Examples from the Nativity -Karla

My, how our world has changed. But, it is comforting to know some things have stayed the same and have become classics: making cookies around the holidays and decorating my tree with my girls.

Some things are more than classics. They are truths, holding greater meaning than any holiday tradition. Much joy and hope is chronicled in the Christmas story found in the Bible. The actions of the people involved serve as examples all these years later.

Mary

Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Being pregnant at this time in her life was dangerous. She must have been so nervous telling Joseph and filled doubts of being unworthy. 

Yet, Mary accepted God’s will for her life. She was humble and bravely walked, following His plan and becoming Jesus’ mother. 

In Luke 2:19, after she gave birth, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” We should be spending time with Jesus, treasuring God’s Holy Word and pondering in our hearts.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was an encouragement. Finally being pregnant after being barren into old age, she had to be excited. However, perhaps she was scared to raise a son now or wrestled with the humility that God allowed her to become pregnant. 

But the Bible does not record any such actions. Elizabeth served a vital role in Mary’s story. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for several months, and they walked the path of pregnancy together…the old and the young! As we age, we too should be investing in the lives of others, encouraging them with wisdom that God has allowed us to learn along our paths.

Joseph

Joseph had so many reasons to doubt, and public humiliation was inevitable due to Mary’s condition. What a risk he was taking to believe! 

But, Joseph listened to God’s instructions, given to him by an angel (recorded in both Luke and Matthew). Our first step also is to believe—that God sent His son to change the world. If you have not accepted His gift, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16), please talk with someone who can help you understand how much you are loved by God and how He wants you to receive His love. Are we willing to believe like Joseph? Belief that is so deep we are changed.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Shepherds

The shepherds shared their personal encounter of Jesus with others. God wants us to share our story as well. My experiences in life and how God has provided strength and comfort to overcome is powerful and will minister to others if I am willing.

Wisemen

The wisemen spend a significant amount of their life seeking Jesus. They followed the star as we should be following the Word of God to find our way. While God talks to us through music, prayers, and other Christians, the principal way to learn is through His scriptures. So, we must be willing to read—-really dig in, attend small groups that study the Bible and find sound commentary to help us understand.

Share His Love

Christmas is such a blessing. It begins the most wonderful story ever recorded, the hope for us all! Share the joy only His birth, death on the cross, and resurrection can bring.

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Guidance: Directionally Challenged     By Karla

Of the four sisters, Lynn and I drew the shortest straws–receiving less coordination than our other two sisters. To be fair to myself, I have more coordination than Lynn, but she is not as directionally challenged as I am. There are numerous comical stories my family enjoys telling. Just ask them! They are happy to share. Accepting the correct guidance and following through with the directions can be challenging.

The Peace River–Not!

In the summer of 1981, my oldest sister Lynn was 18, and I was turning 14. With our family on vacation in Arcadia, Florida, a trip down the Peace River seemed like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. Lynn, also know as The Boss, made the assignments. Gail and Julie paired in one canoe while Lynn and I took another. 

Directionally Challenged

While Gail and Julie’s trip was smooth sailing, ours was nothing of the kind. To add to our coordination challenges, I am left-handed. Though I am not trying to stereotype left-handers, many of us truly do have difficulties with which is left and which is right. 

Lynn could probably remember the play-by-play as to how we flipped the canoe and were upside down. I just know our lack of coordination and my directionally challenged self caused a serious issue. Lynn would call paddle left or paddle right, which would leave me in a dilemma. Which side is that?  

Capsized

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Not long into the trip, we capsized. Grasping for our canoe, we floated down the river. We were strong swimmers, a requirement of our childhood. So floating along in the refreshing water was not a problem. However, the recently dead alligator on the bank sure did put a fear in us! Needless to say, we scrambled and struggled, but finally flipped the canoe, crawling back in! I intently focused on my paddling directions as we steered ourselves for the rest of the river ride! 

Life’s Adventures

Thankfully, I can say I have developed some skills in my navigational abilities over the years, for I have leaned on God to be my guide. 

For the most part, life has glided along, but I have encountered my share of storms along the way. Several waves have tossed me around, leaving me seasick, thrown about. A few tsunamis have spit me out, abandoning me washed up on the shore. 

