Life

Freedom isn’t free

Leave a Comment / May 25, 2015

american-flag-679823_1280

Most people view Memorial Day as the beginning of summer.  But think with me for just a minute about the actual holiday and what it stands for.

You see, many men died so that you can be eating that hamburger.  Many men died so that you can be sitting comfortably by your pool.

Many are those who would criticize, humiliate, and otherwise degrade our leaders and our troops.   It pains me to hear it.  For I realize that if America had not stepped in on many occasions, the world would look very differently.  Your life…my life…would look very differently.

I think that we may have become so far removed from World War II, the last war that was felt by every citizen in the United States, that we forget how much freedom truly costs.  We also forget the great reward for the fight.  We do not remember the emotions that surged upon VE-Day or VJ-Day.  You see, if there is going to be freedom, there is going to be a battle.   For there are always evil men trying to rule the world.  Whether it is their own personal world or the entire world.  And when someone tries to stop them, the cost will be great.  And many men will pay with their lives.  I thank the men (and women) who have stood up for freedom and offered their lives, so that many could be free.

On this day, let’s remember those that fought the fight for freedom across this great land.   And their families, as well.   Let’s not forget that someone paid a high price for us to live free here in America.   And for many others across the world to enjoy that freedom, as well.   And, lest you shout, we are not free here in America…do a little checking.  Read about the daily life in most of the countries in the world.  Yes, America has changed and it does grow worse…but it is still where I would choose to live, given the choice!

And one more final thing to think on.  Christ died so that you could be free.  Free from the penalty of sin.  He paid the price.  He fought your war and paid the ultimate price of His life.  He has given the gift of salvation…if you choose to accept it.  I hope that your own personal country is free and secure and at peace.   (John 3:16)

On love and respect…and tone of voice

1 Comment / May 26, 2011

The other day, as I was shopping in the store, I heard a woman’s voice say, “You bring too much junk food into the house.  You have to stop it”.  Or something like that.  But her TONE of voice said “You stupid idiot, what is wrong with you?! ”  I turned to see who she was speaking to and found an older couple.  The woman was speaking in this condescending, holier-than-thou, tone to her husband, who was shuffling behind her with his head down.  What is wrong with this picture?  This is one of many times I have seen a person treat someone who should be…at one time probably was…the love of their life with condescension and unkindness.

Have you ever seen spouses treat each other like this?  Have you ever treated your spouse like this?  I know I have.  I recognized the tone of voice the woman was using, because, sadly, I have used it on occasion.   But if we get in the habit of treating our spouse this way, we are essentially adding bricks to a wall that will grow taller and stronger with each incident.  And, if we are not careful, it will end up casting a dark shadow over the relationship, eventually drowning out the light.  We need to constantly be on guard against treating our spouses in this way.

And this goes for your private moments, too–just because you are a model wife or husband in public does not mean you are treating them with love and respect at home.  Many is the couple who look so happy on the outside, but their true relationship is quite the opposite.   And, oftentimes, the breakdown in these relationships started when we stopped treating one another with respect and kindness.

The other day, I came across a couple I had never met.  The woman had to leave for a moment and the husband proceeded to spout off several unkind remarks about his wife, then rolled his eyes when he told me they had been married 50 years.  I got the impression that he felt like the last 50 years had been a mild form of torture.  The only thing that made him light up was when I asked about his grandkids.  When the woman returned, she gave me the impression that she was unpleasant and bossy.  From the outside, it looks as if this couple has lost all respect and love for one another.  It was heart-breaking.  I wonder if all of those years of treating one another with disrespect and unkindness had changed a couple who had pledged to love one another for eternity to two people that couldn’t stand one another?

If this is something you struggle with (and, if we are honest, many of us do, at least on occasion), why not sit down and have a heart to heart with your spouse and ask them if they feel like they are loved and respected?  And, if not, why not?  Find out if your words have degraded them…discouraged them…disheartened them.  And if they work up the courage to be completely honest with you, do not make excuses.   Do not grow defensive.   Listen carefully.  Apologize.

