One of my favorite hobbies is to sit quietly and work on a (not-too-difficult) puzzle;there must be something therapeutic in this ordeal for me as I slowly fit each puzzle piece together to form a picture. Because of this, and also because it's a relational activity, I keepa puzzle stretched out at our kitchen table on a continual basis for anyone who wants to join in. So yesterday, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I sat down with Simon, our French exchange student, and we worked together, placing one puzzle piece at a time in it's designated spot.

Our lives can be compared to one large puzzle, with God Himself being the puzzle-worker. All the pieces are present from the beginning, and there is a beautiful masterpiece waiting to put together by its Creator. He knows where each piece fits, and He knows exactly when to put it in its place. Every piece is different in shape and markings; some are bright and full of color, while others are drab and dreary, serving as a neccessary backdrop to the revealed glory by its side.

Do you trust your Puzzle-Working God? In other words, do you undoubtedly believe that God knows best in both the timing and the order of your days? Or, do you find yourself becoming impatient, wanting to yank the "puzzle pieces" from His hand and do life yourself? Be careful, the bible teaches that there will be consequences to this method. Think of Sarai, Abram's wife, who decided to take matters into her own hands in order to fulfill God's promise of bearing a son (Genesis 16).

Do you find joy in your Puzzle-Working God? Or are you upset with Him because your picture is not the one you would have picked for yourself? The bible speaks of this as well in the Potter/Clay analogy: You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing?" (Isaiah 29:16). I know there have been specific times in my life when I have had to beg the Lord to change my embittered clinched fists to joyful hands of praise... and He gracefully answers my repentant prayers.

I encourage you to rest your impatient hands and your questioning heart in a God who is fully trustworthy and entirely faithful--even in the drab and dreary times of your life! These pieces, too, are a significant and irreplacable part of your beautiful picture. God promises hope and contentmentin His word when you just can't see or understand what He is up to in your days. There is no challenge too difficult or no project too confusing for this Grand Puzzle-Worker. He longs to willingly and winsomely create your life's portrait, piece by piece, peace by peace.

Today is my younger son's birthday. Davis is a tall, strong, focused, God-loving, now 17 year-old young man. We look forward to celebrating him on this special day. As his momma, I cherish the fact that his life goes on...And also today, we will celebrate Christmas with my extended family five days "late." Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents will all gather around the table for yummy food, much conversation, lots of laughs, and maybe even some tears. I look forward to this time together, and am thankful for the birth of our Savior. Because of this gift at Christmas, life goes on...And then also today, we will bury my grandmother. The same family members that gather around the dinner table will also honor a beautiful, playful, carefree woman who lived life to the fullest measure, until she couldn't. We will all celebrate her together, and rejoice that her life goes on...John 1:4 says, In Him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.Today, I have both joy and peace in Jesus Christ. HE.... IS.... LIFE.Because of His life, birthdays and seasonal celebrations, and yes, even funerals are filled with hope beyond this present moment. An eternal weight of glory is ahead of us!Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25). Today, I rejoice because our family believes this, and we are all confident that because of Christ...Life will go on... and on... and on...

During this Thanksgiving season, a healthy habit among many of us is to count our many blessings. I am certainly thankful for family, friends, and health, as well as the divine "yes's", "no's", and "wait's" that have been sprinkled throughout my life. These are all God's way of showing me His kindness. But, I have to say, God's kindness to me starts initially with just... God and me. My heart defines His kindness as the intangible presence of His all consuming love that is better than life itself. He gives this kindness to each of us; so let us praise Him togehter:

God, You are Kind.   My heart asks, “Why have You chosen to be kind to ungrateful and evil men?”…There is no one who does good, not even one... For we… (are) foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when Your kindness, O God our Savior, and Your love for mankind appeared, You saved us.  Thank you Lord, for this undeserving gift of mercy; thank You for Your lovingkindness that cost You your Son; thank You for this sacrificial act of grace displayed upon the cross. Again, I thank You with my whole heart! For it was in my desperate state that You allured me…and You spoke kindly to me, and You captured me with Your matchless love. I am forever changed. Please Lord, I now ask You to make me a vessel of Your kindness; I want to reach others who are also in need of a Savior. Daily fill my heart so that I too can exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit, kindness. Yes, make my hands and feet, become Your hands and feet, and cause me to run to the weary, the broken, the lonely, and the lost. When I touch others, may they understand it's really You; yes, I ask that Your kindness would reach out through me and save them too. Again and again, thank You Father, thank You Son, thank You Holy Spirit for Your invading and invloving work, all because of Your lovingkindness towards Your people. I can't help but say it one more time...thank You.

