a short lesson

I took Clyde with me this morning as I went on my walk down Blair Road. He was so excited he kept pulling ahead of me and pulling against the leash. He’d move off the sidewalk to the left. He’d see a squirrel and try to run. He’d want to stop suddenly and well do what dogs do. I just wanted to move forward. I had a plan and didn’t want to deviate from it. Keep moving! That reminds me…
Am I walking along God’s path or my own? Am I easily distracted by the shiny things that catch my eye? Am I pulling ahead of God? Does God have to drag you a bit because you’ve lost your zeal? (Here’s a quick test…that friend that you have shed tears over because they are without the Savior…still fervent in your prayers?)
Father, I pray Lord that you keep me on a short chain. I’m so easily beset by distractions. I can easily chase after things that in the end mean nothing. Help me stay behind you where I am led and protected. When I’m ahead of you I face dangers and pitfalls. Thank you God for your lesson to me as I walk the mutt. I’m still amazed that you care so much for me to spend time with me this morning.

It has a purpose

It is foggy here in Jax this morning. Taking the kids to school, I really had to focus on the road ahead-it was hard to see. Today it’s supposed to reach 80 degrees (Dec ember 16th?!) so I know when it heat up, the fog will burn off. That reminds me…
When things in our life are foggy, we’re unsure of the road ahead, we should intensify our focus. All of our senses should be heightened so we don’t miss a word from God, miss a divine moment; miss hearing an answer that we’ve been waiting to hear. When you’re feeling the heat..keep focused! The heat has a purpose - it can be a good thing…just like the heat burning off the fog.

Father, thank you for the fog and the heat. Although at its peak I’m not jumping for joy, I know it’s for my good. I know in my own life that it is during those times I focus harder on you and my faith grows.

My friend Dawn

Yesterday there was a series of emails passed around whose basis was the topic of friendship, they were so funny..it was initiated by my friend Dawn. One of those 'you know a true friend when they...' type things and it was true and hilarious.

But today I began to seriously consider my blessing of having a friend in Dawn Burns. We met when Promise Land BC was a small group of believers meeting in a stinky school(of which we were thankful!). Our kids are similar in age and share friendships. Our families enjoy vacationing together and camping together. Actually, her parents love me! I even knew that Brad, her husband would soon be the loving owner of a dog. Not because she told me but because he loves his wife and kids and wanted to make them happy. Cooper, welcome to the Burns clan.

Dawn and I have shopped together, been workers at childrens camps, youth camps and ladies retreats. We've created legendary stories that had to do with us being singing chickens AND she washing my butt- I did warn you its legendary stuff! We have had a ton of fun.

What you may not know about Dawn is that in addition to her gift of teaching, she has a spiritual gift of prophecy - her discernment is indeed God given. Her insight into situations can at times be beyond her not-yet-40 years. She does not have the gift of mercy (nor pretends to) but does display love, concern and empathy.

Dawn has been a true friend. What's a true friend you ask? Let me give you my own personal definition. Open in communication, able to take a joke, as well as give one. Listens more than speaks, loves even when she has been wronged and tells you 'get over it' when you need to hear it. Disagrees with you even when it could be unpleasant, holds her tongue when you've gained your weight back, doesn't condemn or avoid when I'm not on the path anymore. ..but doesn't let me flounder there either. These are some of the qualities important to me in our friendship. More importantly, this isn't a churchy friendship. You know the kind...all smiles, all is well, nope, everything in my life is A-OK. That drives me crazy because it leads people to think, maybe I'm the only one in which xyz isn't great all the time!

Dawn has seen me bawl over major issues and heartaches. She has heard me confess errors and repentance for things said or implied. She has prayed over me, cried over me and confronted me. That's my kind of friend. We are, I hope, this to each other. Our friendship is based first on our love of Jesus. Why because we both know from what he has saved us! Doesn't He just bind hearts together!

God, I thank you for having me reflect today on my blessing of Dawn being my friend. Many times we dont share our thoughts (certainly not this way Dawn will think!!) of our blessings of friendships. So today i want to say I'm glad we're friends Dawn!

