Breakthrough

When I was a new Christian, I heard Chuck Swindoll say that the single most powerful thing you could do for your spiritual walk is to memorize Scripture.

So I began to study and memorize God’s Word, and I saw the power quickly. Not my power, but things that God did in my life that I knew were because of His Word working in me.

Later, I joined Bible teacher Beth Moore and a few thousand of our closest friends in a structured corporate Scripture memory program where we each memorized 24 verses throughout the calendar year. That was extremely helpful for providing encouragement and motivation.

So, over the years that I have been memorizing Scripture, I have been amazed at the power of the Sword of the Spirit.

And now, a breakthrough…

Last year, Beth Moore published James, the latest of her intensive video-driven Bible studies. However, this time she did something different: she structured the study to allow five different levels of participation, which catered to both those who did not have much time as well as those who wanted to go deeper.

The Level 5 task was to memorize the book of James.

Sounds daunting, right? I thought so too. Until God revealed something incredible.

I did not think I was up to memorizing James during the study, because I was not very familiar with the book. I had read it, sure, but never studied it in depth. Mostly because of verse 1:2.

So I just read it. Every morning I read the entire book of James out loud. That’s it. I did not try to analyze it or work on memorizing it, I just read it straight through, out loud.

Then, when I went to memorize it, it only took 25 days.

25 days.

What???

Yes.

I will write more and explain the techniques I used to memorize it, but the most important nugget from this is -

Read God’s Word out loud.

There is awesome power in the spoken Word of God.

Do You Speak Dog?

This week I am dog-sitting Midnight.  He is a sweet lab-husky mix, with one blue eye and one brown eye.

He is about the same size my Cindy was, which makes things interesting. He loves playing with Cindy’s favorite toy (a stuffed tiger named Bobo), and sitting on her bench to look out the window (I brought it out of storage for him). I am being reminded of the feeling of a fuzzy chin resting on my leg, with hopeful eyes intently trying to communicate current desires. The sense of a strong companion at my feet and the sound of footsteps following me everywhere bring back sweet memories.

Midnight is a very lovable dog, but he had a few bad habits such as jumping on people, soft-biting, and pulling while on a walk. I have been working with him using the Dog Whisperer techniques, and he is responding very nicely! In just two days, he no longer jumps on me or bites. On a walk, he stays right next to me pretty well. He still gets a little anxious to move ahead, especially when there are distractions, but he is improving each time!

Midnight has a wonderful home where he gets a lot of love and attention, but some dogs are not so lucky. When owners give conflicting signals and then scold the dog for not behaving properly, the owners are angry and the dog is confused. Some dog owners do not understand the way dogs think. They anthropomorphize them and expect them to respond like humans. That does not work, because, well – they are DOGS.

A dog wants to work and know his place. When that is clear and his needs are met, both dog and owners will be happy. I encourage every dog owner to take their dog to a reputable obedience school so both they and the dog can learn to effectively communicate, and the dog can learn to socialize with other animals. And definitely visit Cesar Milan’s website, he has a wealth of valuable information and tips.

Midnight is only 1 year old, and is very healthy. But he has had some symptoms that lead me to believe he has some type of allergy. He has dry skin, occasionally scratches his body, and sometimes rubs his eyes, which would indicate he is itchy. This could be from the recent flea treatment, something in his dog food, or a lack of proper nutrients in his diet.

So, I have been giving Midnight antioxidants, a little Aloe, and putting Omega-3 fish oils in his dinner, and his coat is improving already! He is not rubbing his eyes as much either, so hopefully he is feeling better.

One fact I learned from the Dog Whisperer is that dogs need exercise, not only running and playing, but exercising their olfactory system. So when I walk Midnight, I occasionally stop and verbally release him so he can check out the hot mailboxes. He loves it. I vary the mailboxes at which we stop so he does not expect it, and it becomes a treat for him for walking attentively the rest of the time. He is also becoming an expert at fetch.

Midnight is a fun dog and we are having a grand time. Owning a dog should be a blessing, not a burden, and just as with children, it is a process of learning as they grow. Many dogs are quite intelligent and want to please their owner. So if your sweet pup does something that you would rather he or she did not, get some information because it is probably easy to correct, once you know their language. 

Book Review & Giveaway!: Updated

Update: We have a winner! Congratulations to Becky Collie! Everyone else, remember that you can still get a copy for yourself, see the bottom of this post. And may God bless you in your ministries and your relationships. Thanks for participating!