Treat your spouse with love and respect.  Honor them.  Be grateful for the way God made them.  Remember why you fell in love.  And, in the process, let’s be a shining example of marriage as God created it.  Let’s show the world that it is possible to be in love for a lifetime!

Ephesians 5:22-33

Idol Building

Leave a Comment / April 28, 2011

The other day I read the following verses in Isaiah 46.  As I read them, I found myself wondering how Isaiah might have worded them in modern day America–

Here is how it is written in Isaiah 46:5-7:

5 “ To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
      And compare Me, that we should be alike?
       6 They lavish gold out of the bag,
      And weigh silver on the scales;

They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
      They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
       7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it
      And set it in its place, and it stands;
      From its place it shall not move.
      Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
      Nor save him out of his trouble.

Here is Leslie’s Modern American Translation–

 “ To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
      And compare Me, that we should be alike?
       They lavish gold to buy tickets for athletic events,
      And they spend oodles of time watching screens;

They hire a trainer, and he makes the care of his body a god;
      They miss church for their children’s sporting events, yes, they worship.
       7 They dwell on these things
      And set it in its place, and it stands;
      From its place it shall not move.
      Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
      Nor save him out of his trouble.

Of course, I am not saying it is wrong to watch sporting events, TV, or our children on an occasional Sunday morning.  I am not saying it is a bad thing to take care of your body.   I am, however, concerned about the priority these things take in many of our lives.   They often start taking first place in our hearts.  Sometimes I think I am caught up in these things unawares…and, all of a sudden, I realize they have eaten up a ton of time.   And, yet, while these things are okay, and even good, in moderation, when we invest too much time in them, these things often become an idol for us.

When trouble comes, we cannot save ourselves with our TV, our sports, or our perfectly sculpted body.  God is our help in time of trouble.  He is our rock.  He is our shelter.  May we invest our lives in Him, so that we already know Him when trouble comes.  May the other things that we do in life take second place to the God that loves us.

In a Heartbeat

Leave a Comment / April 11, 2025

April 11, 2025 Update: I wrote the post below during the first year I started writing. It came to my attention this morning and it seems even more relevant now than ever, as several dear friends have gone on to be with the Lord and there have been some scary diagnoses since this was first written. Life really can change in a heartbeat. What an important thing to remember! We aren’t currently in the “holiday season” but we do have a holy day coming up in which we will often spend time with family and friends. It seems like a good time to repost this.

As I look back now over many things I wrote over the years, I realize that I would have written some things with a different tone or expressed them differently. I still believe wholeheartedly in the message below but I also know that life cannot always be wrapped up into a nice perfect package and topped with a bow. I am not sure I expressed this so clearly in what is written below, so I just want to remind my readers to please read what is below with Romans 12:18 in mind: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

This isn’t about fixing relationships or changing them because this just isn’t always possible. Instead, this is to encourage all of us to, as much as it up to us, be at peace with others. It’s to encourage us to have abundant grace towards others and to forgive them freely. Life really is too short to hold on to grudges. I hope this encourages someone today. Here’s the original post—

——————

I can’t help but remember that last year at this time my uncle was rushed to the hospital after a tragic accident. By the end of January, he was with the Lord. I know of another woman who lost her battle with cancer this year. And several others who are fighting the battle of their lives against the “C” enemy. This time each year, I can’t help but look around me and thank the Lord for granting me another year to spend with my family and friends that are still here on earth.  Because life can change. In a heartbeat.

I think we so often get caught up in the things that irritate us about those we love. Or maybe we focus on the political or spiritual disagreements we have with others. But, if  we stop and think for just a moment…we realize that if that person wasn’t with us next year, we would miss them dreadfully. We need to remember to be thankful for the people in our lives. Because life can change.  In a heartbeat.

