Dee2rites Blog

Tag: personal experinces

  • When You Get It Wrong – Again

    “For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” Romans 7:18, 19 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)


    Do you ever wonder why you did something you said you’d never do again? Or failed to do something you promised yourself you would do? That’s me all the time. I swear I’ll get up early and walk, but then stay in bed too long, or start doing something else and forget about it. I promise myself I won’t get upset over trivial things, but catch myself getting irritated or angry over minor issues. Sometimes it’s not just little failures we suffer, but real sin catches us unaware and before we know it we’re right back in the midst of it, again.

    The Apostle Paul certainly knew about it. Even he felt there was nothing good in himself. Wow! You mean the man who wrote most of the New Testament struggled with sin? Yes, even Paul. There was only One who never sinned, Jesus,  and even He faced temptation.  (Read Matthew 4:1-11.)

    One of the many things I love about the Bible, it shows us that the men and women God used in the past were just like us. They sometimes got things wrong over and over, yet God was able to pick them up, clean them up and use them. Just like He picks us up, cleans us up, and desires to use us today.

    Gideon questioned God, not once, but three times. But God still used him to deliver Israel. (Read Chapter 6, 7 and 8 of Judges.)

    David was an adulterer and a murderer. But because he desired to be made clean and repented, God was able to call him a man after His own heart.

    Moses lost his temper and disobeyed God, but the Bible says, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend”. (Exodus 33:11a)

    Jonah was angry at God because He didn’t destroy the city of Nineveh after the people repented when Jonah preached to them. And remember it took a whale to get him there. Think about that. He finally obeys God, goes to preach in one of the most wicked cities of the era, the entire city repents, including the King, and Jonah is angry because God did not destroy them. How many preachers can say they went to a city and the entire city, including the Mayor got saved? Not that many.

    Peter denied Jesus three times. But after the resurrection Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to reaffirm his love for him. “Lord, You know I love You” and Jesus replied “Feed My sheep.”


    The Apostle Paul says “O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24, 25 (Amplified Bible) In other words, it is through Jesus Christ we can overcome and we can be free from sin.

    When we do fail, praise God, He’s made the way for our restoration. The very next verse says God will not condemn us, but He will set us free. “THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1, 2 (Amplified Bible)
    Matthew Henry says in his Concise Commentary on the Bible, “Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured.”

    So, the next time you know you’ve gotten something wrong, the next time you feel unworthy of God, or doubt your usefulness to Him, remember you are not alone. We’re all there one time or another, and some of us on a regular basis. And God knew your weaknesses when He called you, but He chose you anyway. Pick yourself up, repent, and start over.

    “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

    Peace and blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ to you all,
    Dee

  • Obituary for Skeeter

    We lost our Rat Terrier, Skeeter, last night. He probably had cancer, but when he got sick he declined very fast and thankfully didn’t have to suffer.

    Skeeter was born in December 1995 and went to be with his companion, Shellie, October 16, 2009. He would have been 14, that’s almost 98 in dog years.

    Skeeter was a contrary little fellow, and not everyone loved him as my daughter Rachael and I did. When we got him he had been abused and like so many abused children, he carried the emotional scars all his life. Those scars sometimes made him not trust people and seem unlovable.  But he did love us in his own way and even thought he could be unpredictable, he never growled, sniped, bit or even turned his lip at my grandson Christopher. Not even when Christopher tried to crawl into Skeeter’s kennel with him – a sacred place to Skeeter and not to be broached by humans.

    Skeeter loved to play fetch and would bring you his toy to throw as long as you would throw it. He’d drop it at your feet and if you didn’t reach to pick it up in a timely manner, he bark as if to remind you it was your turn.

    The strongest attachment he made was with an older woman – our dog Shellie, a lab mix. They would sleep next to each other and howled at the fire truck sirens together. As Shellie aged and seemed to have trouble getting around, he would stay by her side as if to be her guide. When Shellie died, Skeeter went into a depression for several days and would not eat or even come out of his kennel.

