A Day at the Spa

It's time. Time for our Golden Retriever, Precious, to spend a day at the spa. You know - the doggie day spa. Following a long winter, her fur is thick and shaggy and in need of skilled hands to transform her tangles into a soft, sleek coat.

Precious loves an adventure. Her excitement is barely contained when she realizes she's in for a car ride. Nothing gets her more wound up then backing the car out of the garage and lifting the hatch. For Precious, this combination serves as an irresistible invitation to defy the invisible fence and make a flying leap into the car. And surprisingly, for an eighty-something pound retriever, she makes it look easy!

Precious doesn't mind going into the vet's office where the groomer has her business. She doesn't even mind stepping on the scale. In fact, everyone within licking distance is sure to know Precious is there. She truly lives up to the breed's sweet-natured, friendliness. But the tail wagging and cooperation stop there.

I'd have to say Precious merely tolerates the fur trimming and thinning process. She begins to show some annoyance when the groomer begins cleaning her ears. And following her bath, the high-pitched whine of the blow-dryer sends her darting into the nearest corner. But the results are amazing.

Clean, soft fur feels like silk under our fingers. Tangled hair no longer forms mats under her ears. Her newly thinned coat and trimmed leg fringes remind us that she's a Golden, and not a wooly mammoth. The shampoo has left her smelling fresh and her toenails are neatly clipped. What a transformation! And in spite of her objections, Precious is clearly much cooler and more energetic as a result of her new 'do.'

My Heavenly Father periodically schedules trips to the 'spiritual' day spa for me. His goal is for me to be an accurate reflection of Him, and for my life to draw others to Him. At first, my prayer echoes that of the Psalmist David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," (Psalm 139:23-24; KJV). When His finger rests on an attitude or action that's displeasing to Him, I begin to squirm.

As the Master Gardener, He begins reshaping the areas that need to be changed. Some cuts are made here. A little trimming done there. The process is painful. I protest, hoping it will be over soon. His word reminds me of the truth - pruning helps me bear more fruit. My job is to abide in Him. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing...Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples," (John 15:5,8).

When I cooperate with the Lord in the reshaping process, the results are amazing. I more accurately reflect my Heavenly Father. The transformation has begun. As I grow to understand that my Savior desires truth in the depth of my being, and that He always has my best interests at heart, I can look forward with eager anticipation to another day at the 'spiritual' day spa!

What about you? Is there something the Father has a finger on in your life? Will you allow the Lord to begin the reshaping process?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your patience with me. Help me to identify and eliminate those things You're displeased with in my life. I know transformation is a life-long process. Thank You that You give me the opportunity to bear much fruit for You. Help me be obedient to You in the reshaping process. In Jesus' name, Amen.

*A re-post from 4/2010

Pass the Salt

Smoking. Not the kind that is hazardous to your health. But the kind that involves cooking meat low and slow. Loosely defined, that’s cooking at a low temperature for several hours. A few months ago, my husband, Steve, purchased a Weber smoker because he enjoys all things barbecue. Big on research, Steve had studied out the smoking process and was ready to test out his knowledge on a pork shoulder.

That first pork shoulder couldn’t have been more delicious. My husband had added the perfect combination of spices to create a mouth-watering rub. The smoker had rendered the meat so tender that the pulling process was a breeze. Pulled pork that should have lasted for several days was devoured within two days. The proper combination of tantalizing spices along with the appropriate amount of cook time, yielded the perfect product. We were eager to eat the pork and boy, was it satisfying!

We’re a little like that perfectly seasoned ‘pork shoulder.’ Sounds a bit crazy, right? Maybe not so crazy when you think about it in light of the gospel of Matthew. Jesus challenges us with these words, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted” (Matthew 5:13; KJV)? See the connection?

Just like the affect of the smoke on the meat during the extended cooking time, when we’ve spent time with the Master in Bible study and prayer, our hearts begin to change, the tenderizing process has begun, and we begin to reflect His light and His aroma to those around us. Salt acts as a preservative on meat. When we’re ‘spiced’ by the Truth, we can share the ultimate ‘preservative’ that has the ability to maintain, protect and prevent spiritual decay.

