Sweet Somethings…

I recently had the privilege of singing and speaking at a banquet to honor the widows of a church. Thank you to the folks at FBC Borger for welcoming me so warmly. I had a wonderful time visiting with your lovely church members. God was definitely present with us, wasn’t He? Isn’t He good to shower us with His love and his HOPE?

God will honor you for taking the time to show your widows their value and purpose in the Kingdom of God.

Deuteronomy 10:18 says: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing;” and Deut. 27:19 says “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.”

God obviously has a special place in His heart for widows. This special provision is not only found in the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. James 1:27 says: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

You have been faithful in seeing God’s heart and honoring your widows as the worthy and valuable women they are.

Thank you again for the privilege of ministering to your people. May God bless your ministry as you seek to have His heart and mind in this hopeless world.

A few months ago, I agreed to sing at a tiny local church. I have to admit I thought of it more as a favor than as an opportunity. A new pastor in town was hosting a speaker for a three-day “financial seminar.” I figured I would sing my songs and exit gracefully during a break in the action. God had other plans.

The teaching was so life-altering that I came back for a second night, basking in the joy and revelation of God’s Word. There were only a handful of people in the room both evenings. Thank God that He is not limited by the size of a crowd!

But I learned something more. I saw first hand what a lifelong walk with Jesus looks like. Her name is Maggie Vines. At the moment I first extended my hand to her in greeting, I noticed what can only be described as an aura about her, a glow so real it was unmistakeable. Her hand clasped about mine, so tight and warm that I felt instantly accepted. Her hair was longer than should be prudent for a woman of her age, but she wore it so gracefully that I could hardly imagine her without it. Her eyes were a warm blue, reminiscent of a summer sky. Her skin was like canyons of sweetness and sorrow, colored by a confidence belying the layers of heartache and betrayal. She wore her story (joy and pain and suffering and all the in-betweens) with unmistakeable grace. As our conversation unfolded, she gave me a little glimpse into her remarkable life.

The details of her story have since faded in my memory, as details so often do. What I am left with is the indelible impression of her presence. When I feel overwhelmed, insignificant, under-appreciated, I hear her sweet voice whisper to me,
“Take courage,dear.”
When I doubt my place in this world, I see those deep eyes reflecting a lifetime of His purpose back at me. I pray that at the twilight of my life I can have the same sort of peace and wisdom. This sentiment is reflected best by the Apostle Pauls’ words in II Tim 4:7-8 .

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Maggie Vines longs for his appearing. You can hear it her faltering voice, see it in her longing eyes. It’s an ache to be with her True Love, her First Love. It’s knowledge of a life well-lived, not for her own purposes, but for His.

Oh, for the voice, the eyes, the ache of Maggie Vines. May it also be mine.

I have read the same devotional book for the better part of twelve years. It is a collection of sermon excerpts by the late Oswald Chambers, founder of The Bible Training College. The book is entitled My Utmost for His Highest. I have never tired of it’s truth, and I find inspiration in it’s pages, whether I want to or not. Next to the Bible, it is the book I most often refer to in my quest for a deeper relationship with God. Following is an excerpt from today’s lesson.

A Bond-Slave Of Jesus

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
Galatians 2:20

Has that break come? All the rest is pious fraud. The one point to decide is - Will I give up, will I surrender to Jesus Christ, and make no conditions whatever as to how the break comes? I must be broken from my self-realization, and immediately that point is reached, the reality of the supernatural identification takes place at once, and the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable - “I have been crucified with Christ.”
The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I do not begin to be a saint.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Are you a passionate participant, or a casual pretender?

Verse of the Day:

Exodus 14:14

“The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

God has delivered the Israelites out of Egypt in a miraculous, awe-inspiring demonstration of his power through the plagues. The Israelites are camped on the bank of the Red Sea, and they see the Egyptians approaching from a distance. As will become the pattern in their dealings with Moses and with God, they begin their complaining.

How many times do I feel like situations have to be under my control to be resolved? How many times do I take matters into my own hands because I’m afraid God won’t pull through? His answer to me is the same as it was thousands of years ago to the fledgling nation of Israel - shut up, listen, and watch. Can you imagine, the God of the universe fighting for me? And all I have to do is keep silent.

Lord, help me to open my clenched fists and surrender my meager reserves for your boundless, miraculous riches.

Verse of the Day: Exodus 4:11-12

“who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

Moses is a man ruled by his fear. His focus is completely on himself and his fear of man. Yet God is so kind, reassuring him by displaying His awesome power through Moses when he turns the staff into a serpent and Moses’ hand to leprosy. God is trying to show Moses that “His strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9). Yet Moses goes on whining about his shortcomings, even having the audacity to tell God that even He can’t make him talk right (”I am not eloquent, even since you have spoken to your servant”).

We serve an awesome God who is so good and patient! God had every right to say “Forget you, then, I’ll use someone who is willing.” Yet once again, He reminds Moses that He will be with him, teaching him what to say.

As the story goes, Moses does wind up being God’s man. But the lesson for us is - “NO, YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SO, GET OVER IT! ” All He wants us to do is get out of the way so He can use us.

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since I last wrote. I could give about 100 excuses, but I’ll let well enough alone and pick up where I left off. I’m going to try to make a habit of journaling my Sweet Somethings. God has been at work in powerful ways in me personally, as well as in my family. When I am going through great change, I find it hard to make sentences come together in a meaningful way. It seems a good step back helps to clear the mind and spirit.

