Let the force awaken!

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is driving around and looking at the wonderful lights decorating homes in our area.  Even though we have no snow this year (it was over 50 degrees today), the lights just seem so wonderful.  This was my favorite from our drive last night.  The best part of all the Christmas lights is the LIGHT!  The darkness of this darkest time of the year is dispelled by all of those extra lights.  Which brings me to my actual thought for today.....

Okay... I am a Star Wars fan.  There, I said it.  You might have guessed what the topic of this blog was going to be just from the title.  Yes, Ken and I went and saw the newest addition to the Star Wars movies last Friday evening.  The basic "theme" of Star Wars is the force - the light - verses the dark side.  Doesn't that sound familiar?  Good verses evil.

You can appreciate the light when it shines in darkness.  And that leads me to the thought that has been going over and over in my mind and spirit since Friday night.  LET THE FORCE AWAKEN!  We can all agree that the world seems to be getting darker and darker with each passing day.  It is time for all of us "children of God" to wake up and shine like stars!  We are THE force....the Holy Spirit living is us is the power we have to reveal the light of Jesus to the world.  We just need to wake up and SHINE!  Many would say that the church has been asleep in the last several decades.  The darkness has just been growing and the light has been getting dimmer and dimmer.  But the good news is that the battle between the light and the dark has been fought and won!  Jesus finished the battle on the cross.  THE light - Jesus - defeated the darkness and brought all who believe into the light eternally.  Our task right now is to shake ourselves out of the greyness and be the light.  The power of the Holy Spirit is so much more than the "force" in the Star Wars movies.  The Holy Spirit is the power that raised Jesus from the grave.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit that acted to create the world, after the Word was spoken.  That is some POWER!  And for those who believe in Jesus, that very same powerful Holy Spirit, lives within you.  So nudge yourself awake and SHINE!  Our dark world needs everyone of us to be the stars of this life.  We can each make our corner of the world brighter.  Just think of it like decorating with Christmas lights.  Let the love of Jesus shine through a big smile on your face.  Give a warm hug to someone who most needs it.  Send some light out into the darkness by sharing the bounty of your life with those who have great need.  Give of your time, your talent, your money or your things.  Today there is a simple way to make a big difference The Compassion Collective.  Take a moment, click on that link and see how a few regular people are shining a BIG light into the dark world.  Be a part of this wonderful bright, amazing love pouring out to the world.  Yes, let the force of the Holy Spirit awaken in all of us.  

Jesus, I love it when you use something like the current "big" movie to remind me of what is so important.  Holy Spirit, give us all that wake up call to let your light shine through us.  Give us creative ways to bring light into the darkness of our world.  Thank you for Christmas and this season to focus on the greatest gift....your birth.  Bless all those who are a part of The Compassion Collective. Amen

Staying in the LIGHT of the SON!

This is sweet Lucas, who looks like he is waving hello!  He is also "catching some rays" - that is laying on a "Bili Blanket"!  This is an amazing newer invention (which has been around for at least 8 years since Lia had one of these) that allows you to be at home with your baby that needs photo therapy for an elevated Bilirubin level that causes jaundice in newborns.

And here is Doug (daddy of Lucas) also catching some rays.....in an incubator in the NICU.  Yes, this was 32 years ago and things were a bit different then.  When I took the picture of Lucas this morning, Doug and I were just laughing at his pose.  We have a "professional" picture of Doug in that exact pose!  It was his official hospital picture (which they do not even do any more).  And it was taken on the day that he finally went home from the hospital.  So he was NOT newborn, but several weeks old.  And we always laughed at that picture, wondering why the photographer left his arm like that.  Well, just try and get little Lucas to put his arm down!  As quickly as we moved it down, he put it right back up like that. Isn't it interesting how many different little things we actually inherit from our parents?  Apparently this is a very comfortable position!

Yes, Lucas has jaundice.  All of my children and grandchildren have had this.  It is not that uncommon.  But it is still no fun, when you are the mommy and daddy (or grandma).  You worry about your little one.  And the bad news is that this jaundice makes these babies sleepy and the lights just add to that.  So they don't want to eat very well.  So life with these newborns can be very challenging.  Doug and Susie are doing well with this.  As did Gwen and Tim.  It is so amazing to see your children really "all grown up" as parents themselves.

I stopped over to visit Lucas (and Doug and Susie) this morning after my Women's small group.  I had asked my friends to pray for Lucas (and his mommy and daddy) for this jaundice issue.  It was so good to get a report later today, that his level had actually dropped slightly, and most importantly had not gone UP!  As they were praying I kept thinking about his name - Lucas.   Lucas means illumination or light!  Yes, he is a child of THE light! I love that today, as he is getting some extra light from that blanket, he was also getting covered by the light of Jesus through those prayers.  Jesus is THE light and I know that Jesus will take care of that Jaundice.   Just as Jesus is taking care of Lucas.  There is nothing better to a Grandma than knowing that Jesus is in charge!

