Abundance: Getting Rid Of The Chaff

During harvest there are days around here it looks like an alien winter has arrived. Blowing bits of red fluffy chaff swirls around the barn, buildings and the house. The boys come in at night with it in their hair, ears, pockets...and socks. It's a part of farm life and it comes with this season of life.

CHAFF.

and we have piles of it.

It's been my observation that other than a mosquito -there is nothing more useless than chaff. In order to bring in our harvest though-we have to deal with it. Like it or not. Chaff yields no benefit to the farming operation other than it just sits there in piles accumulating. It gets in way-makes the landscaping look bad and on occasion gets in your eyes and makes for a bad hair day.

..and so it is spiritually with us.

Our calendars and lives are loaded with chaff

and the evidence of a fruitful harvest is virtually non-existent.

We feel useless-pointless and fruitless

because we are slaves to the chaff and lose focus on the harvest.

We spend our minutes and use them to put out fires rather than pouring into others.

We take our days and and spend them

idly instead of intentionally.

We spend our lives on ourselves rather than

sacrificially living.

Chaff.

...and we have piles of it.

" For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 

So let's take a look at the big picture! Here are 3 ways to walk toward abundant living and leave the chaff behind.

1. Ask God to show you what He has specifically called you to BE.

It's all about priorities and God knows the order that He wants your life to take. Ask Him to show you 2 primary callings that need attention. What are they? If today was your last day-what would sum up your life? What would be said about you? Would you be known for your compassionate, generous heart and kind words who took time to care about the little things?--or would people remember an angry, frazzled and stressed out mom who spent more time on Facebook than in The Book? What counts? 

I would encourage you to start at the very beginning. Is it your family that needs to experience seeing you as a Christ centered woman of God?

Are you married with kiddos? That is your calling!!! It starts at home.  That relationship is the highest representation of Christ and the Church. So many women search for fulfillment and meaning outside of the primary relationships that God has called us to. What good is having a huge ministry if your husband and kids get the left-overs of a wife and mommy that is frazzled? Living in the gray areas always costs something--it just depends on who gets to pay.

Single? God has given you the gift singleness so that your time can be focused on His purpose and plans. The mission field He has called you to needs your full attention. Is your light shining with your co-workers? Do they even know you are a Believer? Are you taking time to share Jesus with your friends? What good is climbing the corporate ladder or being the "employee of the month" if your light isn't shining brightly for Jesus.

2. Let go of everything that doesn't line up with that calling.

     Once you have narrowed down to the 2 primary callings that God has gifted you with it is time to check off the chaff in your calendar! Learning to say "No" to people and activities that put a drain on you is a freeing thing. What are the essentials in your life? Narrow the scope of your involvement in things--maybe choose ONE church position that is your passion rather than doing 3 things that stress you out. Your "no" leaves room for someone else to say "yes"! 

Involved in lots of outside church activities and children's events? Narrow it down. Try one sport per child per year...one outside activity that builds up your family and doesn't take away from your spiritual walk. I hear you groan and say that is is impossible to do. I hear you. I know. But if sports replaces church--and your activities draw you away from your family you can bet your bottom dollar that the enemy has fertile soil to sow seeds...and believe me-that harvest is painful. You have an enemy that is using your crammed calendar to wreak havoc and the harvest won't be seen until it is too late.

Social media? Get serious about getting rid of time wasting activities. Complaining of not having enough time with the family or being behind at work and yet spending hours surfing the net or staring at the TV is a bit ...well... ridiculously obvious. You are spending time watching others lives rather than living our own. ouch. Try a media fast for 1 week and see how your stress level decreases and your free time increases. Unplugging actually recharges you!

3.Radically consume Christ.

Time spent in the Word helps you sort the chaff out pretty quick. Scripture gives you vision,empowers you to fulfill your calling and is an outlet for every burden and care that weighs you down. Let's face it-if you clean up the calendar and discipline your time you will automatically have more time to spend in prayer, study and reflection. It cultivates a grateful heart and a produces eternal fruit. You can begin to see the difference between the chaff and real fruit and it becomes easier to say "no" to opportunities that can drag you away from joy and contentment.

As you learn to chase God with abandon the breath of the Holy Spirit blows the chaff away. Only God can set you free from the slavery to chaff in your heart, home and life. Somehow when God gets bigger in your life-you begin to see the chaff for what it really is. Jesus becomes real and you trade being a slave to chaff for being a daughter in Christ. All made possible by Grace Incarnate. Grace.

