Prayers, Smiles and Praises

Proverbs 31:30  "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." 

It's Mother's Day weekend, a day when the role of mothers is appreciated and generations gather to bestow gifts of flowers and jewelry, chocolate covered strawberries and possibly breakfast in bed. It's a day we pamper, spoil, and love on our moms a little extra.

For most moms, this is a proud day, reflecting and cherishing her brood, or her own mother; the perfect sentiments displayed on a beautifully designed flowery card.

Mother's Day is my hardest holiday, still.  It shouldn't be, but it is.

I tread in those inviting waters of expectation only to slip in the slime of dissapointment.

Time does heal. There are those parts of my Mother's Day picture that no longer are tangible with one son and my own mother in the Lord's presence. I always will miss both of them, thoughts frequently towards memories.

What does the scripture tell us?

A promise of praise awaits the mother who gives respect and honor to the Lord, the giver of her salvation, and exemplifies that in her unselfish deeds and unconditional love for her children, for her family.  I know I still need to work on attitude, and there are days I am emotionally drained. I need to  remember what it says in an earlier verse, "she smiles at the future," (v.25).

The flowers petals will fall, jewelry discarded, the strawberries gobbled up and the bed will be remade every morning, hospital corners and all, by us moms for the next 364 days. I'm not saying that I--you,  are not loved, that these gifts are not sincere.  Tradition and a love language in gifts are important. It's fun to receive a thoughtful gift, but charm fades.

Youth and vigor, active relationships with adult children and the elderly, aging gracefully, (with our sunscreen and moisturizers and trips to the hair salon); becoming a grandmother;  the beauty in motherhood takes on variety of colors and textures, a different aesthetic value.  Let's recognize the beauty within ourselves, for God continues to sculpt us towards His purpose. Vanity is a multi-billion dollar industry. Taking care of our "temple" is biblical, and I know God doesn't mind a little lipstick and mascara.

I focus on the last part of this verse. God hears the prayers of a mother.

From the first time a newborn is held in her arms, as her head hits the pillow every night and as she rises to complete her chores and routines, go to work, mend the tears, bandage the knees, cook and clean, entertain, a mother prays for her children. She prays for her friend's children, she prays for her extended family.

In God's timing, not for the world's eyes and economy, but for God's economy, she shall be praised, promises the Lord.

I know my mother prayed for me.

I prayed for her.

I pray not to receive praise myself,  but to see my children give praise to their Maker.

But, there are words I would like to hear said one day...

"My mother prayed for me, and I pray for her."


Father, thank you for the gift of being a mom. It is a blessing through every good day and every hard day.  I know that You have a plan. Help me to bring You praise in this role. Be with me Lord and give me Your mercies as I miss my mother and my first born. You are not impressed with charm and outward beauty, but Lord, You look on our hearts and see our desire for our children. Help us to trust in You for the continued "raising up;"  that their paths will lead to honoring You in their own walk. May heaven rejoice in the faith of moms. Thank you Father, for Your strength and for Your promise. Amen.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Happy Ordination Day!

Psalms 139:16 "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

Happy Birthday to me!  Tomorrow, the BIG 6-0!  

A well-formed,  full-figure shape, I am made with girlie substance!  I'm not quite ready for the freezer yet, nor the kiln.  God, the Potter, lovingly shapes me, this lump of clay, into His purpose.  I think He's made me into a few different vessels from time to time. Don't throw me out with the garage sale stuff. I am not ready to be labled an antiquity. I am climbing, but not quite over the hill yet!  

"In the Book, they were written...ALL the days."  Yes, God keeps a journal on me, but instead of filling the pages with my humaness, He writes the things He sees that bring Him glory. He knows the pages where I've struggled, written down the number of tears I've cried and inserted happy faces and heart doodles when His glory is captured.  It's not the word "days" I am looking at when I read this verse. Each day is a day to give Him praise and seek Him in all His goodness. In my sixty years, I have not used every day to my full potential. My share of crummy, bad attitude, "oops God, I am so sorry" days, I know fill several books, outnumber my "righteous" days.  All those days though, are torn from the book and replaced with golden insert pages, one word written by the blood of Jesus on them  Do you know what that word says?  