A ditch

I’m reading II Kings these days. In chapter 3, three kings (of Judah, Edom, and Israel) made an alliance to go fight the Moabites. While the BIG 3 were staged in the valley, they were instructed by a prophet to dig ditches. Then God would fill the ditches with water that the armies desperately needed. Had a need, sought out God to provide, they did their part (digging) and God provided.
Interesting. My point of the blog this morning was to get to the part about what the Moabites saw when they looked into the valley and saw the water filled ditches. But I just need to stop right here because I was about to miss something very important- for me?
The people had a need. They turned to God (via the prophet) to provide. The prophet said DIG DITCHES. I don’t want to get lost in the simplicity here. Seems to me God many times answers our prayers, but it isn’t what we want to hear; directs us to do something we don’t want to do. His order of things isn’t clear to us, so we circumvent them. In essence, we say God do what I want you to do for me, instead of Father, conform me in this matter until it is what You want. Is there a matter in your life that He is answering but we’re not recognizing because it’s not what we want to hear? Peace out- gotta go find my shovel.

Hymn:Be Still My Soul

When I am shaken, I cry and sing.
When I am thankful, I bless His name and sing.
When I am angry I shout, cry and then sing.
Mostly I sing hymns. This hymn was written in the 1700's yet today makes me worship God.


Be still, my soul--The Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide.In ev'ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul--Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul! the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul! when change and tears are past,All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

" Be Still, My Soul" is a hymn originally written in German during the latter half of the 17th century. This period of time marked by a revival that broke out across Germany. Lutherans as this time were practicing Pietism. This doctrine was composed of religious devotion, ethical purity, and charitable activity. The newest hymn at these revival meeting was "Be Still, My Soul."
Three different composers worked to create "Be Still, My Soul." A woman involved in the Pietism Movement, Katharina von Schlegel wrote the lyrics. A century later, Jane Borthwick, a Scottish-born composer, translated the hymn into English. The last contributor was Jean Sibelius, Finland's finest composer. The music from "Finlandia" is used as the tune for this hymn. God used three people with three different languages to give us this wonderful example of Christian patience.

I Kings...(that would be in the Bible)

I just finished reading chapters 15- 18. Action packed! Intrigue! Mystery! I bet they’re gonna make a movie of these chapters! It should be on the New York Times Best Sellers list by next week, latest.

PLBC Military Honor Day

Can I just shout out WOW!!!

Amazed. Humbled. Thankful.
These are words that come to mind as I think of the effort of those at our church that participated in making tomorrow's Military Honor Day memorable. Are you ready for this? 48 people have served to make this ceremony nice. We want those being honored to feel we have done our very best for them...(actually it's for Jesus but thats just between us!). Shopping, cleaning,cooking, decorations, garbage detail, baking, ironing and crafting...you name it. I am amazed at what God can do with willing hands. I am humbled to be surrounded by such people. I am thankful to be surrounded by such people.
God, there are many folks that will be in your house tomorrow who don't know you. Help us to show genuine love to them all.

The Lyons family - faithfulness

Recently through facebook I re-connected with Teresa and Philip Lyons. I went to high school with Philip. Grew to love his family, because they showed love to me. This was my first introduction to Jesus. Didn't hear of Jesus before then (isnt that crazy?!). The two married sometime during his college/seminary years and went to the mission field of West Africa and grew in family and in the Lord.
So much time has passed. 15 years? More? Their young boy Zac, is in college! So whats my point? Guess where they are and guess wha they are doing? In West Africa ( Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) still serving the Lord.
I'm near tears as I reflect on the huge amount of time that has passed. How many lives has God touched through them? Their faithfulness to their mission is what touches me. Remember when you struggled at the point of surrender? (I just don't want God to send me to Africa!) [maybe a bad example here] Afraid of what it was He'd want from you?
How have you shown God faithfulness in the last week? Month? Year?
Don't give up or grow weary in well-doing. Haven't done such a great job? Ask God to ignite your heart for those around you. You don't have to be in West Africa to be serving. God has you where you are for a purpose. Be faithful in Ed White High School. Be faithful @ Baldwin, Trinity, Stillwell. Be found true where ever you are.....and parents..be faithful to your ministry with, in front of and around your kids. It'll make a HUGE impact!

Veteran's Day

November 11, 1918 World War I, then normally referred to simply as The Great War ended with the implementation of an temporary armistice [the final peace treaty being signed in 1919 at the infamous Treaty of Versailles] between the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November, 1918.

November 11, 1919: President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

To the MANY men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces, thank you so much.