Thundercats ho! give me sight beyond sight!

When my kids were little they used to watch the cartoon Thundercats. The hero of the story was Lion-O and he had a powerful sword that he would lift into the sky and cry "Sword of Omens give me sight beyond sight! Thundercats ho!" 

One day in the backyard the kids were playing their favorite cartoon Thundercats. I watched my son lift his little plastic sword into the air, and I began to cringe thinking he was going to call on the sword of omens, but instead he cried "amen!" It was the most powerful word he knew and he said it with great conviction! Amen, so be it!

Sometimes I forget to look beyond the physical stuff and see the spiritual world. To remember that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of His inheritance in the saints." Eph. 1:18

Mirror Mirror on the Wall!

We live in a complicated world filled with strife. Strife between nations and world powers. Even strife in our small communities called families. Daily stresses that wear us down and can cause us to want to blame circumstances or the actions of other people for the pain and turmoil in our lives. It's easy to blame the devil for the hardships, bad attitudes and financial difficulties we face. But I find my biggest enemy is not the Devil, or other people, but the person in the mirror. Lord,protect me from myself! My bad attitude and tendency to wallow in self pity which can lead me to making poor choices.I must take responsibility for my own actions, motives and feelings first before I can see clearly what is really happening in my personal world.

"…first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.:Mathew 7:5

The Los Angeles Olympics…come on in!

The Los Angeles Olympics…come on in!

The phone rang very early that morning. It was my sister in law Lisa asking if we would like to attend a track and field event at the Los Angeles coliseum. It was August, 1984

and the summer Olympics were underway. Her dad, who was the current supervisor of Ventura County, had been given a complimetary set of tickets, but was unable use them. Lisa hated to see them go to waste, so with very short notice, she called to see if we were interested.

My husband Doug was a cross country runner in high school and college. He was thrilled! I wasn't so sure I wanted to sit on hard bleachers all day in the hot sun watching track and field, but my mom volunteered to watch our two year old son, so I agreed to go. It was a 45 minute drive from Thousand Oaks to the 8 am event. We found parking a few blocks away and followed the signs to the front gate. The Coliseum was decked out with colorful banners and Olympic rings. There were swarms of people everywhere with cameras around their necks and programs in their hands. The air was electric!

When we enter the grounds, we showed our tickets to the guards at the front gates and asked them if they knew where our seats were. They shrugged their shoulders and pointed us to another set of guards. We felt like two dumb tourist trying to make sense of these "free tickets!" No one seemed to know where our seats were.

"Great" I was thinking. "We're probably at the wrong event!"

Finally after several attempts we found someone who looked at our tickets and grinned. He took us to a concrete area under the bleachers. I thought we were going to be ushered out to the parking lot or assaulted! But instead he pointed ahead and said "Use that elevator over there. It goes to the Presidential box."

We looked at each other? Huh? Still not sure where we were going.

"Take the elevator to the top," he assured us. "Some one will be there to show you to your seats."

We stepped into the elevator and Doug pushed the only button that went up. Ding, ding. Up went the elevator and then stopped. Ding, ding. The doors opened and we stepped out into a curtain lined corridor. We were greeted by a friendly man wearing an unassuming uniform. He glanced at our tickets and said "Let me show you to your seats."

We followed him down the blue curtained corridor into a large, but narrow room with huge, long windows. There was a narrow bar under the windows with several empty padded chairs. Each chair had a separate viewing area with a close circuit TV for the close up action on the field. The windows hosted a spectacular view of the entire interior of the coliseum with it's red clay track and green grassy field. It looked like a view from a post card!

"Here are your seats." He gestured to two seats in the middle of the long span of windows. "Behind us is the open bar and buffet. Make your self at home. If you need anything please ask." He walked away.

Our mouths must have fallen open. I think we were dumbfounded. A few seats down from us was the ABC newscast filming the live sporting event from our prestigious press box seats.

The buffet table was filled with mounds of all kinds of fruits, meats, cheeses, and a variety of juices, coffee, teas and sweet rolls. We sat at the helm of our private viewing station nibbling fruit and before you knew it we were watching the Los Angeles Olympic relay races from our million dollar seats.  

After a few hours of watching wheel chair races, long distance walking and running, I stood up to look for a restroom. Before I was on my feet the same nice gentleman was at my elbow.

"Can I show you to the bathroom?" he asked? and walked me over to a private door.

"Thank you," I replied, pretending this was all quite normal, and I disappeared behind the wooden door.

