Some Glorious Daybreak

"Be ready to leave by 5:45", he said. And that was all he said. No word of what his plans were or why so early. He didn't ask me if I wanted to go or give me any options, but there was a bit of excitement in the air and a twinkle in his eyes. Those twinkles get me every time.

When my alarm went off at 5 the next morning, I thought about the reasons one would get up at this hour: 1. To go to work. (No, he had the day off.) 2. To leave on a trip. (No, we were staying in town.) 3. Easter sunrise breakfast. (Again no! It was July.) With just 45 minutes to shower and get ready, I quickly pushed aside all thoughts of spoiling his surprise and believe it or not, I was ready to go by 5:40!

When the car turned toward the lake, just a few minutes from home, I knew his destination, but was still vague about his plans. He parked by the boat ramp and jumped out telling me we had come to see the show. God's show! He opened up the back of the SUV and began to unload the car. Obviously, while I took my shower, he had been a very busy man.

He pulled out two chairs, setting them up with a small table between them. The back of the car became a treasure chest. I watched with amazement as he pulled out a large thermos of coffee, my creamer, spoons, small bowls, banana muffins, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries and napkins and then, right there in the parking lot, overlooking the lake, our breakfast theatre took form. I kissed him, and he asked me if he forgot anything. I smiled and said "perhaps my Bible." He smiled and reached into the side pocket of the cooler and pulled it out.

The temperature was perfect. There was a gentle breeze. We could hear the fish as they jumped up to say their good mornings. Quiet and peace enveloped us like a soft blanket. We snuggled in. Little by little the eastern sky began to display undertones of pink and red. The fishing boats, barely visible, began slithering into the quiet waters.

And then, it happened! Out from the folds of the horizon, with no fan fare at all, yet with unmatched splendor and glory, the sun rose! Who said we couldn't have our Easter sunrise service in July?

In my heart strains from the song "Some Glorious Daybreak" broke through the silence and somehow filled my ears.

(1) Some glorious morning, sorrow will cease,

Some glorious morning, all will be peace;

Heartaches all ended, Labor all done,

Heaven will open, Jesus will come.

CHORUS:

Some golden day-break, Jesus will come;

Some golden day-break. Battles all won,

He’ll shout the vict’ry, break thro’ the blue,

Some golden day-break, for me, for you.

(2) Sad hearts will gladden, all shall be bright,

Goodbye forever to earth’s dark night;

Changed in a moment, like Him to be,

Oh, glorious day-break, Jesus I’ll see.

(3) Oh, what a meeting, there in the skies,

No tears nor crying shall dim our eyes;

Loved ones united, eternally,

Oh, what a day-break, that morn will be

We were watching and expecting that sunrise. I couldn't help but think, are we watching and expecting the Son to rise? (I have put in my order for a twice a week repeat...and am still waiting for an answer.)

Awake Angry and Appalled!

Awake, angry, appalled and arising is a perfect description of my feelings this morning. And those of you who know me, know that this description really does go against my personality. So let me explain myself. (This blog is a little long, but worth the read.)

In spite of my phobia of technology, this year I became a 'blackberry carrying citizen'. I don't usually carry it in a holster on my hip, but it is usually not far from me. One of the benefits of my blackberry is that I can get my emails instantly. And just because I can, I have developed the habit of checking my emails first thing every morning. This morning, the minute I awoke, I became angry and appalled, and decided to arise and tell you about it. I believe that if you are a true American, this news ought to cause you to also awake, be angry and appalled and arise to do whatever you can do to declare the word of the Lord. And let me remind you we do 'declare the word of the Lord' through our lifestyle, however, if we listen, there are times that He will direct us to stand up and speak, write, and publish!

Allow me to quote part of the email I awoke to this morning:

Our President Obama has declared June, 2009 as "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month". I am not "proud" in any way of this sin in our land. As a ministry friend has stated "There is nothing gay about being host to a sodomite spirit"! We are a Nation founded upon Judeo - Christian principles. We are a Christian Nation "if" we stand and declare Christ and His Word without compromise. Joshua famously stated "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord".

I am encouraging each of you to proclaim from your pulpits that as Christians, we are not in agreement with the above proclamation. To repent, to apply the blood of Christ to your life, family, and property, declaring release from this proclamation (even though we are citizens of America) for our personal land and property. We are in this world, but not of it! Also, encourage men and women -as voting, tax paying citizens - (not in the name of Christ as it puts you in a box that is to often ignored) to contact their own congressmen or women and personally express displeasure with the proclamation.