What a precious commodity we’ve been given! Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word. Will I be faithful with what I’ve been given and remain ‘salty’ in order to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15a)? Or will I keep the ‘salt’ to myself? Christ desires to use me.

With the proper combination of spending time with Him and allowing myself to be the saltshaker, others will ultimately be pointed to and satisfied by my loving Heavenly Father. My prayer is to bear the sweet aroma of my Savior and to ‘pass the salt.’

Are you willing to share the Savior today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving me the opportunity to share Your gospel with others. Give me the courage and boldness I need to share the truth in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Worth What?

The low interest rates got my attention. A simple calculation confirmed my assumption - by moving from a 30-year to a 15-year fixed loan, and adding a few more dollars to our monthly payment, we could save twelve years worth of payments. Now that's my kind of savings!

The catch? With the downward spiral of the housing market, our home/property value may not appraise for what it had years ago. Why is that such a big deal? We don't want to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). Wikipedia defines PMI, "This type of insurance is usually only required if the downpayment is less than 20% of the sales price or appraised value (in other words, if the loan-to-value ratio (LTV)is 80% or more)." Translation? We'd have to add more money to an already increased monthly payment to cover PMI. Would re-financing be worth it?

With everything riding on the appraisal, I cleaned the house, while making mental notes of all the home improvements we've done over the last few years. The appraiser was friendly and very thorough in her documentations. Our appraisal will arrive within a few days. Time to settle in and wait.

A foreclosure in our neighborhood caused home values to be skewed. Funny to think that just a few years ago, our home was appraised tens of thousands of dollars higher than we expect it will be today. Although we've continued to make upgrades and home improvements, our home has not continued to go up in value.

It's encouraging to know that my value as a human being is not at the mercy of a fluctuating economy. The Psalmist, David, offers reassuring words, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well," (Psalm 139:14; KJV). The Lord's love for me, His creation, is evident in the first book of the Bible, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them," (Genesis 1:26a, 27). And he was very pleased with His creation!

Sometimes I'm tempted to find my value in what others think of me. Never a wise move. Just like the fluctuating economy, others opinion of me may change based on what I do or don't do. God loves me unconditionally. His Word tells me so, "But God commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8; word in italics mine).

As I give the Holy Spirit access to all the areas of my life, I don't have to face rejection - I've got God's Word on it, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," (Philippians 1:6). Wow! What a wonderful truth to bask in today. In the big scheme of things, it really doesn't matter what my home is worth. It's enough to know that I'm of immense value to the One who created me.

How do you measure your self-worth? Will you agree with Your Creator, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your great love for me. Help me not to look to others for my value. I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that You love me. Help me to live like the person of value You've made me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Need Help?

I'm not sure how it happened. We were preparing to film another episode for Life Lessons, and I had run upstairs to get a towel to block some unwanted sunlight. I wasn't paying attention as I hurried back downstairs, and before I knew it, I was on the floor - with my right foot bent underneath me. Somehow, I had miscalculated how many stairs I'd come down, and stepped out thinking I was at the bottom of the staircase. With nothing but air to greet my extended leg, I pitched forward, landing on the top of my foot. Needless to say, nothing was filmed that day!

Remember the classic fainting spells on your favorite cartoons? I have to admit, they're pretty accurate. As I sat on the floor, propped up against the wall, I did indeed see stars and it was difficult to hear over the roaring noise that had taken up residence in my ears. Whatever I had done to my foot couldn't be good.

My husband, Steve, to the rescue! Although he didn't SEE me fall, he HEARD it. As I struggled to remain conscious, he was convinced that a trip to the doctor would be a good thing. I was in full agreement - I knew I needed help. Steve's calm demeanor helped me stay focused. Within just a couple of minutes, he had grabbed my purse and shoes and was ready to carry me out to the car.

   

I've battled weak ankles all my life. The good news? The x-rays showed no broken bones. I had only sprained my ankle. Armed with crutches and the determination to be more alert in the future, we made the drive back home.

