Category Archives: Devotional

Fly The Friendly Skies Of “The Holy Spirit Airlines!”

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               Our Destination:  Heaven…

Who are we going to live with?  God…

Who’s on this flight?  Those who are saved and ready to go to Heaven…

Who has a ticket?  Everyone…

Who paid the price?  Jesus…

How did He pay the price?  He died for us…

This is a devotional about the Holy Spirit for our Drama Team that the Lord gave me, waking me up at 3 am to write it all down, as is His usual way of doing things!!  Ha!

Picture this He said:  “People are on a huge commercial airliner flying to Heaven…

I’m the Pilot…

I’m the Only Way to get there…

I’m going to get everyone there safely, but there’s work to be done on the way to Heaven…

In the Coach section are all those who are saved, those who have given their hearts to Me…

The First Class section, positioned right behind Me, are all those filled with My Holy Spirit…”

“Is there a difference, Lord in the two sections?”  I asked…

“Yes, there’s a big difference,” He replied…

“Lord, I’ve never flown First Class, I can’t afford the price!  But, if someone paid the price for me, I wouldn’t refuse it!  Why would I???

I wouldn’t chose to stay in the Coach section, where it’s more crowded, it’s loud, has only peanuts to eat, has tiny bathrooms, and no way to rest peacefully,”  I mentioned…

“I’d love to get an upgrade to First Class!  Where there’s more leg room, better food, more pampering, nice cozy blankets and pillows, peace and quiet, a joyful ride, a place to put your feet up and really relax!!

How can I do that Lord, when I can’t pay for it?”  I asked…

“It’s easy, I already paid the price, just trust your Pilot!” He said…

“Who are those on the ground, Lord?”  I asked…

“Those are the people who don’t know Me yet!”  He said sadly…

‘You mean sinners, Lord?”  I asked…

“I like to think of them as those who haven’t heard yet, how much I love them,”  He answered…

“They’re carrying so much baggage, Lord,”  I commented…

“Yes, I told them I would carry ALL of it for them, but they don’t believe Me yet.  That’s some of the work we need to do on our way to Heaven…

Go and tell them:  Leave your baggage at home…

No cargo space is needed on this plane that goes to Heaven…

No carry-on luggage space needed either…

Only the essentials are needed on board…that you know Me, My Father, and His  Holy Spirit…”

It’s a “No Brainer!”

I Believe In The Holy Spirit!

If someone wanted to bless me with a gift of a First Class airline ticket…what would I do…DUH!

Take it and fly!!!!

In Coach…I’d be comfortable, but would I be soaring???  I’d only be thinking about my own comfort, or lack of it!

In First Class you can roam around the cabin, socialize, fellowship, witness, sleep restfully…

You can even go back and talk to those in Coach…

You can encourage them…

That they, too, can get a ticket to First Class by being filled with the Holy Spirit…

Or, before you even get on the plane, you can inspire, and encourage, those still on the ground to lay down their baggage…

And board the plane to Heaven…

They may want what you have, but they thought they couldn’t pay the price either…

But, if they know Jesus, they can…

And, why just fly Coach, when Jesus paid the price for you to fly First Class…

Where you’ve been given the authority and power of your Pilot…

The privilege to sit up front closer to Him…

The safest place to be is right behind our Lord!

Where He can fight your battles for you…

Where you have boldness to witness to others…

In the right seat (position) to pamper (love on) others!

Get off the plane at the next stop…find out how to serve God…

He’s filled you to overflowing with His Joy…

Go spread some around wherever you go, to those on the ground…

And bring them back on board with you…

The First Class section should be the biggest section on board the plane to Heaven…

Coach should just be a holding station, ’til they too, are filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

No one should be left on the ground…

Everyone should come to know Jesus…

And get on board!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift…

Don’t Return the Gift!

It’s a gift you “re-gift” by telling everyone else about it!

The Holy Spirit…moving in our churches for corporate worship, or in our individual lives for power…

The Book of Acts…tongues as of fire…a rushing mighty wind…

I believe in it all…because that’s what it feels like…that’s what it looks like!

I know from experience it’s for me today, and for you too!

Pray to God the Father for the infilling of His Holy Spirit…worship the Giver, and He will give you the Gift.

And because it’s a gift…just take it!  Jesus rose and went to Heaven, so He could send His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth…He’s our Comforter…

Eccles. 4:1  “…I saw the tears of the oppressed–and they have no comforter…”

Why not want ALL that our gracious Heavenly Father has prepared for us?

