Let it Dawn on You too . . .

Because I'm single, it's very easy to make impromptu dates with my Heavenly Fiancee and His Father. Recently, they invited me to share a sunrise . . . which revealed to me wonderful new things about the character of my Creator God.

I was driving in peaceful silence a slumbering Akita pup to a Rescue in Colorado. I crossed over the Wyoming line just before a Saturday morning began to dawn.

Abba Father was in no hurry to get our new day underway. It dawned gently . . . (sigh) in soft muted colors and comforting curved lines. I was made acutely aware that God was effortlessly and joyfully painting, as a work of art, the entire horizon fresh and unique for this day . . . just as He pleased.

Light was first allowed only in one portion of the horizon . . . arresting, riveting, drawing the eye. Then, my Creator God p l a y e d with overlays of lovely pastels against sillouettes of stark trees and rooftops. Creator God took absolute delight in leisurely playing with Light.

THEN -- knowing what man named the celestial body that warms and illuminates himself,
THE S U N is ANNOUNCED. Boldly. Dramatically.

And finally, THE SUN is ABLAZE WITH such POWER that I cannot behold it with my own eyes. I could only behold the glory of this New Day He offered to share. with me.

Enjoy the revelations in His Word that come to you through this loving, stunning event.

What's LOVE Got To Do With It!!??

Mary Ann was a mature Christian wife and mother who lived fully and joyfully before the Lord as a prayer warrior. She was a faithful encourager of her local church family and of the larger faith coommunity of Sheridan.
Mary Ann went Home last week so suddently that in some ways, even though we are still putting one foot in front of the other, we are all just struck dumb.

In Mary Anne's Honor, I would like to dedicate a simple thought for the New Year . . .

I don't know where I heard it or read it this week, but this simple idea so captured my heart that I felt it was worth passing on to you for your own contemplation.

Life is a Journey Into Love

Just let that soak into your soul for a few minutes and see where the Holy Spirit takes you . . .

He took me -- just like a Father -- to 1 Corinthians 13, which I'm paraphrasing from a child's version of the Bible:

• Love is so PATIENT. Love is very KIND. Love is COURTEOUS, GENTLE, CONTENT. Love is unselfish, MERCIFUL; slow to be offended, FORGIVING. Love is LOYAL to others, always believing and expecting the best. Of the three things that will remain forever -- faith, hope and love -- the greatest is Love.

If there is truth in this simple idea -- that Life is a Journey into Love -- then MY life is my journey With God into Patience and into Gentleness and into Kindness. Life is my Journey into Mercy and into Forgiveness. Life is my Journey into the lives of others who may be on a drastsically different dead end journey {just as I once was}.

Love is my journey into loyalty. Love is my journey into an automatic attitude that others, with God's Mercy and Power, can and will be redeemed. When I get my arrogant mind around just how impossibly high this bar really is, my humility is instantly restored; and I am once again someone weak and thankful whom God can lead.

So strongly did Abba Father feel about how we approach our Life Journey that He inspired John to write (15:7-15) "Live within my Love. I demand that you love others as much as I love you. And I laid down my life for yours. . . ."

From those whose life was never the same again because Mary Ann laid down hers for them . . . a rousing blast from the Shofar!

Dear Bah Hum Bug ~

When I was young and well into my twenties, I felt almost compelled to know WHY about almost everything. It drove many of my friends and family members quite made. God is never perturbed by this special drive in my character, however; as it appears He installed it. As Lady Gaga would say, "I was born this way."

I get interesting personal insights (little jewels you might say) about WHY God advised and even commanded us to do certain things. Here's one from Philippians 4:8 that might begin to remove some of the depression (Bah Hum Bug) from your holiday. Its tone is so direct that there's no way to get around the command in this passage.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good [decent, respectable, moral, virtuous, noble, worthy, enjoyable, pleasant, agreeable, able, accomplished, capable, competent, helpful, beneficial, sound, reliable, advantageous, useful] and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

I've only embellished the first of the seven (interesting!) things God thought were necessary to fill my mind with. Frankly, if i read the list to my teenage son, he would probably say, "Duh, Mom!" He's young and life is easy. When life gets a little harder, it's no longer automatic for me to discipline my mind to stay out of the places that hold "bad-ness" . . . humiliation, loneliness, failure, fear, regret, sorrow, betrayal. Apparently, God knew that at least one rather rebellious daughter would need an actual order from her Abba Father to "take every thought captive" and to be intentional about focusing them on whatever (or whoever) meets the criteria listed above.

