God’s Love Is Better Than My Favorite Chair!

Do you have a favorite piece of furniture? My favorite piece of furniture is a chair. And, boy, does that chair have a history! I enjoy my chair and treasure the history behind it. And, this week, I said good-bye to my chair, which made me think about how God’s love is even better than this beloved chair.

My precious chair was made of deep green leather. It’s twenty years old. Back in the day, it was quite the fashionable seat! It belonged to my husband’s aunt and uncle in New Jersey. When Rob and I got married and purchased our first home in North Carolina, they sent it to us. None of the furniture in our first home matched, but we didn’t care.

Seventeen happy years later, Rob and I have moved nine times! That big, old green chair has safely made every move with us. Some of our furniture, for one reason or another, never made it. But that green chair would never, ever have been left behind!

Last year, when God told us it was time to adopt a child, we were thrilled. Interestingly enough, He gave us the word to adopt on the very day that we had asked a friend to help move our green chair upstairs to our fourth bedroom, which we had decided to convert into a game room for the kids! God’s timing is amazing and proves He has a great sense of humor!

I spent many hours in my prized green chair, praying, and searching God’s word, and talking with well-wishing friends on the phone. I also spent a lot of time in my chair just thinking about God’s goodness and the wonderful path He has taken us on.

When God revealed His adoption plan to us, we weren’t prepared for the timing of it. However, things have fallen into place in ways that I could never have dreamed. We soon realized that the fourth bedroom, which had just been converted into a game room, was now going to be our new child-to-be’s bedroom! Needless to say, that giant green chair was not going to be able to stay in that room.

So, Rob and I dragged that huge chair across the hall and into our bedroom. We tried to make a little reading nook, but the chair was just too big. We fiddled with it and worked and worked, but just couldn’t make it work.

So, last week, we heard about a precious friend who was moving into a new apartment and she needed furniture. The same friend who came last year to move the chair upstairs came and moved it back down. The next day our other friend — who originally moved the chair upstairs — came and gratefully took the chair. I was so happy to see it passed on.

God’s love is comfortable and amazing and goes with us wherever we go. It is meant to be shared. His love will always amaze and surprise us!

This week, I encourage you to spend some alone time with God. Ask Him to show you how to pass along His love and encouragement to others. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Answering When God Calls!

Have you ever called a friend, or messaged them, and they didn’t answer your call when you just KNEW that they were available? Have you ever been just flat-out ignored when you tried to get in touch with someone? How did it make you feel? It really makes you unhappy, doesn’t it? Have you ever done that to someone else? It’s just not a lot of fun, is it? Well, how do you think God feels when He calls on us and we don’t answer Him? When the One who made the world and everything in it calls on YOU, don’t you think you should answer?

Lots of people are called by God, but they decide, for one reason or another, to ignore the call. Sometimes, people feel very unworthy. They think, and sometimes say out loud, that God simply can’t use them because they are sinners. Guess what? We are ALL a bunch of sinners, and God knows that, but He loves us anyway. He never wastes a hurt or a bad situation. Often those hurts and bad situations are used by God to grow us and teach us and have us help others in His name!

Let’s take a good look at the some of the people in the Bible. Paul, when he was Saul, persecuted Christians and was an all-around nasty guy. Christians were scared to death of him. David was an adulterer and set his lover’s husband up to be killed and he tried to cover it up. Jonah ran away and tried to hide from God because he disagreed with Him. Moses had a bad temper and killed a man and was afraid to speak in public. And the list goes on and on and on. Yet, God in His mercy and wisdom, called all of these people and used them for His glory.

We are told in Revelation 3:20 (NIV), “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Isn’t that a beautiful picture of a loving God who desires to be with us. God loves each and every one of us. He is calling us to Him. He wants us to love Him and follow Him. He wants us to reach out to others in His name. He wants everyone to come to Him of their own free will, but He will not force Himself on any of us. God is a gentleman. He won’t go where He is not invited!

This week, I challenge you to get alone with God. Spend time reading the Bible and praying. Wait for God to tell you about your mission. Listen to see where He is leading you and what He wants you to do. Then, hang on tight, because you just might be called on an adventure that is much more wonderful than anything you could have ever dreamed of! Be encouraged and be blessed!

