Blog

How many of you know that you cannot run on empty very long? Have you ever ran out of gas in your car? You hear the warning signal; you notice the red gas light; yet, you continue to push your luck until it’s too late. You’re stranded. There’s nothing you can do. Whether you drive a Porsche or Pinto, an empty car simply will not function.

It’s the same for our spiritual life. It’s one reason why church attendance is so important. Consider church your filling station. We need the word poured into our lives to propel us into the world we face throughout the week. Attending a church service isn’t enough, however. Just as your car requires other maintenance in addition to gas in the tank, to live a fulfilled Christian life, requires time in prayer, study, and devotion to God on a daily basis. The better the upkeep of maintenance, the better the results.

Pastors have a difficult time finding a working filling station. We were traveling to New Mexico to my husband’s aunt’s funeral. We stopped in Amarillo for the night. The next day we found ourselves about 40 miles outside of Amarillo and realized our gas gauge was near empty. Now, there isn’t much in the way of stops out West on that stretch of road. I typed “gas stations near me” into my phone, and just 14 miles up the road showed a Phillips 66 station on the old route 66. Thankful, we took the next exit, and to our dismay the antique station appeared to have closed in ’66. We drove to the overpass just before the on ramp, and thank the Lord, there was an open filling station on the opposite side of the road. We gassed up, used the facilities, and I told the lady at the register we sure were thankful to find a station in the middle of nowhere. She responded, “We’d like to think that we’re halfway to somewhere.”

We religiously checked our gas gauge at every stop after that scare. On our way home, we were caught in a snowstorm. Traffic was crawling at less than 10 miles an hour for ages. Thankfully we had gas. Nearing Amarillo, we decided to exit to use the restroom at “our” filling station. It was closed. I’ll never know if the workers just couldn’t come in for work due to the snow, or if perhaps the Lord provided the station just for us on our coming trip. I like to think of God’s provision in that moment! That lady behind the register very well may have been an angel. It sure taught us a lesson to keep our tanks full.

Spiritually, I filled my tank last week at a pastor’s conference. I gave myself a mental peptalk: try to receive; have an open mind; let God speak to you. So often, I’m so preoccupied with others and doing my “job” that I neglect to hear the Lord for myself.

One thing really spoke to me above all else I heard last week. I want to see like God sees. The preacher said, “Remove the filters from your eyes with which you view yourself, your church, and your ministry. Leave the filters at the door. All the things from your past that jade the way you see reality. Lay them down, and see through the eyes of God.” Wow!

He also said, “God is not concerned with the past. God is a God of the future. God wants you to live NOW, so you can see to walk through the doors he has opened for you.”

Sometimes we get so caught up on the regrets and pains of our past that we miss the glories and mercies we are experiencing right now. We are living today. Life today cannot look like life did yesterday. It’s literally unfair to today when you dwell on the past. It’s time to refuel. Learn from those empty experiences, gas up, and move forward.

2 Kings 20:5b-6a

“…I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: …And I will add unto thy days 15 years….”

Malachi 3:6 tells us a wonderful promise from God, “For I am the Lord, I change not.” God is. We can hold fast to everything He has ever promised. Hebrews 6:18 tells us it is impossible for God to lie. God fulfills His every promise through His son, Jesus.

Upon stating this truth that God does not change, I would build your confidence and faith by telling you that God can and does change His mind. Never confuse these two statements. James 5:16b: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” You are not stuck in your present situation. Destiny has not dealt you an evil hand. Stop moping and start praying!

Hezekiah turn to God and God answered! Your prayers matter; my prayers matter; our prayers make a difference to God.

Hebrews 4:14-16

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is past into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly into the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Pray with boldness and faith today. Seek the face of God. He will hear. He will answer. God is good. God is love. His character never changes, yet His mercies are new every morning.

Expectations often differ from reality. My thoughts run wild imagining a life with no electricity, cell phones, or automobiles. When I hear the term Amish, I conjure a picture of pioneer days with log homes and rustic homesteads. I imagine life is an everyday reenactment of days gone by, but much to my surprise, my Amish ideas are far from reality.

As we drive the country route from Philadelphia to Denver, PA, the landscapes amaze me. Fields of crops such as corn, soybean, and alfalfa separate the rolling hills into picturesque views. Immaculate homesteads, complete with barn and silo, set the stage for the avid farming commerce of this lush state.

Anticipation builds as we pass farm, garden, and buggy. I’m eager to learn more about this set apart community. The towering multi-level homes, complete with stonework, shutters, and gorgeous, blooming flower beds, surpass any vision I had for the Amish country.

You can easily spot the Amish homes because there are no electric wires attached to the houses. Most have buggies parked tidily in the drive or the barn. Full size horses, tiny horses, donkeys, mules, cows, sheep, goats, and pigs pepper the pasture land, and beautiful personal gardens accompany each plot. On occasion you see a woman adorned in her full length dress, apron, and bonnet mowing the lawn or tending the garden. You might pass men and boys with teams of horses working the fields. There are gasoline powered combines to cut the corn and shoot it into the adjacent wagon, yet no motor for the vehicle itself, only actual horsepower.

