Be Not Afraid

Sometimes, I don’t mind the long stretch of road that ambles and curves between my house and the college. Sometimes, I don’t mind that we haven’t yet purchased a little car that will take both our kids to and from their classes. You can cover a lot of territory in those conversations shared when it’s just you and those you love and nothing but open road before you.

But just this week, with the afternoon sun peeking through the trees in my rear-view mirror, I made that turn where the tractors are parked and where workers pass through tall stands of flowers to gather arm loads of tall larkspur and delphinium for the local market.

She was a shiny black filly pulling against her lead rope with her handler struggling to tame her. It was the traffic. The cars and trucks and the chaos just yards from where she spun and kicked and where he remained calm but steady. Her young eyes sparked wild and her new mane shimmered in the afternoon glow when she flung her head. She fought, determined to pull free…determined to stand her ground, to rise up and overpower her master… to win her fight fueled by fear.

What do you fear today? Are you kicking and flinging your head, fighting against your Master who knows what’s best? He knows what you need before you ask.

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Matthew 6:8 NIV

You can trust Him as chaos looms so close.

The battle is not yours to fight, sweet sister.

It’s already won!

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47)

Be blessed today and always!

Debbie

To Save a Soul

You might know her.

She’s that friend, that relative, maybe even that woman at church or that other mom facing the same day-to-day choices and challenges you do.

She’s the one sort of sitting on the fence about her faith, sort of half-way believing and sort of going about life with an empty spiritual tank.

Empty and lost hoping worldly “things” will fill the void.

But they never do and never will.

You want to talk to her about Jesus, but just haven’t found the words or the opportunity. You pray about it and watch for the moment….

THAT divinely-inspired moment carved out of a little corner in the day.

You feel it deep inside.

You have to do this.

You need to do this.

You hesitate with the words.

What will you say?

How will you go about it?

“…remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20) NIV

Did you know that you’ll find the Prayer of Salvation on the last page of every issue of Christian Women’s Voice Magazine? We’re working on issue #7 and it blesses me to know that, in the past year, this prayer has been utilized in helping to win souls for Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

God will lead you in conversation with your pre-Christian friend.

Let the prayer in the back of our current issue help her to begin a relationship with Him!

Many Blessings,

Debbie

Photo credit: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=8179&picture=flowers-and-tea-cup

Drag and Drop

Steam from my coffee cup swirls and I rub the sleep from my eyes. It’s an early morning with much to do and the bright computer screen pierces through the dark of 5:30am. I’m still hazy, trying to see and think clearly through my mind fog.

Even at this hour, the words and that same thought remain.

It’s the visual scenario I took away from last Sunday’s sermon. The thought of me sitting in a room void of all things and of all people…except Jesus. There’s only He and I with nothing but space and silence between us because words seem trite in His presence.

He’s sitting there open and ready to receive all that I hope to hand over to him. All the “stuff” weighing me down and bringing the strife…all the thorns of life that aren’t of Him.

Sort of like the computer screen glowing in early morning and the blinking cursor ready, waiting for that moment when I decide the burden is no longer mine to bear. Much like dragging computer documents from one full, oversized file into one with space available to handle it ALL.

It’s a simple drag-and-drop process, really.

I think of how I drag the worry, the fear, the inadequacies, one by bitter one and drop them into His capable hands. I drag ragged me to the hem of His garment and drop at His feet.

I drag the sharp words spoken in anger, the ones spun into the air without thought.

I drag the judging, the sarcasm and all the times I haven’t come through for those I love.           

I drag the guilt and the shame, too.

I drag the pain and hurt caused by others – it’s not mine, anymore!

One. By. Bitter. One.

I remove them from my mind and from my heart…from my “file” and hand them over.

It’s how salvation happens.

We come to Him dragging it all behind us; the ugly filth of it all. And He invites us to leave every shred of it behind; to leave it where it drops and cast not a single glance back - and to simply reach for His hand.

He’s there now ready for us all to simply drag and drop all that we have and all that we are…

to simply say “yes” to Him!

For if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

Give Thanks...and Repeat!

Sometimes, when it rains on your parade…or your party…or your wedding…OR your computer…all you can do is splash in the puddles.

