Getting Off the Hamster Wheel

Do you ever feel like a hamster running on a wheel, running as fast as you can, but never getting anywhere?  In today's fast paced world, you would be an oddity if you said, "No."  I've been feeling this way for quite some time now.  I look at my schedule and shake my head.  There doesn't seem to be any open spots for anything, but I look at what I have to do and there just doesn't seem to be anywhere to cut.  It's not that anything that I'm doing or have scheduled is frivolous or a waste of time.  They are all things that need to be done, so I keep on running.

However last Tuesday, I finally hit a wall.  You see, for the last year, we have hosted an exchange student from Germany, Tessa.  It has been a wonderful experience and she became my third daughter.  On Monday, she left to return home to Germany.  The week before we went camping for the week to spend some quality family time together before she left, without all of the distractions of home and everyday life.  It was a wonderful week, except for the constantly reoccurring thunderstorms.  But as anyone who camps knows, preparing for the trip and unpacking after the trip are both a lot of work!  We returned home on Friday evening in yet another thunderstorm, so most things were left in the camper until we could unload in dryer weather.  Saturday was a whirlwind.  We had to unpack, do laundry, make food for a carry-in after church on Sunday, and did I mention I was having an open house for our exchange student after the carry-in and I had to go set up and decorate.  Also, in the mix of the day, I had to go to the post office to pick up a package from Tessa's mom before the post office closed and go get groceries to restock the fridge and pantry after being gone for a week!  Needless to say, I was burning the candle at both ends.  Sunday consisted of a day of church, the carry-in, open house and then finishing packing Tessa for her trip home, with lots of goodbye's all day long.  It was a late night getting her ready to go and an early morning the next day taking her to the airport and sending her off.  It was exhausting emotionally and physically.

This brings me back to last Tuesday, when I finally crashed.  I cannot remember the last time I purposely scheduled myself a day off with nothing to do and Tuesday was no exception.  I had an appointment that I needed to go to, but had failed to write the time down on my grooming calendar, so I didn't schedule any grooming appointments for the day.  When I checked the time, it wasn't until 4pm.  God works in mysterious ways.  He knew I needed to rest.  I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.  I ended up cancelling my appointment and vegged out all day long.  Usually, I would feel guilty for sleeping in and then curling up on the couch with a good book for the day, but that day I felt no twinge of guilt.  God had called me to a day of rest.  He had orchestrated it, because He knew in my humanness, I wouldn't have done it for myself.  I needed that day of rest more than anything.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Ps. 91:1

I wrote all of this long story to say: God calls us into times of rest.  Sometimes we just need to take a break.  Even God rested on the seventh day after creating the world and all that is in it. Genesis 2:2-3 Why do we allow society to feed us the lie that we don't have time to rest, because there is too much to do to take a break? It's simple really.  We have an adversary that knows if he can keep us running, he will wear us out and we won't have the energy to do the work God has for us.  When we are worn out and tired from a life of stress and busyness, we are much less effective at serving God.  I believe God was speaking to me loud and clear on Tuesday, when He told me to rest.  Matthew 11:28 came to mind that day.  "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

So, if you're like me and you have been running on the crazy hamster wheel of life, maybe it's time to take a rest.  You will be far more productive in your walk with Christ if you do.  Your time of rest may not look like mine.  Maybe yours is longer than a day.  Extroverts may need to recharge with others, where introverts, like me, need to be alone.  It doesn't really matter what it looks like, it's just important to take time to recharge.  If your batteries are on empty, God can't use you to your fullest potential.  He desires so much more for you than a life running on empty.  So, take time to rest and see what great things He has for you!

Resting in Him,

Lorissa

Developing Hunger for the Word

This week I found some old journal entries and was amazed at how relevant they still were to my present situation, so I decided I would share one...

8-20-07

Recently, I have earnestly sought to know God better.  This has included knowing His will for my life, spending more time in God's Word, and praying for a new closeness to God.  God has blessed me immensely just for asking.  I am amazed at the things He has revealed to me in such a short time.  I am grieved at the time I've wasted by not asking earlier.  Since becoming a Christian in my adulthood, I've often looked at other new believers that were on fire to learn more about God and mature believers who seem to have an open, direct line of communication with God.  I was always jealous and yearned for that spark they had.  It was as if God had given them something that I hadn't had the honor of being privy to. 