Instead, we so often let things fester. Ephesians 4:26 says not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. How many of us obey that command from scripture and never go to bed angry? How many of us would rather hold on to our pride than heal a relationship? Or how many of us speak before thinking and say something unkind, not thinking of the hurt we are inflicting? Why do we make such a big deal out of the little things? What if that person was no longer here? Think of how ridiculous you would feel about holding such stupid grudges.

You see, we only live once. And life is too short to hold grudges and have broken relationships. The holidays are a time for family. And lots of times families are the ones who irritate us the most. But I encourage you to let the annoying things roll right off of your back– don’t hang onto them. Yes, this can sometimes be hard to do. But as you practice it more and more it will become easier. Instead, turn your thoughts towards the good things. The love that you have. What you have in common. The way that person has been a blessing to you. Because life is short. And life changes. In a heartbeat.

As for man, his days are like grass; 
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, 
And its place remembers it no more.
Psalm 104:14-16 

Your kid won’t die if they don’t get a guinea pig.

Leave a Comment / December 20, 2010

Christmas week.  A wonderful time of food, family get-togethers, church activities, and...”Christmas Lists”.  Have you felt the pressure?  The pressure to try and do everything possible to give our kids their hearts’ desire at Christmastime?  We love our children.  It seems a natural outpouring of our love to give our kids what they want for Christmas.  But sometimes, they just do not need the newest, latest gadget.  Or sometimes you can’t afford what they want.

Well, I am here to tell you that they will survive!   Is that good news or what??  (I hope you hear the sarcasm in my voice as I write this!)  I know you already know this.  It just seemed like a good week to mention this in case you forgot…

A few months ago, one of my daughters desired a guinea pig with all of her heart.  She spent HOURS researching guinea pig cages and guinea pig food and anything else that had to do with guinea pigs.  She pestered me for about two weeks straight to let her have a guinea pig.  We have owned rabbits, fish, cats, and birds at various times in our household during the last 20 years.   We currently have two dogs.   I do not feel the need to have more pets at this point in my life.   But she would not leave me alone.  She pleaded.   She cried.  She begged.   I finally came up with what I thought was a pretty ingenious idea.   I told this daughter that if she could keep her room clean for a whole month, we would re-visit the idea of the guinea pig.   I had a pretty good idea that one of two things would happen.  She would A) either forget about the guinea pig or B) grow tired of trying to keep her room clean.

And guess what?  I was right on both counts.  I haven’t heard anything further about a guinea pig for a long time.  She made a decision that a guinea pig just wasn’t worth the work involved.

Sometimes our kids’ make it sound like they NEED to have the latest gadget…or that toy they saw on the commercial…or, in our case, the pet that their cousin has.  And sometimes we can find ourselves believing them.  But my little experiment showed me that, not only do they not need it, but that most kids will forget all about it eventually.

Isn’t parenting fun??

The poem that is not really a poem

Leave a Comment / November 4, 2010

There was a time when everything looked clean

My world was timeless

My world was innocent

My world was not reality

And then I grew up and I realized

Life is not a fairytale

Life is not what you see when you are a kid

Life is full of secrets and tragedy and misunderstandings

Is that all?  Wasn’t there more?

And somehow I had to find the joy

In a small child’s giggle

In a teenager’s enthusiasm for life

In a thank you spoken

And I realized life is full of both

The happy moments

The sad moments

The moments on top of the mountain

And the moments in the valley

And through it all I knew

God was there

Always faithful

Even when I couldn’t feel Him

He was there

He is with me now

Because He has promised to never leave me

What signal are you giving?

Leave a Comment / April 29, 2015

stop-light

Imagine coming to a stop light. The light has all three colors glowing steadily. You look at the other lane of traffic trying to determine which light is representing the truth. Should you go? Should you stop? Should you proceed cautiously? Again, you look left and right to discern what the stop light is indicating. But you are really not sure. There is really no way to tell. The stop light is completely void in a case such as this. What if it shows two colors? Again, completely void. Unless the stop light is indicating only one color it is completely ineffectual.