GRACE 

The word I like in this verse?  ..."Ordained."  I looked it up in Strong's Concordance (In the original Hebrew). It means:  formed, framed, fashioned.  

I like that this birthday girl is still "fashioned" by God.  I've got Soul-Style!  

His grace leaves a marked pattern in my life that I am "ordained" to trace onto others.  

How Vogue is that!  

My thoughts wander to many things as I turn the clock, flip the calendar, blow out the candles...

(wait, another breath please...). 

I am thinking of both my parents who passed away in their sixties.  I think of Heaven a lot anyways but this week I saw the movie, "Heaven is For Real," and my friend asked me an interesting question: 

"What age do you think Timmy is in Heaven?" 

He'll be a little bit of the cute 4 year old, the precocious 10 year old, the entertaining 15 year old, the idealist 20 year old and the passionate 26 year old. What he won't be is the fearful, pain-riddled, scarred, angry young adult.  He'll be the man God intended him to be.  

And I'll strive to do the same...be what God intended me to be, with each new candle I may add.  Oh, trust me, more pages will be torn out and more inserts added with that golden word, GRACE and for that I can only try to live out my days, surrendered and in Thanksgiving.  

And isn't that the ultimate birthday present!  

Thank you Lord for birthdays, both physical and spiritual. May each numbered day ordained for me be a sunrise to your Glory as I await a final sunset. Whatever lies ahead, teach me to continue to trust You in ALL things, and reflect and celebrate Your Amazing Grace in my life, now and forever. Amen.  

Yes, Jesus Matters!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness...


Within my church fellowship, the Pastor is starting a new series entitled, "Does Jesus Matter?"  This week in my writing class journal prompt, I used the same question to kick off this sermon series and start a thought process in this direction.  It's default mode for  some of us who minister in areas where testimony is essential,  an eternal perspective.

I journaled about major events both on the tragic side and on the everday-life-happening-joy side. Jesus mattered when I was a child learning to pray and attend Sunday School. I never knew though, if Jesus mattered to my parents until they were either faced with illness or spiritual healing after years of trying to do life without God as a priority. Jesus mattered when marriage and children came along. Jesus mattered when cancer and funerals and diagnosis left my heart hurting. Jesus mattered in the dark, cold recesses of space when my husband looked into my eyes, shaking his head, relaying the report from the O.R. "Timmy didn't make it."

Jesus matters to me.  In times past, not everyone knew it, not everyone witnessed Him as the Lord of my life.

You know why?

Because I wasn't putting Him as Lord in my life. 

Wishy-washy, fence sitting, compromised, undisciplined, a little discouraged, sometimes defeated...

BUT...Loved, purposed, ministered to, pastored, discipled, nurtured.

 God's patience abounds!

I matter to Jesus.  He pursued me, loved me unconditionally, and always restores and fills me with Hope.

I accepted Jesus as a child of 9.  Saved. Born again to matter in life, make Him known. I experienced death of a loved one for the first time at 19...twice. Now, Heaven mattered. The "C" word entered my personal space. I needed to know if Jesus mattered to my Dad. With tears He assured me, Yes, Jesus mattered.  Motherhood, and that sense of responsibility to "raise up a child in the way he should go...," laughter, family legacy, tradition and celebration mattered. Birthdays, holidays, soccer and baseball games, report cards and late night cookie baking, driving lessons and vacations, joy and tears, music and medicine...Did Jesus matter?  Strength and growth mattered.

When I drove up to my smoking, smoldering, flaming inferno of a home--did Jesus matter? I soon came to know, his will matters. My trials equate to His love lessons.

Once again, I say Jesus matters to me. His Grace established a place in my heart long ago and the Holy Spirit never gave up on me.

