Getting Older

Today I went to the store to buy a pair of "skorts" (skirt with shorts underneath), and I was mortified at the size I needed to buy.  XL.  Yes, I have now graduated to the big girl's size, and I didn't even know I was large.  My friend pointed out that the sizes run small (the small one looked like it would fit on a six year old girl), but even knowing this, I felt crummy.  It's amazing at what a simple tag can do my self esteem.

This made me think about appearances.  I wrote about how I can appear fine, and really not be fine underneath in an earlier post.  What I failed to mention is how important it is for me to look good, anyway.  I am struggling with the aging process and how that has taken a toll on my face and body, just in the past year.  I realize everyone must go through this process, but I am amazed at how self-focused I have become about it.  

I had allowed my outward appearance to become my identity.  This is a terrible error to make in life, as the outward appearance will inevitably change.  Rationally, I know my identity is not based on my appearance.  I know in my mind, that I am a child of God.  My identity should be as His daughter.  Emotionally, well that's a different story.  

What do I do to address this?  Well, I pray.  I repent.  But I am also trying to be more cognizant of what I eat, and more importantly, how much.  I want to make more healthy choices, and exercise more.  Not because I want to regain my youth, but because I want to feel healthier.  

But, I did a classic mid-life crisis thing.  I bought a convertible.  I liked the way I looked in it.  (smile)

Independence Day Celebration

Come to Life Foursquare Church tomorrow evening June 29, 2014 to a free event!  The people of the church will have free hotdogs, cotton candy, nachos, and sno-cones available for all who come.  Water and lemonade will also be available.

There will be pony rides, inflatable bounce houses, and music. The band “Look Up” will play a concert.

And of course no celebration is complete without fireworks! Fireworks will start at dusk.

The event starts at 7:00p.m. and we expect to be done by 9:30.

The address of the event is:

Life Foursquare Church
2954 W Ash Ave
Decatur, IL 62526

Need directions?  Here is a link to the google map.

Irrelevant Majority

I found a stirring speech posted by an old college friend on FaceBook.  Please click on the link to view it.

Unusual Answer from Panelist Receives Standing Ovation at Benghazi Coalition Meeting | CNS News

This was a panel discussion about the government's response to terrorism in the United States.  I loved the speech given by Brigitte Gabriel.  It was a healthy reminder about the events in history.  The student was trying to make the point that the terrorists are but a small percentage of radicals, and not the peaceful majority of Muslims in the world.  Ms. Gabriel pointed out that over and over in history, the peaceful majority were overpowered by the radical minority.  It happened in Germany with the Nazi party.  It happened in Russia.  It happened in China.  It happened in Japan.  It happened right here in the United States.  Even though the majority of the people were peaceful, they were not effective in stopping the radicals from massive killing.  The majority was irrelevant.

Lessons from Jonah

I read the book of Jonah this morning, expecting to read about the "big fish." While that was a component of the story, I was more fascinated with God's relentless pursuit of Jonah. Jonah had run away from God, the very opposite direction. But God wouldn't let Jonah go. He chased him down with a giant storm, sending him into the ocean, and saved him by this "big fish." 

Wow. This story just illustrated for me just how much we mean to God, and that if we try to run away, He will pursue us. Maybe not quite in such a scary demonstrative way, but He still wants us.
After Jonah returned to the Lord, he did what he was told and went to the sinful city of Nineveh.  He proclaimed the Lord's message, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be destroyed!"  Jonah was surprised to see the widespread repentance of the people of the city, and angered when the Lord determined to have mercy on the city.  In fact, he said, "Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen." (Jonah 4:3 NLT)

Honoring my Fathers

Last month I wrote about my mothers.  Today, I just want to share a few pictures of the fathers in my life.

My father is the original "geek" in my life.  He is a deep thinker who examines everything with a fine detail.  He loves science fiction movies and we used to watch these together all the time.

My other father is so completely opposite of my dad.  He loves people and wants to experience life.  He would rather be out doing something than watch it on television.

