a shortage of laughter when my family is together.  There is no doubt there is much to be serious about in this life, but the abundant life Christ promised us isn't’ one that is void of laughter.    Do you ever wonder if Jesus laughed?  I have really no doubt that He did, because the Bible says He Christ made himself like us in every way.  When Jesus allowed Children to come to him, I believe that He allowed them to come as who they were, laughter and all.  There are some who would say that laughing with God is irrelevant, but I disagree….     Laughter makes life richer….  My mom and I laughed last night when she mistakenly gave a Hobby Lobby card to the cashier at Starbucks.  We laughed when my aunt bought groceries from Kroger and upon pushing the cart to the van the toilet paper rolled into the street.  We were not the only ones laughing then.    As a result of my being a deep thinker people often miss or overlook my fun side.  Laughter makes the hard times lighter and more manageable.  Laughter is a gift from God.  “There is a time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.” Ecc. 3:4 

A life without laughter is a life lacking something.  I’m glad I have a family that knows how to laugh.  I remember when my cousin Bill, my uncle Ron, and another family member, all ran around the pool like mad men chasing my little cousin Jack, before he dove in the pool with his nice clothes on.  If memory serves me correctly they did not catch him before dove in, and we burst into laughter.  I think we were all so amused that I don’t recall his getting into trouble for his big jump.   

Sometimes it is good to laugh at yourself.  Like the time I introduced a classmate by the wrong name to someone, as I drove away, his girlfriend asked why I called him by another first AND yes last name too. 

 Like any other gift in life if we use laughter poorly or in the wrong way at the wrong time, we can hurt ourselves and others.  No one uses laughter perfectly, all the time, but laughter is healthy for body and soul.  I want to tell you about two sisters who laugh together and have fun wherever they go and whatever they face….  One has chemo brain sometimes, and the other is sometimes suspected of possibly having slight conversational ADD.  I think this verse describes both these sisters. “

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

    and she laughs without fear of the future Prov.”31:25

    One of these women is my Aunt, and the other is my mom.  They spread the gift of laughter wherever they are, and many uplifted by their fun and optimism.  I’m blessed to have their genes.  Does someone in your life make you laugh?  I’d love to hear about them!

A Dog a Miracle, and a Promise of Hope

Faith comes easier to some people more  than others.  I am one of those who struggles with choosing faith over doubt constantly.  Since my last post, I've added a new member to my family.  If you are friends with me on Facebook this is old news to you.  Franklin is my new rescue dog!

                                                         He has quickly bonded with mom, but his bonding to me has been a much slower process.  I already love him a lot, though adopting him at times has left me wondering if we did the right thing and hoping since he has been with us I think a month this weekend that he will soon become more adjusted.  He he has been a test of faith well worth the effort.  I don't think he fully understand yet, that I can't get in the floor with him or sit on the couch.

In other big news remember awhile back when I wrote that two of my  close friends whose dad was diagnosed with Leukemia?  That post well I have some amazing news!  Mike Hand has been declared Cancer Free!  He will continue his last regiment of treatment!   Thank you for your prayers!  God still does miracles!  Ps. 136.4  "   Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever."  If you have prayed for Hand family and even if you haven't, you can join in the celebration, and praise God with me!  

News on my mom:

She began a new clinical trial last week for her ongoing battle with cancer.  This one is already requiring a lot more travel.  The chemo at times makes her super tired, but today she has felt well.  Please remember her and so many others fighting various forms of cancer.  Prayer has an impact upon lives.    We each have things we must overcome in life, for my dog Franklin it is the fear of being hurt or abandoned.  People have always said I've been drawn to people who are hurting, I guess the same is true with Franklin.  The bible says that as believers in Christ, we are more than victorious through the love of Christ!       37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.  Romans. 8:37.  This verse has been the hope I have been clinging to recently.  I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel as though my limitations and life circumstances are conquering me more than I am conquering these.  The truth is that trusting in God's unshakable love and goodness makes the impossible possible!  It makes the darkest valley turn to light.  So there have been three key elements to this post...  Thank God for his mighty works.  Pray with expectation, and press on with Franklin and me as I know you have battles to  conquer just like us.  Let us be victorious in our daily battles by trusting God's love to drive and empower us!  If you are waiting on God to act in situations that look hopeless to you, remember his promise with me, and know that God is always faithful in delivering on his promises.When faith is hard, God is ready to enable us to trust Him!  Thank you for stopping by and your care regarding my previous post.  Love to know if you have seen or are waiting  upon a miracle.     I am so glad to be part of what God is doing!

