God Doesn't Keep a Scorecard!

JEREMIAH 33:11 (NIV)

“…Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; His love endures forever…”

          Recently I read a devotion from Adam Hamilton’s Church and the comments by Darren Lippe on the devotion included a quotation from a sign outside a church in Georgia. The sign said, “What if today was filled with only the stuff you thanked God for yesterday?”

            Wow! That really hit home for me! I pondered how often I went to bed without thanking God for His blessings throughout the day. I was not happy with my scorecard. I am forever grateful that our God does not keep a scorecard!

          I often read about the lack of etiquette these days because people do not write thank you notes for gifts. I wonder if the same people complaining about the lack of thank you notes remember to send their thanks each day to our Creator.

          A priest I know once gave the shortest sermon I ever heard but it was also one of the most meaningful to me. He said, “Above all else God is Merciful…I don’t know about you but as a sinner that is the best news I’ve ever heard.” To me that says it all.

          So now I make a conscious effort to thank God for His daily blessings. But I will continue to be forever grateful that even when I forget, God does not keep a scorecard!

           

Nothing is Impossible for GOD

1 Corinthians 2:14 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual^[a] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

1 Corinthians 2:14 New Life Version (NLV)

¹⁴ But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand.

          The gift of faith is an awe inspiring phenomenon not easily understood by those who are steadfastly logical. FAITH is not logical, according to dictionary.com it means “belief that is not based on proof”. So it is very difficult for an extremely logical person to accept anything based on faith.

          I see this verse speaking to that difficulty; there are many things that we Christians take on faith alone. With no logical basis for our beliefs it remains difficult BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE for those without faith to accept.

          At first glance, the New Life Version seems exclusionary to me, because it is saying that only Christians can understand. In my opinion, as Christians, we need to be extremely careful about our choice of words, because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!! So we must be careful not to alienate others who are seekers.

          Jesus told us not to judge, He even said He was not a judge but only the Father could judge. When we make statements such as, ‘if you’re not a Christian you don’t understand’ it may come across as arrogant and that would definitely not be helpful.

          Jesus wants us to share the Good News but then let the Holy Spirit do the rest. It is not up to us to judge whether someone will understand or not.

         

"Do Not Fear"

LAMENTATIONS 3: 55-57 (NRSV)

“I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea…You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not Fear!’”

          Oh, what an awesome, loving God I have! How blessed I am to have a deity that gives me hope. How blessed I am to have a loving creator who cares about my little pits and my grand craters of life.

          Honestly, I rarely look at the Book of Lamentations; let’s face it, even the name is depressing! I go to Scripture to give me strength, not feed my lows. But recently a new devotional book I’m using has been going to this book as part of the readings for the day. Wow! Once again, it blew me away how faithful and true my Lord is to His word. God never turns His back on His own. No matter what I go through…small or large trials…He is right by my side.

          “Fear Not” appears 63 times in the King James Version of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, according to www.BibleGateway.com. We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that, “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” (NKJV)  “Fear Not” appears 48 times in the Old Testament. Paul, the author of this letter, studied the Hebrew Scriptures. I’m sure he knew, as one of my pastors often told us, that when something is repeated in the Scriptures God wants us to take note of it. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry of sharing the Good News with others. Paul knew without a doubt that God did not want His followers to fear anything.

          So when I am faced with the inevitable pitfalls of life, I need to remember to “Fear Not” because the Lord is beside me. And you know what; I peeked at the end of the book, so I know that God wins the final battle!-)

A Different Kind of Devo

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEVO

Sometimes It’s Good To Be Invisible

          I received my Smithsonian magazine this week; I always enjoy reading their articles. This time though one made me sit back and think. Apparently, Thomas Jefferson had cut and pasted his own version of the New Testament together by using different translations and had them bound together so he could use this for his private prayer time. The article entitled, “Jefferson’s Bible” by G. Wayne Clough states that “Jefferson’s views of religion were complex and he was reluctant to express them publicly. “I not only write nothing on religion,” Jefferson once told a friend, “but rarely permit myself to speak on it.”  To me that statement means he did not intend for this book to be published. Yet, the article goes on to say, with pride, that the Smithsonian is sharing this handmade book with the world.

