catherine - Catherine Nelson

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It’s the First day of summer

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It’s the first day of summer.

It’s a fresh new beginning.

A time to relax and reflect on the ending         time

Of hard work,

And a completed job well done,

But it feels wrong to celebrate

When the race hasn’t been won.

I feel like I’m still running,

But there’s no real race pace.

How can I rest or re-start

When I don’t know my place?

How can Summer begin

When spring didn’t seem to happen?

I’m missing the sound

the crowd swells lead cheers in.

I’ve been told to go out;

It’s probably safe.

The world needs me to activate.

They’ve opened the gates.

But I’ve practiced isolation, deprivation and restraining,

How do I break down these walls I’ve been diligently erecting?

It’s the first day of summer.

I want it to be.

Every year before, I’ve known I was free

Of the routine I signed up for

Where I strived to achieve

I worked and I toiled;

I was ready for reprieve.

Repreive came too early.

I’m not sure what to do.

Does this weird spring carry on

And add more down time too?

On the first day of summer we always grilled out

We shopped for new swim stuff

And threw alarms out…..

But they’ve been off for a while

Except for the ones in my head.

Is it safe to go out?

Are we still counting the dead?

It’s the first day of summer

Will this lead into fall?

Can I pick up the pace

Or does that endanger us all?

I feel so unsteady,

But who CAN understand?

The people with strong opinions make such strong demands.

The decisions I’ve made are the best I know to do,

And still they wound some and validate other peoples truth.

It’s the first day of summer,

But no toes in the sand

My sand is still shifting.

There’s much I don’t understand.

The one thing I do know and will doggedly cling to

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My God is my Father and He’s asked me to lean into

The truth that He’s with me.

He’s not a little surprised.

The sand that is shifting has not escaped His eyes.

He made summer.

He knows it’s the first day.

This day is a blink in His timeline-

He will never sway

From His promise to be faithful.

He will stick to the end.

In the thick of my confusion,

He still calls me “friend”.

It’s the first day of summer-

No toes in the sand

The sand that I’m missing

Was made by the hand

Of the God of all creation

And His thoughts toward me

Outnumber the grains of every sand by the sea

His Power continues

As waves crash on that sand

And that will always be true

On every wet and dry land

On the first day of summer.

 

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18

 

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Proverbs 30:5

 

 

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“Are you Hugging Yet?”

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Yesterday, I saw a sweet group of people for the first time in months. Every one of them greeted each other with a hug, and as one approached me with arms out, she watched me bristle and then asked me, “are you hugging yet?”.  I’m not. I hope to be soon. I really miss hugs.

As all of us have discovered over the last few months, there is no substitute for the Real Thing. Virtual college. Drive through graduations, zoom meetings, church in our living rooms, zoom prayer groups, the beach with no beach access, and relationships without any physical touch leave us longing. We keep asking the questions, “How long will it last?’ and “When will everything be normal again?”.

Of course, no one really knows if or when life will look like it did back in 2019, but no matter what our post-covid world looks like, we must not settle for that comfort.

Let me be clear and vulnerably transparent: I love comfort. I seek it out in food and nice bedding and pretty things. I am not a risk taker…. at all, but I am concerned and convicted that my longing for comfort and normalcy has blinded me to what I should be longing for.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi warning and encouraging them to set their minds on eternal things and to not get deluded by the pleasures of this world.

“But one thing I do know: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.     All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.  Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained. Join one another in following my example, brothers….  For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.    But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.”             Philippians 3:13-21 abbr.

By God’s amazing grace, those of us who love Jesus Christ are not bound for destruction, but as His beloved daughter, the last thing I want to do is be an enemy of the cross of Christ. My goal, every day, must be for His Glory, and not for comfort. I must rejoice in the sufferings that conform me to our beautiful Jesus. This is not just a calling; it is a privilege! I look forward to enjoying a full belly after dining out again and I will be very thankful for the return of some earthly pleasures, but Oh! Please save me from letting that be enough. Precious friends, please long for better things with me. May our aching be for God’s glory and his Kingdom and not the reclimation of our own earhly kingdoms.