So, what is God talking to you about today? Can you hear God singing over you with His unmerited, daily sufficient Grace? Grace that knows about your slavery to chaff and has made provisions to replace it with abundant harvest. Grace that gives you the strength to let go and Grace that holds on to you while the Holy Spirit breathes life back into these weary and worn out places. GRACE!!! The offer of a harvest is free for the taking when our hands open. Sweet release. Sweet rest.

Father, help me to open my hands. Help me to realize that you will reward only what you have done through me and pardon that which I have done in my own strength. You know my chaff and that I am powerless to see it in myself. God show me where there is no fruit, where I need your Grace to set me free. Help me to let go of the things that rob me of your joy-of the things that plug my ears to the music of your living Spirit. Lord, let the breath of your Holy Spirit so invade my inner spaces so that the chaff is driven away by your sweet songs of deliverance. Your Word says love casts out all fear. Give me the confidence and assurance to boldly take the next step to freedom so I can extend grace to others-for my good and your glory. Amen. 

Foundational Thinking

Today's headlines...you read them. HISTORIC DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT--MONUMENTAL. Fundamental Change...Foundations are shaking. Everyone is weighing in on the issues. yak-yak--blah-blah...he said/she said.It is somewhat irritating if it weren't so important.

...and I sit and ponder what the future holds for America...for our children and our grandchildren

...and my heart simply burns with a deep ache for what lies ahead.

...and my eyes sting with tears--because marriage is at the very heart of God

...and I look around at a world of wars, chaos, evil and disease...

...and I open THE WORD...

to the beautiful book of Ephesians...

...and the heart of God speaks so softly--and sings so sweetly of His GRACE AND PEACE to me. (Eph 1:2)

...and he tells me that He chose me to be IN CHRIST before the world began...and he sees me as blameless and holy before Him. (Eph1:4)

...and He tells me that I am His Child because His will is kind  (vs5)

...and I am redeemed through His blood and forgiven lavishly by grace (vs7-8)

....and I find my position...once again...

I am in Christ.

I am IN Christ.

I AM in Christ.

I am in CHRIST.

That phrase wraps around my heart like a warm blanket. It calms the inner storms and gives me a peace that can't be taken away.

In Christ-I know who I am.

In Christ-I know who He is.

In Christ-I know where I am going.

The courts can make rules--the governments of this world can go to war--our leaders can boast and celebrate over what breaks the very heart of Our God. We save whales yet kill the unborn child....we hug trees yet hunt down Believers...they can take away our right to pray in schools and remove the manger scenes from public places. They can sterilize Holidays and History books...

but our God wins.

period.

He has the final word...

because HE IS THE WORD.

IN CHRIST. That is my position. My foundation is the person of Jesus Christ. He can't be moved-broken-sterilized-taken away-over ruled-legislated or silenced. He isn't subject to opinion or culture and won't change with the political climate.

HE WAS

HE IS 

AND HE IS TO COME.

HOW FIRM IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

Surrender

The summer flew by and the amount of canning/cooking and general chaos that occurs in our kitchen can be a tad much on some days. Typically, I wash my windows ever couple of months or so...but canning season just gets me behind....I am sure that they were cleaned sometime this spring... er...um...wait...it is now October?!?  

So-one morning this week I woke up after a long night of canning and stumbled out into the kitchen...and the light hit the window just right...just enough for me to get grossed out. 

Seriously?! 

If you have been in my house as a guest you can assume that I am a neat freak...if you have been in my house on a normal day--you would see a different spectacle.

So-to impress ya....

Ah, I will have a candle burning!!!! (to mask the smell from the ridiculously stinky chore jeans that are fermenting somewhere...)

The floors will be swept!!!  (to pick up the trails of cow pies, crud and general farm dirt from 3 farm boys & 2 farm girls and the 50 toes that wear dirty socks...not to mention our dear puppy Louise.)

The dust is off of the furniture!!! (it's actually NOT normal suburban dust-- but rather a protective covering of barn bedding that wafted in--because I left the windows open when they hauled manure from the barn...um...yeah.)

The dishes are done!!! (actually-they just got stuffed into the dishwasher 5 minutes before you arrived-and everything was dried on cause it sat on the counter overnight...or longer.)

The bathroom is spotless!!! (um...3 boys and a hired guy...enough said.)

