Let Me In, Not Just In The Building

I have recently been communicating with several friends and acquaintances who have been attending new churches. When they expressed their negative experiences to me, I grieved deeply for them. I understood them! I have been there many times because of the numberous moves my family and I have made over the years.

Heartbreakingly, each one of them said the same thing to me. They can't fit in. The churches initially welcomed them with open arms, but then keeps them at arm's length. They can attend and give their tithes, but the fellowship stops there. As a result many of God's people who attend church suffer from great loneliness. They don't feel accepted. They feel out of place, an intruder, and not part of a church family.

Churches today seem almost impenetrable because they are so selective of who they allow into their various cliques, and if you come from another denomination in the body of Christ, you are shut out almost immediately.

Unfortunately church cliques are in every denomination, location, and sizes of churches. There are the super-spiritual cliques, the worshippers cliques of skilled musicians and vocalists, racial cliques, marital status cliques, occupation and career cliques, age cliques, and so forth. The list goes on and on.

Cliques hurt people! They turn people away from church and God. Cliques are based on nothing but pride because people in cliques set themselves apart from the rest of the congregation, shutting the doors for any one new or someone different to enter.

We are told in Scripture to love our neighbour as ourselves, but when churches have cliques, we are loving ourselves only and not our neighbour. Loving our neighbour is the second greatest commandment of God, but churches are failing to obey this command.

"The second is this:

'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:31 (NIV)

They Are Ours For Food

I hate cleaning out a pumpkin. However what makes it worth while is roasting the seeds in olive oil and sea salt. Yum! This time my son Tim boiled the seeds for ten minutes first before I placed the tray in the oven. The seeds tasted even better!

"Then God said, 

'I give you every seed-bearing plant

on the face of the whole earth

and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.

They will be yours for food.'"

Genesis 1:29 (NIV)

I Wanted To Do What Was Right, But Ended Up Doing Wrong

Early this morning I went to the Buick dealership to have new winter tires put on my Encore. The appointment was for 8:30 in the morning. I was told the job could possibly take up to two hours, but since I was remaining there to wait, the service manager said he would put a rush on it. I then walked up several flights of stairs to the designated lounge room to wait. However, the temperature in the room was freezing (even with my coat on). As a result, I couldn't be comfortable enough to relax. I was shivering too much. Not only that, both the television and computer in the room were not working, so there wasn't any entertainment to keep my mind off the cold. To make matters worse, I had forgotten my cellphone at home. I was cold, bored, and hoped desperately for another human soul to enter the room as I tried to keep my sanity.

After one hour passed by, I impatiently went downstairs in hope to see a miracle. Nope, it wasn't to be. I retreated back upstairs to the arctic cold and tried to be more patient. After looking at the clock every five minutes for another hour, two hours had finally passed. With relief that my torture had ended and I survived, I went back downstairs to retrieve my vehicle. To my dismay, my vehicle still sat there with no tireman any where near it. Annoyed, I thought about saying something to the service manager, but decided to be more patient when I saw how busy they were. I then went upstairs again to wait another hour, proud of what a good Christian I was for being so patient and not complaining. (I don't think the Lord liked my haughtiness because things got worse---a lot worse).

"One, two, three, but not four."

After three hours and still no work done, I began fighting with this good Christian nature of mine. I approached the service manager calmly, but inwardly I felt nothing but calm. It felt like a storm brewing inside me. I reminded him as kindly as I could how long I had been waiting and asked why no one had started on my vehicle. In all honesty, I  really wanted to throw something at him---that is until I saw the look of horror on his face when he realized his mistake. He scrambled through some papers, and when he retrieved my invoice, I noticed his hands began to shake as he read it. He then spoke nervously to me, averting his eyes, as he tried to come up with some excuse. Instantly, the storm inside me died down and I began to feel sorry for him. I should have approached him sooner to remind him, but I was too busy trying to be good.

And if things weren't bad enough for him already, it got worse. A half of an hour later, I was told by the service manager, now with the look of death on his face, that the tire man in a hurry accidentally ruined beyond repair one of my tires. I wasn't upset. At this point, I was no longer thinking about myself. I was just worried about him.

