NOT GOOD ENOUGH?

"Anytime we feel not good enough we deny the

powerful truth

that we are a glorious work of God

in progress.

"We are imperfect because we are unfinished."

Lysa Terkeurst

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way    p.77

Nelson Books  2018

God's Word

". . . I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . ."

Psalm 139:14

Good enough.

"The Lord your God . . . will take great delight in you . . .

will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 

Absolutely loved and enjoyed.

" . . . he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

You and me:

Good and getting better. 

Absolutely loved and 

A work in progress.

lonnie

TOO SOON TO QUIT

"But it's the prayers you pray when you

feel like 

you want to quit

praying

that bring the greatest breakthroughs."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle   p. 99

Zondervan  2012

I've just finished listening to a book, titled Unplanned, by Abby Johnson. How many prayers were prayed for Abby?

She'd had 2 abortions and had become Director of a Planned Parenthood Clinic.

How many prayers before her mind, heart, and life were changed?

YEARS' WORTH!

I've been praying for years, too.

It's too soon to quit.

lonnie

PS:  In listening to Abby's story, you can clearly see God working.

The people praying could not.

They kept praying.

CONFETTI

God, 

we can't expect confetti and balloons every time we obey,

But

I still wonder what we might be missing
when we don't take time to listen,
and obey.

God's Word

". . . we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.

But

because you say so,

I will let the nets down.

. . .

"They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break . . .

both boats so full they began to sink."

Luke 5: 6-7

Because You say so . . .

lonnie

I GET IT, BUT . . .

". . . beyond our ability to endure . . .

we despaired of life itself . . .

But

this happened

that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, 

who raises the dead." 

1 Corinthians 1: 8-9

I get it.

I just don't like it.

lonnie

JUST A CRUTCH

Some mock Christians saying that 

Jesus is just a crutch--to which I respond,

"So what?"

Praying God's Word

"To him who is able to keep you

from stumbling

AND

to present you before his glorious presence

without fault

AND

with great joy."

Jude v. 24

One word prayer: Thank You.

lonnie

PRODIGALS

Perusing past pages of my current journal; I'll likely post many entries today.

Remember, this blog is about eaves dropping on what God is teaching me. Repetition and writing help me remember.

I hope that, sometimes, this blog meets someone else's need. I hope, sometimes, my blog makes people smile; and sometimes makes readers sigh, "Yay. I'm not the only one with that struggle, or with that crazy answer."

Father,

Bring the prodigals home.

Amber Alerts notify us of missing children--likely in danger.

We have missing children--in danger, too.

God, bring them Home--to You.

When they come home, let unbelievers come with them.

Let their time away not be wasted.

Be with waiting parents--help them/us to love, pray, and trust.

In Jesus' Name.


Praying God's Word

"I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith
may not fail.
And when you turn back,
strengthen your brothers."

Luke 22: 31  New International Version

MUSTARD ANYONE?

Did you know this?

"the tiny mustard seed contains all the nutrients you need

to survive.

It's packed with

Vitamin B1, B6, C, E, and K.

It's a source of calcium,

iron,

magnesium,

phosphorus,

potassium,

selenium,

and zinc."

I know now, and I Still 

Could Not

Care Less!

Please don't buy me any for Christmas.

Or any other day.

Sincere thanks,

lonnie

Draw The Circle  p. 74

ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL

"See how He's been faithful

in the past, 

and 

trust Him to be faithful in the future."

Jennifer Rothschild

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p. 152

Lifeway  2018

Reliable roof over my head.

Warm, dry bed.

Fresh and tasty food in cupboards, frig and stomach.

People who love me.

People I love. 

Freedom to read God's Word and to sing His praises.

Car with gas and heat.

Coat

Clothes and a closet to put them in.

Extras. Lots of extras.

Some days, I confess, I get scared. But what I can't even imagine, God can do.

And He has.

Because

God is Absolutely Faithful!

lonnie

WISH "I" HAD SAID THAT

Went to jail

For playing music?

"I wouldn't stop playing my guitar. Used to be I played it on the street and sometimes people would give me money.

I didn't do it for the money.

I did it because the music is better if someone is listening to it."

I love words! And these are great!

It's Christmas. Make the music better.

lonnie

Kate DiCamillo

Because Of Winn-Dixie  p.130

Candlewick Press   2000

NOT OUT, BUT THROUGH

"Sometimes the purpose of prayer is to get us out of circumstances, but more often than not, the purpose of prayer is to

get us through them."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle  p. 34

Zondervan  2012

When we come "through" we discover dimensions of God and of His love that we haven't known before.