If we don't arise, who will? If we don't speak truth, who will? Isaiah 40:9 "Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up our voice mightily ---- lift it up, do not fear, say -- Here is your God" We do have good news to release - the blood of Christ will cleanse us of all unrighteousness, and the grace of God has appeared and will / can teach us what is right and what is wrong! Don't be afraid to speak truth concerning these life and death releasing issues!

Ezekiel 22:30 " I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found none". Be the man / woman God is looking for. Build a wall of righteousness, make a separation between life and death, and then take a stand praying for the unrighteous, redeem your land, and fight for America and your descendants! Sam Pratt, Pastor

As a very young children, we memorized the months of the year. June has always represented the month of summer, swimming, picnics, and the month of WEDDINGS!

I am a Christian, and an American, and I am opposed, in direct opposition, to this 'presidential declaration'. I I hope that each of you will awake, be angry, (sin not), be appalled, and arise to do as the Lord directs you!

 

mmmm...Thinking Quietly Outloud

This morning I was chatting online (skype (ing) mind you!) with my friend in Japan. She was tired (midnight) and I was drawing a blank, so we were kind of skype breathing for a few seconds.
I asked her if she was expecting me to come up with something encouraging or inspiring, and she responded, "Yes, some great wisdom."
It was then that I realized that wisdom does not usually come in 'great' size. Wisdom usually comes in tiny tidbits that could be easily overlooked or ignored. And even when you do see a little piece, it is not often recognized for what it is until one is watchful of the lifestyle it comes from. True wisdom does not call attention to itself, but to Him, who is Wisdom. Wisdom is applied knowledge, or applying the knowledge He gives to the way you live.
That is because knowledge and skills that are not walked are simply knowledge and skills, but true wisdom, whether heard or not, is applied and is seen walked out in a lifestyle that shouts praise and glory to Christ, who is Wisdom.

We have been instructed to get wisdom (Proverbs 1-8) and we get wisdom from listening to, and keeping His words. Oh how we need wisdom today. mmmm....just Thinking Quietly Outloud.

Royal Flush

No, I do not play poker! I have never player poker, and have no desire to learn. However, a close friend of mine likes to insist that since I gave an article in my book "Designed for Destiny, A Women's TeaVotional" a title including the words "Royal Flush" I must have a secret 'poker past' somewhere deep in my closet. Let me just tell you right up front, don't dig. It isn't there. I have played cards like Rook and Old Maid. I've seen enough to realize the importance of letters in the corners like J,Q,K, and A. But until I wrote the article Royal Flush, Flourish, and Finish, I did not know just how important they were when you had them in your hand with a 10. My husband gave me a quick understanding by telling me that it was the best hand you could have and no one could beat it.

I have played a little Yatzee with my kids and my grandkids. I know about the 'Full House' roll in Yatzee. I am telling you this to say that I am kind of hanging somewhere in the balances of a royal flush and a full house at my house right now. It is a good hand, a decent roll, I'm doing o.k...and it gives me a kind of excuse/apology for writing so spasmatically on my blog.

Things have been a little on the overload side for a while. My own household has gone through its daily struggles...broken fridge, leaking washer, sickness, stress, etc, and then I have begun to go out to speak again, and I am still writing monthly for Heartbeat, an online magazine (my column is called Gleanings for Legacy) and am still working on two books, have just finished another small book and sent it to the printer, and Laura continually tries to squeeze a few lines out of me for Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes my blog just gets left in the fog.

Hopefully you can understand and are enjoying the magazine articles.

My word of encouragement for the day comes from Exodus 9:4. It says that the Lord 'made a distinction that day', between the cattle of the Egyptians and the cattle of the people of Israel. Yes! I still believe that in all the doom and destruction we see around us, our God has made a distinction between those who are not His people and those who are. And that His eye is ever upon us and His plan is for good and not for evil!

"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Ps. 16:5-6

How Thick is That Wall?

We never thought to ask that question. And since experience is a good teacher, we really should have. At the very least, at my age, and
being a woman of experience, I should have realized the flexibility in the meaning of the word 'beyond'.

Early Thursday morning, Laura and I flew out of DFW, heading to our Arising to Excellence Women's Gathering in New York. DFW is a massive
airport, and I have always been of the opinion that it was well thought out and planned. Living only ten minutes from the airport, it is normally
a breeze getting to and from the airport. We have a toll tag, and don't even have to stop for the toll booth. (Thursday morning it didn't work.) With
the terminals so spread out, we rarely have a problem with parking, and only face long lines at holiday times and spring break.