What was it that had given other believers this one-on-one connection to God that I so desperately desired to have?  In the not so distant past, I believe I stumbled upon the answer to that question.  What I found was that it had been there the whole time!  I just had not earnestly sought to find that relationship.  I read the Bible because that's what Christians are supposed to do, but as I read, nothing seemed to make much of an impact.  I would find myself going longer and longer periods without reading because I just wasn't getting into it.  It was another thing on my "to do" list and it seemed to be the easiest thing to eliminate on a busy day.  It wasn't that I didn't want to enjoy it.  I saw other people with an insatiable hunger for the Word, that were being fed by reading it, but I just wasn't. 

Then a friend bought me a book for my birthday.  It was a study on David by Beth Moore and I made a conscious effort to do the study.  It required me to answer some personal questions and write a prayer.  I found that I really enjoyed the study and I was getting something out of it.  Though at first, I was not consistent, the more I did it, the more I looked forward to it.  After doing the study for a while, I started looking back at the things I had written. I discovered something amazing.  It was that connection that I had been looking for and thought that I didn't have.  It was right there in my prayers.  I could see the desires of my heart and now looking back, I see the answers that God had given.  If not for being recorded in that book, I may have taken for granted all the answered prayers.  I wouldn't have remembered what I had talked to God about.  Therefore, I wouldn't have been able to see how He had carefully taken the time to respond to each one.  It was totally amazing!  Right there, in that book, as if God had taken the pen from my hand, He had written in my prayers what He desired for me, the person He wanted me to be, and what He wanted me to do. 

Those prayers ignited that fire that I had so longed to have and envied in other Christians.  It gave me a hunger to know God more and spend more time with Him.  It also has given me the desire to share what I've learned with those around me.  I want to shout from the mountain tops "Look what I've found!  come and see!"  I've started reading God's Word and getting it.  I look forward to what He has to show me and teach me.  I've seen how He puts what He wants to teach me in His Word and then shows me the same thing in the world around me to reiterated what it is that He is teaching me.  It's awesome to see Him everywhere and know that He sees me right where I am and will gladly meet me there if I just ask.

Even though this journal entry was nearly 8 years ago, I still see God's sovereign hand in it.  He has not changed, even though I have.  There are still dry times when I get busy and don't make study a priority, but in the fruitful times, this journal entry is so true!  The farther along I go in my faith journey, the fewer dry times I have.  I see God's hand more and more everyday.  

So if you are struggling to find that spark, find a study that speaks to you.  It may be the boost you need to start a closer, more intimate walk with God.  You will be amazed at how He will speak to you and reveal more and more to you everyday!  Journaling will help you see God working in your life, as you go back and review the answers to prayers.  It's always a faith boost when you can see His hand at work!

Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

I will close with a prayer written in my book on the study of David...

Lord, open my heart and reveal those things in me that keep me from hearing Your voice and tapping into Your power.  Show me the areas of my life that I need to recognize and change, so that I may freely communicate with You.  When I am in those dry spells, please give me the still, soft reminders I need to reconnect on the intimate level I so desire to be with You.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Still Seeking,

Lorissa

The God of Little Things

Last week, I was reminded of God's faithfulness in the little things.  Often times, we think that God is too busy for the small details of our lives.  We feel silly or like we shouldn't pray for those little things that only matter to us.  I used to think that way, but God has shown me over and over that He cares about every detail of our lives, and sometimes we miss out because we are too afraid to go to Him about things we think are insignificant.  In Matthew 10:29-31 says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  Our God is in the details, because He made the details. We just have to look around to see it.

My husband has been gone for over two weeks on a trip for work, so my life has been a little busy, to say the least, trying to keep up with everything going on at home.  Tuesday evening, I was in the middle of one of my trips running kids to different activities and noticed that one of my diamond earrings was missing.  I never take these earrings out and a little twinge of panic came over me.  I instantly began to retrace my steps of the day in my mind and tried to remember the last time I knew I had it in.  These earrings have sentimental value to me that means more than the monetary value, which made it even more heartbreaking that I had lost one.  You see, my husband is wonderful in so many ways, but romantic gestures and gift giving is not one of his strong suits.  He is also very frugal and doesn't like to spend money on unnecessary things.  So, when I received these earrings as a gift from him to celebrate an important honor in my life, I was thrilled.  I was so touched that he had gone through the trouble to get me something so meaningful to commemorate a special occasion; without me telling him or giving any hints, I might add!  All that to say, I had to find this earring!

