Why Am I So Attractive?

Catchy title, right? Especially when one looks in the mirror and their hair is having a good day, the make-up blended just right and, that blue top certainly brings out the blue in your eyes. But, that’s not the "attractive" I'm talking about. Attractive to mosquitoes or chiggers. Not sure which one -- neither is the urgent care doc. So many (15 or more) bites and welts and still counting. Lord, have mercy!

While itching these annoying, little pink bumps (some not so little now), I thought “What good purpose could God have had for those pests?” I'm told this has been a crazy season for those critters here in Oklahoma. I found this scripture in Colossians 1:16 "For by Him ALL THINGS were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- ALL THINGS were created through Him and for Him.” God indeed created all things for His good purposes, but mosquitoes and chiggers? Are we sure?

I remember Corrie Ten Boom's autobiography, "The Hiding Place" where she described her Christian family's devotion to hide and help many Jews to safety in Holland during World War II. She and her sister, Betsy, were caught and sent to a Nazi death camp. The two sisters looked to God to find joy in their dark surroundings by thanking Him for any blessings they could see around them. They thanked Him for allowing them to be together, for food and beds, for helping them smuggle their Bible into the camp and be able to share the love of Jesus. But, when Betsy thanked God for the lice and fleas that infested the beds in the bunk house, Corrie insisted Betsy was crazy.

Betsy thanked God in everything. Guards were everywhere, but the one place they never set foot was the bunk houses. That freedom seemed strange to Corrie and Betsy until Betsy discovered why. It was because the guards were afraid of getting lice and fleas!” Corrie realized the lice and fleas that infested their beds served a good purpose and were God's gift to them. That gave Corrie and Betsy the freedom to hold Bible studies, sing hymns, and share the love and hope of Jesus with their fellow prisoners without ever being caught.

I’ve prayed for the itching to stop, sought Dr. Google’s advice, I took a Benadryl and my friend’s advice to lather on Campho-Phenique. I had to even go to Urgent Care for help. I’m still resisting the need to scratch and trying to come up with a good purpose for those annoying bugs. I still find it difficult to thank God for them OR for lice or fleas. But, I love the reminder Corrie’s story brings – to be finding the good purpose and the gift of of everything. I do know that God, Who sees all and Who has infinite wisdom, has a purpose and reason.

As I write this today, my question of “Why mosquitoes and chiggers?” seems trivial in comparison to my hard questions of “Why is my friend still suffering from cancer? Why are my friends embroiled in an awful court case? Why was that man born without arms and legs? And the list goes on. God’s answer to the trivial question of “Why mosquitoes and chiggers?” and to the much more heavy question of “Why this pain and suffering?” is the same answer. His answer to me would be something like this, “Beloved, Donna, don’t you know that I am not surprised by those biters. I see all things and know all things. I have good things in mind for you."

So, I can trust that my all-knowing Heavenly Father does know best. He demonstrated His great act of love for us in that “while we were still sinners (not even friends of God, but unworthy, and rebellious), Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) and rose again, promising us a beautiful future with Him.

If His love for us is indeed this great, how can we question His good purposes in all things? How wonderful that I have the freedom to ask the question “why” but at the same time trust He has the perfect answer--an answer that I too, if able to see the whole picture, would deem perfect and necessary -- even those despicable mosquitoes and chiggers. Hey! I have my own answer....those mosquitoes and chiggers were part of God's plan so that I could encourage you today with this scripture:
~“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Climbing the Mountain to the Cross

My son kept saying “Mom, I’ve got to take you up the mountain to see the cross! It’s so beautiful up there!” He was up early (5:30 am) the next day to give me the sunrise view! The sun was rising and the timing was perfect. It was well worth the climb to the top where this cross statute sits high above the Sea of Cortez.

Indeed, this would be a “peace zone” moment. I wanted to stay there. I wanted to be still and know my God. It was sacred. A mere cross statute. Certainly not a majestic, towering cross that caused our eyes to look up to remember He Who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our redemption. Just a simple cross in a quiet, mountaintop location. I couldn’t help but be inspired -- not to mention it seemed I was touched by the sun’s rays. My son did a great job capturing the inspiration for me. There was nothing else at the top of this mountain. No signs that identified the artist, the sculptor, the reason for placing it there. But, really, was an explanation necessary? The cross -- whether built as a towering structure or the cross I wear around my neck -- no words are necessary. We know its meaning. We know its symbolism. We know THE ONE Who made the cross famous.