Once inside, I stood looking at myself in the mirror, shaking my fuzzy head. We had just returned to California after living two years in Turkey. Doug was in the US air force,but his enlistment time was up and we were now living with my parents while he looked for work. I had a $10 bill in my straw purse, no job or home. This experience was so far from our present reality. I was simply flabbergasted.

There was a little window near the bathroom sink, so I peeked out and saw tons of people in colorful shorts sitting on hard cement bleachers putting on their sun block, wearing visors and drinking coke out of large paper cups! The contrast was shocking! Here we were in the press box with our cushy seats, silverware and air conditioning, while those poor blokes were sitting on hot concrete risers!

It was a day we will never forget! That afternoon we watched Olympic metals being presented to the winners of various events; the nations anthems swelling with pride as we stood observing from our glass box. I have vivid memories of red blood streaming from the raw hands of a man lifting his arms in victory from his wheel chair, the winner of the wheel chair race. He struggled to his feet when the US anthem began to play and soon received his precious Olympic metal.

I still have those orange paper tickets displayed in a little glass frame on our book shelf. They are a reminder of the day we were treated like millionaires and ushered into the highest and most prestigious seats in the house. Seats we didn't even have to pay for! Seats we enjoyed because we showed up with the right tickets! Like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" we had the golden tickets!

When I think of that spectacular day it reminds me of what it means to be a child of the King. A King's Kid. Once we received salvation, our golden ticket, we have the privilege of walking straight into the presence of God in Holy of Holies. There is no longer a curtain of separation between us and God. We simply need to enter the room.

Hebrews 4:16

"Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need."

Diamonds In The Kitty Litter

It's funny to think that God really cares about the little things in our lives. I mean, there are so many more important things for Him to take care of in this world than the silly things I pray about. Does he really care if I get a good parking spot! Maybe I need the exercise and His answer for me a good healthy walk every day!

Several years ago I attended a short Bible study on prayer. The first message was very simple…listen. When you pray listen to the Spirit of God and then do what He tells you. God rarely does anything the same way twice. For example when Jesus ministered to people he might form mud with dirt and spit and then place it on someones eyes and they would receive sight! Or he might tell them to go and show themselves to the Rabbi and healing would follow. He would tailor each prayer to the individual person and do specifically what God told him to do. So I decided to try and put this into practice.

Doug and I were on the prayer team at church and after the Sunday sermon we would go forward to pray with people. One night a young lady came up to us and asked for prayer. I didn't know who she was or anything about her. We were instructed to listen to the Holy Spirit before speaking to the person about their needs. So we held hands and quietly prayed in the Spirit for a few seconds, taking our time to listen. A scripture came to my mind from the book of Isaiah 54 about the Lord being our husband and not to despise widowhood. It was kind of strange but I thought maybe the Lord wanted me to encourage her by telling her not to be sad, that God was as close to her as a husband. I didn't know if she was married or not. I gave her the scripture. She looked surprised and went on to tell us she had been recently widowed and her husband had died of AIDS. Because of the stigma and shame AIDS brought she felt very despised by the people of God and on top of that she was also the pastor sister!! Today I can't

remember why she came up for prayer, but that simple scripture God whispered in my heart encouraged all three of us that God really is listening and does care. He wants to meet our needs.

Another time during this period in my life I was praying about our missing dog Chester. He was a friendly orange pomeranian and had disappeared about 6 weeks before. I had just heard another message on prayer about binding and loosing God's will and how we can send the angels out to make a way for God answer. So under my breath while I wiped down the kitchen counter I prayed " God please bring Chester home. If someone has taken him I ask you to send the angels to make a way for him to come home. Cause the person who took him to feel guilty and give him back. Amen" I don't remember any surge of faith or why I thought someone might have him, but it seemed possible, as he was a very friendly dog. Within seconds the phone rang. "Hi, I have your dog. I've had him for a few weeks. He showed up one day and he got along so well with our new puppy we decided to keep him. But I feel really guilty. I found your phone number on his dog tag and had to call." No kidding. Chester was home in 20 minutes!! He was also about 5 pounds fatter!

Lastly, a diamond fell out of my wedding ring. I don't know where or when it happened, but one day I looked down and it was missing. A couple of days later while I was sweeping the kitchen floor I remembered I should pray and ask God to help me find it. My faith was not very strong, but I thought "you have not because you ask not," so I asked God to help me find it. I grabbed the dust buster off the wall and sucked up the kitty litter that had fallen around the litter box on the kitchen floor. After it was cleaned

up I rehung the little vacuum back on the hook over the kitchen counter. A small pile of dirt and clay litter fell out of the hand held machine all over my freshly cleaned white kitchen tile. Irritated with the mess I had just created I looked down and there was my diamond right in the middle of the dusty kitty litter! I was shocked!