All week long I searched.  I looked in every possible place I could remember being in the days before I recognized it was missing.  I searched parking lots. I searched vehicles.  I searched businesses.  I searched the house, the shower, the closet, the garage...you name it, I searched it.  Days had passed and I prayed every time I would search for it.  I prayed whenever it crossed my mind.  My husband would be home in a few days and I prayed with all my heart that I would find it before he returned, so that I wouldn't have to tell him I had lost it.

One evening I was taking a shower and again praying about my earring.  I was searching the drain one more time, just to be sure and I was reminded of a conversation I had had with some friends earlier in the week.  We had been talking about how so often God calls His people to remember in the Bible.  He had people build alters to remember what He had done.  He would tell His people to remember the times of His faithfulness.  We talked of how Moses reminded God of His promises.  And so, I began to remember and was reminded of two specific times that God was faithful to hear and answer my prayers for something small and insignificant to the world, but very important to me.

The first instance was several years ago when my oldest daughter was about five.  We had gone to Disney World that year and she had gotten a pair of Tinker Bell earrings.  They were her prized possession.  She loved Tinker Bell and it was her favorite souvenir.  She wore them constantly.  We had gone to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a family gathering.  My parents live next door and my dad had made a train out of old plastic barrels and pulled them behind the four wheeler.  They rode that train all day long.  Shortly before we left, Hally came to me in tears of panic.  One of her prized earrings was gone.  She had lost it somewhere that day and could not be consoled.  The search began.  The probability of finding that earring in the acres of grass that the train had driven was slim to none.  We split up and began to search the property.  We searched and searched to no avail.  Finally, we decided all hope was lost and we needed to leave.  The look on my daughters face broke my heart.  I sent up a silent prayer to God.  "God, I know it's just an earring, but to Hally, it's a big deal.  I know it seems impossible, but please let us find her earring."  We gathered our things and began to leave.  As we were walking through the garage going to our car, there on the floor was her earring.  She was ecstatic and so was I!!  Many prayers of thanksgiving went up to God!  It was a small lesson in His faithfulness in the small things.

Another instance came to mind as well.  The year after Hally was born, I went on a Christian women's weekend retreat.  In many ways I was still a baby Christian and had only been walking with the Lord for about two years.  I was struggling with many things in my life and had no interest in going on this weekend, but God is faithful and He met me there in a very personal way.  The ways I experienced God that weekend are countless, but one experience came to mind.  It was a couple of days into the weekend and I was wanting to take a shower.  There were two showers for about 15-20 women and getting into the shower was hard enough, but hoping for hot water was near to impossible.  It was late at night and I was the last in line.  It had been a long couple of days and I longed for a hot shower to soak away some of the junk I had been wading through.  As I finally stepped into the shower, as I suspected the water was freezing cold.  In desperation, I cried out to God.  "If You can turn water into wine, surely you can make this water Hot!!!  Burning Hot!!!"  As soon as the words came from my mouth, I could feel the heat returning to the water.  Within a few seconds, the water was so hot I had to step to the side out of the spray and keep turning it down until it was cool enough to step back in.  Tears were streaming down my face as this was my first miracle.  It was my own, personal, miracle.  It was God showing me that He cared, even about something as insignificant as a hot shower.

So, as I stood in my shower remembering, I again cried out to God.  I reminded Him of the times He had been faithful in the little things of my life.  I asked Him again to help me find my earring.  "Father, I remember Your faithfulness.  I know that You care about the things that I care about.  You know that this is just an earring, but to me it's important.  I don't want to have to tell Jeremy that I lost it when He comes home, so if you could let me find it before he comes home I would be grateful."  I turned off the shower and got out, continuing to pray as I went through my after-shower routine.  I went into the closet to get my pajamas on and I bent over to pick up a few things on the floor.  As I leaned over, there on the floor of my closet was the front and back of my earring within three inches of each other!  It was unbelievable!  Not only had I looked in my closet, but had been in and out of that closet multiple times a day over the last few days and never saw that earring.  Again, the tears began to fall and praises to my Father in Heaven went up. 

Everyday, I'm reminded that God is in the details.  I see it in the way He works out my crazy schedule so that everything gets accomplished.  I feel it in a song that I needed to hear at just the right time.  I recognize it in the beauty of creation all around me and the intricate details of every living creature.  I cherish it in that ten minutes of down time He gives me in the midst of a crazy day.  Just look around and you will see Him in the details of your day as well.  And when you do, say, "Thank You!"  The more you do, the more He will show Himself to you.