I'm not joking--the struggle is real.

So it is with each one of us--the storefront looks pretty good. I am sure yours does too.

But when it comes right down to the nitty gritty--there is not a whole lot that is desirable if you look close enough.

We all do it.

We have Facebook to polish and protect an image. 

But underneath all of the smiles-all of the laughter--candles, caked on make-up and cleaning spray--all of the Sunday morning formalities-lays a broken and wounded soul that is in desperate need of 

GRACE.

GRACE. FOR. OTHERS.

GRACE. FROM. OTHERS.

GRACE. FOR. SELF.

GRACE. FROM. GOD.

My window looked fine until the morning light hit it just right...

poof. no more pretending.

...and when His light hits our hearts just right...well...poof. no. more. pretending.

What would life look like if we began the journey of

AUTHENTICITY?

Living a REAL life.

really broken--really forgiven

Clean up jobs. 

broken.

being. really. broken.

being. real. with. ourselves.

being. real. with. others.

God is working to show us where we fix our eyes on ourselves and not on HIM. Grace is a bloody yet beautiful thing.

"In Christ's death I found grace. Grace to be a sinner. Grace to not measure up. Grace for people around me to disappoint me. Grace for my kids and my husband to be human. It is important we understand the reason why we can be imperfect. We don't have to try to measure up or pretend because God rescued us from that impossible pursuit through the blood of Christ. Those of us who have been rescued by God have nothing to prove. We can call sin what it is because our sin has been paid for, cared for. We rest in who we are and what God has accomplished for us...Grace frees me from having to measure up to the impossible standard, while at the same time, grace motivates me to run from sin and obey God." 

~ Stuck by Jennie Allen (pg.25)

So where do we go from here.

I know I am broke.

I know I can't fix myself.

No matter how clean my kitchen window can get-tomorrow it will get dirty again.

No matter how many times you try to keep it together it will fall apart.

So-where do we go from here?

We embrace our brokenness--surrender it to the healing power of Jesus Christ--and watch how 

GRACE. SWEET GRACE. transforms.

WE GO TO THE CROSS...COMPLETELY.

Instead of striving for perfection in our lives..

ah-resting in HIS perfection in my place.

Instead of pursuing the illusive golden key to happiness...

ah-be filled with HIS JOY.

Instead of complaining about my circumstances...

ah-praise HIM for my blessings

Instead of striving for the good life...

ah-sweet surrender to the One who gives eternal life.

Living a wounded life is no life at all.

Surrendering produces 

 rest- peace- joy-

FREEDOM

that you have needed

for oh-so-long

--the shame 

--the depression

--the hurt

--the anger

--the relationships

--the pride

--the fear

--the loneliness

--the discontentment

--the loss

--the sadness

--the future

lay them down

for something far better.

Grace.

Grace is a Person.

Jesus.

In surrendering-you will find that Jesus Christ is more than enough to heal the wounds.

Somehow surrender works a lot like Windex. I washed my kitchen window...and today-I can see more clearly. I get a bigger picture...and I get changed. 

May God fill you with HIS GRACE as you come before Him with your broken places...completely.

Dirt & the Farm Wife

Most of humanity can see Spring coming by the grass waking up--the daffodils and tulips begin to bloom. Fresh warm breezes blowing gently...ah, Spring.
Not the farm wife.
We first notice that spring has arrived in our laundry rooms.

I have yet to find an appliance commercial that uses

a farmers clothes

to advertise how effectively

their machines work.

Here is my arsenal to battle the 

"SPRING (GREASE AND MUD) FLING"

I can't ever get the clothes as clean as they need to be

 That's ok.

Because typically the next day

you will never be able to notice

....by looking, smelling or touching ...

that they were clean just 12 hours ago.

Same goes for the people that wear 

those clothes...

I love this shirt.

Don't ask me what piece of equipment that he was pressure-washing to get that dirty, either...

you don't want to know.

I have been holding on to these pics since April wanting to do a post on Dirt.

BUT....it was done for me!

Ann Voskamp beat me to the punch on her blog the other day.

I LAUGHED SO HARD AT HER PICTURES!

.... AND THE SCENARIO

THAT PLAYED OUT IN HER KITCHEN

IS PLAYED OUT DAILY IN 

OUR KITCHEN.

Some of the dirt sticks to clothes.

That's the dirt

we deal with as

farm wives.