Do you like books? Would you like a free one? Yes? Well then, keep reading…

My friend Mary Snyder recently published  “God, Grace, & Girlfriends: Adventures in Faith and Friendship.”

The book is essentially a “how-to” for basic women’s ministry, covering a broad range of topics.

The first half of the book guides the reader through how to find and cultivate godly friendships. It provides many tangible ideas on how to have fun and fellowship with your girlfriends, such as lunches, game nights, and volunteering together. One entire chapter is devoted to growing closer to God yourself, as that is the most important relationship we have.

One word of caution: while the book suggests seeking godly counsel when dealing with difficult issues, it also strongly advises quickly terminating an unhealthy relationship. I pray that women of God will read that chapter bearing in mind that we are called to love others, including those that are mentally, emotionally, or spiritually wounded. This means setting proper boundaries and looking for ways to help without condoning unhealthy behavior.

The second half of the book is packed with practical advice, including how to lead a Bible study, coordinate a ladies’ day out, or even plan a group trip or retreat. Mary carefully details required steps and tangental issues to consider during the planning and implementation of each type of event. She also lists helpful resources, suggestions, and even example schedules. Lined pages are tucked in between chapters so readers can jot down their own ideas.

God, Grace, & Girlfriends is a very handy resource for anyone new to women’s ministry, desiring to start a ministry, or if you just want some new ideas to spice up your existing group.

“God has great plans for you and your girlfriends.” ~Mary Snyder

So, do you want to improve the women’s ministry at your church? Do you want to start a women’s ministry? Do you just want to have some fun?

 

p.s. – So many heartfelt responses! I wish I had enough for everyone to have one, but you can always get a copy at your local Lifeway store or online at Lifeway, Amazon, or Abebooks.

Cindy’s Birthday

This blog is named after my dog Cindy. In honor of her birthday, a post of remembrance…

18 years ago today, a precious little puppy was born. Six weeks later, I met her, and it was love at first sight.

I can still see it in my mind’s eye:  We went to a small shelter and walked into the “puppy room.” There were a number of large wooden bins that kept each litter separate from the others.  Most of the puppies were sleeping or playing, except for one. This adorable little pup was sitting up attentively, looking right at me, as if to say, “Why are you looking around? I am right here, and I am ready to go home.“

I knew instantly that she was mine. We named her Cindy, and found out later that my beloved grandmother also had a dog named Cindy.

When Cindy was 2 years old, I had been working three jobs to make ends meet, and she would chew on everything out of boredom. So I got her a cat. Cindy was not thrilled with that, but she stopped chewing on my stuff. Interestingly, AJ’s birthday was only 5 days before Cindy’s, and they died 2 days apart.

Cindy was the alpha dog and she knew it. She was extremely intelligent, and could perform dozens of commands, if there was something in it for her. Like most dogs, she loved to run and jump. She used to jump up 5′ and grab leaves right off of the tree. And eat. She would eat pretty much anything, even things that should not be considered food. She was a magnificent dog, but not above helping herself to anything within her reach or even snatching a cookie out of an unsuspecting hand. One day I came home to find an empty paper bread bag on the living room floor – from a loaf that I had left on TOP of the refrigerator! I can only conclude that she and AJ collaborated on that one.

We had so many fun times. And a few not so fun times, such is life. :/ On more than a few occasions I said, “You drive me crazy!” (Usually as I was handing her a treat.)  She quickly learned how to defeat the invisible fence, one time actually jumping over the spot on the lawn where the wire was buried. Cindy was not one for playing with toys. I used to say she wasn’t good at having fun, a trait she might have inherited from her owner.   She was also very vocal, and loved to tell everyone so.

I am so thankful that when Cindy was around 11 years old, I realized that we had more years behind us than in front of us. From that day on, I made it a point to never walk by her without giving her some love. This made her last years so special.

When she was 14, a neighbor’s dog attacked us. It was over in seconds, but that moment completely changed her personality and our relationship. From then on she was timid and quiet, a polar opposite of the vocal alpha dog she had been. Instead of trying to contain her, I found myself trying to encourage her to do more and speak, but she rarely uttered a sound. This made our last two years together very sweet, as I was able to care for her and love on her as much as I wanted, which was a lot.

♥♥♥

From the archives: Read Cindy’s guest post here.

♥♥♥

Cindy and I had 16 1/2 wonderful years together. She was definitely my bff. She was always willing to test my food, patrol the neighborhood, and warm up the couch. She jumped and barked when I was happy, and she licked my tears when I was not.

It was very difficult to say goodbye to my longtime companion and friend. While I will probably get a new pup at some point, there will never be another Cindy. I am so thankful for the time we had together.