    The first time Skeeter fell into the swimming pool, I ran to get him out because he was sinking and about to drown. Instead of licking me with gratitude, he tried to bite me. Not because he was angry at me, but because he was scared and he lashed out at the closest thing to him. He just wanted to get to his safe place and dry off by himself. We later learned that Rat Terriers are the only breed of dog that do not have an instinct to swim or dog paddle.

    What God showed me is we are often the same way. We react out of hurt or anger and in so doing hurt the very person who loves us the most. Instead of receiving the love and help we are being offered, we reject it and end up feeling alone and wet. We’ll even lash out at God as if He caused our hurt, as if He pushed us into the pool. But He is the one who truly loves us most, warts flaws, hang-ups and all.

    1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Warts and all God loves us.

    Thank you Skeeter for teaching me the blessing of loving the unlovable.


    Peace and blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ,
    Dee

  • Learning to Read the Bible

    “Your Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against You.”  (Psalm 119:11)

         Last Saturday I decided I had to clean my kitchen. I mean really clean it. Not the daily wash the dishes, wipe off the counter type cleaning but a through floor to ceiling cleaning. I felt a little overwhelmed – like where to start? I think that’s how many people feel about reading their Bible. They want to do it, know they need to do it, but where do they start?

         When I first began to desire to know God more and to know His Word, I thought well, I’ll start at the beginning. I’d never read much of the Bible except for excerpts I’d read in church and Sunday School. I’d certainly never read it through.  So the next morning after I’d taken my son to kindergarten, I sat down with my King James Bible and started reading. Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God . . . .” Yep, this was where I needed to start. I decided I could read a couple of chapters every day and then I’d know the Bible. It started off interesting enough, but I didn’t really get any goosebumps or spiritual high from it. But I felt good because I felt like I was doing what I needed to be doing.

          That was wonderful until I got to chapters 10 and 11. I started reading the genealogies, who begat whom,  who was the father of whom and fell asleep trying to get through it. Had not a clue who most of those people were or why it was important all their names be listed.  But I continued. Not really understanding what I was reading, and finding my self frequently skipping ahead, trying to find some point for all this. Thankfully before I just gave up and quit, a dear friend helped me out. What she suggested to me is what I suggest to you now.

         First find a modern translation like the New International or the New Living Bible. The Message is great for anyone who is new to reading the Bible. Before you start reading, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher and to help you receive something from God from His written word.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be our teacher and He would teach us all things. (See John 14:26). Start with the Gospel of John and there you will met Jesus, the Son of Man. If  you want to also read something from the Old Testament, start with the Psalms or Proverbs. There you will find comfort and practical thoughts for living. Then read one of the other gospels, Matthew, Mark or Luke.  The book of Ephesians is good to help learn about who we are in Christ.

         Don’t feel like you have to read any set amount. It’s better to spend time reading and meditating on one verse and learn something for your life than to read long passages and not really absorb anything.  When you find  something that starts to speak to you, stop and read it again, several times even. God reveals Himself to us in small steps and He knows what we need to receive and learn from Him.  And He knows our heart. If we desire to know more of Him and His Word, God’s desire is even greater for our fellowship with Him through His Word.

          It’s been over 30 years since I first started on my journey studying God’s Word.  Little did I know then the wonderful treasures God had in store for me or the life-long love relationship I was beginning with Jesus and His written word. Even today, every time I read  a passage and take the time to meditate over it, I learn something new. His Word is as fresh as the most recent on-line news feed. It’s as relevant today as it was the day it was written. There is so much, we will never know it all in this life. 