Once again, I just need to add that there is really something amazing about gathering together with a small group of people to just worship and pray.  In just a short time, my little group has seen some amazing answers to prayers.  There have been jobs found, healings, other "suddenlys" that have surprised us all.  We have been able to encourage and support one another through some very difficult situations.  There have been weddings, births, sickness and even deaths, but in it all, Jesus has been there. I can't think of anything that is more important to me than this group of people.

So my encouragement to you today, is to find your group if you do not have one now!  It is so worth the time commitment to join this kind of a group.   I will be praying for each person reading this blog to find a place (or start a group yourself!),   You will be blessed!

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you are taking care of Lucas.   Thank you for my friends who stand with me in difficult situations and celebrate with me in joyful times.   Holy Spirit, help us all to draw closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that we can be built up and support each other.   Thank you for my children and grandchildren.   Jesus, you are the Light of the World!  Thank you for your light!   Amen

The importance of a clear path........and knowing the path maker!

Today I have been thinking about paths..... First thing today, it was snowing when I got to work.  I had to navigate a snowy, icy path through the parking lot to get in the door.  I was thinking how good it would be to have a clear path to walk on. Instead I was jumping from foot print to foot print to try to keep my shoes dry.  Then early in the day, I was trying to get 14 somewhat uncooperative three year olds to walk in a line from one room to another.  This required walking through the open room (which was set up for a gymnastic class) and had lots of distractions.  Needless to say, it was not a clear path.  It took more than the usual amount of prodding to get them to walk the 50 feet or so into the other room.  Yes, the path had lots of distractions and obstacles, but still.....all they needed to do was "follow the leader"!   Then a bit later, I was in yet another room full of children (and just as a side note, all of the children seem to be crazy and excited and it is still a long time till Christmas), and we were trying to get them to lay on their cots and go to sleep.  As I have said before, this is quite an experience to try to get 12 or 13 two year olds to lay down on a cot and go to sleep - all at the same time.  We do everything we can to make the way clear for this to happen.  We feed them, we toilet/change them, we shut the blinds, we make it nice and dark, we put on soft, sweet music, we cover them with their favorite blankets and give them their lovies.  And then we even pat/rub backs.  Yes, we created a clear path for sleep, but today several children just would not go down that path.  Instead they chose the path of kicking, talking, laughing, etc.  Very frustrating to the path makers! 

When I finally had a couple of minutes to think (after the final hold outs fell asleep), I realized how much I had learned today about choosing a path!  First of all I learned that even if the path is not totally clear, you should look for the footprints.  Secondly I learned that it is very important to follow the leader.  And then I learned it is important to respect and honor the path maker!

WOW!  Quite a bit of information in one mornings adventures!  I was thinking of the first verse that I ever memorized.......    "Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path" Psalm 119:105.  The most important thing is that you have a lamp pointing right at your feet so that you can see the next place you need to put your feet.  That is exactly what I was experiencing walking in from the parking lot.  And then, when you have a clearer path, you can look up.  But you need a light to show you the direction that the path goes.  I am so thankful that Jesus is my "leader" and He is the light of the world.  So when I am walking on that path, I just need to be looking up, and THE light will be illuminating my path for me as I "follow my leader"!  Lastly, I realized how necessary it is to acknowledge that Jesus is the path maker for all of us.  If we think that we are in charge, we will likely run into lots of obstacles and get distracted and never end up where we are supposed to go.  Additionally, we will be very, very tired and cranky when we don't rest when we are told to rest.

Don't think there is much I can add to this............. 

Jesus, thank you for once again, speaking to me through my work.  What an amazing gift. Holy Spirit, continue to write these truths into my heart.  Speak to all of us when we are veering off of the path or refusing to rest.  Give us guidance and wisdom to look up and let you light our feet and reveal our path!   Thank you Jesus.   Amen

Flavors and Colors - Again!

Last night I had another amazing night of worship and a wonderful teaching.  I just love the little "zingers" that are sometimes, better than the entire evening!  Last night was this.............

Did you know that everyone has a unique "Voice Print" that is just as individual as your fingerprints? It's true. Even when people "impersonate" someone else, it is never an exact duplicate of the voice.  Imagine that - a voice print!  And what that means is that God is listening for our exact voice when we worship.  There is a spot in the father's heart that can only be filled by YOUR voice!  It doesn't matter how your worship sounds to you.  The important thing is how it fits into the heart of God.  If one person doesn't "sing", the choir is missing a voice.  Your very distinct voice is identifiable to the Father, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit.  Based on this revelation, there is no excuse for ANYONE sitting and not worshipping.  No matter WHAT your voice sounds like to you, remember that God is waiting for your exact voice to fill that spot in his heart.  I will be singing more loudly from now on. 

