I have a hiding place for all my special things; my favorite pair of earrings, a hand written note from a friend, pictures drawn by my children when they were much younger or a ticket stub from a memorable night. When I receive something special I will say, “This is a keeper”! And it goes right in my………..underwear drawer. OK, now it is not a secret but I still feel relatively confident that my treasures are safe. Oh, I could have some fun with this but I won’t. Any hoo……..
While I was having my quiet time this morning I read Psalms 119:11 “Your Word I have laid up in my heart that I might not sin against you”. I thought of my secret hiding place where I store my earthly treasures. Then my mind went to my heart where I store my spiritual treasures. God’s Word is a keeper and I should hide it in my heart. Why? So that I might not sin against God. It is hard to sin when your heart is full of God’s Word.
I can memorize a song after hearing it only two or three times. I can remember a recipe without a problem. I can remember the title and author of a book I want to read. I can remember where I saw that great pair of shoes I want to buy. But somehow when I try to remember scripture I become memory impaired. Memorizing scripture takes effort (for me, lots of effort). But I can’t think of any more valuable way to spend my time. I am convicted to make this a priority. Two verses a week = 104 verses per year. 104 verses x 10 years= 1040 verses. WOW!!!! Now that would be an accomplishment. How do you “sin proof” your life? Make regular deposits of God’s Word in your heart.
God’s Word is a keeper! Don’t get confused and store your Bible in your underwear drawer, please store it in your heart.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
On Guard!!!!
I love to sword fight. My weapon of choice is a cardboard tube leftover from the Christmas wrapping paper. I don't know what happens to me but when I see one I have to play with it. I just have to bonk someone on the head or poke someone in the belly. It is really fun when there are two of us play sword fighting (yes, this is weird).
Several years ago I was preparing my message for the spring retreat on the armor of God. I decided that I needed some props. So I made girl armor, mainly because I am a girl. I used lots of jewels on the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Shield of Faith. The Shoes of Peace were the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz (I am from Kansas you know). The Helmet of salvation was my famous wedding hat (the one mentioned in a previous blog). The Belt of Truth was a flowing piece of gold lame. The handle of the Sword of the Spirit was dazzling with jewels and you guessed it, there in the privacy of my living room I had to play sword fight. I was jumping around and thrusting it in the air and giggling and shouting "On Guard" when the seriousness of this piece of armor sunk in. This is no joke! I have a real enemy and my ability to stand victorious over him depends on how well I know and handle the Word of God.
As Christ followers we are often guilty of neglecting the Word. Knowing His Word is fundamental to the success of our walk. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." How do we resist the devil? By following the example of Christ when He was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Satan would spew temptation and Jesus would answer him with scripture. When Satan saw He couldn't get to Him he left Him until a more opportune time to try his tricks. Likewise when we quote scripture to the enemy it is like smacking him with a holy muzzle. He has nothing to say in response to the Word of God. Satan will flee as fast and far as He can.
We must know the Word of God and so stand on it that when the enemy makes a move we can deflect his every shot. I can almost hear the sound of metal clashing and see the sparks flying as we raise the Word of God in response to the lies of the enemy. The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is the only offensive weapon we have. When you hear the roar of our lying enemy, respond boldly with the truth of scripture. We do not have to cower at his advances. He is a loser, we are the winners. Christ has already won the victory for us when He shamed Satan at the cross when He paid for our sins and when He rose again on the third day defeating the wages of sin, which is death. We have much to celebrate as believers. Satan is nothing more than a powerless showoff whose days are numbered. Stand up! Raise the Sword. Walk in Victory!
Several years ago I was preparing my message for the spring retreat on the armor of God. I decided that I needed some props. So I made girl armor, mainly because I am a girl. I used lots of jewels on the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Shield of Faith. The Shoes of Peace were the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz (I am from Kansas you know). The Helmet of salvation was my famous wedding hat (the one mentioned in a previous blog). The Belt of Truth was a flowing piece of gold lame. The handle of the Sword of the Spirit was dazzling with jewels and you guessed it, there in the privacy of my living room I had to play sword fight. I was jumping around and thrusting it in the air and giggling and shouting "On Guard" when the seriousness of this piece of armor sunk in. This is no joke! I have a real enemy and my ability to stand victorious over him depends on how well I know and handle the Word of God.
As Christ followers we are often guilty of neglecting the Word. Knowing His Word is fundamental to the success of our walk. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." How do we resist the devil? By following the example of Christ when He was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Satan would spew temptation and Jesus would answer him with scripture. When Satan saw He couldn't get to Him he left Him until a more opportune time to try his tricks. Likewise when we quote scripture to the enemy it is like smacking him with a holy muzzle. He has nothing to say in response to the Word of God. Satan will flee as fast and far as He can.
