Exciting Changes

Hard to believe I began my blogging journey three years ago. In that timeframe, the look and layout of my blog have changed very little. Time to shake things up a bit! Some exciting changes will be taking place over the next several weeks, one of which I'll be rolling out next Thursday.

Join me July 19th, when my Thursday posts begin featuring interviews with fellow writers, missionaries, photographers, and other ordinary people who have a passion to use their talents for Christ. I can't wait for you to meet the inspirational individuals I have lined up, as I kick off this new element on my site.

In the meantime, I'd like to thank each of you for your support over the years. Your comments and encouragement mean a great deal, and it's been a pleasure meeting so many kindred spirits throughout the blogging community. Hurray for YOU!

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.   

The Time In Between

The steamy heat of summer is past. But the cooler days of fall haven't quite arrived. Sometimes it's difficult to be caught in between. It's not quite time to switch the thermostat from cool to warm, and it's too soon to pull out my long-sleeve shirts and sweaters . But hints of fall color have me eagerly anticipating a change.

Time to exercise a virtue I have yet to master - patience. From simple everyday events, to life's major stressors, all require varying degrees of waiting patiently. The dictionary defines the word 'patient' as: capable of bearing affliction with calmness; tolerant; persevering. All wonderful characteristics that don't come naturally. That's because patience, also referred to as long-suffering, is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in my life.

Waiting can be hard. But it also offers me an opportunity for growth. I can use this time of waiting to evaluate things. Is there anything I need to change? Something I need to do differently? The Apostle Paul offers some challenging words for me to consider, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," (Hebrews 12:1; KJV).

My life is a journey. Others are watching. Times of waiting require patience. Will I give in to my impatience, charging ahead recklessly, or submit to the will of my Heavenly Father who knows exactly what I need? When I make the choice to run life's race with patience, times of waiting become opportunities to point others to the Savior.

On this journey of life, how do you view times of waiting? Do you get impatient? Are you willing to see waiting as an opportunity for growth? Focus on Jesus. Take a step toward patience and make the Savior known!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for times of waiting in my life. Help me to submit to the Holy Spirit, so I can develop the quality of patience. When others see this characteristic in my life, help me to be quick to point them to You. You are worthy of all of my praise. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A New Chapter

The house is still. Her room is strangely empty. A chapter of her life is complete and a bright new chapter has begun. Although it happened before our eyes, it's still hard to believe that childhood dependence has gradually shifted to the independence of adulthood. I still remember being entertained for hours by a little girl who couldn't get enough of playing, 'Waitress.' With pen and paper in hand, she'd make up a menu that left my mouth watering. Now she's the one ordering from the selection at her college cafeteria.

After a weekend of travelling, unpacking, getting our daughter, Riley, settled in her dorm, and making the trip back home, my husband and I are just coming to grips with the fact that our lives have radically changed. And change can be challenging. But change also helps me to realize my need for an unchangeable God. What an encouraging promise echoes from the book of Hebrews, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8; KJV).

The same God who comforted parents decades ago, offers that same comfort to those experiencing an empty nest today. When I begin to wonder whether I was an effective mom, I can look beyond myself to the One who gave me the incredible gift of a daughter. At the age of seven, Riley called on the Lord Jesus Christ to save her, and became His child. I can rest assured that He is able to take good care of her! The book of John encourages me with the truth that nothing is able to remove my girl from the Father's hand, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:27-29).

The campus is beautiful. Meticulously maintained grounds, with palm trees swaying in the warm Florida sunshine, make the setting positively idyllic. The student body is the perfect size without being overwhelming. Everyone is extremely friendly. The college is founded on Christian principles. These things aside, if this wasn't the college the Lord had directed her to, we would not have felt comfortable enrolling her. But in spite of the fact that the college is several hours from our home, and we won't see our daughter as often as we'd like to, there was a sense of peace that settled over my husband and I, even as we said our tearful goodbyes. The Apostle Paul speaks of this peace we can experience when we pour our hearts out to the Lord, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7).

No doubt, the days ahead will be filled with the challenge of change. I'm thankful for a God who never changes, who takes care of His own, and who fills my heart with peace when I lay my concerns at His feet. What a mighty God we serve! "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psalm 107:8-9).

Are you being challenged with change? Lift your eyes to the Lord, and you'll find Him more than able to meet your need!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I'm so grateful that You never change. You hold me in the palm of Your hand, and You cover me with Your peace. Help me to surrender to the work You're doing in my life. May I be an accurate reflection of You to those around me. Amen.

Worth the Effort

It wasn't advice I wanted to hear. In order to rise above my current level of fitness and reach my goal, I'd have to increase the intensity of my workout. Ugh! Push myself harder, sweat more, endure pain, and be willing to vary my routine. I'm a creature of habit, so I didn't exactly embrace the change that was required. But after just one week, I can say with a smile, that I'm glad I did!

The advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages. More energy, better focus, and just an overall sense of taking better care of the body God has given me, trumps the extra effort, sweat, pain, and change I was dreading. Honestly, I can even say that changing up my cardiovascular activity has been surprisingly pleasant.

It didn't take me long to see the application. It's easy to get comfortable in my spiritual life. But God desires for me to be sanctified - the process of becoming more like Christ in my attitudes, ambitions and actions. Simply put, He wants me to grow. But I know that becoming more Christ-like will involve hard work. It will involve introspection and evaluation, and that can be painful. I'm tempted to stay right where I am - but the voice of my Savior from the pages of scripture, woos me to get up and continue to follow Him.

I can learn a lot from the Psalmist David's approach to this matter, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:6-7; KJV). I can learn volumes from this king described by God as, "a man after his own heart," (1 Samuel 13:14).

Am I careful to identify wrong behavior in my life and agree with God that it is, indeed, sin? Or do I try to justify my behavior? If I truly desire to grow in my relationship with God, I must put off those things that displease Him. The idea of purging isn't exactly pleasant, but just like strenuous exercise, the benefits are worth it. The definition of the word purge, is to free from impurities. To be clean. Nothing beats the feeling of being clean after a hard day of manual labor. My heart longs for that same cleansing.

The question becomes, will I listen to and heed my Savior's words? Will I choose to leave my spiritual comfort-zone in favor of following Christ more closely? Not doing more things to win His approval, but truly giving Him access to my heart, that I can be cleansed of my selfish ways and have sweet fellowship with my Heavenly Father. Today, I desire a thorough cleansing so I can reap the eternal benefits of a life lived for Him!