I love you and CANNOT wait to Hug you!

 

 

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Falling Through

By | Dear Sons & Daughters | 5 Comments

On Saturday around luch time, my husband and I were sitting outside, adjusting to our empty nest, when our youngest daughter called. She called to tell us that she had fallen through Rush. She wasn’t invited back to any pref parties. She was devastated, wounded, confused, and she needed us. It took almost no time at all for us to do some haphazard packing and race to the airport, hop in my husband’s little plane and take off to be with our hurting chlid. On our flight, I cried a lot and I’m pretty confident my anger and confusion surpassed that of my daughter. Like most summer afternoons in the south, convective clouds were building and scattered at our altitude. Although clear skies are always the first choice when flying, sometimes you have to fly through the clouds. As we approached one on Saturday’s rescue mission, my husband warned me to hold on, “About to feel a little bump.”  If you have never been on a small plane and experienced the “little bump”, let me tell you it’s offputting. Your stomach drops, you watch the altimeter on the dashboard spin backwards a few hundres clicks and as you look out the window, all you can see is white. You are Falling Through the cloud. When you are falling through, you aren’t counting your blessings or fretting over the extra 5 pounds you have put on. You aren’t making grocery lists or wondering what your friends are doing. When you are Falling Through, you are consumed in the moment. 

The stab of rejection when one falls through rush is all consuming. You had all the outfits picked out. You are groomed and polished and amped up to meet new friends and show them why they should want to know you better…. When they don’t, the bottom falls out from under you. Your stomach drops and you watch the altitude spin backward as you plummet. The white haze of rejection is all you can see. It’s brutal and awful, but to be fair, it is temporary. You aren’t free falling. You aren’t falling out. You are falling through. When in a cloud, you eventually come out the other side.

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t experienced the wounds of rejection, and I certaintly don’t know anyone who has lived a life with only clear skies. A few years ago, when I was stuck in a really dark cloud and flattened by fear and doubt and anger and confusion, I found myself on my knees, cryng angry tears to God. In the darkness, one small phrase cut through my haze: “Whatsoever is True”. Just one line in Paul’s letter to the Phillippians in which he is teaching them on what they should set their minds on…. Whatsoever is true.

Being rejected doesn’t change who you are. Our daughter was the same kind, beautiful, smart, adored, funny creative young lady on Friday before she fell through and on Saturday, when hundreds of girls rejected her, she was still the same kind, beautiful, smart, adored, funny and creative young lady. 

What other people think of you isn’t solid ground. It feels like everything sometimes, but it is just unstable atmosphere. The stability that we must find our self worth in is what God says about us.

If we believe in Jesus, God says,

“We are His children” (John 1:12)

It gave Him pleasure to adopt us (Ephesians 1:5)

We are made in His image (Genesis1:27)

We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…a special possesion….called out of darkness into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)

 

These truths don’t change. Whatsoever is also true is that she goes to a great school. She is loved by many friends and family members. She is healthy. She has a fantasic metabolism.  Whatsoever is not true are the lies, “Nobody likes me.” “I will never fit in”. “Everyone is talking about me.” It is imperitive in all our lives that we set our minds on what is true. We will all fall through things, and when we find our stomachs dropping and our vision blurred, cling to the truth.  

God loves you so much. He loves His son way more than I love any of my children. In fact, he loves my children and yours way more than we are capable of loving them. He loved us so much that He sent his only cherished and adored son to come to die for you and me and our kids. His perfect and blameless child died willingly on the cross to pay for our sins. He paid for our fury and the times we rejected others without even realizing it. He paid for our selfish interests and stubborness and all of our ulgliness that we try to hide, and if we believe in His  son, we will not be punished or held accountable for those things. One day, we will see Jesus and live forever with Him in heaven. (John 3:16 my paraphrase) That is the truth. Set your mind on it.

You will have to fly  through more clouds…. But you will come out the other side. Don’t waste the lesson. You will fall THROUGH.

