Write On Time

Just One More Day

One of the hardest things in life to have is regret. It’s a sad time when we stand at someone’s funeral and wish that we would have spent more time with them, that we would have spoken the words; I love you to them more often. At that point, it is too late.

In my own experience, I have found that when we don’t love ourselves and we don’t know the capacity to which the Father loves us, it is difficult to offer that to someone else. My mom has been gone for a long time now, but I loved her to the best of my ability when she was here on the earth. Please notice that I said, to the best of my ability. During the years that she has been gone, I have learned to love and understand at a whole new level. I have learned more about my Father and the love that He has for me. I have learned more about myself and have learned to walk in forgiveness. And I have learned about the pain that she experienced in her lifetime which now explains so much about her.
If only I could have one more day here with her. For the most part, I would spend that day making sure that she knew how much she was loved and appreciated by me. I would thank her for every hour that she labored in bringing me into this world. I would thank her for choosing life in the midst of difficult circumstances. I would thank her for every day that she worked hard physical labor to keep a roof over my head, food in my belly and clothes on my back. Most of all, I would thank her for taking me to church as a child and letting me hear about Jesus and all that He did for me. You see, that’s when I first met Him, but not until much later in life did I truly come to know Him. My heart longs to share with her all that I have learned. My desire for that day would be for me to truly express to her the Father’s Love.

No, she did not do everything right when raising us, but show me a parent that has. My children are grown now and I know that I certainly didn’t do everything right while raising them. I know that they won’t do everything right as they raise their children. The wonderful thing is that from generation to generation, we are learning to do things better. We are learning to forgive and release, to encourage and teach how it can be better the next time around. I am excited about that! In my mom’s generation everything went unsaid for the most part. We know that everyone sins and everyone makes mistakes, but it was all kept secret, hidden and covered up. The shame that they must have carried through life is so sad. It didn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to live in shame over the mistakes that we have made. The Bible tells us that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is a remedy for every wrong, every mistake and that remedy is Jesus!

Because of my mom’s faith in Jesus, I know where she resides. Because of mine, I will join her in Heaven when the time comes. I believe that we will have that “one day”, but our conversation will not be about the things that she did wrong or the mistakes that she made. Instead, I believe that it will be filled with gratitude, thanksgiving and love for all that she is and who the Father created her to be. She is a daughter of the King and I am proud to have called her mom. I will tell her then, but I sure wish that I would have told her more often during our days here as we lived life together.

In just a few weeks, many will celebrate Mother’s Day. That will look different depending on each situation. In previous years, my family would make a trek to the cemetery to visit my mom’s grave. We would place some flowers there and let the kids release balloons. In some ways by doing that, it was a healing time for us. If you find yourself in this situation and it is new for you, I would encourage you to do this. I would also encourage you to celebrate your loved one by remembering her life and the love that she had for you.

As a family, we no longer go there on Mother’s Day. Because she was a believer in Jesus, my mom is not in that grave. After a while, I made the decision to celebrate life on that day. I prefer to be surrounded by my children and their families, to hear the sounds of their laughter and love and to feel the embrace of their hugs. As a family, we now celebrate our relationships and the love that we share. I am a firm believer in celebrating one another while we are alive to do so. I am one that would rather send and receive flowers while I am able to look at their beauty, smell their sweet fragrance and also know the joy felt by the one receiving them and the one sending them.

Whatever your situation might be, I encourage each of you to make the relationships in your life count. I don’t want anyone to miss out on giving and receiving love. I don’t want anyone else to know regret and have to wish for “one more day” whether it be with a parent, sibling, spouse or a friend. Please use the time that you have been given to celebrate those that you love and that love you. Time is a precious commodity and once it has passed, it’s gone. I have often heard the phrase “Life is not a dress rehearsal”. That is so true. Take it from one who knows.

" Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
James 4:14 NASB

Check my heart please…

My husband is the mechanic in our family and I must say that he does a great job! For years I have seen him under many a hood and most of those belonging to our friends and family. God has given all of us gifts and talents and he has definitely been blessed in this area among many others. I am proud of him as I have seen him use this gifting to bless countless people.