Come Closer!

Are you one of those people who loves being invited to events or are you one of those people that dreads the sight of an invitation in the mail?  For me, it depends on what I'm being invited to, and who the event is for.  For example, if I know the person really well then I'm usually delighted to attend an event which I have been invited to. However, if I do not know anyone at the event, or am not comfortable around those attending the event, then I'm less excited to receive an  invitation. My relationship with God, has been much the same way.  The more I become aware of the reality of God's actual character the more excited I become about spending time with Him.  For some reason, I have struggled  with some degree of seeing God as an angry Judge Mental Being   While, it is not something I struggle with all the time, it is rather frequent .Recently,I came across a verse I've read many times only this time it hit me with new force and excitement. Ephesians 2:13 "You who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."  The reality of that verse makes me want to dance!  I was once as far away from God as a person could possibly be, and then The God of the universe brought me to Himself by the Blood of Christ!  The barriers to to closeness with God have been removed!  God invites each of us to trust the Good News that if We trust in Christ death and the victory of the Resurrection to be sufficient to bridge  the enormous gap between us and God,then we come near to The Living One!  If you are like me, you may find yourself taking this wonderful gift for granted..  You see, I am often tempted to think there are limits to just how close I can get to God or how close He is willing to be with me.  Then this week I read Psalm 139:7-10    Reference  "

"Where can I flee from Your presence?

⁸ If I go up to heaven, You are there;if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
If I live at the eastern horizonor settle at the western limits,^[a] even there Your hand will lead me;

Your right hand will hold on to Me."

I long for closeness- It amazes me that King Of Kings and Lord of Lords  is inviting me to come near to him!  He wants me to come near! Jesus has secured my invitation, and it does not expire!    The same invitation is issued to you, as well, and I'm learning it isn't a general distant invitation it is deeply personal to you and me individually!    

Let's not waste our invitation to come near, by entertaining ourselves with 'lesser" things"  The more I discover God's real nature, the more I desire to accept his invitation to " Come Near"  What comes to mind, as you read the words come near? 

The Danger of Self Focus

Hello Blog World,


Hope you are well!  Love to hear how you spent the last night of 2010.  The truth is as the New Year has come and gone and as is pretty typical for me after the completion of Christmas and the entrance into New Year has left me battling a sense of melancholy.   I could write about why that is, but I don't want to stay in this inward state I've been in so I want to focus upward!  Instead of focusing on where I wish I were, or should be, I am with God's help I'm shifting the focus to Jesus!  Jesus isn't just worthy of my time, and words, He is also worthy of my focus!  Jesus's earthly ministry was not one of self focus, but rather God focused and others focused!  Jesus didn't focus on his own honor or physical needs upon earth.  Instead He poured himself out for those around him, and blessing their lives!
 Phil. 2:5-7 Here it isMake your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 

6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage. 

7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men. 

Our society screams the it's all about me, myself, and I.  How I feel, what I need this is what matters.  The fact of the matter is, Christian or not, the last few days, I've bought what our society has been selling hook-line and sinker!  As a result, I've been tumbling through a downward spiral.  Notice verse 7 says Jesus emptied himself, by taking on the likeness of men.  Jesus took on the likeness of men, so that through him we could take the likeness of Christ!  Wow what  irony is that?!     I have been focusing a lot on how empty I felt the last couple days, instead of focusing on how I can empty myself out for others as a way of following Jesus' example.  Then the light-bulb came on!  I   was in a cycle of self.  Both one of self condemnation and self entitlement.  Then, like a neon sign yesterday, I remembered Phil. 4:8.  While it took a hurtful comment for me to see it, which if by the way,  you have a friend or family member battling depression it can be harmful to tell them that what they need is Jesus when you know they are already saved, even if it is in a kidding way, condemnation is not a useful teaching method.  We are all human, which is one reason Jesus spoke about forgiving each other.   All that to say God can use even the misguided intentions of the the people who care about us to teach us convicting lessons.  Phil 4:8   Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things.   Paul must have known, and more importantly God knew that for many of us  would struggle to continually focus on Christ instead of ourselves.  So I will ask you the question I'm having to ask myself.  What are we dwelling on?  Are we dwelling on us or Christ?  Are we dwelling on past hurts or present blessings?   Are we dwelling on our failure or the victory of the Saviour?  Are we dwelling on our situation or the God over the situation?  Lord,  if I  must dwell on something, please let be the right something!    Welcome 2011 friends!  I make no vow except that I'm just a gal on a journey to empty myself and praying God will turn my ashes into a crown of beauty before his feet!