We must know the Word of God and so stand on it that when the enemy makes a move we can deflect his every shot. I can almost hear the sound of metal clashing and see the sparks flying as we raise the Word of God in response to the lies of the enemy. The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is the only offensive weapon we have. When you hear the roar of our lying enemy, respond boldly with the truth of scripture. We do not have to cower at his advances. He is a loser, we are the winners. Christ has already won the victory for us when He shamed Satan at the cross when He paid for our sins and when He rose again on the third day defeating the wages of sin, which is death. We have much to celebrate as believers. Satan is nothing more than a powerless showoff whose days are numbered. Stand up! Raise the Sword. Walk in Victory!
A Tiny Little Finger
Today in church I sat beside the cutest three year old you ever saw. He had big eyes, a mop of brown hair and a smile that could stop traffic. It was during the message that I noticed the little guy looking at my extremely large bible sitting on my lap. He looked up and smiled at me and I gently picked up my bible and sat it on his lap. He was quite the sight, this little disciple with the large study bible covering his lower body in its entirety. I watched him as he gently began turning the pages. Then I saw him stretch out his precious little pointer finger and begin running it along the lines of text. The look on his face showed that he was pretending to understand what he was seeing. He did this on several pages and then folded his hands to pray.
I was moved and inspired by the little boy's reverence for the Word of God. I was compelled to pray for him and his equally precious brother, that they would always be in awe of God's Word. That is my prayer for us all , that we would be in absolute awe of His Word and that we would have an insatiable hunger for it. That we would get out our pointer fingers everyday and touch the pages of our Bibles. Treating the truths there as valuable as a treasure chest of rare gems. Meditating on them until they move the twelve inches from our heads to our hearts where God plants them and uses them to change our lives. To conform us into the image of His Son Jesus.
So my friends....................Get out your pointer fingers and run them long the lines of text written to you from the God who loves you and has so much to say to you.
Follow the example of a child.... read in awe and bow for prayer.
I was moved and inspired by the little boy's reverence for the Word of God. I was compelled to pray for him and his equally precious brother, that they would always be in awe of God's Word. That is my prayer for us all , that we would be in absolute awe of His Word and that we would have an insatiable hunger for it. That we would get out our pointer fingers everyday and touch the pages of our Bibles. Treating the truths there as valuable as a treasure chest of rare gems. Meditating on them until they move the twelve inches from our heads to our hearts where God plants them and uses them to change our lives. To conform us into the image of His Son Jesus.
So my friends....................Get out your pointer fingers and run them long the lines of text written to you from the God who loves you and has so much to say to you.
Follow the example of a child.... read in awe and bow for prayer.
What am I made for?
I received a card this week that had this quote on the front, "A ship is safe in the harbor...but that's not what ships were made for". The word RISK is over the quote. The picture on this card is a beautiful sailboat sailing on the open water.
It caused me to do some deep thinking. What am I made for? Man, would I like to play it safe in life. I would like to park on some deserted island and hide. But, I am not made for that. I know that I am made for the open water which may at times get rough. I don't say that because I am complaining or having a pity party. I WANT adventure. That is what I signed on for. Life with Christ is not supposed to be boring so why I am surprised when it becomes a heart stopping ride?
The great thing about this ride called life is that although we may feel like we are in danger we really aren't in danger at all if we are in Christ. We are completely secure. It is like being on a huge roller coaster. Sometimes you are just positive that you are gonna die but in reality you are being held in place by the shoulder harnesses. Sometimes when you do the loop to loop you even feel your backside come off the seat. I want to get to the point in my spiritual walk that when I see the big hills coming I raise my hands as I zoom through the scary parts because I know who hold me securely in the seat.
As a kid I loved watching the roller coaster and seeing passengers raising their hands squealing with excitement over the absolute thrill of the ride. It terrified me actually. Oh Jesus, may that be me as I ride this life with you. I praise you that it is never boring and that you have already won the victory. When life gets scary help me to raise my hands above my head and lift my voice in a shout of praise even if I find my backside coming off the seat being assured that when this ride comes to and end I will have arrived safe.
It caused me to do some deep thinking. What am I made for? Man, would I like to play it safe in life. I would like to park on some deserted island and hide. But, I am not made for that. I know that I am made for the open water which may at times get rough. I don't say that because I am complaining or having a pity party. I WANT adventure. That is what I signed on for. Life with Christ is not supposed to be boring so why I am surprised when it becomes a heart stopping ride?
