VERY COOL!

August 31. Yay!

As much as I dislike the fact that my life seems to slipping down the water slide at turbo speed, the end of August couldn’t come soon enough for me.

Sure we still have some 90-degree days in store, perhaps through October. But psychologically, August ends the summer heat and ushers in the coolness of Autumn.

There are those of you out there—you know who you are—that enjoy the heat. But really, what are you thinking? In fact, how can you think when your brain is sizzling?

In truth, I praise God for His plan for our world; for creating weather patterns that transfer heat, cool temperatures and water from one place on this great planet to another.

I praise God for creating variety—the changing seasons; the coolness of early morning and late night with the warmth of daytime in between.

I praise God for giving weather that soothes each of us in whatever way He created us to enjoy it.

And as we end August and look to cooler temperatures, I praise God that now, He’ll start making the weather just for me!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for variety in all things—especially in people. Remind us that variety is good. Remind us that your plan is good even if we don’t understand it, because you are good. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you a crazy person who likes heat? It’s OK, God loves you anyway…[smile]

WRITTEN ON THE HAND

Today I was reading Isaiah 49:16: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

We know that the book of Isaiah is filled with prophecies about Jesus. The book takes us from the original meaning of the word prophet as a person who speaks the truth from God; to the more modern definition, that a prophet is a person who foretells the future.

In Isaiah’s case, it is both.

God loves us so much that he personally knows each one of us. And God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to be hung on the cross—the palms of his hands pierced for us.

Do you remember when you were in third grade and you figured out that secret, sneaky way to write answers to test questions on the palm of your hand? It was brilliant. No one had ever thought of that idea in the history of public education. No one would ever know that you had secret answers. No one would know you didn’t deserve the grade you got.

So maybe our idea wasn’t so brilliant. But God’s idea was. No one but God could have thought up the idea of providing us with a savior to satisfy His own laws requiring a blood sacrifice for our sins.

No one but God has the secret answers.

No one but God can grant me mercy and grace—that I don’t deserve.

We stumble on through life…jotting crib notes and reminders on the palms of our hands. But we can remember that Jesus loved us so much that those reminders written on the palms of His hands were for us. It wasn’t cheating. It was open-palm, loving hands, pierced for us; our names written in his blood.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your reminders and your plan. Thank you for never forgetting us and never forsaking us. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Tell the truth. Did you ever use your hand as a cheat sheet? [I did once and yes, I still feel guilty.]

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Today's post is part of the Christian Writer's blog chain. Our theme for August is "memory." Please follow the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about memory.

Dear Lucky Agent Contest

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For you children's writers: The Writer's Digest 11th annual Dear Agent Contest is  focused on middle grade novels. Here's the link: Dear Lucky Agent contest

Good luck!

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FEAR NOT

After Moses died, Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites across the Jordan river; to fulfill God’s promise began 40 years earlier when Moses led them out of Egypt. It was all up to Joshua: cross the river or wander the rest of their lives in the desert. No doubt Joshua was more than a little afraid of his new responsibility. So God assured him, saying: "Be strong and courageous." (1 Joshua 6)

After God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, God then told Joshua, "Be strong and very courageous." (1 Joshua 7)

Finally God told Joshua once more, "Be strong and courageous," adding, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (1 Joshua 9)

Three times God repeated His encouragement to Joshua to be strong and courageous. God knows how much easier it is for us humans to be timid and fearful.

Throughout the Bible, whenever God sent his messengers, often the angel’s first words were: "Do not be afraid." Angels know that as wonderful and lovely as they are, seeing one show up can turn us humans into screaming scaredy pants. Angels, too, know that fear is a natural part of our lives.

Paul, however, reminded us that …

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

The point about courage is not that you have no fear. The point about courage is that you do what is necessary in the face of fear. You do it even though you are afraid.

In Philippians 4:13, Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul isn’t saying he’s strong just because he’s a believer. Rather, Paul means he can do all things because the Spirit of God empowers him. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, Paul now has the Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit who makes Paul strong.

And this Spirit of God that made Paul strong? It’s in each believer, living, waiting, available to strengthen us, too.

Our spirit of weakness, timidity and incapacity does not come from God. What comes from God is a spirit of power, love and self-discipline because it is God’s own Spirit; His Holy Spirit, living in us.

Every time we remind ourselves that God’s strong and courageous Spirit is in us, and step out in faith, we experience the courageous power of God in us and become stronger and more courageous, both for now and for the next time we are faced with the choice of fear or courage. It usually begins with the small stuff—not angelic visitors; not leading a million people into a promised land; not birthing a famous baptist minister like John. Sometimes it simply begins with an attitude of submission to God’s will and a trust that He is in charge of everything—for our good.

Each time we shut our ears to fear and open our hearts to the power of God’s Spirit, we let courage expand and become a more natural part of who we are and especially—who we are in Christ.

If an angel ever comes to visit me, I hope he says, "Fear not. Be strong and courageous, because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."


NOTE: This is a reposting from www.WeUsed2BU.com where our theme for August was "fear."

AFIRE

Northern California is on fire. Literally.

Thousands of acres of fires are raging here. Smoke has darkened the sky for hundreds of miles. Many people have been evacuated from their homes. Homes, businesses and livelihoods have been lost.  National Guardsmen, fire fighters and public servants are risking their lives to contain and combat the fires.

My brother's monestary was evacuated nearly one week ago. They still do not know whether the monestary buildings, the church and the chickens, bees and three monestary cats have survived. The brothers are homeless, temporarily residing with church families several hundred miles away from home.

Please pray with me for people who are in crises caused by natural disasters and for the people who work to protect us from them.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this world. When natural disasters strike us, please remind us that you are still in charge. Please protect our loved ones from harm at these times and grant them your peace, courage and strength. Amen.