His Son is our glorious Savior, we can be filled with His righteousness…

And His Holy Spirit is our Comforter and our Counselor…

Power to witness, to lead a pure life, and to be filled with His Joy…

Ask for it!  Receive it!  Live it!

It’s like being born all over again!

It’s a redo!

Starting from scratch!

Reborn!   To live with Joy now!

A changed life…a changed attitude…

In the blink of an eye…generational curses broken, weakness turned to strength, sickness turned to health, anointed to witness, with wisdom and understanding…

It’s crazy!

Yes, “Crazy Love!”  (****Read Frances Chan’s book, “Crazy Love”)

Be a follower of Jesus!  “Not A Fan!”  (****Read Kyle Idelman’s book, “Not A Fan”)

It’s having the ultimate Friend!    (****Listen to, “I Am A Friend Of God” by Israel Houghton)

With God’s Holy Spirit in you…you have it all…everything that Jesus has, you have…  (****Read John Bevere’s book, “Relentless”)

Upgrade…

It’s like your insides got a car wash!!  And your outside looks shinier!!

The beauty of this upgrade??

Free access to the Pilot (JESUS!) who’s taking you to Heaven!

Favor with God…pampering, healing…

How to receive this?  Accept it!  It’s a gift!

Tell the Lord, you’re movin’ on up!!

Relax, take your shoes off, put on your slippers, read, study, watch TV, stick in your ear buds and listen to your favorite music…everything has been prepared for you…so you don’t have to DO anything!

Someone else is carrying your load for you!

A pillow is placed under your head…cool beverages are offered…delectable treats are brought to you…

Then, have restful sleep, no annoyances, loud sounds, silly chatter…slip on Jesus’ robe of righteousness…be covered with the cozy blanket of His love.

Decide to take the First Class airplane ride to Heaven…Coach is good, and will get you to your destination, but First Class gets you there in style…

And, when you pray for the (First Class) Holy Spirit..know that it IS God’s perfect will for you!

For you to go up to the next level in serving God…

Bringing no baggage with you…

To change the world…

We need a larger First Class…

A smaller Coach section…

And less people left on the ground…

Get on!  Jesus is flying this plane!

And Oh, what amenities His Holy Spirit has provided for you!!

A Sermon Not Spoken In “Church-ese!”

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You know, in the language only “church” people can understand…

words like propitiation, sanctification, redemption, Rapture, Armageddon, etc.

God’s Story

The Father

God created everything…

Man sinned…

God sent a Great Flood…

His Chosen people wandered…

His Prophets were ignored…

The Son

God sent His Son…

Because He loves us…

Jesus was born..

He healed the sick…

He died on the Cross…

To save us from Man’s sin…

He rose from the dead…

He ascended to Heaven…

He’s coming back…

Be ready for eternity…

The Holy Spirit

God sent His Comforter to live IN us…

To fill us with JOY…

To let others know about Him…

It’s so simple…Let’s not complicate it!

Crisis Averted!

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Yup, Isaac’s headed our way!!!  Even if it skirts the west coast of FL…we’re on the wrong side of the storm!

Praying it goes further into the Gulf, & then dissipates!!

Our shutters are all up…my husband and son are bringing in all our lanai furniture right now…they cleaned out our old dog’s pen area outside of things that could be projectiles…we have waters, food, medicnines, dog food, etc  all ready!

We probably won’t have work on Monday.  Pray for the electricity to hold, so we’ll have AC…& water!  And internet would be nice, too!

 

On top of all that, my precious Siberian had a very scary seizure last night around midnight…

My son was asleep…and heard some loud scratching noises that sounded to him like hail!!

He got up to find our Husky flailing violently and foaming (drooling?) from her mouth!

Help!!!

We didn’t have a clue what to do!

My husband tried to see if she was choking on something, so he stuck his finger down her throat, & she bit him!

He’s bleeding all over the place…screaming out (policeman-type) orders!  “Turn on the lights, see if she ate something, find this, go get that!!”  Etc., etc., etc.!!

All this…and I had just fallen asleep, gotten awakened suddenly, and couldn’t even think!

I rushed to get the vet’s number…my eyes wouldn’t even focus!!

My son called the emergency vet number…they said bring her right in!

I knelt down next to my precious little girl, and just prayed, and prayed, and prayed to Jesus!!

