Here am I.

I like to think about heaven. There are times that I long to be there, to leave behind this fallen world, to be in the presence of God Almighty.

In the Bible, there are a few places where God gives us a glimpse of heaven. My favorite is Isaiah 6. The prophet Isaiah records his vision of heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Can you imagine being in the presence of our holy Jehovah Sabaoth? You can't even tiptoe into the room without stepping on the hem of his garment that fills the temple. And then we see God cleansing Isaiah of his guilt and atoning for his sin. If I were Isaiah, at this point, my fear would be gone and I would be perfectly content to stay with God forever. Instead, Isaiah hears God ask a question.

"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

Isaiah is quick to answer, "Here am I. Send me!"

I don't really know what the year 2012 holds for you or for me. It may be a time when God uses burning coals to cleanse me and transform me more to his image. God often uses events in our lives to do just that.

I want to be ready when he calls me. I don't want to hesitate. I want to be able to say, "Here am I. Send me!" I want to be prepared to serve Him.

Are you prepared to serve God in whatever way he calls you? Have you studied his Word to know his Truth? Are you willing to do the right thing when others around you fall? Do you spend time in prayer? Do you have a church family that knows the Lord and supports you in following him? Are you looking for where God is working so you can join him?

That's my prayer for you for the year 2012.

A Christmas Miracle

Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Christmas? You know, the year where everything just seemed right in the world and the Red Ryder BB Gun you wanted was under the tree? Okay, maybe it was Mystery Date or a Cabbage Patch Doll or an American Girl Doll.

There is one special Christmas that I reflect on every year. I’m not sure how old I was – maybe eight or nine. My dad had recently moved the five kids left at home to Barton County, Florida infamous for being the poorest county in Florida. We fit right in.

My dad, a small hump-backed man, continued to raise us on the monthly social security disability checks that arrived in the mail each month.

As Christmas approached, a young couple contacted the elementary school we attended and asked if there was a needy family they could bless for Christmas. Our family was chosen and Jack Berry contacted my dad and asked for the honor of providing our Christmas presents that year. My dad accepted with one condition. The Berrys had to deliver the presents themselves.

Mr. Berry balked at this. He wanted the gifts to be anonymous, but my dad insisted. He wanted us children to thank Mr. and Mrs. Berry in person. Dad wanted us to learn about being generous.

I remember when Mr. and Mrs. Berry arrived with armfuls of packages. We took turns opening our gifts, as is our family tradition, and thanked them for each treasure. I received a new nightgown, a rare gift being the youngest girl with a dresser holding only hand-me-downs. The most exciting gift was the Atari. Donkey Kong. Oh, the joys of technology.

As we kids sat around the tree admiring each other’s gifts, my dad glanced over and discovered Mrs. Berry sitting quietly on the couch with silent tears streaming down her face. He went over to her and asked her what was wrong.

Frankly, she said, she didn’t understand why God would give so many children to a crippled, little man with no means to support them, but no children to a young, healthy couple with so much to give.

She meant no harm by her statement and my dad was keenly aware of the pain in her heart. What happened next is most clear in my memory.

My daddy knelt on the floor in front of Mrs. Berry and took her hand in his and prayed for her. He thanked God for her generous spirit and asked God to give her the baby she so deeply desired.

When he finished, there was an awkward silence. Someone brought Mrs. Berry some toilet paper so she could blow her nose and the young, childless couple went home.

As months went by, I didn’t think about Mr. and Mrs. Berry. I enjoyed my warm pajamas and fought with my siblings for time on the Atari. The school year ended; summer came and went.

One day, my dad told me to get ready because we were going to the flower store. I had never been to the flower store, so I ran a brush through my stringy, long hair and considered myself ready to go.

Dad and I stopped at the florist and he purchased yellow roses. I got to hold them in the truck and they smelled wonderful. Then we drove through Winter Haven into a neighborhood I had never seen before. The homes were large with manicured yards. That is when my daddy told me we were going to visit Mr. and Mrs. Berry.

And Jack Jr.

God is still in the business of miracles. He can bring life to the barren. He can restore the marriage. He can destroy the cancer. He can provide the job. He can fill the void of a lonely heart. He can forgive. He can love the unlovable.

The greatest miracle of all is Jesus. God sent his only Son from heaven to earth to die for you and for me. Jesus rose and is alive today. God loves you and wants to do a miracle in your life. Don’t be afraid to get on your knees and ask God for the impossible. He is still in the business of miracles.

Happy Thanksgiving

If you don't know, I picked up another half time job this fall. I'm a history teacher. I love history. I don't like memorizing dates, facts and figures, but I love the stories.

I found a little story that took place inside the classroom of a history teacher and I would like to share it with you.

A teacher asked her students to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. The students cast the most votes for:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not turned in her paper yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to see
2. to hear
3. to touch
4. to taste
5. to feel
6. to laugh
7. to love

getSynergized Newsletter (7-27-03); submitted by Phil Myers, Chesterton, Indiana

November is the month of thankfulness. When I am listing what I am thankful for, I usually list people and material things first. You know, I'm thankful for my family, my home, having food to eat, having a church family, clean water, indoor plumbing. . . Those sorts of things.

