The Race!!!

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:13-3 (The Message)

This past Saturday I went to a swim meet. It was quite exciting. There were no Michael Phelps there but it was a notable event. You see, it was my middle grandchild's very first swim meet. Yes, the notoriously astute and absolutely lovely, Anna is now a Newberry Eel. Graceful and agile, Anna swam in two events and while I was breathless with anticipation and as proud as the grandmother of an Olympian, Anna finished a decisive last in each race! But that was okay! No, it was more than okay, it was absolutely fabulous! I'm not kidding...it was fabulous. You see, Anna didn't quit. She didn't cry when she lost. She didn't have one of famous "meltdowns". She didn't even blink at being last. She simply went over to the coach, got her time, and then prissed across the concrete to greet her adoring fans... her daddy, little brother Nate, and me! I wish you could have seen her cute little self determinedly making her way to us in her Speedo swimsuit, goggles, and Newberry Eels swim cap! She had finished the race and she was coming for her hugs and her all important chili cheese fries!

As I've reflected on Saturday's triumphant first swim meet, I think I'm getting a clearer picture of how God sees us. You see, he doesn't expect us to be the best or the fastest or always the winner. I think he's most proud of us when our attitudes are in the right place and when our hearts are set on finishing the race. As Anna finished her first race, I felt as if I were in the pool with her, urging her on, telling her not to quit, watching with pride as she climbed out of the pool. Don't you think God is like that with us? He's in it with us, urging us on, telling us never give up and he watches with pride as we finish the job.

So, I don't know about you but I'm never going to quit and when I finish the race, I know God will be waiting for me with big hug and maybe, just maybe, an order of chili cheese fries!

Love, Jane

The Geese

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26 (NLT)



I work in a building made mostly of glass. Today, everyone stopped what we were doing to look at the huge (well, it was big for Sumter!) traffic jam outside. Cars had stopped both ways and they were lining up to the traffic light! We didn't hear the crash of a wreck or the siren of an ambulance. We didn't see smoke. What we did see was a gaggle of geese crossing our busy street! Those geese were waddling from one side of the road to the other just like they owned the place! It was quite a sight. I couldn't help but be reminded that God is still in control! Yes, in the middle of my daily hustle and bustle, God reminded me through those geese He is in control of everything, even the traffic on Wesmark Boulevard!

Calling all women...

No matter which side of the aisle you're on, Ladies...you ought to be good and mad at the liberal media's castigating of Sarah Palin. As a female child of the 60's and a Southern conservative, I am disgusted with the blatant attacks on Sarah Palin. Apparently, I've been naive to believe all these years that the women's movement was about WOMEN'S RIGHTS and not a powerful liberal machine that happens to incorporate the word "WOMEN". What a hypocritical double standard. If Sarah Palin was a Democrat, we, women would be in the street, marching to "I am woman, hear me roar..." and burning our bras!

I happen to line up politically with Sarah Palin and I know, many of you don't. It doesn't matter! We need to make our voice heard and let our "sisters" and the liberal media know, women won't be questioned and scrutinized on the basis of our family situations, marital status, the number of children we have or the fact that we don't have male anatomy.

Please take a moment and read liberal and fellow female, Susan Estrich's comments from yesterday. It is on the mark! (see link below) It's time we, women agree to disagree and stand up and have a 1960's fit over the double standard we've experienced for the past 6 days.

I cannot be silent on this one! There is simply TOO much at stake!

http://www.creators.com/comments/opinion/sarah-s-choice.html

Like I said...I may just burn my bra!

ASK!

My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours. 1 John 5:12-14 (The Message)

Last weekend, my three precious grandchildren spent the night with me. I called their mother on Thursday and asked her if they could come for an evening with Nana. Of course, my daughter said "yes". She usually does unless they have something special going on. That night after supper at a local Mexican restaurant where they ate like starving monkeys, baths and shampoos, and some arguing over who was going to sleep with whom, I found myself sleeping with seven year old Anna. As Anna and I lay in the dark, we talked about how much I love having the kids come spend the night with me and she told me how much she loved to come. It occurred to me that she had seldom, if ever, called me and asked to come stay the night. So, I told her, "Anna, all you have to do is call me and I'll come get you." "Oh." she said as if it had never occurred to her to call me and simply ask.

Today, as I rushed about at work and at home I could "hear" God saying to me over and over..."Ask, Jane, ask." You know, there are some things I want, even need, that I've never really asked God for! Just like Anna had not asked me to come to my house at times when she really wanted to, I have not asked God for some things that I'm sure He'll be pleased to give me. And just like Anna, I needed to hear God say, "Ask."

Love, Jane

PS (By the way, guess who is coming to stay with Nana this weekend? Yep, those three starving monkeys!)

Missing Out?

30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)

Perhaps one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn is best summed up in the verses above. While I try so hard to stay on the "straight and narrow", I inevitably end up taking a detour around this corner or that! I get so preoccupied with living this life to the fullest, I take many turns that aren't needed and are some times destructive. Thankfully, though, God has a way of REELING me in just before I go over the cliff or crash and burn!

Today, my little family came to church to honor their dad's 18th anniversary teaching, preaching, and ministering to our little congregation of believers. As I sat in church with my children and grandchildren, and worshiped the God who has given me so much, I felt a sense of joy like no other. We came home and shared a big, old fashioned Sunday dinner and again, as I sat down with my family, I realized I am living life to the fullest!

Jesus said it this way...

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

I was wondering...

Here's something to think about...

Assuming you're a believer,

If there were no threat of Hell or no reward of Heaven, would you still follow Christ?

Blog with me!

Nothing Wasted

Not long ago, my sister in law, sent me a compelling devotion entitled "Blessed with Less". Sometimes, I fear, I paint an all too rosy picture of life as a Christian. I hope you never get the impression from me or my writing that God is a "cosmic Santa Clause"! I hope we all come to understand that God is interested in far more than our comfort, our status, even our health! While He certainly gives us "good" gifts, often His greatest and most meaningful blessing come when we are "Blessed with Less".

For example, I wouldn't appreciate my current good health if hadn't undergone the doubt and fear of aneurysm surgery. I wouldn't appreciate what I have materially if I didn't know what it's like to be flat broke. I wouldn't appreciate my marriage if Dearld and I hadn't almost divorced. I wouldn't know what it's like to suffer mentally and emotionally if I didn't have OCD. I wouldn't know how it feels to be slandered, if it hadn't happened to me!

My mom and I were talking yesterday as mothers and daughters do and something painful from the past came up. My mom said, "Now, why do we want to bring that up!" And I said, "Well, Honey Moma, nothings wasted in the kingdom of God!" I believe this with my whole heart!

None of us like tough times and if we had the choice we'd say a big, polite, "No, thank you!" and hurry on pretty fast! But, there's a lot that happens in this life that we just don't choose and it's important for something good to come out of everything. Once, in a dark time, I remember being on my knees before God and crying out..."Why, God, why!" And in His gentle, still soft voice He answered..."Jane, I never promised you that wouldn't go through hard times. What I promised you is My presence and that is enough." And you know what? It is.

Love, Jane

...At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become... From 2 Corinthians 12 (The Message)