Mary’s Assignment – My Assignment

I’ve received many assignments from God in my life – many that involved the care for those closest to me, several in my places of employment, others that took us from one state to another, to another country and back to the U.S., missions’ assignments and other assignments that focused on me.

This week, of all times of the year, I am on an assignment to help my Frisco children get packed up and moved from their home that sold at a surprising time-of-the-year (right here at Christmas) and then helping them move and unpack at their new home – just a few miles away. The timing wasn’t exactly according to our plans. It could have easily come in the warmer, less busy time of the year! But God knew and He is the way-maker -- and His ways are higher and better than our ways! God is the Master of assigning and giving sweet assurances along the way -- and even many little miracles come that assures us “this is God’s perfect timing”.

My kids aren't the first to have received an assignment that wasn’t planned or expected. Just look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her change of plans was much greater than a few-miles- down-the-road move. Let’s picture her -- engaged to a great guy. Wedding plans in motion. Excitement is building about "the day"! But, then, her dreams are interrupted: “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus.’” (Luke 1:30-31) When Mary received this news, she didn’t react in fear or doubt. Instead her reaction was grounded in faith: “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:38)

Mary responded with confidence because her confidence began with her relationship with God. She built her confidence in Him, not on something that was outside her control. Not on someone, like Joseph. For all she knew, he would leave her once he learned she was pregnant. Did Mary understand everything God was doing? Unlikely. Or resent what He was doing? Doesn’t appear so. Would others judge her? No doubt they would, but Mary didn’t allow people’s opinions to prevent her from embracing God’s calling, even if she didn’t understand it. The lack of details didn’t impact her confidence in His plans for her life, nor her trust in Him to take care of her.

I’m desperately trying to follow Mary’s lead. I’m learning that confidence built on people or positions is a confidence built on unsolid ground. Someone, something or some place will let us all down at some point. When we build our confidence on Christ when difficult times come, our foundation will be firm in Him. The Lord uses changes and moves to faithfully bring us to a place where our gifts will grow. We should always know, just like He was to Mary, the Lord is always faithful.

Hebrews 10:35-36, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”.

What is Your Foundation Built Upon?

Is Your Home Built on Firm Foundation?
I heard a riveting sermon yesterday about foundations – of buildings, homes, AND people. When prevailing winds and storms come (and they will), what is it that keeps structures firmly standing? What is it that gives the strength, will, and determination to outlast the storms of life?

Remember the story Jesus Christ told about two builders in Matthew 7:24-27? One builder made the decision to go the easy, less time-consuming way and simply build his house on sand, while the other wiser builder, made the better decision to build his home on rock foundation. The rock was probably difficult to chip into and level off a footing for the house. It probably took a long time to attach the structure to the bedrock. A rocky terrain would take time, patience and hard work. But that wise man seemed to have considered such factors and to have believed it would be worth the effort.

Built into the rock, his house could endure the inevitable storms that would come. The other careless builder may have had too much to do or was in a hurry to have a house and get on with "more important" matters. But what could be more important than a FIRM foundation?

Yesterday, in that sermon, parents and teachers were encouraged to ensure that their children were having strong foundations built in their lives. It is in their early years, that their core values, their faith AND their faithfulness values are being built that will guarantee strong, weather-proof houses in their future.

My personal “ROCK-solid” foundation came as a result of having parents that loved and served God with all their hearts and modeled that love to me daily. Sure it took methodical training and teaching and living the example before me.

My husband built several homes. It seemed the foundation part of building those homes took forever. But, he was ensuring that those homes were being built on firm foundation -- so much so that he reinforced those walls with steel and poured concrete into the footings. That's what my parents were doing when they took me to church to reinforce everything they were teaching me at home. I learned and memorized scriptures that supported my faith and God's love for me.

Yesterday, at church, we sang this song over and over, and the more we sang it, the more it felt like a "foundation" anthem and the more inspired I was with this post for today: “I will build my life upon Your love; it is a firm foundation; I will put my trust in You alone, and I will not be shaken".

I remember Robert Schuller’s book entitled “Tough times don’t last – but tough people do!” I've known some tough people that weathered some of the greatest storms of life and they did so because of their Anchor, their Rock, their Fortress Who was their FIRM foundation. Maybe you're feeling a little shaky today -- in your faith and in your emotions that are getting the best of you, and in truly believing that you will survive the storms that surround you. The first part of Jesus' parable about the builders goes like this: "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock......" Begin to reinforce and build that firm foundation of Jesus Christ. He is that ROCK-solid foundation that will give you the stability your heart and life needs now and in the future. Trust in Him and His ability to carry you through the toughest of storms and that in doing so, you will never be shaken but will stand....and stand strong!