I will now be seeing this service manager again next week. I tried to calm his nerves afterwards by chatting with him about other things, letting him know I am fine with all of this.

The Lord had taught me a valuable lesson:  Even though I wanted to do what was right, I ended up doing what was wrong. I was trying to be patient to look good, when I should have reminded the service manager so he wouldn't look bad.

"I have discovered this principle of life--

that when I want to do what is right,

I inevitably do what is wrong."

Romans 7:21 (NLT)

Free To Prowl Around

Today in our society, most people are not aware of who their greatest enemy is. It is the devil and he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

"Stay alert!

Watch out for your great enemy,

the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion,

looking for someone to devour."

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

And the only protection we have from this enemy is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says the Lord is faithful to strengthen us and guard us from the evil one.

"But the Lord is faithful;

He will strengthen you

and guard you from the evil one."

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT)

Yet society has taken God out of the public schools and today our children are no longer safe. The devil is free now to prowl around the schools, looking for children to devour.

The Wise Think, The Foolish Don't

My sons and I thought we were going to loose our cat Osha again. He vomited continually for several days and then stopped eating for two weeks. He ate plastic foam. He chewed and digested a large portion of my son's target board for archery. I thing the cat has nine lives because he started eating again. He is fine now, except I think he needs his head examined. 

"What? It tasted good!"

"Wise people think before they act;

fools don't---

and even brag about their foolishness."

Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)

Turn Our Eyes To The Pearl Of Great Price

"Turn my eyes from worthless things,

and give me life through Your Word."

Psalm 119:37 (NLT)

My son's bird spends most of the day looking at himself in his toy mirror. It is a good thing the bird doesn't have a cell phone or he would be constantly taking selfies.

It is sad that so many people today are also obsessed with their appearance and their worldly possessions. They don't realize the only way to true happiness and beauty is through God's Word. God's Word is what gives us life. Everything else is worthless. Why settle for things of no value when they can have the pearl of great price?

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant

on the lookout for choice pearls.

When he discovered a pearl of great value,

he sold everything he owned 

and bought it!"

Matthew 13:45-46 (NLT)

God Gives Us Everything

The dark brown cattails of summer have now turned into fluffy down. The Indian name for cattail means, "fruit for papoose's bed" because this fluffy down was used by Native Americans to line papoose boards. It was also used to line moccasins and stuff dolls.

I always find it amazing to see how God in His infinite wisdom created plants that had so many practical uses other than just food. In creation, God really gave us everything we need.

"Every moving thing that lives 

shall be food for you.

And as I gave you the green plants,

I give you everything."

Genesis 9:3 (ESV)

Pay Them Back With A Blessing

My husband loves the cartoon characters, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock, so this fall, I bought our first inflatable lawn decoration of them. 

None of my sons have ever gone out trick-or-treating on Halloween, but I will still give out treats at our door to the children who do. The only problem, hardly any children come. Most of them just walk on by because we never have any decorations out. That is why I decided this year to buy a cute Halloween decoration to put on our lawn to encourage the children to come to our door. In the past when the children in our neighbour come, I always pray for each one of them that they will come to know Jesus as the personal Lord and Saviour and then ask God to bless them. I thought, "Why not turn a bad celebration into an opportunity to bless people?"

"Don't repay evil for evil.

Don't retaliate with insults

when people insult you.

Instead, pay them back with a blessing.

That is what God has called you to do,

and He will bless you for it."

1 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

The Hills Are Clothed With Gladness

Autumn is a time when the hills are clothed with gladness because they shout for joy and sing at God's abundant goodness.

"You care for the land and water it;

You enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water

to provide the people with grain,

for so You have ordained it.

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

You soften it with showers and bless its crops.

You crown the year with Your bounty,

and Your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing."

Psalm 65:9-13 (NIV)

Let The Morning Speak

This morning's walk was exceptionally beautiful! Here are some pictures I took of this special morning God created for us us to enjoy and to remember Him.

"I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning."

Psalm 130:6 (NIV)

"Let the morning bring me word

of Your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in You.

Show me the way I should go,

for to You I entrust my life."

Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

A Light Shining In A Dark Place

The prophetic message that one day Jesus Christ will return is completely reliable. We must pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark place.