Worthy!

Amazing Grace!

Unfailing Love!

Jesus Matters because He is God, and I am not.

He is and was and always will be. He reigns as sovereign Lord of all and one day EVERY knee will bow.

In Christ Alone My Hope is Found.

"When I wake up in the land of Glory, with the saints I will tell my story, there will be One name that I proclaim"    Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...Just that name.

Thank you Lord for this song of my heart!  You are my Life in everything that matters.  You are Lord, the Holy Matter that spins the universe one more day. Show me how to love others who seem to feel they do not matter to You. Thank you for Your patience in my life, moving You up my priority list. May I bring You glory in my story, in and through my matter. The Cross, your Resurrection, made an Eternal Matter. All we need to do is Believe.  Reveal Your evidence of power and Your mercy. Keep me faithful in the continued journey and allow me the privlege of making You matter in others. Amen.

TESTimony in Faith

James 1: 2-5 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

State testing is scheduled for next week. It's new this year, a new way of recording the knowledge, the critical thinking skills; a new way of assessing our school population as compared to others. Gone are the test packets and bubble-in sheets.  We will ease into a computerized way of testing-- reading passages and problems and answering on a computer screen.

Picked to begin the new system first, the junior class.  Testing will be over a three week period, 2-3 days, in the first few hours of school.  Students will be pulled from class, moved around, some teachers administering the test and others not.  Testing, it disrupts the norm, leaves one anxious and exhausted.  Each submitted answer sheet is personal, your name is on it.  

And what of the outcome?  How well did you do?  Score high, low or among the average?  What are your stragedies for answering the questions? What possible ways can you be prepared?  

                                                                            ~~~

Our faith is tested every once in awhile. Unlike state tests, faith tests are never on the calendar. They show up unannounced.  Maybe it's just a "pop quiz;" over quickly, answered and dealt with in a succinct manner and turned over quietly to ponder the lesson learned.  Other tests come to us in a surprising, maybe even complicated or sorrowful ways, requiring different skills and possibly an "essay" with something to prove: an attitude that shows "God's Got This."  Time to put into practice what are sanctification process wants to test.  Sometimes, these tests take time and much endurance. 

What testing skills should we consider? 

I found this acronym,  R.O.A.D.S 

R: Read the title and make a prediction.  

                 Scripture promises us that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord. (Romans 8:28).  This sets up our attitude as one who will perservere with God on our side. 

O: Outline the passage during reading. 

                Scriptures instruct us to study, to show ourselves approved, so that we can correctly handle and understand the Word of Truth.  (II Timothy 2:15). 

A: Answer each question first before reading all the answer choices.  

               Look for the Godly answers, not the world's answers. (Romans 12:2) 

               In the book of James, the instructions are to seek His wisdom and it will be given generously.

 ( James 1:5)  

                The Psalmist tells us: (Psalm 25:12) Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

D: Dash out all the wrong answers

                 If we are seeking the Lord's will, pray for and use discernment. Seek counsel in the wisdom of others who trust in the Lord.  (John 7:17-18, Proverbs 3: 5-6).  

S: Select the best answer.  

                 Isaiah 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you,  "this is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. 

Of course, always get plenty of rest and eat a good breakfast. Yes, rest in the Lord that He will deliver you in and through this test. Feed on the Word of God and strengthen your faith with unceasing prayer.  There are times when answers are not always clear. Sometimes, no reasoning makes sense. Trusting in our Teacher keeps us guided in our quest towards wisdom and knowledge in Him.  Clarification may be in the Heavenly realm. The Christian learns to trust, live in transparency. Even when we don't do so well, shared lessons learned and stragedies with other "students of the Word," grow us.   Join study groups, gather prayer partners, speak in TESTimony!  In faith lessons and faith tests, you can't really copy the answers from another, you can only glean encouragement. Everyone has his own test. God's plan is personal, unique for each one of us. In that, our faith receives an award, a paid in full scholarship in a life powered by the One who corrects all are wrongs and gave His 100% for us. He transfers that grade unto us and sees us as His prized students! 