Let me confess, that I've never actually taken much time to be deliberate about this process; but since it was my assignment for the month, I decided to run each one of these out as high as they would take me . . . from lovely to more lovely to loveliest. From worthy to more worthy to most worthy. From reliable to more reliable to most reliable. You get the idea. Then I amplified each word in the list with a common thesaurus (see "good" above and the words bracketed after it) And I did the same for these words as a longer meditation.

I won't spoil the treasure hunt for you. Just try it and see where (or who) is takes you to. I guarantee you will be far from Bah Hum Bug when you arrive.



Thoughts from a Holy Unwed Mother ~

Dear Mary ~
You're in good company as you find yourself reeling from sudden rejection and left stranded to face a momumentally important decision. Consider for a moment your namesake and her bewildered betrothed, Joseph . . .




At the appointed time, Adoni chose toturn the welfare of His one and only beloved son over to the protection and care of an unwed, fourteen year old girl and her fearful and perhaps still suspicious future husband . . .
 
Young Mary knew she faced the frightening penance of stoning to death for her shameful unwed condition. Joseph knew this as well and faced at least ridicule and rejection for remaining faithful to Mary.


What must Joseph and Mary have thought of God's choice for the birth place of their Messiah? Is it merely coincidence that the Word Made Flesh was established in a place of feeding for skittish, bawling sheep? 



What mother's hopes and dreams faded away that Holy Night when Almighty Yahweh, it seemed, was sending forth ~ with not even slightest creature comfort ~ the promised Messiah and King of the World.


Retreat into your own Silent Night, dear Mother-To-Be; and wonder what good this same Wise God is working together through the life He has turned over to you.

With many prayers for a truly Mary's Christmas ~

Having fled for their safety, Joseph's first act as a new father was to receive his helpless babe into rags filthy from days of travel and sweat. Mary, first to warm, comfort, and kiss the face of God, would lay her delicate infant in a manger of dry, prickly hay. Could any young woman have been more pressured to hide or to terminate a pregnancy than a fourteen-year old girl certain to be shunned by her community, family and friends?  Had I been Mary's friend, wouldn't I have shunned and slandered her in light of her ridiculous story?

Dear Heartbroken for the Holidays ~

If you only knew how well I can relate to your heartache. Here is a project that helped me get some closure on a relationship that meant a lot to me this past year -- but one that {I finally had to face} failed to survive even as a friendship or as a big brother-in-Christ. As a wise Christian counselor once said, "If one is willing to be a 10 and one is willing to be a 2, you have a 2.

It's always meant a lot to me to spend some time around Thanksgiving reviewing who has meant the most to me during the past year in my walk with God. Sometimes that means recalling some who have chosen -- sometimes even without explanation -- not to be part of the next year with me.

Since I always end up the year with about a thousand favorite photos, I decided this year to use them to create a very personal memorial calendar, choosing to honor those who have meant so much to me during the joys and sorrows of this year. It's my way of honoring them for another year without obligating them to be in touch with me beyond the end of of this one. 

The Holy Spirit also encouraged me to write some special prose and psalms on one or two of the pages. This project took hours and days to complete; and as I revisited both sweet and sad memories through images, I found it helpful to have plenty of tissue handy. It's just necessary to grieve a loss completely. For me, nothing brings back tender feelings more intensely than photos of special places, special people and special moments shared with a loved one. After plenty of tears and prayers, I come out the other side with a lovely gift of honor and forgiveness; and the Holy Spirit quietly mended those holes in my heart all the while. It was my path to the peace so freely poured out by the Prince of this Holy Season.

Perhaps your God-given gift is quilting or drawing or painting or scrapbooking or sculpting. Use it to create something worthy of the value this person has in your heart. Be glad you had the grace and wisdom to respect and value another child of God. If they had not left such deep footprints, your heart would not still feel stomped on . . . 

God's best for the rest of your year, Dear Sister.

The Spiritual Discipline of Silence

You may remember my struggle with fasting, which I'm mildly pleased to say is jerking along to improvement in the physical realm of food. This month, however, my discipling fellowship study called us to a new fast -- the spiritual discipline of silence. If you knew me at all, you would easily understand the deer in the headlights look in my eyes when I received THIS invitation . . . .

But because I'm committed to finishing this course with Him and with the others in my Sunday morning group that I respect, love and admire, I took that first requested step. "Take a walk with me," the instructions read. "Fifteen minutes. No talking." I wondered what would happen. I wondered if the neighbors would call the police when they heard the crunch of footsteps down the lane at 11:15 at night. I wondered.