You learn that although the homes have no electricity, they do use propane and solar panels to light, heat, cool, and operate household devices. Each home does have running water; and, although they must hang their clothes out to dry, the clothes line runs directly into the house using a pulley system. Quite impressive indeed.

Out by the road you find a small building which serves as the phone booth. Amish are allowed use of a phone for business and medical reasons. Only, it cannot be inside the home. Some even use cell phones that can be recharged using solar panels. This practice differs from district to district.

About 25 families make up a district. These families attend a private Amish school and worship together. Amish families are large, and their homes not only must house the immediate family but have a space for around 150 people to gather for church service. Most families only host church services once a year due taking turns. A usual service consists of two hymns, one 30 minute sermon, one 90 minute sermon, and a light lunch. There are storage buggies located in each district that house the benches needed to accommodate the services. Drawn by horse, these extended length buggies arrive at the host home a couple of days early, so the family has time to set up. The Amish have been worshiping in homes for hundreds of years due to the persecution of their faith. Fear of radical prejudices kept them from building church buildings.

One bishop is in charge of two districts, so they can only meet every other week to accommodate the availability of the preacher. Services are spoken in German. All Amish speak three languages: Pennsylvania Dutch, German, and English. However, Amish children only receive an education for first through eighth grades.

On the off-church Sundays, the families spend the day “frolicking”. They play games, visit with friends, and fellowship with the community. No work is done on Sunday. You will see people out on leisurely buggy rides, playing volleyball, riding scooters (for bicycles are not allowed), and spending time with neighbors.

Many of the practices seem contrary to one another, but the elders greatly consider all the effects of their decisions upon the individual family lifestyle. For example, the use of electricity might lead to television which would rob them of their family time. In many ways it’s a hard life working the farm, but the balance comes with the simplicity of family time.

When an Amish teen turns 16, they enter a season called Rumspringa, in which they are allowed certain worldly experiences. They must choose to be baptized into the Amish faith or not. Contrary to popular believe, they are not shunned because of their decision. The teens remain in their household, and if they leave, they are welcome to visit their family. Amazingly, there is an 85 to 90% rate of people who decide to be baptized and live the Amish lifestyle. Many give back cars, cell phones, and other “English” practices to return to the Amish way of life. Once baptized, however, if you decide to leave the Amish way, then you are not allowed back in and that is when you are shunned.

Philippians 2:12

“… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Experiencing a taste of the Amish ways has taught me not to judge. They are a happy, resilient, and faithful people. I hope they trust Jesus and call Him Lord. There are some ways I envy the Amish, and I pray they follow Christ whole heartedly as they live by their convictions.

Acts 20:24

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Luke 9:24

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Whatever you choose to give up for Christ’s sake is not done in vain.

(Left top: figurine from Aruba, top right: print from Philadelphia, middle: wall hanging from Costa Maya Mexico, bottom left: love in Hebrew from Israel, bottom right: handmade hearts from Jamaica)

I Corinthians 13:1-13

Please take time to read the entire chapter.

I love “love”. I am the romantic. My choice will be romance over thriller, action, sci-fi, etc. Every time! As we travel, I look for souvenirs that say “love” in any language or form. It’s my thing; my calling card; it makes me smile. Love ❤️ 😊

So, I must include the “love” chapter of the Bible in my blog. What exactly is love? How should the action verb “love” look? All you need to know can be found in I Corinthian’s 13.

This is my paraphrase:

Without love, I would be nothing. (Vs 2)

Without love, my works are worthless. (Vs 3)

When I practice patience, kindness, and humility, that’s love. (Vs 4)

When I prefer others, give of myself, control my attitude, and forgive others, that’s love. (Vs 5)

When I tell the truth and stand up for truth, that’s love. (Vs 6)

When I fall but try again; when I continue living even in pain; when I expect the best even when I see the worst, that’s love. (Vs 7)

Even when all else crumbles, love remains. (Vs 8)

I don’t understand my circumstances, but as a child of God, I endure, knowing God’s got me. (Vs 9-12)

You just can’t beat love. (Vs 13)

Mark 8:4
And his disciples answered him, from whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

To claim to be believers, we claim to know the truth of who God is, yet still, we walk in confusion and want. What's it going to take to remember who Jesus is? Jesus is not simply a man!

As I was reading this story of Jesus miraculously feeding the 4000, I was reminded of God's provision of manna. Millions were fed for years in the wilderness by God's hand. Is it so hard to think that Jesus could multiply seven loaves to feed 4000?

It seems as if the disciples were continuously amazed by Jesus' miracles. They recognized Jesus as God's son, but they still lacked understanding of his power. Jesus even asked them, "How is it that you do not understand?" Mark 8:21

Genesis 1:2: "And God said, Let there be light and there was light."

Ezekiel 37:1-10
Read the entire passage.
"…in the midst of the valley which was full of bones…they were very dry…I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, and exceeding great army."

God is the creator. He creates something from nothing! We cannot figure it out because it's impossible to us, but God can just speak the word and create.

