Remembering

It's odd what triggers you to miss someone. A picture, a smell, a favorite food, a holiday, a special occasion.

Pipe tobacco reminds me of my Grandpa
Handkerchiefs remind me of my Grandma
Butter rum lifesavers remind me of my Papaw
Pretty much any breakfast food reminds me of my Memaw (except cereal - she put way to much thought in to breakfast . No cereal to be found)
Great accents remind me of my Aunt Margit

But today - Carousels remind me of my sister. She has been with Jesus for over 3 years now. Her life was full or turmoil and her relationships much the same, but today I remember that collecting carousels made her smile. I had forgotten that.

So today I savor the good memories and might even go look through some old family pictures. Seems like that kind of day to me.  That, and go make some more memories with the ones I love. I hope you'll do the same, because life is short and soon all we have left is the remembering.

Just Call Me Moses (again...)

Usually when I am up at 4:00 in the morning it is God trying to tell me something. This particular morning, I am replaying a conversation in my head - well a few conversations actually, but all along the same line. It is what I am calling "the Moses complex". Most of us have it, have had it, or will have it at some point in our lives. I know I have. 


I am leading a Bible study on the book of Exodus. This week we are studying about Moses meeting God at the burning bush and God calling Moses to go to Egypt to rescue the Israelites and take them in to the Promiseland (Exodus 3-4). Cool! Moses gets to see God's manifest presence and call Him by name - "I Am". He is taken from his menial job as a shepherd tending smelly sheep to be the hero of a nation in slavery. Huge calling, to say the least. And then the "Moses complex" kicks in. He begins to ask questions. 


Who am I that you would send me?
Who are you God?
You actually think I am qualified? -I don't talk so good.
What if they dont' listen to me?


God is actually pretty patient with Moses, answering all of his questions. Doing what He could to calm his fears and insecurities. God told Moses that he would not be alone. God would be with him. God enabled Moses to do miracles to prove His mighty power to the Egyptians. For Pete's sake, Moses was getting his marching orders from a bush on fire that was not being consumed. One would think he would accept the call and get on it. 


But still Moses questioned. It was this last one that got God a little angry. Moses asked "Could you please send someone else?" Somehow, my brain paints a picture of a bit of thunder and lightening entering the picture or at least a flare up of the flames in the bush. That is how it looks when God is mad, right? lol 


Anyway, the point is Moses was so stuck in his insecurity with who he was and the limitations that he had, he totally couldn't move past that to see who God is and that He has no limitations. If God calls you to something, He and He alone will enable you to do it. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!


In God's infinite wisdom, He sent Moses' brother Aaron with him to get the job done. But I have to wonder if Moses didn't miss some of the blessing he would have gotten had he just moved past his "complex" and accepted the call. Sad...


Enter my "Moses Complex" - (it's not my first one btw)


I am involved in a wonderful ministry called Christ Fellowship Online (shameless plug -  you should go check it out!) Anyway, this ministry - more than any I have ever worked in, has the potential to reach people for Christ in such a powerful way. Being Internet based, it is literally only bound by the confines of the world wide web, so in other words - not much can stop it. While extremely exciting, this is also very scary to me. Have you ever watched a bull rider sitting on top of the beast of an animal in the gates while it snorts and jolts just waiting to be released? The power felt beneath the rider and the anxiety (or sheer terror, harnessed of course) of what is to come welling up from within... Yeah - that's a bit how I feel. I see God opening the gate and I am literally bracing myself for the ride. 


As I was doing my Bible study for this week I realized that I am Moses. I have so many questions.  I look to much at the limitations I have and forget to focus on the God that called me to this Who has no limitations. It's not about what I can do, because on my own, I will create and epic fail every time. But God never fails, and if He has ordained something - it WILL happen. The question is will He have to call someone else because I was to stubborn and self centered to jump in, limitations and all, and trust Him to do the rest?


It seems, in talking with people this week, that the "Moses complex" is a bit of an epidemic. People, God is in the business of using the sin ridden, flaw filled, stubborn, resistant human beings that He created to do His work here on the Earth. He says in His Word that He will not return until the "last one" has heard about Him. So the way I look at it, if we ever want Jesus to come back, we'd better get over ourselves and get busy doing the work we have been called to and equipped for by the same power that turned sticks to snakes, water to blood, clean hands leprous and back again and the same power that conquered death and hell for ever. Now that's some power! 


