Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

I asked God some questions this past week.  What I understand from reading Job, that’s a pretty scary thing to do.  I knew what I should think, but I didn’t want to just hear that.  I thought about what my answer would be to someone else asking that big “why?” question.  Then, I continued to inquire, “God, where were you when I was suffering and believing those lies?  Where.  Were.  You.”  I could suddenly relate to a person that refuses to believe in God because they don’t understand why or where God was when they were abused as a child.  Some are stripped of their innocence or affected by drugs and alcohol abuse without any cause of their own.  In my case though, being affected by insecurities and lies from childhood are typical in this world and others peoples’ situations are far worse.  As I was asking those questions and wrestling with God, I sort of expected a reprimand from Him.  I thought I would get the answer t...

I had Chinese food tonight and I opened my fortune cookie.  To my alarm, I didn’t find a fortune inside it.  This seems to be a theme.  Not even my fortune cookie will speak to me.  I say it like this because God has been quiet lately.    I have been “doing” all the right things in asking God to search my heart.  Perhaps there is an offensive way in me because of a hidden “cherished” iniquity.    All I’ve been getting are little hints and whispers along the way.     One instance was a man’s ringtone in a class going off that was David Crowder’s “How He Loves”.   That made me smile like a giddy schoolgirl (pun intended, I suppose) , but nothing else seems to be resonating.    No worship song seems to be smacking me upside the head, and even the Word of God, though it has been blowing my mind, seems to leave my heart completely alone. “God, are you there?” I am reminded in this season of dryness ...

I was searching on Facebook for my husband.  Literally, I thought it would be funny to type the word “husband” into the search bar and see if he’d pop up.  What did happen to pop up was a site for “Husbands and Wives of Islam”.  Curiosity got the best of me and I read a post someone wrote.  It was nice.  It was pro-marriage and encouraged others to forgive and hang in there.  Yes, t'was very nice indeed, which got me thinking about the crucial difference between Islam and Christianity.  Because both doctrines might tell you to live good, decent, tax-paying lives, there was one problem I realized which I humbly submit to you.  Through Allah or Muhamed there is not remission of sins, plain and simple. "So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."--Hebrews 9:28

At the cross You beckon me You draw me gently to my knees, and I am Lost for words, so lost in love, I'm  Sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

Tonight I heard the pains of a mother who sacrificially puts her son before herself.  Bless her heart that she wants what’s best for him.  She was weeping because she feels she is a bad mother.  “I haven’t done anything in particular, but I feel that way because, well, I’m a mom.  That’s just what we do.”   I don’t think so, Satan.  Not this time.  Not my sister in Christ!  Where did we get idea that we have to beat ourselves up?  Probably a year ago, heck, a week ago you could have tried to give me a compliment, and I’d scarcely believe it was true.  Not to discredit a need for genuine humility, but humility does not mean we are a doormat beneath any shred of confidence as we pass through life (and by confidence I mean the kind found only in Christ).  A lot of times, in pursuit of denying myself, I end up denying myself the very rights as a child of God. Children are carefree.  Imagine a little girl that love...

It would be silly of me to not write about my very favorite holiday:  Christmas.  This particular year I have decided that It's a Wonderful Life is not only my favorite Christmas movie, but probably my favorite movie of all time, save for You've Got Mail ...hmmm, it's a close call.  If you know me, ranking films is an important pass-time.  Well, just the five films that I like and continue to watch over, and over, and over again. One reason I love it so much is the cast of actors.  But the biggest reason is how I think most people can relate to it.  George Bailey had his whole life planned out.  He had big dreams.  He wanted to "make something of himself" only to be humbled and humble himself to the death of those dreams.  How do I know?  He said it so himself: "I don't want any plastics , and I don't want any ground floors, and I don't want to get married - ever - to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do!" ...

I saw a woman standing outside a convenience mart smoking a cigarette.   I was fueling up my little tan car when I wondered if I should start a conversation with her.   I fought my own brain, and wondered if that was God’s voice or my paranoia.   She wasn’t relatively close by any means. I plainly took my receipt and drove on.   Now jump to this logical thought.  The things I’ve heard about marriage are all true.   I have listened to love story after love story and all the couples say that they have been joined together to bring further glory to the Lord.  Marriage is ultimately a mirror of God’s love for His bride, and these teams are used for expanding His kingdom on earth.  Those are all true statements.  Most of the time I agree with them because I do think it would be easier to go on a mission trip with your husband.  Yes, it would at times be easier to serve and love someone unconditionally when it is your beautif...