Can you understand? Jesus is God!! He is not only able to speak into your current impossible situation, but He is willing. Call upon Jesus today.

One of the hardest things about a pity party must be the loneliness, but that's the criteria for a pity party. It's a party for one. No invitations are sent. There's no RSVP policy. As a matter of fact, there's usually no planning involved at all.
Example #1: The gym
How is it the place where you go to feel better about yourself can be the most discouraging of all?
5AM: the alarm sounds. Groggily you make your way out of bed and don your workout clothes, grab your water bottle, and walk out the door by 5:30. "Yes!", you think, "I'm doing this!" It's leg day, and as daunting as that sounds, you're up for it. As a matter of fact, your legs are pretty strong. Mentally, you've got this. Then, it happens: you stand facing the mirror to begin your squats. Did I mention the mirror? The room sized mirror lines the entire back wall as an evil reminder of why you come to the gym. Oh sure, there are "no judgement" placards hung probably around the gym. If only they could stamp that into your brain because it's far from a no judgment zone. You squat, bar heavy on your neck, your knee panging, you look into the mirror, and you see it. Your reflection staring back at you, and not just looking at you, but judging you for the bulge in the middle that pokes and squishes with each successive squat.
So it begins. The elation, satisfaction, and self-worth you felt as you pulled out of your driveway to exercise are quickly replaced by disgust, anxiety, and self-loathing. Everyone around you continues to lift, talk, and laugh. You hold back your tears, paste on a smile, and begin an inward debate much like the cartoons of old with an angel character on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The angel speaks reason, "You are here. You are doing good. It's something! Keep going. You can do it."

The devil counters, "You don't fit in here. Everyone else is already fit. They look at you and laugh. You'll never conquer this. It hurts. It's no fun. You're weak."
Each consecutive exercise seems heavier and more difficult than normal. You forget to count your reps because the conversation inside your head dominates your concentration. You stand back from the crowd, attempt to hide from others, and fight back the urge to cry because that would look even more ridiculous. You finish the day on the treadmill. People on either side of you are running in place as you breathe heavily and lower your pace to that of a turtle. You feel inept, sub par, and so alone. How can others understand? They are running, for goodness sake! All you can do is put one foot in front of the other and hold your head high as you walk out of the gym accomplished, yet defeated.
Example 2: The workplace
You've been hurt. A coworker, friend, or patron has left you and gone to another. Swirls of doubt and what if's plague your mind. But, you have a job to do, so you plaster on a fake smirk and push through.
The effort it takes to complete your ordinary, perhaps even mundane, tasks weighs heavily upon you. You feel inept at your job. You begin to doubt you're even in the right career.
At home your attitude worsens. You don't feel the need to hide your emotions from your family, so you mope around the house. Not willing to share too much, you prefer to sulk and withdraw. Your family sees you smile at work and faithfully complete work obligations, but at home your despondency sends a mixed message. Your family feels as if they are the cause for this mood change because you never want to talk about work. Sometimes days pass, sometimes longer, before you decide to let your guard down and let people love you again because the reality is: you feel unlovable.
Example 3: Family drama
The ones who you love the most hurt you the most. Unconditional love may be required within family circles, but what of unconditional respect, acceptance, and forgiveness? That's another story.
Maintaining close family relations requires work. Unfortunately equal distribution of labor is difficult. Seems as if everyone waits for someone else to plan. Feelings of loneliness creep in creating false scenarios in your head.
It's funny how you can be in a room filled with people and still feel alone. Families morph over time. Change is inevitable. Children grow and encounter different friends through the years. Some you learn to love, and others you may never meet. They are a chapter or line in the life of a family member but not grafted in. Time continues to pass until "the one" comes along, and spouses, in-laws, enter the mix.
With each new addition, you might encounter growing pains. You learn the personalities, likes, and dislikes of your new family. Sometimes compromises must be made, old traditions changed, and new traditions emerge.
Families experience loss, heart ache, and tribulation together. Each member processing differently. Many times we lash out at each other instead of seeking comfort, thus, causing sorrow upon sorrow.
As family units grow, so grows the extended family. Dynamics change drastically when children become adults and grandchildren enter the picture. As the outer circle enlarges encompassing the new addition, the concentric circle focuses on the bull's-eye, so to speak. You recognize you are a part of something big, but each individual family gets caught up in their own world. Each family unit might carry on the tradition of the past; however, independently from the group, therefore division, loneliness, and uncertainty creep in.
Preconceived ideas of what others must be doing or thinking lead to a lack of patience and quick temper. Words are exchanged, people are hurt, and again, you are left lonely.
Reckless thoughts in your head leaving a wake of casualties along your path.
2 Corinthians 10:5b (NLT)
We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
Philippians 3:2 (NLT)
I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
Mind games: not for fun, but to be overcome. A battle rages daily inside of you. It is high time you rise up, kick the devil off of your shoulder, and stomp him underground. Hearken unto the voice of the Lord and recognize:
You are loved!
You are enough!
You are family!
This pity party is over!