Lord, I have to be thankful for tests, for in these, Your divine purpose I can put into practice. This is my faith in action. My attitude is not always what it should be. Many times I get frustrated, grumpy, overwhelmed. Rest, refocus and rejuvination from Your Word gives me new strength. Satan wishes I sleep in, fail miserably and lack preparation. Let me never fall into that category but take each test as an opportunity for your assessment towards Your Will for my life. In my flesh, I will fail, but in Your Spirit, may you receive the glory.  I press on.  Amen.  

What faith lessons has God taught you? 

What scriptures always point you towards a Godly attitude when facing a trial?

Can I pray for you?  

In Preparation

Luke 21:36 "But keep on alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength
 to escape all those things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."


This week it was my high school's year to present the full assembly, "Every 15 Minutes." http://www.every15minutes.com/enter/. A re-enactment of an alcohol-caused collision involving our own students before their Prom night, it involves several agencies cooperating to pull this off. MADD/SADD, Chino Hills Sheriff, the school district, city officials and local hospital staff, work to give a visual, a warning, a chance to think about the consequences of drinking and driving. The major street through town, which happens to run right in front of the high school, is closed down. The props of wrecked cars and the re-enactors proceed to give us a scary and potential view of "what could happen." "Grim Reapers" walk around the site and in front of the grandstands of juniors and seniors watching. One of the girls in her prom dress is placed on a gurney, the sheet pulled over her head. Her prom date receives a field sobriety test. A helicopter lands across the street to whisk away the injured. Day two, a memorial assembly, "funeral" for the student "killed."

It's only a re-enactment, hopefully a sobering one.

In the last few weeks California has experienced what Californians know is an everyday potential occurance, earthquakes.  We've had several in the last 24 hours as I type this. Earthquake drills at school and emergency plans are set up. There will be a rush to big box stores to get  more earthquake kits put together and purchases of extra bottled water. Throw those tennis shoes in the trunk of the car, you might have to walk amongst broken glass if you're away from home. Did you feel it?"...and the posts pop up frequently for local facebook friends.


5.1, 4.4...3.0.  They are small tremors; nerve-racking, yes. Japan's quake in 2011 was 9.0

In the first paragraph, there is a responsibility to make a choice not to drink and drive. We can be proactive in taking keys, calling a taxi, being a designated driver. In the second scenario, we can be prepared, try not to panic, work in safe buildings, know how to turn off the gas, move out of California.

We can do all the right things, and still get hit by a drunk driver, or have the walls tumble down around us.

We can be in plane that flys off course
Under a mountain that slides.
In a doctor's office when bad news is presented.
At the receiving end of a pink slip.

There are things we cannot control.

God tells us to prepare, prepare our hearts, our lives. While we can do the tangible, practical things to be safe, be smart, protect ourselves, God is and always will be our first responder when we put our trust in Him.

There is no one that cannot escape every bad thing. When your heart belongs to God, your eternal preparation is done. Accepting the truth that you need retrofitting by the Holy Spirit, that your life requires a designated driver everyday, is how in this uncertainty in life, we can have the promise of hope and peace. God prepares His Goodness for us today and for always.

 Lord, help me to be proactive in my watching and waiting. Instruct me through Your Word,  in my need to contol things, to let you have the wheel, to allow you to fill me with the things that work together to prepare my heart for Your will. Thank you for your protection. Everything is OK. In the end, I know You always work things out. Help me Lord to re-enact my trust in You; that it is a natural response, a testimony to others. Guide the way in my prayers for my loved ones to prepare their own hearts for your Truth. Amen.

An Acceptable Time.