“Please help my baby…please stop the seizure…please give her a long life…please help us to take good care of her…

We love her…Dear Jesus!!

Thank you, Lord!”

She’s used to this…I pray with her, and for her, each morning when I get up…”Dear Jesus…”

When she hears that, she calms down…gets restful and peaceful while I’m praying!

I pray for her to be safe…for Jesus to place a hedge of protection around her…for her not be stung by a bug…or bit by a spider or snake, for her not to eat a “lizzy” from out on the lanai, not to break any bones, not to run away, not to get hit by a car, get kidnapped, or get taken from us!

She always sits quietly while I’m praying!

So finally after praying…her seizure stopped, and she started to calm down…Praise God!

We tried to get her to drink water by using a little squirt bottle…

Water, drool, and blood were all over us, and all over her, too…Yuk!

Finally, she got up, walked around the house, and pooped a large mess of diarrhea!

But, thankfully, it was on the tile, and not on our carpet!!  Amen!

My husband and son took her up to the emergency vet to get some seizure medicine…

While I cleaned up the mess!

But, I couldn’t fall back to sleep for a long while…I kept praying…

Then this morning, they took her to our vet to get blood work…we’ll get the results in a few days…

She’s seems fine now!  Praise God!

This might be the one and only seizure, or she could have them periodically…please pray for her, too!

This all goes with my blogs from last week…”Life Happens…More Abundantly!!”  And “Hurricane Preparations!”  Ha!

But when all is said and done…in a crisis…in situations where you don’t have a clue what to do…

All you have is prayer…

And it is enough!

It’s your best resource!

Especially when you can’t focus…

Because as your prayer goes up…power from Jesus comes down…right into your circumstances!

He calms you and sends His peace…

He hears and He acts!  Amen!

I pray for that same hedge of protection around my husband, my son, our friends and families, our church, our schools, our house, ours cars, our finances, our jobs, our community, or country, etc.

And…I pray those prayers for what concerns you also!

Life Happens…And More Abundantly!!

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Hello Dear Bloggers!!

Okay, my summer’s over, even though it’s still intensely hot around here!  School has started in FL!!

In NJ, I would still have off until AFTER labor Day!!

I substituted on Thursday and Friday last week, and on Monday this week, for a  new high school English teacher, who went to her sister’s wedding.  All went well, nice to see everyone from last year!!

There are many, more kids and I was in a new portable classroom for my 1st 3 periods, which was fine, except for the “new” chemical smell…YUK!!  Then I traveled to other classrooms the rest of the day.  On Thursday and Monday, I had two free periods, but on Fri., I covered for another teacher for those two periods, so she could go to a funeral.

So this was my schedule on Friday:

I got up at 4:35 am, covered 7 classes, went to the gym, went to drama practice, got home at 7 pm, straightened up the house, and collapsed!   On Saturday, I had to get up 6 am to go to breakfast with my sponsor to meet my new district superintendent of Gospel Crusade Ministerial Fellowship, so I can get my minister’s license, since I just finished my required courses!!  Yipee!!

Came home on Saturday afternoon…felt like collapsing, straightened up the house (of course!), and went to take a nap!

Let’s just stop here a moment…I had my son when I was 41 years old…he’s going to be 22 next month…he keeps me young…but, if you do the math, you can see…I’m no spring chicken!  I was exhausted!!

My left jaw started hurting on Friday and got worse by Saturday afternoon…my son prayed for me…I called dentist for pain meds in case it was a tooth ache, but the pharmacy closed at 6 pm, and I didn’t get the meds ’til Sun., and I didn’t need them by then.  I had an icepack on it all day Saturday while napping, and later while watching TV.

My husband and I watched some funny movie, and finally I relaxed, so it stopped hurting around 8 pm.

I didn’t go to church on Sunday, thinking it was lack of sleep.

*Let’s digress…a moment here, too, because:

Men don’t get it at all!!!

“Go to bed” to them…means, literally “Go to bed!”

Same thing in the mornings…”Go work means,  literally “Get up and go to work!!”

Females…we, on the other hand…well, we all know what we’re like…my list of things that I need to do, is endless…we don’t even get it ourselves…there’s always one more thing we need to do…day or night…before we can “Go to bed!” or “Go to work!”

*Hence the reason we’re always tired…but I digress!!

My jaw felt fine all day Sunday…got lots done around the house…went to work Monday…went to the dentist after work to find out it’s not tooth related.  Woke up Tuesday am at 3 am with it throbbing again, but not as bad…my husband prayed for it and by the time I got to work at Calvary Christian School the pain was gone!!