And then I was IN wonder. I must admit, the challenge to keep my big mouth shut isn't nearly as daunting in the middle of the night with no one to talk to but God. Keeping my mind still was another story . . . But after a few minutes of focusing on the sounds and stars all around me, I found myself wrapped in and enraptured by the companionship of God as he walked with me down my lane.

We came to our familiar bridge . . . the one where I feel compelled to stop and capture the changes of each season that He invites me to notice. And tonight, the night I chose to walk in silence, He caused me to remember this scene as one special night in November so crisp and clear and calm that even the dogs had nothing to day. Only the chilled creek applauding under the bridge God's choice of path . . . and amused gurgling on the other side.
Only applause.
Only laughter.
From His Own Creation.

Only My Loving Father can take a moment like this, warm my shoulder with his touch, open my heart and my mind, and teach me in a whisper a lesson that brings me to tears. "Kindness, Dear Daughter, and Silence are perhaps important partners for you." And instantly I knew that most of my regrets in relationship were from missing an ideal opportunity to keep my mouth shut.

This is going to make a food fast look like . . . well . . . a piece of cake. sigh.

May you all abound in blessings this Thanksgiving Season ~

http://profile.fanbox.com/Profile/NewCustomProfile.aspx?u=vkjewell2002755904768

Dear Christian Web Dater ~

I've said this in many private responses; so maybe I'll share it more publicly. If I met Mr. New at a local church function and he expressed interest in getting acquainted, I would not require him to start emailing or texting me. Nor would I waste my time or his chatting on the phone.

There is just no legitimate way to represent yourself truthfully to another person except . . .  in person.  I invested for quite a long time in a  long distance relationship by email; and the image I built up in my mind about this very nice Christian man was just nothing like the person I eventually met. That's not his fault. It's just an inherent flaw of internet fellowshipping.

So, in my humble opinion, Single Christian men should be clear in their online profile about how and if they intend to arrange a long distance meet if they express interest in someone more than an hour or two away round trip. Single Christian women need to think about how to arrange for that publicly and safely. If you are online to pursue a serious relationship, things need to move into "real dating" with "real people" . . . real soon.

Dear "God Loves ME?"

Have you ever had such a glorious season of beautiful weather and wonder that you just can't make yourself go inside?
There aren't many "perks" for being employed part-time and being the boss of a business waiting on its first dime; BUT one of them is that I can choose to receive and believe that every golden leaf on every stately tree was painted there for my camera and me.
This year, my heavenly Father and future eternal Husband arranged a four-day "honeymoon" in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Fairmont Princess Resort. There is no way on God's gorgeous planet that I could afford anything like a four-day trip to a four-star, luxury resort. This, therefore, qualifies as a Miracle.
It was mesmerizing to watch God lovingly prepare dozens of little favors through the most unlikely of people at the most tender of times. God, you see, knows that the first day of fall is my favorit-ist season. God also knows I have been "left at the altar" not once but twice on the first day of fall. Jehovah~Shammah, who is also Father to millions of men, women and children daily enduring a fate worse than death, was pleased to come sweep me off of my feet . . .
There is not one fawn in the forrest that catches its breath in awe of its autumn meadow home. There is not a bird above who is moved by the miracle of flight or pines to take pictures of sunset skies, cotton candy clouds, or glory rays reaching out to bless freshly mowed fields of harvested hay.
God was under no obligation at the moment of creation to request rainbows in color or flowers with fragrance. He was under no compulsion to speak forth sparkle or speckled or delicious or profound grandeur.
This very personal prize of time, travel and season is therefore another treasured testimony of how I know that the Great I AM Loves ME.
What woman is not captivated by a lover's sweet bouquet? Who then, if not for me, does El~Shaddai reveal another lavish panorama the moment He brings me to another day?
Begin here, Dear Daughter, and you will never be further than a gaze away from Abba Father's passionate love. For YOU  

Dear Thoughtless ~

What was I thinking!?