Like A Puppy Chasing Its Tail!

Are you a dog lover? Do you ever talk about “paws” instead of hands? Do you think a wiggly, little ball of fur is just about the cutest, sweetest thing ever? If so, you are not alone. There are millions and millions of people the world over who love dogs. My family and I have two precious dogs, and we count ourselves very blessed, indeed, to have them in our lives.

One of the funniest things dogs can do is to chase their tail. Our Boston Terrier, Job, is old and has a short tail, so he doesn’t spend much time trying to chase it. Our Cocker Spaniel/Lab mix, Merci, on the other hand, has a long, bushy tail that is apparently too much to resist. Merci spends a considerable amount of time and effort trying to grab hold of her furry appendage. It is hilarious to watch her in action. She goes round and round until she wears herself out, in a sad effort to get that tail.

Recently, as I was watching Merci on her merry tail chase, it reminded me of how I have been doing the same thing in my life, with about the same frustrating results. I have been desperately trying to grab hold of a situation and control it. So far, it has not worked out at all. In fact, all I have done is tie my tummy in knots and get myself drenched in stress!

On some level, I felt like God was “too busy” to help me, and I thought I would just help Him out and speed things along. Thinking I was “smart” I tried to “finesse” the situation. Now, looking back on it, all I was doing was insulting God and trying to fight for control when I am not in control, and never have been. “Control” is just an illusion.

Merci probably won’t ever catch her tail and I won’t either. I realized that it’s okay. In Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) we are told, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Everything that comes into our lives has to have God’s approval. Whether it is good, or bad, or neutral, nothing escapes God. He will never be caught off guard. God will never be surprised. That in itself is a tremendous comfort.

Do you have something that you have been trying to “catch” and just can’t? Is there something that you are holding onto so tightly that your knuckles have turned white? If so, why don’t you think about seeing what God says about it?

This week, I challenge you to stop chasing whatever it is you have been trying so hard to catch. Get alone with God and pray and just listen for God’s voice to comfort you and guide you and direct you. He will. He loves you and wants only his very best for your life. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Jesus Defeated Sin AND Death For EVERYONE!

Have you ever lost a loved one? Chances are, you have. It hurts. It is so hard to let go when someone we love so very much just isn’t there anymore. We don’t really have a choice but to find a new kind of “normal” and keep going, but that doesn’t mean we like this change. When a person doesn’t know about Jesus Christ and what He did for us, it is difficult to have a lot of hope, for life to have meaning and make sense after suffering the loss of a loved one.

The really great news is that this life is NOT all there is! For those who know and love Jesus, we have the PROMISE of eternal life. Now that is something that should make us jump up and dance and sing, in praise and celebration.

If we only look around, this world is pretty sad and depressing. If we keep our eyes, heart, and mind fixed on Jesus Christ, we know that we will understand what is truly important.

Sin makes us feel guilty. Death feels so final. However, Jesus took care of sin AND death. We are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, if you only believe in Him, and ask Him to forgive you and be Your Savior, and then receive the free gift of eternal salvation.

If you have never asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, please don’t put it off. Do it today, and you will be eternally grateful that you did! If you already know Jesus as your Savior, but feel like you have neglected your relationship with Him, please pray and talk to Him about it. He will gladly listen to you, anytime, anywhere.

My son, Noah, was learning some scripture for AWANA Club a few weeks ago. The more we read and studied these verses, the more it encouraged me. Revelation 21:4 (KJV) says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

If you have ever been hurt, or sick or lost someone you love, take heart. Jesus took the hit for you and for them and for each and every one of us. Jesus was thinking of YOU with LOVE while He was hanging on the cross.

Even if you had been the only person to ever walk the Earth, Jesus would still have gladly gone to the cross just for you. The fact that He died and then rose again means He defeated sin and death for each and every one of us.

This week, I encourage you to spend some quality time with Jesus. Read the Bible, and focus on the magnitude of what He did for you. Read the story of His arrest and crucifixion and I know it will bring tears to your eyes as you realize He was thinking of YOU with love as He hung there suffering. Know that Jesus defeated sin and death on your behalf. Be encouraged and be blessed. Happy Easter!

