tom tom

I've mentioned a couple of times the family Bermuda vacation.  On the way, Mark bought a tom tom to get us through New York City, where we were catching the cruise ship.  We laughed and called it Deb Deb, because of the sexy voice...had I known what was going on we could have called it Kath Kath. (sorry for that nasty comment!)

This weekend I brought tom tom out of hibernation to get me to the wedding.  I knew how to get to a certain point, it was from there on I needed help.  That thing scares the bejesus out of me...I'm moving along  and suddenly it says "Turn right ahead"...I keep it in my glove compartment and some times it just comes on for no reason...and suddenly you hear a voice.  "Merge ahead"...what?? Where did that come from??
Sort of like God...sometimes his voice just comes out of nowhere...we don't know the road ahead and need some help and guidance.  Or sometimes we think we are on the road and going pretty good and then wham! his voice telling you to change routes! But I don't want to...

tom tom or God God....
both of them...you need to listen and follow directions so you don't get lost.

books books and more books

We are getting ready for our big book sale at church...this is an annual event by the youth and some people despise it...I LOVE it because I am a reader...I love looking at all of the books, trying to figure out who brought them, recommending some to others to read...I am in my element...
There are books EVERYWHERE....and books about EVERYTHING.  It is amazing.

I recently got a kindle and what I miss most about not having a book in hand is the opportunity to pass on a book for someone else to read...books are about community.

I love to discuss a book and hear other people's points-of-view...that's why I love being part of a book club...i love the discussion...I've decided I should have lived when they had soirees...

You know I have to tie this back to my God experiences...
Books are like all of God's people...we are made for a purpose, we can make a real difference in someone's life, we all look different, you can't judge a book by it's cover....just like God's people...the same thing can be said for us.

Come on out and buy a new book...pick up something you wouldn't normally choose...see where God is leading you...last night I picked up
"The Element of Style" a 1959 book by E.B.White on how to use the english language...loving it!!

So, try something different and new!

be still and listen

I have been struggling this week.  It has been a tough week.  I blame the weather.  My mood has fit the rainy, dreary, foggy, blah weather.  I have also been struggling with a bad feeling about my church.  If you read this you know how important my church is to me.  Last weekend I was on a roll, running my mouth (to a few people) huffing and puffing!  My voice of reason is always my friend Lora who listened to this huffing.

She told me to be still and listen.  She sent me scripture that said the same thing.  I thought I had been still and I thought I had listened.   But maybe I missed something!

Last night as I was doing my bible study guess what scripture I came upon...God telling Elijah in the book of Kings to go to a cave "be still and listen and know I am God."  This morning I am changing my sheets which I do every Saturday and I find one of those little scripture cards in my bed....the prayer reads:
"Dear God, we know you do still speak to us.  Help us to be still and know what you are trying to tell us."

The scripture on the back of the card was Exodus 33:14 "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

So maybe I better stop that huffing and puffing...be still and listen and God will give me rest from the struggles I've been having...what do you think?

When you are a mouth it is hard to be quiet.  I remember when Aslam asked me to take on the duties of Children's Ministry, I told him...I am used to being in charge...I am bossy...I am mouthy...and he said..."I think God is telling you, you may need this!" He was right and God was right...I needed that.

So let me listen again...Be still and listen.

prophets of old

As I read for this disciple class you are going to hear a lot of comments...When I read scripture, especially old testament there are always things I do not get or understand...Tonight it is the prophets of old...I like these guys...they don't tip toe or worry about feelings...they have a message to get out...even though it may mean they will be killed (and not in a nice way) for what they say.

Nathan walked right up to David...told the story of a man with a lamb he loved like a child and the rich man that took the lamb and slaughtered it...David gets upset and swears to kill the rich man and Nathan looks him in the eye and says "You're that man"...He calls him an adulterer, murderer, thief and liar.  David was king at the time and had Uriah (his faithful warrior) killed and took Bathsheba to his bed...David betrayed his covenant with God, he kills, betrays and acts in his own self-interest...sounds like a story I know...I like Nathan's straight forwardness.  I like his kick-butt honesty. 

Recently, I had the chance to tell someone what I thought God would do.  I am helping with the Confirmation class at church.  The kids are wearing WWJD bracelets and I thought I will wear one too.  The youth were told this was their chance to share Jesus with others if someone asks.  Guess who got asked!! Me at work...in a meeting earlier this week, someone said to me...what is on your bracelet...I explained about the kids and wearing the bracelet...then they asked well what does WWJD mean? An I replied...What Would Jesus Do...so today the same person came to me and said...I don't know what Jesus would do but what do you think I should do in this instance...This same person has told me in the past how she has worked with Christian people who always turned her off.  Sometimes it is the quiet, steady and living what you say that bring  people around to Christ.  Can they look at you and see Christ in the way you deal with things??

I remember the first time I had a college kids say to me...I remember what you said about such and such....and I remember saying to them."Why would you listen to me???" "Why would you think I know anything?".  I feel the same way about telling someone about Christ.  What do I know. Why would you listen to me??

We influence others so we are sort of like a prophet of old...all of the words don't do it but sometimes the way we act and how we react is what invites others to take a second look at God. 

Help me Lord to always be what you want me to be...help me to walk the walk while talking the talk.  Help me be brave like a prophet of old.

Listening

Every morning I stop by Kroger (across the street from my work) usually to buy dog food. Recently, after packing my big bag of dog food I jumped in my car and started the engine...There was a knock on my window...I turned to see an attractive, older (70ish) black woman.  I rolled down my window and she said...Do you know the Lord's Prayer...I said Yes...she said "Pray it"...I was stunned...stammered something about OK and have a good day, I pulled out of the parking spot...I looked in my rear view to confirm I wasn't dreaming or hallucinating!! She was nowhere to be seen...I have learned to listen and I prayed...our father, who art in heaven....all the way to work!!  I am learning something Lord...I am learning to be quiet and listen.

Forgiveness...heck no!

I enjoyed Solomon Island a lot...while there I struggled with forgiveness...how can I forgive? I teach kids about God's love...shouldn't I show them how to forgive? It was a struggle all weekend...every morning I would walk a couple of miles...on Sunday morning I threw in clothes to put over my workout clothes and headed to a tiny little white Methodist church on the water.  It was a congregation of older people..who all came over and welcomed me...and the service began...during the sermon (which was about being in awe of God) a voice came from the back of the church that said..."I want to talk about forgiveness"..i froze...the preacher stopped and said "OK lets talk about it" and they did and all questions he asked were questions I asked myself and had been struggling with all weekend...

the minister talked about how forgiveness helps us to step out of the way and lets God do his work...when we don't forgive there is a barrier between that person and God...and that barrier is us...i cried the entire service...when I had the chance to look..the person in the back was a beach bum who looked like he had been out all night...and a friend of his...as I was leaving the church that day there were lots of older people crowded around the fellow and he was saying...I don't know why I came in here today...but I knew why...I immediately texted my ex Mark and said "I forgive you"...and my life turned a corner that day...i knew I was going to be OK...i knew God had plans for me and I knew God needed me to forgive...do I feel forgiving every day...heck no!  There are still times when the hate is powerful...but it is different...there is peace in my life and in my heart...I made sure I sat down and wrote a letter to the pastor so she would know the impact she and her congregation had...i always think would Greg stop a prepared sermon to answer a question from the congregation and i think he would and i hope our congregation would embrace such an interruption...

God was with me in my struggles...there is NO DOUBT...God has walked with me...and let me know it too!! I tell the kids I have learned to pay attention...and watch for God...he is real and he is here!!