It’s like a muscle is twisting or something in the left jaw area, from my ear to and under my chin.  Like a gland or something!  Felt like the shingles I had years ago (from stress!!), but not as bad and no painful sores!  Looked it up on-line, and it sounds like it’s most likely TMJ…it makes your whole head hurt…please pray for me!  I read that some people have this pain for years!

No, I can’t take pain, so I must be healed in Jesus Name!  Amen!!

So anyway, I got a part-time job working at Calvary Christian School on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday each week.

I’m glad to not be working 3 days in a row!  I had to tell the high school I couldn’t work a bunch of days they asked me about already, but just feel God telling me to do this!!

The classroom at Calvary is set up so each of the 17 elementary kids has his/her own cubical (called their “office!”).  To help them, we
walk around the room and check their work at the counter above their desk, so I stand all day, except for a 20 min, break and a 30 min. lunch with the kids.  On the second day,  I wore sneakers!!  On my day off, I tried to get lots of things done at home…for drama practice on Friday, for my on-line course to renew my FL Teaching Certificate, laundry, phone calls, etc.

My son’s responsible for putting dishes away and folding towels.  My husband makes dinner, my son’s lunches, and takes care of the dog so I can go to bed early…so it’s taking the whole family co-operating to do this for sure!!  I’ve been retired for 10 years!  So we need to get  back in the groove.

It will work!

However…Blogging did not get done!!

And I miss you!

So, Dear Bloggers…Praying you are all doing great!  I still do have time to pray, of course, so I’ll continue to lift up each of you to the Lord!!  God Bless!

Why did I take on this part-time job????  (Subbing was working out just fine…go to work when you feel like it!)

It dropped into my lap!  Just like my son’s job at Calvary did!  After I told him time and time again this summer, while watching him play video games…”You’ve graduated from college now…don’t expect God to come knocking on your front door to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this great job for you!’  You’ve got to actually go and find a job!”

Well, God literally dropped these jobs into our laps…

So what did we do???

We looked down at the gifts God laid in our laps, prayed about it, picked them up, and said, “Let’s Go!!”

PLUS…Bottom line?

I didn’t want to tell God…I don’t do mornings!!  Ha!  Even though everyone KNOWS I don’t do mornings!

I may be too busy to blog to you…but God is never too busy for any of us…

Really!

How does he do it????!

When we have such a hard time “doing it all!!”

Life happens…and then it happens some more…

Sometimes it’s hard for us to ask, “Where do you want me to go, Lord???

We could murmur (I do!!)  when He tells us…but it didn’t get the Israelites anywhere!!

Literally, they just wandered around… like we do without purpose…

Our purpose is to go!!

Go to your job…go to your school, go to the park with your kids, go to sit with a sick friend or family member…

Go into all the world…your world…

So that everywhere we go…

Everything we do…

Is for the Lord…and points everyone to Jesus…

If we remember that, life is easier!

Easy, because our Bible simply says, “Go!!”

“…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Mark 16:15 NIV

Don’t add any stipulations…

Like,

“I’ll go when…I have nothing else to do…”

“When nobody else needs my attention…”

“When I feel like it…”

Or, after we remind the Lord…”I don’t do mornings!”

How about if an evangelist or missionary said, “I don’t do Africa…or China…or India…”

Our Bible also says “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10 NKJV

Life…more abundantly…

Notice the word “MORE”…

I’m not asked to sit in a rocking chair and do nothing…even at my age…

I’m still called to, “GO!”

Because I’ve been given LIFE…MORE abundantly!!

Face it, church…

God wants to give us MORE LIFE…so we can “GO!”

More job opportunities, more people to minister to, more people to love and feel compassion for…

When we obey and “GO!”

Jesus LIVES…so should we!

Our Drama Team exploded this year…

Why?  We prayed for MORE!!

More faith, more anointing, more wisdom, more members…for more outreach opportunities…so we can “GO!”

It’s never about more “stuff”  for us, Church…

It’s not about more money, more cars, more houses, etc.

Though God may bless us with those things…

They’re His to give us,  if we use them for His mission… reaching lost souls….

For us to use for His glory to help others…

But what He really wants to give us is MORE LIFE!!

MORE abundantly!

So since my last blog…my season in LIFE has changed…Life has happened…MORE has happened…I’ve been asked to “Go!”