How can one symbol represent so many polar opposites? Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of torture and execution, yet now we proudly exhibit the cross in churches, steeples, and walls and mantels in our homes. The climb to the top of the mountain caused me to re-examine what the Cross means to me -- especially during this season of Easter. The word that fully encapsulates the work of Christ on the Cross, for me, is – SELFLESSNESS.

Someone told me years ago, the symbol of the Cross is simply the cancellation out of the letter “I”. When you put the minus sign over the letter ‘I”, you get the Cross. The crossing of the letter “I” describes the removal of me my and places all of me on all of HIm. Jesus going to the Cross was the ultimate act of selflessness.

His thoughts were only of us and for us. Even to those who were violent and cruel towards Him, He called out to the Father to forgive them, because they knew not what they did. There was no “poor me”, “why me” moments with Him. The Cross meant death for Him but He cared more that the Cross would mean life for us.

Most of all, the cross is LOVE. Christ died for us. The cross was His love. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8).

I pray the cross of Christ becomes more meaningful to you than ever before. After all, if you were the only one He died for, you were worth it!

We Can No Longer Just Watch and Wait

This isn't typical of my usual daily posts in a story-line format because I sense a greater call today. I don’t “grandstand” too often. I fly under the radar when it comes to most political and public controversies. But my heart just won’t let me be silent when it comes to the abortion atrocities and how lighthearted so many are about it. I read in a report yesterday that there were nearly 42 million abortions worldwide in 2018.

The abortion number is incomprehensible, but each of those 42 million abortions represents a living human being whose life was violently destroyed in their mother’s womb. Each unborn baby already had their own unique DNA, making them distinct from their mother. That DNA indicated if the child was a boy or girl, their eye and hair color, their height, possible genetic disorders and other disabilities, and much more. In most cases, the unborn babies’ hearts are beating when they are aborted, too.

I am grateful and impressed with so many Right to Life and Pro-Life groups and all they are doing for life, and when I read Rev. Doug Clay’s “10 Ways to Pray”, I realized I can become more committed by taking it personally by praying. He absolutely nailed how we should specifically pray. Now, let’s NAIL abortion with our prayers and any action that we can to help. I pray our voices are heard in heaven AND on earth.

— Pray for a spiritual awakening in our nation. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

— Pray for expectant mothers who may be facing horrific circumstances. Pray that God will bring peace to the anxieties and fears they may be facing. Pray that the church will rise up to address the needs young mothers are facing. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

— Pray that America will repent of injustice on behalf of the most vulnerable among us. "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).

— Pray that abortionists will come to know Christ as Savior. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

— Pray that abortion facilities will close. "He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success" (Job 5:12).

— Pray that the hearts of lawmakers and judges will be awakened to the value of human life from conception to death. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

— Pray that Christians can be an example of love and peace. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

— Pray for churches to continue providing life-sustaining alternatives, including foster or adoptive care. "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27).

— Pray for those considering abortions to have divine encounters that will give them hope for their future. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11)

— Pray for women who have been the victims of abortionists, that they will experience spiritual, emotional and physical healing. "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).

May we join together in earnestly praying for God’s mercy and God answers our prayers and we see a swift turnaround in the enemy’s tactics. "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
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Tenderize My Heart, Lord

While writing in my journal, I wrote: "Lord, tenderize my heart for others." Tenderize? Where did that come from? Suddenly, I went "nostalgic" and saw my mom holding a meat tenderizer hammer beating the tar out of a piece of meat. She was beating it to make the meat more tender. And, of course, that went along with chicken fried steak and cream gravy. Yum! And, chicken fried chicken! Lord, have mercy! How have we lasted so long since we grew up eating all that fried food? Oops! I took a rabbit trail!