          It made me think; sometimes it is good to be “invisible”. I frequently write my thoughts and prayers in my journal. I know many others who do the same. I don’t know about you but the thought of my private prayer journal being made public—even to my family bothers me. I want my journals destroyed after my death, if not before.

          Perhaps I am the only one who feels this way and that’s okay too. I write because that is easier for me to concentrate when I talk with God. To be perfectly honest, sometimes I write letters to my hubby because it is easier for me to put my thoughts together on paper.

          At any rate, as the title states, this is a different type of devo, one to make us more aware of the importance of privacy. Where do we draw the line? When do we think, okay this was between him and God and that privacy should be respected.

          On the other hand, is the publication of this “Bible” somewhat akin to the publication of the Psalms, which were poems and songs written to God during good times and bad?

          Looking at Psalm 137 we see a people raging in desperate grief. Do you think the writer of this thought that thousands of years later people would still be reading his vile hatred spewed out in verse, 137:9, “Happy is the one who takes your babies
      and smashes them against the rocks!”

Christ Accepts Us as We Are...

Romans 15:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

          How easily I fall into the role of judge and jury. Not only when watching reality TV but also while living my daily life. Being brutally honest with myself I must admit I do this regularly. I know all the Scripture verses about judge not lest ye be judged but put me behind the wheel of a car and all those verses seem to drift away. Actually some days they blast away, far, far away! There is always someone driving too slow or too fast in my opinion.

          Looking at my life outside the car I definitely am more aware of my critical attitudes with others. Yet just today I have been reminded that sometimes (honestly-more often than I care to admit) I forget that accepting attitude when I enter my home.

          Sometimes I cross that threshold and I seem to become someone no one outside the home would recognize. How awful is that? The people I love most bear the brunt of my human weaknesses.

          I need another attitude adjustment…I need to accept my family members as they are and not hold them to unattainable standards. I need to accept me as I am while still being willing to make the needed attitude adjustments. I need to look at this verse and realize that Christ has accepted each of us and living in His light can only bring glory to God. 

God's Got a Plan for Each of Us

Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

          This verse is SO comforting to me. I love knowing that SOMEONE has a plan for me; when I realize God is that someone it’s even better. One of the good things about living for more than half a century is that fewer things throw me into a panic! I believe the reason for that is because God has shown me His presence over the years.

          I can look up and say, “Ok, God, what am I supposed to learn from this?” instead of screaming, “Why me?” I am not saying it is easy to get to this point because it is not at all easy. As a matter of fact sometimes the journey is devastatingly painful. The difference now is I know without a doubt that God is truly concerned about ME. I know God will work to make all things right in the end.

          I have spoken of my father in the past and once again I can use him as an example of integrity. Yet no matter how faithful and trustworthy my dad was he was still human and at times made mistakes. The awesome thing about my heavenly father is that He NEVER makes mistakes. He totally stands by His word.

          So next time you feel lost or have no idea where you are headed turn to the Lord because He has a plan just right for you!

Turn to God first!

Ephesians 4:30-32 (ASV)

³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

            BITTERNESS one of life’s awful destructive powers, it cannot only destroy my relationships it can also destroy me-from the inside out! According to Dictionary.com, bitter is “having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste.” Merriam Webster defines bitter as “harshly reproachful, marked by cynicism and rancor.”

          Bitterness is a pill I often swallow and allow to fester inside me. This causes not only my sarcastic, cynical nature to burst forth but it also throws me into a physical flare up of my chronic conditions. I once read a saying about when we don’t forgive it is like taking rat poison and then expecting the rat to die! I have experienced the results of such poisoning and I refuse to allow it to take hold of me again.

          That harsh, acrid taste started to rise up in me again this morning after reading a post on facebook. Even though I thought I had cut the cord that bound that suitcase full of bitterness the last time I handed it to Christ, I found that cord became a bungee cord as that bitterness snapped back into my gut, knocking me over. In my Bible Study, My Life as a Citizen of Heaven, there is a section on Personal Attitude Adjustment.  This time, when I felt that bile rising in me, I realized I truly needed an attitude adjustment and  I turned to God’s Word.

