A Marmaduke Moment...

"Why is everyone always having more fun than us?"  "Cause they aren't afraid to live!"  


Just when you think there's not much going for the movie, a line grabs your attention and you search for pen and paper (in the dark)...at least you're taking something of value away for the dollars you spent to see the movie.


Why does it seem that everyone is having more fun than you?  Have you noticed many of  the quotes on fb (fb is short for facebook, in case you were wondering)?   "I'm so tired...I'm sick...I'm sick and tired."  "I'm bored."   "Woe is me.."   Why aren't people having fun?  Why am I not having fun?  Hey,  I know we've been ousted from the Garden of Eden...but there should be something about life that is enjoyable.  Life is way too short to be miserable all of the time.


I wonder of the writers of Marmaduke realize they added a tidbit of wisdom here.  How much fun are you having in life?  What a shame to be alive and not really living.  We were created in the express image of God.  Genesis 1:27  "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him..."  One more:  John 10:10 "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I (Jesus) came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows." I love the overflow part!  That means we aren't afraid to have fun.  It means that in spite of circumstances, people, and problems...we can laugh, enjoy life, and have a good time while on this earth.  Stop feeling guilty for being happy!  Deliberately - On Purpose... do something to create fun!  


For many people, life isn't what they would like it to be.  It's true: Life isn't fair.  And when Jesus was talking about giving us abundant life, He wasn't just referring to 'things'.  He was talking about the real things of life such as peace, love, joy and hope. He was talking about a quality of life that flows through your soul as you stay connected with Him.  Few people can actually say they are living an abundant life.  We fall far short of what Jesus Christ intended and it's our own fault.  No one can take your joy.  No one can stop you from having fun.


From a sermon: The Abundant Life does not always make everything that is around us peaceful, but it does give us the ability to be at peace even during times of hardship and tragedy.  Our living the Abundant Life will not change the way OTHER PEOPLE live.  Our enemy will still be our enemy, mistreating us, and giving us a hard time. But it will help us to love them and to be at peace with them.


A novel I read recently included a powerful statement:  "I almost ruined my life by allowing things to happen to me, rather than making things happen for me!"  Ouch!  Making things happen will require mental and physical energy on our part.  It includes taking responsibility for our own life.  Jesus gave you life, so choose to live an abundant one!  You can choose to be happy...you can choose to have fun.  It's that simple.  You just make a choice.  Remember that life is the sum total of your choices.  


"Why is everyone always having more fun than us?"  
 Answer: "Cause they aren't afraid to live!"


"I almost ruined my life by allowing things to happen to me, rather than making things happen for me!" 


Now, go make your life a good one!!  Have fun.  

Now What?

I positioned my laptop for the nightly facebook visit and...feeling a little lonely, I didn’t know what to do or where to go on the web, so I typed in the search box two words describing my mood, "Now What?"   I clicked the search button and a found a web site by Scott B. and his article, “So, Now What?” - Here’s the first sentence on his page:

Whenever you aren't sure what to do it means only one thing, you have not found yourself. It is as simple as that. 

He continued to explain that we are happy and satisfied when we find ourselves, and we live a life that has a passion and a focus.

I agree with that! Now, make no mistake about it. I am not physically lost nor am I spiritually lost. I know where I am…geographically and spiritually…most of the time. But emotionally? Maybe there’s room for improvement there. There are times we could all join the “Now What” club, if only for a moment. Perhaps as parents you are coping with the empty nest syndrome. Or, that secure-for the rest of your life-job just turned into not for the rest of your life….but only for the rest of the week! Whatever the reason, you experienced a “Now What” moment.

A now what moment loomed before me when my husband went to be with the Lord.   Now What?   Now Where? In my searching and talking to the Lord I remember asking Him for three things, Purpose, Place and Provision.

If you recall, Adam and Eve had Purpose, Place, and Provision

Adam had Purpose: God is all about purpose. He created the world and the heavens just to manifest His glory and His power. His creation exists to shout praise to Him. He gave Adam purpose. Adam was to keep the garden, name the animals, have dominion and the greatest purpose was fulfilled each evening when he walked with God. Adam and Eve had purpose. They were to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.

