Two Sons

In the book of John in the Bible there is a story about a father and two sons. Most of us know the teaching and refer to it as the story of the prodigal son. In the story there are three major characters, the father, the prodigal son and the older son who remains at home.

The youngest son decides he is unhappy at home and asks his father for his inheritance and leaves home. He lives for the moment totally focused on himself for quite a while. Then, because he did not stay at home and learn from the father how to manage his money, how to have a good work ethic and other life lessons, he squanders all he has. He finally finds a job that would shame his family, feeding hogs. It could have been prosituting himself, or selling drugs or any number of shady dealings. It was the only employment he believed he could find. All this time the other brother has stayed on the farm, tending livestock, sowing and reaping, living in a safe home with a father who loves him.

One day the son slopping hogs decides he just can't go on. Maybe he is sick, maybe he can't face another day in the pigpen, maybe he has been away so long he just wants to see his family one more time. He returns and before he makes it in the driveway the father is running down to meet him. The prodigal apologizes over and over. The father welcomes him home. the older brother is jealous.

What both sons did not realize is that the father loves them both. Equally. The son who left and came home finally realized it. I don't know if the son who stayed at home ever did.

God, the Father loves everyone. He loves the son who ignores Him and the son who knows Him the same. Sometimes I think we forget that. The difference today is just what it was for the two sons. The prodigal did not have the blessing that he would have had all those years he was gone, he did not know the Father all that time. The 'obedient' son lived in the daily blessings, but was jealous when he thought someone was being favoured over him. He never understood that the Father loved them both.

Isn't the goal for both sons to know the Lord? Isn't the goal for prodigals to be restored? Are we jealous when they return, or do we rejoice? The older brother had an offense. Even thought the prodigal asked for forgiveness, it was not enough. I often think the older son would have preferred a punishment. He never understood the grace that he lived in each day. Instead of making him merciful, he became judgemental.

Lord, help us to be peacemakers. Help us to encourage others to recieve grace and mercy. Bring every prodigal home.

My friend started a new blog. It is cindy-daysgoneby.blogspot.com

Autumn Leaves

The leaves are a-turning
Changing colors, dancing on the wind.
A-turning my head to catch thier autumn glory.

Dancing balerinas on a woodsmoke breeze.
Brown and orange, red and gold,
Carpeting the country lanes I follow to my home.

Leaves turning, changing, dancing,
Brown and orange, red and gold;
Autumn glory brings me home.

I wrote this poem several years ago. It was a time when I was missing someone I loved and I wished that I could just turn the corner, pull into a familiar driveway, and they would be waiting at the door. But, my Grandpa was gone, and I won't see him till I get to heaven. Every year about this time I get that same feeling. I want to go home. I used to think it was to a place I'd been before, but as time goes by I realize I'm lonely for someplace I've never been. I want to go to my real Home with my real Father. Maybe you feel that way too.

Who You're Ropin' With

My husband, Kevin, is a team roper. If you have always lived in Oklahoma you probably know what that means, but just in case you haven't I'll explain. It is a rodeo event that is a timed competition. Another roper ropes the horns of a steer and then my husband ropes the heels. You compete against other teams doing the same thing. Whoever has the best time wins. At least that is how it works in theory.

I am not a competitive person. I watch or read a book.

My husband has a favorite saying about ropin'. "You rope as good as the people you rope with." In the ropin' world, that means that if you only go to easy ropins' where there is not much competition you can win, but you won't improve. Any dedicated athlete pushes himself to be better, and then again better. My husband who has been ropin for 30 years could go to an arena with a bunch of 12 years olds every week and win, but there would be no challenge. And it would be a discouragement to the 12 year olds.

In my time with the Lord today I was reminded of that verse. I could see how spending all my time with people can have me feeling pretty good about myself sometimes. It can also be easy to justify my actions comparing myself to other human beings. It is only when I spend time with the One who is perfect that I see myself as I really am. Spending time with the One who is full of compassion, full of mercy and full of love raises the bar for me. I don't just want to take the easy way, I want to take it up a notch. Spending time with Jesus transforms me.

It is the same way with the people we choose to be close too. They can challenge us to be all we can be, or they can encourage us to sink to a new low. My boss, Leslie, and my pastor's wife, Paula, are very intelligent women. They inspire me to gain knowledge. My friend Kerri has the best sense of humor. She inspires me to enjoy my life. My husband is a hard worker. He inspires me to keep going till the job is finished.

I don't want to get to heaven and God ask me why I only went to 'punkin pullin's' (easy ropins). I want to be challenged. I want to use up everything the Lord gave me. I want to be someone who challenges those around her. Lord, let it be so!

Division is Multiplying

For the last year or so I have noticed a trend in the church I attend. Offense. Hurt feelings. Division.

People that I have gone to church with for years are gone from Sunday morning worship. Even relatives, whom I would have never believed would leave the church are gone. I hear that this family has gone here, or that family gone there, but many have not permanently found a church home.

This morning my pastor's wife came to the Prayer Room and we cried and prayed for those we no longer see. The sorrow was heavy. How can you spend years with a family, go through births and marriages and deaths, and one day look over and they are gone. How do you find peace in that situation?

