Taking the Hide Road

Speaking as a gal whose done her share of travelling some high and low roads, I highly recommend the high roads. I've taken some perilous, torrential-rain, "low" roads that I had to turn around to take a higher road to travel. And, in the spiritual sense, I've taken some precarious "low" roads of doubt and fear and turned myself around to get back on the "high" roads of hope and faith.

There's some very angry, hurting people out there who are traveling some pretty low roads. Their hearts are broken for reasons only they know -- but most of all, they've never encountered love -- the true love of Jesus. Acting out and speaking vile and profane language is how they think they can make a difference in their world. I'm so sorry for them. If only they knew the freedom in taking the way of peace and joy that comes from our Savior. Oh, Lord, help us help them through our prayers and our living examples as Christ's followers. Here’s what God says:

~ Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
~ Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up that it may give grace to those who hear.”
~ Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
~ Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

So, how “different” are we from those who have no sense of "gracious, seasoned-with-salt" words? Some say that “It’s normal to vent and say it like you feel it. It’s normal to be angry and to speak hatefully. Normal to some is ranting and raving right along with everyone else who is travelling on those same low roads. But, those of us who take the "High Road" way, know that God called us to live a radical love-walk-and-talk life where kindness, love, joy and peace rules. There are many differences to be found in devoted God-followers.

~ We are LOVINGLY different -- extending His love freely and unconditionally to others.
~ We are TRUTHFULLY different -- believing the truth and loving the truth, speaking the truth and living the truth.
~ We are MERCIFULLY different -- knowing that God’s mercies are new every morning, we extend His mercies to those who have failed and disappointed us.
~ We are PRAYERFULLY different -- we pray in faith, we pray because of who God is and what He can do, we pray because of what God has said in His Word. We pray because we have the assurance that God hears us and answers our prayers.

We are DIFFERENT, and DIFFERENT never felt and looked so good! Being a difference maker to those on the low roads just might be the answer to this world's problems. I think I'll grab someone's hand on the low road and show them the way on the high road! How about you?

Don't Be Normal. Be Different. Take the High Road.

I warn you! DON’T click on THAT link!!! Because I did. I clicked on a link that was in my timeline. The link led me to a well-known actor speaking at the Tonys Awards with such vile and profane words against our President that I quickly exited out. Here’s what God says to us about that:

~ Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
~ Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up that it may give grace to those who hear.”
~ Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
~ Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

How “different” are we from what is “normal” to others? Some say that “It’s NORMAL to say it like you feel it. It’s normal to be angry, speak hatefully about people, and on and on.” “Normal” to some is ranting and raving right along with everyone else who is just downright bitter about whoever and whatever.

"Normal” isn’t where God called us to be. He called us to live a radically abnormal life where kindness, love, joy and peace rules. Believing that way makes us not just different, but we are also difference makers. We take the High Road.

In Matthew 5, Jesus told us to be glad we are treated unfairly and wrong. What? THAT’S just not normal. In Matthew 5:11-15 He gave us a completely different way to handle those normally cranky folks. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

There are many differences to be found in devoted God-followers. These differences are seen in our relationship with God, in our place in the world, in our purpose in life, in our personal goals, in our commitments, in our motives, in our values, in our choices, and in our beliefs. One of the greatest differences is found in the attitudes of our hearts:

~ We are LOVINGLY different -- extending His love freely and unconditionally to others.
~ We are TRUTHFULLY different -- believing the truth and loving the truth, we speak the truth and live the truth.
~ We are MERCIFULLY different -- knowing that God’s mercies are new every morning, we extend His mercies to those who have failed and disappointed us.
~ We are PRAYERFULLY different -- we pray in faith, we pray because of who God is and what He can do, we pray because of what God has said in His Word. We pray because we have the assurance that God hears us and answers our prayers.

We are NOT normal. We are DIFFERENT, and DIFFERENT never felt and looked so good! I think I'll cruise on over to the High Road. How about you?

GRACE…..so AMAZING!!

GRACE is a word I’ve heard all my life because I heard my sweet Mom singing “Amazing Grace” throughout our home and I heard it sung worldwide as an anthem of praise. Why would that old song still be relevant, especially when there are so many wonderful songs of praise that are written and sung today?