Although the mechanics of an automobile are not my area of expertise, I do know that it is important for the oil in the car to be changed on a regular basis. In order to keep things running smoothly, it must be clean and kept filled up. Sometimes the oil filter gets clogged up and there needs to be a new one put in. In doing these things, it helps to keep the car running smoothly.

The same goes for our heart as well. We have learned that many years of eating too many fat-laden foods can fill our arteries with plaque and cause them to clog up. This interferes with the flow of healthy blood reaching our heart. If we make a change in the way we eat, sometimes that can be reversed and help us to live a healthier life. Over the past few years, I have learned about some things other than high fat foods that can be really effective in clogging up our hearts. These things would be called Bitterness, Envy, and Jealousy, and they have the potential to cause serious damage to our bodies and possibly even lead to death.

I believe that we as individuals have a choice in what we allow into our lives and into our bodies. Whether it is unhealthy food choices or toxic thoughts and words flowing through us, they bring us harm. I can write about this because I personally know it to be true. I have struggled in these areas and therefore have experienced the destruction that they cause. I thank God that I have received some revelation and healing in these areas, but it is still a daily choice. The bible speaks of generational sin and I have seen these three things wreak havoc throughout my family line. I have made the decision that it will end with my generation. The buck stops here! I draw my sword and cut it off! It ends with my generation and it will not continue on into my children. But remember, it is a choice. I can only do my part and encourage those that come after me to make the same choice.

We have all been wronged in many ways, but I have found that when we harbor these toxic things, we are the ones that continue to suffer. There is coming a day when all wrongs will be dealt with and justice will be served! So for now do your best to enjoy all that you have been blessed with, to live your life without strife and enjoy each one of your days. Don’t harbor bitterness, envy or jealousy. Leave each one to the Lord and pray for others. I find that when I do this, life goes better for me and those that are the closest to me.

For my more mature readers, you remember the days of full service filling stations. The ones that you would drive into when your gas tank needed to be filled and it would be pumped for you instead of by you. I remember being in the car as a kid and hearing the words “fill it up please and check the oil.” There’s not too many of those places left anymore; it’s all self-serve nowadays. I am grateful that there is a place that I can go when I need to be filled up and cleaned out. I can always tell when I am clogged up and filled with particles of the devil’s dirt. I know when it’s time to go to the Master Mechanic and ask Him to check my heart. God has given me much to accomplish for Him and I need to be able to run on all cylinders. If you feel like you are chugging along or you are completely broken down on the side of the highway, He will come to your rescue. Just as some tow trucks seem to take forever to get to you, He may seem like He isn’t coming. But let me assure you He is and His timing is perfect.

A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones. Proverbs 14:30 The Message

Are you being held captive?

Currently in the news we are all hearing of the miners in Chile that have been held captive underground. Sometimes this happens and it’s not such a great ending. When you do that type of work, there is always a possibility that something like this could happen. I guess that’s a risk that they are willing to take.

But this time it’s different and it has a wonderful ending in them all being rescued alive! I know that each one of these men must have a story to tell of their experience while being underground for so many days. But the one that rings the loudest to me is the man that told the world of how he saw God and the devil there. That is awesome! He shared of how he took hold of God’s hand and he knew that he was going to make it out alive. I loved watching him and listening to him tell of this. He was so thankful! This morning in my time with the Lord, He led me to a passage in the bible that reminded me of this situation with the miners.

Psalm 126: 1-3

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity

“When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.  The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”

Last night while watching just a piece of this story, what I saw was captives being freed up as they were brought up and out.  There was laughter and joyful shouting. Then I heard that man tell the nations of how God was there. To me, that was him declaring that the Lord has done great things for him and to me, he seemed very glad!

I just love how God speaks to us in many ways and one way He speaks to me is through His written word. This morning, He took this passage that was written a long time ago and as I sought Him and what He wanted to speak to me about today, He gave me something that related to our day!