But, my mission from God hasn’t changed…

“Go!”  Is still His command to me!

And to you…

What season of  LIFE are you in?

In NJ, there are many seasons:  Cool…crisp…beautiful fall foliage…frost on the pumpkins…apple-picking…

Icy cold…dry skin…frostbite…slippery roads…gorgeous snow drifts…(unless you have to drive in it or shovel it!  Ha!)

Wet…blustery…birds chirping…flowers blooming…

Hazy…hot…humid…beach…pool…summer vacation…

Fl has no seasons…unless you count…

“Not-so-hot”

“Hot”

“Really hot”

“Intensely hot”

That’s LIFE…let’s embrace it, whatever season…

And stick to God’s plan and His purpose for our lives…to live life MORE abundantly…and to “Go!”

I won’t murmur or complain about this season…(Okay, I may vent a little!!  Ha!  I’m tired and my feet hurt…etc.)

Don’t live in the shadows…the Son is Risen!

Let’s have an attitude adjustment…

This new season could be school, books, jobs, stress…

Or it could be love, compassion, teaching, ministering…

It’s all in how you look at LIFE…

Look at it much more abundantly…

Don’t get stuck in one hard season…

God’s trying to make you Live!

Maybe this season is blustery…you’ve driven into a snow drift…slipped on icy roads…gotten caught in a hurricane…you’re chilled to the bone…wet, cold, and damp…or it’s so hot you can’t breathe…

Keep going, keep living…’til you’re season turns into one of gathering flowers, picking pumpkins, making angels in the snow, or walking on the beach!!

Don’t get stuck in…”it’s too hot…I’m too old…it’s too hard…”

I’ll just be thankful for the job God gave me, for the Christian environment He’s put me in…in this season…

For health, so I can go…

For abundant life… to love…MORE…

And for the delightful sunrises I get to see each morning now!!

I hope to talk to you before my next vacation!!  Ha!

Working On My Behalf…

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Come, take a look inside my house around 11 am on most mornings…

Shhhhh….be quiet!

I’m still sleeping.

And my husband is just sitting in his (as we call it!)  “goon” chair…watching the Yankees, or something, on TV.

When I finally get up….this is how I find him!

I could assume that he’s lazy, doing nothing, and resent his inactivity, if not for the fact that I know he’s been working on my behalf while I was sleeping restfully!

He’s an early, early riser…and I  definitely am not!

My reason?

God allowed me to retire after 26 years of teaching and getting up at 4:50 am each school day morning.  I did it, but I hated it.  Because getting up that early, means you have no life after 6 pm…you’re too tired to think by then.

So now, I enjoy my retired schedule…I have a teenager’s schedule…I stay up ’til 2 am and get up by 11 am…Fits me so much better!!

If I have to substitute teach, or be somewhere, I go to bed early, and  set my alarm to get up.  Works for me!

Anyway, back to my story…

I’m fast asleep…while my husband’s got all this activity going on at the crack of dawn…he cooks a meal, checks the weather (watching for storms brewing in the Gulf), makes his grocery list (so he can be the first one to the stores when they open, because he hates crowds), takes out our garbage, makes sure everything’s secure inside and outside our house (retired cop, you know!), checks our sprinkler system, feeds all the neighborhood birds with fish from when he fishes across the street,  goes to the bank, to the post office, to Publix or Sweetbay (he’ll go every day…getting 10 items or less), Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club, does the yard work, sees to the car repair, and does whatever needs to be done each day for our family!!

I know, I’m blessed!!  Ha!

To have him working on our behalf!

God’s like that, too.

We’re blessed.

But, we pray.

And when we don’t see anything happening, can’t see Him working, can’t feel Him moving, can’t see anything being accomplished…

We conclude that God is not working on our behalf.

But all the while, He was up early even before we whispered a prayer…getting done all that concerns us for our day.

For today.

And tomorrow He’ll do the same thing.  Amen!

We need to trust.

That He’s working on our behalf!

On your behalf…on your family’s behalf…on your ministry’s behalf…on behalf of all that concerns you.

If we are God’s children, we have a connection to God!

He’s working on our behalf…so we can rest easy & relax in His care.

Listen to the song “YOURS” by Steven Curtis Chapman

It’s all His, so that makes it all yours, too!

So thank Him for working on your behalf…thank Him for your family, your job, your church, your friends, your calling…

Lord, I thank you for my healing, for my peace, for my joy, for my capacity to love and feel compassion for others, for my desire to please you and encourage others to love You…

Is it me working?

