Is God Routine?

Is it a good thing to have routine? Well, for me, in a lot of ways, I think it is. Haven't we all heard that children do better with routine? If we deviate from an infants schedule they almost always begin to get fussy. If we allow our school aged children to stay up until they just pass out to sleep each night on their own, studies have shown that they do not do as well in school, they are cranky the next day, their immune system gets a bit shot and they have disciplinary problems. If I don't wake up and find a warm cup of tea and have some time alone with God, I find that my mornings feel rushed and disoriented. The rest of my day I feel sluggish. If there isn't some sort of organization and planning to my days and weeks, I feel like my life is absolutely out of control. At the same time, I love to do things with little notice, so long as it somehow fits into my plan - perhaps in an empty spot. Is God routine?

I think God is a spur of the moment God. At the same time, God has routine. Isn't that just like God? He can be jealous without allowing himself to sin. Unlike human anger, He can get angry but in a good and righteous way; He never falls in to sin because of His anger. Well, as I ponder this question, I believe God is a spur of the moment God AND He maintains His routine.

When God created the world, there was routine. In perfect timing, perfect order, before time even began, before earth was here, with utmost thought and attention to detail, with amazing love - He created us. There was order in creation (Genesis 1-6).

Throughout the stories in the bible there was a routine. Think about the story of Moses and the Israelite people, Noah and the Ark, Abraham, Sarah and Isaac, Joseph and his brothers, Jonah and the Whale, Daniel in the Lions Den. And eventually all the things that lead to the birth of Jesus Christ! There was absolute order. God chose a man to carry out His plan with Him. God made promises, gave power, showed signs and spoke to each man as He lead them. God fulfilled promises and showed His love over and over to His people. God was steadfast until the completion of the plan. He was and is still today a routine God. He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be forevermore.

What about the stories in the bible where God did something that was out of the ordinary? Something that was not expected happened often in the bible. Remember the burning bush that Moses saw, the sea that lifted up and parted for Moses and the Israelite people, when Abraham was tested with his son Isaac, just before the whale that suddenly swallowed up Jonah, the many fish that were caught in the nets of the fishermen, the feeding of all those people with nothing more than a few fish and a piece of bread and the spur of the moment healings that Jesus made. What about the time Jesus looked up in the tree, saw Zacchaeus and invited himself over for dinner. Now that is spur of the moment! Who'd have thought, it's considered rude in America today to invite yourself over to someone elses house let alone with no notice! And that storm around the disciples boat when Peter walked on water. The list could go on and on. In these stories, God surely had order to allowing these things to happen, but I don't believe that it was delivered very orderely in the eyes of the men on the recieving side! God was doing things mundanely. And, God did not wait for an empty spot to take action! Somehow, God maintains order even when He does spur of the moment kinds of things. He doesn't let things get so routine that it becomes, robotic, mundane and boring. Maybe we allow our life to seem empty, but Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly (John 10:10). [God planned for Jesus to come because He knew we'd need a saviour (Luke 2:11 and John 4:42)].

How can we maintain a good orderly routine AND be spur of the moment kinds of people? God knows that we are human and need some sort of routine and order in our lives so that our human bodies function better. I believe he wants us to have some sort of order. At the same time, I believe as followers of Jesus, God wants us to not be so stuck in our mundane routine life from day to day that we pass by the very people He allows to walk in front of us to connect with.

We should be free in our giving as we are made aware of all the needs around us. We should feel free to dance and to giggle out loud. We should not feel stuck inside our homes but feel free to travel about and see God's great creations in His world. Husbands should pick up fresh flowers and little chocolates for their wife when they are at the supermarket...ha! ;0) Wives should leap into their husbands arms welcoming him home from work. We should pick up a piece of paper and draw or color even if we aren't that good at art. Sing out loud like no one is listening. We should jump up and go to the dirty and rough parts of our city and see what we can do to make it better.

And...we maybe should even invite ourselves over to other peoples houses! Chances are they want us to come over anyways as they are often lonely in their own mundane routine and need your help getting out of it!

U R Here

There is a song we sing at church over and over. "You are here.". I love the words to that song. This morning my thoughts and gratitude to Jesus line up with the words to this song. "In this place, you are here."

Lord, thank you for choosing the time. Sometimes I get the feeling inside that you are telling me what direction I should go and I know that something is good and right and will please you. Once I know it's good in your eyes, I quickly pick it up and run with it. On my own! That's the problem. Why do I do that? Thank you for holding me back so that all things will come together in your perfect time. If I pick it up to see it through I will mess it all up. Thank you for showing me this. Reveal to me God where you want me to be, when, where and how. Take over Lord. Take me over, hey that's another song; "take me over" by Natalie Grant I think.


-- Post From My iPhone

Show Me the Way

Life has handed me a lot of different things to do. Every since I returned from Indonesia I feel pulled this away and that away. Some of the places I have found myself are okay by me, still other places I'd rather be elsewhere. A lot has happened in the few short weeks that have passed.