Am I still a little freaked out by the possibilities of what I may be getting myself in to? Yes! But am I willing to miss the blessings God has for me when I join Him in His work? No Way!!!!


So, what is it that is causing your "Moses complex"? Remember, it's not about you, it's about Who called you to it!



Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Funny Thing about Love...

Sometimes I work tech for weddings that we have at the church. I love weddings. It brings me great joy to see people pledging their love to each other. It also makes me think of my own husband and how blessed I am that God saw fit to knit us together almost 24 years ago. (I love you babe!)


As the couple stood in front of the Pastor hearing him admonish them with words from the Bible, these three words stuck in my mind - "Love never fails." Three little words from 1 Corinthians 13 that seem so fitting at a wedding. Love never fails...


As wonderful as the vows they wrote so lovingly and purposefully for each other were, my mind wandered to all of the pain and heartache that I see in people regarding love. People hurting each other in all sorts of ways. A high rate of divorce even in Christian homes. That sounds like "love failing" to me. 


As I pondered these three little words that held so much power I realized something - there was a lot written about love that precedes those three little words in that chapter. I will share it with you here:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails. 


Such powerful words written here. Patient. Kind. Honoring. Forgives. Not proud. Preferring others. Trusts. Hopes. Preserves. 


I felt the Lord say to me that the only way Love can "never fail" is if all the things that precede that statement are upheld. We so often forget the things that go in to really loving each other with the kind of love that won't fail. The kind of love that God intended. I think this applies not only to romantic love but also the love we have for each other as human beings.


I know I am not perfect and will not ever totally get it right in this life time, but I hope and pray that God will bring verses 4-7 to my mind every time the love I display (or should display) verges on failing. I pray that I can be a good example of this kind of love to my family and my friends and those that God puts in my path. I pray that it can be said of me that my love for others "never failed" more often than not. Can I get an Amen!?!

The Eye of the Hurricane

Have you ever felt like you were in a place in your life that you are moving ever forward and over the horizon there is something looming but you are not quite sure what it is? That is where I have been for the last little bit in my life. I walk a steady pace (which really would be considered running to most) and have this feeling... A feeling that I can't quite put in to words that will exactly capture it. Excitement, trepidation, anxiety, wonder, fear. 

I actually saw a picture last week that came out of Hurricane Irene. When I saw this, I was overwhelmed with it's beauty and power, but also the fear that one must feel standing in the face of this powerful storm that just keeps coming and you are powerless to stop. After staring at the photo for quite some time, I realize that this picture encapsulates how I am feeling right now. The same emotions flooding my mind at the worst of moments. The knowledge that there is something big and ominous looming on the horizon that just keeps moving and I am powerless to stop.


I have been pondering this over the last coupe of days. Asking God to give me a clear picture of what this is that will shortly be swirling around me. Alas, I am not hearing a very clear answer. Instead, what I was told by a very wise man is that "I need to learn to stand in the eye of the hurricane." The more I let that comment soak in to my spirit, the more I heard God begin to speak. 

You see, the eye of the hurricane is the only calm spot in the storm. The place that there is no noise, only beauty and peace. I feel him calling me to this place of rest and peace in Him, no matter how much is swirling around me. Calling me to the only place where I will still be able to hear His voice. I know that if He is calling me to that place, He is able to drop me right there in the midst of it and as long as I am faithful to move with it - it is in the eye I will remain.


I believe that God allows us all to have times like these in our lives. Depending on how you look at it - you might say it is your life as a whole. The things of this world swirling about you. Some good, some bad and yet both with such force that they threaten to over take you. Will you join me in the eye of the hurricane? Or are you content to stand in the thick of it where it is so loud you can no longer hear His voice of direction for your life.


So today, with new resolve and perspective I choose to stand in the eye of whatever it is that God has next for me in my life. I will walk with Him as we move forward, holding His hand and hearing His voice. Bring it on!

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

My Story is...

Fill int he blank for your self. Why? Because only you can! Your story is just that - "Yours". It is your own eye witness account of things that have happened in your life. 