Build Your House on Solid Rock FOUNDATION

My Word for Today is FOUNDATION: the base on which something stands. Remember the story of the Three Little Pigs? The scandalous words that raised our concern for the little pigs were "And the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down." That children's story described the plight of those tormented little pigs after the first pig built his house with straw and the second pig built his with sticks. Because of weak construction – both houses were devastated by that wicked wolf. But, the wise, quality-construction builder, Pig #3, built his house out of brick on solid rock FOUNDATION. When that scoundrel wolf tried his wolfly techniques on it, he couldn’t blow that house down.

Speaking of solid construction and solid FOUNDATION, in Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus was sharing about how, if we build our lives on His proof-positive-for-success teachings, and adhere to them, we'd be like the man who built his house on solid rock FOUNDATION. The rains, floods, and winds came, but the house stood because it was built firmly and securely on the SOLID ROCK. Unlike the "shifty" guy who built his house on shifting sand (the things of this world), the house succumbed to the elements, and the house came crumbling down.

II'm convinced the fast track to our ultimate success in this new year, is to hear and do the words of our Master Carpenter -- and build on SOLID ROCK FOUNDATION. While we'd like to think that this 2018 year will be storm-free, it's quite unlikely that it will be -- whether it be a literal storm that can damage or destroy our home, a storm that comes with a challenging illness, or a time of great financial or relationship stress. Bottom line -- a good FOUNDATION is essential, for buildings AND for our lives. It's inevitable....the storms will come. Just as a tornado can come up out of nowhere to buffet a building, storm waters can flood homes and possessions – so problems and tragedies can arise unexpectedly in the happiest lives. But, those who build their lives on a firm FOUNDATION, will take the storms in stride.

We've, personally, encountered some devastating storms, but those storms only proved the stability of our FOUNDATION of faith and trust in God. . We'd say in the toughest times, "I'm not sure how we're still standing, but we're still trusting in God, and there is peace in His presence in this storm, and we will come through this storm stronger." And, we always did.

As I continue to send out my best wishes, prayers, and thoughts to all of my FB friends and family for the most blessed new year EVER, I'm also sending out the "how to" message of weathering the storms. If we start this year out with putting God first and foremost in our lives, ONLY trusting in Him and His Word, we'll be standing on the sure FOUNDATION that never fails. I sing these words today for you and me from an old hymn written in 1834, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." If this author penned those words before electricity was invented, and before all the conveniences and technology we know, how much more applicable are they to us in this shakey, perilous, and "shifting" world today..

ROCK Solid Foundation

"And the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down." That's a line from "The 3 Little Pigs", a children's story where one little pig built his house with straw, another built his house with sticks and the third built his house with bricks. We all know the story -- the first two pigs' house fell because of the weak construction, but the 3rd pig, because he built his house using bricks, saved the day for all 3 pigs -- especially when the wolf couldn't blow that house down, but determined to go through the chimney to get the 3 little pigs, only to jump into a pot of boiling water. He ran away and never returned.

I thought about that story when the two boys and I worked on our Minions' Gingerbread House yesterday. The icing that came with it just wasn't substantial enough to hold the walls together. It kept falling apart....until I saved the day by making some homemade icing which held it all together. You can see our before and after photos here. Another little construction activity we had were our shrinky crafts -- of course they were Star Wars figures. ;-)

Speaking of solid construction, in Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus was talking about His teachings and if we build our lives on those teachings and adhere to them, we'd be like the man who built his house on solid rock. The rains, floods, and winds came, but the house stood because it was built on THE ROCK. While the one who built his house on shifting sand....the things of this world....the house succombed to the elements, and the house fell.

I'm convinced the way to our ultimate success in this new year, is to hear the words of the Master Carpenter -- and build on the SOLID ROCK. My Texas family went to help with cleanup of the recent damages from the tornado that destroyed so many homes, churches, clinics, etc. As unfortunate as that devastating storm was, it is inevitable that storms will come to all of us in some way -- whether it be a literal storm that can damage or destroy our home, a storm that comes with a challenging illness, or a time of great financial or relationship stress. Bottom line -- a good foundation is essential, for buildings AND for our lives. The storms will come. Just as a Texas tornado can come up out of nowhere to buffet a building, problems and tragedies can arise unexpectedly in the happiest lives. But, those who build their lives on a firm foundation, will take the storms in stride.

We've personally been in some pretty devastating storms, but those storms only proved the stability of our faith's foundation. We'd say in the toughest times, "I'm not sure how we're still standing, but we're still trusting in God, and there is peace in His presence in this storm, and we will come through this storm stronger." And, we did.

As I send out my best wishes, prayers, and thoughts to all of my FB friends and family for the best, most blessed new year EVER, I'm also sending out the "how to" message of how it really can be. If we start this year out with putting God first and foremost in our lives, ONLY trusting in Him and His Word, we'll be standing on the sure foundation that never fails. I sing these words today for you, and me, from an old hymn written in 1834, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." If this author penned those words before electricity and conveniences and technology were invented, how much more applicable are they to us today.