Adam had Place:  Genesis 2:8, The Lord planted a garden in Eden just for man. He placed Adam in that beautiful garden. A river watered the garden, Gen 2:10. Gold was found in the land. Listen, God knows how to provide a Place!

Adam had Provision:  In Genesis 2:16, 17 we read of the tree of life. They could eat all they desired from that tree. One study note explains the tree of life as provision for a kind of life which made death impossible. There were many trees in the garden and God told Adam to eat freely from the trees, except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In the beginning, God gave Purpose, Place, and Provision to humanity. Those three areas were met in the first couple's life and nothing was lacking. Adam and Eve knew what it was like to jump up every morning  and have Purpose. They were in the Place chosen by God. Their Provision was from the Hand of God.

Why do we have moments or days when we say, “Now What?” We have those times because of the fall of man. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden…they relinquished Purpose, Place, and Provision when they made a bad choice. They lost what they had for or something they did not need. They failed the test.

Now What? I know I need Purpose. With purpose, I will have focus. All of that is to bring fulfillment and lessen my ‘Now What’ moments. Purpose, Place, and Provision. Adam blew it for us – Now What?

In John 10:10 Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that we might have life more abundantly. The Message Bible states verse 10 like this: I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Real and eternal life. More and better than we ever dreamed of. Jesus is the answer to Now What. Find Jesus and you will find yourself.  Find Jesus and you find Purpose, Place, and Provision. The old hymn, Try Jesus, says it all.

Try Jesus, He never fails
O’er evil, His love prevails
In sunshine, or stormy gale
Try Jesus, He never fails

Crossfire in Canberra

A street in Canberra

A very short story

written very late at night

simply to entertain

my very bored self...

7/15/10

Bullets cracked through the silence of the calm mid-day crowd on a street in Canberra. Marcie collapsed on the concrete with a thud as one of the bullets struck her. The pain shooting through her body was just as startling as the shock of the attack. Shouts of panic escalated from people all around her. Chaos marked the moment as fear registered on each face. She lay stunned on the sidewalk. Every fiber of her being was summoned in that split second of time; attempting to understand what had happened and in that same moment, grasping with reality, telling herself this couldn’t be…it couldn’t be real…and knowing she must survive…she had to survive. This should not be happening to her. Not to Marcie.

Springtime in Canberra stimulates the city - reviving it with colorful signs of life. Blossoms throughout the capital announce the change from colder air to more tolerable temperatures. The days are bright and vineyards bloom with vitality. Marcie chose to walk to the market today. It was only a few blocks from her apartment and she was anxious to pick up the few items on her  grocery list. Her dinner guest would be arriving later this evening. It would be a perfect dinner. Baked chicken with all the trimmings. It was his favorite. The trimmings didn’t matter all that much to him. Veggies or salads were only extras and were meant to enhance the luscious, moist, tender baked chicken. He preferred his portion served with a side of melted butter for dipping.

Eight months had passed since Marcie started attending a Bible study with her coworker. She knew in her heart that there was a God, somewhere. Her problem was that she didn’t know how to find Him. The leader of the cell group who lovingly shared the gospel with the faithful ten or twelve each week was Brother Mike, an associate at the fast growing training center located in the middle of Canberra. It was this plan of salvation presented weekly by Brother Mike that finally supplied all the missing pieces in Marcie’s mind, and she, at long last, had found her way to God. The night Marcie received Christ as her Savior she not only found freedom from sin, she also found the freedom to live. The Holy Spirit cleansed her innermost being…washing every nook and cranny of her soul.

Marcie found God. Stephen found Marcie. A dark haired, stocky built, full of life, full of God kind of young man.  As he walked in the building, he once again felt the bulge in his inside jacket pocket. It was the box containing the single diamond engagement ring which he had intended to present to Marcie on this night. The waiting room of Memorial Hospital was not where he had planned to spend the evening. His cell phone was ringing constantly with inquiries about Marcie’s condition. The city was buzzing with the news. Marcie, along with other innocent pedestrians, had been caught in the crossfire of two rival gangs. The local news channel had labeled the afternoon shootings as Crossfire in Canberra.