Does God care? Yes, and those small but big answers to our prayers are His way of saying I hear you and I love you. It also helps build our faith when we see him answer. So I encourage you to pray and listen, send out the angels, and get specific. How will you know He hears you if you never ask? Get specific, write it down, and when He answers tell someone.

"Do not fear, you shall not be put to shame;

do not be discouraged, you shall not be disgraced.

For the shame of your youth you shall forget,

the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember.

For your husband is your Maker;

the LORD of hosts is his name,

Your redeemer,* the Holy One of Israel,

called God of all the earth.

The LORD calls you back,

like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

A wife married in youth and then cast off,

says your God.

For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with great tenderness I will take you back.

In an outburst of wrath, for a moment

I hid my face from you;

But with enduring love I take pity on you,

says the LORD, your redeemer." Isaiah 54:4-8

Clock in. Clock out.

It's so easy to get caught up in daily grind. Clock in. Clock out. Work, home, school, repeat. We get caught up in the mundane and we forget we have an enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy us! It lulls us into a false sense of security and spiritual sleep.

I think the greatest weapon used against us is the mundane. I mean, if the enemy appeared to us as a big red demon we would wake up and swing our axe! But no, he is quiet and sneaks around trying to set ambushes and snares in our daily routine then blames it on someone else. He whispers to us in our own voice. Wake up. Pay attention to your thought life and mindless cruise control. We have an enemy. Be on the look out! Watch out for pot holes. Take charge of your choices. Remember we are spiritual beings living in a physical world. We are children of the Most High and the enemy is not your co worker, but the devil. We have the ability to make good and powerful choices.We are called to spiritual warfare which begins in our minds, even if our feet are still on the ground.

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines," Song of Solomon 2:15

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

For this reason was the Son of God manifest....to destroy the works of the enemy." 1 John 3:8b

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1Pet 5:8

Mr Magoo and His Nearsightedness

Have you ever thought about the many times you have escaped near death or an accident? That time you didn't see the stop sign and sailed right through the intersection without mishap!

Several years ago my husband and I were on route to Adana, Turkey. As our pilot began to land the plane he saw another plane coming straight at us and he realized we were on the wrong runway! Our plane took a sudden bank to the right and shot straight up into the air! Military passengers were gasping and cursing! I nearly vomited! We landed safely a few minutes later on the right runway.

I think sometimes we are like Mr. Magoo who arrives at his destination safely with no idea of the many catastrophes he's left behind all because of Divine protection.

"He will give his angels charged over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Ps. 91:11

Are You Going to Ascend, Transcend, Or Just End?

Have you found something to live for? A reason to get out of bed every morning? What lights up your eyes? Do you have a purpose for being here? Or are you just going through the motions waiting to die? And what about an afterlife? Are you going to ascend, transcend, or just end?

I had this discussion recently with someone I love. I said "You had better find a reason for living!" (Otherwise you will tailspin back into depression and addiction, I thought.) Most cultures have believed in someone or something bigger than themselves. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans had many gods. They also believed in an afterlife. The America Indian believed in a Great Spirit and some tribes believe in magic and even demons. Is there a spirit world? What is it in us that longs for more. CS Lewis wrote "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

These are questions honest people ask. I have wrestled with these questions a lot in my adult life. The bottom line, I choose to believe in heaven and that God has made a way for me to get there through Jesus. I have a Creator who made me with relationship in mind and that He created this beautiful world for me to enjoy. Not just survive and then die.

This hope is what keeps me getting out of bed every morning. I have a song in my heart because the living God loves me. Sure things aren't always great, but I believe He is good all the time. Even when life is difficult I know my Father cares. He whispers His love to me through nature, the Bible and those I love.   find great comfort in that. But it is a choice. My choice. It gives my life meaning and hope. I don't always feel Him. I choose to believe by faith which fills me with hope and gives me the desire to love. I'm not trying to preach at you but if you are struggling with meaning in your life what are you living for? anything? Make a choice.

As Joshua said Choose this day whom you shall serve….we are all serving someone or something….

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. 1:16

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Col. 1:27

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His

power. Heb. 1: 1-4

And the Battle Rages On....

If you have the Spirit of God residing in you, you are children of the light. That light is like a flash light that shines into the darkness and reveals sin. It's very simple. The battle comes when we do not want to be obedient to God's light and want to stay in the darkness. We can't find satisfaction in the dark because we now have the Holy Spirits illumination. It's impossible. It's like having a lantern under the blanket! Believers who stray from the light, which is God's truth, are the most miserable creatures on the planet. Angry because no matter what they do the light follows them around exposing sin and they can never truly ever enjoy it again.