I think sometimes we Christians can be like this. We say one thing but live another. We signal one thing with our words. And another thing with our actions. People look around and try to determine which signal is truth. Unlike the stoplight, they can usually reach a conclusion. The actions are going to speak much louder than the words.  We become ineffective for the cause of Christ. Just like the stop light, we bring confusion. Confusion to the world that needs Christ.

We say that we love others. But our actions indicate that our own agenda is primary. We say we love God. But we entertain ourselves with the things He hates. We say we think it is important to evangelize the world. But we don’t do it. We say that idols are sinful. But how we use our time and resources says otherwise. We say stealing is wrong. But we think nothing of stealing precious time from our boss.

This makes me ponder. Do I give more than one signal? Am I indicating by my words AND my actions that I am a follower of Jesus Christ? Or do my words say one thing and my actions say another?

May I be very careful with my words today. And may I follow up my words with actions. Being sure to say and live the same thing so that only one signal is given when people look at me.

Matthew 23:3

GPS vs. the Map

Leave a Comment / August 10, 2016

map

We were on our way to the beach. Attached to our truck was our 5th wheel camper. My husband decided to go a different way he had heard about from one of his customers–supposedly a more scenic route. We had traveled it twice before but were not really all that familiar with it. We did not have a map along. We had a GPS along. He figured he could figure it out with the little machine that talks.

Wrong.

As we turned off of our much traveled path, I expressed my hesitancy. I was comforted by his assurances that he would definitely be able to figure it out. However, as we traveled along the road, the landmarks became increasingly unfamiliar. We were drawn further and further into major suburbia– not the place you want to be with a 5th wheel attached to your truck!

The problem came when the GPS did not have the same directions in mind that my husband did. The GPS did not know we had a camper attached and was taking us through areas we did not really want to go; areas in which it was extremely difficult to maneuver with a camper attached to you.

Finally, we stopped and bought a map and tried to figure it out. In the meantime, it started to rain–and not just a few drops. It was a downpour of the most severe kind–the kind of rain that it’s hard enough to get where you need to go when you know where you’re going, much less when you have no idea where you are going! Put a couple of kids in the backseat with their accompanying comments, and you can start to imagine the situation. It was not good. (And we didn’t handle it real well…but we won’t discuss that here!)

We did eventually figure it out. After we had crossed the bridge over the Delaware River into familiar territory, I took a close look at the map to see where we had gone wrong. From that perspective I could see exactly what we had done and what the GPS was thinking.  And, we realized, that at one point, had we listened to the GPS, it would have gotten us out of the mess we were in. But we no longer trusted the little talking machine to guide us.

Sometimes it would be nice to have a map of our lives. From that perspective we could see the roads, rivers, mountains, and curves. We could see that, while we may have taken a detour, we are at least headed in the right direction. But, we don’t have a map, and just like we got stuck in the mire of traffic, rain, and confusion on our way to the beach, so we get stuck in the emotion, sin, and confusion in our own lives. Sometimes we feel like we have no idea where we are going. But God knows. He knows exactly the path in which He will lead us through our lives. He knows the sinful choices we will make and He knows the godly choices we will make. He knows the parents, the kids, the siblings, and the friends we will have before we are even born. He knows the jobs we will hold. He knows the vacations we will take. He knows the tragedies we will experience and He knows the moments of joy we will experience. Nothing is outside the border of God’s map of our lives. He knows what will happen even before it happens.

I don’t know about you, but I find that comforting. Sometimes when I am facing the unknown and my life is full of question marks, it is good to know that nothing is a question mark to God. If we have acknowledged we are sinners and saved by grace alone, if we are living according to His Word and commandments, and truly allowing Him to direct our paths, we can rest assured knowing that He will be there to guide us in every step. His word tells us that there is no place we can go that He won’t be with us. And His forgiveness awaits us when we cave to that familiar sin. What an amazing comfort to those of us who truly love the God who saved us!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Romans 8:38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1: 6-8 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

The Slippery “Chick Flick” Slope

Leave a Comment / September 29, 2015

romance

I have a weakness for chick flicks. I love romantic, sweet stories with happy endings. This past weekend I watched one. This delightful story was of a young man and woman who were thrown together into circumstances they never would have dreamed and, eventually, they end up together. Of course.

