If you’ve popped over from Internet Cafe, Welcome!  I’m so excited that you’re here.  I hope you stick around and read a few posts.  Word of caution — I tend to ramble on occasion… okay, more than occasionally, but I do love the Lord and I just adore sharing about what He’s doing in my life.  I also have a blast with my Internet girlfriends — I’d love to have you hang around a while!

It’s over — all the hustle, the bustle, and the “I don’t know how we’re going to get it all done and stay sane” mania that seems to hit us all (except for those super organized chicks that I’m never hanging around with because they make me waaaay too insecure!)

Today, I thought about what it means — the day following the birth of Jesus.  It was just another day to most, but to a few it was miraculous.  As Mary watched her baby sleeping she probably wondered just what the future held, but she was trusting in God to guide her.  

 I want to live my life just like that — trusting that the God who called me to Himself will guide me.

Today, I’m asking God to grant me the wisdom to live my life just this way — trusting in Him and looking to Him for guidance and grace (because I’ll stumble along this way I’m traveling).

And Jesus spoke about this and said ‘ask anything in My name and I will do it ‘ (John 14:14) — has a little bit of that Christmas gifts “what did ya get me” feel to it, doesn’t it?  But double check that part that reads “in My name” — that’s the holy and anointed name of Jesus.  Makes you think before you start asking for “things” doesn’t it?  This is asking in His name!  That we can even make these requests is mind-boggling. 

The very next verse is an eye-opener — “If you love Me, keep  My commandments” — that will take your breath, won’t it?  If you love me…. IF — what a huge, huge word that little two letter word can be.  “If you love me”  — I can hear myself right now, “of course I love you Lord.”  Then “keep my commandments.”  It’s simple. 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Jesus — Jesus who is the lover of my soul.  Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer.  Jesus, the joy of my spirit.  Jesus, the Lion of Judah.  Jesus. 

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17)

I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (john 10:10)

I will admit that I don’t always keep the spirit of Christmas and I get caught up in the hoopla of the season.  I shop too much, buy too many presents, and see every sort of thing I want from new furniture to funky seasonal sweaters (I restrain myself… well, sometimes).

Now I love decorations as much as the next person.  In fact, I am a lover of  color Christmas lights.  I think white lights look all pristine and orderly.  I like my Christmas decorations to be big, bright, and just this side of gaudy.  Now, I do draw the line at tacky, but I love some flashy decorations.   

I am troubled by a big yard inflatable yard ornament (what else do you call these things? Display?)   This infatable …. scene is on my route to work, so I see if every day and every day I wonder… why?

It’s an inflatable nativity scene and that just seems … well, wrong to me.  I love the idea of putting a nativity scene on display and please if you have an inflatable yard ornament don’t throw rocks at me.  Read on. 

I’m not a big fan of the inflatables, but some of them are pretty funny.  I think rudolph is fun and Santa on the Harley is hilarious, but a blow up baby Jesus?  I just don’t think so.   

 It’s especially sad when the blower is turned off and the nativity deflates and just crumples to the ground.   And when little ones play bop-it with Mary or use Baby Jesus as a soccer ball and popHim up in the air with their head, feet, whatever.  That’s just so wrong. 

And then there’s the neighborhood dog (usually mine) who barks at the blow ups and then, when the wind blows just right and the lamb seems to move, the dog leaps and tackles the lamb to the ground.  Doesn’t exactly scream Joy to the World! 

So, I want to keep the season focused on the birth of the Savior, but I have to draw the line at the inflatable nativity scenes.  Can’t we just have some wooden cut outs?  We can even outline them in lights — color lights!  We can use those flashing LED lights that make your yard look like a landing strip at the airport. 

So keep that Christmas spirit, and if you happen to have one of those inflatable nativity scenes I urge you to reconsider.  Try a big ol’ LED star over your house… but remember to register it with the FAA.  You don’t want any unschedule landings on your roof.  Now that brings me to the Santa and reindeer on the roof…. please don’t let Santa dangle from the roof by the reins.  I’ve seen more than one child traumatized by this visual.

Okay, before I get off on more yard ornaments, I wish you all a happy day.  I’m off to shop!  I’m going to rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to my savior and Lord for this season that is a celebration of the life we now have in Christ.  Joy filled life!  Abundant life.  A life in Him! 

I leave in less than 12 hours! I can’t believe it.  It seems like forever ago that Beth called and said “hey did you see that thing on Beth Moore’s blog about her taping Breaking Free in New Orleans?”

And now it’s time to go, almost.  Saturday morning  I was getting ready to head out shopping with my girls, one of my favorite things to do, and I had a thought — why am I going to New Orleans?  What am I getting ready for?

Whamo!!

That struck me right between the eyes! Why am I going to New Orleans?

Am I going to hear Beth Moore? 

