March 24, 2014 - "I'm Available"

Good morning and welcome to a new week. I am grateful we are now officially into the spring season - PRAISE God. I look forward to having those evening of grilling and eating on the deck before the flies and mosquitos realize my BBQ season has begun. Hopefully the bitter cold sent a few of those guys to heaven early. (wink) Don't forget LIfe Group on April 6th. Hope you can come! Easter-related foods and Freedom Connection lesson #4. All are welcome. Let's continue to encourage each other to be healthy and walk in freedom regardless of the fight. Amen? Reading this morning in 1 Samuel 3 a very familiar story, but a new truth jumped out at me. You know the story of Eli's wicked sons who had no regard for the Lord. They were totally disobedient and God was no longer going to tolerate them. Chapter 3 begins with "the boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli." This reminds us that we can be young in the Lord and be used mightily if we are open and available. Eli slept in the usual spot - common and predictable. However, Samuel slept in the temple where the Ark of the covenant was. This symbolized the presence of God. That really jumped out at me this morning. Samuel ministered during the day in the Temple and then chose to sleep in the Temple too. "I'm available day or night," says the young Samuel. Also, when God called to Samuel in the night, the boy assumed Eli needed him and he RAN to answer the call even though all were sleeping. Again, this jumped out at me that the young Samuel was running to the priest and didn't display an attitude and ask, "couldn't this wait until morning? I'm off the clock!" His willingness and attitude of obedience really spoke to me again today. Finally, when Eli connected Samuel to the Lord, the boy repeated EXACTLY what Eli instructed him to say. There is something about pure obedience that motivates God to speak to us and trust us with valuable information of things to come. In fact the Bible records that the Lord actually came and stood in Samuel's presence. WOW! And the Lord's response: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle." After their conversation, Samuel laid down near the Ark again and waited until morning to open the doors and disclose the events that comprised his night. Can you imagine having God visit and share so tangibly in the night? Fabulous. Let's be honest, God does visit and share each day as we read His Word and speak with Him. Jesus' death tore the wall of separation and gave us access to our Father, God, as often as we choose. That's so cool to me! I pray you see something about instant obedience this morning in this story. I did. Let's chat again tomorrow? PK

March 21, 2014 - "The Song of the Bird"

I love waking up to the sunshine and cool temps. For a while, I was wondering if I lived in the NW with the cloudy skies? Remember, Life Group is April 6th at 6PM at my house. Let me know if you're planning to attend so I can plan accordingly. Yesterday as I left for work, I must confess I had a heavy heart. While unlocking the car my attention was diverted for a few seconds and I listened as the spring birds were singing so effortlessly. I tried to remember if I ever hear them sing during the winter, but I am not certain I do. However yesterday, the Lord specifically brought me to their song. I was reminded that intrinsically they are created to be totally dependent on the Lord for their provisions. Yes, they search for food and build nests, but they don't toil as we toil. Toiling is defined as working extremely hard or incessantly - exhausting physical labor. Now before we all jump up and declare, "none of us are supposed to toil," I get that. But let's be honest, we are human and at times we toil. Part of that toiling comes to us through Adam's disobedience, doesn't it? And yes, we have been redeemed from the curse of toiling, but sometimes we may find ourselves wandering into a place where we are functioning beyond our rest that God promises. Maybe that's just me? As I woke up to their songs again this morning, the Spirit of the Lord reminded me of a few verses that I'd like to share and a picture. Perhaps this will help some of you add some balance in a busy and overwhelming season of life. :) Matthew 6:25-27 Do Not Worry 25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?… Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Psalm 104:27-28 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Look again at Luke. How much more valuable to the Lord are each of us? Life has its issues, but one of my pastors taught me to assign each issue a number and make them line up during the day. Check them off one by one. Sometimes we need to be reminded that those things we do each day do not define us and they are not allowed to drain our virtue. This morning I saw a picture of a one of those game boards where a head pops out and a mallet is used to smash it back into its hole. Let's do that to those things popping up that are trying to cause to toil or worry. The song of the birds reminded me that they toil for nothing. I choose to sing like a bird - how about you? Have a great one! PK

March 20, 2014 - "Removing the Leaves"

