I am a visual learner, so whenever the Lord plants a picture in my brain, I quickly get out my notebook and put it on paper. Recently, God showed me a picture that spoke of His character amidst my circustances. This simple drawing is a not a new spirtual concept--it's more of a foundational reminder to you and me as believers:

God is good, faithful, love, all-knowing... and He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He NEVER changes. However, my circumstances, can fluctuate quite dramatically. At times, I'm a virtual internal, and sometimes external, roller coaster.

A minor example: I am at the beach with only my husband, which is very, very good. The first morning we woke up to the sound of the waves, the white sand, the warm sunshine... again very, very good. Who would doubt God at a time like this? The second morning however, I woke up to the same beach, in the same cozy condo, with the same sun, but within minutes of this spectacular view, I was experiencing a penetrating migraine that blurred my vision and made me nauseous... not good at all.

At times like this, I must remember the concept that God never changes. He is just as good, faithful, loving, and all-knowing in the lows of my days, weeks, months, and even seasons of my life as He is in the highs.

It's so easy to praise Him in the "feel good" stuff, isn't it? We find ourselves on the mountain top, singing "hallelujahs" and "thank You's" at the top of our lungs! But in the lows, it must become what God might call the "faith good" stuff. When we're in the pit spiritually, physically, or circumstantially, can we still sing praises concerning His unchanging character? Do we believe Him during these times? Can we say, like Job did, after he was struck with peril on all sides, The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

I have come to find out that in the "faith good" stuff of my life, the deep stuff, God Himself becomes more evident, and I begin to understand more of Him... and HE is very, very good...in spite of anything I might experience.

Trust Him, my friend, in the highs and in the lows of this life. Praise Him when His goodness is beautiful and obvious, and praise Him when your vision is painful and blurred. May His unchanging character be the unshakeable bedrock of your faith.

In my last post entitled My Dogs Speak, I mentioned how my relationship with my dogs can teach me so many things about my relationship with my Lord. Well, I have another analogy concerning little pup Juliet and big dog Sarge...

One of our (their) favorite games is ball retrieving. Sarge, being a Labrador Retriever, fetches the ball back and forth instinctively, hence the name retriever. Juliet, however, the little cairn terrier, has picked up this habit quite amazingly from observing her big brother in action. We play this game outside, and yes, we play this game inside as well. As a matter of fact, whenever these two four-legged friends see me enter the laundry room, which happens to be quite often, they happily realize that it's play time. One of the two will then do a mad search around the house for the tennis ball; once it's found, he/she will grab it up, and then bring it to me with eagerness. At this point, both tails are a waggin'. How can I refuse?

I then proceed to throw the ball, fold a shirt, throw the ball, fold a towel, throw the ball, try to match some socks from the growing mis-matched pile, throw the ball, fold another shirt...on and on we go. Don't ask me if I am having fun. I'm outnumbered on this, so I endure the game.

An interesting twist...each time I release the ball from my hand, neither I nor the dogs are ever quite sure where the yellow round object is going to land. Let's just say, I was never picked first, second, third, fourth, etc, when being chosen for any sport that involved a ball of any size. There was one recent day in particular that every time I hurled the ball out of the laundry room, it would start out decisively in one direction (my strength is not the problem), but then it would hit an object, be it a lamp or a stool, or the kitchen cabinet, and then bounce just as determined into a totally different direction. I was amusing myself at this complete inaccuracy--so I guess I was having fun after all.

As I was watching the quick re-direction of the tennis ball coming one time after the other, God began speaking to my heart about bigger things, HIS "things". Right now I have come to some crossroads in different places in which I need to make a decision to go one way or the other. I find myself asking, "God, is this the right road, the right choice? Am I doing Your will?" After much prayer and time in His word, I have started walking in the way in which I believe He is leading me, trusting Him to make it clear. Now, I can say from past experiences, there have been times that this path stays straight, with very little surprises. HOWEVER, there have been other times that my steps of blind faith have only been the predecessor to get me to a point of complete redirection. And then I'm re-routed into something much more beautiful and adventurous than I could have imagined on my own.

So often in the bible, God says these words to those whose heart's are completely His:Go your way. (Daniel 12:9, Mark 10:52). And as you do step forward in blind, yet obedient faith, your way transforms into His way.

So throw that ball out there my friend, trusting Him to direct it in whatever way He pleases. Then, just like my dynamic duo, be excited and expectant to see... where the ball bounces.

And Jesus said to him "Go your way, your faith has made you well." And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road. Mark 10:52

We have a big 7-year old black lab named Sarge and little 2-

year old white cairn terrier named Juliet. These two creatures, great and small, are my constant shadows. If I'm in the kitchen, they're in the kitchen. If I walk out on the deck, they walk out on the deck. If I'm sitting in my comfy chair, Sarge is on the floor at my feet, and Juliet is snuggled right by my side.