That's what I always end up asking myself after yet another crisis of conscience that requires me to re-evaluate and eventually to repent. What is it that trips me up? What moves me to share unkind comments about another when I "know" God abhors gossip?  What brings about another self-absorbed decision to shun others when I "know" God urges me to remain in fellowship? What hardens my heart toward an insulter when I "know" God commands me to re-pay even my enemies with kindness?
This week, I learned something about shepherds that helped me see the largest part of my difficulty. I learned from Pastor Scott {who teaches and preaches in Sheridan, Wy} that shepherds in David's day knew that certain parasites were prone to burrow into the orifices -- the nose, the ears, even the eyes -- of sheep and eventually drive them literally mad. 'Mad Ewe' disease. That has an ironic ring to it . . .
In David's culture, a Good Shepherd would literally drench the head of each and every sheep with olive oil to prevent these persistent parasites from clinging to the wool. Where they could not cling, they could not collect near the vulnerable areas on a sheep's head.
When David was annointed by Samuel to be the next King of God's People, young shepherd David's head was literally drenched with this same olive oil, a frequent symbol in scripture of the Power of the Holy Spirit of God. Samuel's first act and gift for David was to protect his mind.
More than once throughout his perilous life, David pleaded with God not to remove his Holy Spirit from him. When he should have done so, he wandered off into madness that ended in murder. King Saul, you will remember, lost this same annointing of the Holy Spirit and went stark raving mad.
Being a "hands-on" learner, I immediately purchased a small vial of Bio-Oil, which I now apply to my forehead every morning after I re-new my mind with God's living Word. In this way, I hope to re-mind myself of my need for this precious, defensive purpose of the Annointing of God, which is God's gift for every sheepish member of God's family.

Dear Spoken For ~

In this part of God's Country, Abba is speaking to the church about His son's passionate, pure romance with each earthly fiancee for whom He suffered so unspeakably. That may be you. It's definately me.
And what sort of Princess Bride am I you wonder? Well, frankly, if Jesus were to reveal our courtship these past four seasons, it would be fair to say that I daily left Him standing at the altar.
Sadly, remorsefully, I have become aware that I devoted so much time and energy to one magical earthly courtship that I sorely neglected My First True Love. And now that earthly courtship has vanished . . . like a jetstream across a summer sky. There is not so much as a trace of it left, and this leaves me stunned and speechless still.
Who is there to disolve lumps of woe from my throat? Who restores the crushed coronaries of my heart?  Who strengthens me for my weekly work with Heavenly Joy and loans me moment to moment a Holy Tenderness I do not feel to continue to pray for the one who is gone?

Who but my Perfect Prince would desire this fickle fiancee?

Rarely do I endorse a specific item that displays on on my blog store; but I have intentionally placed an image of the book that God used to open my eyes to the truth of how I was handling my desire for a mate. It's humbling to realize that these two young people ~ half my age ~  have twice my wisdom about how to express true faith in this area. I read this little gem in one night and then tucked a note from Mom inside and gave it to my 18 year old son who discovered young women last year. How I pray he has the wisdom to read it, own it, use it. And then I pray he will give it to his older sisters. Beg, borrow, or -- always better -- BUY this for yourself today as a gift. See if you have the faith to surrender this one choice that will mean the whole world of difference for every other meaningful choice across your life line. Dearest Jesus, How I wish I had.

Fasting . . . Exposing True Fellowship

The word of God does indeed taste as sweet as chocolate covered carmel popcorn today. Here's my personalization of some verses he illuminated for me today from John 1 and 2 .

Triune God IS light . . .  illumination. He IS holiness, purity. In Triune God, there is no evil, falseness, darkness, or obscurity.

If I say that I am cultivating a loving relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but I make decisions and speak and act day after day as any other unbeliever, I deceive myself. If I say, "I have no willful disobedience (sin)", I also deceive myself; the truth is not in me. If, on the other hand, I hand over my faults and failures (sins), God is trustworthy and sure to pardon them. If I say that I have not offended God (by offending others?) I make Triune God a liar; and his Eternal Intelligence is not in me.

My precious daughter, these things are written to you so that you will not willfully disobey. When you do, however, you have One -- Jesus Christ --  who comes forward to speak on your behalf when you face judgement from your Heavenly Father. You have One -- Jesus Christ -- who is able to encourage you, who helps you, who pleads on your behalf. Jesus is your Reconciler, your Appeaser, your Everlasting Relationship Restorer . . . and not just yours . . . but every other brother's and sister's in the family of God as well. Therefore, if you say today, "I am holy and pure as God is holy and pure" and yet hurt or harm or hate another Christian brother or sister, you are blinded by your own ignorance.

How do I know that I know this Jesus? If I carry out His orders! If I say I know Him (LORD) and refuse to carry out His orders, I am a traitor. Whoever chooses this day to carry out God's orders is His true soldier and possesses the mature, sacrificial, Agape love of Triune God.

So, precious daughter, cease from indulging yourself in and devoting yourself to the endless desires of the body and and of everything you see in this world. FAST! Surrender your self-righteous and self-serving heart attitudes, your 'braggadocio', your 'claim to fame'. These are all insignificant when exposed to the unimaginable joy of living eternally with the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

Live hand in hand with Jesus, precious child, so that when He comes again He will be proud to call you HIS Jewell, a true servant and a royal daughter of the King of Kings.