Or add to that puddle with your own tears as I have the past couple of days.

I learned this truth recently when I lost a HUGE file I’d been working on for the past month or so. I’d put countless hours into it, finished everything down to the last detail and was ready to print.

But in an instant…gone! Lost! Tossed to oblivion never to be found again!  

I’m trying very hard to see the blessing in my situation. I’m trying to read into some sort of lesson in all of this. But I suppose it doesn’t really matter whether I understand it or not. God doesn’t owe me an explanation – I simply owe HIM my trust and my thanks…and start over, however painful and laborious that may be.

Give thanks in all circumstances and pray

without ceasing….and repeat!

For some reason, this scenario reminds me of growing up with horses. Out of our five, one was a stubborn little pony - very headstrong and didn’t like to be ridden. She’d bloat up when I saddled her and tightened the cinch only to pick some random spot in the pasture to buckle her legs and roll over with me still in the saddle! More than once I had to bail off to avoid being crushed. But I learned early on  that each time, it was necessary to take charge, to pull her back up on all fours, get back up in that saddle and start over until she did it right.

That whole scene happened THEN so I could draw from it NOW. That’s how God works.

Sometimes, I can get so involved in something that I overlook God’s bigger picture. Do you ever do that?

I believe there’s something to be gleaned from every situation, including this one. That certain “Aha!” moment when God’s hand becomes visible in the middle of our groaning and we realize why it had to come to pass. Why ALL that work was necessary only to be repeated for a bigger purpose.

Sometimes it’s like God says “Nope. You didn’t quite get all I wanted you to out of that experience. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and start over – trust me."

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)

 

Be Blessed

today and Everyday,

Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live Intentionally

Only a few days left between now and Christmas and a brisk wind stirs leaves around my feet as I walk. It’s the kind of cold that pierces right through as if you aren’t even wearing a coat. Trees toss their last remaining leaves to the frigid afternoon and I breathe in the hope of the season and the coming year.

So much to do and to hope for and all the while I’m thinking of these words that constantly spin around in my head much like the leaves:

~~Live Intentionally~~

I want to live as an intentional Christian.

To be intentional with my praise of Him!

To intentionally pray.

To intentionally give thanks.

To intentionally follow and believe.

To live on purpose……His purpose!

 The God of the universe intentionally created me – He intentionally created you. It’s not by chance that we belong to Him. Jesus intentionally loves us – when we say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, when we’re quick to anger, when we’re overcome and overwhelmed – He’s there to pick us up, to forgive and to comfort.

Please remember, sweet sister, that you are intentionally a child of the Most High!

Let Him intentionally reign in your heart.

Wishing you Christmas Blessings and a beautiful New Year!

Debbie

He IS Enough!

I’ve done it again.

It’s 3am in a quiet house, but the thoughts in my head spin loud and hectic. I’ve opened the door to every kind of worry and fear known to me and there is no comfort found in my restlessness. All the things that threaten to steal my joy – all the barriers standing between me and my God rise up brighter and louder in the dark.

I call to God in my fretting, but it’s a struggle; my fears speak louder than the cries of my heart.

Why does this happen?

Why do I ALLOW it to happen time and time again when I’m still

in the palm of His hand.

When I’m STILL a child of the King?

But it’s “time and time again” that He’s already proven himself! He’s already cared enough. He’s already been present enough. He’s already loved me enough.

He’s already enough!

He’s brought me through all the other times of tossing and turning when daggers from the enemy pierce through the night robbing me of sleep and contentment. He’s already made a way and I’ve stood in the warm glow of His mercy and grace.

 

Finally, sleep does come.  He pushes the worries and fears to a darkened corner and I drift off reassured and knowing that I am His and He is mine.

He IS enough!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  (Psalm 23:4)

Be blessed today and always,

Debbie

Interview on Alive in Christ Radio Network

It was so much fun to be a guest on the Alive in Christ Radio Network. I was super nervous, but was grateful for the opportunity to share about my magazine, Christian Women's Voice. 

Alive in Christ has excellent programming and Toni and Lynn Marino were a blast to work with!

If you'd like to listen to the entire show, here's the link:

http://www.aliveinchristradio.com/alive-in-christ-radio-liner-notes/alive-in-christ-radio-112712.html