Though tired and weary, with each struggle in life, God has provided me with the navigation needed. He is our rock, our source of strength in a broken world. 

 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it.

Isaiah 30:21

Whether we have followed Him every day or wandering aimlessly without Him in the desert, He stands with open arms. Our world spews advice at every turn with much of it misleading. We must choose Him to be our guide. 

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Maturing Faith: Microwave Society -By Karla

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As a toddler, my oldest loved trying out new words. I remember her sitting at the table, eating her breakfast. The microwave buzzer signaled; my hot tea was ready for its daily job, to wake me. She tried to pronounce the word, and while I do not remember her exact attempt, I vividly remember the next few seconds. 

“Honey, the word is microwave. Say micro.”
She repeated successfully.
Then I added the word, “wave”.
She smiled so big, picked up her little arm and waved with great vigor!

That memory has been precious to me for almost 30 years! I can still see her little expression of triumph. 

Microwaving Our Faith

Living in a remote-controlled world, we can easily be influenced, thinking that we can push a button. Zap our trials will be done.  In addition, our mindset is often that we can microwave our faith, warming it up when hard times are upon us.

When storms come crashing in, we wish we had a “faith like Daniel”. A faith that knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has our back. We desire assurance that God will tame our lions in the dark dens or stand in the fires like He did with Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendnego. 

Misconceptions

Perhaps, our faith has not developed like Daniel and his friends for a couple of reasons. 

  • Are we expecting a Daniel-like faith without even being plugged into God’s word, as if the microwave would even work without its source of energy?
  • Are we living a lukewarm life as a Christian while we are trying to grow our faith? Even while being held captive in a foreign land without others who believed in God, Daniel and his friends were living for God. 
    • Are we living for God in our ungodly world?
    • Are we just luke-warm Christians, who walk in the doors of the church sporadically?
    • Are we desiring to walk in God’s daily presence on Sundays during worship, but setting Him aside Monday through Saturday?
    • Are we guilty of expecting God to be there for us as on demand when life gets tough?

We all know the slow-cooker would be the best means for cooking a roast, not by zapping it for a few minutes. Are we believing that God can carry us through the torrential trials, with microwave faith? 

The Ah-Ha Bell Should Be Dinging

God allows trials for our dependence on Him to bloom and flourish. If the trial is over quickly, that dependency will not have time to marinate. 

Faith Like Daniel’s

A Daniel-like faith takes time to develop. This faith boils when we study God’s word. Our trust in God’s abilities simmers when the difficulties in our lives do not resolve themselves by the push of a button. As we continue through the trial, our matured faith will sustain us, providing the needed courage, strength, and hope to continue

And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.

-Romans 8:28 

Even though microwaving is a quick fix, we must still complete steps to be successful  in getting that warm dish. Developing a stronger faith through trials requires taking those steps that bring us closer to God: confession, daily time in God’s word, attending church, encouraged by fellow Christians. With these strides, we can begin to develop a Daniel-like faith. 

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Tempted by Satan: A Sitting Duck -By Karla

We are easy targets, tempted by Satan. How ignorant we are to simply sit stagnant. God’s Holy Word states no one is immune to the temptations of Satan, and yet, we often sit still, like a duck waiting for the hunter to take his shot. 

Sitting Duck

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Will you sit like a dumb duck, or will you take action and protect yourself?

Take a page from Dobson’s Book

Ever read a line that sticks with you forever? I gleaned one such thought that has resonated with me for over twenty years. In James Dobson’s book, Coming Home: Timeless Wisdom, he creates the image of a couple sitting on a lake in separate row boats. As the title indicates, he shares wise words, hoping the reader will apply them to his/her own life.

He draws the picture of the separate boats drifting apart because neither of the rowers will put in the effort to move toward one another-–just sitting like  ducks with a target on their backs. While motionless, Satan tempts them and if they act upon these temptations, they will actually shift further away in the opposite direction. He suggests that both are in control of their boat and should pursue action, intentionally rowing to one another. 