Sometimes we are like the miners. Although we may be completely free physically and not trapped under ground, we can still be in captivity. For some of us, that place is in our own mind. Many times that is a battlefield. Lately it has been a raging war for me, but because of God’s goodness I have peace! Our enemy can speak lies to us and make them sound like the truth. I may have been knocked down for a few weeks, but due to God’s strategies and Him showing me how to use them, I am back up!

He showed me this week that the way to combat a lie is with His truth. The strategy that He used with me was to instruct me to write down what I was hearing that I knew was a lie and next to that, write down what He was speaking to me. For any of you that walk with Him, you know that He speaks the whole truth and nothing but the truth!  This is what God used in my life this week to bring me to freedom.  I am not a miner from Chile, but I am singing a Psalm of Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity just like they are. My mind is clear and now I can begin to dream again! Like that miner, we must always know that God is there fighting for us and He wins! We can take hold of His hand and be confident in knowing that we are coming out of this alive!

One Word

The power behind our words is amazing! The book of James talks about the tongue and the power that this small member of our body holds. It has the ability to bring life or death to the person that is on the receiving end of the words that we speak. Last night during a phone conversation, a woman that is very important in my life told me that I am an amazing woman and that God is pleased with my faithfulness. Those words made me smile because they are genuine and I know that she honestly believes that. I honestly believe the words that she spoke too!   The best part is that after many years of self-rejection and doubt that God could even love me after all that I have done wrong in my life, I know that He does and He receives me just as I am. This does not come from an attitude of arrogance. I know that it comes only because of the transforming work that God has done in me! He is helping me daily to love myself like He loves me!

This morning I was thinking about the power of our words, even one word. We hold within us the ability to cause one to sink or to soar by the words that we speak to them. I want to be one that brings flight by my spoken and written words. I want my words to lift someone to greater heights of possibility and belief, not greater depths of hopelessness and unbelief.

As we go throughout our day today, we will speak or write numerous words to one another. I encourage you to let your words be something that brings life and not death. Speak life to those around you, even if it’s just one word.

Read James 3:5-12

Just One More Day

Today is a memorable day for me. It's amazing that it has been eighteen years now that my mom has been gone from my everyday life. She is now a citizen of Heaven. I must say that July 28, 1992 was one of the hardest days I have lived thus far. Goodbye is one of the most difficult words to say to a loved one leaving this world, especially when it's your mom. The pain lessens as the years go by, but she is still missing from my world. I love and miss her very much. My comfort comes in knowing that because of her trust in the Lord, she truly is better off than I am. And because we share that same trust, I will be with her again one day.

I often think about a longing that I have and that is to be able to have her with me for just one more day. I would take the opportunity to ask her so many things that I now wish that I knew the answers to...her answers. I would take the time to make sure that she really knew how much I appreciated her for all that she had sacrificed for me. I would laugh with her, cry with her, dream with her. I would learn more about her and who she was as a young woman. I would learn what brought her joy, happiness, what she wanted to be when she grew up. I would find out who and what hurt her and do my best to mend those hurts. I would tell her that the mistakes that she made in this life do not matter. We are not our mistakes! I would tell her that I am proud of her and that I am thankful to God more making her my mother.

It's too late for all of that now, but I do plan on having that conversation when I see her next. The real reason for this entry is to remind all of us that life is but a vapor. It all goes so quickly. There is no time to waste in holding grudges with your loved ones or living life so fast to pay for things that don't matter a whole lot anyway. Put whatever needs to be put aside to make sure and take the opportunities that you have with those you love. Say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done. Don't waste a single day!

