A Fire. A Journal. A Blessing

A few days ago, my daughter sent me this text message: “Do you know when the fire in our home was?” Of course, she could ask me that because she knows about my daily journal writing. It’s a routine that I’ve been quite consistent with for decades. I write about significant details of my day, notable happenings of my family and little nuggets from God in our time together during my devotions. Staci was asking that question because a couple who was at their church the next Sunday after the fire and heard their “victory” testimony of God’s amazing grace, asked for the date. It was a pivotal story for that couple. It touched their lives so much that they starting looking at life differently – with gratitude in the midst of chaos and disappointment.

On this day, when Staci asked about that specific horrific, yet victorious day, I was able to go right to my 2002 journal because I remembered it was when Payton was two years old and Alexia was 9 months old. We received the call that their garage and home in Prosper, TX were on fire. It was a 4-alarm fire caused by a squirrel eating through electrical wires and when they switched on their lights, it ignited the fire. Their home was unliveable because of so major damage.

We lived in Tulsa and we headed right out to retrieve the little ones. My husband and I kept them for two months while the home was being restored. That, of itself, made many pages in my journal! Over and over I’d comment how exhausted we were at the end of each day, but most precious to me were the words I wrote about how helpful Ron (Papa) was with the kiddos. It made me love him even more. One of these days – I’ll just sit, reminisce and re-read all my entries – but there’s no sitting for this gal right now. Too much to do and accomplish before “sitting days” set in!

Here’s the blessings that came out of what could have been a tragic day of monumental proportions. No one suffered physical harm. They were able to retrieve important original music and speaking tracks from Staci’s recordings, Larry’s college rings, Staci’s jewelry, her scrap books and treasured pictures. They ended up getting enough back from their insurance to do some major remodeling in the home that they had been wanting to do. Things that mattered were saved and other things were replaceable.

But here is the ultimate, best news. People were watching them and how they handled a crisis. God gave Staci a song as she sat on the curb while watching her home burning. She experienced the peace of God that passed understanding. I called her and asked her to give me those words for this blog and she sang them to me. With holy chills, I share them with you of what peace looks like in the midst of a fire or any storm:

“Thanks for the joy that You’ve given to me.
Thanks for Your love -- unconditionally.
Oh, thanks for peace in the midst of the storms.
Lord, I thank you. I thank you.
Because, You’ve been faithful, faithful to me.
Lord, You’re faithful. Your mercies I see.
And when I look back on my life,
The message is clear, You’ve been so faithful to me.”

People are watching us every day. What do we look and act like in times of crisis? How do we live our faith out loud? How do we display our faith and character when we’re pinned up against a wall? Who do we turn to in times of tribulation? I don’t know about you – but I like to think that I go to the Rock of my salvation. When all the earth around me is sinking sand, on Christ the solid Rock I stand. When I need a shelter; when I need a friend – I go to the Rock! I just couldn’t help myself. I broke into song when I was typing this! God is faithful and as we stay faith-FULL in the ups and downs of our lives – may we find the blessings in the midst of the fires, the storms, the winds and the waves -- because -- God is faithful!

The Way Maker is Here to Help Us Find Our Way Out

This morning I join others with stunned disbelief and sadness that we could live in a world where hate is so rampant that a single person could inflict such horrific pain as we witnessed yesterday. I watched the news video of people struggling to find a way out of what was thought to be just fireworks at the end of a country music concert, when in reality people around them were dropping from the gunshots.

I heard President Trump’s heartfelt plea for prayer and unity for the victims, their families, the first responders and our country to come together for peace. In essence he was saying "The way out is through coming together in one accord to pray for our world." I know that our Heavenly Father loves His children so much and He feels what we feel, including our pain and grief (John 11:35). "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18).

God wants us to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), but He also wants us to do all we can to heal our broken world. If we give up, the criminals win. If we give up, Satan wins. He was "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44) who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus "came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

There’s a song that calls God “The Way Maker”. I love that name for God. He truly is a way maker. The song goes like this, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.”

God has proven this to be an accurate name for Himself throughout scripture and in my life. In Exodus 14:10-30 we read about the Israelites being led by God to the Red Sea. Just as they arrived to the sea, the Egyptians appeared on the scene. There appeared to be no way out. To the naked eye, the Israelites were sitting ducks, but God did the unimaginable and parted the Red Sea delivering them from the Egyptians.

As surely as the fans in that concert were looking for a way out of their terror, maybe there are those reading this post today who are also looking for a way out. Maybe you are one who feels like you are at a dead end -- hopeless -- unable to find your way out of a situation or circumstance. You’ve tried everything – from seeking counsel and pleading for help from friends and family. It may be something as severe as facing an arrest, a failed marriage, a bankruptcy, or a terminal illness. No matter what it is......there IS a WAY out!

That WAY out is spelled G-O-D. "And God is faithful; He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. When we are tempted, He will also provide A WAY OUT so that we can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

The WAY-MAKER, Almighty God, is on our side and He is everything -- our Guide, Confidant, Counselor, Healer, Peace & Strength Provider, and Source of Supply. I pray that, not only individually, but as a country that we shake off the negativism, the hopelessness, the spirit of hatred and turn to The Way Maker to direct and guide us through our mazes of difficulty to show us THE WAY OUT!
1 Corinthians 10:13 “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide A WAY OUT so that you can endure it.”