What a beautiful day is in store for us all. It's days like these where I wish the world would stop...momentarily. Do you ever feel like that? The warm sun, the expressive birds singing their spring songs, and the color of green reminds me that new life is abundantly pushing forward. After a long, cold winter I long to rake the yard in my shorts and flip flops. Just typing that means I've had a mental breakdown. (wink) I really don't rake the leaves I blow them, but that sounded great and I wanted to get an "amen" from the other leaf blowers. However, I am so ready to work in the yard, get out of the house, and listen to the waterfall as I drink my morning coffee in the swing. Bring it on! As I am planning and strategizing concerning the yard, I am reminded that leaves are everywhere - unless you have no trees - and burning so many is dangerous with all the trees in my yard. Honestly, we always have to form a plan and every year I dread the entire event. I know the leaves have to be removed so that the emerging flowers can get the warmth and space they need, so I do my part to give them a chance but it is a chore. I am reminded, though, that the dead leaves needing to be removed is in sync with those things in our lives that we purpose to conqueror and bring down that can really become clutter if we do not completely remove them. There's a difference in pushing something to the edge of the yard and removing it. PREACH! The Bible speaks of the little foxes that spoil the vine and I think of how one, small leaf is not an issue even if hidden in the yard. However, if I allow those leaves to accumulate they can soon become an issue, can't they? Once my yard is blown clean, bagged and removed, I immediately get the sticks up, re-soil and re-plant, mulch and seed the grass. I take ownership of where the dead leaf was and bring forth life. This is a biblical process that we see in the natural realm in which we live. In my on life, I am constantly evaluating issues in my heart to determine what needs to be pulled down and removed. Once removed, I MUST fill that space with the goodness of God and allow the fruits of the Spirit to grow in its place. I must be careful to not allow that dead issue, a winter leaf, to remain and grab others in its journey. It must come down, be removed, and be destroyed. Then, new life comes to those areas of my heart and life and I enjoy the victorious living that Jesus died to secure. I liken that to sitting in my swing, drinking my coffee, reading my Bible, and meditating on all the wonderful things God has done in my life. Gotta stay on those leaves. Do you have any in your "yard" that need to be removed and burned? Ask the Holy Spirit where the small things are in your life that need some attention. Then, smile as you address them knowing that God plans good things for His children. As we approach Easter, this is a great time to get some things from our yard to the cross. That's my plan. Have a great day! PK

March 19, 2014 - "God's Tower"

Good morning to all and happy Wednesday. Just a reminder that LIfe Group occurs April 6th. Please mark that on your calendar. We will share our Easter Meal ideas. YUM! Today's word will be short, as I have been reading longer than usual. I want us to read 2 Samuel 22:33 together this morning: David's Song of Deliverance …32"For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God?33"God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way. 34"He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me on my high places.… In this passage David is praising God who has delivered him, AGAIN, and has proven AGAIN that He, God, is faithful. I want to remind you that God's deliverance is not a one time event in the life of His children. Who you do that to your children? I doubt it. I think it's cool that David asks if there is anyone like the LORD - all caps to signify the reverence of God's name - and who is a rock - personification - besides our God. If you take the reverence the Jewish people placed on Yahweh and couple that with a strong rock, you can build a strong fortress upon which we can climb, see far, and stand, which is exactly what God does over and over and over. He builds the fortress and we come inside. YES! None of us can compare with the tower of strength our God offers. Read 33 again, "He sets the blameless in His way." That reminds me we are blameless because of God and even the path is His. God gives us stable back feet like the mountain climbing animals to maneuver to heights we could never imagine. It's a God thing - not a me thing. Today, let's offer a song of praise as we remind our circumstances that our God is strong, mighty, a fortress that we trust and He will give us the strength and agility to climb to places we could never reach in order to see clearly, be secure, and follow in God's ways. Praise Him! PK

March 18, 2014 - "Beating the Air"