Dents, Dings, And A Lot Of Imperfections!

What was your first car like? Was it a dream machine? Did it purr like a kitten as you cruised down the road? Or, were you so ashamed of it you ducked down in the seat so that you could barely see over the steering wheel, in the hope that none of your peers would see you?

My first car was a large “hunk of junk” on wheels. It regularly broke down, and at the most inconvenient times! Once, while away at school, I had to go downtown for a class assignment. On my way back home, my car suddenly caught on fire. By the grace of God, I was able to pull over into an empty parking lot. A cop stopped and yelled at me for breaking down!

Now, I have a an old car that gets me from “Point A to Point B” and that’s just about it. My husband drives our nicer car. The important thing is that both cars are paid for and they get us where we need to go. I have learned over the years that you don’t need a fancy sports car to be happy. A car is just a thing, and that’s it.

Something else I have learned is that cars are a lot like people. They come in all different shapes, and sizes, and colors. And, some of the ones that look the prettiest on the outside have a lot of problems on the inside.

The other day, I took a good look at our nicer car, the one my hubby took over. Over the years, it has gotten some dents and dings in it, even though we have taken great care of it. Life just happens sometimes. The more I thought about it, the more those dents, and dings, and imperfections reminded me of my own life.

No matter how “careful” I am, in living my life, things happen. And, those dents and dings in life have helped make me who I am. They have challenged me and shaped my character. God has used the dents and dings to show me how much He loves me. He has shown me that He is with me, no matter what.

Another unexpected blessing from the dents and dings of life has been how God brings me to other people who have experienced similar dents and dings. We can lean on each other and encourage each other. That has been so incredible. No matter what you have gone through, God understands, and He will use the hurts to help you and help others. I have seen Him do this in ways I could never have dreamed. What a blessing that is!

This week, I encourage you to take a good look at your ride. Pay special attention to the dents and dings and imperfections. Compare that to your life. Ask God to help you with those dents and dings. Ask Him to show you how to help others with their dents and dings. Then, hang on tight because when you go to God with an open heart and open hands, you will be simply amazed by what He will do! Be encouraged and be blessed!

Going To The Chapel Of Love!

After months and months of planning, a flurry of activity, and probably some tearful moments, the big day finally arrives. As she slips on her dress, the bride stuns her attendants in a frothy confection she has most likely been dreaming about since she was a little girl. The groom stands a bit nervously in front of family and friends, a bit of perspiration dampening his brow, and wondering how his collar got so tight. Then the music starts and everyone is breathless as the bride glides down the aisle to meet her husband-to-be and suddenly, all of the stress falls away.

This weekend is a big one for me. One of my best friends, a wonderful woman named Lindsay, is getting married. And, my husband, Rob, and I are celebrating seventeen years of marriage! Oh, the joy and love of marriage!

If I could go back in time and tell bride-to-be Kristy one thing, it would be to always give my best effort to the marriage. Marriage is hard, hard work, but it is so worth it! If you don’t put your whole heart and soul into the marriage, you can’t be too surprised when you end up frustrated and feeling like something is lacking. You truly do get back what you put into it.

Once the honeymoon phase wears off, there will be a time when you look at your beloved and wonder, “What was I thinking?” That most unpleasant thought will most likely come after an argument over something trivial. At that exact moment you will realize that your beloved is in fact, not perfect. Guess what? YOU are not perfect, either. Sure, I get aggravated at my beloved Rob, but I know that I am not a peach to live with. In fact, I give him a lot of credit for putting up with me.

As Christians, we honor God with our relationships, including our marriage. God should be the number one love of our life, whether we are married or single. If you are thinking about getting married, look for someone who loves God passionately. It will make life so much sweeter in every way.

What a blessing it has been for me to see Rob grow in his love for God. It has deepened and strengthened our marriage. And when the storms of life come, as they always do, we have God to cling to. When we have a disagreement, we can go to the Bible to see how God tells us to handle the disagreement. We can argue with each other, but you just can’t argue with the word of God. Trust me, you will never win that one!

This week, I encourage you to praise God for your marriage. And, if you aren’t yet married and want to be, ask Him to help you find the mate He wants you to have. You never know, true love might be just around the corner. May you have a marriage that will make God smile. And, Lindsay, may every single day of your marriage be just as beautiful and blessed as your wedding day. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Trying To Do It ALL!