I don't know about you, but I LOVE a good story. I especially love hearing stories of people that draw me  in because if their dynamic power. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like my story just isn't that powerful - compared to some I have heard. So consequently, I tend not to tell it much. 


Lately I have been studying the book of Acts in the Bible. It is a story of how the early church was formed after Christ was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended back in to heaven to live until He comes back for us one day. The phrase I keep reading over and over is "many of those who had listened tot the message believed, and the number of the ment came to about ______." Usually that number has multiple 0's behind it. In the case of Acts 2, it was 3000. In Acts 4, 5000. WOW!


God used ordinary people, people who had screwed up, people who were uneducated (comparatively speaking), just regular ole' people to build His church literally thousands at a time. The people who had experienced Christ and the power of His resurrection and the filling of His Holy Spirit simply told their story, and people believed and were saved. 


If you haven't read the book of Acts, I would encourage you to so that you can see what life transformation happened after such an experience for those that were new believers. The early church simply just rocked! No one was in need , they just gave so freely to each other and weren't wrapped up in their own stuff, but instead cared more about their fellow believers and adding others to the followers of Christ. Good stuff...


Anyway, as I was reading this morning, I found myself wondering what the difference is between then and now. Well you could probably site way more than I can write here, but I believe one huge difference is that people just are not telling their story to those that need Jesus. Everyone has a different reason for that, and I will let you wrestle with your own reasons as you ponder this through out the day and the Holy Spirit works on your heart like He is working on mine. But for pete sake - tell you story! 


Your story was written before the beginning of time and is uniquely yours. No one else can tell it the way that you can, and no one can refute it because it didn't happen to them, it happened to you. God has written it, you have lived it and new chapter will be written today. If you are a believer, it is a story of radical grace and love. It is a story of forgiveness and acceptance. It is a story that should impact other people and the only reason it is not, is because you are not telling it. No story is inconsequential. Not even yours.  God doesn't write stories that don't matter!!


There are lots of different parts to your story, each one having something specific that will touch someone who needs to hear it. So today, I challenge you to share your story. Write it down and share it, tell it to someone verbally, make a song out of it - the method doesn't matter. What does matter is you listening to the Holy Spirit and being bold enough to say "Yes" when he calls upon you to share.


I would love to see the comment section here fill up with stories, or Facebook blow up with people publishing their story as a note. I will be working on mine as well. 


Wouldn't it be cool if we to could say, "and ______ believed and were saved" because we shared our story of Jesus redemptive love in our lives? The Holy Spirit will give you the words, just like He did for Peter and the other disciples and countless people who have gone before you in this journey with Christ. Not go do it! Be a story teller today and live with the passion and fire of the Holy Spirit burning in your heart so hot that you can't be silent.

Uprooted

I know - 2 days in a row, what has gotten in to me? I just saw something this morning that begged a post. 


I live in Texas. And in texas we have big storms. Many a Bradford Pear in my neighbor hood have split or had severe damage due to the high winds, usually resulting in a tree company (or an ambitious owner) clearing them out. Always a sad day to me when I tree has to die.


This morning however I saw something very interesting. We have a had a bit of rain this week and lots of wind, but not in the last couple days. So, imagine my surprise when I was driving down the street today (well my son was driving, I was riding) and had to swerve around a large tree that had fallen over into the road. What puzzled me ever more is that this tree had come up from the roots. Stump and all. It had not been broken by the wind, like so many others I see, but had just toppled with roots sticking up out of the ground.


This picture brought to mind all the passages in the Bible that talk about the correlation between strong roots and healthy growth. I have listed a few below...

Jeremiah 17:8 NET

They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.

Psalm 1:3 NET

He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

Job 18:16 NET

Below his roots dry up, and his branches wither above.

Ezekiel 31:7 NET

It was beautiful in its loftiness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down deep to plentiful waters.

Romans 11:18 NET

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Yesterday this tall beautiful gave shade and looked to the observers eye like it was strong and healthy. Today it lies fallen, waiting for the city workers to come and chop it up and take it away to be burned or mulched (or what ever they do with trees that do this.) I am not a tree expert, but my guess is that this trees root system just never fully formed deep down in the soil where it coule thrive and grow. They all probably stayed very close to the surface. 

