Another World

Oh how I wish I were here.

I need only to close my eyes and I am able to smell the salty sea air and feel the Caribbean breeze blow through my hair. Oh, if only it were so for escape from this snowy day.

One of my favorite things to do in Jamaica is snorkel. It is an extraordinary experience. Looking out over the turquoise sea and enjoying its beauty from land is a feast for the eyes, but being immersed in the weightless wonder of its waters brings about an other-worldly adventure. The sea's mesmerizing surface ripple is little preparation for the shock of color that teems below. The moment you dip your mask into the water you are absorbed into a parallel world. Clown. Damsel. Squirrelfish. Spotted Eel. Yellow and Blue Tang. All these species form a swim parade in vivid technicolor.

I can do my best to describe the thrill of snorkeling, but until you experience it for yourself, you can never truly understand it. Until you've immersed yourself in another world, you can never fully comprehend the adventure. The sea is there, awaiting your arrival.

And so it is with God's word. The Living Word. The living, breathing world of God..

When you dive into The Word - God's Word - you will find yourself immersed in another world. A world where the words you read become real. God's story is your story. This book is about you. As you turn page after page, you feel as though the author is in your head, writing your thoughts. Answering your questions. This book - The Bible - is a book filled, not with perfect people, but with imperfect people. People just like you. People just like me. It's an extraordinary experience. One that can be lived every day.

I can do my best to describe the thrill of God's Word, but until you experience it for yourself, you can never truly understand it. Until you've immersed yourself in His world, you can never fully comprehend the adventure. The Word is there, awaiting your arrival.

Will you take the plunge? Or will you stay on dry land?

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." I Peter 1:23

Who's Your Valentine?

Be Mine.

I'm Yours.

XXOO.

Love. 

Yours Always. 

My Sweetheart.




Yep. It's Valentine's Day. A day to express your love to the love of your life. Maybe it's a day to take a risk and ask someone to be yours for the first time. Valentine's Day is a day for sharing candy, giving gifts, delivering flowers and dining out. A day of love, love, love. 

Today, I'm changing it up. I'm not giving candy. I'm not sending flowers. And I'm not making a homemade card, What am I doing? I'm giving my heart and soul. I'm expressing my love to the person who is supposed to be my first love. I'm renewing my vows to the person who is there for me every day of my life; the person who knows me inside and out.

Today, I'm saying, "Jesus, I love you." 

"Be Mine." 

"I'm Yours."

That's it. Simply said. Wholeheartedly believed.

"Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." Ephesians 6:24

"...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands." I John 5:1-3

Where's the ugly?

We live on a gravel road. Unfortunately, this winter's mood swings have taken a huge toll on our road. Prior to the latest snowfall, our road was downright disgusting. Our drive was an obstacle course of potholes, muddy puddles and rutted tire tracks. Even the bare, leafless trees looked lifeless and lonely. Everything beautiful about our twenty acre neighborhood was overshadowed by the slice of ugliness that cut through it.

Then came last week's snow. Snow flakes the size of silver dollars covered the ugliness in a matter of hours. Mud and dirt disappeared under the cover of clean and pure. Stark, naked trees were clothed in glistening garments of white. The grime was erased and replaced with a blanket of beauty. What a wonderful transformation!




This picture of ugliness and beauty reminds me of my spiritual life. The grime and grit of my sin overshadows the beauty in my life. But God doesn't want me to be dirty. In fact, if I recognize my filth and ask to be cleaned, Jesus erases my grime with his sacrifice and clothes me in garments of righteousness. He makes me right again!

Thanks be to God for his faithfulness because boy do I get dirty a lot!

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit there is no deceit...Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:1-2, 5

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10

A New Creation

I'm a crafter. I like to make things. I thrive on using my old junk and craft leftovers to make "stuff." My poor coworkers are often the recipients of my creations. They receive an annual Christmas ornament as well as an occasional seasonal trinket or two. Items range from popsicle stick snowmen to terra cotta pots to framed poems to bunny jars. Eclectic? Possibly. Unique? You bet. Handcrafted with love? Absolutely!

There are two sides to my love affair with crafting. First comes the thrill of creating. Finding the right way to fit things together brings a simple joy to my heart. For me, each finished piece is a masterpiece in its own way. On the flip side comes the pleasure I receive when someone genuinely appreciates one of my creations.

Working meticulously with my crafts gives me the tiniest glimpse into the heart of my Creator. Psalm 139:13 tells us that, "...you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." This verse reminds me that God is a hands-on God. You and I are God's handiwork. He is intimately involved in crafting his ultimate creations, down to the number of hairs on our heads! His priceless works are handcrafted with love. That means I am God's masterpiece! You are God's masterpiece.

In the gallery of life, we are God's art displayed on the walls of the world. Will your beauty reflect the work of your Creator?

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." Psalm 147:11

Make a Moment Monday

I have a hokey idea. A really simple idea. It's a challenge for you and your friends. Think about this: what if we could pick a day to warm our world?  A day for you to bring delight to just one person's heart? I'm calling it "Make a Moment Monday." Yep. That's it. A moment. An intentional moment of kindness.

Read on if you're intrigued. The challenge is simple, quick and easy. If you accept, this is what you need to do on Monday:

Open your eyes. Yep, focus on someone other than yourself. Look around.

Find a target. The busy mother with children in tow. The elderly widower. The student sitting alone at the lunch table.

Act. Load the groceries into the busy mother's car or simply offer to push her cart back to the parking lot corral. Say, "hello," to the elderly widower. Take a seat next to the lonely student.

Have fun. Be creative. Be friendly. Most importantly, be genuine. All it takes is a moment.

One person can make a difference. A group of "ones" can make an impact. An army of "ones' can make a movement. Join the movement. Spread the word. Let's "Make a Moment Monday!"