To Catch a Thief

That was the title of a 50s movie starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelley. Honestly, I’m not THAT old to remember it, but I do remember the TV series in the late 60s and early 70s called “It Takes a Thief” with Robert Wagner. The premise of the movie and the TV series was about a thief who stole to finance his sophisticated playboy lifestyle. He did quite well at it until he was caught, then was pardoned because he aided the government by catching thieves for them.

I’m using “To Catch a Thief”, as a way to describe how to catch the enemy of our souls who “comes to kill us, steal from us and destroy us ” (John 10:10). It’s his mode of operation. But, when we catch him, he won’t get pardoned. He will have to pay us back seven-fold (restitution). Proverbs 6:31 says “If a thief is caught, he must pay seven-fold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.” And then there's the story of Job who lost everything -- family, home, his wealth....but in the end, he received double for his trouble. "After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10)

Never, EVER think for a minute that God is a thief. He is quite the opposite. "He is the GIVER of every good and perfect gift". (James 1:17) I know what it is to be stolen from and I also know what it is to receive the blessings of what came back to us because we trusted that God would ensure the enemy repaid us. Maybe it didn’t come back the same as it was before – it was always better. Here’s a recent case-in-point:

A few months ago, my grandson's car was stolen.Three weeks later, the car was found, stripped completely of all usable parts. But that wasn’t the most hurtful part. It was what was in the trunk of the car that mattered most. My husband, Payton’s Papa, was a master angler. Oh how he loved to fish. Over time, he collected a lot of fishing gear, tackle, rods, vest, and many other tools-of-the-trade. When Papa passed on, because Payton was the "grand" who most loved fishing, I passed on Papa’s fishing treasures to him. Because Payton would stop randomly at a pond, lake or river to fish, he kept all Papa’s fishing gear in the trunk of his car. The enemy stole it all. Though I bought some of the gear that was lost for birthday gifts for Payton and his mom (who, by the way, is equally the fisher-woman as the guys), it wasn’t at all back to the original bounty.

So, Payton, last week, knowing he and his family were heading to Tennessee's Smokey Mountains for two weeks to fish, he went on the NextDoor app and shared his story and his loss. He expressed how he would sure appreciate anyone that has fishing equipment and no longer use it, to let him know. In a matter of minutes, he had over 17 replies of “neighbors” expressing their condolences, among which were four men who, altogether, presented Payton with "above and beyond" more fishing equipment than he could have imagined. When I talked to Payton, yesterday, and confirmed what I’m telling you, he said he had received way more than a seven-fold return.

And God has plans to bless your life with so much more, too! But, the enemy wants you to doubt God. Remember “doubting” Thomas? But, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, “Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27). When the devil tempts you to doubt God, don’t let your circumstances determine your God. Let your God determine your circumstances. Don’t let what the enemy has stolen from you keep you from remembering that enemy MUST repay you 7-fold....or, like Job, at least "double" for your trouble. Our God is an "exceeding abundant" God. Let's live with that expectancy!

Choose Life

What helps me pass the time when I'm traveling or on a treadmill or elliptical equipment, is listening to audio books. Since I’m a “romantic” at heart, I enjoy listening to Karen Kingsbury’s Christian inspirational books of intrigue, a tinge of romance and happy endings. The story-line of a recent one I listened to, included God's words to Moses: Deuteronomy 30:15,19 -“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. Choose life, so that you and your children may live.” I’ve repeated those words to those I’ve been encouraging.

Every day we make all kinds of decisions – from the outfit we’re going to wear, who to meet, what to eat, and what to do. Most important, we choose what to think. I have come to know one thing for sure: today will not be any better than our thoughts. Seriously. LIFE and death are in the power of our thoughts. Choosing life at every thought makes such an incredible difference in who we are to ourselves and to others.

I was compelled to write this blog today because I’ve listened to some dear friends who are still struggling over the loss of a loved one – years after their passing. Instead of choosing life in abundance, they are still consumed with death and are choosing death over life. John 10:10 says “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I (Jesus) came to give you life and more abundant life.” Don’t we all want ABUNDANT life?

I work with a Faith and Grief Ministry. We share with those who have suffered a loss: "Take as long as you need to heal. Allow yourself to grieve for as long as you need to.” And while it is a soothing way to help someone ease back into living, I’ll admit, I want to get them on a fast-track back to choosing life over death. The sooner we get back to life, the sooner we enjoy living. For all who grieve, I know it is a profoundly personal journey and while I can share my hope with you -- I cannot speak to your time-frame. What I can tell you is that if you are open to true joy, happiness and living life beyond loss, open your heart to welcome the day to live again because Jesus’ abundant life is there waiting with open arms.

I’m not a mind over matter kind-of-gal, but I am a life-giving, Word-of-God living kind-of-girl. That is my “secret sauce”, which is really no secret. God gave us every tool we need to live an over-the-top victorious life and don’t we want to be one of those who we want to hang around with? I know I live with hope and purpose because I’ve chosen LIFE. The ability to choose my thoughts is the difference between pain and freedom. The greatest truth I have learned about LIFE is that LIFE is only ever one thought away. The good news is we are free to change our mind whenever we want. In every situation, we can cultivate the habit of asking ourselves: “What is the LIFE thought here?” Lay aside those dark, sad and depressing thoughts, and make yourself available to the higher ways of the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

Of all the decisions we make – none is greater than to CHOOSE LIFE. To choose thinking life-filled thoughts instead of doubt, unbelief, death, poverty, sadness and fear. When we choose life, we are choosing God thoughts and God actions. I am speaking to those today who have convinced yourselves there is no hope for good things to happen to you; no great expectations for dreams coming true or prayers answered. I am speaking to a parent who has lost a child or a child who has lost a parent or a widow or widower who has lost your beloved spouse. Today is the day to make a choice. I love you too much not to encourage you to CHOOSE LIFE! What a difference it makes in living!