Victor or Victim?

The world is full of fear. The current reports in the media are filled with news of the Malasian airliner that disappeared. Speculation leads to new threats of terrorism and the unanswered questions cause more fear of the unknown.

God's Word is filled with instructions to fear not. Our decision is: What will we believe?

Will we let the constant barrage of news alerts and interviews with experts bring us to a place of becoming a fearful victim, or will we believe what God says and be the overcoming victor?

Even if we are not in a location where terrorism happens, we can become a victim of the act if we live in fear of it. Our lives can become paralyzed and controlled by the influence of the wrong thoughts.

"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked."
(Psalm 91:5-8)

Faith in what God says will make us victorious over every circumstance. Our part is to have our ammunition full every day so we can shoot down negative and fearful thoughts.

Victory depends on us. Whether it is a major threat or just everyday annoyances, we don't want to become a victim.

What ammo do you use to shoot down the victim mentality?

Mount Up With Wings Like Eagles

Recently a friend led us to a video feed of an eagle sitting on a nest in the top of a pine tree on the campus of Berry College in Georgia.  Berry Eagle Cam can be viewed at www.berry.com/eaglecam.

Two eggs have been laid and one of them hatched on February 22 and we watched in awe as the mother eagle fed her young. Its fuzzy head, too big for its body, was wobbling to and fro trying to grasp the meat out of the mother’s beak. Its little body cannot stand on its own yet and is dependent solely on the parents for its life.

Watching this regal bird brought to mind how God takes care of us. He gives us birth into His kingdom and as babies he feeds and nourishes us. He takes care of us when we can’t stand, picks us up when we fall, and keeps us protected with His mighty hand. When we are in the developing stage, He lets us depend on the faith of others to help us believe, but the time comes when we are expected to become mature enough to trust Him because of our relationship with Him. We need to feed on His Word and not always depend on someone else to spoon feed it to us.

The eaglet will soon develop into a young bird strong enough to leave the nest. That first time must be scary, but if it doesn’t take that first leap into the air the eagle will never learn to fly. When that young eaglet first launches away from the nest and starts to fall, the mother bird is there to swoop down and let it land on her back until her young spreads its wings again and lifts off.

God is always there to guide us as we learn to spread our wings of faith and obey.  Every step of trust we take gets us out of the nest of our own comfort zone and into the kingdom of faith that shows us we can rise above the circumstances of life.

Writing this blog, starting a book, and speaking before my writers group are all things I have done in the last year that have forced me out of my comfort zone, but have also been things that have produced a launching pad of learning to soar.

With His wind under our wings, we can fly like eagles above every storm, conquer every predator that attacks us, and grow into the majestic child of God He intends us to be.

What are some things you have done that have helped you grow out of your comfort zone?

What Do You Say About Love?

This past week we celebrated Valentine's Day and we were inundated with chocolate, flowers, and cards in stores, workplaces, and schools. All thoughts turn to love during this time and florists have their busiest time of the year. But if your flowers have faded and your candy is gone, why not ponder some quotes from famous people about love?

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me."
Winston Churchill

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will ride with you on the bus when the limo breaks down." Oprah Winfrey

"No matter how love-sick a woman is, she shouldn't take the first pill that comes along."
Dr. Joyce Brothers

"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."
Albert Einstein

"Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love."
Charlie Brown

"An archeologist is the best husband a woman can have, the older she gets the more interested he is in her."
Agatha Christie

And from a not-so-famous person, but my favorite man of all, Ken Latta, my hubby.
"I can't not love you."

No matter what your view of love is, humorous or thought-provoking, no one says it any better than the Apostle John, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but the He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (I John 4:10-11).

Enjoy your flowers, chocolate, and cards. But most of all enjoy the love God has put into your life.

What is your favorite love quote and why?

How Old Are Dinosaurs?

One of the places we visited last week in Colorado was the Dinosaur Resource Center in Manitou Springs. It is filled with fossils and artifacts from all over North America.

It is always fun to visit these sites and see the many wonders from the earth. The problem is when unbelieving scientists try to pass their theories off as truth when they have no evidence to support any of them. This causes confusion for many people because those of us who believe the Bible know God created the earth and all it contains in six days. The bones in the earth cannot lie. They were here. But when?

Are the dinosaurs really millions of years old?