Back to "Lord, tenderize my heart for others." I'm sure it came from my earlier newsfeed scrolling when I saw many of my friends having a really tough start to this new year -- illnesses, automobile and falling accidents. Others were raising funds for their family members who were in desperate need of finances to help cover their medical expenses and another gal was raising support for surgery for her dog. Each one of those needs God sees and isn't surprised at all by the calamities and distresses, but His heart is tenderized. Shouldn't mine be, too? Shouldn't we be touched by those around us who are in pain because of something gone wrong in their lives? Isn't that what Jesus meant when He said: "Love your neighbor as you love yourselves". How can I love my neighbor if I'm not loving myself? And if I'm loving myself, shouldn't I be loving others to help relieve their pains as I endeavor to relieve my own. And, demonstrating God's love to those we call family and friends is often the easiest to respond to their needs. But what about those we don't know and those who aren't the easiest to even consider wanting to love them in any way?

A friend commented on my "Time Maker; Time Waster" post: "My biggest time waster is Facebook! A bad habit I need to break" My comment back to her was "Instead of it being a time waster, make it a time maker by praying for those who need prayer there and encouraging those who need encouragement. That way, you are making a difference in their lives and yours!" That option is having a tenderized heart.

Jesus was the ULTIMATE example of a tenderized heart. He loved by sacrificing his life. His death on the cross made atonement for sin which humanity couldn’t make. Its power brings about forgiveness of sins and allows humans to have a personal relationship with God: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). My weak and flaw-filled attempts to love as He loves seems like an insurmountable mountain to climb. But, doing my best to follow His "love" lead, is a good start.

Oh, my pen was in the hand of God yesterday morning as I wrote those words. He was nudging me, awakening me to "beat the tar out of the enemy" with a love hammer. And, as the message became crystal clear, I asked Him again: "Tenderize my heart, Lord. Help me to feel as you feel, love as you love, see as You see, speak as You speak. Come and tenderize my heart, Lord. Let me see You as You are and as You want me to be."

Who is Trevor Lawrence, Anyway?

My son texted me on Tuesday: “Good morning! I love you! Wow, did Alabama get stomped!” My reply, without looking at the score of the Clemson/Alabama championship game, was “They sure did. I’m sure they were humbled.” Actually, I didn't see the game. Once Oklahoma was out, so was I.

But, subsequently I did check out the score, and yes, Clemson pulled off a big upset for #1 Alabama. Apparently, Clemson’s quarterback was the star of the show because he was named MVP. Trevor Lawrence, the 19-year-old freshman, has already received accolades for his talents and ESPN said that “the legend of Trevor Lawrence has only begun.”

I enjoy following Dr. Jim Denison’s review of daily news and this is what he said, “The best part of the story isn’t the part that’s making headlines today. When Lawrence was named Clemson’s starting quarterback last September, reporters asked how he stays so calm during games. “That’s just always my personality,” he explained. “Football’s important to me, but it’s not my life. It’s not the biggest thing in my life. I would say my faith is.” He added: “I put my identity in what Christ says, who He thinks I am and who I know that He says I am.” “Share a nanosecond of celebration!” says Dr. Denison.

I love stories like that – especially the ones when God is given the credit. You know, those “But, God…..” stories. Some people believe God set the world in motion, and then sat back in His holy recliner just to watch it spin without intervening in the lives of men. There many "But God..." stories in the Bible:
Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it for good….”
Acts 2:24, “Jesus was put to death, BUT GOD raised him from the dead.”
Romans 5:8, “We were sinners, BUT GOD demonstrates His love for us that while we were yet sinners, He died for us"

How awesome! God was involved in the lives of men back then and He is still involved now, intervening, guiding, and restoring. I heard these one-liners from men and women this last year:
"I thought my family would never change, but God…"
"My life was spiraling out of control, but God…"
"I thought I'd messed everything up, but God…"
“I was homeless and couldn’t take care of my family, but God….”
“I was diagnosed with cancer, but God….”
“I was abused and tormented, but God….”
“I was in prison with no hope, but God….”
“I couldn’t find a job, but God….”
Each one of those “But, God” stories have a happy ending AND new beginning. "But God" is the moment when God intervenes. Life is going one way and things seem hopeless and then all of a sudden a holy God steps in and everything changes.

What is your “But God....” story? No matter where you are right now or what you've been through, if you'll let God in, He'll bring complete restoration to your life. I know because He did it for me. God loves you so much and has a good plan for your life. Even if you are in the middle of a disaster right now, don't give up hope. Trust Him. Your "BUT GOD" story is on its way!