Also Applying to My Relationship with God

What a wonderful comparison for a stagnant marriage. However, couldn’t this be said about our relationship with God. God does pursue us. In the book of Matthew, Jesus shares a parable, concerning the shepherd’s willingness to leave the 99, as He seeks to gather the one sheep that is lost! Yes, God would row towards me while I chase after a temptation that Satan has baited me with. Sometimes, I fall for his methods: hook, line, and sinker. 

More often though, I find myself just sitting there like that ignorant duck resisting Satan’s blatant temptations, but making no movement toward God. Thus, I drift away from Him whenever Satan tosses a pebble, one of His less subtle allures, in the pond, causing me to drift with the ripples. When I give in to his coaxing, my boat weighs more, producing increased difficulties in managing the oars to draw closer to Him. 

The Good News

There is a way to find my way back to God. Dump the contents of my sin out of my boat, and turn toward Him.

  • Ask for forgiveness and repent.  
  • Know that God forgives as far as the East is to the West. 
  • Remember God loves me.
  • Pray, asking God to help me feel His presence.
  • Read His word and seek His wise ways.
  • Apply this wisdom to my life, overcoming my consequences. 
  • Learn from my mistakes and strive to live like Jesus more each day.

Ditch that sitting duck attitude, and migrate towards the Lord. When you cultivate your relationship, rowing toward God everyday, you will find peace.

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Time After Time -By Karla

Jimmy, the only boy cousin among seven girls, lay on his new weight bench, pumping iron. In 1980, the apparatus was simple in style, but that fact did not diminish the excitement we both had for his new toy. The two of us are the same age and are always messing with each other. Cheetos were used as his favorite tool of torture in our youth. Time after time, he would sneak those gross fake-cheese crunches or putrid puffs in my spaghetti, beef stew, or sandwich every chance he could get.

I Can Do Anything You Can Do Better

That day, while Jimmy imagined building his muscles, I started mouthing how I could do anything he could do. Almost scoffing at me, he raised his arms up and down. “You can’t do this. It is too heavy for you.” He continued pumping as I schemed about how to get my fair turn. 

Way more of the strain than the gain!

Finally, he tried and left his room. Sitting on the bed, I stared at the weights. If I thought of removing some of the heavy discs to make the load lighter, I do not remember. It is more probable that I was still insistent that I could do anything Jimmy could. So, I bounded from the bed onto the bench. I closed my eyes, imagining where he placed his hands on the bar. Taking in a deep breath, with serious determination, I strained to lift the bar. 

Or At Least Die Trying

I rolled the bar off the Y-shaped stand. It plummeted onto my neck. And it was stuck there.

Right! He was right. I cannot lift this! 

Panic set in as the weights were constricting my air passage. I thought I should yell, but I couldn’t since my voice box was smashed as well! Think. Sit up. Of course, that was not so easy. Slowly, I rolled upward. The clunky bar began sliding from my neck to my chest. Thankfully, I could breath, though labored.

I should not have done this! 

At what seemed like an hour, I had managed to roll the weights onto my lap. From there, I struggled to stand as the bar and weights fell to the floor with a big thump. Dashing out of his room, I prayed he would think he just left them on the floor and I would not have to face the humiliation of the fact that I was so weak!

Still Trying To Prove

Years later, I wonder how many times I have ignored or scoffed off God’s instructions to me. Too many and too embarrassing to reflect. 

Jimmy really was trying to protect me, but would I listen. Nope! Time after time I think I know best for the whos, whats, whens, wheres, hows, and whys! The whens and hows are my weakest links. I seem to want it done my way and when I want it! 

Time After Time

And so, just like that day back in the early 80s, I take things in my own hands. I will give myself a little credit. I do not consciously think I am trying to show God that I can do it myself, without Him. However, I am attempting on my own! Even worse, are the times I pray, asking God for something, and then I pitifully make efforts to do it better! 

Ummm, let’s think about this. 

“Every action has a consequence. Some consequences are good, but some are bad.” -Mom

Jonah thought his way was better, but he ended up inside a whale! Sarah thought her way was better and encouraged her husband to sleep with her nursemaid! 

Today’s Conclusion

Lord, help me! Protect me from myself: my thoughts, my want-it-now timeline, and my impetus actions.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” -Isaiah 55:9

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Unknown Paths: Planned Panicking-By Karla

Planned Panicking

I tend to worry. Over the years when a family went to the hospital, my sister Gail and I would share our concerns. Often, we fed on each other’s worries. She would say something like “what if it is or that …?” Then I would contribute, adding worse scenarios. 

