This is the Christmas tree that is up in my home. I am very excited to have a tree this year...it has been many years since I put one up. I like the lights and the tinsel : ) Yep I am one of those that think the sparkle of tinsel is necessary. The tree is sparkling for me right now! One of the Christmas parties I attended last week reminded me that sparkle is pretty important to Jesus. He is the Light of the World...much more than just a little Christmas tree sparkle...but The Light of the World. Without Him we would be in darkness. He wants us to be lights too...we are the ones who sparkle. We are to let our light shine...the Light of Jesus to shine through us to others. The neat thing about this Light...it shines whether we are aware of it or not. Shine on Jesus...the celebration of your birthday is coming : ) "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they will see you good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Jesus...change my heart

"It is the cry of my heart to follow, it is the cry of my to heart to be close to you, it is the cry of my heart to follow all of the days of my life" Terry Butler

This has been one of my favorite songs for a decade now...and I was once again reminded of it as I sat down at the piano to play and worship. It has been way to long since I have been able to pound out my praise to Jesus. My heart starting singing this song...my desire to follow Jesus all the days of my life. I didn't have the music, but my fingers remembered most of the song. : )

I was reminded that this is the cry of my heart...to want to follow Jesus...but practically, moment by moment this is not always the song on my lips. I regularly have duelling emotions going on in my heart and I can't change those emotions by trying harder.

I can't change my heart...I can't alter my affections...only Jesus can.

"How does change of the heart occur? We increasingly have interactive, face-to-face encounters with God: moments of clarity ..., and moments of comfort and encouragement. In these moments we connect with God and learn to live a lifetime of such moments." Jan Johnson I was encouraged by this quote to seek to have some face-to-face time with Jesus last night. It wasn't profound...but it was real. The result of my time with Jesus won't change the world, but it did change me. I was comforted by the God of the Universe. Pretty amazing that He would want to spend time with me. Spend a little time with Jesus!

Labor and Rest

Today was a day to rest from our labors...not that I labor physically like those the holiday was created for...but none the less a day of rest. We know that physical rest is important, our bodies need it in order to survive but also to thrive. How many days of poor sleep does it take before we begin to struggle? It only takes a few and we begin to see things in a negative light. The tasks before us seem harder and our ability to cope is compromised. We also know that spiritual rest is important. We need to rest in a power greater than our own or we will not survive. We don't often take the time to think about spiritual rest let alone practice it. Spiritual rest goes beyond physical rest...although it does give our bodies and minds a rest...to the very core of who we are. Spiritual rest is the act of taking off the old...our flesh...and putting on the new...Jesus Christ. He is our spiritual rest. We have no spiritual rest without Him. We rest in Him when we give him the burdens of our hearts, minds and life. We rest in Him as we acknowledge our dependence on Him and trust Him instead of ourselves. We rest in Him when we give Him our agenda's to replace with His own. How long can we go without this spiritual rest...before our ability to live is compromised? With our physical rest it takes only a few days...but our spiritual tank is harder to see and harder to evaluate. The truth is... Jesus did not design us to go even a moment without Him...His spiritual rest. We need Him moment by moment to refresh us with Himself. I know many who have gone their whole christian life without this rest...I know others who have tasted of this rest again and again but for some reason a circumstance (new or old) has them putting on the old and shrugging off Jesus Christ, trusting their own limited resources instead of His limitless supply. Did you labor today or rest? Was your old self in control or did you submit to Jesus? He is not a taskmaster keeping us performing and working for Him...He is a loving all powerful savior who promises to give us rest as we come to Him. Seek Him today for His rest...don't waste another moment!

Following Jesus

I was encouraged and challenged last night. I was listening to a pod cast of Charles Stanley...about following Jesus. His statements were simple, and yet profound. Not all believers are followers of Jesus..they are saved, no doubt about that...but they aren't automatically followers of Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus...you need to put aside your own desires and seek His...you need to leave behind the pursuit of the American dream to pursue Him...you need to die to your self in order to live for Him. (just to sum up ; ) I want to continue to be a follower of Jesus...not just when it is easy or convenient...but always.

Cambodia...

Every once and a while a place and it's people grab your attention. Few and far between are the times when a place and it's people grabs your heart.

This past February a small group of women in a little village in Cambodia did just that, they grabbed my heart. I didn't offer it...didn't withhold it either. But with a few simple words spoken through a translator a big part of my heart was lost.

I had asked the women if they would share some prayer requests with me. What were some of their needs. Along with their need for more food for their families, they also asked me to come again and teach them from the Word. Not just to come from time to time, but to "come" to teach them.

They got a part of my heart that day...they don't know it...but they have it regardless.

What is the Lord doing in your life? Where is He asking you to give your heart? What is the next step after your heart is pulled?

David Livingstone said..."Sympathy is not substitute for action."

God is active in our world, is He calling you to expand your action?

I am in Awe!

Sometimes the Lord amazes me more than other times. I don't think that is because He changes but because my focus does. When I take time to focus on Him and Him alone...I stand in Awe! Today what amazed me was pretty simple, mundane some might say. : ) It was the smell of lilacs. It wasn't so much the smell...although I do love it...it was that when the smell wafted towards me, I was reminded that the Lord loves me! Lilacs were one of my mom's favorite flowers, and every time I smell them I am reminded of her and I smile on the inside and I hurt a little too. I am reminded of the kind of love that you don't want to take for granted. I am reminded to celebrate the little things and the big things. I am reminded that our time on earth is short...to make the most of our time and relationships. What made me stand in awe today...was that I had the sweet smell of lilacs and the sweeter reminder of my mom...right before Mother's Day! Thank you Jesus for putting those lilacs in my path today!

Thailand and Cambodia

I had the amazing privilege of witnessing a miracle. This little girl was transformed in less than 24 hours. Houng lives in Cambodia, in a cleared minefield...a literal minefield. This minefield is a hazardous remnant of the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule of Cambodia. When Houng was 6 she barely survived an explosion...she found a unexploded bomb that exploded in her hand. More recently she was burned on her legs...no medical treatment for 10 days...and the medical treatment that came pales in comparison to what she would have received in the states. I got to visit Houng in her little hut about 3 weeks after she was burned. The poor thing was in much pain and couldn't walk..her legs were healing but the scar tissue was not allowing her to fully extend her legs. We couldn't coax a smile out of her. So my friend prayed...we felt hopeless. The next day on our visit...her dad exclaimed..."After you prayed, she walked". The Lord healed this little girl...the end of the visit resulted in the beautiful smile you see above. As of last week...6 weeks after her burn...she was jumping and playing. We have an Amazing God.