This year, I want to focus on things I don't always think of. I'm thankful for the ability to love. I'm thankful I can laugh. I am so thankful my senses are all working.

Most of all, I'm extremely thankful that God knows me and that He has a deep desire for me to know Him. This continuously blows me away. God knows me. God knows you. He desires to have fellowship with each of us on a personal level. Now here is something to truly be thankful for.

A tornado could come through and take my house, but I'd still have Him.
An accident could occur and I could lose my family, but I'd still have Him.
A stroke could leave me unable to express love, but I'd still have Him.
I could lose my sight, but I'd still have Him.

God is the only thing that can never be taken away from me. And everything else, all of the above, are just blessings upon blessings that He pours into my life.

Thank you, Lord. Really, there are not words to describe the appreciation I have for who He is.

So, thank God for your food, and your home and your family. Just don't forget to praise and thank God for who He is. Remember that every good thing comes from Him.

Dating Advice

Hey Girls!

Are you dating someone?

Is there a boy that you like?

Now, I don't know about you, but when I started dating, I was really checking out guys for marriage.

The other day I happened on this short, funny video on dating. It was produced by a Jewish group, but don't let that throw you.

I hope you enjoy it.

Purity

Today, it was 102 degrees outside. If you were to come over to my house, the first thing I would do is offer you a glass of water.

Would you like a glass of water? Here you go.

I can see you now. You're sitting on my couch enjoying the refreshing liquid. Can you imagine with me? The drink cools your parched throat.
Say it with me: "Ahhhh."

What if I told you that I accidentally dropped some cyanide in there? Whoops. It wasn't much really. Just a few drops. I really hope it doesn't kill you. I'm so sorry the water I gave you wasn't pure.

Purity.

It is a topic most young people do not like to talk about. Mostly because they are feeling guilty. Sometimes it just makes them uncomfortable. Let's define purity first.

pu·ri·ty

noun

1. the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc.: the purity of drinking water.

pure

adjective
1. free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind; free from extraneous matter

Thank you, dictionary.com.

Naturally, when we start talking about purity, our minds go to sexual purity, abstinence, refraining from having sex. But purity is more than that. It's about being pure in thoughts, actions, and words and being careful with what goes in our minds. It's a whole attitude, a way of life you live. I've been married for fifteen years and I still struggle with purity. Why? Because it has to do with being pure in heart, in our conduct, in our motives, in our inner spirits, and in our thought lives.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

Nobody is pure. Everybody struggles in this area.

So why do grown-ups make such a big deal about sexual purity? Why does God make such a big deal about sexual purity?

Do you really want to know the truth? You might be surprised. Are you ready? Okay, here I go. The real reason we make such a big deal about sexual purity is because we care. Yep. That's it. We care about you. We love you. God loves you.

God wants to do two things. He wants to provide you with the very best and protect you from everything else.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,

and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

Proverbs 3:21-26

Wow! Look at all the things God gives to those who follow Him.
Life. Grace. Safety. No Fear. Sweet Sleep. The Lord will be at your side. These are all the good things God is waiting to provide for you when you follow His wisdom.

¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

If you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, then the Holy Spirit lives in you. Your body is not yours to do whatever you want with it. Christ died for you. He purchased you at a tremendous price. Why? So you can do whatever you want with your boyfriend? No. To honor God. I really want you to think about this. Honor God in all your choices, but especially in how you behave with your body, His temple.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the

marriage bed kept pure,

for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Hebrews 13:4

Pure.

The guy you are dating is not your husband. He does not belong to you. Until you are married, you are kissing somebody else's husband.

God has a husband for you. How would it feel to know your future husband is out fooling around with some other girl right now? Those memories will never leave him.

Adultery is a strong word, but I'm not the one using it here. God is. And He says He will judge you. Don't say I didn't warn you.

God wants to provide you with a husband. He wants you to have a pure relationship. God desires to give you a marriage filled with life and grace and safety. He wants you to have sweet sleep. He does not want you to live in fear. Fear of STD's. Fear of pregnancy out of wedlock. Fear of being caught. He wants to walk beside you all of the days of your life and provide you with His best. I promise you: His best is better anything you can dream of creating on your own.

Decide to stay pure. Sex is a really wonderful thing. God thought it up. He wants you to save physical intimacy for marriage because it will protect you from a lot of bad junk and provide you with a marriage worth having.

I'm telling you this because I care.

These thoughts came from our summer girls' Bible study, His Girl by Vicki Courtney.

The Secret of Self-Worth

Next Saturday, the town I live in is hosting an all town garage sale. Usually, I'm out looking for deals, but this year I have decided to join the sellers. The idea of having a garage sale really stresses me out. I have to clean out, sort through and gather from throughout the house. The worst part for me, though, is the pricing. I don't like pricing! It is so hard to determine the worth of something. One gal's trash is another girl's treasure.

