To Believe or not to Believe? That is the Question.

Call it life experiences or genetics or just plain paranoia; it doesn't really matter the label, the fact remains - I have some serious trust issues. It seems I question every newscaster, radio announcer, statistic, newspaper article - well, you get the picture. Frustration mounts as so many folks seem to really know what's going on, and I'm in the dark because - well, I have serious trust issues. 

Daddy had a saying, and I guess I heard it all my life until it's become part of me. He'd say, "Treat everybody like a crook, and if they're honest, they won't care." You know, Daddy, that makes more sense the older I get. 

I do question things and people far too often, I suppose, and I'm sure that falls into the "judgmental" category -  a pit into which I certainly do not wish to fall. So, what do I do with these questions? this unbelief? this lack of trust?

Some possibilities:

• Examine myself! Am I lacking trust in others because I, myself, have become untrustworthy?
• Examine The Word of God! Does information line up with The Word?
• Examine the source! This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. You see, "the source" is a human being - a man or woman with a past, a worldview tainted or beautified by that past. "The source" may or may not have had a life of ease and abundance; "the source" may have had to scratch and scrape to get a voice and that's why it's filled with bitterness. Ultimately, "the source" has a soul - just like I do... just like you do. He or she may struggle with trust issues as well, and if we met, he or she may "treat me like a crook". Would I care? Hmmm. 

In these musings, truly, it comes down to one thing. There is only One Who is fully trustworthy. Mankind - goodness, as Opie Taylor would say, "We're a mess!" 

In The Word - the Book that has earned my trust, we see folks who were trustworthy, like Joseph. What did he do to get thrown into a pit, then prison and forgotten? Nothing. And what about Job? Whew - what about Job!! "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22 Wow.
But there are some rascals - like Absalom. What about Samson? Jezebel? And Judas Iscariot!! Really? Walking right with Jesus, and betraying Him with a kiss? Wow. What about Rahab the Harlot... choices she made would make her quite untrustworthy. The "rascal" list is pretty long, right? And honestly, if my story were in The Word - you might be shocked; you might never trust me again; you might relate; you might just see what Grace can do. 

So, to believe or not to believe? That is the question. And my conclusion?

"Trust in THE LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." Proverbs 3:5-8

THE LORD is trustworthy! And the sad thing? I have treated HIM "like a crook" - questioned Him, disobeyed Him, ignored Him, on and on... and He still loved me right back into His trustworthy arms. Truly, He has NEVER failed me. He is the answer to the question. Yes, all my hope is in Him - not in people, not in circumstances, not in this temporal, untrustworthy world.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

To believe or not to believe... Yes, that is the question. Will you believe?

Been a While!

Wow... how time flies. My last post was about Obama being elected, now today, after Obama's second term, we're experiencing a new presidential election. And what an election season it has been! I wonder if it will be over even after today's election results are in... Time will tell. Thankfully, God has our future not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

So, since my last post in 2009, our sons have grown and moved into their own lives. They are doing very well. God is faithful.Truly, the only constant in life is God and His Word. Nothing else remains the same.

In fact, my heart remains heavy as we said "see you later" to my dear friend, Debbie. What a blessing her friendship has been to me over the past 30 years. I miss her.  Death strikes emotional chords in a very confusing way - sadness for the loss, joy for her reward, determination to go on, helplessness to ease the pain of her family left behind. Life really is a vapor... (James 4:14)

Then, there's been news of four others who slipped into eternity just in the last four days. Our family wasn't as close to them as we were Debbie, yet that flood of emotion is real. Heart aches for families and emptiness. Little houses seem so hollow. The Living Word rushes in to offer peace - a peace that passes all understanding to guard our breaking heart from enemy attack and our vivid, creative mind from harmful imaginations (Philippians 4:7). Total dependence on The Comforter is not out of order, either. Jesus sent Him for us (John 14:16). He knew...

So, yes, it's been a while and things in life have changed - my little boys are men, my brown hair is gray, many friends have entered into eternity... yet my God is the same and His Word remains.

May you be blessed and may we continue in prayer for our family, friends, our country, and our world.

Obama Needs Our Prayers

Okay, so I didn't vote for him and quite honestly I don't trust him AT ALL, but God had a reason for Obama being our next president. So, we need to be faithful in praying for him, in trying to cut the criticism - tough as that may be for me!! - and, most of all, faithful in trusting our lives, every single minute part, to God. We need to be in the Word and in unceasing prayer for our nation and all of the leaders.

God will never leave us nor forsake us, that's a promise.