 

**** FYI…. 24 hours after falling through Rush, we were eating lunch after church and she received a snap bid. In fact, every girl did. We left her yesterday afternoon, covered in spary paint and glitter and a huge smile.

 

THE GENEALOGY OF A ROOT OF BITTERNESS GENESIS 36

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an article by www.cloversites.com

 

E. Stanley Jones said of resentment: “One of the most virulent germs which can attack the human mind is resentment and it is all the more dangerous because if often does its deadly work without being isolated and being recognized for what it is. It is one of themost evil things in the world.” Another name for such resentment is bitterness.

Esau is a constant reminder to the student of Holy Scriptures of the power of bitterness. We come to the chapter that has the genealogy of Esau. Twice in this chapter he isreferred to as, “The father of the Edomites.” This tribe of Edomites was a constant thornin the side of Israel throughout their history. You will not understand their constant antagonism to Israel unless you remember that they were descendents of Esau. The genealogy of bitterness can be traced through the attitudes and actions of these Edomites against the descendents of Jacob. The Edomites are the heritage of Esau – his major contribution to the world.

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It is worth remembering that this bitterness toward Israel worked its way down through history until it finally expressed itself in enmity against the son of Jacob – the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not often remembered that Herod who was such a threat to the life and ministry of Jesus was an Edomite. He could trace his genealogy back to Esau, the son of Isaac. The genealogy of bitterness should remind each of us that it should be avoided at all cost. Any one who allows bitterness to remain in their heart is setting himself up to leave a heritage of evil. The writer of Hebrews used Esau as an example to warn us aboutthe “root of bitterness”: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;without holiness no one shall see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause troubles and to defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessingwith tears.” (Hebrews 12:14-17) Let’s look at the life of Esau as recorded in Genesis and see what we can learn about the genealogy of bitterness.

I. THE BEGINNING OF BITTERNESS.

The experience of Esau is a reminder to us that bitterness usually begins over a small matter. It will grow out of what is perceived as a wrong or an injustice. The person who is the object of the injustice will harbor within himself resentment and bitterness toward the person who did the injustice. Unless it is dealt with it becomes a root of bitterness within and in time will affect the whole of the life.

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In the case of Esau it could be traced back to the day when in great hunger he came to his brother, Jacob, to find something to eat. Jacob was preparing some vegetable stew and Esau wanted a bowl of it. Instead of responding to the need of his brother with generosity, Jacob demanded of him his birthright for a bowl of soup. Being the kind of person he was Esau was quick to sell his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of soup. The selling of the birthright indicated that Esau lacked the spiritual perception that one needs in life. He was willing to treat something that was supposed to be very sacred as though it was a trivial matter. But the thing that Esau would remember through the years was the apparent injustice that Jacob had done to him. After all he was his twin brother and he had a right to expect something better from his twin brother than this kind of action. That became in Esau a streak of bitterness that ran through the whole of his life.

Most bitterness begins over a small matter. John Claypool tells the story about another set of twin boys. They were identical and from the beginning of life, inseparable. They dressed alike, they did everything together. As a matter of fact, they never married.
After college they came back home and took over their dad’s business. They worked soharmoniously that everybody in the community pointed to their relationship as a model of created cooperation.

On one particular morning, however, a customer came in to the store and made a little purchase. The brother who served him took the dollar bill, put it upon the cash register, walked with the customer to the front of their establishment and after he left went back to

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deposit the money but the dollar bill was gone. So he asked his brother, “Did you put a dollar bill in the cash register?”

His twin answered, “I didn’t see any dollar bill.”

The first brother was surprised. “That’s funny, I distinctly remember I put it on the cash register.” A little later he asked again, “Didn’t you take that dollar bill and put it in thecash register?”

His twin replied testily, “No! I told you before I didn’t see it.”

Tension developed between those brothers over that dollar bill. Every time they discussed the matter there were charges and counter charges. The charges and counter charges never solved anything but rather became more and more violent. Eventually they broke up their partnership. As a matter of fact they split the store right down the middle, each brother owning his own half. The community was drawn into the quarrel. For twenty years the business, the two men and dozens of other people were troubled by dark resentment and deep, smoldering rage.

