Posted in Life Inspiration

When the laughter stops… the launching point

Robin Williams Tickets

My heart was broken for Robin Williams last night when I heard the news of his suicide. A man known for making us laugh, a comedic genius and yet couldn’t pull himself out of sadness. Suicide is no respecter of persons, be they rich or poor, young or old, elite or unknown. It’s a selfish death, in that those who love you are left to morn and self-blame and the very pain you wanted to stop you’ve now inflicted on those you loved. For the Christians there is always the question, “Were they saved?” And then there are those who callously comment that they couldn’t have been. I disagree.

Depression (for which I occasionally inwardly battle) and mental illness are not Band-Aid-able nor can you always medicate them away, although that sometimes works. It’s taken much too lightly by many who think it’s something you can just “get over” or it’s triggered by something else. I have no profound answers for anyone seeking a solution to understanding the why’s of suicide, I have only this…

If you contemplate suicide – Seek Christ

If you care take the suicidal – Seek Christ

If you are confused as to why it happened – Seek Christ

No that’s not all there is…that’s just a launching point. He has to take over from there because everyone is unique; but until you seek Him he cannot take you in the direction you need to go. Your questions may even go unanswered for a while, it may be a time of contemplation and healing, or even re-grouping. But seek Him first, then launch, not visa versa.

My friend ReAnn Ring posted on Facebook this morning the quote “One thing we know for sure … the Lord chases us all the way to our death and beyond. I love when He catches me … and doesn’t let go.”

He caught me in 1996. I guess that is why He makes His disciples “fishers of men,” or women as the case may be. I’m now the fisher, not the fished. Are you near my net? Did this post strike a chord in your heart?  Please take heart when I say “The Devil is a loser and a liar!” Turn a deaf ear to his tongue and seek Christ; it is in Him you’ll find life and a life worth living. It is in His people that you’ll find a physical hand attached to the Spiritual Hands. We are God’s ambassadors to the earth and our job is to allow you to see Him working through us.

If you’re struggling I urge you to find a good Bible believing Church near you and get hooked up! It’s not an instantaneous fix… remember… it’s the launch.

Hebrews 13:5b

… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

8 Words that Describe Life

baby feet

If you were to describe life in just 8 words what would the words be? That was the question I posed to my teen class yesterday morning in Sunday School. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Would those words change if circumstances changed and what might some of the words look like to describe God in the bad times? It was a great conversation starters! Word’s stir us. If I mention a word, like “fear” and ask you to think on it, it usually calls to remembrance a time in your life when you were afraid. The Word of God is greater than any word I could use, and has the power to stir your soul with ever jot and tittle. That’s God.

So when it comes to the Bible, why do you think we hesitate to read it? … not enough time, lack of understanding, conviction, you just don’t want too? I think that’s called rebellion. God created each of us in His image and for the purpose of having a relationship with Him. For me it’s an overwhelming thought sometimes to think that the Creator of the all the universe created me for Him. To have a relationship with Him in the manner that I have a relationship with my children. Parent/Child. But that’s how it is, and His word is the greatest and most easily understand way of communicating with Him and yet we take if for granted.

The beginning of our relationship with God began in Genesis

Genesis 1:26a

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

It was as if God was saying – They’re going to look like Us, and they’re going to like the things We like. What kind of things do you and God have in common? Did you ever think about that? It’s amazing when someone who wasn’t raised by their parent discovers that there is commonness that can’t be denied; looks, mannerisms, likes and dislikes. It was amazing to think that God placed certain things in me that He too likes, it was like He had a purpose for them…

Genesis 2:15

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

I’m pretty sure the garden didn’t have to have Adam’s attention. It was self-sustaining and no doubt glorious. So why would Adam have needed to “dress” it? When we get dressed we put on things. What could Adam “put on” the earth to make it better? God had made Adam in His likeness, to take care of things. That was Adam’s purpose, He couldn’t improve upon what God had given him, but He could take care of it. It’s true with us as well. We cannot improve upon the things God has given us to work with, but we can use them for His glory.

Romans 13:14 says “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” We’re not going to make the world better with man’s ideas. God put within us His ideas, but we often choose to ignore the very thing that would make us happy.

 Remember my question to the kids “What eight words would you use to describe life, well I’d use the first eight in Psalm 100:3

Psalm 100:3 says – Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

He is the Creator of life.

Much of the trouble we have in life comes from the fact that we’re always searching for “something” or “something better.” We’re never satisfied with what we have. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed in the garden, and yet still they chose to search for the one thing they could not have. Satan has a way of distorting what we think we want. People question why God gave man the free will to make a choice of sinning or not. It was the gift of free will that made love possible, otherwise it wouldn’t have been love; it would have been an order.

If I were to ask you what one thing would bring happiness to your life what would that be? Have you forgot the things you once liked? Have you talked to the One who created you? He has a way of reminding us.

Posted in Uncategorized

My Pursuit of Happiness

It ain’t always easy bein’ happy but it beats the alternative. I made the decision years ago that when someone asked me how I was, I would smile and say I’m amazing, or awesome or extraordinary; at the worst “fine.” I do occasionally feel like a liar because it doesn’t always feel true. But it is. I have the occasional off day where when that “how ya feelin’?” question arises and I would like to say, “Well, since you ask” and then let it go with both canons firing. But to what avail? Then we’re both upset. So, my “I’m fine” theory will continue. You may be thinking that that’s a very caring attitude for my fellowman. Not always. Sometimes it’s just me taking care of me.

Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 2:1-4

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

It doesn’t take very long into a conversation with a negative personality before you begin thinking “oh gracious… why did I ask?” I write about this more often than any other topic because I believe we need the encouragement. To country quote Paul, I am not going to share with you how bad my day is because then you’ll have a bad day, and together we’ll share just exactly how lousy the whole world is and before you know it I’m as low as scum trail from a snails belly on a hot July day. That’s low! I love you too much for that. I realize that I may be the only joy someone has in the course of the day, and that’s pretty sad but it’s reality. So I too determined, I’m not going to tell you because it’s not healthy for either of us.

I’ve always been a very private person. If my husband and I have a Mister and Mrs. (aka disagreement) I don’t feel obliged to go to the office and share it with the staff. It just continues the drama. Stop it! And it doesn’t speak well of my husband. Nor do I share it with my children and cause them to disrespect their father. If someone hurts my feelings, I generally don’t tell anyone, because then someone else is upset at them, and I may have just been tenderhearted about the whole situation. And then, there are those people who like to have roasted preacher for Sunday dinner, and then wonder why no one accepts their invitation to “bring a friend” day at church. Come on! Don’t do it.

Psalm 34:14 ~ Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Happiness does not come easy, it has to be pursued. Apostle Paul knew it, King David knew it and I know it. There’s a song we sang as children “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap), If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap). For the Father up above, is looking down on you in love, If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap).”

Life’s rough. Choose to be happy today. If clouds of sorrow start to overshadow you, start singing “If you’re happy and you know it.” If the first verse doesn’t work, sing them all! I love you and so does Jesus!!! Really 🙂