I jump out of bed in the late morning with my usual “Things-To-Do” list…

And I find supper-done!

Errands-done!

Shopping-done!

Yard work-done!

Our cars repaired and running-done!

Garbage taken out-done!

Dog fed-done!

And on and on…

Let’s wake up with that assurance about God, too!

I read this once in an e-mail, printed it out, taped it to my printer, and I can see it from right here where I sit!

“Good Morning All!  This is God! 

I will be handling all of your problems today. 

I will not need your help. 

So relax and have a great day!”

Psalm 66:5 (NIV)  “Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man’s behalf!”

 Since He’s working on your behalf…You’re done!!

Now relax!

I heard Pastor Reza Safa preach the other night on TV…a sermon called It’s Yours.

“Don’t beg,” Pastor Reza said, “God’s done it all for you already, by sending His Son Jesus to die for you!

Accept what  Jesus’ death and resurrection did for you.

He’s just waiting for you to accept His gift.”

Accept it.

He’s always working on your behalf.

Just because we don’t see or feel Him working…

I assure you…He is.

So we can rest easy.

Relax in His care.

He’s got everything under His control.

He’s gotten up early and orchestrated your day already.

Each day, every day, day in & day out.

One day at a time.

Step out in faith.

You’ll see.

God does work on your behalf!

Leave me a comment…what has God done on your behalf lately????

“This Is My Kind Of Meeting!”

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The Filling Station

Food for your soul…sharing…giving…helping…talking…loving…

Please bring a cozy blanket…your favorite pillow…a comfy chair…and decadent food to share…

Scripture topics discussed are your choice…

Wear your slippers…(and PJs, if you wish!)…

Snuggle up close to Jesus…lay your head on His shoulder…

Receive His rest…

Thirsty?   Find living water to drink…

Draw up in a huge bucket water from the living, cool, thirst-quenching fountain…

Hungry?  Feed on His Word and be nourished…be refreshed…

Live life to the fullest in Christ…

Bring your friends to the well with you…to the feast…

Sing a new song

Be light.  Be salt.  To all the world…

Lay your burdens down…

Lift up the Name of Jesus.

Share and contribute your insights…your inspiration…your wisdom… your testimony…

Understand and encourage each other…lift up each name in prayer…each need…

Lay hands on the sick…pray in the Spirit…pray for restoration…enjoy extravagant worship…

This is a real meeting with Jesus…believe…

Come to the Filling Station of Christ…

I’ll be there, too!

Fish Out Of Water!

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Okay, literally!  I saw a fish out of water!

I was taking my walk one day last week and I saw a creature flopping around on the sidewalk!  At first, I thought it was a giant slug!

It was approximately 10 inches long, greyish colored, and when I got closer to it, I could see tiny little protrusions on each side of its face.   It’s motion was like a “scrunch up & jump-scrunch up & jump” kinda action!  It had been raining…it’s our rainy season in FL, but the sidewalk was dry…all I saw were puddles in the roadway.

Where had this creature come from?

I looked around & saw a drainage ditch…so maybe that’s where it came from and where it was heading.  It certainly didn’t belong on the sidewalk.

But, what was I to do?

I kept walking.

Really, I wanted to just pick it up, rescue it, and carry it across the street to the lake on the golf course.

I thought about it, then I thought what if it bites me?  I’m not near my house at the moment…what if it bites me and I bleed to death?

What if it carries a disease?

I could call 911..I did that one other time in almost the exact same spot, when I noticed a stray dog in the neighborhood.  But what would I say to the dispatcher this time?  “Sorry, to bother you, but I found a fish out of water!”  Do you even call the police for this issue, or is this clearly a Fish & Wildlife matter?

Since it had been raining, I had my umbrella with me, so I thought, maybe I can just shoo it along on the sidewalk..ya know, to help it get going toward whatever water source it came out of.  Then I thought, what if I hurt it by scraping it on the sidewalk…who am I gonna call then?  Huh?

“Hello, Urgent Care Center?”

“You saw what?  You did what?”

I just can’t handle that much judgement!

One day several months ago, I was again walking in that same area, and a lady and her daughter were driving by.  They suddenly stopped near me…pointing at something in the street.  Maybe I have bad eyesight, but I didn’t know what that was either!  Turned out, it was a very large turtle, and the lady was trying to stop traffic, so it wouldn’t get run over by cars.  She was shooing it with a plastic toy hockey stick, apparently her daughter’s.  See, she thought of something similar to my umbrella handle.  Ha!