          This time I pleaded with God not to allow that bitterness to take hold. I searched the Scriptures because I knew He had to have something to say about bitterness. I no longer would allow that bungee cord to have the last word. With God’s loving words I was able to cut the cord this time. I stand on His words about forgiveness.

          I also took the practical steps (with God’s help) of removing the offending facebook posts from my view. God will give us the help we need, even if it is help to understand the tech world of social networking. Turn to God first!

Cuddling with ABBA

ABBA

          There are hundreds of names for God but my favorite is ABBA. According to the glossary at the Hebrew for Christians site, the word ABBA is an Aramaic form of endearment for father. Jesus uses that term while praying at the Garden of Gethsemane according to Mark 14: 35-37; “³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (NIV)

          Scholars tell us to be careful about thinking of God, the Creator of the Universe, as “Daddy”. They caution us about becoming too familiar with God and not giving Him the proper respect.

          One of the things I love about my relationship with my God is that I do not need to depend on Scholars to define it. My thinking is greatly influenced because I was blessed to have a wonderful loving and warm earthly dad. Whether I called him Daddy or Dad or referred to him as Father in my writings I never lost respect for him or his position as head of our family.

          It has been many years since I was able to hug my earthly father; he has been home with our loving Creator for 29 years. But I can cuddle with my ABBA father anytime I pray and I often do. For me it is not only comforting but also spiritually energizing.

          So let me suggest that the next time you pray get comfortable, close your eyes and allow the presence of our Heavenly ABBA to envelop you and give you His peace and wisdom.

            

Teach Us to Live

James 3:13 True Wisdom Comes from God New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

James 3:13   Live Well, Live Wisely The Message (MSG)

 ^13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

          Once again I find The Message helps me to understand Scripture in my terms. We see this earthly wisdom daily, unfortunately usually from our politicians. The men and women we chose to represent us have this “Mean-spirited ambition” disguised as wisdom and we see it in their day to day dealing with us and each other. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the world leaders would live honorably and look out for what is best for the people they represent?

          What would the world look like if we all lived by God’s wisdom? When I think about Jesus coming and living on earth I don’t think of palaces and a million different pairs of sandals. I think of how He touched peoples’ lives.

          Philippians 3:19-21 states: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (NIV)

          Dear God, as Christians we are called to be Your hands, feet, and mouth on this earth. Help us to live as Jesus lived…more concerned with those in need than those in power.

What's the Cost of a Smile?

Philippians 2: 3 (NRSV)

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard other as better than yourselves.”

Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)

 ^1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

          Sometimes I find the paraphrase of The Message makes everything so much clearer. Once again Philippians becomes my guide book about how to be a Citizen of Heaven on earth. Putting others before me doesn’t mean thinking negatively about myself. It means not being selfish, when we see another in need. It means stepping out and offering to help, whether the help is financial or physical.

          How about the simple thing of our place in the checkout line? Would it really hurt us to allow someone behind us with only a few items go in front if we have a cart full of things? How about how we treat the sales clerks or checkout people? Do we huff and puff because their employer has had to cut costs and has few people to help which means longer lines? Or do we smile and offer a word of encouragement to them?

          What is the cost of a smile? Sometimes we treat them as if they were treasures to be hoarded. Over the years I have discovered they are treasures, but treasures that are multiplied the more I share them. Try it sometime as you walk down the street or through a store. A pleasant hello and a smile may change someone’s day.

          

WHAT IF...?

Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

          This really hit me today. If I truly love God with all my heart, mind and soul, then I would have to love myself and others because we are his creations.  In the ‘80”s there was a quaint little saying going around… “I’m okay, ‘cause God doesn’t make junk!”    If I truly believe God is the Creator of the Universe, then I must truly believe that God created each one of us. In Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” (NLT) Whether we believe the story of Adam and Eve and the apple or think of it as an allegory is not an issue. What is the issue is that God told us that He made humans in His image.

God told us to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR. Jesus explained to us who we should consider our neighbor in Luke 10:29-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan.