There are so many God-lessons I can learn from my dogs, and this faithful behavior is certainly one of them! I have to ask myself:

Do I crave God's presence the way my pets crave mine? As for me, the nearness of God is my good. (Ps 73:28)

Do I follow in the Lord's footsteps wherever He goes, and stop where He stops? Where you will go, I will go; where you stay I will stay... (Ruth 1:16)

Am I content and secure with His companionship and guidance? Abide in Me, and I in you. (John 15:4)

It's a strange kind of prayer to say out loud, "Lord, please help me to be more like my dogs." But really, I do desire their kind of loyalty, their kind of dependency, and their kind of devotion that they naturally possess for their master. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. (Ps 23:1)

All things have been created by Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). So, "I thank You Lord, for allowing Your creation, my dogs, to speak a fundamental truth to my heart. Please do, make me more like them when it comes to clinging to You, my Master, my Savior, and my Friend." Amen.

Have you ever planned something in your mind to the minute detail, only to have things turn out surprisingly and disappointingly different than what you imagined? Or have you ever placed high expectations on yourself or someone else that have yet to be met? Or, have you ever pursued a life-long dream, but in the end, there was very little, if anything to show for it?

Disappointments come all along life's journey. The bible never teaches us that we will not have sorrows or struggles. One of our sometimes self-inflicted trials is that we can become easily disenchanted on howlife should be; after all, we deserve it. This idea begins quite innocently in our mind, but then it grows into an idol that seeps into our heart. Pretty soon, we live by it. So, when things don't turn out like we planned, wow, what a heartbreak!

It's okay to humanly plan, and dream, and pursue, and live...but not without Him. Sometimes God mercifully allows a small bump (or even a giant pot-hole) to appear in the road as we are journeying forward; this "inconvenience" forces our hearts to go back to the grass roots of who we are as believers. In this place, God asks each of us, Where are you placing your hope? What is your ultimate desire? And where are you finding your deep satisfaction?...If it's in Me, you will not be disappointed. (Romans 9:33). Placing your hope fullyin Him causes the bumps and the dips on the road to be more part of the "joy-ride"of life than a deal breaker... you just learn to say "wee!", regroup, put our wheels back on, and keep going...with HIM.

So, my friend, if you are struggling with an unmet expectation today...put your hope in Him only, nothing or no one else will give you what you are truly crying out for. He will far exceed your own expectations. Remember, if you trust in Christ, God's love has been poured out into your very heart. And His love never fails. (I Cor. 13:8)

Let this steadfast love of His bind up your broken heart and... deal with your disappointments.

Yesterday I texted my mom these words along with a picture of Davis after his golf tournament: the victor, thank you Lord for this breakthrough. It's been a long, and often frustrating road in this sport for him, so this outcome was truly a sweet gift from above.

Interestingly this morning, in the midst of getting ready for school, Davis' elbow accidentally brushed up against his trophy that was sitting on the kitchen counter. As a result, the little bronzed golf statue hit the floor and broke into about 5 different pieces. After a moment of just staring silently at the mess, we looked at each other... and laughed. Now that's what I call a breakthrough!

This broken trophy on the kitchen floor was a tangible reminder that NOTHING on this earth satisfies. So often we try to fill our soul up with the accolades this world has to offer. But God says:

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to Me; hear Me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:2-3

Does this verse mean Davis should stop playing golf, or for that matter, that you and I should stop doing the things we are good at and enjoy? And does this mean that we should just sit and meditate on God's word all day and do nothing? NO, for heaven's sake, NO. In this verse, God calls us to listen...and then to live.

The true breakthrough foreach one of usis to understand and then embrace the beautiful truth that we as individuals have been uniquely gifted to do something extraordinary in this world. It's not about gaining for oneself, it's about giving of oneself. Forget earthly rewards. Let Him have first place in your heart, and then use your God-designed gifts to the absolute best of your ability in order to attract others to Jesus Christ...this is your true reward!

One more thing, don't try to be like somebody else; this leads to misery. Listen to Him, and then live in your specific Hand-crafted place of influence. And in this appointed place, let His radiant light break through.

250,000

There is a familiar expression, "You can't put God in a box." Agreed. The God of the Universe can never fit in a man-made contraption comprised of mere ideas and speculations concerning His character. If you want to know God, read His word; there, you will find Him. And there, if your heart is humbly willing, He will never stop amazing you with His unbound grace and free flowing love.

BUT, God can "put us in a box." Listen to His words of truth:

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  I Cor. 3:11

You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me.  Psalm 139:5-6

So we, as Christians, stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. When we believe in Him, our footsteps become unshakebly firm because of His truths beneath us. And as we walk step by step, God Himself puts His protective hand behind, before, and over us. We are enclosed on all sides; not constrained as some might speculate, but enclosed with the marvelous mystery of who He is and what He does.

Inside these borders are His wisdom and knowledge, His compassion and kindness, His security and peace, His faithfulness and steadfast love...and these attributes of His character are unending. It doesn't matter what goes on around me, as long as I am hemmed in by His hand. When I dare to step outside of His boundry, the weight and the struggle and the pull this world hits me full in the face like a fierce wind in a winter storm. So quickly, I step back inside to find His warmth once again.

You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance. Psalm 32:7

Yes, God of the Universe, I want to thank You for grace-fully putting me in Your "box", now and forever.