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- A time to give birth and a time to die." Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NASB

Irritated vs. Concerned

Irritated vs. Concerned

Last week I learned something valuable from one of my pastors. We were having a discussion and I expressed to him that I was irritated by a certain behavior that I saw displayed in someone. He pointed out that irritation is a dangerous place to be. He helped me to realize that there is a big difference between irritation and concern. He helped me to see clearly that when you have irritation toward another, it can quickly lead to wrong feelings toward that person and cause malice, bitterness and an unloving spirit to take root in your heart. After our talk I began to see things differently. The way I like to look at it is that my heart is like a garden and I choose what grows there. When I am irritated with someone instead of concerned, this garden becomes a breeding ground for bad seed to grow in which produces rotten things. When you are careful to make sure that you are concerned and not irritated about something or with someone, things will go much better for you. You will be able to stay right in your heart toward them and have a clear conscience. What a great feeling that is! There are things in life that are going to happen. Some that pleases us and some that doesn’t. We all behave and think differently and some of us are further ahead on our journey than others. We must allow the many situations that life brings to be opportunities for us to show mercy and not judgment. “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13 (NASB)

Poised and Ready to Strike

I wonder if Adam and Eve could hear the rustling of the grass as the slithering serpent approached them? What were they doing at the time? Did they see him coming? I am sure that they had no idea the evil that he was about to offer them and how it would affect all of humanity. I think that it's funny that as the enemy was approaching they didn't hear a sound, but as soon as they had fallen into his trap and given in, their eyes and ears were opened. When the Lord showed up, they heard the sound of Him as He was walking in the garden. Sometimes we walk through life not having a clue of what is going on around us. God knows what is best for us and He has a good plan for our life. The enemy certainly wants to come in and mess things up. He wants to trick us into seeing things his way. Sometimes he will even use the ones we love the most to try and convince us of this.  It is imperative that we study God’s word and talk with Him on a daily basis. If we do, He will clearly share His plan with us and enable us to be aware of the coming attacks. He will give us ears to hear and eyes to see when the enemy is about to enter into our territory. Know your God so that when the enemy tries to come in, you can resist him.

 

“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” Daniel 11:32

 

 

Red Light Revelation

There are some that say that God no longer speaks and some that say He does. I am definitely counted among the latter. God still speaks. I know He does. I experienced this last Friday while innocently sitting at a red light waiting for it to turn green. I had both hands on the steering wheel and can say that I was not necessarily thinking about any particular situation in my life at that moment. I was simply driving from one place to another. There has been something physically come into my life over the past few months that has been an irritation to me and a disruption in my day. I have been trying to cooperate with it and do what I have been told to do. I have to say that it has caused me a level of frustration and disappointment that I do not like. I was feeling very defeated by this thing. In the short time while sitting there, God began to speak to me about this. He revealed to me that this was brought to me by the Enemy and not by Him. That it is meant to frustrate and discourage me and that it is having the opposite effect on my body than what He has planned for me. He told me that I must walk with wisdom and trust as I follow His leading and by doing that I will be victorious over this situation. In a split second He allowed me to see that the frustration that it has been causing has in turn caused a cycle of behavior in me to continue that I have been trying for years to overcome! What freedom that has brought to me! I am not defeated but instead victorious. I am so thankful that God still speaks and loves me enough to not leave me like I am. The amount of time waiting for a traffic light to turn from red to green is so short, unless of course you’re in a hurry. But the next time you find yourself sitting there, talk to Him, open up your ears and your heart and maybe you will hear Him speaking back to you.

“Teach me to do Your will for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your loving-kindness, cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.” Psalm 143:10-12

Take The Time

Last Saturday I attended the funeral of my friend. It’s been only over the past few years that we have known each other. I have truly enjoyed knowing her and had great respect for her. Why is it that sometimes we wait until a person is gone from our life to really appreciate them? I can only speak for myself and sometimes my reason is time. I know that it is so important to take the time for those that we love, for those that God has given to us. We know that the Bible says that life is only a vapor. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14 (NASB). Even though we read this we are surprised when someone is gone. One day they are there and the next day they’re not. There are no more opportunities for us to talk with them, to give love to them and see them receive it, to see dreams realized with them.

T here was so many times that I meant to meet her for coffee but never did.  As leaders of women’s ministry, we had a lot in common and I could’ve learned so much from her. Questions that I had for her that were never asked and compliments that I wanted to give her that went unsaid. How I wish that I would have taken the time to do these things. The great thing about this is that like me, she was a believer in Jesus Christ and therefore has been granted eternal life. So at least I will have another opportunity with her. I will make the most of that second chance. I encourage you to make the most of all that you have been given on this side of eternity. Take time for those that you love and learn from them. You never know when it will be the last time you see each other.