So it goes with our faith. We can look on the outside to the observer as if we are strong and full of life, but if we are not growing deep in our faith by reading the Word and cultivating our relationship with God - we to, like the tree, will easily topple at the first sign of wind or rain in our lives. And then what will become of you? 

So today ask your self this, how deep do my roots go? Are the roots of my faith in Christ strong enough to help me withstand the storms of life and the barrage of things Satan will throw at me? My prayer for you is that you can easily answer "yes". But if you can't, it's not to late. Begin today. God loves you and is just waiting like a patient gardner to help you grow roots deep into Him. 

  

  

  

  

Innocence Lost

In today's world, innocence is often "lost" well before it should be. This can take on many forms. The cat gets let out of the bag about Santa and the Easter Bunny. A child walks in on a movie way above their "rating level". And things far more serious that I will not get in to in this post. All tragic in their own way. You see, I believe that in the world as it was meant to be by God from the beginning, innocence was never meant to be lost. Sin entered the picture and thus began a downward spiral of humanity into the abyss of innocence lost.


I was at a Good Friday service tonight. It has just been in the last couple years that I have chosen to even go to a service on Good Friday. Traditionally I believe that most Christians like to focus on the celebration of Easter and not dwell on the horror that led up to that day.  For me it has become a tradition that I will never choose to miss. 


Tonight one of the songs that was sung had the lyrics, "where were you when sin stole my innocence?" Great song, but it got me thinking. Always dangerous when that happens. In this phrase that I have heard so many times, I suddenly found a new way to look at it. Christ's perspective...


Sin is responsible for stealing the innocence of every person on this planet in some way shape or form. From the little white lie, to the unmentionable. Well sin stole Christ's innocence too, but in His case, it was my sin and not His own responsible for this tragedy.


Christ was the only truly innocent person every to walk this earth and because of my sin,   He lost his innocence. Not innocence in the way of being jaded and warped by the world, but He became guilty for the first time ever. And He did it for me. He took MY sin. Every one that I ever have and ever will commit. He took them all on Himself because He loves me that much. He loves you that much. 


He willingly became guilty of all the sins of humanity. He was separated for the first and only time from God. He was in hell. All for us!


I really can't even fathom that depth of love. When I begin to try to grasp it... well there are just no words.  He loved me despite my sin then and He loves me despite my sin now. 


I hope as you prepare your heart for Easter, you will take some time and really think about the sacrifice that was made for the love of you. 


Romans 5:8 NET
But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"God-enomics"

So today, I'd like to tell you a God story.


Once upon a time there was a family with 4 children.  The parents were 2 very hard working people who loved and served Jesus with all that they had and all of the children loved Jesus very much. They were blessed!


One day, the church that they were so very devoted to announced that they felt God leading them to multiply the ministry that they were doing so that others could hear about Jesus. This would take money. Of course this family was going to help, but you all know how expensive 4 children can be, especially when 2 are in college and the teenage boy eats you out of house and home. How much could they "afford" to give?


The pastor of the church challenged everyone to "wrestle with God" and really ask Him to direct their giving to the new adventure they were all on together. So, the mother and the father began to wrestle and asked their children to do the same. To do this well, everyone would have to give something.


The mother and father wrestle separately and the mother came up with one number (that she was comfortable with) and then one night god told her to double that amount. Not having talked to her husband, she was not sure how he would take the news. The husband, however, was doing his own wrestling and when they finally shared their numbers, his was double her doubled number. Quadruple the original number that she was "comfortable" with. With a gulp and a prayer, they committed. If God wanted that much, surely He would provide a way for them to give it.


The family agreed to less meals out, PB&J was their new best friend. They agreed to buying the "store brands" instead of the name brands of food, and to cutting off their over abundance of TV channels. They would make it work and give happily to make sure more people knew the Jesus they loved so much.


The mother pondered how they would ever get out of the debt that they had, when they would be giving to the church the money that would enable them to do so. But God assured her she could trust Him with that as well.


One day, not very long after they committed, the husband called the wife with some news. he told her that even in an economy that was not treating his business well, his bosses had recognized the hard work that we was doing and they wanted to give him a raise. They raise that he received would almost cover the amount that they felt led to give to the movement to multiply.