The great thing about this ride called life is that although we may feel like we are in danger we really aren't in danger at all if we are in Christ. We are completely secure. It is like being on a huge roller coaster. Sometimes you are just positive that you are gonna die but in reality you are being held in place by the shoulder harnesses. Sometimes when you do the loop to loop you even feel your backside come off the seat. I want to get to the point in my spiritual walk that when I see the big hills coming I raise my hands as I zoom through the scary parts because I know who hold me securely in the seat.
As a kid I loved watching the roller coaster and seeing passengers raising their hands squealing with excitement over the absolute thrill of the ride. It terrified me actually. Oh Jesus, may that be me as I ride this life with you. I praise you that it is never boring and that you have already won the victory. When life gets scary help me to raise my hands above my head and lift my voice in a shout of praise even if I find my backside coming off the seat being assured that when this ride comes to and end I will have arrived safe.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
I didn't know I could move so fast!!!!!
Earlier this evening we stopped by a friends house to say hi. We were discussing some of the funny videos that we had seen on the Internet when Mr. Friend decided to show me his favorite. The video clip loaded and there I was sitting at the desk in their living room looking at this clip of a small car with white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Mr. Friend said," Keep your eye on the smoke so you don't miss it". I leaned in not wanting to miss whatever was going to happen. All of a sudden this very scary face pops on the screen. I didn't know that I could scream that loud nor did I know that I could move so fast. As I was laying on the floor of their living room with my heart pounding I heard the other three laughing like crazy. I scared their children half to death and it took me a good 5 minutes for my heart to stop pounding. VERY FUNNY!!!!!!
Life has startled me a bit, especially lately. Things happen you never expected. You jump back, even fall on the floor with your heart pounding. But thank God.......you eventually get up and carry on.
No matter what life brings us we can rest knowing that God sees it all before it comes our way. He is never startled. You will never catch Him by surprise. He never screams like a girl. He is a rock that we can lean on when we are taken by surprise. I am exceedingly thankful that He has promised us that He will never allow more than what we can handle, that all things work together for good for those that love Him, that He never wastes anything and will in fact use everything to conform us into the image of His Son, and most of all that He is still for us even when others aren't. He is a faithful God.
HMMMM........Maybe God allows us to be startled because He wants us out of the position we are in so that we have to go where He wants us to go. Lord, when you desire to move us......help us to move with lightening speed straight into the center of your will.
As far as Mr. Friend goes...........you do not have the last laugh. It's all on now.
Life has startled me a bit, especially lately. Things happen you never expected. You jump back, even fall on the floor with your heart pounding. But thank God.......you eventually get up and carry on.
No matter what life brings us we can rest knowing that God sees it all before it comes our way. He is never startled. You will never catch Him by surprise. He never screams like a girl. He is a rock that we can lean on when we are taken by surprise. I am exceedingly thankful that He has promised us that He will never allow more than what we can handle, that all things work together for good for those that love Him, that He never wastes anything and will in fact use everything to conform us into the image of His Son, and most of all that He is still for us even when others aren't. He is a faithful God.
HMMMM........Maybe God allows us to be startled because He wants us out of the position we are in so that we have to go where He wants us to go. Lord, when you desire to move us......help us to move with lightening speed straight into the center of your will.
As far as Mr. Friend goes...........you do not have the last laugh. It's all on now.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
It's a Wild Household.
Sunday afternoon is one of my favorite times at my house. It always consists of lots of noise. We are a vocal household to say the least. I have three children, one daughter-in-law, a husband and two dogs. We have very unusual humor.
Today at lunch we were seeing who could touch their tongue to their nose. I am sure that we would have all been committed if someone was watching. We have been caught doing strange things before. At one of our previous addresses we were all together cooking dinner with some rather loud up beat music. OK it was 70's boogie music. Before we knew it we were all in the living room dancing like crazy people. My youngest son was really into it, he was spinning around spanking himself. We were all howling with laughter when I noticed that just outside our living room window was a bus stop and there was a bus full of people watching our crazy antics. We all screamed and ran from the living room. It dawned on me later that those people probably rode the same bus everyday and we were now probably the talk of the bus route. Every time there was a new regular they would fill them in on the weird dancing family.