On our worst panicking days, this exchange of woes continued back and forth for a while. At some point, we laughed, referring to our frets as planned panicking. We thought, if we prepared for the worst and the worst came true, we would not have far to fall with our emotions, thinking it was the best way for us to handle the stress of the trials of life.

The Unknown

Unknown Path

For me, my most difficult trials are usually the ones that accompany a large unknown element, which leave me wondering: what, when, where, and how.

The unrevealed path looms ahead, and I struggle with navigating it. Thus, planned panicking seems to help. I visualize, directing myself through the worst-case scenario, knowing I could walk anything pertaining to it. 

None of us can live without facing trials. Perhaps, these trials are as simple as spilling something on your shirt right before a big meeting or being late due to traffic. Other times, the trials can be life altering: loss, illness, death, finances, betrayal, moves, disappointment, and unwanted change.

Hardships require us to make some choices, whether we want to or not. The bigger the trial, the bigger the effects on our lives. If we stand still, the tidal wave of change can knock us over. So, I see two choices. 

World’s Way or God’s Way

Looking for a path, the world’s way will often tell us to hate our way through, find revengeful actions to retaliate, or perhaps reach for a substance to deal with the pain. We can easily view these choice actions in response to the daily hits of the situation. Click on the television, look at social media, check-out the headlines on magazines.

We can also allow sadness to develop into depression. Satan loves this worldly way, and he is good at throwing exaggerations our way: it is always or it will never. These falsehoods can throw us into a tornado of negative thinking, which can be dangerously difficult to recover from. 

God’s way is more difficult to find because it is hidden among overgrown weeds of this world. However, if we push back the briars, we can find His hand. Then unknowns become less frightening. 

While our world changes rapidly, God never changes. He wants to comfort, strengthen, and guide us. His principles are timeless; His ways bring healing and peace. 

Planned Preparation 

I am thankful that along the bumpy roads of our lives, Gail and I have matured in our faith. His goodness was, is, and will always be. He is there to hold us when we cry, help us stand again, and light the path ahead. Still, while we cannot understand all the whys of this world, God’s guidance allows us to navigate the way we should walk the unexplainable paths His way, helping with the whens, wheres, whats, and hows.  

Abiding in His Word helps prepare for the rains and storms. Seeking Godly wisdom from sound-Christian friends, provides an earthly crutch through the debris of the trials. Making a mental or written list of how He has carried me through previously troubled times, builds my confidence, allowing trust to breed and take flight over hardships. Planned preparation is not as easy as planned panicking because it takes time, but it brings peace!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in troubles. Psalms 46:1

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Receiving Is Better, Sometimes -By Karla

Mom taught me that it is better to give than receive. Perhaps, when it comes to talking and listening, this is not so.

Giving Instructions to Others

When I was a mom of young children, they liked to tell me how to play and what to do. “Mommy, sit here and put this dress on my Barbie.” When I looked at them with my Mama face, they would add, “please”. Of course, I happily did as they asked. They enjoyed giving me instructions. But they did not always like receiving mine. 

Loosely Receiving Instructions from Others

“Girls, five more minutes and then we need to leave,” was not even heard at times. “Pick up your toys, please,” was weakly acknowledged with a weak okay. Then my words went out of their ears just like it did with my little ears when my mom spoke similar words. They much preferred giving the instructions rather than hearing them. Following my directives, that was an entirely different situation.

Loosely Receiving Instructions from God

Isn’t that the way we are with God’s instructions sometimes? We hear His word on Sunday mornings, but it often goes out the other ear on Monday through Saturday. Most of the time, we have good intentions, but our follow through is lacking. 

As my girls grew, I tried to encourage open communication between us. Some days they clammed up, but more often they were JabberJaw (the cartoon character from the 70’s), and I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

When I reflect on my relationship with God, I realize that I am similar to my  girls and JabberJaw. I’d much rather talk to God than to listen to Him. I pray more often than I read His word, giving Him my list of wants and needs like He is a genie. 