"We also have the prophetic message

as something completely reliable,

and you will do well to pay attention to it,

as to a light shining in a dark place,

until the day dawns 

and the morning star rises in your hearts."

2 Peter 1:19 (NIV)

Faithfulness Springs Forth From The Earth

The Lord will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest.

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven."

Psalm 85:11-12 (NIV)

The Land Yields Its Harvest

"The land yields its harvest;

God, our God, blesses us.

May God bless us still,

so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him."

Psalm 67:6-7 (NIV)

Some Trust In . . . .

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the Name of the Lord our God."

Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

In this world, some people will put their trust in the government, some in the health care system, some in medicine, and some in science, but God's children will always put their trust in the Name of the Lord their God.

"When I am afraid,

I put my trust in You."

Psalm 56:3 (NIV)

Until the world learns to put their trust in God, the Titanic will always sink.

Each Day Belongs To God

Each day belongs to God. The night is His as well. He made the sun and the moon, all the boundaries of the earth, and all the seasons of the year.

"The day is Yours,

and Yours also the night;

You established the sun and moon.

It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth;

You made both summer and winter."

Psalm 74:16-17 (NIV)

I Am Not Afraid

When I was walking my dogs today enjoying the autumn weather and scenery, I heard a squirrel chattering, so I stopped, looked up, and took pictures. The squirrel I spotted was not the slightest bit afraid of me or my dogs. Instead, he was very curious as to what I was doing, so I was able to take great pictures. It was me who finally gave up and stopped taking them.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation---

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life---

of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

Carried On Eagle's Wings To God

God is depicted in the Bible as carrying His children on eagle's wings and bringing them to Himself.

"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,

and how I carried you on eagle's wings

and brought you to Myself."

Exodus 19:14 (NIV)

I Keep My Eyes Always On The Lord

My youngest son Matthew is a Youth Coordinator and Personal Trainer for Derrick Country Club in Edmonton, so I tried to take some cute pictures for his Instagram account using my two dogs. However, to get my Yorkie to look in a certain direction, I had to crawl along the grass because His eyes were always on me.

It is the same with our relationship with God. Our eyes should always be on Him.

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With Him at my right hand,

I will not be shaken."

Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

Being Thankful Down Through The Generations

"For the Lord is good

and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues 

Through all generations."

Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

I Can Do Everything Through Christ

"For I can do everything through Christ,

who give me strength."

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Be On Guard

"Be on guard.

Stand firm in the faith.

Be courageous.

Be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

When Sex Becomes An Idol

The three years I was in Bible College, not once was the topic of sexual purity discussed in any of my classes or training. Yet sexual immorality ran rampant on campus. My boyfriend and I caught a male student having sex in his vehicle with a female student; one student got pregnant and had to leave college; a couple of  male students who were at the time dating female students were discovered to be in a homosexual relationship; the gymnasium which was located in a secluded area on campus was constantly being broken into for a place for students to have sex, a male student with the most charisma in preaching was discovered to be taking female students to hotels for sex; and a Youth Pastor who was attending college classes was having sex with his girlfriend, who was a friend of mine. Most of these people I mention are pastors today, and then we wonder why clergy sexual abuse occurs in many of our present churches. And the worse part is when it happens, nobody does anything about it to stop it. They either keep their mouth shut, or try to cover it up!

But God's eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from Him, nor are their sins concealed in His eyes. God say He will repay them double for their wickedness and their sins because they have defiled the church of God. Sex has become their idol.

"My eyes are on all their ways;

they are not hidden from me,

nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.

I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin,

because they have defiled my land

with the lifeless forms of their vile images

and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols."

Jeremiah 16:17 (NIV)

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Partners In Crime Instead of Protectors

Most of the time, the victims of clergy sexual abuse keep silent because the perpetrator usually silences them through manipulation and lies. The pastor will plead for forgiveness, gain sympathy by stating the consequences of exposure, and threaten or offer privileges to the victim.

However, if the victims do speak up against their abuser to someone else in the congregation, they are usually denounced as liars and enemies of the church, or blamed and condemned for the pastor's fall. Therefore, the victims' abuse continues by other church leaders and Christians who turn a blind eye to this sexual sin or try to protect the sexually abusive pastor by covering up for him/her. When Christians do this, they then become partners with the abuser, instead of protectors of people.