Then, one day, a stranger drove into town. He came to the store that had been divided down the middle, walked into one side and asked the white-headed proprietor, “How long have you been in business here?” The brother told him, “Well,” the stranger replied, “Then I’ve got something I must square with you.” Twenty years ago he explained,

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unemployed and homeless, he had been wondering around the country. One morning he had dropped off the freight train in that little town and walked down the back alley hoping he could find something to eat. Through the open door of the store he had seen a cash register with a dollar bill on top. Nobody was there; only two men up at the front. He sneaked in and stole the dollar bill but brought up as a Christian, he had been bothered by guilt, so he finally decided to return, confess his theft, and pay what ever the store owners thought was due to them.

As he talked the white-haired man listened with tears running down his cheeks. When hewas able to recover his composure he said, “Please come with me. I want you to tell thesame story to my brother.” They walked into the half of that divided store and beforelong the white-haired twins were weeping in each other’s arms. Twenty years ofhostility! Twenty years of resentment! Twenty years of cold silence and lingering loneliness and it all began over a dollar bill.

Do you have bitterness in your heart toward someone or some group of people? Where did it begin? Can you trace it back to its beginning?

II. THE TRANSMISSION OF BITTERNESS.

This is the sobering lesson that we need to learn from this genealogy of bitterness. Bitterness can be passed from one generation to another generation and to another generation and to another generation. It has the power to perpetuate itself in one life after another. This is the lesson that we learn from Esau and the Edomites.

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We first become aware of this transmission of bitterness from one generation to another as we read the rest of the history of Israel. You may recall that when Moses was leading the people of Israel out of Egypt and back toward their Promised Land that they need to pass across the land of Edom. When Moses sent a messenger to the king of Edom requesting the privilege to cross through their land, the request was angrily rejected. Not only did the King of Edom reject the request, he threatened all out warfare if Israel set one foot upon his territory. The bitterness that was in him toward the people of Israel traced its way back to that little incident that took place between Esau and Jacob. The people of Israel had been in Egypt 400 hundred years so there had been no opportunity for any kind of wrong or injustice for four hundred years. Yet, there is still an intensity of bitterness that actually has produced hatred in the hearts of the Edomites toward Israel.

There is another piece of historical evidence in the Old Testament of this transmission ofbitterness from one generation to another. In the list of the chiefs among Esau’sdescendents you find a name that occurs a number of times later in the Old Testament. It is the name of Amalek. When Saul was crowned king of Israel one of the first opponents he had to face was the Amalekites. Most Biblical scholars believe that the Amalekites are descendents from Esau. They are still trying to get even for what Jacob did to Esau centuries and centuries later. There is a tremendous capacity to pass from one generation to another generation bitterness. The root of bitterness is not genetically transmitted, but it is spiritually transmitted.

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This should cause us to take a careful look at some of the resentments and bitterness’ wemay have toward other people, and especially, toward people of other nationalities, or races. Did you receive this bitterness toward people from other nationalities from your parents or grandparents, or is it based on some wrong or injustice they have done to you?It may well be that you have received from your parent’s bitterness that they receivedfrom their parents who received it from their parents. The bitterness may actually be traced back for generations. There is a tremendous power to transmit our prejudices,resentment, and bitterness’ to our children and our grandchildren.

Most of the wars that are going on in the world tonight are rooted in this reality. Whether it is the tribal conflicts in Africa, the ethnic conflicts in Europe, or the Protestants/Catholic conflicts in Northern Ireland, the reality is still the same. Forgenerations they had passed to their children and their grandchildren their bitterness’ justlike the descendants of Esau that last from generation to generation. The heritage of Esau is the Edomites with their bitterness toward the descendents of Jacob.

This makes it urgent that we deal with bitterness in our hearts. We don’t want to transmiton to our children and grandchildren something that is so potentially destructive.

III. THE FRUIT OF BITTERNESS.

This evil root of bitterness bears evil fruit. It may not prevent the person harboring the bitterness from knowing a relatively successful life. This chapter is about the prosperity and the enrichment of Esau and his descendants but there is something greater at stake.