My friend, is there something in your life that you are afraid to ask Our Father in Heaven?  Do you think it is too small or too petty to ask for?  I want you to know that Our Father is a personal Father.  If you have children, you know what it's like when something is important to your child.  It may be something totally insignificant to the world, but to them, it is everything.  Our Father knows what is important to us and He wants to bless us with the desires of our hearts.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying that God is a genie in a bottle and will grant us our every wish, but when our desires are pure, He takes delight in giving them to us.  Our God is in the details and He is faithful in the small things,  so trust Him, because He cares.  All you have to do is ask. 

Blessed in the Small Things,

Lorissa

Lessons from a Loyal Companion

Last Sunday morning, we laid to rest our beloved family guardian, our dog, Tessa.  "Tess the Mess," as we lovingly called her,  came to us as an 8 week old puppy.  We had spent many months researching her breed, locating breeders, going to visit her parents, and then finally choosing her from the litter.  Both my husband and I are dog lovers.  As a matter of fact, I cannot remember a time in my life that I have not had a dog.  Even all of my jobs since high school have included working with "man's best friend."  All that to say, we take owning a dog very seriously.  To us, a dog is not just a pet, but a member of the family, so for our family, this was a major loss.  As we stood around her freshly dug grave, we laughed, we cried and we remembered her attributes.  As each person named the qualities that made Tessa so special, I paused to think...I wish more humans were that way.

I have a sign that hangs by my grooming tub that says, "The more I get to know some people, the more I like dogs."  Being a dog groomer, I spend many hours with only canine companions.  This suits me well.  It gives me lots of time to think, and God often speaks to me as I work. As funny as it may seem, all week long, I've been thinking about those things that we talked about standing around our dog's grave that day, and it has challenged me to be a better person.  So, I wanted to share with you the lessons I've learned from the life of a loyal dog.  If you've ever had a faithful, four legged companion, you might recognize some of these characteristics.  We may have taught her how to sit, down, shake and rollover, but what she taught us was so much more.

When I think about my Tessa, the first thing that comes to mind is her unconditional love.  From the moment she entered our home, she was ours and we were hers.  Nothing made her happier than spending time with her family.  She was always very repentant when she did wrong.  The look on her face always gave her away when she was guilty.  If you have a dog, you know this look-the head down, eyes looking up and then turning away in shame.  How can you not forgive that look?  On the other hand, she was always quick to forgive.  She never held a grudge.  It didn't matter how long you had been gone, a few minutes or several days, she was always there to great you with a wagging tail and wiggling body.  She loved unconditionally.

Another thing that stood out was her fierce loyalty.  By her breed nature, she was a guard dog, but she was more than that.  She was loyal to a fault to her people.  She was a good judge of character.  If someone was a friend to us, then she knew they were a friend to her.  Even if they didn't want to be her friend, she did her very best to win them over.  She could be quite intimidating to non-dog lovers.  When someone came to our home, it was her job to protect us and our property and she took her job seriously.  At first, she thought it was effective to run into the garage and bark from inside where no one could get her and if anyone approached her, she would squat and pee all over herself. (Sorry for being graphic, but it's the truth.) This was really not effective in scaring people that did not belong, or anyone else for that matter. It took her a few years to figure out how to most effectively do her job, but eventually she got the hang of it.  By the end of her life, I could confidently say that she would have protected us with her life.  She would boldly put herself between us and anyone or anything that meant to cause us harm.  She loved loyally.

Finally, she was a faithful companion.  Wherever we were, she was happiest to be with us.  She loved to spend time with us and because she did, I'm pretty sure she got to know us pretty well.  Dogs have feelings too.  If you spend enough time with them, you will see.  When we were down, she would come lay her head on our lap and look at us with those sad puppy eyes.  It was like she knew we just needed a friend and she understood.  She would listen when we talked and acted like she knew exactly what we were saying.  When we were happy and enjoying life, she would wiggle all over and be happy with us.  She only had a two inch tail, therefore wiggling was much more effective than wagging.  Whether we were working, playing or lounging around, she was always by our side. And we were happiest, when she was by our side.  She loved faithfully.

She loved unconditionally. 

She loved loyally.

She loved faithfully.

And so I think...Do I love like that? Can I love like that?