    “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. 
    I have tried my best to find you– don’t let me wander from your commands. 
    I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 
    Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your principles. 
    I have recited aloud all the laws you have given us. 
    I have rejoiced in your decrees as much as in riches. 
    I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 
    I will delight in your principles and not forget your word. “
    (Psalm 119: 9-16)

    Peace and blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ,
    Dee

  • DEBRIDEMENT OF THE SOUL

    Have you ever been in a bad place emotionally or spiritually and thought it would be that way the rest of your life? The days so dark you believed you’d never feel right again? I have. I’ve been in that place. I understand exactly what the Psalmist was talking about in the 102nd Psalm:

    “By reason of my loud groaning [from suffering and trouble] my flesh cleaves to my bones.

    I am like a melancholy pelican or vulture of the wilderness; I am like a [desolate] owl of the waste places.

    I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], like a bereaved sparrow alone on the housetop.”

    (Psalm 102:5-7, The Amplified Bible)

    When my mother died in June 2000, it was unexpected. Even though her health had not been good, none of us, except perhaps my dad, had a hint it was as bad as it was. As Christians, we all rejoiced that she was no longer in pain and that she was with her Lord, but that did not mean our pain or our lost was not real.

    Over time, my grief turned to anger and I turned inward. Outwardly, I said and did all the things expected of me. I told my children not to be angry at God because Mamma was gone, but inside I was questioning God. How could He let this happen without preparing me?

    I became angry because I didn’t feel my husband was as supportive as he should have been, but I was too inward to tell him what I needed. Issues arose in our marriage and we became more and more distant. When we did reconcile, it was still not as it should have been because I began substituting my relationship with my husband for the relationship I’d once had with God. I expected more of my husband than God ever intended.

    Except for a couple of friends, most of the people at my church were clueless about what I was going through. Even those who knew I’d lost my mother had no idea that I was struggling. I kept my feeling inside, not letting anyone close enough to see my pain. We stopped going to church for a while because I felt the church had let me down.

    I stopped reading my Bible or praying. I questioned God’s love for me or if I had really ever heard from Him. But even when I was deep in unbelief, there was still a small spark of hope. God’s call to us is “without repentance” – He promised to never leave or forsake us, even when we turn our backs to Him.

    Sometimes God uses things from unexpected sources to reach us. The Creator of the universe creates a way to reach us even at our lowest. For me, it was a song. Not a “Christian” song, but God used it to scratch the scab on my heart.  The same year my mother died, Kathie Lee Gifford put out a CD “Born For You”. I’d listened to it many times, but one night while I was up late writing, one special song touched that small spark in me and something began to break.

    “I’d like to lose all time again

    And look for trees to climb again

    Recite a little rhyme again

    And dream a reckless dream.

    For someone I’ve exiled in me

    Awoke today and smiled in me.

    I need to find the child in me again.”

    (Child in Me Again, written by Annie Dinerman)

    Yes, I needed to find the child in me again – the child who’d trusted God with her whole heart without question or reservation. The child who could laugh at life and who loved without reservation or expectation.  I sat face to face with who I’d become and desperately wanted to go back to the child I had been before. The last line of the chorus goes, “Oh I need to recapture the truths I’ve unlearned.” I needed to recapture The Truth I’d turned from.

    I still was a long way from being spiritually or emotionally healed, or even wanting to do what I needed to do to get there. But it was beginning. Some of the hardness had been removed.

    A few days later I “just happened” to read a verse of scripture from the Message Bible in a magazine.

    “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt.11:28-30, The Message Bible)

    It was as though Jesus was speaking directly to me, inviting me to just walk with Him. “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” I don’t have to try to please anyone. I don’t have to be a certain way. Religion had burned me out and let me down. He was offering me what I’d needed all along – a relationship with Him alone.

    There is a medical procedure called Debridement which is the medical removal of infected tissue to improve healing of healthy tissue. It can be painful, but sometimes is necessary for the antibiotic treatment to work. Once the infected or dead tissue is removed the healing medicine can be applied.

    Sometimes we need something to remove the dead part of our souls before the healing balm of God’s Word can heal what remains. It can be a painful process, but if we allow it, the Holy Spirit will do a work in us that will start the healing process that comes with the application of the Word.