My sister had her 3rd child! My niece, Lilyanna was born July 16th and I was fortunate enough to be able to by plane tickets and travel to NC to visit the new baby, my sister, her other two kids and her husband. The baby and all are doing well.

While I visited my sisters family, my husband visited his dad. His dad got married to a sweet lady named Judith. My husband got to visit his aunt and dad and I think he enjoyed that.

My two older kids went to visit their grandparents in Arizona. My youngest hung out with me in NC and now at home.

It has been a neat past few days and weeks. Right after our family of five enjoyed our family vacation to Orlando, we all split in different directions. It was kind of weird. It is still weird now that my youngest son and I are home alone. We do have our two white dogs. The house is quiet. I can hear the pitter patters of little rain drops. The house is very still otherwise.

It's been a neat week. It's been good to watch how God has used Daron and I. It has been thought proviking and at times challenging. I have been working more and keep wanting to know for sure that work is best for me. When does one know they are disobeying Gods wish? So many times I feel a tug to drop all things and trust God And serve Him only. Perhaps I am serving Him in the role I am in.

Who might I tell About how good you are, Lord. I think I know. I pray that I could be used in this wAy. Show me Lord. Show me the way.


-- Post From My iPhone

Mt First Youth Trip

I am in a large van on the road towards Chicago, IL with my churches youth group. The group consists of 2 of my children-one in 10th grade and the other in 8th, 2 college age children, a senior, another 8th and 10th grader and our 2 young and corageous fearless leader's - a couple who have plead to lead our church youth towards the saving hope, grace and mercy of God. And me, well I am the only crazy parent able to come along! The past few days have been filled with really beautiful sites of the ocean sized Lake Michigan. The sites were complete with lighthouses being pounded by the crashes of waves, sandy beach like water entrances, and blue sunny skies. The sites were truly spectacular.

In Michigan, the lake front is cold. Only the craziest of youth chldren actually swam in the 60 deg. chilly water only to air dry in the very cool breezes that swoop over and off the tops of the waves. Some chose to dry off while playing a make like game of hand Volleyball our youth calls "Lana Schism". I, however, located a row of old fashion swings and swang facing the beautiful Michigan Lake and small red lighthouse which stood at the end of the nearby peir.

Now, nearing Chicago, I am reminded of the many years back when my husband, my daughter and I lived here. We will enjoy some of what the "windy city" has to offer today. We are hoping to enjoy Chicago style pizza for lunch. The weather is warmer here and will be nice as we walk around the city.
Here we come Chicago! I am sooo tired!

Understanding Refugees

Understanding Refugees that are brought into the United States has been something I've been trying to do. There is no way I could possibly grasp the hurt and struggles so many of the famlies have dealt with. Each time I see a new face, I wonder what the pain behind their eyes entails. Could someone have beaten them? Were they searching for food for their children and themselves? How many pairs of clothes do they have? Were they woman who have been severely abused and mistreated? Were they sexually abused? Did they separate from their family? Do they have children; do they know where their children are; did they lose their children to death? Do they have AIDS or are they HIV positive? What kinds of work do they know how to do? How long were they forced out of their homes and into a refugee camp? What was the refugee camp like? Do they speak any English at all? Are they afraid here? How many people do they know here; do they have relatives with them?

For many cases, the answers to my questions are typically very haunting. Sometimes Americans wonder why I have a heart to want to help people from another country when there are so many people here in America that need help. I believe that God has called us to go into ALL the nations helping ALL people, not just Americans. And for the most part, it seems to me that the needier of people are not always right here in America. The refugee situation affects so many countries. The refugee situation is affecting the United States now because so many of the refugees are fleeing from their own countries in hopes of being free from the political and religeous pressures in their own country.

I don't feel like it is my responsibility to ask, "Why they are here and who do I help?" My plea from the Lord is only TO help ALL. The families are here and I don't believe it is by chance. For whatever reason, I believe God allowed these families to come to America and my responsibility as a Jesus follower is to love them. My love for the Lord will spill on to them and will cause me to want to help them. I'll need to help them in many ways. And, I can't do it alone! In Christ I can do ALL things...but won't you come along and help me help them?

Here are some things we can do to help our local refugee famlies at Catholic Charities:

• Sponsor A Family (with prayer, financially, and through building friendships - giving time)
• Help find them a job
• Help them learn English (help with ESL classes)
• Bring them clothes
• Bring them food
• Donate Money to Catholic Charities
• Provide ESL teaching supplies
• Come along side of them and teach them our culture (paying bills, grocery shopping)
• Encourage them through building a friendship
• Help w/ their entry into the US by setting up their Apartment, furnishings, kitchen supplies, toiletries, etc.
• Teach them necessary healthy habbits: Brushing Teeth, Washing Hands, etc.