Colossians says that "God delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." He has something better for us. Peace, joy, contentment, love and purpose. People who walk in the light get to their destination. If you aren't getting victory over an addiction or lifestyle have you submitted yourself to God? Or are you trying to live in your own strength without Him? I would encourage you to lay your pride down and accept that you are not in control. By faith believe that God does exist and has a satisfying plan for your life. Until you do, the battle will rage on.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12

"Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Say the Name!

I grew up In Redondo Beach, California and our next door neighbor had a little girl named Lou Lou. I remember this because the kids would tease her and say " Ho ho ho, you 're an eskimo!" 

Lou Lou was from Alaska. Here it is 45 years later and I still remember those words. Words are powerful. Words can build you up or tear you down. They may not be able to break your bones, but they can hurt you.

When I was very young my favorite cartoon was Felix the Cat. He had a funny little friend named Vavoom. He was named this because when he opened his mouth and said "VAVOOM!" everything around him was blasted away! He was great at knocking mountains and obstacles down!

And then I remember some of the very first words recorded in the Bible, God Said. God said "Let there be light. "BANG! Light! God said! BANG! Ocean! God Said! BANG! Sky! God said! BANG! Vegetation! God Said! BANG! Animals! It's pretty amazing. God's voice is more powerful than Vavooms!

The Bible also says that Jesus is the WORD! Jesus is the most powerful word there is! Say the name and BANG! darkness has to flee! Say the name! Bang! Peace prevails! Say the Name and obstacles are blasted away. Say the Name. SAY THE NAME! JESUS.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5

Who's Got You?

"Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Look! It'sSuperman!"

I just love Superman! He is so idealistic and has so many cheesy lines! I especially like the 1978 movie with Christopher Reeve. Who can forget the memorable scene when Lois falls off the building and while plummeting to her death Superman catches her mid air!

"Easy miss. I've got you" Superman says.

"You, you've got me? Who's got you?" Lois Lane asks.

Ever felt like that? Falling, with no end in sight and yet somehow you land. Or the many times you have to walk through trials, but God sustains you.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. " Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)

Superman: Listen; what do you hear?

Lois Lane: Nothing.

Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.

Aren't you glad we have THE Savior? and He is better than any super-man!

What is the Good News? To sum it up very simply....whether you are a christian or not God no longer counts your sins against you. Wow! Sounds like heresy!

Think of it like this: I have a bank account and it is empty or most likely in the negative. I owe big time. But I have no funds or resources on my own to pay my debtors. I am bankrupt. But here is the truth. God has ALREADY wired a deposit into your account but you have to access it, receive it. Sign for it. Remove the "hold" on it. When you receive Gods son Jesus as your payment for sin it is credited to your account as righteousness. When you received Jesus as savior the transaction was complete! Like an electronic transaction, in an instant, the debt was cleared. 

Honestly it is paid even if you never do anything, but you must sign the agreement, receive the Son, for the funds transfer to be recorded into the book of life. It's like the money is in a holding tank with your name on it waiting for your "yes"so it can be released into your bank account. God has already set the money aside for you, so use it.

"However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. "

Romans 4:5

"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 

2 Corinthians 5: 19-21

The Gift for Getting Things Done

I have been in a melancholy mood lately. Maybe I am tired. You know those days you want to eat worms and moan "Oh me.I am the only one who does anything around here" song. As a kid I remember my mother reading to us before bedtime. She never read those "Once upon a time" fairy tales, or "and they all lived happily ever after" myths. Instead she read stories like "The Little Engine that Could." One of her favorites was"The Little Red Hen" who went from friend to friend asking "Who will help me make the bread?" The old "If you don't work,you don't eat story!" Or she would read "The Three Little Kittens" to us. How I loved those little kittens. But I cringed when we got to the part where the mother cat scolded them for loosing their mittens! "You bad little kittens. You lost your mittens.Then you shall have no pie!" Meow! Meow! Meow!

My husband says I have a gift for getting things done. Making dinner, keeping a clean house, etc. but let me tell you it is nota gift, but hard work! Or maybe my work ethic is a gift. A gift given to me from my hard working parents who grew up duringWorld War ll.So why do I find myself getting mean and tired?Running from task to task trying to keep up with three dogs and a dirty floor. Like the Little Gingerbread Man. "Run, run! As fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man!" But remember how that story ended? Gulp! He does get caught, and by a sly fox. The tyranny of the chores can be that sly fox.

I need to find a healthy balance between my overactive German genetics and reality. Who wants to live with a mean women in a clean house? The seven dwarfs in Snow White had it right. "Whistle while you work!...and when there's no work to do, don't let it bother you." What? No work to do? Now that is a fairy tale.