Some other kinds of dirt

stick to our hearts.

That's the dirt

we deal with as

human beings.

Check out the link

by Ann Voskamp

When your life feels Messy...The Real Truth About Your Dirt- A Blog post by Ann Voskamp

It gives me a new perspective

on laundry.

When the Hurt and the Healer Collide

Trust is the topic-and boy, it is a tough one to talk about today. Roots grow deep and the pain goes deeper. There are so many areas of mistrust...so many areas that need God's touch of healing.

Hurt me once-shame on you!
Hurt me twice-shame on me...
...and no matter what our circumstances are, we carry the shame around us like a wet heavy blanket that weighs us down and smothers the life right out of our living.

Abuse...sexual, physical, emotional.
If you were a victim-it was not your fault.
You did nothing to make it happen...no matter what anyone else said.

I worked for Children's Protective Services for 4 years...I saw it first hand. Little lives physically torn and mentally scarred. Babies physically died from sexual abuse in the county next to ours... A child in our county is physically blinded for life because of the brutality of a man. Another girl bore a child from her abuser...a boy lost all of the skin of his back because Dad got mad...that's real life. Those were the "worst" cases...there were hundreds more. Little boys and little girls...helpless.

Where is God when that happens?

My only offering...
God was there-he was weeping, too.
God was there-knowing your pain.
God was there-grieving the loss of innocence.
God was there-and his anger is kindled toward your perpetrator.
God was there-and He wants to heal your sexuality & your mind.
God was there-and He will right the wrongs that have been done.
God was there, sweet one.
God was there, holding your breaking heart.
God in his mercy saved you-brought you out of that horrible place. You are alive today and still breathing.
God in His infinite Judgment will have his vengeance on the one who did that to you.
That man...that woman...they not only offended you...they offended God.
And God is a God of Justice and his Word says that He is perfect in that Justice.
God is a defender of the weak and helpless.
And God is going to take up this fight and finish it for you.

trusting is a huge issue if you have scars from your past. Reaching out to a counselor, pastor or mentor can start the process of rebuilding trust issues.

There is a strange place...where the hurt and The Healer collide.
Learning to take every awful thing to the feet of Jesus and allowing him to heal YOU is beautifully painful. When your knees bend and the hurt from abuse is surrendered--forgiveness flows and You can be made alive...even though a part of you is broken. He is in the business of redemption..and sweet one...with God on your side you can trust again-you can live again and the shame will be erased, forgiveness flows and healing beings.The past becomes the past and not your present.

Trust the one who can make that happen for you-starting today.

Getting back on the Bus...

So, now that we have spent the last week IDENTIFYING our REGRETS...lets spend a day (or two!) on a few practical things to get PAST OUR REGRETS.


The question of the day is:
How do I get past the past?
hm...good question....and we have to face some our classic excuses that keep us soaking in our swampy wilderness of regrets.


1. "It is NOT all my fault anyway."...it. does. NOT. matter.(period.)there is ZERO wiggle room here gals. It is really easy to pass the buck and look at everything the other person has done.
Obviously-you know that there is a problem because it keeps pressing the replay button. So deal with it...own YOUR part in it. Don't let the other person's part in it cloud your vision to get out of YOUR swamp. You are only responsible for your part in an issue and you can PURPOSELY CHOOSE to walk the higher road of humility. Honestly ask yourself if the tables were turned...would you need an apology? would you need compensation? would you want the other person to make things right?...if the answer is YES...than lets get down to business and take the leap to freedom from those regrets THROUGH CONFESSION.


2. " I have forgiven myself but I am eaten up because they haven't forgiven me."   ok-that. hurts. big. time. A constant prick in the side and every time you see them-or they avoid you- is another visit back to the mire of regret. What can be done for release?? BEGIN PRAYING FOR THAT PERSON. See them as Jesus sees them. They are walking in their own wilderness, too and they need YOUR prayers. Be specific-be bold-and intercede for them...it is really hard to stay bitter at someone you are earnestly praying for. Make sure that you have done your part in asking if there is still some issues between you-and if there is....(see #1 above!!!) Sometimes the prickly cactus folks are just that. Sometimes God calls you out of relationships that are toxic...and that is ok. Don't easily shrug off relationships at the drop of a hat-but if the circle keeps going around and drama is right in the middle, ask God about it.