    “He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction.” (Psalm 107:20, The Amplified Bible)

    Whatever is the cause or source of your pain, whatever the pit is you’ve fallen in, or whatever the sorrow is you’re carrying, you are not alone. Allow the Spirit of God to move in your life and He will heal you. The process may not be easy, it probably won’t be exactly what you expect, but true healing is yours through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Peace and blessings,
    Dee

  • BE VIGILANT

    Flip Wilson used to portray a TV character who would say “The devil made me do it” every time he (or she sometimes) did something wrong. It became a popular catch phrase imitated in commercials and in everyday life.
    For a Christian, such a statement would be Biblically incorrect. The devil cannot make us do anything against our own will. He tempts us with evil, but it still our choice to do it or not.
    A statement I hear frequently today from some Christians is that the devil caused this or that to happen.  Looking at what the Bible says about the devil, that may or may not always be the case. It is true that as believers in Jesus Christ, we have an enemy who works against us and we are cautioned to be on guard against him. But we are also given weapons to use and instructions concerning him.

    “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

    “Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

    “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.” Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

    When I hear Christians give the devil credit for every bad or unpleasant thing that happens to them, I have to wonder why. The Bible says we are to put on the “God’s whole armor” and when we do, we are able to withstand any attacks of the enemy.
    God’s Word is greater than any evil spirit or demon. The Blood of Jesus is greater than all the powers of darkness combined. They tremble and flee at the very Name of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher and He gives us direction. And as if that weren’t enough, God’s holy angels have been charged to assist us.

    “Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 (The Amplified Bible)


    What I have observed is that usually what people give the devil credit for are things that are the consequences of their own bad choices or the results of the actions of someone else. If I speed on the freeway because I was late leaving for an appointment, and I get stopped by a police officer, it won’t be the devil writing the ticket! It will be the consequences of my actions.
    Sometimes bad things happen because we live in a fallen world. Sin abounds in the world; it’s not necessarily a personal attack against us from the devil.     I’ve decided that whatever comes my way, I will not give the enemy any credit, not for anything. Even when I know it is him attacking, I will not give him credit for hurting me. In Jesus Christ I am more than a conqueror. God orders my steps and He guides my life. God is my provider and my protector. When problems arise, I will seek my Father’s face. I will search His Word. I will call on His Name. And I will be vigilant.

    “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
    “Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.”
    I Peter 5:8, 9 (Amplified Bible)


    Peace and blessings in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Dee

  • Catching Up

    I’m appalled how long since it’s been since I’ve posted anything but I have a very good reason.

    New Granddaughter

    Our new grand-baby, Kaylee Nicole came a week early – June 1 instead of the planned June 9.
    But she is here and she is healthy and as beautiful as her mother was when she was born.  So the first week, I was spending as much time as possible at the hospital getting acquainted with Kaylee. Then the following week and this week I spent 3 days of the week at their house helping.  Yesterday the doctor released Rachael to resume most of her routine, including picking up 19 month-old Braden, so I’m back home playing catch up. But I only have today.

    Tomorrow we’ll be picking up our 10 year-old grandson, Christopher, and having him with us for 2 weeks. Monday he starts swimming lessons, and there will be trips to Taco Bueno, the movies and the library.  And anything else we come up with that sounds fun.

    Can I just say I love being a grandparent! You get to re-do the fun stuff you did with your kids, plus add some things you missed. And without the pressure to be a “good” parent – you just get to relax and enjoy it.  The greatest blessing and biggest responsibility is humbly going before the Lord, thanking Him for these precious grandchildren and asking for His protection over them.

    Indeed, children are a blessing from God, and grandchildren are the greatest blessing of all!

    Peace and blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Dee

    Precious little girl.
    Precious little girl.
    Braden loves his new sister.
    Braden loves his new sister.