Below, I've tried to include a link for one of my favorite songs. It reminds me that my trust is in Christ alone -- not in a man, not in a nation, not in my ideals... Just in Christ alone. I hope it works for you.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=67526786fe0444acf467&msg=Your%20email%20has%20been%20successfully%20sent%20to%20your%20friend..

In 2009, may we grow in Christ as never before.

Max Lucado is asking as many as will to sign their name pledging to pray for President-Elect Obama on Inauguration Day. Won't you join?

Here's a quote from Max Lucado's newsletter:

"He needs our prayers. And it’s our privilege to pray for him. The Bible says: Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. (1 Timothy 2:2)

For that reason, I invite you to set aside a few minutes on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, and ask God to bless Barack Obama and his family. Join me and urge as many people as possible to speak to God on behalf on our incoming president.

Good things happen when people pray."

PrayForPresidentElect.com

Christmas to Me

Christmas time is fun
Let's all go grab a honeybun!
But it's not just to please us,
It's really all about Jesus.
It's okay to want them presents,
But remember it's not all about presents;
It's about Jesus,
not just to please us.

By Corbin Madden
December, 2008

Money Can Buy...

At church a couple of weeks ago, Mom handed me this yellowed little square of paper. The print is obviously from one of those old-fashioned, long-gone typewriters, but the wording is timeless. I have no clue who wrote this, it just says (copied) at then end, but I'd love to give credit where credit is due, so if you should know the author, please let me know, okay? Anyway, I hope it causes you to take a fresh look at your priorities....

Money Can Buy

A House but not a Home.
Food but not an Appetite.
Clothing but not Beauty.
Medicine but not Health.
A Bed but not Sleep.
Books but not Brains.
Luxury but not Culture.
Insurance but not Security.
Loyalty but not Love.
Happiness but not Joy.
Companions but not Friends.
Glasses but not Vision.
A Church but not Salvation.
A Crucifix but not a Saviour.

"For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Matt. 16:26a


It is easy to fall into the trap. We need money to live, but if we live for money, we have no life.

My children are growing so fast - time with them here at home with us is a temporary treasure. God has been really dealing with me this last month about my priorities. It's just so easy to lose focus and find yourself running like a hamster in that spinning wheel - round and round and round but never getting anywhere. Yet, the clock keeps ticking, the days keep passing...

I'm learning that it's only through the leading of the Holy Spirit that I can keep any sort of balance in my life - spiritually, mentally, emotionally, even physically. WORKING toward finding that "place" can be exhausting. My focus MUST remain on Him and Him alone; my trust must be in Him and Him alone.

Of course, several months ago I heard someone say - "Whoever said, 'Money can't buy happiness' never had any." And it IS nice to have money, I certainly can't argue there! But it's nicer to have JESUS! With Him - EVERYTHING is nicer.

Daddy always says, "I ain't never seen a U-Haul hitched to a hearse." But what I have seen is a long line of cars, haven't you? Cars that money can buy. Each and every one driven by a person - a person with a soul that will last for all eternity.....

Have you done a priority check lately?

Atkins says no Bread, but I've GOTTA have it!

Wow! It's been a long time since my last post, but God has sure been busy in our lives. He's just blessing our socks off! And I praise Him for that.

I'm learning daily that God does supply all our needs, that we do not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. His Word is alive and filled with love. It is my bread - and it's CARB FREE!!!

I've been doing a study lately by Joyce Meyer called The Battlefield of the Mind. Whew! Is that ever a warzone in my life! I have lived so long with "stinkin' thinkin'". Wandering around 40 years in the wilderness when the journey could've taken 11 days - that's not only the story of the Children of Israel, but all too often it's our story, too. We wander around aimlessly, spinning our wheels and never getting anywhere. We grumble and complain, and continue in the same patterns day-in-day-out wondering why we don't see more of God's hand in our lives.

Well, we've got to change! It's not optional. If we want to see God's miracles, live and walk in His presence, we've got to get our vision in line with His. We have to realize that, yes, in this world we have tribulations, but we have reason to BE OF GOOD CHEER! HE has overcome this world!

I've known God was with me; I've seen His miracles, experienced amazing grace, overcome major battles, rejoiced in His deliverance, but you know what? He's not finished yet! Boy, is there ever so much to learn!

Bask in His presence, dig into His Word DAILY, spend time with Him in prayer, commune with Him throughout the day as friend with friend. Oh, you just can't imagine the joy - that deep, indescribable joy of communing with the Holy Spirit.

So, it's all you can eat Bread! The BREAD OF LIFE! It's even better than Red Lobster's cheese biscuits!!!