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1. There is exclusion from God’s purpose.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Esau in his bitterness sought a way to reclaim what he had lost when he had sold his birthright but he was never able to find a way to do it. He was never willing to pay the price that would have been required to find the placein God’s redemptive purpose. For all of his day and all the days of his descendants theyheritage would be a continual enmity to the activity of God.

It may well be that your bitterness can be passed to your children and grandchildren in such a way that it not only keeps you from knowing the blessing of God, but it prevents your children from ever knowing it. Just how deeply this exclusion of Esau from thepurpose of God is indicated by the statement you find in the prophet Malachi. “Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated.” God and Esau found themselves on different sidesof every issue.

The writer of Hebrews describes Esau as a “profane” person. This word literally meansthat he was a person who lived as though there was no God. In contrast to his brother, who had so many deficiencies, Esau never gave God the time of day. He was not interested in God, nor concerned about what God thought about anything. Bitterness put a wall between him and the God of the Covenant that nothing could ever tear down.

2. There will be final destruction.
When you take a concordance and you look to the references to Edom and the Edomites and the rest of the Old Testament it is a story of unfolding judgment. For example, the

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little prophecy of Obadiah in its entirety is addressed to the Edomites. It is a promise ofdestruction and judgment. That’s all that you can anticipate if you continue to harbor in your hear bitterness which separates you from God. The only thing to look forward to is the judgment and destruction of God.

A man came to Abraham Lincoln one day with a story of bitterness and revenge which he unfolded out of his own hate-filled heart. Lincoln responded to him quietly with adefinite understatement. “You have more of that feeling of personal resentment than I have. Perhaps I have too little; but I never thought it paid.” Of course, it never pays.One reason is that hatred and bitterness exposes us to God’s destructive judgment. It putsus on the wrong side. It brings us in opposition to the Lord God whose purposes will prevail.

Some times the bitterness is rooted in a feeling that God had dealt unjustly with you. The famous Methodist pastor W. E. Sangster told about people he has known that for one reason or another had bitterness in his heart toward God. Sometimes it was because they had been born illegitimately or maimed, or facially disfigured, or crippled, or odd in some other way. In their minds they may carry resentment toward God for what they believed God has done to them. But, some of the great saints of the past has been people who had such experiences in their lives and did not become bitter. Alexander Whyte, the great Scottish pastor, was born to an unmarried mother. In that day it carried a tremendous stigma with it. Yet, he allowed it to be something that drew him to God in humility and dependence rather than something that became a source of bitterness in him. Even Paul had his thorn in the flesh that God had placed upon him, yet it became a source

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of blessing in his life instead of bitterness. If someone has done you wrong, the way to avoid bitterness is through forgiveness. If you think God has done you wrong the way to avoid bitterness is trust. But know this, all bitterness develops a genealogy. Kill it! Kill it now! Kill it before it is able to pass from you to others with its destructive power and influence.

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that there is plenty of grace available to keep you free from this destructive power of bitterness. Choose to allow the grace of God to do its work in your heart. You will bless generations to come by your decisions. You will not leave the world with a tribe of Edomites!

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Operation Varsity Blues. A college cheating scandal 4,000 years ago

By | Agape Love | No Comments

It is hard to escape hearing about the college cheating scandal. It seems to permeate the news and dinner table conversations around my home and likely some of yours too. The world seems shocked that affluent parents would lie, cheat and steal on behalf of their undeserving children. Of course there is a lot to learn, but most of these lessons have been taught and learned many times before, and one of those times was recorded for us nearly 4,000 years ago.  In the book of Genesis, chapters 25-28, we are given an opportunity to look at the lives of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau. Isaac and Rebecca were told by the Lord, before the birth of their twins, that the younger twin would rule over the older twin (Genesis 25:22-23). One  would assume that this couple who were part of the great lineage of Faith, who had undoubtably been told by Abraham the account of God providing a sacrificial ram to spare the life of Isaac, and who had prayed earnestly for these twins and received the blessing of that answered prayer would trust that God would keep his word about the future of their sons…. Oh,….. but that assumes that there isn’t a mother involved who is blinded by child worship.