Several years ago we were coming back from a visit in Kansas City and we stopped for dinner at a Chi Chi's in Fargo, South Dakota. We had ordered our food and the regular bedlam commenced. The children had received pin lights in their Christmas stocking. They thought it would be festive to put the pin light slightly up their nostril and turn themselves into Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I thought it was kind of cute and for some stupid reason I decided to give it a try. I had no sooner put the pin light in my nose when I heard, "Are we all OK here," said the manager of the restaurant. I was mortified. Of course he had not seen any of my children doing this just me. A typical Kolb moment.
My husband was the youth pastor at a small church and one evening we took our youth group to play laser tag. I went along for the ride. I had no intention of playing such a violent game. Each game was about 20 minutes in length and I sat and watched via the camera. It was rather exciting. When the laughing kids came out I wished that I had signed up for a game. Garry sensing my regret gave me one of his games. So decked out in all the laser tag gear I went through the orientation where they repeatedly said that they would not tolerate any running while the game was in session. They said it so much I was thinking to myself, "Man, do they think we are deaf"? We lined up and the doors opened and we all calmly walked in to get in position. I knew from watching the previous game that I was going to head for the tower so that I could pick people off from above. Surprisingly I only had to shoot two people on the way to the tower. (Did I mention that I was completely against such a violent youth activity?) At the end of the game the lights came up and we headed toward the exit. As we left we received our ranking. I couldn't believe it. I was #2 out of 30. I was beside myself. All I could think of was how could I get a ticket for the next game. I don't remember how I did it but I was in the next game and I was out for blood. I wanted to be #1. When the game began I tried everything I could to get to the tower but it was like everyone in the world was out to get me. I was getting shot left and right. Before I knew it I was running like a crazy woman. One of the attendants politely asked me to stop running. NO WAY!!!!! I was out to win. He asked again a little more forcefully. I just smiled. Then to my embarrassment he asked me to leave the game. What? Now I know why they repeatedly tell you the no running rule. Just call me Rambette!!! It took me a long time to live that down. Garry thought it was hilarious. And I wonder what is wrong with my children. Actually nothing. I love them and we have an absolute blast. 99% of the time anyway.
Today at lunch we were seeing who could touch their tongue to their nose. I am sure that we would have all been committed if someone was watching. We have been caught doing strange things before. At one of our previous addresses we were all together cooking dinner with some rather loud up beat music. OK it was 70's boogie music. Before we knew it we were all in the living room dancing like crazy people. My youngest son was really into it, he was spinning around spanking himself. We were all howling with laughter when I noticed that just outside our living room window was a bus stop and there was a bus full of people watching our crazy antics. We all screamed and ran from the living room. It dawned on me later that those people probably rode the same bus everyday and we were now probably the talk of the bus route. Every time there was a new regular they would fill them in on the weird dancing family.
Several years ago we were coming back from a visit in Kansas City and we stopped for dinner at a Chi Chi's in Fargo, South Dakota. We had ordered our food and the regular bedlam commenced. The children had received pin lights in their Christmas stocking. They thought it would be festive to put the pin light slightly up their nostril and turn themselves into Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I thought it was kind of cute and for some stupid reason I decided to give it a try. I had no sooner put the pin light in my nose when I heard, "Are we all OK here," said the manager of the restaurant. I was mortified. Of course he had not seen any of my children doing this just me. A typical Kolb moment.
My husband was the youth pastor at a small church and one evening we took our youth group to play laser tag. I went along for the ride. I had no intention of playing such a violent game. Each game was about 20 minutes in length and I sat and watched via the camera. It was rather exciting. When the laughing kids came out I wished that I had signed up for a game. Garry sensing my regret gave me one of his games. So decked out in all the laser tag gear I went through the orientation where they repeatedly said that they would not tolerate any running while the game was in session. They said it so much I was thinking to myself, "Man, do they think we are deaf"? We lined up and the doors opened and we all calmly walked in to get in position. I knew from watching the previous game that I was going to head for the tower so that I could pick people off from above. Surprisingly I only had to shoot two people on the way to the tower. (Did I mention that I was completely against such a violent youth activity?) At the end of the game the lights came up and we headed toward the exit. As we left we received our ranking. I couldn't believe it. I was #2 out of 30. I was beside myself. All I could think of was how could I get a ticket for the next game. I don't remember how I did it but I was in the next game and I was out for blood. I wanted to be #1. When the game began I tried everything I could to get to the tower but it was like everyone in the world was out to get me. I was getting shot left and right. Before I knew it I was running like a crazy woman. One of the attendants politely asked me to stop running. NO WAY!!!!! I was out to win. He asked again a little more forcefully. I just smiled. Then to my embarrassment he asked me to leave the game. What? Now I know why they repeatedly tell you the no running rule. Just call me Rambette!!! It took me a long time to live that down. Garry thought it was hilarious. And I wonder what is wrong with my children. Actually nothing. I love them and we have an absolute blast. 99% of the time anyway.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
An Unexpected Treat
Several years ago I was traveling home from Albuquerque, New Mexico where I had been attending a vacation bible school conference for a week. I love to fly. I relish the idea of being able to sit in one place for several hours reading a good book with no one bugging me. It is even more fantastic that someone is bringing me peanuts (not anymore with the peanut allergies, I think it was sesame sticks the last time I flew) and a diet coke. I love the window seat so that I can view the world above the clouds. I would raise my hands on take off except people stare at you like you have four heads when you do that. Yes, I know this from experience.