Well, with tears of joy, she realized that God had a plan all along and had provided a way for them to not only give beyond their means, but to start working on their debt. God-enomics at work again. She praised Him for His goodness and faithfulness in their lives.


So, the moral of this story, trust God with everything that you have. All of it! He can be trusted and has a wonderful plan to be glorified if you will give it all.


And if you are reading this and have been in the wrestling process. Maybe you have come up with a number you are "comfortable" with. God doesn't call those that love him to be "comfortable", He calls them to follow Him with reckless abandon and to trust Him. You might want to wrestle a little more and then be still and listen to how He is calling you to respond.


Not that I'm looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity. Philippians 4:17 (the message)

Ministry is Hard!

My bible reading right now is taking me through the journey of the Israelites through the desert. Man, Moses and his other leaders had a hard job! They tried their very best to follow the will of the Lord as He was guiding them to the Promise land, and yet the people complained. They saw the evidence of God working in such tangible ways and still they chose to gripe and rebel. 


I have felt for a very long time like I am called to be like Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17, when they held up Moses' arms in the desert to help the people fight the battle. Moses was asked by the Lord to keep his hands raised high in the air as Israel fought and every time he dropped his arms they would start to lose the battle. So as he got tired, Aaron and Hur came to his side to hold up his arms and give him strength. I feel like God has called me to that roll in support the senior leadership of several churches I have been in over time, including the one I am in now. I feel very protective over the leadership God has placed over me and will do what ever I can to lift them up and help them. That part is easy for me. 


But some days I feel like Moses. Lately, I have been doing it a lot! I want to cry out the same way that Moses did when he told God he was not strong enough to lead the people God place in his care. I want to remind God that ministry is to hard some days, as if He didn't know this already. I want to beg Him to take the target off my back, until I remember He asked me to take up my cross daily and follow Him - His cross was not easy to bear and He didn't call me to a life of "easy." 


I guess when I take a step back and look at things a little removed, I am not surprised I have been feeling this way. God is moving in a powerful way and doing amazing things at our church right now. Of course Satan will try to derail and distract - especially people in leadership positions. 


A dear friend emailed me last night and asked if I had been experiencing any spiritual attack as I prepare for a fairly significant night coming up soon. I hadn't thought about it until that very moment. Hadn't seen it for what it was. I was content to have my little pity party (not unlike Moses sometimes).


So today, I have decided to change my prayer. Today I will pray for God to open my eyes to see every situation for what it is and to keep my focus on him. I will pray for Him to give me wisdom to lead those He chooses to put in my path. I will pray for wisdom and ask Him to help me have as much grace for others as He has for me. But most of all, I will pray that He use me up for His glory no matter how hard it is and tired I get. And if my arms get tired of the fight, I pray he will bring me people like my dear friend who will lift me up and help me to keep moving forward in the task that God has laid before me.


If you read this today, remember to pray for your leaders in ministry. They have a hard job (far more difficult than most people know). I am praying for mine right now.

Will They Know I am a Christian by My Love?

I have seen this picture a couple of times over the last few days, but today is stirred renewed emotion in me when I thought about the men holding hands protecting those that they don't know and don't agree with - literally risking life and limb.


If the caption is true, and these men are Christians, they are showing the truest form of John 13:34-35 when Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."


I have to wonder if, in the same circumstance, I would do the same. And more importantly, am I living that out in my own suburban world every day? What does that even look like in my world?


I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Sound off...

Who Do You Think You Are?

Some of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible come from the book of Job. Yes, Job. I know - depressing book, God let's Satan take everything away from Job, including his kids, makes him sick with boils all over his entire body, and leaves him with a nagging wife and 3 friends who tell him just to curse God and die. I can see why most people choose to gloss over this book, it's not very uplifting (at first glance). But if you haven't read it, I encourage you to. But don't quit before the end, that's my favorite part.


Synopsis:


So after all these horrible things have happened to Job and he has a grand pity party(chapters 1-31), a young friend of his decides to speak up and begin to put things in perspective for him a but (chapter 32-37.) Then it happens - after many long chapters of silence, God speaks. It actually says "God speaks to Job out of a storm". For those of you who don't live in Texas, you may not be able to conjure up in your mind what that might look like, but I have lived through one of the worst Texas storms Ever - in a tent (and then the cab of my truck), so I have a pretty good grasp on what Job must have experienced that day. All I can say is WHOA!!!