I love you, sweet Baby Girl. ♥

Discipline Determines Destiny

Charles Stanley is an anointed man of God and always has fantastic message. I believe this is one of his best.

• Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels and never getting anywhere?
• Do you give in to your children because it is easier than making them do what you want them to?
• Is your body in disrepair because of unhealthy but convenient choices?

Learn the disastrous results of being undisciplined and how to fix it. Dr. Stanley provides wisdom that will transform your life.

Watch the video here: Discipline Determines Destiny.

He Is Risen

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Mt 28:1–10

I love the King James rendering of verse 6: He is risen.

He is still the great I AM. Friday was an important day, but so was Sunday. Jesus died, but then He rose again.

He lives.

Jesus had given up His spirit upon death. Why did He pick His body back up again on Sunday and stay for a while? Maybe He had a few more important things to say.

What did He say?

• Do not be afraid. Mt 28:10
• Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Lk 24:46–47 (Translation: I told you so)
• Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe. Jn 20:27
• And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Mt 28:20

Do not fear. This was the plan from the beginning. Believe. When I said I will never leave you nor forsake you, I meant it.

Jesus did not just pay our sin debt with His life, He lives to tell about it. He is seated on His throne, high and lifted up, constantly interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.

Not only does that mean that every person who believes Jesus will get to spend eternity with Him in heaven, but at the moment they accept His gift of grace, He comes to live in them. So, we do not just have eternal security about what will happen when we shed these fleshly bodies, we also have a constant companion, helper, teacher, mediator, and so much more while we continue this journey on planet Earth.

Divine wisdom, strength, and comfort is all available to us every moment of every day. The most meaningful relationship we can have, and the only true satisfaction for our souls, grows as we abide in Christ as He abides in us.

Jesus died to save our future. He rose to save our today.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is still exactly that. Alive. Everlasting. The Light of the World still shines. The Living Water still flows. And our Pascal Lamb is still worthy of all our praise.

For Us

Jesus willingly left Paradise and took on the confinements of human flesh to seek and save the lost, aka – us.

Jesus knew he would suffer and die. He didn’t die a noble, quick death as in a movie. He was mocked, abandoned, and tortured. After having his back shredded by strips of glass and metal,…

Pause on that for a second. I whine when I get a paper cut. Jesus was flogged. The shards in the whip literally shredded his skin. Yet He never uttered a sound. He endured.

Then he was nailed to the cross where he suffered for an excruciating 6 HOURS. Remember – crucifixion is not just about hanging out in the hot sun until you get too tired. It’s not just about your shoulders slowly being pulled out of the sockets. It’s not just about neck pain from your head being slightly forward because you cannot rest it back against the wood because you have thorns wrapped around your head. Thorns that contribute to the splitting headache caused by dehydration.

No, death by crucifixion comes when the weight of your body prohibits you from being able to expand your lungs. You slowly suffocate, unless of course you push with your feet – not the bottom of your foot with a comfortable sneaker on pressing against the floor – but feet that had a nail driven through them. Yes those – press down those feet, and as you do, the shredded skin on your back grinds against the rough wood of the cross, but at least that allows you to gasp one more breath.

Jesus could have called on legions of angels at any time. He could have pulled those nails out immediately with one single thought. He could have saved Himself. But He did not.

So the suffering continued…the need for one more breath of air exceeding the unimaginable pain of physically trying to get that air.

FOR. SIX. SOLID. HOURS.

For YOU.

And all while still ministering to His mother, asking forgiveness for the ones who put him there, and saving the lost soul next to Him.

When the thief asked Jesus to remember him, Jesus did not say, “I’ve got my own problems here, buddy.” In the midst of His own suffering and impending death, Jesus never forgot that this was exactly why He came. He promised the man, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.“

Won’t you take a few minutes today and think about what Jesus did for you?

And why? What does He want in return? We can never pay that debt back, and God does not want us to try. He simply wants us to know Him. Jesus wants to heal you, to help you, to bless you, to be your best friend, and to be your first love.

God alone can love you as no human can.

You know that empty place deep inside that we keep trying to fill with food, other people, or just busyness? That’s God’s place. It’s what we were made for, to have an intimate relationship with our Creator.

But God will never force Himself upon you. That’s not relationship. He wants true, free, meaningful relationship with you.

If you do not know Jesus, invite Him into your heart today. If you do, invite Him deeper.

Isn’t that the least we can do?

For further contemplation, from the archives: We Are Barabbas.