Luke 6:35; Psalm 14:3; Titus 3:3-5; Hosea 2:14; Galatians 5:22

Have you ever been in a conflict with someone in which there seems to be no resolution whatsoever? (I think I know everybody's answer. Conflict is inevitable while on this earth!) So what does one do in the midst of a mess that just keeps getting messier? Sometimes, if possible, the best resolution is just to agree-to-disagree, shake hands peaceably, and walk away from the matter altogether.
But there are other times when in conflict, we tend to get so caught up in the matter, that we can't see straight; we begin to look at things sideways. The argument becomes more about my-side-against-their-side, than the issue itself. And then somewhere in there, God's voice of wisdom gets pushed out altogher. This is when we need to stop, take a meditative breath, and remember that God will always have a different perspective than we humans do. The Wise Counselor sees from above, not just one side; He looks down and sees both angles; He knows the thoughts and intentions of both hearts. He holds the answer; He is Peace.
The contrast between humans trying to resolve matters with or without God's perspective is clearly mentioned in His word:

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:16-17)

So, the questions to ask in the midst of a relational conflict are these:

Does jealousy or selfish ambition contribute to my unsettled heart?
Are my motives pure?
Do I want peace at the end of this conflict?
Am I being gentle, reasonable, full of mercy?
Does the way I am behaving bear good fruits, and line up with my unwavering biblical convictions, or am I being a hypocrite?

These are hard questions, but when they're answered honestly between two parties in conflict, then resolution is more likely to happen. I am so thankful I have a Wise Counselor that can help me see more than sideways. I pray that I will always remember to invite Him into my conflicts. I want His perspective; I want His peace.

It's Monday morning, the beginning of another day, another week. Truth be known, my first thought when I woke up this morning was "ugh." After a fun family weekend out of town visiting our son Bink at UT, I am faced with the dailyness of life once again: laundry, groceries, bills, schedules for all under this roof, writing/teaching deadlines, coaching, lalalalala. I am certain each of you can identify; your list may be triple mine! Like I said...ugh.It's times like this that I must remember to seek the daily grace of God amidst the daily grind. Over the years, I have learned to recognize places where "God shows up" throughout my dutiful day, simply to bless me with His gifts of love. To mention only a few:In the early morning, when it's still dark outside and there is no noise inside, I get my warm cup of coffee and the rich word of God, and I sit, quietly, securely, hopefully, expectantly. In this place, I am always satisfied with His invading love. Daily grace number one.When I'm driving, whether it's errands or carpool or to a meeting, and my mind begins to weaken with the worries of the world, I intentionally press the button on my radio. I then hear a song with lyrics full of truth; the words remind me that God is in control, and that He loves the people that I love (and "O How He loves us!"). I am at peace once again. Daily grace number two.In the evening, after wondering about and then working on the (sorta) yummy menu on the dinner table, I look around at the blessings...food, family, friends from afar, fellowship. My husband, my two kids still at home, a French exchange student, and I share conversation and laughter. Joy fills my heart. Daily grace number three.If I were to count all the daily graces between these three mentioned above, they would surely outnumber the list of my daily grinds! So, I have a decision to make, which list contols my mindset, my spirit? In order to be any kind of influence for Christ to those around me, I must choose to focus on the heavenly while doing the earthly. In so doing, I can rest in His promise each and every day, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (II Cor. 12:9).It's later Monday morning now as I finish up this post, which is actually what started my "ugh" mentatlity. (Sometimes I suffer from writer's block...UGH!!). But I am now thankful to say, I have once again experienced God's daily grace amidst my daily grind. Thank you Jesus, for always showing up.

Here in the Bible-belted south, we grow up knowing a lot about Christianity. Phrases like "I'll pray for you" or "God loves you" or "Jesus died for my sins" are just part of our cultural lingo down here. We just know these things from youth...the same way we grow up knowing that the sky is blue and the grass is green.

But, is knowing enough?

Take the 23rd Psalm, for example.I'm sure many of us can recite this familiar chapter by heart. It begins...The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....

But, the harder question is, do you and Ibelieve the first verse of the 23rd Psalm, and the ones that follow?  

Is the Lord my Shepherd? In other words, is Hethe one I am following? Or am I listening to another voice (possibly my own)? And,am I so satisfied with what He gives me that I want nothing else that the world has to offer?

God is not impressed with our knowledge of Him if it is not accompanied by our faith in Him.

The bible says,Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrew11:6

So instead of merely knowing God is with me, I believe God is with me, right here, right now....speaking, guiding, teaching me to do His will. Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd.

And instead of simply knowing of God's many titles: refuge, rock, salvation, shield, provider, comforter... I willbelieve every deep meaning of every high name that is given to Him in the vast pages of His book. And then, I will stand and live and breathe all of who He is into my soul. As a result, I shall not want.

Know what you believe, my friends; know who God is, and what His word says. But don't stop there. True (and eternal) life begins when you believe what you know.