To give myself a little credit, I will ask Him for guidance at times and ponder for a while. But time after time, I go on my merry little way, usually because I want a quick resolution. His instructions for a better life are found in His word, and He continues to wait. 

Probably, I am an eighty/twenty percent girl. I talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, and only listen, listen. How prideful am I that I could think God should listen to me more than I should be listening to Him.

I need a balance! 

That’s what I need to do. Find the time to be still and know that He is God. In His omniscience, He knows best for all my needs and for all my wants.  

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Yes, I believe there are many times when it is better to receive than to give. God cares for us so much that He desires for us to spend time with Him. So, let’s sit and rest in His love. Read His words. Listen, and receive His wisdom.

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Listen Closely: Misheard words -Karla

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Dick Clark’s American Bandstand aired Saturday afternoons after Tarzan swung from vine to vine. (Check out our Tarzan blog entitled Solid Rock.) We listened closely to the new songs that debuted.

Long before music videos or the commonality of people going to concerts, American Bandstand gave people a chance to watch musical groups perform. I chuckled when Dick Clark would gather a couple of dancers and ask them to rank a song and explain their thoughts.

Week after week songs received high marks. “It had a good beat. It was easy to dance to.” These words were repeated so often that my sisters and I often mocked the phrase as it rolled off the tongue of the various guests.

Bad Girls

Different hairbrushes; different ages; same crazy us!

One of the songs that had a great beat to dance to was Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls”. When that beat-bopping song was released in 1979, I was only 12 and Donna 13. When together, we sang along in hair brushes while dancing around. In those days, a person could not look up lyrics easily. In fact, like many others, we often made up our own lyrics that somewhat made sense. When we could not think of any words that fit, we just hummed or dropped out for a bit, dancing on.

Fast forwarding about 40 years later, Donna and I were indulging ourselves with Baskin Robbins ice creams, which is one of our favorite past times. We licked and laughed, listening to some oldies while in the car. Donna Summer’s Bad Girls began blurring. In a flash of realization I said, “Oh, my! I think those whistles were cops! Donna! What kind of bad girls are they?”

With the handy, dandy internet, we peered wide-eyed at the lyrics we had been singing all those years! 

While You Were Sleeping

Isn’t that the way it is with many things. We just go bebopping along, not truly realizing what we are saying and doing. Often we are oblivious to how our momentary lifestyle affects our current lives and its long-term consequences.

If you have read some of our blogs, you know how much we love music. I relate to lyrics and their melodies often. Over the Christmas Holidays I heard the Casting Crowns’ song, While You Were Sleeping. It tells of how the town Bethlehem had no room and slept through Jesus’ birth. The writers share about his death on the cross while so many did not pay attention to the magnitude of the event on the third day. The final two stanzas focus on America. The song claims the obvious misplacement of our attention. When the Groom comes for His bride so many will be ignorant to the depths of His love and sacrifice. 

Read and listen to the Word, for when you listen to the Word, you are listening to your God.

Listen Closely

January is the month when millions declare their commitment to their health. We vow to eat better and exercise more. Should we not want more than physical renewal? 

We should commit to listening closely to God’s word, not just hearing and enjoying it, like the beat of Donna Summer’s song. Our world is filled with noise, which makes it difficult to listen to what we need to focus on. Like our misunderstanding of Bad Girls‘ lyrics, we may not fully understand what we are hearing because we are not truly studying what is being said.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Freeze Frame -By Karla

It is fun to open photo albums seeing all the memories come to life. Amid its pages, a person might find freeze frames of the first, wobbly steps taken toward mom, puckered lips blowing out candles, a dribbling ball in midair, a slinging fishing line headed toward the water, an open mouth with fried chicken on its way inside, a winner holding his trophy, or the precious smiles posing with a loved one for the final time.

A freeze-frame photo is a type of still image. This particular kind of picture holds an action in place, freeze framing it, to preserve the moment. These shots are generally used for a purpose. These freeze frames often unleash the background story that floods our minds, producing grins, laughs, or sometimes tears. 

