If You Can't Stand the Heat . . .

John 8:7
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

By now, I'm sure most of us have heard the news about Food Network super star, Paula Deen.  She admitted in a deposition involving a lawsuit against her brother to having used the "N" word in the past.  The media reacted to this as if Paula had dropped an "A" bomb on an unsuspecting populace.

Clearly, any high-profile person needs to be particularly mindful of what comes out of their mouths.  And, I'll be the last one to condone labeling anyone of ANY ethnicity with a derogatory term.  But, honestly, can any of us claim we have never said or done something which we shouldn't have?  Things which we later came to regret?  Is there anyone of us out there who has not harbored a grudge, a misconception, or a prejudice against people who appear different from us?

Paula may have celebrity status, but, like the rest of us, she is only human.  She makes mistakes.  She, like everyone of us, is far from perfect.

Yet, there are those lined up with stones in their hands, gloating because the mighty have fallen. (2 Samuel 1:19)  Pointing to the speck in Paula's eye without first removing the plank from their own. (Matthew 7:5)

There are four reasons why I choose to come to Paula's defense.

She told the truth.  Paula did not have to admit to her shameful behavior in that deposition, but she chose honesty over saving her own skin.  For that, I admire her.

It happened in the PAST.  I have a closet which I call my "BBC" - Before Becoming Christian.  It contains more skeletons than Ezekiel saw on that dry, dusty desert.  (Ezekiel 37:1-11)  Do you have one of those, too?  I say Paula's past, and mine, are behind us.

She apologized.  Paula issued a video which you can watch here in which she publicly apologized for her indiscretions.  You can take this as being sincere or not, but she did say she was sorry.  I believe her.

She asked for forgiveness.  In this same video, Paula also asks for forgiveness for her past behaviors.  To ask forgiveness means one accepts the fact that one has sinned.  When Peter ask Jesus how many times he should forgive another, "Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" (Matthew 18:22)  I forgive her.

But, not an hour passes after the release of this video when Food Network tersely announces that they will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires next month.  Boom!  Just like that!

Guess they couldn't stand all that heat in their kitchens . . .

~

Have you ever said or something which you regretted saying or doing?  Did you ask for forgiveness?

Will you pray with me?

Help us, Father, to always remember that not one of us is perfect, that we all sin and fall short of Your glory.  We thank You for sending Your Son, Christ Jesus, to die for our sins and forgive us our transgressions.  May we ever be quick to forgive others when they have wronged us, and to ask forgiveness when we have sinned against another.  Amen.

Seeking Shelter from the Storm

Luke 8:24
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are going to drown!"  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

"Time to hit the bunker!"  Danny shouts as we scramble for flashlights and purses, and head for the basement of our house.  The storm is upon us!  Barreling down the stairs, we hear a roar of wind and a deafening crash beside our home.  The earth shudders.

What fell???  Large limbs?  An entire tree?

Darkness!  The power is out!  Flashlights provide comforting beams, helping us to find the battery-powered lantern which we keep our laundry room, our underground safe-place when the southern spring storms hit.

We hunker down.  We can hear the rain pummeling the windows and roof.  Lightning flashes and thunder booms like a hundred cannons.  But, the wind has already passed by, flying on to wreak havoc upon our neighbors.  To leave a tell-tale trail of debris in its wake.

Thankfully, the lights flicker back on.  We breathe a sigh of relief, but are left wondering about the damages inflicted upon our forest.  There isn't much we can properly assess as it is growing darker and the rain continues to pour.

In sharp contrast to the night before, the next day dawns sunny and clear.  I take my camera out into our yard to capture images the war zone.

Our deck is one heck of a mess!

Look at all these leaves smothering the moss.

The wind ripped through our tulip poplar, scattering limbs like matchsticks.

But, it's this poor pine tree which suffered the most . . .

And, looking at all this damage, I say a prayer of thanks that we and our home were spared from harm.

Travelling  along this journey called life, we are guaranteed to go through any number of storms.  As Pastor Wallace is fond of telling us, "Sometimes, God reaches down and calms the storms in my life; other times, He says, 'Wallace, this is a good storm.  Let's ride it out together.'"

We are reminded here that no matter what storms we face, Jesus is always there with us.  He is the shelter we seek.  The safe harbor.  The hand holding ours.

We are never alone in our trials and troubles.  If we trust in the Lord, allow Him to carry us, those threatening, raging storms will eventually subside, and all will be calm.

~

Are you facing a "storm" in your life today?

Will you pray with me?

We thank You, Father, for walking with us through the storms of life.  You give us hope and courage and strength when we can find none in ourselves.  When we trust You, we can know that nothing which happens to us on earth will ever separate us from Your great love.  Amen.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Luke 12:27
Consider how the wild flowers grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

We love living in our home nestled in the forest.  Especially in summer, when all the leaves are out, the shade from the blistering Georgia sun is a welcome respite.  I can sit on our deck, even on a 90 degree day, and be comfortable.

