My son asked me about the possibility of a serial killer receiving salvation. He doesn’t believe it is possible for a serial killer to sincerely receive salvation. I smiled and said that is not a question we should even try to answer. It is not a question for me; it is a question for God. For me to try and answer such a question is to assume I have the ability to fully understand and speak for God. I don’t! God’s word says God wants everyone to be saved. The Word does say that it will be as hard as going through the eye of a needle for some to receive salvation, but who is included in that is not for me to know.

The question I must ask is, “Where am I? Am I trying to avoid admitting my own sinfulness but looking at the sins of others? Am I all that I should be? When I compare myself with the goodness of God where do I fall?” When we concentrate on the sins of others and judge we don’t have as much time to look in the mirror. Avoidance feels good for short periods of time, but it doesn’t last. While we avoid our need for daily renewal our problems build. Our anger over last nights fight builds. Our bitterness toward the friend who rejected us cuts deeper. Our pain concerning family divisions burns more. On and on the list goes. We eventually become filled with anger, bitterness, pain… We find ourselves unable to see God because the eye in our needle has grown so small.

When we look at self first through the eyes of God we are also able to see others as God might see them. We learn to love God more because we understand how undeserving we are of God’s love. When we learn to love God more we love each other more. We eventually forget such questions as whether a serial killer deserves salvation. We know no one including ME deserves salvation. But, in spite of what we deserve God’s love is there for everyone who looks for it.

The question is, “Am I looking in the direction of God’s love or am I looking at others?”

I have been reading Don Piper’s book 90 minutes in heaven. I have been overwhelmed with the presence of God. I have cried. I have cringed. I have wanted to stop. I can’t stop. I am amazed at the glory of God presented in this story. A must read for anyone who has lost a loved one. A must read for anyone who is struggling with emotional or physical pain. A must read.

Getting away with my husband is always a great time.  We laugh together.  We argue about driving.  We enjoy the scenery.  We enjoy quiet times.  We build our relationship.  We have been married nearly 31 years but relationships still take time.  I am tired, but filled with peace. 

Someone once said that I am not easily impressed.  I thought of that as I looked at God’s creation as we traveled.  I am not easily impressed by something done by humankind, but I am impressed by God.  God created so many different views in nature.  The smells in nature went from dead skunk (horrible) to blooming honeysuckle (wonderful).  God created so many different views in humanity.  So many colors - very white to very dark.  So many tones, voices.  So many different laughs.  So many ways to show love.  With God I am impressed over and over again.

Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to try and pray.

This was sent to me in a list of things that will help reduce stress. I whole heartedly agree with this statement but it is very difficult to accomplish. I decided to do some research on why we pinch back the buds on flowering plants. This often helps me think through things on a deeper level.

Explore with me…

Pinching is most critical with annual flowers, and the sooner it’s done, the better the results. That’s why garden professionals recommend nipping off the blooms of newly purchased annuals. That’s tough advice for gardeners who want instant color, but it’s advice worth taking.

The plant forms its first flower on its central stem. If that flower is pinched off, the central stem will respond by branching out, and each of those branches will form new flower buds. If those flower buds are also pinched off, the plant will branch again. The result is a bushy plant with scads of flowers.

What do we want our garden to look like????

I bought a new camera and brought it to the office to take a picture of a piece of pottery that was cracked in shipping. Fed Ex needed a picture for insurance. When I downloaded the picture of the pottery look what I found. I think grandpa must have been trying out the camera on the twins. Aren’t they adorable?

I also found pictures I had taken of the new granddaughter, Aby. She is 4 months old and also adorable. We are soooooo blessed. This is to all you parents who have days when you wonder why you had children, I believe that is any normal parent. This is it! Grandchildren are worth every pain my children have caused me.

This morning as I drove to work I was thrilled as I looked out and see autumn colors pop from the hillsides. When did this happen? I have thought the colors of the trees were pretty disappointing until this morning. Did the colors suddenly appear or did my way of looking at the colors change?

This made me think that I possibly drive by something everyday and not really see. I get caught up in driving and don’t really notice the beauty around me.

Do I walk by people and not see the beauty? Do I get an early impression that there is no beauty and never look beyond my first impression? What have I been missing?