John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  Tessa loved like this.  I get this.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would lay down my own life for the life of my husband or the life of my children, but I think God intended a little more.  He gave His life for all who would believe, even while we were still sinners.  That one is a little harder to swallow, but challenges me non the less.

But...am I first to say, "I'm sorry?"  Am I quick to forgive?  Do I get excited to see my family and always greet them when they come home?  Do I listen well and sit with those who just need someone by their side?  Do I mourn with those who mourn and laugh with those who laugh?  Do I protect those I love with a fierce loyalty?  Sadly, my answers to these questions are often times, "No." 

If we loved her so much for loving us like that, then why should we not love others like that as well? 

So, as I remember you Tessa, I want to say... Thank you my loyal companion for teaching me through how you loved.  I don't know if dogs go to heaven, but if they do, I know God would say, "Well done, good and faithful companion.  You loved well and you were loved in return."  I no longer mourn the days to come without you here, but instead celebrate the time I had with you and the life you lived.  You were so loved and I miss you dear friend.  Thanks for teaching me how to love.

Loved Well,

Lorissa


Find me linked up at http://www.w2wministries.org/.

"No, Because I Love You."

NO.  It's one of the shortest words in the English language.  It can be one of the hardest words to say and it can be one of the hardest words to hear.  As a parent of a toddler, this can be one of the most used words in your vocabulary.  It can also be one of the most frustrating words to hear as your child learns to say it back to you as a response to almost EVERYTHING!  As the parent of a teenager, the word "No" can make you one of the most disliked people on the planet.  There is just something about that small, two letter word that stirs up some strong emotions in a person.

As I've told you in a previous post, in parenting my own children, I've come to learn a lot about God and why He does some of the things that He does.  You see, as a parent there are times when it is absolutely necessary to say, "No."  For instance, I will tell my children, "No," when whatever they are wanting or attempting to do will cause them or someone else harm.  If I can see something they are going to do will cause imminent danger, then as a parent it is my duty to tell them, "No."  There are other times I tell my children, "No," because what they want is not the best choice and I know there is a better option.  Like when my child wants to sit down with a bag of chips five minutes before supper is ready, I know she will ruin her appetite with junk and not eat the healthier choice of a home cooked meal.  Other times I have to say, "No," because they have broken a rule and I have to follow through on a consequence.  (That's a tough one and makes me very unpopular.)  And finally, there's other times I say, "No," because I know something that they don't know and by saying, "No," I am setting them up for something way better.  One time my daughter wanted to have a friend spend the night.  I said, "No," because I knew that the following day we were having a surprise birthday party for her.  If I would have said, "Yes," it would have messed up the plans we had for her prior to the party, which was a special daddy/daughter date where my husband presented her with her purity ring. She was quite upset when I told her, "No," but said, "It was so worth it," when she found out the reason why.

On the flip side, hearing the word "No" is pretty hard to swallow sometimes too.  My husband tends to be very frugal with our money.  I, on the other hand, tend to be a free spender.  Over the last several years, I've become a little more respectful of his wishes on how we spend our money.  I will ask him before making larger purchases and I must say,  I still get a little miffed when he tells me, "No."  And don't even get me started when I tell one of my children to do something and she tells me, "No."  Even if she doesn't verbalize the word, but in action says it loud and clear, this momma gets mad!  Then there's times when someone else tells me, "No," and it just causes disappointment, like when I ask a friend to do something and they can't.  It may be for a good reason, but it's disappointing just the same.  "No" is just not a fun word!

So where am I going with this?  Well, when I think about God and His Word, there are many times He tells us, "No."  And as I listed above, there are so many different reasons for saying, "No."  The difference between me as a parent and God, besides the obvious, is that God is always good and He's always just.  There are times I will simply say, "No," because I'm in a bad mood.  It may have nothing to do with what I'm being asked, but in my selfishness I will say, "No."  God is not like that.  In every situation and in every response, He is totally good and totally righteous.  His response is always for our good and His glory.  It's never just because that's what He feels like at that moment.  In my good moments, even when it's hard, I will say, "No," because I love my children and I know that it is best for them.  God's response is always because He loves us and wants the best for us.  Many times I think we forget that.  We start to think that God just doesn't want us to have any fun or that He's punishing us, but that's just not the case.