Freeze Frame Memories

\1986 Success

God created us with the ability to freeze frame memories in our minds as well. While I am an extremely visual person, I believe most have the capability to close our eyes and create a home movie of a past event. Seeing my daughters ride bikes with their hair blowing in the wind brings cheer to my empty-nesting heart. What a blessing memories can be to us in needed times. 

However, life does not just consist of happy moments. In fact, life is made of mountains and valleys, highs and lows. At times, I have captured some painful freeze frames in my mind and held them too tightly. Opening the envelope to discover my devastating SAT scores in 1985 seemed to shatter my college dreams, or the doctor sharing I had breast cancer. Those pictures and movies have the potential to smother a person in bitterness and harness him in pain. If not careful, a person can allow these negative freeze frames to leave him trapped in a dark room with the walls closing in. How does the person not get stuck in the muck of these moments?

Replacing Negatives

God allows us to replace our scarred freeze frames with ones that regenerate us. We can tear the negatives into pieces by praying and asking God to replace them. Allowing God to divert my thoughts from the letter that stated my horrible scores to the kind counselor who showed me an alternate route toward my dream of becoming a teacher. And the doctor’s words informing me that I had cancer? God reminds me of my camping trip. I sat on the scratchy, nylon-woven chair and watched the fluffy clouds drift in the big, blue sky. God gave me the gift of pondering how He was in control of everything. He gave me this peace for almost an hour that April morning. . . only five days before. 

Future Freeze Frames

God even gives us the ability to create freeze frames that have not actually happened…our imagination. While we often lessen this ability as we develop past childhood, these imagined freeze frames are helpful. During my mom’s two year journey toward death, I often created pictures of us walking over a big bridge. While her steps were only allowed to travel one-way, I took great comfort in this visual. What a treasure to walk with her as she traveled onward to her final home with God. 

The most beautiful future freeze frame is when Christ receives us home. We can imagine that day, when we too will walk with him in eternity, just as Mom is doing now.

2021 Failed attempt

(Previously published in Good News Magazine Dalton edition Aug. 2021)

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Redemption: Laundry -By Karla

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Comfy Clothes in need of Laundry

Teachers see different students’ personalities, learning styles, and unique needs. Often students will wear the same hoodie for several days in a row. No big deal, it’s like a jacket–and we all wear jackets many times before we throw them into the laundry. However, one of my students once wore a soiled pull-over the entire week. In addition, by Friday she began to smell as badly as her clothes looked. While I prayed for her and her home situation, I also submitted her name to the counselor and social worker. 

Our Dirty Souls in need of Cleaning

Without Christ, our souls are a matted mess like that of my student’s hoodie, in need of the laundry. No amount of laundry detergent, stain-free spray, good intentions, or good deeds will remove our sins. Only submitting ourselves to God and accepting His sovereignty over our lives can detangle and cleanse our corrupt nature. 

Cleansing My Soul

Many years ago at age eleven, I walked forward in church and asked God to be my Savior. I prayed the sinner’s prayer, and God entered my heart. God’s Good News is that simple!

While it is not the words that saved me, my salvation emerged from God’s grace. When we stand In the moment of accepting His precious gift, we can be speechlessly in awe! The sinner’s prayer gives us some meaningful words to begin our relationship with Him. 

For years, I walked in the knowledge that I would go to Heaven when I died. I often made different choices than that of my classmates. I tried to be kind to others, even when they mistreated me at times. Was I perfect? Heavens, no.

Growing up, perhaps I was making better choices than some of my classmates, but I was far from living my life in God’s will. On Sundays I was more intuned with God’s desires, but during the week my habits were still present; my selfish thinking was still self-serving. At best, I was striving to behave a little above my peers’ standards. But I was not asking God to show me His ways. 

Keeping Myself Clean

Somewhere along the clothesline of life, it occurred to me that His ways are not my ways and my ways are not His ways. I realized I was wearing dirty clothes over a soul that I had asked God to continuously cleanse. What a dishonor to My King, who made such a sacrifice for me. 

Over the years, I have grown as a Christian. Most days I start my mornings in fellowship with God. Then sometimes during the day I put the dirty hoodie back on as I slip back into my old ways. God’s abounding grace gives me the opportunity to remove the hoodie and let him wash it clean. But I must take it off and hand it over by repentance. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8-9 (ESV)

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