The following video explains very simply how the truth of the Bible and the archeological facts agree. It is lengthy, but if you are interested in connecting the dots and having ammunition for the next evolutionist you encounter, it is worth watching.

Now, what about you? What do you think?

Taking A Break

This week we had the opportunity to visit our son in Colorado Springs who is attending Charis Bible College. This is a fast growing school started by Andrew Wommack Ministries to fulfill the commission of Christ to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.

 



We had the privilege to attend some classes with our son. To hear the anointed teaching of gifted speakers bringing the truth of God's Word in the beautiful setting of the new campus surrounded by clean air, fresh pines, and an unobstructed view of Pikes Peak was a gift in itself.

 

United States Air Force Chapel

We also visited the United States Air Force Academy and toured the beautiful chapel on the campus. It's architectural beauty is unsurpassed in my opinion, and the serenity of the peaceful setting has been available to cadets since its construction in 1963.

 

One of our country's national monuments, The Garden of the Gods, is just outside the city. These amazing rock formations are incredible and their history tells the story of Native Americans living in the area for hundreds of years.

 

A few days away from our everyday routine and the opportunity to re-connect with family was a refreshment for mind and body. Sometimes we need these short interruptions in ordinary life to be able to get back to navigating those curves that come at us.

 

There is a lot of ugliness in the world, but we need to stay aware that the beauty is so much bigger and better than any darkness. Looking at God's creation through His eyes and hearing the teaching of His word reminds us of the purpose we are here. It is to expand His kingdom and enjoy His world, to fellowship with Him and receive His gifts so we can share them with others.

 

This week we also celebrated our 38th anniversary so this also made the trip extra special. As we get back to our routines next week, the past few days will remain with us for a very long time.

 

How do you take a break from life's curves and find refreshment for your soul?

 

 





Can We Weather The Winter?

Rain, cold, drizzle, fog, icy mud puddles, warm again, then cold, high winds. You name it we have had it this winter.

Rather than spending too much time complaining about the weather, (which doesn’t change it anyway, right?), I thought I would find some positive things about all the erratic patterns we have had lately.

• When it rains for days, the sun is so much brighter when it does shine.
• The fog eventually lifts.
• Drizzle is better than a downpour.
• 50 degrees following several days of below 20 makes it feel as wonderful as 85.
• Icy mud puddles do melt.
• The extreme cold kills the bugs.
• The wind blows all the leaves out of my yard and into my neighbor’s. (LOL)
• And best of all, Spring WILL come!

After several days of rain, I walked outside with my dogs one night, the frozen ground crunching under my feet and the frosty air becoming a cloud of mist as I exhaled. It was so nice to see the sky full of stars sparkling like jewels in a showroom. The moon shone the welcoming of God’s porch light to His creation below. I looked up at the vastness of the universe to see the awesomeness of our Creator and was reminded that He weathers every storm for us. He is our warmth in the cold, our light in the darkness, our guidance in the fog, and our calm in the wind.

He is the Son and He will always shine.

How are you weathering winter?

Holiday De-Stress

The holidays are over. Ah, peaceful bliss. Maybe.

It all depends on how we handle it. Between November and December we are subjected to different amounts of stress whether we cause it or not. There is more of everything. Parties, shopping, cooking, church and school plays, traveling and mailing.

Even if we are not the ones doing all the buying, driving, or participating in events, we can get caught up in the middle of those who are. Traffic is more congested, stores are crowded, and crime seems to increase.

After it is all over, we want to breathe a sigh of relief for the end of it all. But the cessation of activity can sometimes bring despair instead of the release we crave. After the big buildup, we can feel let down in our emotions. January seems to bring dismal weather and that can add to the cloud that gathers over our head.

The cure is to focus on the right things. We know what our holidays are supposed to be about. And even if we did get caught up in the stress of it all, it’s possible to go back in our minds and be thankful for all our blessings and praise God for giving us something to celebrate.

It’s never too late to think about others. Many charities expand their outreach to the needy during holidays, but the cause doesn’t end because the time of year changes. We can still give to these groups even if there is no one outside a store ringing a bell. We can send thank you notes to those who gave to us or provided us with a service in the previous year.

And best of all, making time each day to just slow down, thank God, and be conscious of listening to Him will calm our souls and lighten our mood.

Finding something to focus on other than the holiday meltdown can keep our emotions on the right track and keep us from falling into the January doldrums.

What are some ways you combat the after-holiday melancholy?