But, there is one drawback.  Our vast leaf cover prevents us from planting a garden.  And, not many plants prefer shade over sun.  So, we are limited in our choices.

My husband, Danny, brings these beauties home two weeks ago.  I set right to work getting them potted and watered.  I know.  Just five plants.  But, they are enough to bring some color and cheer to our back deck.

Begonia Red Dragon Wing

New Guinea Impatiens

Golden Creeping Jenny

Yes, this last one doesn't look like much now, but this is what we're eventually hoping for!

I'm content with our tiny garden.  I look forward to watching our plant babies grow and continue to blossom throughout the summer.  If all goes well, they should last until our first hard freeze late in the fall.

And, as I see how God has dressed these delicate blooms in splendor for us to enjoy and admire, I am reminded that we, too, need not labor nor spin to be beautiful in His sight.  He created us to be in relationship with Him.  He loves us not for what we do, but for who we are.

His beloved children.  

~

Will you take a moment today to simply "be" with the Lord, your God?

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, Father, for the wonder and splendor of Your magnificent creation. Let us always stand in awe of Your grandeur and power.  Thank You for loving us so much that you sent Your precious Son, Jesus, to bear the weight of our sins so that we can be in relationship with You.  Amen.

Love and Grace

1 Timothy 1:14
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

At last!  It's here!  The third and final book of The Glade Series!  As I open one shipment box, I am consumed by the same delicious thrill I have when I first hold books one and two, A Trip, a Tryst and a Terror and Children in the Garden.

The books.  The stories.  All together.  All in print . . . WOW!

In all those countless days and weeks and months spent in writing The Glade Series, how the grace of the Lord was poured out on me abundantly!  Never once did I feel at a loss for words.  Never once was I uncertain of God's presence.  Never once did I think that some way, somehow, some day, these books would not be published.

I had faith.  Faith that this was God's plan.  Faith in the promise He spoke to my heart.

I had hope.  Knowing this was a story He wished me to tell.  A story of grace, of love and forgiveness.  His story!

Because, as young Davy learns through his adventures with the Old Ones, this life is all about God's amazing grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.  That's it.  Pure and simple.  No ifs, ands, or buts.

And, do you see the invitation to visit my author website at the top right-hand corner of this blog?  I do hope you will accept it.  I would be honored if you would choose to read my books, and I do welcome your feedback always.  You can even send an e-mail to me right from the website.  Convenient?  I'll say!

Now, a new venture begins for me.  God is calling me to continue writing about the escapades of Davy, Grey/Racer, Reverend, and all the other characters to whom you've been introduced in The Glade Series.  After writing devotional blogs for over two years, this will be a change of pace and a new challenge.  Yet, it is one I accept willingly.  Without hesitation.

God is beckoning.  How can I resist?

So, dear friend, I leave you with this:  the dedication in The Moment of Truth which I wrote for my granddaughter.

May all YOUR adventures, too, be happy and blessed.  And, filled, ever and always, with faith and love and grace.

~

When has the Lord abundantly poured out His grace on you?

Will you pray with me?

We thank You, Father, for the creative gifts You have given to each of us and for Your love and grace which sustain us.  May we stay strong in our faithfulness to You, to Your Son, Christ Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit.  May we ever seek to do Your will and walk in Your ways to the honor and glory of Your name.  Amen.

Everywhere Fun Fair!

Matthew 22:37-39
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.'" 

Our church, Kennesaw United Methodist, just completed a fabulous, fun-tastic week of Vacation Bible School.  Entitled "Everywhere Fun Fair," the program enthralled the children with energetic songs and a wide variety of activities which taught them all about what it means to love their neighbors.

My partner, Marcia, and I were blessed to work together with our sweet group of kindergarten kids.  We were their "shepherdesses" every morning, guiding them to snack time, Bible story, missions (where they learned about our church's outreach activities), crafts, science, and games.  The two teens assisting us were absolutely outstanding with the children, making our time with them even more enjoyable.

Each day had a theme which described the aspects of a good neighbor.  The young people learned that "neighbor are:  friendly; giving; bold; forgiving, and welcoming."  And, each day, the children learned a part of the scripture quoted above.  so, by the end of the week, even our five-year-olds had a good grasp of the concept, "love your neighbor."

Truth be told, I don't know who had more fun that week, the children or the shepherdesses!  In fact, after the first morning as we are sitting in one of the nursery rooms for our reflection time, and waiting for parents to arrive for pick up, a little girl asks me this question:

"Is this your work?"

Bingo!  Without a split second's hesitation, I answer, "No, this is my play!  I have so much fun at VBS!"

