A Bison, a Dumb Idea and a God-Idea

While having lunch at my home on Sunday, my kids told me this story. Last Wednesday, a 54-year-old woman motorcyclist was attacked by a bison in South Dakota when she sat in the grass to take a photo of a mother bison and her calf. She got way too close to the little family and another bison (maybe the dad bison) charged at the woman, hooked its horns into the belt loops of her jeans and flung her around in the air for a few seconds. The sheriff said the woman was "apparently saved when her pants came off and she fell to the ground unconscious." At that point, the sheriff said the attacking bison ran off with the rest of the herd. I understand she survived the attack – thank God! The gal who filmed the incident, posted this: “Please, please, please feel free to share this, so people understand they’re about to die when they confront an animal this powerful.”

Then, I remembered a similar story and asked my daughter if she remembered when she was about four years old, standing a distance away when her daddy and I had grabbed hold of a young calf to castrate him. The mama cow, rather than attacking us – went after Staci and, with her head, begin to bounce Staci in the air. Thankfully, Staci held onto her ears like riding a bucking bronco. Her daddy turned and kicked the cow who released our girl. It was a scary sight. Staci remembered.

I thought about those two incidents and how we MUST be watchful of everything we do that could give a foothold into our lives by the enemy of our souls. That’s why Godly wisdom is so important to our success in life. Proverbs 4:6-7 says: "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding."

If anyone could speak to us about the snares, traps and lies of the enemy of our souls it was the Apostle Peter. Remember the many mistakes he made because of not recognizing he was a target of Satan? Peter was already in-the-making to be mightily used by God, so of course the enemy wanted to keep him from his destiny. Peter warned us with this: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Peter understood who it was that tricked him into denying Christ, to cut off the soldier’s ear, to cower behind others. Peter goes on to tell us how to defeat the enemy. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:9

Wisdom, Holy Spirit’s voice and good old common sense is with us to keep us from making really dumb mistakes like playing around with wild animals or getting ourselves into compromising situations or simply choosing what we know God wants us to avoid. I really believe that God is leaning in close to His kids today to give us His wisdom for successfully living a victorious life in Him. As He leans in, may we lean in closer to Him to hear His voice and know His ways that will surely keep us safe, sound, and successful.

1 Kings 2:3 “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”

Epiphany – The Manifestation of the Lord

Epiphany – The Manifestation of the Lord

My word of the day is EPIPHANY. Yesterday, January 6th (the day after the 12th day of Christmas), was actually Epiphany – which commemorates the revealing of Jesus as Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi and the baptism of Jesus. But today is when the Church celebrates it.

I was watching the Chip and Joanna Gaines’ “Fixer Upper” show a few days ago and in it, Joanna said, “I had an EPIPHANY and we need to…..” Chip said, “An EPIPHANY – what’s an EPIPHANY?” Jo said “I had a bright idea.” And she was right. EPIPHANY also means “a moment of sudden insight or understanding.

So EPIPHANY is the magi’s “EPIPHANY” and I pray, it is our EPIPHANY (sudden insight and understanding) of WHO this Christ Child was and is to us today.

I love those words we see posted: “Wise men (and women) still seek Him.” It is an EPIPHANY when one soul seeks Him and finds Him. And when we find Him, we find more than we ever imagined. For in Jesus Christ, we find forgiveness, inward peace and joy, today, and the promises of life eternal tomorrow.

The Magi found Him as a young child with Mary His mother. By the way, they didn’t show up at the manger scene as all of our nativity sets display – though it sure adds to the beauty of our sets. (See the ceramic one below that my sweet mother-in-law recently passed on to me that she painted many years ago.) It took those magi almost two years to find “the child”, but they didn’t give up. They were persistent and unwavering and so should we be. When we find him today – He is the living Christ, clothed with glory and honor and seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven. He is there because He finished the work He came to do on earth.

Of His coming, the Bible says, “He was made in the likeness of men: and… He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted Him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:7-11). That certainly removes that little innocent, dependent, baby in the manger vision to one that describes our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

It is so true that wise men AND women still seek Him and it is so wonderfully true that He still seeks us. We hear a lot of talk about men searching for God and finding God. But first, and foremost, our search is very much related to the fact that God first sought us. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said, "...the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." And, shortly before His death, Jesus told his closest followers, during the Last Supper, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide..." (John 15:16). To me the most important truth in Christianity is that God loves us enough to seek us out even before we start trying to find Him -- whoever we may be.

May the EPIPHANY of our Lord be revealed to you today. The Babe of Bethlehem, Who is now our King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, invites you to come into His royal family today. He’s at your heart’s door, knocking, and asking if you would welcome Him in. All we have to do is open the door, receive and take this priceless gift. Once we do, like those VERY wise men, we won't be able to help ourselves -- we will want to worship with everything we are and everything we have.

Come into my heart. Come into my heart. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

Trust Me -- I Have a Plan....God

My month-long hiatus ended yesterday, and today I’m moving over to the main house to reconnect with my family. What a great day to return to the real world – the newlyweds arrived (grandkids, Braden and Ruth) and oh how sweet it is to catch up with them. After all, I haven’t seen them since their wedding weekend. They are every bit as in love today (and more) than on that beautiful day in October. I know I’ve been immersed in this month of love with acknowledging God’s love for us and our love for Him, our love for our loved ones and our love for our babies……but I don’t think any love compares to that of finding that sweet romantic, everlasting love between a man and a woman. And, my grandson and his bride clearly demonstrate that sweet love.

Now I'm reflecting on the incredible opportunity to have spent an entire month of solitude -- really focusing on my relationship with God (with the exception of a few times when I needed to be on "Nana duty"). Did I get all the answers I was asking for during this sweet time? No, but something big changed inside me. Though I’m not so much a planner as I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal, I really did want to know where my journey, this year, was going to take me. A clear, defined destination would have been a wowzer result of my time alone with God. But I realized, God was offering me His hand instead of an itinerary and a map. I continue to hear His words: “Trust Me! Trust Me enough to know you don’t have to know the way ahead. I do. Hold onto Me. I’m holding onto you. Tomorrow will come and I will be there with you. I know where you’re headed and that’s what matters most."

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

I’ve learned to practice more listening to God’s voice each day. Since this day is the one He made and I’m told to rejoice in it…..I’ve come to realize I don’t need to overthink my tomorrows. I know I need to be intentional to stop and listen to His voice. That Voice is calling me, and YOU, to stop worrying and planning for tomorrow as a way of distraction and procrastination — and listen to what He has to say to us today.

This Voice is kinder and more loving than all the voices that push us, rush us, and criticize us. This Voice wants to provide just what we need this very moment. And calls us to trust Him beyond what we can’t see ahead.

This day….we need to let go of some things that seem so pressing, so that we can be im-pressed by our loving Father that says “Peace be still” and “Be still and know that I am God” and “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)