          Remembering that in the time of Jesus the Samaritans were considered lower than dirt, who should I consider my neighbor today? Could it be the sandpaper people I come in contact with during the course of my life? How about the faceless people known collectively as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc? Or is it just the people with faces plastered across the worldwide web and other media sources? Who would I cross the street to avoid, those are the people that God calls me to love.

          Our media is very good at building up our fear quotient these days. What would happen if we each decided to live by the “Great Commandment?” WHAT IF we followed Christ’s example and reached out to those who persecute us, in love rather than fear and hate?

Forgiveness

MATTHEW 18:21-35 (NLT)

 ²¹ Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  ²² “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, 

“but seventy times seven!

³⁵ “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

          When Peter asked Jesus how many times he needed to forgive others, I picture Peter being very surprised by the response. The Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) had taught an eye for an eye. Even though in Matthew 6:9-14, Jesus tells His disciples, “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Now Jesus goes even further by saying basically there is no time you should not forgive.

          Sometimes I wonder how God expects me to do that…forgive someone who has wronged me or worse my children. Then I think of that wonderful song by John Newton, “Amazing Grace”. When I look at those words I realize that it is only by God’s grace that we can possibly forgive others or ourselves.

          I once did a Bible Study by David Jeremiah, called Captured by Grace. This book drew comparisons between John Newton and the apostle Paul, Jeremiah said both men were captured by grace. He went on to discuss the differences between grace and mercy. Jeremiah said, “Mercy is God withholding from us what we truly deserve.” And “Grace is God giving to us what we don’t deserve.”

          When I look back at this discussion of mercy and grace how can I not forgive someone else? I admit this is not yet my automatic response but after much prayer I am usually able to hand my bitterness over to God. Once again the key is prayer.

"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

PHILIPPIANS 4: 4-7

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

 ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

          I am truly inspired by the book of Philippians; there is a wealth of lessons to be learned from this book. For instance, the above verses come right after a plea for two women believers to settle their differences and focus on what they have in common—the Word of God.

          Paul then writes about being full of joy in all circumstances, he continues with “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything”.  Yesterday was the 10^th anniversary of the awful day in which thousands were killed by a group of terrorists. Tensions were high this past weekend, with people remembering the devastation and the media pumping up their ratings by warning people of inevitable new attacks. Paul is not calling us to be “Polly Annas”; he is calling us to be strong in our faith.

          Paul did not write this letter to the Philippians from the veranda of a seaside villa, he wrote this message from prison. He is not promoting wearing rose color glasses; he is reminding followers of Christ that even when things look bleak there is still reason to rejoice. As we face our inevitable dark times (whether in our personal life or in our worldly life) we need to be a beacon of light to others. We need to pray and continue to build that relationship with God, so others will look at us and say, “How can you be so calm during all of this?” Then we can share that peace “which exceeds anything we can understand.” We can share the fact that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus.

          There is an old song by Bobby McFerrin, released in September of 1988, titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.  One thing Mr. McFerrin’s song lacks is a call to prayer. Prayer is the key to peace and happiness; because prayer is the key to building our relationship with God. Prayer is the one thing we can control when things are spiraling out of control. Interestingly enough the key to control is giving that control over to God.

          May we all experience God’s ultimate peace and become beacons always willing and able to share His light and love with others.

Let's Party!

PSALM 91:15 (The Message)

 Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
      I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. 

          Is anyone in the mood for a party? I know I could use some good cheer today.  The weather both local and national is enough to make me want to hide somewhere and vegetate for awhile.  Then I look at this verse where God tells me to call Him and He’ll be at my side, how could I not feel happy. 

          I have a really good friend who lives far away and when we get together we have a great time. This only happens about once a year because of the distance. I look at this verse and I think…God is my best friend and He is as close as a whisper of His name.  There is no issue of miles or weather conditions, I don’t have to worry about the number of bars I have on my cell phone or if my wireless connection is working for my computer. I just have to whisper His name and He is right beside me.

          Just knowing that I can call on Him when times are good or when times are bad gives me an indescribable peace. For me it is like the peace that Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:7; “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

          Who could resist a party thrown by the Creator of the Universe? Not me, so why not join me in whispering His name and knowing His peace?