Failing Fast at Fasting ~ A Memo to Myself

Oh Dear, Abba ~

How revealing this first fasting attempt has turned out to be! No let me be more transparent . . . It was a disaster.

I 'started over' every day this week, and I still have not managed to surrender myself for a full 24 hours to even this 'baby fast' of one meal a day, with lots of liquids throughout the day. I probably should have defined "liquids" as water only; because I'm apparently quite capable of 'pigging out' on tomato soup.

Maybe starting a fast the week before your birthday . . . or during Rodeo Week . . . or during the summer has special challenges I didn't anticipate. Am I really this calendar driven?

Do we commemorate everything on the calendar with food? I kid you not, I could easily eat 3,000 calories a day in this town just from all the free food offered everywhere by everyone, especially during the summer. Summer in Sheridan, Wyoming is just one long outdoor party interrupted by work and wind. 

And when did I become a NIBBLER? I'm constantly putting something in my mouth, even when I'm not the least big hungry. It's entertainment!

Speaking of which, Dear Readers . . . remember my prayerful vow to my Heavently Father about television? When did THAT become an automatic environmental necessity? Because I work nights and days (one or the other or both) six or seven days a week, I'm not home much. But as soon as I get into my cozy, safe haven, the  FIRST thing I do after I put my purse down is jab the button on my TV. I even sleep with it on! {poorly, He adds}

Is this the value of a 'first fast'? To discover what an unconsciously carnal Christian I've let myself become?

Well, Dear Abba, if revealing all this has some value to You, then do I have a new Book of Revelations to run by You . . .  {sigh}

By the way, Dear Readers, in spite of this total failure, I was totally and magically blessed by the Triune God who imagineered one of the loveliest and fullest early birthdays I've ever had on His planet. And, happily for me, He recruited a lot of humble help from the future Pilot of Universe One.

{God's Extra Best, MTBBF ~ Montana wins . . . again.}

Dear First Faster ~

My Cherished Abba ~ Father God ~

Because you are wise AND perfectly loving, I chose to turn over in trust my entire physical being. I give you cheerful permission to tell me when to sleep and when to rise, even if you choose to interrupt my sleep or require me to rest when I’d rather be watching TV. I give you eager permission to direct the first thought and action of each day.  I give you deliberate permission to direct my diet and exercise each morning, day and evening; so that I have enough energy for the demands and sacrifices of that day. I give you parental permission to tell me to put away any childish things or unhealthy habits, or unhealthy attitudes, including caffeine, sugar, junk food, television, snack foods, soda pop, salty foods, fatty foods and any others I have failed to mention.  I promise to trust that you will provide enough time for whatever you have in mind for the rest of that day. I give you eager permission to direct me to the people you wish for me to serve and to interact with each day as well as those you wish for me to avoid or reduce my interaction with even if you direct me to people I don’t particularly care for and tell me to avoid those that I particularly enjoy. I give you friendly permission to suggest to me your preferences for anything you put at my disposal, including my money, my vehicle, my talents, my home, my resources, and my work. I give you loving, grateful permission to add to this prayer of dedication anything you wish I had included.

Dear First Faster ~

This week, I was challenged myself by your trepidation; so I have decided to take the advice I found in a new study I am doing with 'family members' at my church. The authors proposed that we each write a "Prayer of Dedication" to God in preparation for a fast  (Step 1) and then Determine the "Privation" of the fast . . . that is, determine what it is in which you will de-prive your SELF during your fast. Some deprivations mentioned are (beyond food or meals) television and other "vidiot" time;  sleep or rest (in favor of study and/or exercise). I decided to share my prayer below so that you can see that God actually suggested privations as I wrote the prayer! (hmmmm) Before a single day had past, he had directed someone to me to tell me to add alfalfa (or wheat grass) to my diet, to turn off the television when I'm sleeping (or at least cover the light that it puts out) to start paying attention to how much sweet and salty snack foods I was sliding into my diet, and prompting me to park my car in one location downtown and WALK from place to place during the business day. I also noticed I watched more "health" shows like Dr OZ on TV instead of toxic "junk" shows. And it seems no matter what Christian station I punch in, everyone seems to be discussing a fast! (hmmmmm) So I hope that's encouraging to you as you prepare for this first spiritual blessing and journey with me!

My Prayer of Dedication to You, Abba Father

DEAD END ON DIVORCE DRIVE

Well, dear Golden Years Sister ~ Your terrible temptation has certainly kept my prayer life active this week. As promised, I prayed for you and yours all this week; and God had plenty to say in return. I hope you won't turn a hardened heart to His responses but will come to see that He is "secretly plotting for your good" if you will only lean to His understanding and run from your own.

