The Girl in the Mirror has the Key

Posted on December 5, 2014 by PJ

The key to freedom is His Love, not some love I work up. I can’t just copy what Jesus did. That’s my interpretation of how He shows Love. In reality, He went to His Father in prayer each day and kept their connection fresh. He only did what He saw His Father doing, said what His Father said. He stayed vitally connected, and then he told his followers to stay vitally connected to the same vine.

In that connection we don’t figure out Love, we draw it out from the Jesus vine and it seamlessly flows out of us just in time of need. That’s what the world needs again. That’s what I need, the Love of the only one who really aches for the lost, hurting, disappointed, every race, rich and poor. Each person and situation requires agape Love straight from the throne and Christ, the reigning one who lives in me, the hope of that glorious Love.

It’s going to take some work on my part, more time in prayer on behalf of others, an intentional relationship with my Heavenly Father and His Word, giving away what I have been given, stepping out of my comfort zones, stepping into a raging lost world.

Lord help me stay united with you in such a way today that I just let your compassion and love flow through and out of me to produce fruit in and for your name. Amen.

Inspirational thoughts:

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:15-16 NIV)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:5-8NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 NIV)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:8 NIV)

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:23-25 NIV)

Go ahead… Make my Day

Posted on December 1, 2014 by PJ

What if every time I felt the tension of a trial come up, I chose not to run away from it, but, instead, recognized that tension as an invitation to be humbled and perfected.

That emotion or expectation indicates that I have an opportunity to be changed from glory to glory and remember who I saw in the mirror one minute before that trial walked into my day.

Read James, he’ll tell you all about it.

Birds and Pigs Don’t Mix

Posted on November 28, 2014 by PJ

Is Angry Birds even a thing anymore?

I have never been a video game person, but when I first started playing Angry Birds a few years ago, It didn’t take long to get addicted. I found short bursts of time to annihilate those nasty pigs and their ridiculous structures. Oh the joy in watching every stick and stone in those structures crumble while I racked up stars! The problem arose when short minutes became long ones because I couldn’t defeat those ham hucksters in the first round. I had to replay the level until, whalla, defeat came to those porkloining, err purloining, pigs.

Oooh, then they came out with Star Wars Angry Birds! My geekdom was complete, I had crossed over to the dark side. Not only did I need to destroy structure and Pig Vader, but I had to overcome the physics of outer space. Anti-gravity and gravity, centrifugal force, momentum and everything else that Sir Newton could throw at me, with a little Einstein on the side. Sometimes I spent a round just to spy out weaknesses or gain tools and power points.

As the challenges became harder I sought help. I discovered angrybirdsnest.com, a site full of cheats. I learned about structural weaknesses, hidden tricks, and the best shot angles for annihilation. Even so, leveling up became harder and harder, really just too much work for a mere game. After months, I gave up and haven’t touched the game in years.

I was stumped at the numbers of children, and some adults, that are addicted to video games. They joyfully go back day after day to repeat their trials at the same level, just so they can move up a new level to defeat the same evil foe again on another playing field. Why?

Well, I read James 1:2-5 for the thousandth time the other day. Consider it wholly JOYFUL, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Wait just a second… New perspective time. What if I took a gamers’ attitude towards real life? Every day there is a temptation, trial or foe. They don’t stop coming at me or putting obstacles in my path just because I won’t play the game. In fact these trials are supposed to keep me from playing, make me hang my head and quit.

If I recognize the trial up front, before I confront, I can run to my Daddy for His cheats, the Wisdom Toolbox that He prepared just for the big hairy green guy blocking my path. This isn’t about how smart I am or how brave. It’s about Father’s wisdom only. I’ll end up stuck on the same level fighting shadows till I get that one fact straight. His wisdom helps me defeat That temptation. Either way I can’t quit half way through. I must endure until I’ve won that level. I might want to run from the trial, bury that temptation, or bury my head. But it won’t go away. That thing WILL come back.

Why? God isn’t sending the temptation, it comes out of the unfinished parts of me. If I don’t confront it it will stay inside of me as an obstacle in my race. I must face it joyfully expecting my opportunity to level up and start another chapter.

God actually wants me to be the victor. He desires that I know my own faith is real, that I become fully developed, crown included. (I would like to have one of those so I’ll have something to throw down at his feet someday.)

Note to self:
See the trial’s purpose
Get Wisdom
Tear down that obstacle
Become more complete in who I am in Christ
Level up
New trial, no sweat, He’s got this, until I receive that Crown of Life.

Anyway, what’s a good adventure without an antagonist?

Let us learn from the ever so wise emperor Kuzco:

Pacha: [eyes widen] Uh-oh.
Kuzco: [resigned] Don’t tell me. We’re about to go over a huge waterfall.
Pacha: [also resigned] Yep.
Kuzco: Sharp rocks at the bottom?
Pacha: Most likely.
Kuzco: …Bring it on. [As they go over] Boooooo-yaaaaahahahahahahahah!

So a joyful Boo-ya to you too.

Turn Aside

Posted on November 2, 2014 by PJ

Strolling through a canopy of fire.
Leaves, like sparks, pop and swirl,
Surround and entwine me within
Glowing gold, red, orange.
Breathe it in; Oh the beauty!

I have traveled long distances
To seek the burning bushes before.

But I’ve discovered bushes burn in my own backyard.
And gilded sidewalks line my own city.
I need not search the ends of the earth
For a beauty that presents itself in this local place.

This place, this time, now…
If I turn aside to see.

Krispy Kreme and Jesus

Posted on October 28, 2014 by PJ

Real Hunger cannot be satisfied with a snack. Hunger stems from a desire to live and not die, and searches for a means to do that. “The Hunger Games” portrays a brutal picture of what a man will do to live, to no longer be hungry.