3. " It is too late to make things right."...not always, gals. Remember what Beth said...if you are still breathing and you didn't die during Tuesdays session-THERE IS HOPE! YOU HAVE A SECOND CHANCE. But,sometimes, it is too late. Death makes it seem impossible to heal the past regrets...Oh, the things I should/ should NOT have said or done... TAKE THAT TO JESUS. POUR IT OUT BEFORE HIM IN ALL OF THE ANGER, FEAR, FRUSTRATION, HURT AND WHATEVER ELSE IS RAGING THROUGH YOU. Take it to the one who knows the other side of the story. IF YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT-OR EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE DONE....simply. rest. REST in the knowledge that you are forgiven by God-He sees your heart and knows the depths of your sincerity. There is a peace that passes understanding-so call upon the Prince of Peace. It might be helpful to talk it over with a professional-even though that person is gone, try physically writing a letter to God about your past...let it all out-ask for forgiveness...take it to the graveside read it aloud and spend some time in prayer there...write the date on the note as a reminder that GOD HAS MADE A WAY FOR YOUR REGRETS TO BE FINISHED.


4. "oh-you don't know what I have done."  nope. I. don't...and I don't need to know-and quite frankly- not everyone SHOULD know about your past. (no-you don't need to post it on FACE BOOK!) But God does know -he was right that in the middle of it-eyes wide open-seeing every awful thing...so it is really not a surprise to him. He is grieving over this too. The fact that Scripture says...that "there is nothing new under the sun" ... means that you aren't the first person in the world that did THAT, that thought THAT, that said THAT, that condoned THAT, that went THERE, that went out with THEM... gluttony, anorexia, abortion,  slander, lying, fornication, alcohol, drugs, malicious gossip, stealing, adultery, cheating...the list is endless. Check out some really major bloopers in the lives of David, Rahab, Thomas, Peter, Moses... Adam and Eve for crying out loud...God has only worked with ONE perfect person throughout history...and it wasn't you. GOD MADE PROVISONS FOR YOUR SIN AND MINE.  So, just be real with God today-let God do what he does best-FORGIVE. You might need to talk with a professional to work out some of the ramifications and the deep issues that come along with stuff...so take advantage of that--make the call-get help- get a group of trusted friends to support you along the way-to talk with-ones that will encourage you.


5. " My mind is a steel trap-I can't let it go." Bingo. Let's RENEW the mind...and the only way to renew the mind is through Scripture. Hide it in your heart and it will travel to the mind and recreate the broken places. Get a concordance  (or just take your Bible!) and begin reading-searching-underlining promises! Write them out on notecards and tack them around the house/work- on mirrors-car dashes-window sills-desks-night stands. Be crazy with notecards!!! When the accuser comes throughout your day/night...your weapons of warfare are right beside you! Slay the beast of regret with the Sword of the Spirit! You might really be surprised how many other people are blessed by the posting, too. If you don't know where to begin-feel free to grab a friend and ask for help in finding those promises.(feel free to mail me,too-I have a HUGE list!!!)


HUMILITY GOES A LONG WAY ON THE ROAD OUT OF THE SWAMP.  In every path to the promised land-you will need the jewel of humility. These are tough issues-these are hard things and each one of us has a list of regrets. But, laying aside our pride and reaching out is the very thing that will break us free.


LETS GET OUR BOOTS ON AND WALK IT OUT...and know that you are being prayed for today.


"All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." ~Isaiah 53:6


CHRIST IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE-SO LETS LOOK TO HIS CROSS AND SEE HOW FORGIVENESS WORKS...HE LIVED A LIFE WITH TOTAL ABANDON AND ZERO REGRETS IN THE FACE OF MORE TRIAL THAN ALL OF US PUT TOGETHER...THANK YOU JESUS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. I AM FORGIVEN-SO HELP ME TO LEARN HOW TO FORGIVE OTHERS AND MYSELF.


That's How You Forgive- by Shane & Shane (click to listen)

A Trip to the ER

Ok-life on the farm is somewhat dangerous...but our place is ridiculous! We sat down the other night and calculated the grand total of medical procedures our family has needed. The list is pretty impressive. Our latest trip to the ER,a few weeks ago,was for a single staple in the head...a launching from a horse...minor check off of the list. Kid stuff.

Over 23 years our family has had...