I’m in the process of reading through the Bible, starting at the beginning and ending at the end. I’m not on any particular timeline. People often ask me if I have read the whole Bible, and my response is usually “I probably have, at some time or another, just not all at the same time.” Somehow, that answer does not work for me anymore. Frankly, it shouldn’t work for anyone bearing the name of Christ-follower. There’s no time for picking and choosing which parts of the Bible we know well. It tells a story - an Epic, life altering story. Like any story, it is best read from beginning to end (at least once). Are parts of it uncomfortable? Yes. Are parts of it downright disturbing? Absolutely. But the story is what it is - Timeless, life-changing, and unequivocal in it’s scope and reach. Oh, and it’s 100% true.

So, As part of my online journal, I am going to periodically share a “verse of the day” directly from that day’s reading. This helps me to process what I’m reading as well as hopefully be a blessing to you.

In recent days, I have spent some time reflecting on my life. This reflection was brought on by the revelation that one of my cohorts from my college days is now a diplomat for the US Department of State. I remember sitting with my group of friends, dreaming about what our futures would hold. To me the possibilities were endless - maybe I would travel the world as a missionary, sing to the masses in foreign countries, write dozens of books about my adventures as a trailblazer for God’s Kingdom. My favorite saying was “Seize the day.” I wanted to “suck the marrow out of life.”

When I met my husband to be, I was shocked that I found myself falling in love with such an “ordinary” man (well, except in the looks category;). He was going to school to be a coach and a teacher. That was “all” he wanted to be. No plans to travel the world, to rock the nations. Just to be the best teacher and coach he could be. I remember reasoning that after I was through with him, he would be a very “important” man. He had potential - he just didn’t see it yet.

I fell head over heels for him - not for his powerful personality, but for his sincerity, his passion for God, his honesty, his integrity. I knew he was the man God had planned for me, the unknown face in all the visions of my wedding day. But I still had dreams of what he would become, how he would take me on a grand adventure that suited my vision for the future.

Well, let me say, it has been a grand adventure, but not of the sort I expected. God is so kind not to give us what we want sometimes! Unlike my dream for what Jack would become, God’s vision for us is eternal in its value and ever-wise in its timing. God has taught me more through the everyday business of life than I ever could have learned trotting the globe. He knew (and knows) what my future would hold, that I would need the particular lessons I have learned in order to become what he created me to be.

To anyone who will listen - DO NOT DESPISE THE ORDINARY LIFE! This is where God is! He loves you and knows the future he has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Yesterday’s devotion in My Utmost for His Highest put it this way:

“It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.”

So, when I wipe runny noses or read bedtime stories or wear callouses on my knees from praying for my children - THIS IS THE EXCEPTIONAL LIFE! When I cheer at a football game or pray with a friend or make a meal for my family - THIS IS THE BLESSED LIFE! THANK YOU, LORD! For You measure the value of my life by your perfect will, not by the external and fleeting standards of men. I am blessed and highly favored by a powerful, awe-inspiring King who holds eternity in His hands. What more could I ask for?

With the weather turning cooler and winter just around the corner, I thought I would share another one of my favorite recipes. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law. From the first time I made it, it has been a family favorite. If you need a little “comfort food,” this soup fits the bill perfectly.

RED RIDING HOOD SOUP

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 packages brown gravy mix
4 cups water
1 package dry onion soup mix
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 cups fresh vegetables (carrots, peas, celery, corn)
1/2 cup pearled barley

Instructions:
Brown meat and drain. Add tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, and brown gravy mix. Stir. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes. Serves 8.

I just came back from an awesome, super-charged weekend of fun and spiritual growth. On Friday, I traveled to Midland, Texas to spend a few days with my dear friend D’Lynn. We giggled and sighed and shopped and ate and giggled some more. It was a rare moment for the two of us to be away from our husbands and children for a few days. We thoroughly enjoyed some pure, unadulterated “girl time.”

A friendship based on Jesus Christ is incredible! God designed us to have intimate fellowship with others, but so many never experience a deep, abiding friendship. Thank you, D’Lynn, for staying by my side for ten years now, watching and encouraging my growth as I, too, watch you become all you are meant to be!

To you who tuned in to my appearance on Primetime’s “Light of the Southwest,” thank you! I’m still learning the ins and outs of being in front of a camera, so bear with me. My deepest desire is to glorify God with every breath I breathe, every note I sing. I am grateful for each opportunity to lift up His Holy Name.

I admire Al and Tommie Cooper for their pure devotion to God, and for waving the banner of truth even when it is unpopular. God does bless those who bless Israel, as evidenced by GLC’s massive growth in the last year. I am certain God will continue to pour out his favor on the staff and programmers at GLC.

OK, so I lied! I probably won’t ever get around to telling the story of our summer vacation, but that shouldn’t keep me from writing now, should it? I’ve been waiting until I have the time to think over our whole experience this summer. Maybe I will get around to it - but for now, I’ll start with the present.

Football season is getting ready to start, so that means I will soon transform into “football widow” mode! Jack, me, and the boys are going on a little trip to Palo Duro Canyon to say our final farewells. Jack will re-emerge sometime in October or November, and we’ll catch him up on what he’s missed for the past 4 months! Seriously, though, football season takes alot out of even the most devoted, understanding spouse.

We experience the Old West today and tomorrow - Texas tourist style! Tonight we stay in a rustic cabin in the canyon and catch a performance of the world famous “Texas Legacies” production. Tomorrow morning, we go for the Cowboy Morning breakfast, complete with a mess of cowboy vittles and Western entertainment.

I feel honored to live so close to such incredible beauty, crafted by the hand of God for pure enjoyment. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the U.S., after the Grand Canyon. We’ve been there several times, but now we get to see a sunset there, and sleep underneath the most brilliant night sky. Thank you, Lord, for your awesome creation.

If you want to know more about Palo Duro Canyon, Texas Legacies, and The Cowboy Morning Breakfast, here are some websites to visit.

epictexas.com
palodurocanyon.com

Bye, Ya’ll!