Unconventional Methods

I love the story of David and Goliath. I guess because it is a story about the underdog winning. But when you look carefully at the story, new things pop up.

I have always loved the idea that David had this tremendous amount of faith that Goliath would be defeated. But he still understood that he had to throw the stone for God to give him victory. And then the whole idea that he knew that God was on his side and yet he picked up 5 stones, just in case the first four did not hit his target.

But something hit me with this story again this past week. When David went to Saul to tell Saul he was going to defeat Goliath, Saul dressed him in his battle armor, the traditional gear to go into battle. But it did not fit, so David took it off. He went into battle without armor, he was vulnerable. And yet God protected him, he came out of the battle completely unscathed and victorious.

Isn't that just like God to do things the EXACT opposite way we think it should be done? When everyone else is telling us to do it "this" way, but God says do it "that" way, it seems silly and foolish. He uses the simple to confound the wise and the weak to confound the mighty (1 Cor 1:27). He asks us to do things that seem counter intuitive. But yet it works. Or more importantly HE works. I love that about God!

Thought for the Day!

"The most beautiful roses take a lot of crap." - Christie O'Brien

Do you have it all together?

There are so many times I have heard women utter these words, "I just don't have it all together." or "If I could just get it all together." I really cringe when I hear these words. Because I have heard this term, all together, applied to me. (Yes, I know, some of you that really know me are laughing your butts off right now!)

NEWSFLASH! NO ONE HAS IT ALL TOGETHER! IT IS A LIE!

I often say that anyone who tells you, they it all together, is only trying to sell you something. When we think everyone else has it all together there is a huge burden placed on us. We become the only one. We become isolated, because we don't have it all together.

I think if we, as christians, would come to understand this one idea, there would be freedom. There would be life! Because life is all about experimenting. Some things work and we revel in it. But some things don't work as expected and it is then we must move on and learn.

Here is my analogy: Because I learn so much from my children it is from them that I have learned this idea. I watch my girls playing in the stream of water coming out of the faucet. They are fascinated by this. It never fails, they always try to grab the stream. And no matter how hard they grab at it, they are never able to catch this bubbling liquid that flows so freely. I can see the concentration in their eyes, they are quite intense. But the difference comes in their reaction. One becomes frustrated and starts yelling out. But the other one, she enjoys the feeling of the water flowing over her hands and then she sticks her head under neath the faucet. Somehow in her two-year old mind she understands it is not to hold in her hand, but to enjoy it as it passes through her fingers!

To me that is the perfect picture of this idea. We can cry and pout about not being able to hold onto everything. Or we can figure out new ways to enjoy life!

Somethings never change!

The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn't want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.

Cicero, 55 BC
Roman author, orator, & politician (106 BC - 43 BC)

Christmas Season is over..now I must blog!

The Christmas season is over so I must get back to real life, which of course includes blogging. There have been so many things that I have thought would be a great blog post, but of course I have quickly forgotten all of them.

We had a wonderful Christmas! For quite a few years I have really dreaded the holiday season, but I have seen a shift in my attitude. The main shift has been a conscious decision not to worry about what should be and instead being content with what is. It is a constant decision and not one that comes easy! Funny how that seems to be!

The Star

Psalm 19:1-2-"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge."

We watched The Star of Bethlehem movie last night at church. I am again amazed at the wonder of God. For those who have not seen it, there is man that has made it his mission to explain the Star of Bethlehem. What impacted me was that God set the stars in motion at the beginning of creation with the thought of Christ's birth and resurrection. He set the stars in the sky to ring out the birth of His son before he even created man. And He also set into motion the heavens to mourn his death.

My God has created all things to proclaim His glory. And it is when we deviate from that plan that there is pain and suffering. But those who are called by His name and bear His Spirit in our very being can no more ignore His glory than change the course of the stars in the sky. We and all of creation bear the very fingerprint of God and we have only to open our eyes and see His majesty! My God is more, so much more than I could ever dream or imagine. I wish I had the words to express the greatness of Him!

The Tie that Binds!

(This post came out of my group of beautiful ladies that pray on Tuesday nights. They encouraged me through a minor thing, but gave me inspiration to write this. We have cried and laughed a BUNCH these past four years. Sharing in each others joys and sharing each others pain. You give me wings and strength and courage and I thank you!)gcmsd

There have been many people who share their stories with Robbie and I over these past few years and we are amazed at the amount of pain that people carry with them through life. There is a common thread through many of these people. Many say the same thing, or a variation of the same sentiment, "I thought I was alone in the pain." "Everyone else seems to have it all together." "I am the only one who feels this way." And it has occurred to me that we all walk around with these burdens thinking we are isolated, but yet everyone we come into contact with has another burden, it may not be identical to the one you are carrying, but it still produces the same byproduct... pain.

How clever of the enemy, if he can convince us that we are "the only one", then we are vulnerable to his attacks. And our goal becomes only to keep it a secret, and we will do anything to protect the image of "all-togetherness" for the sake of being "just like everyone else." What a ruse, a scam, a mirage? What ever you call it, it is a lie!

What if the very thing the enemy meant to make us weak is the very thing that makes us strong? What if the common thread became "I understand your pain because I have pain as well? It is the human condition to know pain. And it is the tie that binds us all. If we come together sharing each others burdens we know we are not alone and that gives us strength.

So I will ask the question again, What if the very thing the enemy meant to make us weak is the very thing that makes us strong?

(Please post a comment because I feel like I am talking to myself here! Kind of like being all alone!! :)