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Teachable

“I feel like The Lord is telling me I need to be more open minded toward something where I have been very narrow minded”.  I was stunned by what was coming out of my own mouth as I chatted with some friends at a party a few weeks ago.  What I realized in the coming days is that The Lord was already changing my heart long before he brought it to my conscious mind. I thought, from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks as I processed what was happening in my narrow minded thinking on a particular matter. To tell you the truth, my strong will refused and I dug my heels into my stand.  In an effort to hold tightly to what I have known my entire life I began following more people who share my view and thinking. Yesterday another quote came out of my mouth that surprised me but it was something I believe made God smile! No need to go into specific details because the bottom line can be applied to all areas in our lives. I encourage you to ask God to show you where you may be a little narrow minded and to go deeper why. My God is not done with me regarding this matter. Honestly, I’m thankful but dang.

Broken To Reveal the Beauty Below the Surface

Not to long ago I took a not so gracious tumble down the last few steps on the stairwell to my front door. I injured the big toe on my right foot and it hurt; really bad actually. In the moment I was more upset that I lost my diet Arnold Palmer from Chick-Fil-A that I had bought the night before to save time on this particular morning but thankfully my little dog was spared an air flight to the parking lot. When the massive pain decreased I realized the potential to lose this particular toe nail was great. This made me really sad. In vain I've had pedicures to make it pretty but it still looked gross compared to the neighbor toenails.  It's summer and flip flops are what I want to wear everywhere.

As I had suspected, the surface of the nail began breaking off this week from the bottom upward! Honestly, it's really gross. I thought about tweeting a picture but I just can't bring myself to make it public. Maybe I will add a picture to this post ....

Warning, I am going to share some nasty details but it's critical to my point in this post. The top layer is hard and broken which is what I was before Jesus captured my heart and called me His own. Underneath the surface layer is a really thick coat of dried blood; thank you God for the sacrifice of Christ to cover my sin and brokenness! The most incredible truth about this really gross thing on my foot is that below the blood is a new, beautiful and perfect nail. It was in that moment that my heart was pierced with a fresh outpouring of God's love, grace and mercy. He not only made me a new creation but he continues to transform my stubborn heart into something beautiful that I actually want to share and hopefully other people want to behold.

Gold

Life is hard but God is good is something I often say when I find myself in a tough time. There is an old song whose title shares my comforting antidote and I often sing it to myself when saddened by an earthly circumstance. During a recent but long season in a very painful valley the words or melody brought me little comfort. God has given me some new songs that I carried to the throne of my King in tears with the hope he would get me through. He did. He is faithful.

This valley has brought me healing and restoration. Unaware to my conscious were deeply hidden fears wrapped in a cocoon of unbelief. This season of intense spiritual warfare was masking the hand of my loving God who knew the root of doubt and also the way to bring it to the surface.

I want to remember that the creator of the universe knows the way that I take and then run down the path with faith. I sometimes forget this amazing truth. But He knows the way that I take;When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

God's timing is perfect and just

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 13:15

Seasoned With Salt

I had dinner with a few of my good girlfriends tonight. We have a "date night" with each other every few months. It is always a blessing full of fun that only girlfriends can bring to your life. I was sharing a story of something God had done this week and read Psalm 20. As I was finishing the story I noticed two gentlemen sitting at the table behind us had been drawn into the story and were eagerly listening to my praise. I felt a bit awkward at first because I was sharing a personal, intimate story with my sisters unaware of mindful strangers but I quickly moved past that because at the end of the day what does it really matter.

But after thinking on it some more it occurred to me that if my conversation had failed to be honoring to God it could have completely closed their heart to any future encounters they may have with fellow believers. So, at the end of the day it does matter. I left feeling thankful that my conversation gave God glory instead of shame. I hope that seeds of His love were planted in hearts of strangers that I may one day meet.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Father Of Lights

Tonight I felt led to drive through a neighborhood and look at the Sparkling Christmas lights that have lit up the sidewalks for the past few weeks. Decorative lighting that is all white and wrapped tightly around the bottom of a tree trunk to the top with streams cascading down as limbs of light are my favorite kind.

I have noticed this one particular section many times as I have driven down Chimney Rock but could never truly see the delight waiting for me as I hurried past. Tonight I took the time to see what my soul longs for daily. When I turned onto the street there were several homes with lights that fill my hearts delight. I noticed a group of folks gathered around the dining table laughing as they enjoyed the final moments of the evening. I rounded the corner and I was blessed greatly by dozens of trees because they lit up the street like a parade. There was no need for moon light

I stopped. Truly stopped, did not just pause to take in the captivating simplicity of white lights on trees. When I began to drive again I was a giddy girl laughing out loud and longing to touch the streams of light. All I could think about is how Jesus the light of the world and even without the moon, sun or stars He is all the light we need! Enjoy Him in a fresh new way this Christmas.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

Gifts at Christmas

I went to the Third Day and Jars of Clay concert last Friday and it was really good. Third Day is one of my favorite groups but this was a Christmas tour so I expected seasonal Christmas songs but was greatly blessed with wonderful worship songs mixed into the song sets. Songs like Show Me Your Glory (my favorite Third Day song), God of Wonders, Creed and a few others. I was sitting in the third row. I love it, third row for Third Day. I wish I would have taken my camera.

God spoke to me about several things while enjoying tremendous musical talent. One of the things was gift giving at Christmas. I've struggled for many years with giving gifts at Christmas because it always seems to be about what one will be getting or what you want instead of Jesus Christ, the reason for the season. One year I gave bibles for Christmas and it made me sad because they were not very well received. I suppose when someone is not in love with the word of God they do not appreciate such a spectacular gift.

I felt the Lord lead me to purchase gifts with him in mind. To keep them simple yet something extraordinary that may only be fully appreciated by the recipient and the giver of course. The best thing about it is that on Sunday during Gregg's sermon things were mentioned that confirmed what God has called me to do. It is so spectacular when God speaks something over you, you hear it with ears to hear and then it's confirmed with a few days. There is nothing greater than the voice of God!

When you think about it, what could be more simple yet extraordinary than Jesus and his miraculous birth. Praise Him!

Goodbye For Now

At 12:26 p.m. my phone rang and it was my baseball buddy Bret (BBB). The second thing he said to me was “I hate to rain on your parade” … I knew what was next. I hollered in sadness as my dream of marrying an Astros player was crushed (drama can be so fun). After an award winning scene worthy of many accolades I regained my composure to read about the details. It was such a blessing to log into my email to see that a few of my other friends felt inclined to send me the news. Ryan McPhetridge sent me the link at 12:21 p.m., David Hilburn asked me if I was moving to Baltimore at 12:24 p.m. and at 12:40 p.m. Steven Murray sent me a condolences e-card from Dayspring telling me how sad he is for my loss.

The good news in this is that the northeastern part of the U.S. is where my favorite vacation destinations beckon me to come see their beauty. I’ve not yet been to Maryland and it looks like I may visit sooner than later! Just for the record, I may be a fan of a particular player but that does not mean that I'm a fan of the team. I am a fan of the Astros! Furthermore, it seems to me that they sure did give up a lot for this boy Tejada. Yes I know his stats and about his little victory in Minute Maid park during the All Star Game but he better perform and get us to the World Series! I'm done .... at the moment!