When Healing Doesn't Come....

"You need to have more faith and pray harder." Have you ever been told that when dealing with something?I have heard these things from well meaning people. People I love. In fact I believe those things too. I understand the Bible tells us that "By his stripes we were healed." But what about when healing doesn't come. Is it because of your lack of faith? I don't know. I don't think so.

Some religions feel that going to the doctor is showing a lack of faith. You've heard those stories of a parent who won't take their child to the doctor and eventually they die from a very curable illness. It is not a good witness. What about going to the dentist? Or the chiropractor? Is that wrong?

We are spiritual beings, but we live in a physical body. If we are trusting in our faith to heal us, than we are trusting in ourselves. There are times when the miraculous comes. Sometimes God uses the gift of faith. You don't have to drum it up, God gives it. So yes, pray. Ask for healing. Claim it.

I use to have panic attacks. It was horrible. I felt gripping anxiety. I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was suffocating 24 hours a day, It never let up. The only thing that kept me alive were my children whom I had to take care of, a kind husband, and my faith. I called out to Jesus. I rebuked the devil. I did everything I knew to do. But still I suffered, 24 hours a day for years. Unless you lived in my body, there is no way you can understand the depth of the constant anxiety I had. It is a miracle I didn't take my life.

Was this condition caused by my lack of faith?

Eventually I was diagnosed with Grave's Disease. After several more years it finally came under control through thyroid removal and synthroid. My constant panic attacks, insomnia, and over active "fight flight" response had nothing to do with my mind. I had too much t-3 in my system from an overactive thyroid. I wish it had all gone away after hundreds of prayers. But God did bring me an answer through a doctor.

I will never forgot those years of suffering. I am grateful for my present health. I hope to never go back there.

The Bible says in the end we will put off corruption for incorruption. This world is temporary. Keep praying, keep seeking and keep knocking. He does answer. Sometimes it is in the form of a miracle! Sometimes in a pill, or surgery. Be willing toreceive God's answer even if it is through a doctor.

Everlasting Love!

Have you ever been in love! I mean that oozy, drippy, can't think of anything but "you" kind of love! All day, all night you wake up with that person on your mind and count the hours until you can see them again!

When my husband and I were engaged he joined the air force and went into basic training and then tech school! It was a long three months until we saw each other. He wrote me every day! In fact he sent me so many love letters eventually I thought, "ho hum, another letter." I hate to admit that! But isn't that the way it is with God? He lavishes His love upon us daily and we think "Ho hum, another sunset"....yawn.

God is passionately in love with us, way beyond what we have experience through our human emotions. He loves us so much He thinks about us constantly. Waiting and counting the days until we will take the time to be in His presence. It reminds me of the book of Esther. How happy the king was to see her when she walked into his throne room. He had the power to kill her, but instead He smiled. God is happy to see us, in fact He is head over heels in love with us!

As the song goes:

Think about His love, think about His mercy

Think about the things He's brought us through

For as high as the heavens above

So great is the measure of our Father's Love

Great is the measure of our Father's Love.

Jeremiah 31: 3:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Lamentations 3: 22-23:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great

is your faithfulness.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

He once was a little green ball of clay. Gumby!

I remember watching Gumby cartoons in the early 1960's. They used stop-action photography with clay. It was amazing how many poses and facial expressions Gumby could make with his Pony pal Pokey too! Clay can form a million shapes and then be rolled back into a ball! It is extremely flexible.

Gumbys' dad was a fireman. My dad was a fireman. He had to work 24 hour shifts and because of this would work many holidays including Christmas and Thanksgiving. Every year we would celebrate a little differently from the years before. Some years we opened gifts on Christmas Eve, and another year on Christmas afternoon. A few times we ate Turkey in the firehouse garage at card tables and you better believe it was a memorable meal when the fire alarm went off! But you know, it was okay! We were together as a family. We learned that a holiday is just a day on the calendar and that we can celebrate

it anywhere, and any day we choose. Being flexible is a skill you learn by keeping yourself open to change and not afraid of it. Listen to His voice, and when he says "go to the left" or "go to the right" be willing to change course. Learn to bend so you do not break.

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice saying, This is the way; walk in it " Is 30:21

" A bruised reed He will not break, a smoldering candle he will not put out. Isaiah 4:3

The bully on the block

“Fear is a tyrant. It will keep you locked up for as long as you let it. You have to push against it or it will force you into a corner.  It never lets up until you push back. It demands you take action or you end up paralyzed. Fear is the bully on the block.”

Dribble Drabble.