And, I do!  Even though this summer's session has just ended, I'm already looking forward to next year.  What joy it is to share God's love with His beautiful, amazing children!

~

Have you ever volunteered to help at a Vacation Bible School?  What was your experience like?

~

As you scroll through these photos taken by Pastor Emily, will you say a prayer over each person you see?  They are, after all, your neighbors!

Love and blessings to these little ones and to you all!

Amen!

And, We Will Be Changed . . .

1 Corinthians 15:52
. . . in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Pastor Wallace shares the story of a young and very anxious bride-to-be.  After the wedding rehearsal, she pulls her minister aside while they are still in church.  She has a confession.

"Pastor, I want to go through with this wedding.  Really, I do!  But, I'm just so nervous about tomorrow's ceremony.  How am I ever going to get through it?"

"You?  Nervous?  Why?  You've spent your whole life in this church!"  her minister states.  

"I don't know; I just am."

"Well, maybe this will help.  See that aisle?  When you walk it tomorrow, think about all the times you've danced up and down it since you were a little girl.  Focus on that.  Then, turn your focus to the altar.  It is there you were baptized, confirmed, took your first Communion, and it's where you come with family and friends to celebrate the Lord's Supper.  Next, look at that handsome man you are about to spend the rest of your life with.  Think about how much you love him and how much he loves you.  Focus on him."

Relieved by her minister's words, the young lady decides to concentrate on those three things as she walks down the aisle the following day.  But, just moments before her father escorts her toward her groom, she feels an unwelcomed wave of anxiety.  To quell this, she decides to repeat these words out loud:

"Aisle . . . Altar . . . Him.  Aisle . . . Alter . . . Him . . ."

And, she is suddenly taken aback by the grave, concerned expression on her father's face.  She doesn't know that what dad hears her saying is this:  "I'll alter him."

Ouch!  How the English language with its myriad homonyms can sink a parent's heart!  Poor dad!  Because, as a seasoned adult, he knows:  You can't change anyone but yourself.

And, entering a marriage thinking you can change your partner in any way, shape, or form is a recipe for disaster.  It makes me wonder . . . How many divorces are a result of this hopeless and hapless misconception?

There is only One who can change us.  Jesus.  Even then, we must be willing participants in that transformation.  The Lord is ever polite.  A true gentleman.  He longs for the invitation, but waits patiently for it.

His desire is to make us His children of light.  His hands and feet working in this world for His Kingdom.  His beloved sheep who know His voice.

But, Jesus waits . . .

Only Jesus can change us.  Only He can save us from our sins.

And, save us from ourselves.

~

How have you allowed Lord Jesus to change you?

Will you pray with me?

Help us to remember, Father, that we cannot change anyone but ourselves.  We pray today for all those who have yet to choose to love and worship Your precious Son, Christ Jesus, and allow Him to change their lives.  Let them hear His voice and heed His call.  Amen.

Taking Center Stage

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This past weekend, my husband, Danny, and I attend the LIFT conference hosted by Passion City Church here in Atlanta.  It is a two-day event geared toward worship leaders and filled with praise songs, prayers, and lots of practical, encouraging advice for those of us responsible, week after week, for leading our congregations in contemporary worship.

How inspiring and upLIFTing it is for us to sing praise songs with some of the best artists in Christian music:  Chris Tomlin; Matt Redmon; Christy Nockles; Kristian Stanfill, and David Crowder.  Wow!!!  All musicians/songwriters whom Danny and I admire greatly.  In fact, we play so many Chris Tomlin's songs at church, we jokingly call our band, Crossroads, the Chris Tomlin Tribute Band.

And, the message from Pastor Louis Giglio?  Something every worship leader needs to hear, to know, and take to heart:  It's not about us; it's about Jesus.  Period!

Our song set might be rocking, our sound system top notch, our lead singer the best in the business, but if we are not centered in Christ Jesus, no one who attends our services will see the glory of God.  And, isn't that why we do what we do?  If it isn't, it certainly should be!

I don't think there is a musician out there who can't identify with the dilemma of performance versus worship.  Yes, we naturally want to do our very best while leading the service.  One wrong note or glitch in rhythm leaves us cringing with embarrassment.  We so want our congregation to see us as "perfect" and without blemish.

But, there is only One who is perfect . . .

And, in order to lead others to Jesus, we first must abide in, belong to, and find our authentic selves in Him.  He must be our center, our focus.  He must be the reason we sing.  He must be our all and all.

Christ, not us, needs to take center stage.  That's where He belongs.  He is the one toward whom we need to point in worship.

~

On the stage of your life, who is at the center?

Will you pray with me?

It is all too easy, Father, for us to take credit and accolades without giving the honor and glory to You and to Your Son, Jesus Christ, and thanking You for the gifts we have.  May we lift high Your name and point others toward You in all we think, say, and do.  May we always give You center stage in our lives.  Amen.