“Don’t Let Anyone Steal You or Kill You!”

        The words of my mom…any and every time Emily or I left the house for somewhere:  “Don’t let anyone steal you or kill you!”  Even to this day, she tells us that before we head out the door, even if it is just walking to the car.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought that if anyone was going to try to steal or kill me, I wouldn’t just “let” them do it. 

          That’s just like Jesus.  We live our lives for Him and have joy in our hearts, but the devil is out there lurking.  He wants to steal us from living for the Lord and in the end, kill us.  I’m guilty of letting my guard down sometimes.  Getting a little too friendly or close to things of the world:  things the devil can use to trip us up.  I, for one, need to do a better job putting up a fight, letting the devil know that he does not have the power to “steal me or kill me”, I’m already claimed! 

So as silly and overprotective as mom’s advice may be, take it to heart…I think Jesus would have the same suggestion for each of us!

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring

of life.”

Proverbs 4:23  NIV

A Father’s Love

           Being a preacher’s kid (yes we’ve heard all of the jokes!) you often feel that people hold you to a different standard.  Sort of like, “well if the preacher’s kids are doing it, it must be ok” or “I can’t believe a preacher’s kid would act like that”.  It never really bothered Emily or me because I can remember, even as little girls, Dad telling us that no matter what we did he would never be ashamed of us.  He might not like our choices, but we could always come home and not have to worry about him being ashamed.

            We all make mistakes in life and our walk with the Lord.  I have found that every time I hit my knees, I’m not greeted with shame and disappointment;  it’s love and mercy I have found time and time again.  Wasn’t it the parable of the prodigal son that Jesus used to illustrate His love and grace?  That father surely didn’t like his son’s decisions and the way he was living his life, but when the boy came back, he found nothing short of open arms and unwavering love.  His father didn’t say he was ashamed of him or disappointed (though I’m sure he probably felt it), he simply welcomed him home. 

            I can’t think of a better man than my dad.  To me, he is the epitome of God’s love, compassion, grace, and understanding.  I’m so thankful for a love like he has shown Emily and me.  Because of his demonstration it has been easier for us to accept God’s love.

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:18 – 20  KJV

I Really Have to Wear that Hat?

        A few years ago I had kidney stones.  I had to go to the hospital for some bloodwork and when I was leaving, the lady at the desk handed me a contraption of some sort.  When she handed it to me, she said, “here is your hat.  Use it every time you pee so you can see if you pass any stones.”  Hmm.  Ok.  Well, I don’t know if it was the blonde roots talking or the pain (I’m sticking with the pain, even though I’m fairly sure it was the roots), but I looked at her with an amazed look and said, “what?!?”  She repeated herself and I continued on to say, “you mean I really have to wear that hat every time I pee??”  The nurse looked at me with an ‘are you kidding me’ kind of look.  So, not one to let things go, I repeated myself, “I have to sit on the toilet wearing this hat?  Why?”  I could not figure out why she was looking at me so strange…surely there were other people out there who had asked why in the world wearing a hat on the toilet would let you know if you passed a kidney stone or not.  I could visibly see the nurse collect her thoughts and very carefully choose her words.  She was eventually composed enough to say, “No, honey, you pee into it…it’s a strainer.”  I didn’t need to say anything else.  I collected my “hat”, thanked the lady, and walked away to the sound of her hilarious laughter. (Only me, LOL!!!)

Sometimes the Lord gives us tasks to do, or different “hats” to wear, if you will.  It might be so far out of our comfort zone, but He has chosen that task specifically for us.  We may feel ill-equipped for the job, or able to point out many others who would do a better job than us, but He didn’t call them to the task, He called you.  Just as I was willing to wear the strainer on my head (granted, I was very confused by the thought? lol), I think sometimes He is putting our willingness to test.  He wants us to accept His call, put on the hat He has given us, and get to work.  Nothing glorifies Him more than a willing spirit.   

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”

Romans 2:13  NIV

Spa Days

               One of my absolute favorite days of the year is when I go with my best friend of 20+ years to the spa and shopping.  Our favorite part of the day is always when we get to the spa, we get big, fluffy, comfy robes to wear, ice water to drink out of fancy wine glasses, and then we get to sit and wait in a “relaxation room”.  Now let me tell ya, this room definitely lives up to its name!  It is complete with low lighting, a waterfall, huge enveloping chairs, fresh flowers…you get the picture!  Anyhow, the part we love most is sitting in that room talking to each other.  It’s like we are in our own little world and nothing else is around or matters at that moment except what she is talking about.

                I thought about the spa in a spiritual sense.  I sometimes cannot wait to get to Heaven so that Jesus can issue me my own comfy robe to wear, water from a beautiful wine glass and a place to sit and talk with Him.  Just like it is when I’m with my best friend of 20 years, there’ll be no need to try to impress Him or be somebody I’m not…He knows all about me anyways…it will just be so relaxing to sit and have a conversation with Him!  I won’t have any other cares or concerns, I will be content. 

                I don’t think I’ll care about the fresh cut flowers; I want to breathe Him in.  I don’t think I’ll care about the waterfalls; I want to wholly and completely listen to Him.  I don’t think I’ll care about the big, enveloping chairs; I’ll be on my knees. 

                Days with my oldest and dearest friend are the best kind of days down here…I cannot imagine what one day (or a thousand years?) in Heaven will be like with my TRUE best friend and Savior.  But if I had to guess, I’d say the spa doesn’t hold a candle to what’s in store up there!

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

Revelation 22:1-5  KJV