The needs of the displaced families in our Memphis area is huge. Once meeting a few of them, you will better understand how great their need is. Please consider going with me on Mondays and/or Tuesdays to Catholic Chatities to see how you can help.

There is Always Tomorrow

Think, think. As I sit at my kitchen table in front of my lap top and next to my window, the sights are much the same as I've seen many days in a row. It is raining again. The window pictures the flood of water running through a small dip that is stretched across my backyard. There wooden fence hides much of the forrest that I wish I could see. There are still, however, lots of green treetops surrounding my back yard. The trees make for a great hiding place for all of the birds I've enticed to come into my yard. Since I've added a couple of bird feeders, I have enjoyed watching colorful birds share the seeds and sweet syrup I've found.

My energy level today seems to have depleted. I'm more comfortable sitting still in the quietness of my home writing. I've gone this way and that way for so many days that my body is begging for some rest. More than I want to admit, my body is also begging for some exercise. Almost daily, my body fights for my attention wanting exercise and my mind fights for my attention wanting to be still. Thinking on this, I am sure that the two can win. Through exercise, I can surround myself with peaceful things such as nature. If I could force my body out the door to take a walk, run or a bike ride - I might discover that I can also allow my mind to rest.

I've had visions of redesigning my backyard. I want to make my yard friendlier to some of the birds. If I could get a bird bath and a few more bird feeders and houses, I could watch more of the colorful birds. I could take more pictures of the birds that visit my back yard. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next weekend I could do it.

Tomorrow I say. So many times I complain about others who say, "tomorrow". And here I am saying, "tomorrow". Not just with regards to exercising, but so it is with me. I'm praying for moments solitude and rest in my head. I'm praying for moments of joy as I do step out in order to make use my talents and gifts. I'm praying for moments of satisfaction as I allow God to motivate my body to move physically.

But today, I know that there will be tomorrow. And just who am I to think that there is going to be a tomorrow? Tomorrow is never garaunteed. Maybe, I should start today. I couldn't hurt.

On Promises...

I researched the bible passages today on what Gods word says about our promises to one another...

(P) Proverbs 19:1 and (L) Leviticus 27:9-10

(The Message)
P - 1 Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
L- 9-13 "If he vowed an animal that is acceptable as an offering to God, the animal is given to God and becomes the property of the Sanctuary. He must not exchange or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one.”


(New Living Translation)
P- 1 Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.
L- 9 “If your vow involves giving an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, any gift to the Lord will be considered holy. 10 You may not exchange or substitute it for another animal—neither a good animal for a bad one nor a bad animal for a good one.”


(King James)
P- Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
L- “And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good one.”

With help from Diana Gray Ministries:

God classes Integrity more valuable than the riches of this world. He classes Integrity more valuable than anything that we could ever own. Cheating, stealing, lying, breaking one's promises, withholding tithe money out of greed or spite is the world's way but not what the Lord desires a Christian to be. We are required to live a higher standard of living by holding our integrity dear to ourselves. When people of the world look at you as a Christian do they say you are no different than them or do they say they really respect you? Poverty if far better if a person has integrity and honor than all the riches that every existed throughout time. What is your life worth? Can you take any material thing with you when you die? We all need to get our priorities straight and realize that keeping our word is important to our self-respect as well as our integrity.

God spoke the world into existence and promised to save us from our sins by sending us His son to die on the cross. If we repent asking Jesus to come into our heart, God will keep His word to save us! God keeps His word; does He expect us to keep ours?

Keeping promises demonstrates our “True Inner Self.” It shows whether or not we have corruptible or incorruptible morals (fruitful seed) inside of us. Integrity, Honor, Self-respect and Honesty means everything to man and to the Lord! What kind of Christian walk does the Lord desire us to have? Is keeping one's word really important or do we have the right to alter and change it? Does the world respect people who break their promises? A broken promise means a broken trust and relationship. Trust and respect as well as one's honor is the basis of our relationship with our Lord. He expects us to keep our word, (vow, oath) to others as well!

When you give your word to someone you are also giving it unto the Lord. The Lord teaches us in the Bible that we must not go back on our promises even if we have to pay a higher price to keep them. Our promises are taken seriously and we will be held accountable for them. Changing our minds is not acceptable to the Lord!

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Lord, today I pray that we remember how important it is to you that we keep our word with one another. Help us to understand the value that you put in us to do what we say we will do. Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve been dishonest to one another which in turn makes us dishonest to you. Help us to faithful work on repairing the brokenness of trust and our own inside image so that others will know that we are yours and may come to you also. Lord, help us to never, ever, cause another person (including one another) to stumble because of our untruthfulness and dishonesty.

In Jesus name, clean us from the inside out and make us new. In our newness, allow us please Lord, to share the kind of integrity and honesty that you hold. May we part from our old ways and follow you with every bit of our being. Thank you for the promise that you gave of your son Jesus. I thank you that your character (all of the past things you’ve done hold true still today) as we can know without a doubt that your promise in your son will hold true for eternity. May we be more like you.