May My Heart See...

Its assignment season again.   School has started and homework will be assigned.   Now that I have no children at home anymore, I don’t have to be concerned with the whole concept of “assignments” and can I just say,   HALLELUJAH!!!!    in bright colors with just a little bit of excitement???   Let’s just say helping with my sons’ assignments wasn’t my most favorite kind of pastime.   But actually, I have an assignment myself.   You have an assignment.   Everyone does.   This assignment comes from God Himself. Some (me included) might think of this “assignment” as a “calling” of some sort.   You know, some are called to be preachers, some teachers, some evangelists. . . .    That type of thing.   But in a recent class, KINDLE – Christ-Like Disciple Training , our “calling” was worded as our “assignment”. God has assigned each of us to something.   I don’t know, when I heard that, my ears perked up and my heart started racing.   My type A-ness came to attention a

As she talked, I sat there amazed.   Not at what she was saying, but at who she had become.   Confident.   Godly.   Faithful.    Respected.   It just hit me that she is now a leader in our church.    A true leader.   The next generation of leaders, in fact. But wait -- is this the same young woman who God brought into our lives a little over 10 years ago?   The anxious, nervous, only-just-started-going-to- church- wanting-to-please-everyone young woman my son introduced us to?   Watching her confidently taking her seat, I started thinking of those first days . . .   and seriously, my breath caught in my throat.   How amazing God is!   He molds, He holds.   He shapes and He grows.   And He does this over and over – and it still amazes me.   That got me to thinking.   God’s amazing work in my life didn’t start with my daughter-in-love.   It started before that.   It started when, as a young wife, pregnant, I yearned for a daughter and instead, ended up with three sons.   The

    I left for a LONG walk by myself recently while vacationing at my sister's place.   Armed with a bottle of water, it was a perfect morning to get away.  The sun was shining and the birds were singing - what could be better??   Having walked this path before, I didn't have a worry in the world. Praying, humming and taking in as much of God's creation as I could, all was good.   Well, until . .   My bladder was full and no bathroom was in sight.   I figured I was still about two miles away from the nearest bathroom.   What to do?   Two miles is a LONG WAY when you gotta go.   Some of you know EXACTLY what I mean.   Or maybe you don't have problems like this and if you did, you at least wouldn't tell anybody about it.   But the older I get, the more of a problem it is.   And the older I get, I know that EVERY event in life has a lesson.   Yes, even one like this   So I did what any praying woman would do when she has a problem.   I prayed.   I kept

I belong to the Clean Slate Club, ever heard of it?   Probably not, cause I just made it up.   Not the Clean P LATE Club btw – although I pretty much could say I belong there too J . This is a club consisting of totally white – blank – clean – non-encumbered nothing.   A “clean slate”.   That’s what happens when God forgives.   There is no “sort ofs” with this – no “almosts” – no “halfways” – it’s all or nothing.   It’s complete.   It’s forgotten.   It’s absolute.   It’s the way God works - it’s GRACE . Psalm 51 says, Have mercy on me, O God,     according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion     blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity     and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions,     and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned     and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in Your verdict     and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth,     sinful fro

I’ve got all my Valentine’s Day cards done except one .  I got the mushy one for my hubby –  cute ones with stickers inside for the grandkids and one for a friend who just got divorced. To be honest, I didn’t even think of sending this one until I heard it mentioned last Sunday during the children’s sermon.　 Paper and scissors aren’t needed - not even a stamp.　 This requires the most heartfelt devotion I can muster.　No schmaltz or trite little words.　 In fact, this might be the hardest thing I have ever done.   Maybe I should rethink this. 　 I want to send one to God.  I want to tell Him, no SHOW Him how much He means to me.　 I want to offer my heart to Him like I have never offered it before. This will be my best Valentine ever! 　 But my heart is deceitful . . . 　 Jeremiah 17 says: 　　　 　　The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 　 I can’t do this. There is not one thing I can do or offer that will be a perfect Valentine for my