And if that was not enough to "chew on", then the speaker, Eva Dooley, began to teach.  She is a marvelous Greek woman who speaks with clarity.  She was teaching on how we need to be changed in order for us to be world changers.  After looking at familiar scriptures -  Matthew 5:13-16 - paraphrased we are the salt and the light of the world, she dropped this bomb into my spirit.  When looking at different translations and the Greek for these passages, what it says to us is this.
WE ARE THE FLAVOR OF GOD AND THE COLORS OF GOD TO THE WORLD! I was just stunned.  Remember my blog about last Sunday - Taste the Rainbow?  Yep, the flavor and the colors of God.  There was much more that Eva shared.  I listened and took notes, but part of me was stuck back at this point. Do I think that Jesus is really trying to say something to me about this?  YES!  Do I really understand the depth of what he is saying? NO!  But, I am beginning to understand that the concept of affecting my environment is much, much more than I had imagined.  Think about this.  Every believer carries the flavor and the colors of God.  That means that even in the darkest and coldest places in the world, when one person is there who knows Jesus and is filled with the Holy Spirit, the atmosphere is changed.  The very taste and flavor of Jesus is there.  And all the colors of who he is, are being poured out.  Nothing can stay the same when a believer is present.  You know, the idea of being a world changer sounds much more possible when you begin to get this concept into your spirit. 

What can I say? I will be taking some more time to really let this settle into my spirit.  But I am celebrating that Jesus is speaking something very important - not only to me but to each one of you also.  First of all SING OUT!  He loves you and he loves to hear your voice!  Remember - that voice that no one else in the world has.  Secondly, just think about that salt and light. Read those verses and meditate on them.  See what Jesus and the Holy Spirit speak to you about these verses.  I know that there is much, much more and we have just scratched the surface.

You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
                                             Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus, thank you so much for your revelations.  Holy Spirit, thank you for drawing me to these meetings that have been such a blessing.  Jesus, continue to bring more clarity to us as we meditate on your words about this.   Father, thank you for your great plan that included us being your flavor and your colors to the world.  You are an amazing and wonderful God!   Amen

A door opens and the way becomes clearer.....

You know how sometimes you just can't predict what a day holds? Well, today was supposed to be just a normal Saturday and we didn't really have any big plans.  So we went to breakfast, which is our usual on a Saturday morning.  We did a small amount of shopping and errands and we even drove into Chicago for a special sale.  After getting home and eating a quick lunch, I worked on some stuff for my second job.  I had a couple of phone calls and some text messages.  After dinner, my husband and I decided to take a quick drive to a local forest preserve to see a sunset. It was a beautiful end to this day. This sounds like a pretty normal but boring day doesn't it? 

Here's the best part of this day.  I have had an issue - a problem - that didn't seem to have any solution.  It is something that I have been thinking and praying about for a long time.  Like over a year.  Today, in the midst of the "normal" day, I felt as if a door was opened and suddenly, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel of this situation.  In the midst of the other things in my day, the Holy Spirit began to speak into my spirit some answers to the problem.  Just yesterday I felt as if I had a blank sheet of paper on this and today, there is a list of possible solutions.  I  realized that this is really a miracle!  This is one of those things that sometimes, we just miss the great things that God does for us.  When I was least expecting an answer to this, when I wasn't looking for the treasure map to get through the mine fields of this issue, that is when Jesus spoke into my spirit. The issue isn't gone, but now I feel as if the path is clearer.   

Today I want to give hope and encouragement to anyone who might have something that seems so deep and dark and impossible that you feel that it will not be resolved. Jesus is listening to your cry and he will answer. Nothing is impossible with God.  I think that part of my answer was in the "normal".  I refused to let the problem become so great that it covered over the normal things that are in my life.  And I trusted that there would be a solution or a direction that I needed to go.   

I love the way the answers to prayers come in the everyday things.  I love that we are surprised when there is a "suddenly" provided by the Holy Spirit.  I have personally received some pretty amazing answers to prayer that came "immediately" - including a dramatic healing of asthma.  But today, I am celebrating the miracle of an answer when I did not expect it. And I am celebrating in the process of the answer.   

Thank you , thank you Jesus.  You are simply wonderful.  I am so grateful tonight for the way that you bring wisdom and revelation and direction to get to solutions to problems that seem impossible.  Yahweh, bring your hope and encouragement to those who are in the midst of seemingly impossible situations.  Jesus it is your faith that we need!  Thank you for the light at the end of the tunnel.  Jesus, you are the light of the world.  Thank you for giving us your life and your light.  Amen