God did not need Rebekah’s help to secure Jacob’s future, but when she heard Isaac making plans with Esau about receiving the  blessing reserved for and merited to the first born, she lied, cheated and stole in order to make sure her precious baby received the better inheritance. ( Genesis. Chapter 27). She even capitalized upon an Old Testament version of photoshop..

Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, ’s which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.”Genesis 27:15-16  NIV

Rebekah’s lack of trust didn’t change God’s plan or design for her twins. Her lack of trust DID leave her alone and disgraced. Her cheating scandal forced her younger, beloved son to leave his home and run for his life. Her cheating scandal served as the foundation that her older son built a legacy of generational bitterness on that lasted for centuries  http://catherinemoorenelson.com/genealogy-root-bitterness-genesis-36/

and Rebekah’s cheating scandal meant that she would never see her sons again.

It seems clear to me that as we watch the cheating scandal of 2019, we have a few lessons to embrace and teach those whom we love.

#1. God is worthy of our trust. He doesn’t need our manipulation to promote ourselves, spouses, or children. When we see our plans in jeopardy, our best and first response should be to pray. He loves us. He is always good. He can do anything. “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”

#2. We must always be on alert to eradicate any root of bitterness, lest it take hold and become a generational stronghold and characteristic. Other people may get promoted or blessed by things we believe we deserve more, but bitterness will not soothe our wounds or catapult us to that which we believe we are entitled to. Bitterness only serves as a tool of destruction.

 “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15 NIV

 

AND 

#3 “Rejoice always….. and again I say rejoice”.  Phillippians 4:4

 

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An uncomfortable introvert’s birthday

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Tomorrow is my birthday. It’s not a big one. I’m 48.  The birthday blues started setting in 2 days ago. I really have no idea why, except that Satan hates rejoicing. I am not sad about getting older. I feel the happiest and healthiest I ever have. I have great friends and kids and I’m married to my favorite person in the world. Many of “my people” have extended invitations to celebrate me with a dinner or lunch or party and I have turned everyone down. I’m not being self-deprecating and I’m definitely not unselfish. I’m just uncomfortable celebrating me. 

Honestly, literally…. My ears are bright red and hot to the touch as I type. The thought of focused attention on me makes me sweat. 

How does an introvert celebrate when the focus is on her? It’s a puzzler. :/

I’m truly my happiest when I am serving and listening to and just spending time with people I love. Some of that is my nature, but most of that is because it is the foundation of my life for the last quarter century. I actually love being the supporter, sweeper, sherpa, etc., and when that flips, I’m unsteady.

As I try to figure out this puzzle, I know that in order to serve these people well tomorrow, I’m going to have to figure out how to receive their celebration and this focus on me.

I also know that I am called to thankfulness and boldness and rejoicing. I don’t honor anyone by pulling the covers over my head and pretending that it is just another day. 

This is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it. My chief purpose is to glorify God and ENJOY Him forever. If I wake up tomorrow…. On my birthday…. That is a blessing. 

Instead of wishing me a happy birthday, Please notice the people in your life who celebrate you. Thank them and rejoice in this day. It is a gift that has been given to you.  XOXO

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Judge Kavanaugh and the Lion’s Den

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Judge Kavanaugh and the Lion’s den

I spent most of the day yesterday watching the Kavanaugh hearing. Like in  most of your houses, It was the topic of conversation over dinner and throughout  the night. Dr Ford’s testimony was compelling and Judge Kavanaugh’s testimony moved me to tears. Before I write another sentence, I want to make it clear that I know my opinion doesn’t matter, and as a conservative and daughter in law to a federal judge, I am predisposed to believe Judge Kavanaugh. 

After sending my youngest off to school this morning, I spent some time in prayer, journaling (a habit that got a great boost in affirmation yesterday) and reading my Bible. Today, my bible reading was Daniel 5 and 6. I hope you are as compelled as I am with the comparisons between the prophet Daniel and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Daniel was a righteous man who made worship a priority, and Kavanaugh testified that worship is as much a habit as brushing his teeth.