82 staples
138 stitches (or more, the math got fuzzy)
4 broken arms
3 broken fingers
2 eye injuries-requiring metal to be removed
4 sprained ankles
1 sprained wrist
1 broken elbow
10 missing fingernails
Lost count on burns...
Immeasurable bruising...
35 days in-patient hospital stays
3 out-patient hospital stays.
4 major abdominal surgeries
2 Root canals
2 sets of wisdom teeth removed
5 broken noses
2 broken heels
4 adult teeth pulled
Foot surgery
Elbow surgery
2 cancer scares
Appendicitis
A whomping case of Scoliosis

I am proud to say we are all up-to-date on our Tetanus shots, although we are considering rabies shots...that would be a new thing to add to our list. And yes, we have teenage drivers...pray for us!

How is your list of wounds? Do you spend time counting the people and things that have hurt you?--savoring them? Making a list of how everyone has hurt you? Oh, how bitterness creeps in over the years. 

Jealousy, Anger, Gossip, Envy, Strife, Hurt...all of our ugly comes out when we harbor unforgiveness.  Self absorption has a way of making us miserable and the power of unforgiveness becomes frightfully obvious to others and yet oblivious to ourselves.

We keep really, really good records on others and forget that others have a record on us. Call them OUCHIES or BOO-BOO's or whatever you want but a band-aid isn't going to fix it.

We all know the verse--we KNOW we are supposed to forgive but it is so hard sometimes! Why?! Maybe pride, maybe it feels too good to keep someone else on the meat hooks, maybe we think way too much about what has been done to us than on what we have done to someone else. Either way-Jesus shows us how to forgive. He lived it --died for it and He wants you to extend it to the very person that drives you crazy. Yeah--that one.

I really don't like going to the ER because a trip to the ER means there is a wound that needs healing...something is broken that only a Physician can heal.I am so grateful that I can turn to someone who has the knowledge and skill to heal me.

That wound you have held on to for so long...It's time for a spiritual trip to the Great Physician. Don't you think?

Beginnings

Isaiah 49:16 ~"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."

abandoned? discouraged? alone? sin-sick?overwhelmed? not measuring up to the demands of life... or God's commands? Does. God. Really. Care. About. Me??..because if He did...fill in the blank. Each of us have a blank to fill in. Each of us--Believers and non-Believers alike all have the same stuff to deal with everyday.

what would it take to lay my heart out there and give it away with complete abandonment? TO TRUST. TO HEAL. TO SEE OURSELVES THE WAY GOD SEES US.

I. have. no. idea. what this blog is going to be about.(truly!)
I. have. no. idea. who you are at a heart level.
I. have. no. idea. where life has wounded you or  about the joys that surround you.
I. have. no. idea. when I will have time to write or you will take time to read.
I. have. no. idea. how this blog will change us all....and I can't wait!!!!!!

My prayer is that each of us come to know more fully who we are as a daughter of the One True King. That at HIS CROSS we can leave ourselves behind and run into the arms of a loving heavenly Father who delights to call us his own.

So,why? write? this? blog?
Because there is a permanent record in heaven that tells me I am His-forever. A mark of assurance. A mark of victory. A mark of death. A mark on the hands of God himself. A MARK OF GRACE-sweet, unending, undeserved GRACE. Free for me... but oh, so costly for the Savior.

I really like Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional. He writes in an older style of English that makes you stop and think about what you just read. It's not fast food. It's a thought that is worth savoring-thinking-mediating on. It is NOT the kind of devotional that makes me "check-that-off-my-to-do-list" of spiritual duties. It creates relationship.

The day's verse is from Isaiah 49:16 and it focused on the fact that sometimes we feel that God has abandon us-forgotten us-or is punishing us for not meeting up to his expectations. (isn't that a problem!!) Here is a small portion of what Nov 7th am had to say and what sparked the vision for this blog. I have taken the liberty of replacing the 'thee' thou' stuff to make it just a tad easier to understand.

"How can I (GOD) have forgotten you, when I have graven you upon the palms of my hands? How can you doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh... 'I have graven YOU.' It does not say "Your name." The name is there, but that is not all;" I have graven YOU." See the fullness of this! I have graven YOUR PERSON,YOUR IMAGE, YOUR CASE,YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES,YOUR SINS,YOUR TEMPTATIONS,YOUR WEAKNESSES, YOUR WANTS, YOUR WORKS; I have graven YOU, everything about YOU, all that concerns YOU; I have put you altogether there." Now, Charles... that is good stuff...

And a perfect place to begin.