There's a bigger truth here. Each one of us goes through life focused on our own plans. At some point, something happens and we're faced with the truth: life isn't all about me, and my life won't last forever. We realize we're NOT in control, and in fact, we need help. God's Word sheds light on our condition, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23; KJV).

A decision needs to be made. Will we admit our sinful condition and our need for the Savior? Or will we stubbornly insist on doing things our own way, denying any need for help? The choice is ours. Will we put our faith in ourselves or in the Savior?

Jesus already died on the cross to pay the sin debt for all mankind. He's finished the work that allows you to be reconciled to a holy God. Will you have faith in His atoning work? "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," (Romans 10:9-10).

When I hurt my ankle, I knew I couldn't make it to the doctor on my own. I was grateful my husband was able to help me. If you're on life's proverbial 'floor,' and you don't know Jesus, are you willing to trust in Him today? He'll give you a life full of meaning and purpose as you serve Him, and an eternal home in heaven.

If you already know Jesus as your Savior, will you share Him with someone today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your grace and mercy in my life. Thank You for giving me Your Word that shows me the truth - I'm a sinner. How wonderful to know that You love me, and paid my sin debt, so I can be reconciled to God. Help me share You with others today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Emotions - Can You Trust Them?

I have to be honest. I don't feel like doing anything today. After working out this morning, I feel drained. With muscles like jelly, there is nothing I would  like better than to declare a national holiday: Do Nothing Day.

But I really DO have things I need to get done. Have you ever been there? I found myself involved in an intense struggle. Fortunately, I came to a conclusion in the morning, before too much of the day had slipped away. The truth? Feelings come and go. I can't let my feelings dictate what I do.

God created people with emotions. But they are not to control us. This is an age-old battle. Even the Apostle Paul wrote, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do," (Romans 7:19; KJV). God's remedy? "...Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh," (Galatians 5:16).

What does it look like to walk in the Spirit? If I'm living my life in step with the Spirit, I'll produce some things: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). A light bulb moment. Do you get it?

Living by my feelings puts my needs first. Walking in the Spirit, gives me the ability to focus on others and their needs.

Remember Nabal and his wife, Abigail? A husband and wife faced with the same situation, but they had  radically different responses. David had protected Nabal's shepherds while they were in the wilderness together. Later, when David was in need of provisions, he sent his men to greet Nabal and ask him to provide for their needs. Nabal allowed his emotions to rule his response, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?" (1 Samuel 25:10-11). Nabal thought only of himself.

Abigail's response was totally different. When she heard that David's men had been there, and learned of her husband's evil response, she immediately went to work. She pulled together enough food for a small army, and set out after David and his men. She took it upon herself to apologize for her husband's rude behavior, praising David for following the Lord. Abigail was focused on the needs of others.

Although I'm not in a situation like Nabal and Abigail, how I respond to the circumstances I face, is just as important. I have a choice to make, will I allow myself to be controlled by my emotions, or will I walk in the Spirit? Today, I choose to give the Spirit full control!

Do you allow your emotions to control you? What step will you take today to walk in the Spirit?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me with emotions. Help me to control my emotions and walk in the Spirit. Let the story of Nabal and Abigail remind me of the importance of putting others ahead of myself. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Created for a Purpose

Something was definitely wrong. It was cold. As I stood at the kitchen sink, the air blowing out of the vent at my feet was anything but warm. Overnight, the temperature in our balmy state of Georgia had plummeted, causing us to flip the switch from air conditioning to heat. The only problem was that no warm air was rushing out of the vents to greet us. After a brief trip to the basement, my husband realized that the pilot light was not on and was stubbornly refusing to be re-lit. Time to call the heating and air specialists.

We placed a call to FlowTech Mechanical Services first thing Monday morning. Fortunately they were able to put us on the schedule for later in the evening. Unfortunately, that meant we had to endure the arctic chill that had crept into our house overnight. Its icy fingers convinced us that layers were an absolute 'must.'

Clothed in winter coats and toasty slippers, I wrapped my hands around a steaming mug of coffee, resisting the urge to don a pair of gloves. Ok, so it wasn't quite that cold, but you get the picture! Since our upstairs heating unit was working just fine, both my husband and I retreated upstairs to begin the day's work.