 

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15 (NASB).

The Greatest Gift

There may be gifts under the tree for you this Christmas and you may feel as if you don’t deserve them. Maybe you have really messed up in life and the last thing you feel worthy of is receiving a gift. These gifts are from someone that loves you. Accept them; it brings joy to the giver. Some of the best gifts I have ever been given haven’t come in boxes wrapped with pretty bows. Instead they have come in the form of human life. As a wife and mother, my three favorite gifts of all time are my husband, my son and my daughter. They have brought many things to my life; love, joy and some pain as well. But the love that they have brought has and still does greatly outweigh the pain. Within the past few years, God has graced me with a beautiful daughter-in-law and a grandson that will arrive in April of next year. His name is Reese Jackson and I cannot wait to meet him! God loves me so much and gives me such amazing gifts! Your gifts may look different than mine but He loves you just the same as He loves me. Maybe you are not married; maybe you never had any children. You still have gifts in your life. Please cherish and enjoy them.

God gave the world the greatest gift of all in His Son Jesus. To all mankind He unveiled this wonderful gift that started life as a tiny baby in a manger made of wood and ended on a cross made of wood. God gave this gift to us because He knew that a world full of lost people would need a Savior, a Redeemer. I pray that you have recognized your need and acknowledged Him. That you have received the wonderful gift He has freely given you. He is the greatest gift of all.

Merry Christmas!

  “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son so that no one would perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NASB)

Choose Your Response

Yesterday I had an interesting experience. After church, on my way to a friend’s house for a get together, I stopped into a local restaurant to pick up some sandwiches to take with me. I wasn’t quite sure yet how many I wanted, so when the girl working behind the counter asked me, I thought that I would start with the one that I was sure of and she began to prepare it. As she asked me what toppings I would like on my sandwich, she finished it, wrapped it up and stated to me what my total was. It was then that I told her that I would actually like two more sandwiches. By her facial expression and the words that rolled off her tongue directly at me, you would have thought that I had just committed a terrible crime against her. Even though she seemed to be working there alone, this place was not at all busy. The customers were not lined up out the door. There was only one man standing behind me waiting. As I stood there on the customer’s side of the counter my flesh was fighting to lash out at her. My mind went back in years to the time that I was a waitress and taught that the customer was always right. Even though I know that’s not always true, we had to treat the person as if it was. It seemed to me that this woman must have been absent on the day that that was taught to the new employee. I thought about how I am the customer having chosen this establishment to spend my money in, when I could have chosen any other. I think that with the help of God that I am a kind person but am only human and sometimes fail, but just simply misunderstood her question. I had a myriad of emotions flood over me while standing there. I had thoughts of just walking out and going to another place. Also in my human state, I momentarily wanted to throw the one already prepared sandwich across the counter. I felt anger, intimidation, controlled by her, but at the same time God gave me the ability to look at her with compassion.

I had to ask God to help me! Always faithful, He did just that. He enabled me to stand there and politely state which toppings I wanted on my next two sandwiches as she completed my order. I am not saying that this was easy because it wasn’t.   Even in the midst of embarrassment, God put around me the cloak of humility. He gave me His heart of compassion toward this person. He gave me His eyes as I watched her and wondered what was going on in her life that day. Maybe her life is not in turmoil and she just has some issues to work on, but I know that I did the right thing in choosing the correct response.  After leaving there I just sat in my Jeep for a while and thought about the situation. While still feeling a little angry, I had to give that to Him. I was not going to allow that to take root in my heart. I thanked the Lord for helping me to not lose it on her. I thanked Him for helping me to go to Him and ask Him what I should do. I know that if I would have handled it in the wrong way, I would have had to walk back in there and publicly apologize to her. Because I humbled myself before the Lord and this woman, I don’t have to do that. Instead I was able to drive away from there with a clean and prayerful heart toward her.

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29 (NASB)