It’s Not Always the Way It Looks or Sounds

Have you ever been trying on clothes at a store and that outfit looked great in those amazing, magical store’s mirrors? You even might have thought “You’re looking 10 pounds thinner”! But at home and when trying that outfit on, it was like “What was I thinking? What was I seeing?”

And, what about those mirrors at church or other public places? A few weeks ago, I went with the family to the kid’s Speech and Debate Tournament being held at a school in Lewisville, TX. I went to the restroom and my twin, looking back at me….looked pretty good! I promptly told my daughter, “You’ve got to go check yourself out in the mirror in the restroom! It’s great lighting in there!” Of course, great in the sense that the imperfections I saw in the mirror at home, weren’t seen in those mirrors.

Here’s the official word: Store mirrors may be designed or placed to make us look thinner. Some stores play tricks to convince us to buy clothes while we’re in the dressing room. The lighting may be one factor, but more likely, it’s the angle of the mirror. Just like a fun house mirror, dressing room mirrors are sometimes angled to change the way we look. Stores will often tilt the mirror so the bottom is farther forward than the top which creates the illusion that you are taller and thinner. The best advice I read was to have someone take a picture of you so you can judge if the outfit or piece of clothing is really flattering or not. It's not always what we see!

When we were at the theme parks of Disney World a few weeks ago, Payton commented “Notice the music we’re hearing. It’s programmed to make us happy and keep us moving quickly.” Here’s the official word from Disney. Most people pay very little attention to the music being played in the background while visiting a Disney theme park. Our eyes are much too busy taking in all of the sights to consciously pay any attention to the melodies filling the air. Disney puts a lot of thought into the music they select for each land or area of their parks. It's usually somewhat upbeat. Disney wants their guests to be happy and a jaunty melody can affect our mood. Disney also wants the music to be recognizable when possible. If we can hum along with a tune, we'll feel at home and comfortable. Maybe we should put on some of that HAPPY music in our homes!

Just think about the ways the world around us is playing mind and body games with us. Sounds like "smoke and mirrors" (distorting the truth) to me. Notice how those who are constantly listening to negative news tend to take on the side of that news -- however it's delivered? Notice how the negativity in our homes oftentimes changes a positive mood to a negative one. Notice how a simple sneeze can make us think "I must be catching a cold!" I would suggest that the enemy of our souls is at work to bring us F.E.A.R.-- False Evidence Appearing Real. Those sights and sounds are examples of how we are affected by what we see and hear in our lives. The way a mirror might make us look better or worse; the way music can cause us to be happy enough to move to a beat. That’s the subtleties that the enemy of our souls uses to deceive us.

The same enemy who tried to convince Jesus' followers that he had died to never live again, is the same enemy that tries to convince us that there is no hope for tomorrow, that we will never recover from this financial setback or illness; that our marriage will never be whole again, that our country is going to hell in a handbasket. That same enemy tries to convince us that we should give up. But here's the real true MIRROR and the very authentic SOUNDS from God's Word:
-- We are not going under, we’re going over!
-- We’re not the tail, we’re the head!
-- We’re not going to die, we’re going to live!
-- And, best new of all….go ahead and read the last chapter of our BOOK….WE WIN!!!

Whatever the situation is in our lives this day, whatever fear we're facing, whatever false evidence has been placed in front of us, we must remember that God is faithful, and the promise He made us has not died. It's alive! It may appear to be dead, but in reality it’s in process, and we’re going to see the fulfillment of that promise, because God cannot lie!
IT’S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!

Finding the WAY OUT

Day 222 of Photo Inspirations -- Finding the WAY OUT
Last week I heard a message directed to those who feel like they are at a dead end -- hopeless -- unable to find their way out of a situation or circumstance. It may be an addiction, a bad habit, an illegal or immoral activity, a bad attitude, or another destructive behavior. It may be something as severe as facing an arrest, a failed marriage, a bankruptcy, or a terminal illness. No matter what it is......there IS a WAY out!

That WAY out is spelled G-O-D. "And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide A WAY OUT so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Over the years, we encountered what seemed to be insurmountable circumstances -- financially, relationally, physically. In the middle of those circumstances, we looked in so many places and to so many people to help us figure out OUR WAY OUT. But not until we made an appointment with THE WAY MAKER and totally gave Him the cares of it all -- the frustrations, the worries, the hopelessness, the absolute relinguishing of OUR plans, OUR failures, OUR WAY of doing it and figuring it out.......did HE show us THE WAY OUT.

How often do we go to the phone before we go to THE THRONE?  How many times do we complain AND REMAIN? How careless can when be when we insist on CARRYING the CARES and doing it OUR WAY instead of HIS WAY?

The WAY-MAKER, Almighty God, is on our side and He is everything -- our Guide, Confidant, Counselor, Healer, Peace & Strength Provider, and Source of Supply. Wouldn't it be a good idea to make an appointment with Him today for a one-on-one consult?  I'm sure He will work you in between His other appointments. That's just the way He rolls and the way He loves you and me so much.

"The Lord is My Shepherd......I shall NOT WANT." Psalms 23:1