He Is Faithful!

lonnie

SAY "CHRISTMAS."

"And by the way, Starbucks employees were never told

they could not say

Merry Christmas.

But that's not their job anyway--

that's our job.

"It's the Christian's job to tell people about 

Jesus,

not the barista who may be Jewish, secular, or whatever.

Don't get outraged at things that don't matter."

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage  p. xiv

Tyndale Momentum  2018

Sadly, in previous years I joined the grumbling crowd of self-righteous Christians. 

I DETERMINED to wish people--especially store clerks--
 a Blessed Christmas.

And that's a perfect response!

So long as it is said with a contagious smile and a heart of love,

rather than an attitude of 

'You are not the boss of me!'

Enjoy Jesus This Christmas.
I truly believe He enjoys you,
lonnie

INSIDE THE CIRCLE

" Go home.

Lock yourself in your room. 

Kneel down . . .

with a piece of chalk draw a circle

around yourself.

. . . Pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival 

within that chalk circle."

Help me God,

lonnie

AN EXAMPLE'S BEEN SET. HELP ME FOLLOW.

"Rodney 'Gypsy' Smith . . . never received a formal education,

yet he lectured at Harvard.

. . . He was invited by two sitting  United States presidents

to the White House."

Mark Batterson jump-starts my heart when he writes about this mighty man of prayer. Gypsy Smith never preached without someone coming to Jesus.

BUT . . .

Mark quickly points out that it wasn't sermons that brought revival. 

"Preaching may move the hearts of men, but praying

moves the heart of God.

"And that's where revival comes from."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle  p. 8-9

Zondervan 2012

I don't read books 2 times, let alone 5! I haven't made it cover to cover each time, but this has been the most impactful book on prayer I've ever read. While Batterson does not agree with "name-it-claim-it" praying, he by no means steals my faith or my spirit of expectancy. He DOES give me bricks and tools to build a tower of perseverance and trust.

Not Waiting To Make A New Year's Resolution.

Starting Now,

lonnie

CELEBRATE THE SUNRISE . . . . . . or not.

"When my wife, Donna, sees a sunrise,

 she sees it as a beautiful start

to a great day.

When I see one, I see 

that I am up too early.

Ugh.

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage   p. 153

Tyndale Momentum  2018

How about you?

Venetian blinds or light-blocking drapes?

I'll take the sun, anytime!
 However, you DO know you can have it both ways.
Enjoy your first cup of coffee with the sunrise.
Then take a little nap before work.

lonnie

NEVER LEAVES ME OR FORSAKES ME

"I want to assume that His promise to never leave me or forsake me means that He's operating like a supernatural shield

around me,

preventing horrific things from happening

to me and those I love."

Lysa Terkeurst

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way   p. 23

Nelson Books   2018

I have felt forsaken or forgotten at times.

How about you?

Yet, 

while reading Lysa's words, I remembered my reading in Luke this morning.

"A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho . . .

attacked

stripped of his clothes 

beaten . . ." Luke 10:30

A priest crossed the road to avoid him.

Likewise, a Levite.

That's what forsaken looks like.

My God is like neither of those.

He doesn't pass to the other side of the road because I'm too much trouble.

He cares for me.

He provides others to care for me.

And, sometimes, He appoints me to help care for others.

Am I aware? Listening? Obeying?

Emmanuel: God With Us

Gratefully His,

lonnie

SHOOTING IN A GAY NIGHTCLUB

Mark Hausfeld found himself in a coffee shop in Colorado; a favorite coffee shop of  the LGBTQ community--and that, after the awful shooting in a gay nightclub of Orlando, Fla.

As led by the Holy Spirit, he braved asking several servers at the coffee shop about the shooting; their pain, anger, and their thoughts about how Christians were reacting.

Five Common Themes Immerged

"1. Do not single out homosexuality and ignore other sins.

2. Deal with your own sin before critisizing others.

3. Ask questions and listen.

4. Protect us from hate and violence.

5. Love by words and actions.

"I was struck by the fact that people in the LGBTQ community . . . were telling Christians to act more like Jesus."

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage   p. 105

Tyndale Momentum  2018

Perhaps the reason I have leaned, so often, toward "black and white" is that it leaves no room for awkward discussions. Perhaps it's time to change. 

Talk about an elephant in the room! Several people I love live in this experience; but I've never asked them how it feels. 

How about you? 

Scared Spitless  

But willing to be made willing,

lonnie

MUGGED

(After Matthew Henry was mugged)

"Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before;

Second, although they took my purse, 

they did not take my life;

Third, because although they took my all,

it was not much. 

And Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, 

not I who robbed."

Matthew Henry

(Quoted by Billy Graham/ Unto The Hills)

Sure a better response than anger, self-pity, depression or hopelessness. 

God, help me reframe some of life's ugly circumstances;

for my good and Your glory.

lonnie

INPUT------OUTPUT

"It is said that the food of certain worms colors

the cocoon of silk that they spin;

and just so the nutriment upon which 

a man's inward nature lives

gives a tinge to 

every

word and deed proceeding from him."

Charles Spurgeon

Morning By Morning  (November 28)

Barbour  2005

The truth hasn't changed from Jesus' day to today's high tech computer days.

What the heart is full of the mouth speaks . . . (Luke 6:45)

If you program, into a computer, that two plus two equals ten, it will operate on that principle.

And if you feed a baby too many carrots . . . 

their skin takes on a tinge of orange. 

I don't know what happens with broccoli,
lonnie

FIGHTING FOR YOU

 "There is no greater comfort than to know that someone will 

protect you,

fight for you 

and rescue you--

risk his very life for you. 

This is the description of your Good Shepherd."

Jennifer Rothschild

Pslam 23:The Shepherd With Me  p.129

Lifeway Press   2018

My heart is racing with excitement. 

Rothschild directed her readers to 1 Samuel to see the heart of a shepherd. I believe the heart of your shepherd, and mine.

Check this out:

" . . . your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock,

I went after him and attacked him, and 

rescued it from his mouth;

and when he rose against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him."  1 Samuel 17: 34-35  NAS

God takes an attack against His sheep personally.

Think Prodigal.

If you are responsible for pulling

 God's child away from Him, you better be scared.

If you are a Prodigal's

parent, spouse, or friend,

CELEBRATE AND ANTICIPATE.

You're on the winning team!

Gentle Shepherd?

Not so much

Not when His sheep are in danger.

Loving Him,

lonnie

CAN FEAR AND FAITH CO-EXIST?

"Fear and faith can share the same heartbeat."

Really?

Do you agree?
Do I?

Paul tells us that 
". . .everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23)."

Well, fear doesn't come from faith; but what if we put it this way?

"Though fear and faith can share the same heartbeat, they 

don't share the same perspective.

. . .

"Fear focuses on the shadows. 

Faith focuses on the Shepherd."

Jennifer Rothschild reminds us of the man in Mark 9. Dare I say, 'a man in process? Someone like me?'

"Lord, I believe.

Help my unbelief."

John Piper might add these 2 cents:"The reason faithless acts are sin, is that they don't glorify God as trustworthy." (desiringgod.org)

I do believe;
God, help me trust more and fear less,

lonnie

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p.120

Lifeway Press   2017

LOSS

"When we've suffered loss, 

starting again always feels like a gamble."

Maria Goff

Love Lives Here   p. 9

Broadman&Holman  2017

What has amazed me, lately, is the vulnerability of authors. It is SO refreshing and comforting to know that I'm not the only one that's struggled with "that" whatever the "that" may be.

Sometimes I cry because it hurts again.

Sometimes I cry because I am so grateful that someone understands. 

Back To My Book,

lonnie

VALLEYS

"Valleys are part of life's journey.

And even when they last a long time,

they are still 

temporary."

Jennifer Rothschild

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p.  116

Lifeway Press   2018

This fact gave me the first step out of depression and, yes, a  l o-n-g valley. I sat at our dining room table, looking out our patio door. It was a beautiful day with birdsong, but I was crying in hopelessness.

I heard these words in my heart:

"No matter what it is, its temporary." 

No matter how hard;

No matter how ugly:

Temporary.

And for those of us who know Jesus, it absolutely is!

He has gone to prepare a place for us.

lonnie

HE IS STRONGER

" . . . The people of Israel are oppressed,

and the people of Judah as well.

All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go.

Yet

Their redeemer is stronger."

Jeremiah 50: 33b-34a  NIV

I love this!

WHATEVER we are going through,

OUR REDEEMER IS STRONGER!!

I can't see Him, 

But I've come to trust that

HE CAN SEE ME.

lonnie

THE WORSE THEY ARE THE BETTER THEY BECOME

"Look at Beethoven.

The worse his deafness, the greater his music.

And the best was composed when he was walled into 

a silent world.

. . .

"Justin might never have started composing

had his hands not been broken

in Auschwitz."

Madeleine L'Engle w/ Carol F. Chase

Glimpses of Grace   p. 54

HarperSanFrancisco  1998

How can that be?!