I have had an interesting week-end. Encountering a theology from my past and struggling with my anger because of it. I don’t like going back. I like moving forward. But, sometimes we are all forced to deal with the same issues over and over again.

I used to be a part of a name-it and claim-it theological church. You just name it. If you want to rebuke the devil you get up every morning and tell the devil what he cannot do. This statement brought this theology to a halt for me. Is it biblical to talk to the devil? I’ve not seen that in the Bible I read. I think I’m on the WRONG track I needed to put on the brakes and rethink my position/direction.

Isn’t the thought that I can rebuke the devil a way of wanting to say I can control all that happens to me? Isn’t that the same thing Eve was trying to do in the original sin? She wanted to have the same power as God. She wanted to be able to control all circumstances. To become a Christian is to admit that I am not in control. I give all control to God. I admit I am weak and need a power higher than myself. I give my life to God. God is in control.

I focus on God and accept God’s will for my life. I control nothing. I surrender ALL. I have no authority, I accept God’s authority. God fights the battle – the victory is won through Jesus Christ. I stand firm in my faith that God is in control. I don’t try and take that control back; I stand in God’s power. I don’t use God’s power to control my situation I allow God to use God’s power as God sees fit.

I now must let go of my anger at those who are still living in a theology that I have found false. I must pray that God will help their eyes be opened. God was able to open my eyes. God is more than capable of opening the eyes of all. I must focus on God and more forward again. I’m sure I have parts of my theology that still need fine tuning.

Lord, I surrender all means even this must go.

I’m off to the prison this morning. Our team has been battling so many things this time. One member lost her son, heart attack in his 40’s. One member had a daughter lose her probation privileges and be sentenced to serve some jail time, a juvenile. Many have had illness in self and family. Some have had to cancel, but others have joined. I have had problems with a family member.

We have overcome and are preparing for the trip to the prison this morning. The presence of God is always so amazing on these weekends many of us have become addicted to it. We are willing to overcome great obstacles to experience God is such a powerful way. Once you’ve tasted, smelled, felt, seen, heard God’s glory you will be addicted too. It’s worth the battle. I promise you.

My eyes have seen the glory! I’ll share glimpses of the coming glory when I return.

Many of you wonder why I drive 25 miles each way to work. This is it. This is the view from my back door. I am so blessed to be able to sit on my back patio and be reminded of the glory of God.

I could look at this picture and say, Oh My! I really need to rake leaves. I really need to do some work on the bare patches caused by the dry summer. I really need… But, what I really need to do is realize how blessed I truly am to be able to look out at the glory of God’s creation.

It is impossible for me to understand what all I have inherited from my ancestors. I have brown eyes, but I may have a recessive gene for blue eyes that may appear in my children or grandchildren. I am not color blind but my two sons are because I carry a gene passed from my father. The inheritance of genes is such a vast topic we can only scratch the surface.

The inability to fully understand our inheritance should not stop us from searching, knowing as much as possible. It helps me to take better care of my health, because I know I have ancestors with heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. It helped me to know that my father is color blind and that my sons have a high possibility of having that condition as well. The more information the better I’m able to cope with many different areas of life.

I am also unable to understand all I inherit by being a child of God. But, this should not stop me from trying to understand as much as possible. The more I know more I am able to cope with life in general.

In knowing what the HOPE of God’s calling means, I can find greater hope in everyday circumstances. God has called us all to salvation. God wants to have a relationship with every one of us. God wants to reveal light in the midst of a dark world. God hopes salvation for us so that we can have hope. When all else becomes dark, God’s salvation still shines.

In knowing God’s glory we are able to see the brightness of God all around us. God is glorious. God is with us so we are surrounded by glory. When things around us become torturous God’s glory never changes.

In knowing God’s power we are able to find strength in our weakness. It may seem impossible to see good in some things, but through God’s strength we are able. It may be impossible for me to love some people, but through God we can genuinely love. God’s power can make all things possible. The more I understand God’s power, the more I let go of my fear of failure. Because even in failure God is able to make something good happen.

I am a child of the King.

You are a child of the King – what does that mean for you? What have you inherited? I challenge you to search you genealogy.