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,

or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,

because these are improper for God's holy people.

Nor should there be obscenity,

foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place,

but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure: 

No immoral, impure or greedy person

---such a person is an idolater---

has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words,

for because of such things

God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Therefore do not be partners with them."

Ephesians 1:5-7 (NIV)

The Kind Who Worm Their Way And Gain Control

In the summer, I struggled for a few weeks to write any posts because I was too distraught over an issue I will now write about.

"They are the kind who worm their way into homes

and gain control over gullible women

who are loaded down with sins

and swayed by all kinds of evil desires."

2 Timothy 3:6 (NIV)

There is a serious evil that permeates many churches today. Many pastors and church leaders are using their position to sexually abuse. This sexual abuse not only affects the perpetrator and the victims, but also the church leaders, the church, and the surrounding communities. In other words, this rebellious sin against God greatly affects His heart and mission.

When pastors or church leaders engage in any kind of sexual activity with another person other than his/her spouse, it is never a consensual act! These supposedly representatives of God are sex offenders! Pastors and church leaders are morally responsible to do all they can to protect God's sons and daughters, not cause them to stumble and fall. They have been given these positions of religious authority whether by God or man because of trust. Therefore it is a criminal act for them to sexually prey on the weak and vulnerable, no matter what the victims' ages are.

Yours, Lord

"Yours, Lord, is the greatness 

and the power

and the glory

and the majesty

and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;

You are exalted as head over all."

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV)

Sometimes in life we just need to stop and ponder God's illustrious works.

God is great!

God is powerful!

God is glorious!

God is majestic!

God is splendid!

God is exalted as head over all!

For The Sake Of Your Name

God is our rock and fortress. He desires to lead and guide us for the sake of His Name.

"Since You are my rock

and my fortress,

for the sake of Your Name

lead and guide me."

Psalm 31:3 (NIV)

However, many times Christians seek God to lead and guide them for the sake of their own names. But as God's people, we must live the Christian life for God only. It is His glory, will, and holiness we are to promote.

These Are The Things God Will Do

The Bible states that God will direct us in the way we should go. We will hear His voice.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left,

your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,

'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

God will also lead the blind by ways they are unfamiliar with. He will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,

along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

I will turn the darkness into light before them

and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do;

I will not forsake them."

Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

We are never forsaken on our journey of life. These are the things God will do for us.

The Wonders Of God?

The last night Brian and I were in Maui, we decided to drive back up to Haleakala, the highest point on the island and watch the sunset together with other couples. The scene was spectacular!

When the sun finally set, we drove back down the mountain which was the best part! The images of the clouds were wondrous to behold.

"Do you know how God controls the clouds

and makes His lightning flash?

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

those wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge?"

Job 37:15-16 (NIV)

All Who Hear About This Will Laugh With Me

Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me.

During the early morning hours while Brian and I were strolling along the shores of Big Beach in Maui, I spotted a rugged trail to the right side of the beach going up through the lava rocks.

Immediately I thought, "I wonder where that trail leads to?"

So naturally, I decided to check it out with my husband in full agreement.

To my delight and surprise the trail went to another beautiful beach, but much smaller one called Little Beach.

I was instantly captivated and started to take pictures, oblivious to the few bare people on the beach.

Fortunately, my husband who is more situationally aware than me whispered in my ear, "Don't look. We are on nude beach."

Now, I know I shouldn't have, but I looked. And to my horror I saw an old man sitting in a chair reading a newspaper which was held too high to not cover his private parts. Then I turned my head slightly and saw two young men, one eagerly running to the water's edge with his surf board in hand, not strategically placed of course, and the other one still on the beach in the process of taking his clothes off.

Then I did what any mature woman in my predicament would have done. I burst out laughing and got out of there as fast as I could. I tried my best to gain control of myself, but failed.

I guess I am a lot like Sarah in the Bible when she too laughed at the silliness of her predicament.

"And Sarah declared,

'God has brought me laughter.

All who hear about this

will laugh with me."

Genesis 21:6 (NLT)