"Curvy Road"

It was Memorial Day 2011, and my husband and I took an adventure to Canyon Lake. We decided to go the day before, which was out of character for us. Normally, we would have known at least a week in advance and would have planned for it. But, we decided to be spontaneous!

I enjoy trips, but I don’t like the traveling part…especially if it’s in a car. We drove through many curvy roads. These turns forced me to close my eyes and hope that my stomach would not get queasy. My husband kept telling me to not look out the window. I tried my hardest to not think about what was around me, but it was quite difficult. Once we reached the top, I saw the beautiful, blue, shimmering water. We saw the much anticipated lake. Our destination was in sight, and all of a sudden I forgot about the curvy roads. I forgot about the ache in my stomach. I only focused on the beauty of the water.

I started to think about God, his son, and the kingdom. Even though we travel on tough roads throughout our lives, I have to remember that there is a beautiful kingdom that is waiting for us. Amid our struggles, let us focus our eyes and imagine what is in store ahead. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2 & 3).”

"Perfectly Woven"

My best friend is expecting her first child, a baby boy, in the spring. She shared some digital photos of the baby from the ultrasound. It was beautiful to see all the intricacies of this little unborn child. His hands, feet, fingers, toes, face and cute little nose were all visible in the photo. God is designing this precious creation, and I saw a view inside His masterpiece.

God has created each one of us in a particular and unique way. It is amazing to think about how much time we put into figuring out what is wrong with us and what we want to change, when God put so much time into creating each line, shape, and form with an exact purpose. Psalm 139 depicts a vivid illustration of us being portrayed as God’s design.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139: 13-18).”

Like a needle sewing thread, God has specifically designed us as His beautiful work of art. He knows every hair on our head and thought on our minds. When I saw this picture of the unborn child, it reminded me that God is with us from the day of conception and is already hard at work. No matter how many flaws or disappointments we tend to always find in ourselves, they weren’t seen as that to God. We are beautiful to Him, and we should feel complete and worthy to come from His creation.

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8).”

"Alive with Works"

It was eight o’clock at night and I started up my car to drive home from my grandmother’s house. I looked beside me in the passenger’s seat and saw her laundry basket filled of dirty clothes. It was filled with socks, nightgowns and robes. I normally do not like to look at laundry. In fact, it’s typical that I will dread doing the laundry just like most people will feel. However, for some reason, I became emotional while looking at this basket of laundry. This basket reminded me of how much I enjoyed doing this work for my grandmother. I am actually excited to do her laundry whenever I get the chance. As strange as it sounds, I look forward to gathering up her clothes, making them nice and clean, and returning them to her with a clean fresh scent.

This experience really helped me understand the concept of works and how it is important in our relationship with God. We should not do works, because we feel like we have to in order to earn our salvation. It is written, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).” We are not saved with works, but we have been made to work for Him. As believers, we are working for Him out of love. We do not need to live in fear as we wonder if we have earned God’s love and have done enough to be saved. Works are a way that we can show our love to God and strengthen our relationship with Him.

As a child, I was not able to see my grandmother as frequently as I am able to now. I am blessed to see her because I live close to her and will schedule the time to make a visit. My grandmother is touched when I am able to help her and do her chores. However, this does not make her love me any more than she did before. I believe my grandmother loved me before I began to help her. The important thing to gather is that it has strengthened my relationship with her. I know that I do not have to do a single thing to earn her love. Although, I cannot help but do these things for her because I know that it shows her that I care and keeps our relationship alive. James 2:26 tells us, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” If we want our faith to grow and our relationship with God to be healthy, we need to keep it going and bring it to life. I truly feel that this is what God yearns from us. He wants us to understand His indescribable love. How will you keep your faith from fading?

"Calm the Storm"

Imagine you are riding in a small boat. Waves are tossing and turning around you. The boat rocks you up and down. Lightning strikes and heavy amounts of water come crashing into the boat. You are drenched. The waves do not seem to settle down. You panic and yell, “Please help me!” This is how the apostles felt when they were riding along the Sea of Galilee in a boat that experienced much turmoil along their journey.

I love to use guided imagery when I am studying scripture. When I use this technique, I close my eyes and try to visualize each verse from the passage. Finding imagery in Mark 4: 35-41 depicts how powerful and protective our Savior can be. To see his power, it is beneficial to compare the description of the sea with the description of Jesus. The sea is characterized as being “furious” and its “waves breaking over the boat (4:37).” Jesus is riding in this very boat. By judging his behavior, it is evident that he can conquer the storm. He is described as “sleeping on a cushion” in a boat that is swamped (4:38). Jesus has power over the storm, because he does not allow it to phase him. Furthermore, he actually calms it by his authority. After the apostles wake him, Jesus rises and says “Quiet! Be still (4:39)!” The apostles are left amazed.

As I visualize this passage, I am reminded that there is nothing on earth that Jesus has not conquered. He has overcome the world. Also, it inspires me to be strong and steady just like him in a scary situation. We may not have the power to calm nature, but we can learn from his example to be still in our own “storms.” In our world that currently seems to be filled with bad news, there are many opportunities to witness to others as we choose to stay calm.