I can't help but think of one of my memory verses: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit."   John 12:24 NAS

Both are miracles that we enjoy, but cannot explain.

lonnie

JUST DO IT!

"I woke up thinking about her . . .

In an effort to not miss something, I called her.

I'm glad I did.

She's going through one of the toughest times 

of her life."

Terry Esau

Surprise Me  p. 36-37

NavPress  2005

You could have written that. And me too . . . or at least the first part; the "I woke up with someone on my mind, or was driving home when . . . or saw someone or something that reminded me of . . ."

The call part? Not so much. I hate phones.

But TODAY we can text, email, or even write a pen-to-paper note and drop it in a mailbox. 

Unless . . . the Holy Spirit prompts us to call. 

Then we obey.
Just Do It!

But the main point is this: make contact. Someone may just need to know they aren't alone.

I've been the recipient of such a blessing. To have God prompt someone to touch base with me told me that . . .

God hadn't forgotten me either.

Sometimes, that's all I need.

lonnie

WORTH RESTORING

"He retores my soul."

Psalm 23

"No one restores silver or furniture if it has

no value.

No one wastes energy or work 

to restore

something that has no potential."

Jennifer Rothschild

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p. 82

Lifeway  2018

I hope that brings comfort to your heart like it does mine.

Whatever it takes,

We Are Worth It . . .To Jesus.

I've spent years studying sheep and their relationship to shepherds. From that study I began praying that God would restore my soul and the souls of my family. I often think of deep wounds, or people who have left the faith. Then I include friends and large groups bearing a title of their own.

Rothschild expands her observations:

"When our Shepherd restores our souls,

He is bringing us back from

Ignorance, errors, and wanderings."  P. 81

Who doesn't need restoring? 

And who better to do it than a Shepherd who knows the deepest parts of us;

parts so deep we don't have words 

(or courage)

to explain.

One of His sheep,

lonnie

WHAT I ONCE DESPISED

"I am forced to confess

that what I once despised

I now praise unreservedly."

Robert Jeffress and Erwin Lutzer quoting Einstein 

Twilight's Last Gleaming p.37

And

When A Nation Forgets God  p. 89-90

Einstein declared that only the Church stood "squarely across" Hitler's path. 

Albert Einstein also acknowledged that the Church, alone,  

"had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom."

I know how easily we can all stand our ground, believing that WE are the ones standing for truth and morality. But what I find interesting is that Einstein, in watching the way the Church handled the current crisis, began to unreservedly praise what he once hated.

History is His Story. 

It's facinating.  

God, open our eyes to see Your way.

Help us to trust even before we see.

You've Got This!

lonnie

IS GOD ANTI-EASY?

"I wish my ideas came with a logbook that clearly identified their source.

'This one's from God, this one--not so much.'

It does make me wonder . . . 

is God anti-easy?"

Terry Esau

Surprise Me:A 30 Day Faith Experiment  p. 15

NavPress   2005

Is God anti-easy?

Well, of course He is!

Or maybe . . . not anti-easy, but pro-growth.

If we don't strain at the reins, it gets us there sooner,

and it hurts less. 

Still Learning,

lonnie

PRAYER FOR OUR LEADERS

"Our Father and our God, hear me now as I pray for our national leaders. Turn their hearts to You, Lord, and help them to bow their knees in submission to Your holy will. Give them courage to stand strong for Your truth among the nations of the world. Help them to look to Jesus for Lordship and leadership.

In Him I pray.

Amen

I don't know if I'll manage to pray this daily, but I'd like to pray it often.

Will you join me?

lonnie

(Billy Graham; "Unto The Hills;" p.385)

JUST SAYIN'

"Give up the illusion of being in control of your life."

CHOICE: JOB OR FAITH

"As they were driving away, the boy (14 yrs old) told his father that the enlisted men had spoken to him.

'They told my son that, 

'you can be proud of your father

because

he's keeping his faith.'" 

Wes Modder ministered to Navy Seals. Though his record exhibited nothing but excellence, he suddenly became unfit for his job.

"Unable to function in the diverse 

pluralistic environment."

Being a chaplain, it makes sense to me that he would give biblical counsel. But that counsel would not permit premarital sex, homosexuality, masturbation, or worship of other gods. That didn't sit well with a young man who'd been peppering him (setting him up?) with leading questions.

Job Lost!

Clean Your Desk!

Thus the above scene played out. 

The choice: Job or Faith

What would you do? 

What WILL you do?

It all seems so unfair--so tolerant one way, but not the other. We're encouraged (demanded) to tolerate all faiths and lifestyles Except Christianity.