Out of the corner of his eye, Stephen noticed Brother Mike hurrying up the hallway, making his way to the critical care waiting room and to Stephen's side. A sight for sore eyes.  “Brother Mike. Am I glad to see you! Thank God you are here,” Stephen said. “Stephen, the Lord sent me with a message for you. Let’s sit over here in the corner where we can have some privacy.” Brother Mike led a rather shaken Stephen to the opposite side of the room where two chairs were pushed against the wall. After taking their seats, he spoke quietly, with a voice meant only for the ears of Stephen.

“Stephen, God has a plan for you and Marcie. The enemy has pulled out all the stops in an attempt to hinder that plan. But know this: Today, you will see the Hand of the Lord at work. He will perform that which no man can perform. What the enemy meant for evil, the Lord will restore for good. She shall not die, but live. You will say of the Lord, He is your refuge and your fortress…He is your God and in Him will you trust. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day…You will not fear the destruction that wasteth at noon day. There shall no evil rise up for destruction against you. Crossfire in Canberra shall be known as Christ in Canberra for I will manifest my glory in the midst of the storm.”

After giving praise to their loving Savior, Stephen and Brother Mike rose from the privacy of their corner of the large room. Stephen bade the messenger goodbye and slowly made his way back to room number three and to Marcie’s bedside. She greeted him with a weak, but loving, smile. Stephen reached for her hand, leaned over the bed, lowered his head and whispered softly, “Marcie, I love you.” Marcie looked deeply into Stephen’s eyes, her heart filled with gratitude to be alive and with a longing to spend the rest of her life with the one she had grown to love. With ever so much passion she spoke the words he was waiting to hear, “I love you, Stephen.”

Some time later, on a warm summer day in Canberra, a dark haired young man walked up to the apartment located just a few blocks from the market.  As he approached the door the aroma of baked chicken tantalized his sense of smell.   As he raised his right hand in preparation to knock on the door, he checked his inside jacket pocket just once more.  He felt the bulge inside the coat and he smiled.

STORM STRESS - From my book: Trial Travels

STORM STRESS

Matthew 14:23-33 In the night Jesus walked on the water to get to the disciples.  Their boat was now in the midst of the sea.  The high winds were whipping the waves and the ship was tossing greatly.  Peter said loudly, "Lord, if it's really you, allow me to come where you are, let me walk on the water, also."  Jesus gave a one word command, "Come".  Peter made it over the side of the boat, placed his feet on the turbulent water and walked...he was performing a supernatural feat...he was walking on water...he was going to Jesus!

Peter was doing something no other man had done and...at the simple command of Jesus!  It wasn't Jesus' idea.  Peter asked if he could "come".  Perhaps others in the boat could've walked on water, but they didn't ask.

TRIAL TRUTH:  Going to Jesus is a supernatural event. 

Boat stats:  one out of twelve attempt supernatural involvement! 

 Peter was fully engaged in a supernatural happening until he looked at natural circumstances!  He felt the strength of the problem and fear entered!  When he saw the strong wind, he became fearful. 

TRIAL TRUTH:  Man nor devil could stop Peter
 from getting out of the boat and going to Jesus,
 even if it meant walking on water to get to Him! 
....this is the ultimate mode of trial travel.... 

Regardless of your mode of travel, if you are in a trial...you must get to Jesus.  You must reach Him.  He is your only hope.

Satan is hindered when there's a supernatural encounter going on between you and Jesus.  You are looking at Jesus and He's looking at you.  You are talking to Jesus in the midst of the storm.  You've got a dialogue going with the Son of God!  You are doing things you've never done before!

Thus, the enemy uses the natural realm to interfere with the supernatural realm!

The devil uses emotional and mental strongholds to divert your attention.  There's only one reason for fear and it is:  to divert your attention from Jesus to the circumstances of your storm.  The enemy attempts to block, intercept, hinder, restrain, or literally cut you off from walking in the supernatural in order to keep you from reaching Jesus!!   Knowing that....

Once you get there, you will touch Him.   Once  you get into His presence ...you put your hand in His,  It's too late for the spirit of  fear to control you!

Peter felt the force of the elements and began to sink.  He shouted through the voluminous onslaught of obstacles.   "Lord, save me!"  Immediately Jesus stretched forth His Hand and caught Peter and said, "Oh, you fellow of little faith, why did you doubt?"  The wind didn't stop because Jesus caught Peter by the hand!  It continued to rage.  They walked through the storm together...back to the boat.  Then the wind ceased.