Throughout the day, it was humorous to note that neither one of us spent an extended period of time downstairs. Each of us would only do what was absolutely necessary, before heading back to the comfort of the upstairs. The temperature difference from the chilly downstairs to the pleasantly warm upstairs was noticeable.

It didn't take the heating/air specialist long to determine the cause of our problem. The circuit board was bad and would no longer allow the igniter to do its job; hence the cold air in spite of moving the switch to 'heat.' If I'm not mistaken, when it was originally manufactured, the circuit board's job was to provide power to the igniter which, in turn, causes the unit to heat the air and push it out through the vents, warming the house.

What an accurate picture of our lives before salvation. God created each one of us in His image. Genesis 1:27 spells it out plainly, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (KJV). He created us for a specific purpose: to walk in fellowship with Him, bringing Him honor and glory. When Adam and Eve chose to sin against God, man was no longer in fellowship with his Creator. He could no longer fulfill his God-given role. Similarly, when the circuit board in our furnace stopped working, the pilot light went out and the unit stopped performing the function it was created to fulfill. It no longer heated our home.

A blood sacrifice had to be made to atone for sin so man could once again enjoy a relationship with God (Heb. 9:22). Throughout the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were made according to God's instructions. When God the Father sent His son, Jesus Christ to this earth, He became the ultimate sacrifice to forever atone for the sins of the whole world (Heb. 10:10).

When we accept God's gift of salvation by grace through faith, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Paul words it beautifully in the book of Ephesians, "...in whom (Christ) also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (1:13b). We are once again brought into fellowship with God and we can chose to live a life that is pleasing to Him. We can chose to fulfill His purpose for our lives. In much the same way, when the faulty circuit board was replaced, power raced to the igniter, and once the pilot light was lit, warm air coursed through our house. The furnace was doing the job it was created to do.

What about you? Have you accepted God's gift of salvation by grace through faith so you can walk in fellowship with your Creator? If so, are you fulfilling the role He's called you to?  Pray for His guidance as you follow Him, today.

*A re-post from October 2009.

Amazing Love

He spoke the world into existence. Plants and animals appeared at His command. He created man in His own image. Man chose to disobey his Creator. But God made a way for fellowship to be restored. A sinless sacrifice was required. Only Jesus Christ could pay the price. He, "...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8; KJV). Amazing love!

Over and over, throughout the Bible, God demonstrates His power and love. Only an all-powerful God could deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh. The children of Israel had been slaves to the Egyptians for four hundred, long years. Using His servant Moses, God freed the people and brought them to the banks of the Red Sea. All seemed hopeless, until the mighty hand of God, "...caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (Exodus 14:21b-22). God cared for His people

.

Remember the walls of Jericho? Only a mighty God could cause the walls of a fortified city to fall down flat, using only trumpets and the shouts of people. An amazing feat? Not so much, when you consider an amazing God who is, "long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9b). Before Jericho's walls came tumbling down, one of the cities' residents and her family was rescued: Rahab, her dad, mom, and brethren. Rahab had chosen to believe in the God of the Israelites to the saving of her family. She was convinced of God's love and experienced His provision.

I'm sure the orphan, Esther, never dreamt of being in a beauty pageant, let alone being chosen as the queen of Persia. When she realized the role for which she had been chosen by God, she saw His mighty hand at work. In spite of King Ahasuerus' edict that called for the execution of all the Jews on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar, Esther approached him, risking her life to beg for the life of her people. It wasn't that easy, though. You see, what was put into law by the King, could not be revoked under any circumstances. But the King of Kings triumphed. King Ahasuerus issued a decree that the Jews would be able to defend themselves on Adar 13th. God's plan prevailed and as a result, "many of  the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them" (Esther 8:17).

What are you facing today? Remember that the God of the universe is all-powerful. Whatever you think He's capable of, He's capable of more! His love for you is vast and beyond measure. "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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Praise Him today, for His amazing love!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the all-powerful God who loves me. No matter the challenges I face, help me to turn to Your Word that I may re-discover Your greatness. Praise You, Lord, for who You are!