This particular flight was an unexpected treat. Instead of flying north over the prairies our plane fl
ew along the edge of the Rocky Mountains. I am a mountain girl at heart. I spent one week most summers while I was growing up in the San Grade Cristo Mountains at a Christian family camp named Horn Creek. These rugged mountains look over the Wet Mountain Valley to the foot hills where Green Horn Mountain sits staring back at our beloved mountain range. The camp sits at the foot of Horn Peak, the only 14,000 ft mountain that I have or will ever climb. So many summers I walked rainbow trail experiencing how big God is by being in the scenery He created and recognizing how incredibly small and seemingly insignificant I was and accepting the heart stopping truth that He loved me enough to die for me. Those were huge moments in my spiritual growth. I would sit on the edge of the back seat of our family car driving my parents absolutely nuts hanging over the back of the front seat so that I could get the first glimpse of the mountains and I would stare out the back window through tear filled eyes as we left a week later. This is my favorite place in the whole world.
As we were flying along the mountain range I saw out the window of the seat in front of me a huge mountain. For some reason it seemed extremely familiar to me. I love geography and maps so once I figured out that the monstrous mountain was in fact Pike’s Peak I was able to work my way back through my mental map and pick out Green Horn Mountain then the Wet Mountain Valley until my eyes rested on The San Grade Cristos and Horn Peak where my little family camp nestled at its foot. I gasped as I realized that God had given me a wonderful present. I hadn’t been there for years and years. I had often thought of that place with tears knowing that I would probably never be able to go there again. I had no idea that morning as I boarded the plane that I was going to get a 15 minute bird’s eye view of my heaven on earth.
I stared out my plane window for as long as the view allowed and then sat forward with closed eyes and tears of absolute joy streaming down my face and thanking my God for this kiss on the cheek. It was like He had His hands over my face and said, “TA DA”. I could almost see Him smile as He watched me just enjoy the view. What an amazing God we have that He wants to thrill us with His love.
This particular flight was an unexpected treat. Instead of flying north over the prairies our plane fl
ew along the edge of the Rocky Mountains. I am a mountain girl at heart. I spent one week most summers while I was growing up in the San Grade Cristo Mountains at a Christian family camp named Horn Creek. These rugged mountains look over the Wet Mountain Valley to the foot hills where Green Horn Mountain sits staring back at our beloved mountain range. The camp sits at the foot of Horn Peak, the only 14,000 ft mountain that I have or will ever climb. So many summers I walked rainbow trail experiencing how big God is by being in the scenery He created and recognizing how incredibly small and seemingly insignificant I was and accepting the heart stopping truth that He loved me enough to die for me. Those were huge moments in my spiritual growth. I would sit on the edge of the back seat of our family car driving my parents absolutely nuts hanging over the back of the front seat so that I could get the first glimpse of the mountains and I would stare out the back window through tear filled eyes as we left a week later. This is my favorite place in the whole world.As we were flying along the mountain range I saw out the window of the seat in front of me a huge mountain. For some reason it seemed extremely familiar to me. I love geography and maps so once I figured out that the monstrous mountain was in fact Pike’s Peak I was able to work my way back through my mental map and pick out Green Horn Mountain then the Wet Mountain Valley until my eyes rested on The San Grade Cristos and Horn Peak where my little family camp nestled at its foot. I gasped as I realized that God had given me a wonderful present. I hadn’t been there for years and years. I had often thought of that place with tears knowing that I would probably never be able to go there again. I had no idea that morning as I boarded the plane that I was going to get a 15 minute bird’s eye view of my heaven on earth.
I stared out my plane window for as long as the view allowed and then sat forward with closed eyes and tears of absolute joy streaming down my face and thanking my God for this kiss on the cheek. It was like He had His hands over my face and said, “TA DA”. I could almost see Him smile as He watched me just enjoy the view. What an amazing God we have that He wants to thrill us with His love.
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