TRIAL TRUTH:  Don't worry about the storm,

walk through it, hand in hand with Jesus. 

The storm will cease when you arrive at your destination.

Author's afterthought:  We would have not been so impressed if Peter had tried to swim in the stormy waters.  That's what we would have done.  That's what we do!  Greater effort and energy is required to struggle against the powerful waves if you are "in" the water.  The storm demands your focus.  Your storm is narcissistic, self-centered and desires dominance.  It has a huge ego.  It says, "It's all about me.  I want all of the attention."  

NOTE:  It is much less stressful to walk on water than it is to swim in it. 

So, today...get out of your boat of troubles
and walk (don't swim) to Jesus...
you will find great relief!

Run To The Sea

"Tell the people to go forward, to the sea..."  Exodus 14:15

Run to the sea, Run hard, Run fast

The trouble you now face, It's not going to last.

God said He would toughen, by way of difficulties

So, led by His own plan, I faced a deep, red sea.

They came as waves, In places hard and dry

A sea in a desert, My soul was surely tried.

I looked for refuge, Found not in a man

Then I picked up the Word, It came alive in my hand.

I feasted as one starving, Seeking...chasing God.

Prayer was more than ritual, Deliverance was the cause.

Life came from the Book, Presence listened as I prayed.

Faith arose, gave strength within, I can run...run...and not afraid.

Fear is not a part, of what I'm to believe

It's faith alive in me, Determining what I receive.

See me run - I'm going through, This trial won't destroy

My God has a plan, For me to count it joy.

I can run to the sea, I know I'm not alone.

There's power in the Word, It comes from God's own throne.

I know there's a victory, Over every war I face

To give up when I will win, Would be to my disgrace.

Yes, Lord, Your Voice is clear,  I'll do just as you say

With the Word in my hand, I will, I will obey.

I'll run to the sea, As quickly as I can

Victory awaits me there, Through the power of Your Hand!

                                                              -  Jane, 1999

Message to a Friend

Composed in 1994 for a precious person...

There's Coming

A Deliverance Day

And It's Not

So Very Far Away.    

You Are Counted

Among My Jewels

Among The Diamonds,

Gems And Pearls.

I See You As Pure

And All Delight

As I watch You

Both Day and Night

Hope Thou

In Me

For Soon

You'll See

There's Coming

A Deliverance Day

And It's Not

So Very Far Away

Table Texting

We will turn around and go back to the house to get it…..we are lost, naked, and insecure without it….it must always be near our hand, within our hearing, and it must be attached to us when we leave the house. It’s our cell phone.

7/5. Fox News: Families have a hard time getting kids to enjoy dinner time without the need to have cell phone at hand and text at the table. An online article, Fox website, this same date, reads : Tech Companies Address Dangers of Texting While Walking. Experts say pedestrians are also suffering the consequences of mobile distraction. They're tripping on curbs, walking into traffic, even stepping into manholes as they chat or type while walking. So, to assist these stumbling, bumbling texters (my term)…they have tools, including earpieces, that allow the user to talk their message. The article includes a finding by a Stanford University communications professor who states that the fundamental problem is...our brains can’t concentrate on so many things at once. I knew that. I’ve known that a long time. It’s hard for many of us to chew gum and walk at the same time, much less type a message on a screen barely larger than a club cracker.

Here’s the issue. We are becoming dysfunctional people. Our need for social communication is being satisfied with facebook, texting, and email. While these methods are not bad, in fact, they are incredible…they can become addictive… replacing family, God, and close friends. How is this happening? Let’s go back to the professor who said: “Our brains can’t concentrate on so many things at once.” So…if you text while driving, you can veer off the road. If you text while walking, you can trip and fall. If you text while enjoying dinner with your family, you will not focus on them. If you prefer human contact via facebook, email, texting…to spending time with God, you will have little focus on spiritual matters. Spiritually speaking, you will veer off the road or you may trip and fall.

Because our brain can’t concentrate on many things at once, perhaps we should bring our tech toys into perspective. Ask yourself why social tech communication takes priority over God, family and close friends? Could it be that it takes less effort? Could it be an addiction? Could it be nothing more than a mental distraction which has the ability to rob us of valuable communication with God and family? Mobile distraction? Could be. Oh yes, watch out for manholes.