This is true when we look in the mirror, too. What if someone asked you what you are worth? How do you determine your self-worth?

If you are like most people, you might base your self-worth on what others think about you or you might compare yourself to others who you think are somehow better than or less than you.

At our teen girls' Bible study last night, we looked at three ways the world determines the worth of a person and then we contrasted them to the way God determines our worth.

#1 Worth = What You Look Like

We are bombarded by a culture that judges people's worth by touched up photos of skinny models. So, we end of thinking that if we don't look right, if we don't have the right brand of jeans or the right hair cut or perfect make-up, we somehow don't measure up.

Here's some truth:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalms 139:14

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 1:26-27, 31

God formed you with his own hands, and it was very good. You are wonderfully and purposefully created by God. Let's rewrite the world's first formula for worth.

Worth = God Made Me Special in His Image

#2 Worth = What You Do

Looks aren't everything to the world. We are also judged by our performance. Even your parents push you to get good grades and do well. Colleges are looking for students who are at the top of their class and active in community service and leadership. You feel pressure to make the varsity team, to be the good girl, to be a hard worker. These are not bad things, but they should not determine your worth.

Here is some truth that might hurt a little:

All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6

Ouch. Did that just say God sees all of our righteous acts like filthy rags? All my accomplishments, abilities, achievements, good deeds, efforts, performances, skills, talents and triumphs are worthless to God?

The truth is God does not put conditions on His approval. When you accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, He loves you no matter what. Your worth comes from Him, not from your actions. Let's rewrite the world's second formula for worth.

Worth = What Jesus Did For Me

#3 Worth = What Others Think of Me

We have a deep desire to fit in, to be accepted, to gain the approval of others and sometimes that leads us to people-pleasing actions that are opposite of what God would have for us.

Here is some truth:

How amazing are your thoughts concerning me, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7

But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
I Samuel 13:14

Nobody thinks about you more than God does. He isn't concerned with whether you are trendy or if others think you are funny or popular. He is concerned about your heart. David was the runt of his family, the baby brother with the lowliest position, most mundane job, the least experience and yet God chose him to be king over His chosen people because David was a man after God's own heart.

God's desire is for you to seek and find your worth in Him. Let's rewrite the third formula for worth.

Worth = What God Thinks of Me

You are not an accident. God created you just the way you are for His purposes. You have significant and tremendous worth.

The next time you are looking in the mirror, remember that what you see is what Jesus loves.

Remember, one gal's trash is God's treasure.

Our study is based on His Girl by Vicki Courtney.

Anti-conformity

Anti-conformity. It means to not assimilate. We want to fit into the crowd and yet we want to be unique and special. But, what does God ask of us? He wants us to be different. First Peter 1:17 tells us to "live as strangers here" and Philippians 3:20 reminds us that our "citizenship is in heaven." If you feel as if you do not belong here on planet earth, then you are probably doing a good job.

Read these words:
RED GREEN PINK PURPLE WHITE ORANGE BLUE YELLOW RED GREEN PINK PURPLE WHITE ORANGE BLUE YELLOW RED GREEN PINK PURPLE WHITE ORANGE BLUE YELLOW RED

As you read the words above, what comes to your mind first, the color that the words actually say or the color that the words are printed in? This is a tough one for your brain, because your brain can "read" these words two different ways. You have to slow down your thinking in order to read the letters.

This happens in the spiritual realm as well. We live in this world, but we are citizens of heaven. We are constantly bombarded with the standards of earth, but we know that we should live under the standards of God.

So, how do we do it? Here's the verse to meditate on this week.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

The world is constantly pushing you to conform, but God has a better plan for you. The only way to be transformed is by the renewing of your mind. And the only way to renew your mind is to spend time reading the Bible.
Period.
That's what it takes.


Do you have a kitchen table? Is it the dumping ground at your house? You know, you walk in the door from school or wherever and you take all the stuff in your hands and you just dump in on the table. So does everyone else. Backpacks. Books. Water bottles. Hats. Mail. Whatever. It all gets deposited on the table.

Supper time rolls around and mom starts hollering from the kitchen, "Clear off the table." Somebody, probably you, has to get rid of all the stuff. You can't sit down for a good, nutritious meal without first clearing off all the junk.

The same thing is true in your brain. You get junk dumped on you all day long. You need to take time to clear it off and then you need to sit down and get some good, nutritious food. Fill your brain up with the Word of God from the Bible. You must be radically transformed before we can stand out for God in the world.

You know I love music, so here is a song by Krystal Meyers called Anti-conformity. It could not be embedded so we share the link with you below. Be sure to check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErI0J61kzw

This is what we talked about at our teen girls' Bible study last night. We are using the study His Girl by Vicki Courtney and I stole some of her thoughts for this blog. It is a good study and if you happen to be a teen girl who has completed seventh through twelfth grade and live in the Stafford area, come to my house at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. If you live somewhere else, you can buy the study book at a Christian bookstore or online or you can just keep reading the blog. The book is better. The Bible is best.