For the rest of you, please know that my sister is wrestling with the ultimate moral issue of our generation . . . Divorce. The enemy has certainly found a highly successful secret path to sin in the one area our Savior treasures most. How would I know that? Because in His tender Word, He tells me that my earthly marriage is the mirror of His to me -- and a model of His devotion to His church family. How Satan must gloat to God that marital commitment among spouses in His own family is just as dim and marred and broken as that of spouses who are not yet part of His family. How Jesus must grieve to see nearly half of His family torn apart each year one household at a time.

As I was praying for my Sister and her unbelieving spouse of 30 some years this week, pastors on every radio station and through every devotional were speaking directly to the heart of this highly rationalized sin of entitlement, of disobedience, of bitterness and unforgiveness.

Divorce -- the abortion of mature emotional, spiritual, and physical union --  is the Valley of Tears that truly reveals for us and in us everything for which God allows us to endure a trial. It reveals my true love (me). It reveals my true faith (weak). It reveals what I truly believe about the Power of my Commander in Chief and His WORD. (inneffective). It reveals my own spiritual strength (weak and unwilling to exercise). It reveals my true motives (self-ish) and my perspective (temporal). Feel free to add to these from your own testimony . . . These are just mine. These revelations are especially grim when viewed from the mountaintop of our spoiled-rotten American culture, which gives us permission to indulge in all of these carnal attitudes of the heart.

What CAN we do to resist the temptation to leave our lawfully and spiritually wedded spouse, especially if they appear to be at best indifferent to us and to the ministry of marriage. If the battle is won in the mind and in the heart; then we must, dear Christian Sister, give our minds and hearts over whole heartedly to the Holy Spirit of God.

Here, in that humble place, softened by the Love and Mercy of God where we bend our knee and our will, we are reminded to "think on these things . . . " Do you know what they are? Do you know what they aren't? Here we may be asked, "What if this is the only ministry I give you while you are here?" "What if this is the one thing I wanted you to do well for Me?" "What will be your testimony of this trial for others?"

Wherever you find yourself on this painful path today, Dear Sister (and Brother), I promise you there is no rainbow or relief when you reach the end of Divorce Drive. It is the DEAD end of all dead ends. God has paved no blessings into this boulevard. Mercy, forgiveness, and regret may be the best from God that you get.

What's the worse that could happen, dear Sister, if you devote yourself for this lifetime as you promised to someone you already once cared for and whose only heaven may be right here on earth? That you might leave this moment of a life without a lovely romantic memory? Will you really pursue that sentimental mirage only to lose an eternity of, "Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant?"

Dear Recent Graduate ~

Yes it's true that "go out and make your mark" may seem a little trite at the tender age of 17. Perhaps something I heard on the radio will give you a new look at what this expression might mean down the road. (And those of you who are 17 a few times over might want to check this out too!)
A Colorado pastor put forth this stunning challenge on a Christian radio broadcast (CCN) this week.
[For those of you who can tune this in, CNN stands for Calvary Chapel Network and Calvary Chapel is a non-denominational ministry that grew out of the "Jesus Movement" of the 60's when Greg Lowrie and his wife were called to minister to the hippies of California. Pastors from Calvary Chapels all over Rocky Mountain Region prepare messages each and every day to share with those of us who are lucky enough to have a Christian Radio Station that sponsors CNN. This commercial break is long overdue, given the blessing this ministry is to me each and every day of each and every year.]

At any rate, Colorado Pastor Ron (I think) dropped this spiritual bomb:
If you could do your own self portrait in only three brush strokes, what would that image look like?
After a month or two of progressively unethical drama and angst with a certain self-serving "trainer" who was tasked to "help" me with my new business, I can assure you that his image looks like this: $ 
There's no better challenge I can give you, dear graduate, than to ask yourself now, "What do I want my mark to look like 17 years down the road? And then 17 more years further?"
I don't think anyone, even a pagan salesman, deliberately sets out to paint a mark that looks like $
It happens the same way you succeed in boiling a frog alive before it can jump out of the pan. Just turn up the heat (or in this case turning your conscience OFF) one degree at a time.
So go out an Make Your Mark! Make it look like this + with another stroke of your own for joy.
God's Best.