I Trust in Him and I am Safe

PSALM 91: 1-2 (The Message)

You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" 

PSALM 91: 4 (New Living Translation)

 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

          I have been blessed with friends that I can call on and they will help me when I need a ride or just an open ear. But there are some times when I just don’t know how to put into words what I feel or need. That is when I come back to this Psalm and its promise of God-(El Shaddai-the all sufficient one, the destroyer, the feeder of babies) as my protector.  During these times I think of El Shaddai as the nurturer, someone I can cuddle up with and just be. El Shaddai allows me rest and refocus, helping me prioritize and not panic.

          Reading all of Psalm 91 just infuses me with a spirit of calm and confidence. Each time I read verse 4, it reminds me of a story I heard about a raging forest fire and a firefighter who came upon a charred bird at the base of a burned tree. When he knocked the bird over a handful of unharmed chicks came scurrying out from underneath her wings. This mother bird gave up her life for her children, just as God, in the form of Jesus Christ gave up His life for me.

          I love going back to this Psalm and finding the treasures throughout. Most of all I love the picture of being protected under the arms of our Creator. Some days I just need that rest, how about you?

We Are Marvelously Made!

PSALM 139: 13-16  (The Message)

13 -16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!   Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!  You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

PSALM 139:14

Body and soul, I am marvelously made! (The Message)

Years ago a special new friend gave me a beautiful mug with Psalm 139:14 etched on it. She had no way of knowing that verse would touch my heart and begin a new season in my life. I have found that God often works this way, using ordinary people to touch me in extraordinary ways. 

I had never thought of myself as being marvelously or wonderfully made. Sometimes I admit I thought of myself as being fearfully made, as in, I could frighten someone with my looks. I looked in the mirror and always found faults with any number of my physical traits.

For the past decade I have dealt with numerous medical issues, making it even more difficult to believe “I am marvelously made!” One day as I was drinking my morning coffee I looked at the verse, perhaps really seeing it for the first time. I read it aloud; I wrote it in my journal, more importantly I started to write it in my heart.  This was no instantaneous epiphany; I still had numerous doubts about my self-worth but I began to see a glimmer of God’s marvelous creation.

One of the marvelous things about living for more than half a century is the amount of past experiences I can draw from to continue to grow in God’s ways.  For instance, at a retreat one of the speakers spoke about low self-esteem being like a slap in the face to God. Here is this marvelous gift of life God gives to me and I tell Him it’s not good enough. Wow! That’s when I learned low self-esteem had nothing to do with humility. I went to the Lord with tears of shame and left with tears of joy, enjoying His forgiveness and His wisdom.

Does this mean I never have self-doubts? Not at all! This means I live each day knowing I can go to the Scriptures and remind myself that I am marvelously made with a purpose ordained by the Creator of the Universe. When I do this I see each day as a gift from God, one to be enjoyed not scrutinized.

Thank you God for Your marvelous wisdom that allows me accept me as I am.

  

We Are Never Alone

PSALM 139: 1-6

Psalm 139:3 “You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (NASB)

         There have been times in my life when I felt totally alone, even in the midst of a group of people. I have even felt invisible at times, accepting the fact that my opinions were not important.

          When I read Psalm 139 I could not help but be shocked that the Creator of the Universe was interested enough in me to know and understand my thoughts. The words in verse 3, “intimately acquainted with all my ways”, jumped off the page and struck my heart. No longer was I alone, no longer did my thoughts and opinions count for nothing. I could not wait to share this truth with others. I found my once shy self being transformed into a passionate sharer of His word.

          I found my voice in sharing His Word. For years, I taught religious classes to children, trying to make His word come alive in their lives. Then I had to opportunity to lead adult classes. I have even had the opportunity to share my story with others at a retreat, as one of the speakers.

          One of the most amazing examples of God stepping into my life when I was following His will, came when I had a speaking engagement before the local district of the United Methodist Women. A few days before the engagement I lost my voice, it had not returned by the day of the meeting. The women prayed for me and the moment I stepped up to speak, my voice boomed forth. I have never experienced anything like that before or since. One thing I knew for sure…I was NOT ALONE.

Welcome!

The Lord has been good to me and I'd like to share His love and peace with others through my writing. Enjoy your visit here and may it enrich your heart and soul!

Mary James