Do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Have you ever looked at the clock and panicked? Do you ever think you will never be able to check off everything on your “to-do” list? If so, you are not alone. More and more people seem to think that they just can’t do it all. But, who said we have to do it all, anyway?

Many Christians feel guilt. God doesn’t want us to run around feeling guilty about things. Guilt isn’t anyone’s friend. All it does is hurt us and our relationships.

These days, I have had to hit the “pause” button on several activities. My dear hubby, Rob, and I have always tried our best to make God our first priority, our marriage and family second, and everything else comes after that. We are now in the process of adopting a child, and due to that, we have had to cut back on many of our “usual” activities. And, you know what? We have survived cutting back on our activities! At first, I was nervous when we had to scale back on some things, but that anxiety soon passed. Life went on and all was well!

I have a friend who shall be called “Alyssa” for privacy purposes. Alyssa has an older brother I will refer to as “Barry.” Barry was born with special needs and has the most amazing outlook on life. He looks at everything with a child-like faith. He finds complete and utter joy in the little moments that most people take for granted. Just being around Barry makes people relax.

Recently, Barry spent about ten minutes enjoying a revolving door. He was totally “blown away” by the mechanics of it! He went outside and was mesmerized by the singing birds in a nearby tree. Barry has taught me to hit the “pause” button and just enjoy the lovely world that God has entrusted to our care.

Too many times, we are rushing from one activity to the next, that we forget to praise God for the little things. We let time with loved ones slip away while we are “fiddling” with our technological devices, afraid that if we “unplug” we might miss something. We are missing something– each other!

When was the last time you were fascinated by everyday things? How often do you just stop, look up, take a deep breath and just be? Chances are, you might not even be able to remember the last time you slowed down and just relaxed.

Why do people feel guilty for relaxing? Why do we feel angst when we plan a vacation? Of course we all have responsibilities and things that have to get done. However, when our to-do list fills up the plate and then spills over, that is when the stress comes in and something has to go.

This week, get alone with God. Share your schedule with Him and ask Him to prioritize it for you and show you what needs to go. You don’t have to do it all! Be encouraged and be blessed!

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener…

Have you ever been green with envy? Have you ever coveted what someone else has? Have you ever been jealous of a friend’s new house, clothes, car, vacation, etc.? Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have everything? Have you ever grumbled because someone you know seems to be able to make money easily and buy anything that pleases them?

Everything we have is a blessing from God. He will give us what we need and what we can handle. Only He knows what is right and best for us. We are told in Philippians 4:19 (NIV), “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” We should trust God to give us what we need at the right time and in the right way.

What works for one person and what is right for them, won’t necessarily be right for you. We have to remember that God knows the “big picture” for each and every one of us. He doesn’t give lots of stuff to people because He loves them more than someone else.

Let’s get this straight–God sent Jesus to die for YOU! If YOU had been the only person to ever walk this Earth, God would still have gladly sent Jesus for YOU, and Jesus would have gladly come to Earth to die just for YOU! So, don’t ever think that God is playing favorites with “stuff” and His people.

Some people have a gift for using the things in their life to help and bless others. God has a plan for each and every one of us. He hardwired us differently and we should seek to use our time and our talents and our resources for His Kingdom and His glory.

Something else we need to consider is that just because someone else has a lot of stuff, they may not have the best gift of all–salvation through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Sometimes, people try to find their happiness in the collection of stuff, lots and lots of stuff. We, as Christians, know that will never work.

Don’t get me wrong. There are wealthy Christians out there who do have lots of stuff. And, guess what? That’s okay. I personally know some wealthy Christians who would literally give you the shirt off their back in order to help others. They praise God for the blessings in their lives and ask Him to show them how they can use what He has given them to help care for others.

It all boils down to the fact that everyone has struggles and troubles. The grass is not always greener on the other side. A lot of times we focus on other people and what they have. We should focus on Jesus and what He has done for us!

This week, I encourage you to take a good, long look at your life. Make a list of the blessings that God has give you. Then, get on your knees and praise Him and ask Him how He wants to work through you to bless others. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Hope And A Future!