 Was God even in this equation?  I know that He has a plan for this because it’s only through His grace that I was able to go.  The event was sold out by the time I found out about it.  I prayed for God’s guidance (and for a ticket!) and the next thing I know I’m holding an envelope with my ticket inside!  I was humbled and awed that the Lord made it all happen.  Thank you Lord!

Since then, I’ve focused more on what I would wear than on why I’m going. 

I’m more focused on who I’m going to meet than on why I’m going.

I’m more focused on what we’re going to do than on what I’m going to recieve.

Starting now, I’m going to focus on why I’m going and why I’m there.  What is it that the Lord wants to teach me in this week?

 It’s exciting to be under the teachings of a dynamic teacher, like Beth Moore. But it’s not about Beth Moore, it’s about God’s truths that He has for me.  It’s not about the fun with friends, but about where God is leading me on this journey of life.

Breaking Free — that’s the title!  What is the Lord leading me to or preparing me for.  He has a plan and I’m just exciting to be along for this ride.

I’ll keep you all posted on the blessings, the lessons, and the happenings in New Orleans.

I sat down this morning and started writing about the 9/11, as many bloggers did.  I talked about the pain, confusion, fear, and anger that raced through most all Americans. 

I wrote a lot of words on the page – some of them were pretty good words, too.  Like raging anger and crumbling hope, but I deleted them. 

All those words – gone.

I was trying to fit the mold of what I thought I should write on 9/11.  That’s not me.  God hasn’t wired me that way.  So, here’s take two.

The date 9/11 still makes me shiver – with fear?  anger?  Probably a little of both. 

  If I asked the question “Where were you on  September 11, 2001?”  I have no doubt that you could tell me exactly what you were doing when you heard the news.

  We all remember watching those images –  the burning towers, the crashed planes, the faces filled with fear and disbelief.  Do you remember the sounds?  The crashing towers and the screams of the people?   

Do we remember where we were in the days and weeks that followed September 11, 2001?

Do you remember watching the brave souls – warriors – crawl over the rubble in an effort to find just one living soul?

I remember watching the hope for survivors turn to a reverence for the lost.  I remember the cross – so beautiful and so filled with hope – true hope, which only comes from God — rising up out of the rubble. 

I remember the flag planted at the top of piles crumpled metal, shattered bits of two buildings and the shattered bits of the lives of those lost. 

A cross and a flag — the symbols of hope for our nation.   

This hope was what held us together in the days after the attacks. This hope that God was still in control and the He would sustain us.  We watched Congress stand on the steps of the Capitol and sing God Bless America.  I think they meant it.  At least at the time.  I would like to ask that same group if they still want the blessings of God on America.  I wonder what they would say. 

I can just hear it.  “Of course, we want the blessings of God but let’s not forget the  blessings of Buddha, Allah, the Hindu gods, the gods of the forest, the gods of all of nature, and of course, the unspoken gods.”   Let’s not forget the need to be politically correct. 

I remember the churches were filled with people on September 12^th and the Sundays that followed.  People dedicated their lives to Christ and began on a new road.

Our American hearts turned back to our roots – the faith on which this great nation was founded.  Faith.  Hebrews 11:1 states: Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 

Faith – the proof of what is not seen. Faith is how we live.  It’s a choice that we make –daily. 

In Luke 9:23 Jesus said “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Today the churches are emptier than ever.  Where did everyone go?  I wonder.  Did they get tired of taking up that daily cross?  Or maybe it was the denying self part.  I know I struggle with that one – a lot.

In the days following 9/11 we operated on emotions – anger, fear. and sadness.  I pray that we move forward on Hope – not that wishful kind of hope, but the hope that only comes from God. 

According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted and unfading for you, who are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.   1 Peter 1:3-5

Look at this - - a living hope!  That’s what we have through Jesus.  Amazing.  Not just hope, but a living hope.  Not just hope in a flag - but a living hope.

And take another look at the inheritance – that means it’s ours.  We have an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted and unfading.  That’s my inheritance and yours. 

My inheritance is in Christ.  My faith is in Him. 

Today is 9/11/2008 – the seventh anniversary of a day that changed so many lives.  A day that is still changing lives.  Where were  you  in the days that followed 9/11 – did you cling to God?  Are you still clinging?  If not, why not?

You have a living hope – in Christ.  Claim it.

Okay — has anyone noticed who posted a comment on my Photo Woes post?  Go look . . ..

Are you back?  Did you see that?  Oh, my word.  Anita Renfroe posted on my blog.  I almost passed out.  So here’s the story:

It’s like 11:30 and I’m sitting here working on revisions and an email ta das into my box. Being the concsientious person that I am, I zipped over there to read it.  Not that I was trying to procrastinate the revisions, seriously it might be something important that requires my undivided attention.  Right.

There’s an email comment from my blog — side note: when you comment on this blog, the comments are sent to me via email (and they’re posted on the blog).  So here’s this email from AnitaRenfroe.com and I’m thinking …. what? 