The movie was really pretty good. Except for the language and taking God’s name in vain. And except for the incredibly crude humor. And the gay couple made to look normal. And the illegal drug use. And the the glorification of unmarried sex.

Even as I write this, I am appalled that I sat through it. But I got so caught up in the story. It was such a cute and funny story.

Does a cute and funny story justify all of the immorality that goes on between the cute and funny parts?

More and more, it seems that romantic comedies are filled with things that God hates. Why are our spirits not “vexed” over this?  “Vexed” means troubled or distressed.  2 Peter 2:8 says (Lot’s) righteous soul was vexed by the unlawful deeds of those living in Sodom and Gomorrah. And, yet, we sit and we laugh at sin. We tell our friends about this great movie we saw, never giving even a second thought to the language and actions that offend our Holy God. Language and actions that are not only present in the film, but oftentimes condoned.

I made a mistake. I wasted two of my God-given precious hours watching a movie that was filled with things that my God hates. I filled my mind with language and actions that go directly against what God wants me to be.

Why can’t I just sit and watch if I know that these things are wrong? It is not like I am going to go out and use bad language or do any of them. But maybe the question is why would I WANT to watch something that would offend the God who loved me enough to send His son to die for me? Why wouldn’t I love Him enough to make entertainment choices that are pleasing to Him?

Entertainment choices are difficult. But I do know this– I want to stand before my Lord in Glory and know that I did everything I could possibly do to keep my life pure and holy in this sinful world. And watching that movie did not qualify as pure and holy. Not even a bit.

Here’s to a new week and better choices!

I Peter 1:13-16  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

The House Auction

1 Comment / July 17, 2015

picket-fence-with-flowers

Many years ago, there was a young couple who lived in a tiny apartment. They wanted so very much to own their own home. Their family was growing and they were running out of room. Not to mention the obnoxious neighbor who lived above them, making their existence there less than ideal.  One day, someone told them about an adorable little house that was going to be up for auction. The young couple drove by the house and grew excited at the prospect of home ownership. The day came for the auction.  The couple waited nervously while a lifetime’s worth of trinkets and furniture were sold. Finally, it was time. Time to put the house up for auction. The bidding started. Oh, no! There was someone very serious about buying the house bidding against them.  The price went up…up…it was getting close to their limit. Now it was beyond their limit. They knew their budget. They knew they could not afford to pay more than their limit. They had to back out. Oh, the disappointment! The young wife honestly thought this was the house for them. She walked away from the cute little house in the woods with her head down and tears in her eyes. She knew there would be other houses but she had fallen in love with this one.

Well, a few months passed. The young couple found another house. It was a little rancher in a nice neighborhood. The man who owned it had inherited it from his mother. He did not need the money. The young couple was able to borrow directly from him instead of going through a bank. They settled into their house and spent the next 9 years of their life there.

One day, a few years after the house auction, the young husband was having a conversation with a friend. This friend knew the people that had bought the house at the auction. He went on to share of the many problems this couple was having with the house. They had had to pour thousands of dollars into the house for some major, unforeseen issues.

And that is when the young wife learned an invaluable lesson. God knows best. There is a reason for why He answers “yes” and a reason for why He answers “no”. There is even a reason for why He answers “wait”. Sometimes we are the one who buys the lemon of a house and, even then, God has a plan for our lives.

By now, I am sure you figured out that my husband and I are the ones who lived out the story of the house auction. Sometimes God show us His reasons He has allowed (or, in this case, not allowed) a particular trial or blessing. But, more often than not, we do not know the reasons. That is what walking by faith is all about. We know that God loves us. Our job is to seek Him with all of our hearts. He will take care of the rest (Matthew 6:33-34). So much easier to write than to live.

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