Basically God says (this is the Jan Paraphrase), "Job, you sure seem to think you know it all. Now stand up and take it like a man while I tell you a few things and give you a little fresh perspective."


God proceeds to describe some of the things He has done like:

• telling the waves how far they can come
• telling the sun rise and sun set when to happen
• creating the storehouses for snow and hail
• telling each lightning bolt where to land
• creating all the star constellations and telling them when to appear
• creating great beasts of the land and sea who are subservient to no one but Him (including a dragon that I am pretty sure Disney ripped off for all his movies.)
• and walking on the bottom of the Ocean just because He can (one of my personal favorites. Sorry I just have this picture in my head of God talking a little stroll on the bottom of the Sea and hanging out with creatures we don't even know exists yet because they live so deep)

I mean it goes on for 5 chapters so you get the gist. But I really encourage you to read it yourself.

I think I just need to print out these chapters and tape them to my wall so that every time I find myself wanting to have a little pity party (which I was last night), I can gain a little perspective on my life and Who it is that is in control of it. I certainly don't want to get so far gone that I have to hear God speak to me out of a storm.

All that to say - He is God and I am not and I need to trust that as long as I lean on Him, He has my life in the palm of His hand and can take care of anything that would threaten to harm me. He'll do that for you to if you know Him. 

If you don't know Him and want to, send me a message and we'll talk. I'd love to introduce you to Him. He will change your life!

P.S. The story does have a happy ending. But you'll have to read It yourself to find to what happens. I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.

I, the Doorkeeper

I am just about to finish up a 21 day  journey with the Lord. It has been challenging at times, but mostly I have really enjoyed it. The reading plan that is taking me through this journey is incredibly well done. I am seeing things in scripture that I have not seen before or am seeing them in a new light. I find myself anting to know more about what these passages mean and why they were written. With only 3 days left, today was no exception.


Here is what I read today:


Psalm 84



1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.


3  Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah


5  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.


8  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!


10  For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!


This Psalm is so rich and full of great nuggets, but the one God spoke right in to my heart is in vs. 10. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.


I had heard this verse many times and I always thought the doorkeeper reference was to someone who held a "lesser than "post" of some kind. Something that they were forced to do and maybe were looked down upon. Boy was I wrong. The doorkeeper was actually (in my opinion) one of the best positions in the whole temple. They were tasked with ushering people in to the temple to meet with God. They also sang and ministered to the Lord with music day and night. The only bad part of the job is that they were on a rotation and only got to do it 2 weeks out of the year (thus the reference to "a day in your courts is better than a thousand years elsewhere". He never wants his turn to end.)


As I was reading this passage, I realized that worship leaders really are the equivalent to the doorkeepers in the Old Testament. We usher people in to experience the presence of God (when we do our job right) and we have the privilege of ministering to the Lord in song.


The writer of this Psalm is reminding the readers how much more desirable it is to be in the presence of the Almighty God than to take part in the things of this world that so often seem to give pleasure but that are only fleeting and often times sinful.


So today, as I continue on my journey with God, I embrace the call to be a doorkeeper for His people. I believe that whether you call yourself a "worship leader" or not, you can still join me as a door keeper. You can daily, in your own world, let people experience the Almighty by your actions and you can minister to the Lord in praise and worship whether it is sung from the mountain tops or quietly in your heart. He just longs to be with you.


Be a doorkeeper today. It really is the best job around!

The Taming of the Tongue

Today in my bible reading I found myself in James 1. The gist of the chapter is about reading the word and doing what it says instead of hearing it and forgetting about what your read once you close the book (or web browser).


James 1 is where you will find the well known verse that talks about being 'quick to listen, slow to speak.' I admit that one is sometimes difficult for me. But it was James 1:26 that really stuck with me today. It says this:


Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.


OUCH! A harsh but true reminder that with one slip of my tongue, I can do irreparable damage to the reputation of myself, Christianity and my Lord. My religion is worthless when my tongue takes control. 


So today, with renewed vigor, I will try once again to remember to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I will try to remember to speak harsh truths in love and not hate (Ephesians 4:15) and will renew my pledge to follow the words of Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.


Will you join me?