LiveFreeLoveHard

When we are first learning to color, we are instructed to stay in the lines.   I was great at coloring.   My lines were sharp and controlled.   In fact, in the 5 th grade I received a reward for great penmanship.   I’m not even sure they give those kinds of rewards anymore.   But as I matured, so did life.   And life required a more blended approach.   It was acceptable to blur the lines, to smudge the sharp edges to make beautiful pieces of art.   It is a type of “coming of age.”   You have to first learn the skill of control and staying in the lines, before you can learn the skill of blending.   And learn it quickly we must, because life is messy.   There is much tension right now, with keeping things separate.   Separate church and state; take God out of schools; keep God out of fast food (Chick Fil-A).   Wow, Really?!      And there are so many more references of this desperate attempt to separate, and to keep apart.   Segregation is a way of the past, folks, not the futur

I'm all over the place this morning.  I need Jesus, bad!  I had so much anxiety last night that I was throwing up.  Yes, disgusting, but true.  I have anxiety about work, family stuff, bills to be paid, things to be cleaned, managing my time, hopes and dreams I have.  I crawled out of bed this morning, kind of upset.  I'm a little bothered by everything on my plate.  And where is my joy?  I want to be happy!  And then you die. Wait...what?  "Whatever you do, do well.  For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." Ecclesiastes 9:10.  Wow, where did that scripture come from?  I asked, but I already knew.  God has a way of giving us what we need, even if it is just a little perspective. So, I'm overwhelmed with the busyness of life, praying for help, and God says, look on the bright side, at least you're alive.  When you die, poof, no errands to run!  No job to go to!  No nagging customers to listen to!  No toys to

Do you know why I wake up every morning and read my Bible?   It’s because I constantly need to be reminded of what I already know, all the time.   Sounds silly, but it’s so necessary.   I tell my stepdaughter to wash her hands every time she goes into the kitchen.   I will say this maybe 5 times a day.   One or two times, she’ll do it on her own and I’ll sing her praises.   An hour later, I’ll have to remind her again, “Wash your hands.”   “Oh yeah,” she says, as if she can recall someone once told her this years ago.   How quickly we forget.   I mean, we literally have the worst memories when it comes to certain things.   Even Paul knew how awful we were at remembering.   In Ephesians 2:5b, he declares, “it is by grace you have been saved.” And in 3 short verses, he exclaims, “For it is by grace you have been saved” Ephesians 2:8.   Same chapter, one sentence later!   I can appreciate that he knew who he was dealing with.   Back in his day there were no cell phones, and people w

Ruth 1:16-17: But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.   Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.   Your people will be my people and your God my God.   Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.   May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”   When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. DECIDE – At all costs, to follow God, the one and only true God.   DECIDE that nothing else makes sense other than that.   I get a lot of push back from work and I have many concerns about my future there and my commitment.    Before I got the job, I said,   “I’m going to do 5 years at my next job,” and now I’m looking to get out within one year.   My thoughts: I’m trying to start my business or really get something else going because I cannot see myself there long term. As you know, I’ve had one foot in and one foot out, and that’s why I have

I have to grow.   I’ve always been one foot in and one foot out, in everything - except my education.   And that’s the one thing that I said, no matter what – I’m completing.   And God was faithful to stand by me throughout that time.   I know He’s calling me to grow here.   He’s taking away every fail-safe by moving me out to Las Vegas, making me have to figure things out and get things done on my own, and its causing me to grow.   He’s given me a man who is not unstable and flaky, and who causes me to stick with things.   I’ve had to be patient with him, even when I didn’t want to, and I am growing.   I see the wonderful work God is doing in my life.   I need to anticipate the trials and the struggles and be prepared to do the work.   What is that work?   The work of endurance and persistence. Life does not owe me anything.   I have a vision for my life and now, I have to pursue it and work towards that better future for myself and my family.   I have been called to a life of

Last night, I was talking about passion.  What am I waiting for to live a life full of passion?  I know I have it because Christ lives in me, and Jesus Christ is passion personified.  He is passion in godly form and His blood runs through my veins. Am I waiting for a better job? A better home? A better situation to be in?  More finances? No!  I have all that I need to do all things well and all things with passion.  I can pour out my life now .  Tomorrow is not promised to any of us and we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called home.  If there is anything to be done, let me do it today with passion and with fullness! I'm going to stop watching the clock at work and stop looking at my to-do list with disdain.  I have things in my life that must be done, things that need to be done, and things that I want to do.  May I do all things with passion and consideration.  Not giving thought to everything that can go wrong or not going according to my plan, but with accep

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   Even though this is the most popular part of that chapter, it goes on to say in verse 12, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.   You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   I will be found by you,” declares the Lord… I feel convicted in my spirit because I know better, but I just get caught up with the dreaming and hoping and future part.   I desire a home for my family, a thriving career, healthy children and sure, some material things to enjoy.   I know that God has wonderful things in store for me, but I wonder if there is something I can do to “hurry” the process along a bit.   “Lord, I know you have plans for me, but can you let me in on your time table?” I find myself asking.   In my years of loving the Lord and being loved by Him, I could see Him