Fire for HIM

Would you get out of the way?  This question sounds so rude, but it can be freeing to complete the request. What if we moved our selfish pride, fears, and ‘stuff’ out of the way between us and God? Would we be able to see more clearly and breathe better? " Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (I Cor. 13:12 NLT) Being that I am due to deliver a baby any day, my sisters came to help me complete the many tasks still on my list. My list quickly became obsolete, when these outsiders to my home invaded. They were on a mission of love to see my home run more smoothly, beautifully, and devoid of clutter and excess ‘stuff’ in every room. The task seemed overwhelming to me, but I wanted to help them paint, move furniture, and clean. One sister kept saying, “I love you, ...

While contemplating big change in my home, including cleaning out closets, reorganizing cabinets, painting marked walls, and adding new lighting, I began to think about our hearts and Psalm 51.  "Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt... You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all... What you’re after is truth from the inside out... Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.  Soak me...and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.  Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing... God make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life." I had been feeling guilty about how I had let the dust bunnies pile up, papers get mixed with toys or dishes, overall need for upgrade in appearance and habits of use in my home.  But God is not a condemning God.  He is BIG, but he does not pound us with our sho...

Due to Sandy Hill events, this post (originally planned to release 12/13/12) was delayed until today. Our prayers continue to be with all who have been touched by this horrible tragedy.  Let us not blame God, but rather pray that good overpower the evil in this world.  The first time I shot a rifle, I was probably seven.  We were not raised as hicks (not that it would matter if we were), but my father taught me about the works of art in his locked gun closet.  It was important to him that I know gun safety and how to use a gun appropriately.  While attending a girls' camp at the age of 11, I took and passed a gun safety course.  I learned so many things that week. Although I do not like the kick of a gun, it is quite a thrill to hit the target.  To attempt to hit the bull's eye, I had to practice.  It was a MUST that I looked through the sight of the gun (looking down the barrel and lining up the target with both the back and f...

Many people spend years ‘treasure hunting’ and find nothing. With the suggestion and help of a very kind friend, my office was gutted about a week ago. Afterwards, I realized that treasures were revealed when the clutter was gone through and discarded. At the wise insistence of my friend, we arranged furniture and supplies to ‘make room’ for the things I love to do. Now I find myself taking the time to do some of the things that were too buried to enjoy. Although it is sad to say, I found un-filed paperwork from dating back to 2004. Interruptions in life had caused me to pile up the papers that I was behind on rather than dealing with them in the moment. I tucked them away until I could deal with them. Well, the day of reckoning arrived. It felt so good to discard these un-needed items. In the midst of the process, I found true treasures that had long-since been missing. What if we did that with our heart? Most of us have areas that we have tucked away until we decide to ‘deal’ wi...

This morning, the rain began to come down in sheets.  We have a metal rooftop, so it was obvious that the sky had opened to moisten the ground.  I opened some windows and doors.  Without gutters on a two-story house, the view out the front door literally had become a curtain of water.  I went out and took a deep breath of the watery perfume...so good and refreshing.  I had to have more of this.  I went out my garage and a little into the driveway.  I stood and watched.  The yard was already full of water, and streams were running down the hill and joining together to race down the driveway, the mud color telling me they were taking part of my yard with them.  So much water...and all at once.  The most pleasant sight was the rain itself falling from the sky.  Gorgeous drops of rain clung to everything, adorning anything it touched.  Even our old, rusty basketball...