My word for today is GRACE. My godson’s 16-years-old, big sister's name is Grace. One of the definitions of grace is simple elegance with refined movement, which fits our tall, slender, elegant GRACE to a tee.

I remember when we had a loan due at the bank and they gave us a GRACE-period. Then there's the tabloid article about the politicians or actors who fell from GRACE. We’ll describe a dancer as GRACEFUL and people who devote their time to the needy as GRACIOUS. Then there’s that meal-time prayer when someone says “Who will say GRACE for us?" No wonder when a foreigner tries to learn our language, they are confused about so many definitions for one simple word GRACE. But, the greatest of all definitions is the one that speaks of "Amazing Grace"– the one, saved by GRACE. That is God’s amazing GRACE -- the free and unmerited favor of God, demonstrated by His great love for us in sending His Son to die for sinners (you and me) and pay the debt He did not owe. GRACE is getting what we do not deserve.

Back to that beloved hymn, "Amazing Grace", that was written by John Newton, a former slave trader in 1772. It is estimated to be performed over 10 million times annually and has appeared on over 11,000 albums. It has been an anthem of hope and faith for generations. Why does that hymn still have such an impact? What was it that John Newton pointed out about God’s GRACE that resonates with us so strongly? It probably has a lot to do with the truth that the Apostle James expresses here: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16). This hymn is a prayer! We pray together as we sing. We confess our need for God’s grace to one another, and look with eyes of faith to the glorious future for us who are "found". The power of this prayer-song transcends time, culture and place. I’m quite sure this song will last right on through eternity. The more we enter deeply into prayer, the more beautiful and stronger our soul becomes and we are able to resist evil and do good.

I attended a large dinner banquet at my church and one of the men at our table told how he knew he had been touched by God and received His "amazing grace" two years' ago in a dramatic way. Though he is still waiting for a liver transplant, he uses his story to speak out to young people of how he seriously abused his body with alcohol and medications. His story was amazing, but then we looked around our table, and we all realized we have our own AMAZING GRACE story of how God's grace kept us, delivered us, spared us, healed us and restored us. We are on the same road.....coming from all directions.....but we are all here to grab someone's hand and help them through because "we've been there, too". God's grace is given TO us, so it can flow THROUGH us to build others up in faith and trust in Him.

Think about God’s GRACE in some of the Bible character’s lives. Moses, whose hot temper led to murder and rebellion against God, and David, who committed adultery and murder. Then turn to the New Testament where a former traitor, SAINT Peter, leads the Church and a former “human rights abuser”, SAINT Paul was the author of one third of the New Testament. Indeed, God’s GRACE is amazing. We can never sink so far that God’s grace will not reach us. At the same time, GRACE does not leave us there. It raises us to new heights, causes us to demonstrate that grace to others in words and actions, and THAT "grace that brought us safe thus far? THAT "grace will lead us home"! THAT GRACE, my friends, really is AMAZING!

We Create Beauty Around Us

Ever walk into a home, and not only are the asthetics, the furnishings and the atmosphere breathtaking -- not because of the opulence -- it could be a small apartment or cabin, but you just sense a presence of peace, comfort and serenity? You feel it. And it feels VERY GOOD. And the owners of the home are gracious, hospitable, courteous and you feel like you're priority to them. They offer you something to drink and its in their finest glassware, and they offer you the best seat in the house. For a few moments, you feel like royalty.

Doesn't it cause us to want to immulate that to those who come into our homes and into our lives? The question is, "What do I pass on to my children, my friends, and the other people I lead and influence? What do others absorb from me? Do I offer them my best in attitude, behavior and actions? Or do I exude negativism, anger, anxiety, impatience, bitterness, impatience, concern, or worry? Or do those who hang around me pick up nobility, gratitude, faith, generosity, passion, and love?

Whether we know it or not, people learn from us and even duplicate us, everyday. If we choose, we can pass on to them God’s character – His unconditional love, patience, joy, peace, and forgiveness! That's just WHO HE IS -- and since we're made in His image -- shouldn't we look like Him, and shouldn't our homes radiate His heart of love and servitude......today and everyday?