  • Learning from God

    Godly relationships are vital in our walk as Christians. The Bible is clear that we are to assemble ourselves together regularly to study the Word and for worship.


    “…not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25 (The Amplified Bible)


    I just completed an 8-week ladies Bible study where we met each Tuesday evening. There were about 20 of us sharing what we’d learned the past week and with our group discussions, each one gave the others a glimpse into her life. As the weeks progressed, we all became very dear to one another and now we cannot wait for our next session to start again.

    In addition to corporate fellowship in church and Bible study groups, God brings individuals into our lives to encourage us and help us grow.


    ”As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)


    God has brought several such women into my life during different periods of my life. Those friendships are precious to me and I cherish the times we’ve spent together praying and sharing the Word together. They are all dear sisters and although some of us are separated by miles now, we are still one in the Lord. I continue to pray for them as they do for me.


    As much as I cherish those times, with individual friends and group Bible studies, the times I’ve grown the most spiritually have not always felt pleasant as it was happening. It was hard because I felt alone. Of course I had my church and my family, but I was missing that “Paul & Timothy” relationship I was used to having. Now, looking back I see those times too were God ordained. It was in those alone times I had to totally rely on the Holy Spirit to teach me the Word. When you have no one but Jesus to cling to, you learn to cling with all your might.

    In the Old Testament, before David became king, he was a keeper of sheep. Alone out with his sheep, he learned to totally trust in God.


    “My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
    He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken    . Psalm 62:1,2 (New American Standard)


    After God anointed him to be king, David went through some hard times. Saul tried to kill him, and later even his own son tried to kill and overthrow him. If David had not learned how to trust in God alone in the field with his sheep, it would have been hard to learn it when men were trying to kill him.

    Don’t despise the lonely times; listen for God’s voice and stay in His Word. We don’t always know what God is preparing us for in those times but we can be sure, everything God does in our lives is for a purpose. We just have to trust Him.

    Peace and Blessings,

    Dee

  • We Are One Body

    “So we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another.” Romans 12:5 (Young’s Literal Translation)

    Last Sunday evening our church had a very special worship service. It was a glimpse into the future of our church, and perhaps even the Church as a whole, the Body of Christ.
    There are four distinct churches that meet on our campus every Sunday and at various times through the week. The main body, the host church, is made up of a diverse group of believers, of every age, cultural background, economic and social group. Our pastor encourages the members to reach out to the community and his desire is for our church to reflect the diversity of our community. As a result, God has opened doors of opportunity for us as a church to do just that. Presently, there are three additional churches that meet on our campus for worship and Bible Study in their native languages.
    There is a Korean church, an Iranian church and a Chinese church that all have their own services and programs on Sundays and through the week. They are all independent of us and of one another, yet we are all part of a greater whole.
    Last Sunday evening, all four churches worshiped together. There were songs in English we all sang together, and songs in Farsi and Chinese I could not understand. But the message was clear – we are all one body in Christ. And as one body we worshiped our Lord, all in one accord.
    Some members were political prisoners before becoming believers. Some were bound in false religions before confronting the living Jesus. Many were foreign born but God brought them to this place as part of His divine plan. The common denominator is knowing we all were sinners and have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. And we all will fall at the feet of Jesus to worship Him when we see Him face to face.
    “Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4 (New International Version)

  • March 26, 2009

    I’ve been cleaning house and clearing out some clutter. I cleaned out the pantry and threw out some stuff that was stale or expired and probably not that good for us when it was fresh. All this cleaning makes me wonder how many of us are walking around with emotional garbage, that’s expired and bad for us. But like the ignored pudding mixes and stale crackers in my pantry, we’ve hung on to it.

    Many times we hang on to emotional hurts because of fear to let them out; we feel shame about them so instead of seeking help, we hide it and hang on to the hurt. It’s even sadder when those hurts were caused by someone else and we had no control over it. Like sexual assault.