Dear Self ~ Coming to Terms

Well, dear fans, here's what I've learned, both hopeful and discouraging, from my experience with parental passing . . .
One of the main things that comes between siblings and causes "dysfunction" is a total failing of one party or both to understand that each child in a family, no matter how close in age, has their own unique relationship with each of their parents.
In many ways, my brothers and I grew up in "different families"; and some of my brothers who had a much more positive experience have a curious and contentious need for me to disown my own strained relationship as though it was not "real". I'm thinking this might ring true for some of you. The strain can lead to guilt, and denial, and other unnecessary feelings as others pressure you to go back and "rewrite" your personal history so that it matches up to the Norman Rockwell experiences of others.
The sad truth is, my Dad, who was passionate about his work and career, turned out to be a wonderful and memorable mentor for hundreds of other kids and young adults throughout the state of Colorado. One of them, who went on to be a nationally acclaimed public speaker, gave the eulogy at my Dad's funeral; and later at the reception he was quick to admit to me that we -- his real kids -- must have sacrificed a lot in order for my father to have been that involved with others. I am grateful for this man's perceptive realization; and I assured him that this was truer than he will ever know.
Being the only girl in this family of Future Farmers of America, I shared my Dad more than the rest. Two of my brothers were actively involved in his program in high school; and all of them were actively involved in his hands-on, project-oriented parenting program, which generally involved power tools, paint brushes and push brooms. And even though I yearned and aspired to be the "fifth brother", I was generally left on the outside looking in.
My Dad (and Mom) just didn't seem to know what to do with this spirited female misfit; and to make matters worse, I was apparently quite a bit like him . . . Stubborn. Opinionated. Self righteous. Passionate. My Dad, fortunately, was able to use most of these qualities in ways that others found helpful, motivating, and character building. Unfortunately for my Dad and me, these same qualities often just created conflict at the end of a very long day and even longer work week. Thankfully, by the Gentle Power and Correction of the Holy Spirit and by the Merciful Love and Grace of my Heavenly Father, these qualities are slowly but surely being removed and remolded for me into something more useful for ministry. . .
Had my Dad been able to balance his stronger personality traits with humility, gentleness, patience, praise, and affection, he would have had a much different relationship with his only daughter. I'm sure he sees that now; and I'm totally comforted with the knowledge that whatever was not perfect in my father on earth has now been made perfect in his new eternal home with the Savior we both love. In heaven, I will know forever the Dad I always wanted here.
If it's true, Dad, that the Saints in heaven watch over us and pray for those they loved on earth; I hope you can spare a prayer for me today God knows that prayer was the only thing that saw me through . . .
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the dozens of little miracles you wove together during the week of my father's passing and for the sustaining witness those miracles will be in the weeks to come. 

Dear Daughter of Estranged Father

Dear Readers ~ There are so many thoughts and feelings swarming my mind this month that I am completely overwhelmed. It leaves me speechless. That's a miracle. Please bear with me while I sort them out into something worth sharing. My earthly father, who reached out to hundreds in his professional career, went to his eternal home recently. We had a strained relationship to say the least; and it's difficult to know what to share when a parent dies and you are . . . well . . . relieved. Perhaps there's someone out there today who just needs to know that there's another adult child out there who feels deeply sad that they cannot really grieve for a parent who has passed on. When I get that strange truth sorted out properly, I will be back to share something worthwhile. Thank you for your patience and prayers. I am blessed by my friends and true loved ones this month.

Dear Teen in Trouble ~

Let me assure you, little Sister, that I have been through this agonizing situation myself in my twenties and later with my own daughter when she found herself in this terrifying situation in college. How I wish I could tell you that we both found the courage to save the lives of our unplanned children.

Sometimes all we can do to help another is to share our own mistakes and misunderstandings so that another does not fall into the same trap. I've had more than 25 years to ponder my own abortion decision; and I'd like you to have the benefit of my calm and deliberate review:

First and foremost, I made this life-altering decision EMOTIONALLY. But I only really allowed one emotion to prevail in the decision-making process: F E A R 

There's just no way to make a good, long-term decision out of fear.Fear itself will drive you to act selfishly and immediately; and this will automatically pit you AGAINST your own unborn child. You will be set up to view your unborn child as something literally life-threatening; and we are hard-wired for survival, in the wisdom of God, to eliminate or run from life-threatening situations. You will be ever-so-easily convinced that having this child will lead to everything from absolute financial ruin to sealing your fate as an old maid that no man will want to marry.

So it is imperative to find a way to examine this decision more rationally. The easiest way to do this is to seek out one or more women in whom you can confide comfortably. You will probably put more faith in the advice of an older woman who has already been through the situation than you will with someone who can only be sympathetic. There are excellent non-profit organizations in even small communities who can recommend someone to you. It will be very tempting to hide and to isolate, especially if you feel ashamed or guilty. Take your shame and guilt to a trusted Christian Sister and directly to your Heavenly Father, who is always ready to forgive.