The problem is, we are human and we are sinful-each and every one of us.  There are no exceptions.  In the beginning when God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, He only had one "No." "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Genesis 2:17.  Now God was doing this not because He was holding out on them, but because He was looking out for them.  It was not only for their safety, but because He wanted something better for them.  He loved them.  They were His children and He wanted the best for them.  But, because they sinned and chose to disobey, we too are now sinful and often choose to disobey.  His love for them did not change in their disobedience, but with their disobedience came consequence.  Their consequence was removal from the garden and their ability to walk daily in His presence without shame and ultimately death.

God has not changed.  His love for us has not changed.  He is still the same God that walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  The difference is the sin in us.  In the garden there was only need for one "No," but once sin entered in, there was need for more "No's."  Once the untainted bond between God and man was broken, the Bible became the most effective way for God to communicate His love to all the generations that have followed.  It isn't merely a history book or a book of rules, but a comprehensive way for us to learn how God loves us and how we should love Him. 

There are people who claim that "their God" is a god of love and acceptance, and that we must be reading the Bible wrong if we disagree with their interpretation of what is right or wrong.  They can't comprehend that a "good and loving" God would tell them, "No."  They can't believe that a "good and loving" God would have consequences for behaviors that He says are not acceptable.  And don't even mention that this same God will send people to Hell for not accepting His Son.  Its seems inconceivable to them that a God that says, "No," could possibly be loving, so they choose to omit the "No's" they don't agree with and only focus on the parts of the Bible that fit with what they consider loving.  This is what I must challenge, because I am a flawed human being and I love my children.  I absolutely want the best for them in their lives and because of that, I must at times tell them, "No," set boundaries, and give consequences.  If I chose to be completely tolerant of any and all behaviors that they chose to participate in, I would be neglectful.  It is not loving to allow my children to play with a loaded gun just because they want to.  It is not loving for me to say, "Yes," to every request they make just because I don't want them to get angry with me.  And it is not loving of me to not have consequences for breaking rules, therefore teaching them that they are the most important thing in the universe and they don't have to respect authority.  So why do we believe the only way that God could be loving and good is by never telling us, "No," and never having consequences when we disobey His rules?

So when the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." God is still loving.  Just because we don't like the message, does not make it less true.  Because God loves us, He says, "No."  He accepts us right where we are, but loves us enough to not let us stay there.  Verse 11 goes on to say, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  Romans 5:8 also says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to pay the price that we deserve to pay for our disobedience.  His only requirement is that we turn from disobedience and accept His free gift of forgiveness.  It's like He's saying, "I love you enough to say, 'No.'  I have something so much better for you, if you will just trust me.  Do you trust me enough to obey?"

As Christians, it's sometimes hard to address sin in those around us, be it in other Christians or non-Christians.  We can come off as judgmental and intolerant, but I don't think that is the case with most Christians.  Maybe we just need to change our approach.  Most of us know first hand what it's like to disobey God's "No's" and then experience the freedom of living in obedience.  I used to be some of those things mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6, but thank God for verse 11. Now I know first hand that what God had to offer was so much better.  It wasn't about Him telling me, "No."  It was about Him telling me, "Yes."  "Yes, I love you.  Yes, I accept you.  Yes, I forgive you and yes, now you are free."  If you are a Christian, you should have had a similar experience.  So maybe we need to talk more about that.  I think it's ok to say, "No, I don't condone what you are doing, but I love you.  No, God doesn't condone what you are doing, but He loves you.  Let me tell you what He offered me in place of those things and how it changed my life.  He is offering it to you too."  On the flip side, if we choose not to address these things, is it possible that we will "love" people straight into hell in the name of acceptance and tolerance?

There are still times in my life when God tells me, "No." I still don't like it, but because I know He is faithful, He is good, and He is just, I will trust Him.  I will trust that His "No" is what's best for me.  It will keep me safe or it will give me the opportunity to experience something even better.  Do you trust His "No's?"  If so, share your story.  You never know who may end up saying, "Yes!" to Christ.

Because I'm Forgiven,
Lorissa

Why I'm Married with Children

Growing up, I was never one of those girls who had dreams of getting married, settling down and having a house full of children.  I did not enjoy babysitting and to be truthful, I really didn't enjoy being around children.  As a matter of fact, I was pretty sure that I never wanted to have children.  Even when I thought of my life plan in high school and college it never really include a husband or children.  But...I've learned that God has a sense of humor and He knows better than I. His plans are always better than mine.

So, how did it happen that I am now married with children?  Let me tell you a little story.