I had my daughter, grand daughters and grand puppy over for dinner tonight and as most of you know, I love creating new recipes and playing with food. Today, Teree asked if I would make fish and as I am currently really cutting down on my fat levels, I made some Tilapia in a skillet and it was SOOOO yummy. I'd love to share a non-fat, fish recipe that my grand daughters really loved and there was none left at the end of dinner. It's easy and really tasty. I sprayed a skillet with Pam and put it on 6 (medium), laid my Tilapia fillets down and seasoned with Old Bay seasoning and DILL WEED. (Yes, that was the hit. It was a risk, but it worked) Then I continued to "grill" the fillets until the seasonings made a some-what crust. This means I kept the heat on medium and turned every couple of minutes. Tilapia doesn't take long to cook and there is a balance between "crusting" and drying the fillet. So, be careful. I was honestly hoping the girls wouldn't like it as I was really hungry, but isn't it great when the kids will eat fish that's not fried? :) Let me know if you try it. I would love some feedback. So, as we have coffee this morning let's break down 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. The Need for Self-Discipline 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. As I began reading this verse, I could really tap into the Apostle Paul's encouragement - "don't simply get your shoes on and take to the track - if you're gonna do the stuff, run the race to win." (paraphrased of course) I LOVE this! I grew up in a sports family and hours weekly were dedicated to perfecting the sport but not simply as something to pass the time, but to compete to win. I know there's a balance but we were taught to play hard to win - leave nothing on the table - but at the end of the game, regardless, shake hands and know you did your best. I am still wired this way whether choosing foods for my daily health race or making plans to deepen my relational race, I still run each day to win. However, the main focus of the passage is about running the eternal race and securing the prize that lasts forever. There is a plan and a course (a track if you will) that God established and each of us is on the track. Paul is reminding us to make the race count while we're here because the prize for winning is something that lasts for eternity. Winning the eternal race has everything to do with acceptance and obedience. Will we follow God's instructions as he coaches us through our race and obey His commands with integrity? Will we surrender our own plan to His plans daily, deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him? I, like the Apostle Paul, don't want to live my life and run the race aimlessly. Can you imagine the frustration of a boxer simply beating the air? I would hate that! Let me read God's Word and allow the Coach of Heaven to shape and reshape my life; let me discipline myself to stay the course when "life" has another plan; and let me remain focused - eyes forward - to the prize set before me, which is the Hope of Heaven. Run well today friends and let's have coffee again tomorrow. PK

March 17, 2014 - Bath Time

Good morning and happy St Patrick's Day. I don't think I have much Irish in my blood, but I always love another opportunity for a celebration. :) It's the start of another new week and I don't know about you, but I am still trying to work through the time change. i cannot seem to get to bed before 11:30 (as 10:30 was my previous bedtime) BUT I cannot seem to get up easily as 6am is really 5am. Oh well, by next week I should be able to get this together. I am declaring this is a great week because God is a great God and has plans to do good by me and not harm me. (Isaiah 29:11) How about you? Let's make our lives come in alignment with what God declares about each of us. I know that is critical in our journey. God is able and God is for us! Amen? This morning I want to speak to something that the Lord brought so clearly back to my mind the other day. As I have been running wide open, I found that I was only able to grab a quick shower daily. However, Friday morning I had a window of free time and I was able to really do the routine again: soak with epsom salt, use my oatmeal soap and enjoy the scrubbing. You know, back to the basics. As I was drying, I felt as though a burden was lifted from me. There was a "freeness" in my attitude. As crazy as that seems, I remember my mother always saying, "if the baby is fussy, a nice warm bath will always make them smile." This has been a crazy period for me recently and a nice, long bath really did make me smile. Here's what I felt the Lord showed me: we acquire dirt from our activities daily that require a bath and scrubbing. Getting that yucky stuff off our skin and away from our toes really gives a lift to our spirit. The Lord reminded me that daily we gather "dirt" in the form of life-issues as well (spiritually) and if these are not cleaned up, they can weigh us down just as the natural dirt does. Think about working outside and getting sweaty and extremely dirty. After a shower and a loofa pad, EVERYBODY feels better! Just that one thing adds a lift. After a day of working through life, we need a time of spiritual scrubbing as well - a time each night to "get that dirt where it belongs." (I am a night bath person) Anyway, if you are feeling a bit sluggish spiritually this morning, spend a few minutes in worship and prayer. Spend some time reading God's Word and declaring His truth over your day. Spend some time asking God to wash you "white as snow." (Isaiah 1:18) I promise that long, warm bath was an infusion to my day on Friday (especially the chamomile epsom salt) and I KNOW that "clean-up" time with the Lord is more life-giving that any natural bath. Looking forward to a great week knowing that I can go to the Father hour by hour if needed for another time of cleansing and refreshing. PRAISE GOD! Let's have coffee again tomorrow, PK