    How many women have been either molested or raped and are like I was for many years, walking around, wounded and fearful. Afraid of being hurt again, afraid of someone finding out.  I was very sure that if I told anyone about what happened, they would say it was my fault. After all I was with someone my parents trusted and was a friend. I only told my husband after we’d been married many years and I felt safe enough to tell him. He was angry, but not at me. Then it happened to someone close to me. She did not have to tell me what had happened; I recognized the signs in her eyes. I knew her pain and tried to talk to her about it, but she was afraid to tell me. Afraid I would judge her. It took her a long time to finally admit to me what had happened. It was not her fault, but she took the blame and the shame.

    As women we do ourselves and other women a great disservice by continuing to carry the shame for something that’s not our fault. Let the men who did it feel the shame. Once we come out into the open and talk about what happened, we take back our power. If we are open about what happened to us, we will begin to heal. Once we’re healed, we will be in a position to help our sisters.

    According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey there were 248,300 sexual assaults in 2007.  That means that every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is the most under reported crime against individuals. One study shows that only 16% of all assaults are reported to the police. Another university study reported that 1 in 5 college women said they’d been forced to have sexual intercourse.  It happens to someone every 2 minutes.

    Bad things happen to us in this life, but God offers healing and help if we only cry out to Him.

    “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;
    He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound;
    To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
    To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”     (Isa 61:1-3, NJKV)

    He wants to heal your broken heart. He wants to free you from the prison of shame. He wants to comfort you from mourning. He will give you beauty in living a joyful life for the ashes of despair. He will take that spirit of heaviness and give you a garment of praise. It will be a beautiful thing and God  will be glorified in you.

    Peace and blessings.

    Dee

  • Chaos to Calm

    We’ve been doing some remodeling in our house the past few weeks. We moved out a wall enlarging our family room, added some built-in bookshelves, repainted the walls and ceiling, and today will get new carpet installed. Meanwhile, all the family room furniture, including my husband’s big-screen TV, is in the living room, the hallways, and office. There are stacks of books and board games everywhere there is available space to stack. Not to mention that all the dust generated from the construction covers every surface in the house. To say my house is in chaos at this moment, is a fairly accurate statement. But once the job is finished, the furniture moved back in and everything is back in place, it will be beautiful. The room will be larger and more comfortable for family and guests when they visit. It will be more comfortable for my husband and me to sit and watch “Dancing with the Stars” together. We’ve had to endure the chaos to get to the improvement.
    I don’t like my house not being in order. I don’t deal well with clutter and I’m ready to get it organized. I’m tired of cleaning only to have a new layer of dust re-cover everything I just cleaned. I’m ready for everything to be complete and for the enjoyment of a new room.
    Sometimes God takes us through a re-construction phase.  Sometimes we need to have some things moved around or moved out in order to make way for the new.  Old habits need to be broken and replaced with new ones. Maybe instead of watching the morning news on television, we need to spend that time in the good news of God’s Word. Maybe we need to replace that bedtime snack of ice cream and a soda with a piece of cheese and some fruit, or some of us should just give up that late snack entirely.
    Maybe a job has become too comfortable and we’re looking to it for our provision, but God has something else He desires for us. When I left my job last October, I left a job I enjoyed with people I liked and enjoyed working with. But it was taking all my time and God called me to be a writer. I’ve known that for many years, but I kept finding other things I “needed” to do first. God made it very clear to me that it was time to leave my old job and to obey His call. It’s not been easy giving up a paying job in a climate where jobs are disappearing daily. But God is faithful and He is taking care of us. The blessings I have in being obedient are greater than any other reward on earth.
    The chaos of hurts, disappointments, and hard times come into all of our lives. Jesus said that as long as we are in this world these things will happen, but He also promised to get us through them all.
    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)
    Yes, He will take us from the chaos in our lives and to a place of calm, but we have to trust Him and keep moving through.
    Peace and blessings.
    Dee