Anyway, just as she was getting nowhere hurrying this turtle out of the road…a guy in a truck came, saw, stopped, picked up the large turtle, told us it wouldn’t hurt us, placed the turtle safely on the side of the road in the grass, and went on his way!

I just looked at the lady and said, “Well, I guess that’s how it’s done!”  I learned something, and I felt foolish for not thinking of it myself.

But apparently that learning experience did not help me with the fish out of water!

After I walked away, I started to go back…I really did!   But, then I thought, “You’re going to look foolish!”

What will people think…you bending down to rescue this sorry-looking, squirming, greyish, flopping creature…that fish out of water?

I went home, told my husband, The Fisherman…my fish story…and he said, “Oh, that’s just a catfish…that’s how they move…I’ve seen them in the grass at times, flopping like that!”  We looked it up online, & I don’t know how I could have been afraid of such a cute little fish!

But it WAS out of its water, for goodness sake…

A lot like fishing for men, huh??

Sometimes a person can be like a fish out of water, too!

Down and out.

Far from God.

Needing to be rescued.

Why are we afraid?

Do we keep walking?

Why can’t we just pick them up, rescue them, and carry them to safety?

Even if we look foolish to the world.

Even if they look sorry-looking.

Get them out of the rough roadway of life.

Send a lifeline.

Stop worrying what others think.

Call on Jesus.

And be the one to come, see, stop, pick up, and bring them to safety in the arms of Jesus!

 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Mark 1:17 (NIV)

We’re Champions

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Photo by Glyn Kirk/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Headline:  Els Wins British Open After Scott Crumbles by Published:  July 22, 2012

After being six strokes back with nine holes to play, Ernie Els won the Claret Jug and his fourth career major victory.

Yes, I watched the British Open today, because my husband’s an avid golfer, and that’s what we watch in our house!  I ran an errand after church, so I just caught the end of the Tournament, as my husband was saying, “Ohhhhh,”  just as I walked in the door.

“What happened?”  I asked.

“Adam Scott was so close, but lost by one stroke,” he moaned.

Just as I was going to ask again, “What happened?”

The commentator said, “This is what happens when golfers forget to take their eyes off the obstacles and to just focus on the goal!”

Profound!

So Ernie Els won the British Open…his fourth major championship…when the third-round leader, Adam Scott, bogeyed the final four holes.

Els, the popular South African with a catchy nickname, “the Big Easy,” is one of the most likable of the PGA professionals.  It has hardly been easy for Els to get his hands back on the claret jug.  This was his fourth major championship, but his first since 2002, when he won the British Open at Muirfield.

The Commentators were so excited!  Knowing that Els has had personal obstacles to overcome over the years, they found it remarkable that he had won a major Tournament in each of the last three decades.

Wow!

“What’s the secret?” they wanted to know.

“I guess it’s perseverance, ” Els said, “I’ve been here a longtime!”

“How do you feel at this moment?” was their next question.

“Well, I’m very emotional,” Els said, “I’m happy to win and be standing here, but I feel for Adam Scott, he’s a great friend of mine.”

His good friend, Adam Scott, is a talented 32-year-old Australian.

This surprising victory came for Ernie Els at age 42, because he managed to keep his focus.  Golfer of the Year!

Sweet triumph!

“Young bucks don’t win it all the time,” my husband said, “The headlines should read…Experience Shines At Lytham St. Annes, England Today!”

“A lot of people, a lot, a lot of people never thought I would win, and I started believing this year,” Els said. “I had a lot of help from a great team, all the way from my family to the professional people around me.”

What’s our goal?

To reach Heaven?

What do we need to know?

Take our eyes off the obstacles and just focus on the goal…don’t crumble…

Persevere…be there a long time…overcome obstacles…keep going…don’t quit…experience is so valuable…

Be emotional when we triumph…even when people didn’t think we would…no matter what age we are…

Be emotional…if our friends miss the mark…speak truth into their lives now while there’s still time…don’t let them lose, even by one second…

Keep believing in God…start believing in ourselves…get our hands back on the prize…even if it’s been awhile…

Surround ourselves with a great team…

Stay focused…

Enjoy our sweet triumph…our major victory…Heaven…

We’re champions with Christ…more than conquerors…yes, we’re winners…

Endure to the end…

The Reporter

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“The only reason I’m here is to tell the story.”