I met my husband between my junior and senior year of college.  I had come home for the summer and was living with my parents.  Though I had stopped attending church in high school, my parents had recently started attending a new church, so I thought I would go check it out.  Non of my friends were home for the summer, so honestly, I had nothing better to do.  As I was sitting in the pew, I noticed what seemed to be a pretty good looking guy sitting in front of me.  It kept me pretty distracted during the sermon and I was quite excited when after the service he turned around to introduce himself.  Much to my surprise, he had a mouth full of braces and I was sure he was jail bait!  Come to find out, he was a year older than I and single...sort of.  I didn't find out about the other girl until later.

I was kind of crushing on him, but he was shy and so was I.  Either way, it got me to church every Sunday.  I became friends with his cousin who was in my Sunday School class.  I had invited her to go out one night for pizza and to hang out.  She called me back and asked if Jeremy could come along.  Needless to say, I said "sure" and was pretty excited to get to know him.  However, my hopes of a perfect match were dashed after an evening of hanging out chatting over pizza.  He was nothing that I was looking for and like no one I had ever dated.  I had no intention of living close to home for the rest of my life and he was a farmer on his families farm and wasn't going anywhere.  He never went to college and he mumbled, so I could hardly understand anything he said.  When my mom asked, "So how did it go?"  I responded, "He's a nice guy, but I'd never date him." (Insert God's humor here, since we've now been married nearly 14 years and he was God's perfect match for me.) My idea of the perfect man at the time was someone who was educated, had a good career plan, was willing to go with me wherever I landed and would allow me to follow my dreams.  If I could find that man, I would consider getting married, but I figured the chances were slim and besides, I was sure I didn't need a man to make me happy.

Jeremy had one redeeming quality.  He was interested and he rode a Harley.  I guess I should have mentioned that in my criteria above.  Since high school, I was obsessed with motor cycles.  I would jump on the back of any bike I could get a ride on, but my heart belonged on a Harley Davidson.  I had no friends at home, therefore I had no social life.  So, being bored and having a chance to ride on the back of a Harley was enough to spark a friendship.  As the summer went on, things progressed from friends to dating.  I had been in three serious relationships before him.  I wasn't one to really date around much, but I had crossed lines in those relationships that I didn't want to repeat.  We had talked about setting boundaries, but pushed them to the limit.  When I returned to college, we continued to date.  We would see each other on the weekends and talk on the phone.  One weekend I was home for a extended weekend and things went too far.  We both regretted it and vowed not to let it happen again.

A few weeks later, I had been invited to a Greek IV conference.  It was a Christian conference for the Greek community and I was in a sorority.  I had not been involved in any Christian organizations or a church on campus, but some of the girls in my sorority were going and asked me if I'd like to come along.  It sounded like fun and the guilt of what I had done helped me to decide to go.  That weekend, I rededicated my life to Christ.  I had walked away from God in high school, but had felt Him pursuing me even in the midst of my rebellion.  I was so broken and sorry for the way I had been living.  God forgave me and I felt free.  I was so excited to start all over as a new creation. 

A week later two lines on a pregnancy test told me I was pregnant.  Honestly, I must say that at the time, I did not think that God was very funny or that He had any idea what He was doing.  This was not the way my life was supposed to go.  This was not my plan!  How could God do this to me?  I just rededicated my life to Him and He lets me be pregnant!  It seemed like a pretty sick joke and not funny at all.

Needless to say, my life changed dramatically that day and everyday after.  Life between then and now has not been easy, but that's a post for another day.  But, God had a plan.  Oh, it was a marvelous plan.  Some days, I still don't think He's very funny, but other days, I can't help but laugh.  He's so very faithful.  He's sovereign.  He's good.  He knew what He was doing.  He knew that giving me a husband and children was the only way that I could ever truly know Him.  It's in loving my children that I can even slightly grasp His love for me.  It's in disciplining my children that I see the need for me to be disciplined.  It's in setting boundaries for my children that I see why He gave us His Word to live by.  There are days when I am in the middle of saying something to my children and I feel the gentle nudge from God saying, "Now you know how I feel," or "I think I've told you the same thing."  It's in those moments I know why God gave me children.  It is in being a mother that He gives me glimpses of the Father's love for me.  It's in being a wife that He refines me, corrects me, and humbles me.  It is teaching me how to submit to my Heavenly Father and show Him honor.  I'm still a work in progress and I still need daily reminders, but God's Word assures me in Philippians 1:6, "He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God knows best.  He has a plan for my life. He does have a sense of humor and children truly are a gift from God.  My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11-14.  It really couldn't be more fitting.  "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.  Then you will call on 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, "and I will bring you back from captivity."  His plan was and is so much better than my plan ever was.  I can't even imagine the mess I would have made of my life had I not turned it over to my Heavenly Father.  And there are still days when I mess it up something terrible and on those days more often than not, He uses my husband and children to remind me of His love, the value of discipline, and that His grace is sufficient.