I am just grateful that I married a man who is a great father for my son.

Happy Father's Day!

And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.

We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider you worthy.  For He called you to share in His kingdom and glory.

~1Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NLT)

Devouring Fire

Yesterday, I wrote about how God will shake things up, so that only unshakable things remain.  There is one additional verse that captured me in that passage from Hebrews:

"For our God is a devouring fire."

~Hebrews 12:29 (NLT)

It seemed like an odd statement in the context of God shaking things up.  I decided to look deeper.  It could mean the fire of purification - like in the refining of gold and silver.

"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

but the Lord tests the heart."

~Proverbs 17:3 (NLT)

"Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,

but a person is tested by being praised."

~Proverbs 27:21 (NLT)

Or, it could mean the fiery wrath of God, that conquered the sinful nations for his chosen people.

"But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will

cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them.

He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer and drive them out,

just as the Lord has promised."

~Deuteronomy 9:3 (NLT)

In any case, I have the image of a fire that devours and consumes all, leaving only the pure behind.   Just like he will shake things up, leaving behind only what is unshakable.

I pray that I have unshakable faith and a purity of heart that withstands God's fiery test.

Break Every Chain

We sang this song this morning in our worship service.  

The prophet Jeremiah discusses the day our chains of sin were broken.

"In all history there has never been such of time of terror.

It will be a time of trouble for my people of Israel.

Yet in the end they will be saved! For in that day," 

says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, 

"I will break the yoke from their necks

and snap their chains.

Foreigners will no longer be their masters.

For my people will serve the Lord their God 

and their king descended from David --

the king I will raise up for them.

~Jeremiah 30:7-9 (NLT)

The chains are broken.  They broke that day on the cross.  We no longer have to live in the bondage of sin.  However, there are people who still wear these chains.  They are broken, but they still hang on us.  They still weigh us down.  These chains represent the sinful behavior we may still cling to.  Even broken, these chains are still chains we need to get rid of.  

How do we get rid of the broken chains of sinful behavior that weigh us down?  It's simple.  

Repent in the name of Jesus.

Leaning on His Promises

Have you ever made a promise you swore you would never break, only to break it anyway?  I've thought about promises that people make, promises that sometimes get broken, and some of the reasons why.  Some people lie about the promise initially, never intending to keep the promise.  Others are simply careless about their words, making the promise hastily and without thought.  These people forget their promises.  There are some people who take great care to make a promise they intend to keep.  They mean every word they say, but even so, circumstances cause them to break the promise.  Perhaps they got distracted by sin.  Maybe they simply did not have the authority to follow through and deliver the promise.

God is different.  He is the only Person who can and does keep every promise He ever made.  Consider this passage out of Hebrews:

"Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us." ~Hebrews 6:16-19 (NLT)

God will deliver His promises.

... I just don't know when.

Fractured

I find myself in a fractured thinking pattern sometimes.  Words are jumbled up in my mind, with random thoughts of different events or things interrupting my focus.  Sometimes, a single word or phrase just repeats itself, repeats itself, itself...

I wish I could write poetry.  I think a poem would capture this better than prose.

Thoughts
               are
                    disjointed.

I feel like a hastily put-together puzzle, but with the pieces off just a little bit.  The picture is a little bit like what is on the box, but not quite right.  Some of the pieces are squeezed in to make them fit.  It looks a piece will spring out and the whole thing would break apart again.

Actions Reflect Beliefs

I watched the History Channel's The World Wars this past week.  The series was well-done, showing the connection between World War I (which started almost exactly 100 years ago) and World War II.

This is a time of history that has always fascinated me.  I often have wondered just how a man like Adolf Hitler could rise to the level of influence he had in Germany.  The writers portrayed Hitler as a poor young artist who failed at his craft, lonely, and without direction.  When Austria entered the war, he tried to enlist, but failed, due to perceived weakness.  Desperate to belong somewhere, Hitler joined the German army, and fought in the German trenches.