And it’s her!  How cool is that?  So, I zip off this cute but snappy email to her — nope, not what happened. I wrote her back and sounded like a complete nutcase.  I was so star struck and just blown away.  Of course, after all of that I didn’t ask her where she found out about my blog and the post that references her.   I sent her a follow up email, but I think I may be on the ’watch’ list at the Anita Renfroe site.  So, I don’t really expect to hear from her again. 

I truly was star struck for some time, but then it occurred to me.  She’s serving the same God that I am.  She’s called to do one thing and I’m called to do another.  She’s a serving the King and is my sister in Christ  — I shouldn’t be star struck by her.   I’m working on it — but she has a line of greeting cards.  I mean seriously, who has a line of greeting cards?  Snoopy and Anita, that’s who! 

Okay, I’m putting off this start struck thing and I’m forging on through the revisions and everything else that is looming large on the horizon.  I do think it’s so cool how wonderful God is.  He knows that I love the funny and I needed something fun in my life with all this other stuff bogging me down – He sends me Anita Renfroe.  What a blessing!  He really lifted my spirits and made me remember just why I do what I do — I’m doing it for His glory, not mine.  I’m doing it because He called  me, no other reason. 

But it was fun to get a comment from Anita Renfroe.

I didn’t want to go to the picnic.  It’s 427 degrees and the humidity is 95% - okay, maybe not that hot, but I believe the humidity is hovering in the 90s and it feels like the inside of sauna outside.   I don’t like to sweat.  Sweating is inevitable if it’s hot and humid and you’re outside.  Picnics happen outside.  I don’t know why.  I think a picnic would be just as fun in an air-conditioned building or if it has to be outside - I vote for November. Why does everyone want to picnic in August?  This is Alabama — it’s warm straight through October and sometimes into November and December.  

 Today was our annual church picnic.  It’s August.  We’re in  Alabama and it’s hot outside, which is where the picnic takes place.  Did I mention that I don’t like to sweat?  I don’t find anything appealing about it.  Salty water dripping off me - not the fashion statement I’m going for.  At one point I believe my kneecaps were sweating.  I don’t think I have sweat glands in my knees, but maybe I developed some standing outside in the heat.  And the bugs, which I think are attracted by the sweat, came out in force.  It seems that bugs do LIKE the heat and the humidity.  They seem to really enjoy me in the heat and humidity.  It’s so nice to popular among the insect crowd.  

 So, why did I go if I didn’t want to?  Guilt — just plain, ol’ guilt  (thanks Nancy).  Couldn’t I just spend one afternoon sweating for Jesus?  Well, when I thought about it that way, I just had to go.  I whipped up a batch of cookies, pinned my hair up and headed off to the picnic.

 There were lots of people, lots of children, lots of teens, and a whole lot of food.  And fans - big fans and coolers filled with iced down water.  I walked to the pool and back with friends.  We laughed, talked  and I groaned a lot about the heat.  Did I mention I don’t like to sweat?  I sweated.  A lot.

 After lots of food - all good - and a few desserts (it would be rude to leave anyone’s dessert out and I try to never be rude when desserts are involved), we listened to some praise music and there was even some hand-clapping. I love hand clapping.  We were fortunate to have a member of our church give a testimony.

  I listened to this gentleman tell his story of growing up in Vietnam in the war.  Now, many of you reading this may not remember the war in Vietnam - I barely do.  I just remember watching the troops come home and I remember the stories from uncles, cousins, and friends.  I continued to listen to this testimony  about the horrors of war and the sadness of life in a war zone.  I remembered the stories I heard about the  heat in Vietnam and suddenly, the heat in Alabama didn’t seem so bad.  When I sat there in front of that big blowing fan drinking my iced down bottle water, I remembered just how blessed I truly am.  I live in a free country with all the amenities I can imagine. I don’t worry about bombs or soldiers with guns.  I have plenty to eat and clean water to drink (and I even have water in bottles in case I don’t like the stuff that comes from the tap).  I have a reliable car and live in a big house (particularly when you compare it to a thatch roof hut).  It’s amazing how this change of focus changed my attitude.  Suddenly, the heat wasn’t so bad, the bugs weren’t so annoying and that iced down water became even more of a blessing. 

 Just a few nights ago I was reading about the work of Compassion International and their work with the children of the garbage dumps.  I was so moved by these stories, but just let me get a little hot and it’s all whining, all the time.  It took the story of a man I go to church with every week to remind me just how blessed I am.  You know what’s amazing?  In his testimony he never felt sorry for himself - even when he told about witnessing death and destruction.  He never felt sorry for himself - that really convicted me, since I was whining over a little (okay, it was a lot) of sweat. 

 So, I’m off to jump through my shower - and I’ll be thankful for all that I’m blessed with.  Clean water, a house to live in, a family who’s not living in a war zone, a husband who loves me,  children who are a joy in my life, friends who make me laugh, and a life that is so very, very blessed  — even when I sweat. 

 Take a look around and remember just how blessed you are today — even if you’re sweating.