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you have a five-year plan? What about a ten-year plan? Do you have insurance of any kind? What about a retirement plan? In today’s world, even kids have plans. We are a goal-oriented society and we like to lay out our plans, often in painstaking detail.

God is really the ONE with the plans. We have to be careful about making our plans, because they are ours, not necessarily His.
We are told in Jeremiah 11:29 (NIV), “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

That is such a beautiful verse. It is one of my favorites. I like to lean in to the “hope” and “future” parts. Hope is so beautiful. It is full of comfort and joy, the kind that can only be found in God. The future hasn’t even happened yet, but God is already there. He knows it all already, and He wants to guide us and protect us. Now that is the ultimate insurance plan!

I have struggled with things lately. My beloved husband, Rob, and I, after waiting for 13 years, are in the process of adopting a child. I can barely wait to get her home. However, God’s timing isn’t quite ours. Rob sat down with me tonight and reminded me that we must wait on God and He will bring our daughter home, in His way and in His time. Truthfully, I wouldn’t want to do it any other way. God’s got this! He already knows who our daughter is, where she is, and when she is coming home. He has known it all along. Now if that is not comforting, I don’t know what is. That brings me so much hope for the future.

God was here long before we were. He has been here since the beginning. He knows what He is doing and does not need our help. How many times can we read about people trying to “get ahead of God” in the Bible? Now how did that work out for any of these people? How does it work out for us?

God not only knows the “big picture,” He also knows the little parts and pieces and how they fit together. He doesn’t need to rush anything or get in a hurry. And, if we can just learn to lean into Him and trust and wait, He will bring good things our way. He will grow us and challenge us and give us comfort all along the way. Sometimes we have to be through a situation to see it, but if we will just wait and trust, it will come.

So, this week, I challenge you to spend some alone time with God. Read the Bible and pray and seek God’s plan for your life. You can trust the one who loves you with an everlasting love. He sent Jesus Christ to die for You, so you know you are important to Him. Be encouraged and be blessed!

God’s Love Is Better Than Acrylic Paint!

Have you ever felt stress? Have you ever been hit by a tension headache? Have you ever felt your blood pressure rise because of something that was terribly upsetting? It is certainly no fun to have to deal with these types of life events. No one enjoys them. So, how do we deal with things like this?

God is the answer! He loves us and He does not want us to go through life suffering. He wants us to turn to Him first and in all things. We need to pray throughout the day, each and every day. And we need to read the Bible. God’s word will never change and it is always there for us, ready to comfort, encourage, and challenge us.

God also has sent things to each of us to help us through hard times. We all have things we enjoy. Think about the healthy, positive habits in your life that help you. Some people play sports, some people sing, some play musical instruments, some like to read, etc. For me, I love to paint.

Painting brings me closer to God. I absolutely love acrylic paint and it reminds me of God. Acrylic paint is beautiful. The colors are splendid! I get positively giddy when I get a new canvas and open my jars and bottles of acrylic paint. It helps me relax and I can praise God by painting some of the lovely things He made for us to enjoy.

There are different types of paint and each artist has his or her own opinions of what is the best. For me, nothing can compare to acrylic. It is easy to work with and very forgiving if you make a mistake. This reminds me so much of God. He is easy to work with, always there when we need Him. He is full of color and inspiration. And, He will always forgive us. He is all about forgiveness.

When I paint, it just makes the day better and brighter. It helps bring my life into focus. It is a great time to pray. And, when I am finished, I have something to show for my work and time and effort.

No matter what you do to deal with stress, it is important to deal with it and not let it run your life. Keep the focus on God and ask Him to show you how you can find positive ways to get rid of stress and its unpleasantness in your life.

For example, people who workout to relieve stress report that the feel better afterward. It is a healthy, positive way to deal with stress and it helps keep your body healthy. This helps to honor God by taking care of the body that He gave you.

This week, I challenge you to spend some special alone time with God. Praise Him for all He has done for you, and all He is continuing to do in Your life. Ask Him to help you find good, positive ways to deal with stress. For me, no matter how much I love my painting, it can’t compare to how wonderful God is. May you feel it, too! Be encouraged and be blessed!