I saw a movie the other night about a journalist, and that was the ending line of the movie.

Wow, what a thought.

That’s why we’re here.

It’s not about us.

It’s about God and His story, the Gospel.

All we have to do is tell it, by living it.

Being a Christian is not about doing things.

It’s about telling God’s story.

How liberating!

I’ve always got a lot to say, but I’m glad it’s not about me.

And it’s not about you, either!

Return Policy

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Ever bought anything at Wal-Mart?  Of course you have!  Can you believe their return policy.  Bring in the receipt, return the item, no questions asked.  They don’t seem to care why you want to return it, they just seem so happy to have it back.  You’d think they’d be unhappy, since they sold it to you, and now that they have it back again, they owe you money.  I never mind returning something at Walmart… they never judge you…they just take the item back.

So, I checked their web-site to see if that’s really their Return Policy…here’s what it said:

“Walmart’s Return Policy

Our goal is to satisfy our customers by exchange, refund, or repair, as outlined in this policy.

As an added convenience for customers, Walmart has adjusted its return policy for the holiday gift buying season for items that have a limited return/exchange period (15 days, 30 days, etc.). For these items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, the limited return period will begin Dec. 26. This includes items such as TVs, cameras, computers, DVD and music players which can have a 15-30 day return period.

Q:  Is there a time limit on RETURNS?

A:  Generally, we accept returns within 90 days after purchase. There are a few exceptions, including the below examples but not limited to these examples, to the 90-day rule:

  • Computers, camcorders, digital cameras, digital music players, e-tablets, e-readers, portable video players, GPS units, video game hardware, pre-paid cell phones, and post-paid cell phones must be returned within 15 days with a receipt.
  • Airbeds returned within 15 days with a receipt that are not defective and have been opened or used will only be exchanged for an airbed of equal or greater value.
  • Defective airbeds will be exchanged for an airbed of equal or greater value within 90 days of purchase.
  • Swimming pools, lawn mowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, air conditioners, power washers, compressors, and generators must be returned within 30 days with a receipt to obtain a refund or exchange.
  • Pre-recorded movies, music, and computer/video game software and circuit cartridges must be returned within 90 days in the original and unopened packaging with a receipt to receive a refund or exchange.
    • If the above-referenced items are defective, they can be returned within 90 days with a receipt and the original packaging. Defective units may be exchanged for another unit of the same title.
  • Defective pre-owned (refurbished) video game software can be returned within 90 days with a receipt and the original packaging. Defective units may be exchanged for another unit of a different title if original title is not available.
  • All perennials, tree and shrubs must be returned within 1 year with a receipt to obtain a refund or exchange.

Q:  Do you accept RETURNS without a receipt?

A:  Walmart, for several years, has accepted returns without a receipt, even though many of our competitors require receipts for all returns.  Walmart gives customers the option of a cash refund (if the purchase was under $25), a shopping card for the amount of the purchase (if it was over $25) or an even exchange for the product. Also, as applicable, we follow any manufacturer’s warranties.

Q:  Do you track RETURNS, do you place a limit on the number of returns?

A:  In the event that a customer has returned more than three items without receipts within a 45-day period, the cash register system will automatically flag the transaction, and a customer service manager or member of management must approve the return.  These cash register messages will remain for six months and will disappear if there are no more returns during that time period.”

Okay, now wait a minute…Walmart has a good return policy, but there are stipulations that I didn’t know about before doing  this research…they don’t take back everything, there are exceptions, they don’t take back damaged goods, there’s a time limit, they track how many times you return things, and you generally need a receipt that says you paid the price for the item before they will give you cash back, a gift card, or an exchange.

But, no such stipulations with Jesus!

Isaiah 44:22 KJV says, “I have blotted out as a thick cloud, thy transgressions; and as a cloud, thy sins:  return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

Return…we’re redeemed!

Pardon promised, sin forgiven.

He takes back everyone.

No exceptions!

Even damaged goods.

He repairs and restores lives.

There’s no time limit as long as there’s breath.

He doesn’t keep track of wrongs.

He has already paid the price.

He exchanges our stoney heart for a brand new one.

Gives us a “Get Into Heaven” card.

Stop…go listen to “Take You Back” by Jeremy Camp from his album Restored.

What a message…what a return policy…He’ll take us back!  Always!

Do you need a good return policy?  Come to Jesus…