Daniel served faithfully and with excellence under 3 separate Kings (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius the Meade). Daniel continued to receive promotions and power because of his integrity and skill. 

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Daniel 6:3 ESV

There was a struggle for power in the kingdom 

“Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:4-5 ESV

Daniel was set up and exposed and then thrown into a den of Lions. The Lions were certainly scary and loud, but they did not devour him. 

“My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Daniel 6:22 ESV

Daniel and Brett Kavanaugh are 2 different people living centuries apart, and we can learn a great lesson from both of them. These men know who their God is and they put devotion to Him above all else. Nothing surprised their God and nothing can thwart His plans. I don’t know what Judge Kavanaugh’s future looks like on earth, but I do know what is eternal future looks like. What is happening in Washington is not a surprise to our God. He appointed Judge Kavanaugh for such a time as this. He is being conformed to Christ and one day soon, He will see Him face to face and will be more like Jesus because of this Lion’s den he has found himself in this week. Trials are a part of life if you love the Lord. Our God can shut the mouths of lions and be glorified anywhere. I pray that in my next trial, I will keep my eyes on Jesus, glorify Him and like Judge Kavanaugh, pray for those who persecute me.

“Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

“Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God,

enduring forever;

his kingdom shall never be destroyed,

and his dominion shall be to the end.

He delivers and rescues;

he works signs and wonders

in heaven and on earth,

he who has saved Daniel

from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 ESV

 

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Nothin gonna steal my joy

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This morning, I watched the sweetest video. A 6 year little girl, singing in her children’s choir at church could not remain still as the gospel song was being sung. The rest of the children’s choir was poised and proper, but little “Lauren” was foot-tapping and clapping and singing and swaying to the beat.

Here are the words to the chorus that really got her going:

 

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful
I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored
There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy
No, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

 

Oh friends. Nothing should steal our joy! Our hearts should overflow all day long because we have been restored! Our feet should tap and our voices ring out!

I don’t know about you, but I am so disheartened and discouraged by my own sin. I want to be holy and find myself confessing the same sins every day. I’m ashamed and find it hard to believe that a Holy God would ever want me in His family, but Praise be to Christ, He does want me! Amazing Grace is mine. All my sins are forgiven because of Jesus. The heavenly father opens His arms to me and pulls me into his secure embrace every day. I am His and He is mine…. Always and forever…. No matter what.

What could steal my joy?

 

4” Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

“And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:47 NIV

 

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” Ephesians 1:13 NIV

 

 

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Taste and See

By | Agape Love | No Comments

On a recent trip to New Orleans with my husband, I tasted something new and wonderful. Of course, it’s not surprising that I enjoyed amazing food in New Orleans, and in fact, it was because I had feasted on so many rich and fattening foods, that I ordered something different. While dining at Brennan’s, I decided to order the “Trout Nancy”. In truth, I don’t really enjoy eating fish; I’d much prefer steak, chicken or even a salad, but I was starting to dread the post NOLA weigh-in and thought fish would be a wise choice. When the meal arrived, I noshed on the green beans first, and by the time I had finished my veggies, half of the table (who also happened to order the fish) began raving about how incredible the fish tasted. Now let’s be honest, even you pescatarians have to agree that cooked fish isn’t pretty. It’s brown or grey or white and sorta slimy looking. It doesn’t smell as good as most foods, and most people eat it for health and not for taste. Y’all, it was amazing. When I finally picked up my fork and trusted the others at the table and actually tasted the bite, I truly enjoyed it. It may have been the first time that I ate every bite of a fish dish.

 

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him.” Psalm 34:8” NKJV

 

Trusting in the Lord is not easy. It’s not our usual recourse. Most of us say we trust in the Lord. We know he is good, but we tend to fail by putting that trust in action. The Bible is clear in its instructions to us on obedience. We are called to freely forgive, to love the poor, to repent of our habitual sins, to not worship idols…. But it is so much easier to play it safe. Seeking peace with our enemies and wanting peace for them breeds all kinds of anxiety and insecurity. Getting to know and help the disenfranchised in our city can be uncomfortable and sacrificial. Letting go of bad habits is really hard and putting Jesus on the throne instead of our own agenda takes daily discipline. It’s a lot more difficult to do than ordering fish at a fancy restaurant, but when we do, the reward is amazing.