Thursday was different day. We arrived an hour and a half before our flight, as usual. I kissed my hubby goodbye at the curb,, and insisted that we
would be alright to get our luggage inside the door and to the counter. After all, we are women on the go! But stepping through those glass doors,
we realized we were going nowhere fast!

The counter for the airline we were flying was waaaaaaay down there. After 'dragging our bags and two carry-ons each' through christmas-length
lines, and mobs of confused people, we found that our flight was operated by another airline, which happened to have merged with the airline
'just beyond that wall'.

No problem, just go out those glass doors, down the sidewalk to the next door and "it is just beyond that wall". This was what brought me to the
realization of how fluid the word beyond is. Did he mean an inch or a mile beyond? How thick is the wall?

We went out the glass doors and began our journey 'beyond that wall', dragging our baggage, straining every muscle, racing time. Let it suffice for me
to say that it was a long way. The wind was so strong that my coat was blowing open and creating a sail to help push me backwards. Progress was
extremely slow.

We did make it to our destination safely and in time to get on our plane, but it really got me thinking about the walls we push through, the hardness
and thickness of those walls, and the continual struggles and hindrances to every day life. I couldn't help thinking about Paul's journey in Acts chapter two.
I had a new understanding of his words "the winds were against us" and "arriving with difficulty".

Today I am reminded that God is with me and through His strength we will make it to the other side. He is our EVER PRESENT help in time of
trouble. God is in our midst, and will help us "right early". We can be still and know that He is God. Before you attempt to get through today's walls
at your house, you may want to re-read Psalms 46.

When God Shouts…I Listen

Sometimes God shouts and sometimes He whispers. Last night He shouted. I was making tea for my friend Laura. We were exhausted and had worked hard all day. We got back to my house late, and I asked Laura if she would put the water on while I went in to kiss my hubby, and then I would make tea. She did. She used an old, chipped, glass quart measuring cup to put the water in the microwave to heat. (Just like I’ve done many times before.) I came out of the bedroom, took the water out of the microwave, added the teabags, and plopped  a saucer on top to steep the tea. (I admit, I have done that before too, just usually not when my friends are watching.)

You see, I am ‘the tea lady’. I know the right way to make tea, and what’s more, I own way over 100 teapots! Literally, from where I was standing making tea in a glass measuring cup, I could have taken two steps and had my hands on seven of them!

That’s when God shouted. Shouted silently to me. Laura was beside me, but she did not hear him. I broke out in a chuckle that said “Yes, Lord, you are right!” That’s when Laura knew there was something else going on. I explained to her the message I was getting, and of course she immediately wanted to take a picture, but I did not let her.

I often tell people that God talks to me through teapots. This time He used a ‘teapot wannabe’ to silently shout these questions into my spirit:

• Do you find it easy to do things your way, skirting the very gifts that I have given you to use to bless others?
• Do you forget to show value and respect, or take for granted the closest friends that I have given you?
• Are you willing to put forth a little extra effort to do it my way?

You get it now, don’t you? Sometimes God shouts. Are we listening?

This morning the wannabe still sat on the stove to remind me: The tea was good. The fellowship was sweet. The lesson was learned! 

Walk Through the Wall…

of my heart, Lord. Walk through the wall of my heart.

Have you ever stood and laid your hand on the outside of a door to pray for a person on the inside? Now, come on…be honest. I am sure that I am not the only mother who has done this before. And at the risk of everyone thinking that I might be a little crazy, I must admit that I have done it many more times than once! 

Many of those times were probably in the turmoil of my son’s late teens. I remember one particular day of stress when I was in my study, with both my hands pressed firmly against the wall separating the study and the bathroom. I couldn’t touch him, but I knew that God could. My son was in the shower, and I was in a closet all of my own…my prayer closet! “Go through this wall, Lord. Touch him now. Let him hear you…see you! Touch him today!

How like Thomas we are! Each in our own little world, our own little way, wanting to see Him! Needing to see the scars. Longing for just a little proof that He is really there. Without seeing Him, we can wonder if He really knows. We might find ourselves questioning His love for us, or whether He really died…for ‘me’!

Last night, I was thinking about the walls of our own making. The ones we unknowingly  put up that keep Him out. Sometimes I am not sure that I can even identify those barriers in my life. I am just so thankful that He is accustomed to walking through walls!

Lord, walk through the walls of my heart today! Whatever walls I have put up that keep me from hearing you, knowing you, and seeing you! Today,Lord, I ask you to walk through the walls of my heart.

“My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there He stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me ‘Arise…and come away.’”     Song of Solomon 3:9-210