Rarely have I felt the gnawing pain of hunger. I have known cravings, but those aren’t intended to fill my belly, they fill my soul. Late night Krispy Kreme runs to the other side of town evidence the power of a craving. But death does not come from a craving unfulfilled.

The Bible claims “A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.” (Proverbs 16:26 HCSB) We give away our time and energy because we want to eat. We want to live and not die.

So it’s interesting that God tells us to “hunger and thirst for His righteousness.” (Mt 5:6) He is suggesting that we will die if we do not eat of the righteousness of God. We should be starving for it.

Just how hungry am I? “Starving to death?” What will I do to satisfy this churning emptiness in my spirit? Am I just filling up with snacks that have no profit to my soul? A smackeral of Jesus cannot nourish me; that’s just empty spirit calories with no sustaining power. Can I ‘play church’ forever and have what it takes to bring the Light into a dark world? “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 HCSB)

I pray for a holy HUNGER TO DO WHAT IT TAKES to FULLY LIVE by feasting on His righteousness in His Word. That we would be filled up with the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven.

It’s not snack time, it’s dinner time. The bell is ringing, dig in.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 HCSB). For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (Psalms 107:9 NLT). Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death. The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave. (Proverbs 10:2-3 HCSB)

The curiosity of being an introvert with a gift of hospitality.

Posted on October 12, 2014 by PJ

I can really learn a lot from the younger generation.

Throw away the book

Anyone who has been in Southern churches for a while has probably become at least loosely familiar with the various “Spiritual Gifts Surveys” that are floating around the small groups and leadership meetings of churches across the South. Before I say anything else I will go ahead and say this:
You don’t need a survey to discover your spiritual gifts. More than likely you already exercise it all of the time although you may not have ever named it. An apple tree doesn’t need to take a survey to find out that it bears apples. An evangelist doesn’t need to take a survey to find out that she has a heart for reaching the lost. You know what you are passionate about. You know what you produce.

That said, I guess that sometimes a few of us need these types of things just to remind ourselves that we do in…

View original post 1,068 more words

Just soak

Posted on August 20, 2014 by PJ

Cool breeze slips past closed eyes, whispers caught for a second – soaking slowly into my soul.

There
He kisses me lightly on the cheek
You are my Beloved
Rest from your labours
Strive to enter My Rest
The Sabbath that I am
I have a wearable yoke that does not chafe or strain
This burden you are Called to bear is as light as a feather to you
If you only strive to enter My Rest

Off we go

Posted on August 16, 2014 by PJ

Today, I move my beautiful youngest daughter to Boone. As she starts this next chapter, or rather the first chapter in the second book, of her life, I watch proudly yet nostalgically. Proud of all the chapters when she bravely endured conflict and created beautiful resolutions. Proud of her character development and creativity.
Favorite scenes flood my mind: LEGO building together, train track set ups, sisters dreaming, shopping, meaningful dialogue, laughing, crying, waiting for “The Walking Dead.”
Nostalgic, feeling a little splinched, I don’t want to let go as she moves on, but I know I need to.
I experience every emotion in one paragraph of my own story, excitement, pride, anxiety, sadness, etcetera, etcetera etcetera.
In the end I mainly feel pride and joy. Excited to see how this sequel turns out, I also begin writing the first chapter of the new book in my own series.
So off to Appalachian State University we go… She goes.

Olive Oil 100% pure

Posted on August 3, 2014 by PJ

I love extra virgin olive oil. I could drink it. Because of its health properties, I have been researching the best brands. Surprise! Most of the oils out there aren’t pure at all. No matter what the label says. So how is a Mediterranean girl to know what to purchase? (I’m going somewhere with this so don’t quit reading now.)

Here are just a few tests to find out if it’s really pure:
4. Put it in the fridge and it should solidify
3. Put it in an oil lamp and it should burn
2. Look for an olive estate seal, or name on the bottle
1. Buy from a local grower, the source

According to tests, 75% of the extra virgin olive oil sold is fake: adulterated, something else besides olive oil is added. Because of this, the benefits of using extra virgin olive oil are lost.

Matthew 5:8 blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

I’m thinking, like that fake EVOO, there have been things added to my life that have nothing to do with Jesus: Religion, knowledge, possessions, and titles (etc. etc. etc). If I cling to Jesus only, I should be able to pass a few tests.

4. In the cold places, when I’m numb and I can’t feel Jesus, I would like to say I am full of faith, still standing on a solid foundation. Let the storms come and I can’t be moved. But, most of the time what really happens is that I melt down, and using those additives, hastily try to put myself back together. I usually end up like that silly snowman on Frozen. Parts in all the wrong directions.

3. When the Light is needed in dark places, I should be able to burn bright. Instead I often flicker out and join the darkness. I end up with that proverbial basket over my head. But His Word is a separating sword, a lamp, if I stay in it, the Truth will set me free to shine again.

2. When the world looks at me, I hope they see Jesus and His seal is upon me as His daughter. But sometimes I feel I’ve been run through the washer so much that the seal has peeled off the bottle. I say I have no evidence, but forget the bottle is embossed with His name. Nothing can separate me from His love. I’ve just been showing off the temporary religious seal instead of the permanently embossed one.

1. Jesus is the only source I get my supply from. He is the author and finisher of my faith. His word is Truth and Holy Spirit is His distributer. Any other voice or influence is suspect, selling the cheap stuff just to fill a bottle.

So when I look at a bottle of olive oil, I hope to remember I am the ‘good stuff.’

Nothing But A Mist

Musings about life for life