Both my daughter and I felt intensely pressured to make a decision about our unborn babies in the first few weeks of our pregnancy. I beg you to avoid this emotional trap. When you are faced with any life-changing decision, it is always wiser in the long run to take the time to gather and process as much information as you can and (because you are a Christian) to pray until you know you have a clear answer from God.

I was completely duped (because I was very naive) by indifferent medical professionals who described the early formation of a human being in cold, sterile language that influenced me to think that I was simply discarding something as insignificant as a "mass of tissue" (like having cyst removed). Get an ultra sound right away and ask as many questions as you need to to fully understand what a newly forming baby feels as well as what features they have. Getting on the Internet is also a good way to take in information rationally rather than emotionally.

It's critical to channel your energy into education. Learn as much as you can -- just as you would with ANY medical procedure -- about the medical procedures and risks to terminate pregnancy and to bring your pregnancy to full term and delivery. Learn as much as you can about the week by week development of your unborn child. Gather information about your options for raising an infant/child after delivery, including supported motherhood, kin (family) fostering, and adoption.

Finally, my dear young Sister, I encourage you to pray about your motives. Had I realized that most of my own decision was made out of pride and an almost automatic sense of entitlement, I would never have made a decision to seek an abortion. The popular attitude that a woman has the "right" to end the life of another simply out of convenience for her own is the same heart attitude that contributes to child abuse, battered women's syndrome, and murder. I know that's a harsh statement; but is there any other way to see it? In the end, you make a conscious, willful choice to end the life of another human being. What circumstances, if any, make that moral and right in God's eyes?

I know this viewpoint is unpopular; and plenty will tell you it is "intolerant". Some will probably feel that this is much too harsh for you to hear at this time; but if you make a decision before you resolve this question, it will haunt you and your relationship with God for the rest of your life.

Before I leave you with much prayer on my heart, dear Sister, I want you to know that I faced this same decision again 20 years later. By the Amazing Grace of God, I was allowed another opportunity to make a better choice; and even though I suffered through the fear and everything I've described above, I made a decision I've never regretted since. And I have a precious, wonderful teenage son to brag about today.

God's best wisdom be yours today, precious Sister; and may you always know that You are forgiven and loved by your eternal Father and His precious Son, who created YOU just for Himself.

What does he spend his time and money on?

Dear Discouraged Single Sister ~ How well I understand. Christian men in this part of God's Country seem to want to meet "church girls" wearing Birkenstocks who can keep up with their high maintenance, toy-based lifestyle and worldly interests.

I'm surrounded by Christian guys even my age who still run 30 miles routinely and train for marathons year round -- not to mention hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing, and snowmobiling. The rest are ranchers.

I'm exhausted just typing the list. And I enjoy an active lifestyle!

Dear Abba . . . Please match my mature sisters to someone who is passionately interested in what YOU are doing and what YOU want US (as part of a WE) to be doing. We promise to live a sensible, healthy, 'fasted lifestyle' and to remain fit and appealing to our Godly future mate.

Please, Dear Abba,  send us a grown up man who likes to read. We'd love to gaze across our morning latté at a man who is lost in a daily devotional.

After a day of labor that honors God, let us come together again to count our blessings or enjoy a prayer walk together. We might even engage in a thoughtful chat about John 4 verse five, six, seven . . . instead of pondering Peyton Manning's pass completion statistics . . .  

Later, as we ask a blessing over a light early dinner with sweet'n'low instrumental music playing in the background . . . .

Well, I for one have quite possibly checked out and gone to heaven.

So please, Abba, could you arrange for some of my days to turn out like that with a confident, humorous, faithful man who would also enjoy some days like that?

In the Name of my Faithful Savior ~

{And some of God's Helpmates To Be said . . . .}

Dear "Who'd Want to Go To Heaven Anyway" ~

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doc, I'm afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the Doctor said, "I don't really know."

"You don't know!?" the patient exclaimed. "You're a Christian man; and you don't know what's on the other side?"

Doc crossed the room and gently held the handle of the door. On the other side came a scratching sound and then whining. The moment Doc opened the door, a beautiful retriever burst into the room, leaped toward him dancing on his hind legs, and did his dog-gone best to lick the Doctor's face.

Turning to his patient, Doc asked, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He had no idea what would be inside. But he did know his Master was on the other side of the door."

Stroking the retriever who now lay at his feet, the Doctor added, "I know little of what is on the other side of death. I only know my Master is there. And that is enough."