I searched my Bible this afternoon and a verse hit me square in the face. 1 Corinthians 11:19 says: "But, of course there must be divisions among you so that you who have God's approval will be recognized!" Wow. My desire to be right and your desire to be right is what brings division. How sad that what we each want becomes more important than what God wants, which is for His children to love one another. To prefer the other above ourself. God promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, but that probably won't be necessary because we will destroy the church from within.

Several years ago I read a book called 'The Bait of Satan.' It was a book about how Christians fall for offense and let it seperate them from the church. I hear people teel me every week how they don't need to go to church to be saved. You are right, only the blood of Jesus does that. But Christ Himself instituted the church. It is His body on this earth. That is not something a man thought of, but a concept brought into existance by a Holy God. Argue with Him about the church. Or ignore what He says. We still have free will. It doesn't mean it is always right, though.

The thing is, division, which divides, seems to be multiplying. Those concepts do not go together. What is going on church? Why are we accepting this believers? Let's do what God tells us to do, pray. Pray for that family that you have been missing. Pray for believers who are hurt to be restored to the body of Christ. Pray that no offense overtakes me or you. Pray that it will be more important to us to do what God says than what we feel.

The Right Note

This morning I was sitting on my front porch reading my Bible selection for the day and enjoying the extra day off this week. Kevin, my husband came outside and and planned on doing the same thing. Our daughter, Kalynn, was inside, and planning on doing some much needed cleaning in her bedroom.

Kalynn's room is inside where I sit outside on the porch. I didn't hear the stereo come on, but I did hear Kalynn begin singing for all she was worth. Kevin and I both laughed. Kalynn inherited her singing ability from my side of the family: we love to sing, but we are not that good at it.

As I sat there for a few minutes listening, God showed me a truth. Everyone who lifts up thier voice to sing occaisionally hits a right note. It is the joy that is in our heart that prompts us to sing. It is the worship that is created that makes the Father smile. Whatever the Spirit of God inside us leads us to do is the right thing to do. We always hit the right note when we make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Taking With or Going With

It's been quite a while since I posted a new blog. I guess I'll blame it on a busy summer like everyone else. I really think I got a little shy about putting my thoughts out there for anyone to read and comment on. Crazy, but true.

I have been preparing for an opportunity to speak at a monthly women's meeting at our church lnext month. Becasue I facilitate the prayer room at our church I was asked to focus on prayer. So, naturally I have been praying and trying to be sure of what the Lord wanted me to say. It is funny, becasue I went into my conversations with Him letting Him know that the topic was prayer and what did He want me to say? Anyone who has a relationship with the Lord like I do probably knows what came next. "Are you telling Me what you are speaking on and asking Me to help, or are you asking Me what you should talk about and then listening to what I say" WOW!

The phrase came to mind: Am I taking the Lord the Lord with me whare I want to go, or am I going where He wants to take me? The very words that come out of my mouth show the truth. How many plans and reasons do I have that I then ask God to bless? What if I was so in contact with Him that I never doubted whare He wants me to go or what He wants me to do? That comes from intimacy. Daily, hourly, moment by moment contact. The air that I breath. Exposing myself wholely to Him and allowing Him to know me, and in turn desiring to know Him above all else. A life without regrets.

Are you taking Him with you today or are you going where He wants you to go? Let's change our way of thinking. Let's encourage each other to listen to the Lord and get His direction instead of worldly wisdom. Let's share what God is speaking to us so it can encourage others.

Silver and Gold

Normally on Wednesday night I am at church, but this evening I stayed home. Kevin and I had both got home early from work and since it was not raining we decided to mow. He rushed around and got ready for church, but I felt God whispering for me to stay and visit with Him, so I did.

I sat our on the porch and read my Bible and then a chapter in the book I am reading. Then I just sat and listened to the birds and the wind rustling in the leaves of the tree. It seemed like the Lord was sitting there with me. We didn't really have to say anything, we just enjoyed one another's presence.

Tomorrow will be my 47th birthday. I was thinking about all I was so grateful for and began picturing all the people who have touched my life in the last year.

I have gained dome new friends in the last 12 months. Jana, the young woman I work with at the school. We did not even know each other before the school year began, but she has become so important to me. Lissa, a young police officer in our community who I go to church with. She is the SRO for our school system and I am blessed to get to see her each week. Kerri, another woman in the office. she is truly a sister in Christ. We share prayer requests and rejoice over the answers.

There are also those friends who have been around the block with me. My sister Leslea, who knows me better than I know myself. My friend Dianna, who I am in ministry with. She has become so dear. We are kindred spirits.

My friend Susan, who is a few years older than me, has been an encourager and a source of strength. a true example that I can follow.

The women I have never even met who read my blog, but share their thoughts with me. How I look forward to those comments.

And dozens of others. Debbie, at church, Leslie, at work, the ladies who bring me my tea each morning at Sonic Drive-in, I could go on and on. How my life is blessed because of them. Richer, fuller, more complete.

It reminds me of an old song:
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Make new friends, but keep the old.

Lord, bless my friends. I pray that they would know how much they mean to me. Help me to remember to tell them.