 Just like Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  My firstborn was not a mistake!  But God was able to use my mistakes for my good! And for that, I am so thankful!

In His Hands,

Lorissa

Dare to Tell the Truth

Truth or Dare?  I remember playing this game as a kid.  Deciding whether to pick truth or dare had a few deciding factors.  The first factor was the people you were playing with.  How well did you trust them with your truths and how mean would they be with a dare?  The second factor was peer pressure.  If everyone was yelling, "Dare! Dare! Dare!" it was pretty difficult to say, "Truth."  I'm finding as an adult and as a Christian the rules have changed.  Now telling the Truth is a dare.  Unfortunately, the Christian community all too often is losing.  In a society driven by political correctness, it takes a daring person to stand up and tell the Truth. 

For me, as a Bible believing Christian, all truth is based on the Truth of the Word of God.  I'm a pretty "black and white" person.  I don't usually fall into a "gray" area on my beliefs.  I've been called a "truth teller" and "honest to a fault" so I know I may not be typical.  I believe that the Bible is the only source of Truth, "God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."  2 Timothy 3:16. 

That brings me to the point of this post.  Christians are failing (me included) at standing up and speaking Truth.  We are allowing the fear of opposition to silence the Truths of God.  We are so afraid of offending someone or being politically incorrect, that we have lost our boldness. 

Let me just say here that we have a true enemy and he is very good at what he does.  He is a deceiver and has been mastering the art of deception since the beginning of time.  When he deceived Eve in the garden, he didn't come as a scary red man with horns and a pitch fork, he came as a beautiful, crafty creature.  He didn't come right out and say, "Eat this fruit!"  He planted seeds of doubt.  Then he followed up with lies and excuses and ultimately an appealing offer she could not refuse.  By the time she realized she had been deceived, it was too late and the fate of all human kind had been sealed.  Genesis 3:1-7.  We are now dealing with the repercussions of this fall. 

We are living in a world that has be craftily deceived.  The things our society is now accepting as
"truth" have been slowly spoon fed to us for generations, numbing us to the lies and deception.  What once would have been considered detestable and an abomination are now considered rights and ways of life.  At the same time, Christians have been fed the lies that we should not stand up against those things which are contrary to God's Word, because when we do we are labeled "bigots, haters, intolerant, old fashioned, hypocrites, and much worse."  So frankly, many Christians aren't willing to take the opposition and choose to keep their views and convictions to themselves.  Trust me, I know, it's easy to do.  When you're scrolling through Facebook and you see someone has posted something that will cause controversy the claws come out.  People can be downright mean.  Instead of standing beside those brave enough to speak up against the wrongs in society, we scroll on by glad it's them and not us being ripped apart.  We're not willing to stick our necks out and take some of the heat off of the person who posted.  I've been there, done that.  What about the times when you really want to post something that you believe in, yet you think twice because you're afraid of offending someone who doesn't hold your same beliefs?(This may be one of those times for me.)  What do you do in the work place or in a group of friends who are talking about something that you oppose?  Do you have the fortitude to stand up and state your beliefs?  It's hard!  It's really hard when you are standing alone! 

God has been working on my heart in this area.  I hope this gives you something to think about as well.  I've only scratched the surface, but it's a good place to start. :)

So, I ask you:

Why do we find it so hard to speak up? 
Why are we ashamed of what we believe? 
Why do we care what other people think of us when it's Christ we answer to? 
Why do we care more about being politically correct, than biblically correct? 
Why do we sit around saying nothing, while those whose agenda is totally against everything we believe spread their propaganda to every news source available? 
Why are we apathetic? 
Why Christians? 
Why are we silent?


It's time we speak up! 
It's time we are bold!
It's time we focus on Christ!
It's time will know what the Word of God says!
It's time we stand up for our Christian values!
It's time we take action!
It's time we speak Truth in love!
Come on!
I dare you!

In His Debt,
Lorissa