I close my eyes and imagine myself holding onto Jesus in that rocky boat. He is soundly sleeping and his heart is at an even rate. He is not stirred or shaken. The closer we feel to Jesus, I think the closer we become to growing in his likeness. I want to have that part of him in my life. The part that calms me down and allows me to feel the power and love of Jesus no matter what surrounds me in life.

"Jealous God"

My father, better known as “Daddy,” always encouraged me and invested his time in me. We have always been very close and rarely there is a day that goes by that I do not talk on the phone with him. Since he lives several hours away, it is important that I keep in contact. At times he wishes he could spend more time out here and I am sure he can get jealous when he hears about fun activities that are going on with me or the family. When I think about these times, it helps me to remember that my heavenly father is certainly a jealous God. “Jealous” in the context of our time and love.

God has created us for himself and to have us in relationship with him. When we allow time with Him to slip away from us, He naturally can become jealous. “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5).” I think it is important to look at our parent child relationship with God. “Now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known (1 John 3:2).” God hopes to spend time with us, because he is using every minute to form us into the creation He is planning us to be. It is really to our disadvantage when we feel that investing our time into things of the world will fulfill our needs.

My Dad is grateful that I have family, friends and hobbies that I enjoy. However, we both know that our relationship plays a big part in both of our lives. My Dad has instilled morals in me and has given me courage to believe that I am a confident and valuable person. This is the gift that God yearns to give us. He wants to mold us into His masterpiece. Remembering this, helps to remind me that spending time with Him should be a priority. I want to strive to have more than just a morning quiet time. I want to pray to Him throughout the day, wait in silence and always let Him know that I love Him.

He is my Father, He is my God. He deserves my time...He deserves ALL of me!

"Bad Knight, Good Knight"

A group of children used their imaginations to brainstorm about something they could draw on their blank piece of white paper. A boy came up to my desk and asked if he could show me his drawing. He drew a knight with full armor and weapons in hand. I explained, “I really like this drawing, but I will have to ask you to take away his weapons because it is against the rules to draw them.” He understood and came back with a new drawing. He drew another knight with armor, but this time he had no weapons. Instead, he wrote the word “knowledge” at the top of the page. The boy told me that this was his weapon. He said, “This is a good knight.”

After seeing this knight dressed in armor, I could not help but think of the armor of God that we are called to put on as believers in Christ. Ephesians 6 tells us, “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (v. 13-18).”

I think it is easy for us to use the illustration of the armor as a way to automatically cover ourselves up. We may fall into a trap if we focus just on the armor and feel we must be strong and brave at all times. I have gathered that focusing on what we want to cover up is just as important as the parts we use to cover them.

It is when we recognize our weakness that we can believe that there is something far greater that can strengthen us. When we are broken, we are longed to be mended. Paul provides a fitting example in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (v. 9-10).”

If we are too quick to put on the armor without even recognizing why we need it, we may find ourselves pretending. I feel God wants us to recognize that we are nothing apart from Christ. It is then, that each piece of armor will make sense. We will know that we are replacing our weakness with something stronger.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).”

“The Second Shift”

These days it is not uncommon for women to be very active in the workforce along with being an involved wife and loving mother. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild researched this cultural change and noted that women are taking on a “second shift.” This means that not only are women thriving in the workplace, they typically also remain keeping the duties of cleaning the house and caring for children. This is interesting to me, because women are taking responsibilities at work and then coming back home and completing all the responsibilities that will always be there to fulfill. In addition, men can experience their own “second shift.” It all depends on how much responsibility you are choosing to have. So, what does this mean? These are answers that are specific to the individual and will work out differently for everyone's personal situation. They are not meant to be judgments, but a unique choice for each person. However, there is a message here that applies to everyone, males and females. I feel we need to examine how much we are taking on in our lives. How much we are putting on our plate and what is really important to benefit our walk with God.

This reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha. In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus and his disciples arrive at the home of Martha and are welcomed in by her. Martha's sister Mary, who was also in the home, sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he said (v.39). “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her (v. 40-42).”

Martha's intentions were nothing but of good intent. She is known for having a servant heart. I can identify with Martha at times when I often find myself saying yes to everyone who may ask for help, or volunteering my time when I know I do not have any more time to spare. Instead, I feel it is most valuable to me when I step back and ask God in what areas should I be serving and when and where should I do it. I feel Mary provides a good balance to Martha. She demonstrates the example of waiting and listening to the teachings of our Lord. I do not feel we need to look at this passage and believe that Martha had it all wrong. Her heart was in the right place, but it seems she was trying to accomplish too much at one time. When we look at the intentions of Martha along with the patience of Mary, I think it demonstrates a good balance and motivation to continue to work for the Lord. The work from God's timing and direction that He can provide.

I feel that throughout our lives we will always have this predicament with time. It is to our benefit when we keep assessing our lives and look to God's guidance. God yearns for our best and hopes that when we serve Him, we are genuine and are seeking Him wholeheartedly. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men (Colossians 3:23).”