But . . .

Seriously,

How will people know whether our faith is a duty thing,

or our very heartbeat and existence?

How will they know it's Genuine,

Life-Giving,

Worth the sacrifice?

Unless . . .

They see that WE are willing to make that sacrifice.

"The whole command knows that Chaplain Modder is 

Keeping The Faith."

Todd Starnes

The Deplorables Guide To Making America Great Again  p. 209 Nook

Frontline  2017

Sustain Me With A Willing Spirit (Ps. 51:12)

lonnie

NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT YOU

"The grace of God means something like: Here is your life.

You might never have been,

but you are because the party 

WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN COMPLETE

WITHOUT YOU."

Frederick Buechner

Listening To Your Life  p.289

HarperSanFrancisco  1992

Man, I hope that makes you feel loved, special, and so NOT invisible.

NOT lost in the crowd.

It certainly makes MY day.
lonnie
(all emphasis mine)



". . . there is Joy in the presence of the angels of God over 
ONE
sinner that repents."
Luke 15:10

CRUMBS

Do crumbs have calories?

Just wondering, 

'cause I just ate a Hand-Full.

Num!!

lonnie

IF I AM HURT

"If I am hurt,

I don't turn  for strength and help to

someone who has never been hurt,

But

to someone who has,

and who can therefore understand 

a little

of what I'm going through."

Madeleine L'Engle with Carol Chase

Glimpses of Grace  p.36

HarperSanFrancisco  1996

As For Me

I am SO blessed to have friends 

Who

Have Been There.  

Thank you to all,

Lonnie

DO I HAVE TO CHANGE (GIVE UP) TO FOLLOW JESUS?

Ahmad asked Rashid,

"Do I have to change my religion to follow Jesus?

I love Ahmad's answer, because it applies to ALL OF US.

And, it makes sharing our faith less about our personal doctrine.

Do I have to give up drinking? 

How about smoking?

Can I still live with my boyfriend?

Do I have to speak in tongues? 

Do I have to go to church every Sunday?

Do I have to tell others about Jesus?

Check it out. 

This is great!

"I can't say exactly what will be required of you, Ahmad.

It's probably best that you just start reading the Bible.

See what you learn, and see if your dreams line up with what the Bible says about Jesus.

The Bible explains the truth, not your dreams.

Many dreams are real, but some people have false ones.

The Bible tells the difference."

Tom Doyle with Greg Webster

Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening The Muslim World?

Thomas Nelson  2012

Many Muslims are meeting Jesus in dreams and visions but if a dream, or any teaching we might hear, doesn't line up with Scripture, it is not from God.

That being said, one verse, isolated from it's immediate context

or from the whole Bible, does not constitute truth.

Off To Church. 

Lonnie

DON'T LET THEM SUFFER ALONE

"Nor will God permit you a single tear he does not 

long

to wipe away.

On the cross, when he says to John,

'Son, behold your mother.

Mother, behold your son,'

he is saying to both of them,

'Mary and John,

Never allow the other to suffer alone."

Calvin Miller

Once Upon A Tree  p. 53

Howard Piblishing  2002

I have never seen this story in that way. It feels powerful to me.

 There must be 100 ways to apply it to our lives; anywhere from a child's scraped knee or of feeling rejected, to a family suffering divorce, long-term illness, or financial hardships.

Or . . . Someone who has, like John and Mary, lost someone. The loss often lasts so much longer than we acknowledge.

Or . . . men, women, and even children suffering just for following Jesus.

God, show us how to not let them

Suffer Alone,

Lonnie

NO MORE WONDER WOMAN

"Halloween is less about trick-or-treating

 and more about triggering microaggressions 

among overly sensitive 

and easily offended

millenials.

The University of Florida offered bona fide counseling

for any student 

offended by a 

WONDER WOMAN,

ZOMBIE, or

PAPA SMURF 

costume."

Todd Starnes

Deplorables Guide To Making America Great Again   p. 92

Frontline  2014

As for me . . . I can hardly stop laughing. 

I love fall. I love pumpkins. I marvel at some of the art displayed in jack-o-lanterns. Everything else about Halloween, I hate!

Okay, maybe not little children in cute little costumes, or old people asking, "Oh my goodness, I wonder who that is," when they know full well it's a grandchild or neighbor.

Okay, I don't hate candy either. I wish I did.

I also wish my mom had pushed harder or held on longer. November 1 would have been a nice birthday.

But as for this, come on!

Look to be offended, and you won't be disappointed.

Just Saying . . .

Enjoy the Season

You KNOW what comes next,

Lonnie