Last week, I knew the Lord was calling me to reach out to someone I had been out of touch with. The longer the space of time grew, the more insecure and angry I became. I thought the radio silence was because of a rift in our relationship, and I had no clue what I had done. The bible tells us that if a “brother” has a problem with you, you are to go to that brother and seek peace Matthew 5:24). I did not want to make the call. I really didn’t want to know what I had done, but how can I say I trust the Lord, if I don’t obey His word? If I trust Him, I have to believe that everything He tells me to do is the right thing. I did make the call and the same evening enjoyed dinner with this precious person. Obedience leads to incredible blessing on earth and in Heaven, but we cannot taste and see how good God is if we don’t put our trust in action through obedience.

Oh dear friends, search your heart to see what God is asking you to do. Search His word; the answers are there, and then just do it. Don’t miss out on the blessing by choosing the safe and obtuse way. God is so good

 

Post script….. Trout Nancy is bathed in butter, so maybe not the healthiest choice :/

May all your risks have the savory blessing of being bathed in better than butter. XO

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The Hurricane

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Earlier this month, I experienced my first hurricane. Pat and I were on vacation in Cabo and Hurricane Newton hit our resort as a category 2 with destructive winds and sheets of rain. Y’all, it was amazing! As a woman who has lived her life land-locked, I was thrilled to be caught in the middle of it.

I’ve been told by my children that I can make a spiritual lesson out of just about anything, and although I’m pretty sure they don’t mean that as a compliment, there is an important lesson in the hurricane that I have thought about everyday since it passed on through. Please indulge me a minute while I share this treasure I learned.

When the sun rose and the winds and rain subsided, Pat and I walked out of our vacation home to survey the destruction. There was structural damage and some broken windows, but it was the palm trees that took the greatest hit. Most of the trees stayed erect, a few were completely toppled, and there were a few more that had been pushed to a leaning position by the wind. These trees had ½ their roots exposed, but they hadn’t completely fallen.

Hours later, the property staff had encircled the leaning trees with rope and tied them tightly to the trees that hadn’t been budged by the wind. With the support of the stronger tree, the leaning tree was straightened, supported and rooted back in the soil. I don’t know how long the ropes will be left tying the trees together, but I am confident, the ropes won’t be removed until the leaning tree is completely restored.

Like all of you, I have experienced some storms. In the past, I have been of the mindset to just grit it out. When I’m broken, I don’t want anyone to see my exposed roots and so I try to upright myself by spending time in prayer and scripture. Now… of course, our God is a healer and comforter who never leaves our side and can handle all our burdens, but this same God is a God of relationships who designed us for community. Relationships are of paramount importance to Jesus. He surrounded himself with good friends and best friends while he lived his purposeful life of sharing God’s Good News. He shared his pain and joy with these friends. When he was dying on the cross, he instructed his best friend and mother to be in relationship with each other (John 19:26-27) and when he ascended into heaven, he told everyone to engage with people everywhere and tell them about their love for him. (Acts 1:8)

If you are going through a storm and the winds and rain have left you battered with exposed roots, please offer your ropes of love and friendship to another friend who has survived their storm. We need Jesus, but we really also need people and people want to help. If you stay isolated, you are much more likely to topple over.

I was convicted a few years ago that I had not invested in deep friendships and so I purposefully pursued deepening my relationships with a few women that I had comfortable bonds with. God has blessed these relationships so beautifully and my heart overflows with thankfulness. We have been roped together and consistently help each other deepen our roots. As the storms come and go, I am so thankful to be tied to them. I know many of you are just as thankful for these friendships in your life. Celebrate them! Praise the Lord for them. If you are lacking these, get out your rope and go lasso a couple. It’s hard to be vulnerable, but the reward is so worth it.

 “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)