"At the acceptable time, I listened to you, and on the Day of Salvation, I helped you."  Isaiah 49:8, II Corinthians 6:2 


I made it to the store this week to purchase a few cards. I had to make a list.  I purchased 5 sympathy cards, 2 cards for healing, and 2 cards for encouragement. The 5 sympathy cards were unrelated to each other. This week, I learned of two more friends receiving an unfavorable diagnosis.

Last month, I went to a funeral for a woman engaged to be married with an 21month old son.

There is a jet plane missing for 2 weeks now with 239 people aboard.

Russian leaders are puffing out their chests and returning to "invade and conquer" mindsets.

Syrian refugee children are starving.

We strain in our prayers for the joy of our own salvation, yet it is amazing grace that pierces the darkness to awake us every morning.

Some days...many days, the encourager needs encouraging.

And I sit, and I wait on the Lord. And I know I need to write it out tonight...that encouragement.

Where does my help come from?

He pops in with his daddy, that little 3 year old that smiles shyly tonight because he's a tired little guy, playing t-ball and such. I do get a hug, and it lingers and it is soft with cookie crumb kisses.

I prayed with my own son this week, if only for a few seconds; my heart saw a new horizon and a mountain seemed a little smaller.

And God's Word is there; THE Encourager of a soul needing a jump. It seems I let the engine run with the radio on and just can't get it to kick over. He reaches out with the Cables of Truth to recharge.

And I rev the engine of His Word...

II Corinthians 6:2-10

for He says,

“At the acceptable time I listened to you,
 and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Today is the day of my Salvation, and this is what He promises. My Salvation!  

And in that I can rest my weary head and say Amen. 

Lord, your encouragement in the Word is Spring sunshine through the clouds of dreary despair. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can know the joy of our salvation, despite the afflictions all of us encounter. In You, we possess all things. In You are encouragement massages our shoulders and tucks us in to sleep restful with the promise of grace in each new day. Let us be encouraged with every sunrise as a day to give You praise, as a day to serve You in the service of others, as a day to be reminded to pray for those who need to know this same comfort.  Amen.  

"Praying Through"

Deuteronomy 31:8a And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you...

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you've received certain scriptures from the Lord, but you really didn't see the connection until a prayer was answered?  Suddenly, you recognize not only the puzzle pieces of scripture,  but how they were being pieced together within your prayers.

Without details here, let's just say I am earnestly praying for my beloved son. Some things are given, some things are taken away and some things GET in the way of sound judgment; discarded.  Anger,  impulsivness and may I add a little arrogance, are not good companions for our emotional health. I've certainly had my share of days like that. Life is learning, growing, making a few bad choices and making some better choices.

I knew I couldn't fix this one, didn't really want to. This decision he made as an adult, he'd have to live with. That didn't mean though, that I did not intervene spiritually. I've never stopped praying. I never will.

Random scriptures stopped me this week, ones I pondered over, prayed over and posted on my Facebook wall.

MONDAY: Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them."

and in this verse, I prayed.

TUESDAY: Proverbs 18:12 "Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor."

...and in this verse I prayed again

WEDNESDAY I Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Praying Lord, for a softened heart...

THURSDAY:  This day, I posted a picture of my son when he was a baby, helping his dad out. The caption I put, though silly at the time, turned out to be very prophetic, and an exclamation point to an answered prayer later on that evening. My son received a restoration, finding his own humbleness to redeem what he disregarded and lost.  

It was quiet evident that God is hearing my prayers and working on my son's heart in His own way and in His own timing.  I know, I recognize through the scriptures God gave me this week, the wisdom words to pray over, to pray through.

...and I pray my son will someday see the evidence before him and the beautiful puzzle pieces of love and purpose God has for him too. 

Praying through scripture is powerful. God's Word is Truth. 

Lord, thank you for giving me these powerful scriptures this week in which to focus my prayers and my heart towards the things that concern me for my loved ones. The gift of the Holy Scriptures coupled with The Holy Spirit gives insight into how to be, how to live, how to love, and how to pray. I am grateful and thankful for this wisdom which brings me  the promise, that a heart will be restored as well. 

Amen.