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As I speak internationally to English speakers as well as through an interpreter, some of my greatest joys have been speaking to groups where participation from the audience is possible. Not only do I value the input of those in my conferences, but if they are actively involved (share testimonies, participate in prayer, read Scripture aloud), it is obvious that everyone is with me. I am interested in theological study, Christian writing, historical application of Biblical principles as well as writing as a craft and the current status of the publishing industry as a whole. As a result, I find myself following blogs of those whom I have learned to trust who contribute information in those fields. It occurred to me that blogs are the internet equivalent of audience participation in a conference setting. So, this blog is a result of that discovery. As much as possible (sometimes when I travel I do not have internet access), I will be making weekly posts of how everyday life is related to what God has revealed about Himself in His Word - maintaining one focus on that most important relationship. I would welcome your participation.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Treasures of the Written Word

I have a mixture of modern and old-fashioned preferences in my communication habits. The instant communication that is now available allows me to do so much more than I used to do.  I have sometimes thought that the growth of the internet came about just in time for me to do international work. Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media sites enable me to keep up with friends, family and business acquaintances while I am out of the country. Sometimes an e-card is my only possibility to send a friend or family member a birthday greeting. I take advantage of all the online resources.

However, my real preference is old-fashioned paper and pen. I love to receive notes in the mail from friends and family and I still do the same for them. There is something about going to the mailbox, seeing my name on an envelope, a friend's name in the return address and the anticipation of what might be inside. That's actually my first love and I will never get over it (that is, unless the U.S. Post Office goes out of business)!

I never sent my father an email because he never owned a computer. In going through his things after he died, I found all the letters and pictures I had sent him from overseas. He kept every one and put them in a special notebook. Some he put his own comments on. As I read back through those letters, I could visualize his smile as he read the letters and saw the growth of my family. Although I am thankful that I wrote him fairly regularly, I wish I had written more. It was obvious he treasured those letters.

In my dad's last years, he started reminiscing about his days in World War II. Dad enlisted in the Army in May 1942. He was assigned to the Eighth Air Force, and served as a corporal in the 487th Bombardment Group. Desperately wanting to fly, Dad eventually had to give up that dream because of air sickness. He became a Link Trainer Instructor and served in England for most of his time overseas.

After hearing some of his stories, I asked him to write them down for me. I wanted to be able to have them and pass them down to my sons and their children. Dad did just that. The notebook he gave me is filled with notes of where he was, what he did, pictures taken during that time, maps, his address book and his honorable discharge on October 11, 1945. The pages of the notebook were typed on an old manual Underwood typewriter (which I also have) interspersed with handwritten notes. I wouldn't give anything for that notebook. It is a treasure.

My Heavenly Father wrote an entire book. I love it so much that I have several copies of it, with my notes interspersed throughout. Sometimes I feel like it was written just for me because I know He took special care to make sure it had all the information about Him I would ever need.

God's Word, the Bible, has sometimes been called God's love letter. I believe it is. What He has written is a treasure not only for me, but for all His children.

Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee (Psalm 119:11 NAS).

Sunday, February 12, 2012

A Love That Lasts Forever

Written in 1973 and released as a single in 1974, Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You was a hit. When Whitney Houston sang her version of it in the movie The Bodyguard, it became known as her "signature song."

When Whitney released her single of I Will Always Love You, it was a success all over the world. Although she had eleven number one hits I Will Always Love You was the longest running, spending fourteen weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard 100.

Right after Whitney's death on February 11, 2012, I Will Always Love You could be heard on practically every news program. Tributes to her were accompanied by a clip of her singing this song. Dolly Parton and Whitney's ex-husband Bobby Brown were quoted as saying, "I will always love you, Whitney."

That song, as well as many other love songs, reveal a deep desire we all have to be loved. We not only want to be loved, we want to know that our loved ones will love us forever. Many holidays - Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. - were put in place so that we could express our love for one another. Card companies, florists, jewelers and other businesses flourish because people want to say, "I love you," in a tangible way to the special people in their lives.

People who love each other show love in many meaningful ways. Presence makes a bigger statement than presents do. Caring enough to spend time with another is often what the loved one needs most. It is not always possible to be with your loved ones. That's what makes family reunions so sweet.

Of course, not everyone is so fortunate.

For some always doesn't mean forever. What felt like always at the beginning of a relationship may degenerate into not any more after the passing of time. The pain that comes from rejection in a relationship is all too well known. News reports are filled with stories of those in the public eye -politicians, movie stars, sports figures, etc. - who have severed relationships. The tabloids make fortunes out of their distorted versions of these stories.

For a Christian, there is no question about the definition of always. It has a stronger meaning than is even possible with a human relationship. For a child of God, always means "everlasting," literally lasting forever. God's love never changes. That's who He is.


"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you" (Jeremiah 31:3). He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8).

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Restoration and Redemption

The town I live in was settled in 1867. It still has a few houses built during those first years and is filled with houses that were constructed in the early 1900's, most of them in desperate need of restoration.

My husband and I live in a 1905 Queen Anne. According to neighbors and my mailman, at one point, this house was in very bad shape. Fortunate for us, though, several years back, someone saw the potential in this house, moved in and did a remarkable job of restoration. As a lover of antiques, I have really loved living in this house. There is obviously maintenance needed from time to time (as is also the case with new houses) and my husband does a wonderful job on that. 

Ever since I moved to this town, I have been interested in seeing more of these old homes restored. Thankfully, I am not the only one. I have a friend who is running for mayor who wants to bring the town back to its former glory. There is a new business downtown dedicated to restoring the town's old homes. Other people recognize that there is value in saving what was once beautiful and bringing it back to life.

Restoring old houses or refinishing antiques takes a lot of work. It requires acquiring the knowledge of how to do it right, the ability to imagine the value of a restored product and the patience to keep at it. 

There is a similarity between houses that need restoration and people that need redemption. What was created to be beautiful decays over time if careful maintenance is not done. It was not always that way.

When God first created man, conditions were ideal. Adam and Eve enjoyed God's company. They walked and talked with Him freely in the Garden of Eden.

Then, because of sin, everything changed. Because of sin, people age and die. Sin created a gap between God and man that could only be bridged by the sacrificial substitutionary death of Jesus, God's Son. He died in our place to do what we could not do for ourselves - restore us to the possibility of a relationship with God.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18a NIV).

Once a person has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, he has been redeemed or rescued from the penalty of sin. Jesus is alive and His Holy Spirit lives within the believer. A believer's body is His house. However, because of the presence of sin, it is a constant struggle for a believer to stay committed to God.

If God is to be glorified in His children, continual maintenance is necessary. We must use the tools He has provided - His Word, fellowship, corporate worship, prayer - in order to be what He intends us to be.

Satan tries to make it as difficult as he can by distracting us. Satan wants us to believe that we do not need restoration. Don't be like Eve and believe his lies. Living the Christian life takes a lot of work, but it is God who does the work for us.

Our role in the redemption and restoration process is trusting God. He knows how to do it right. Only He can see the real value, His intended purpose, in each of His children. He is forever patient with us as we struggle with anything that needs to be repaired. He is, after all, in the business of redeeming and restoring mankind.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:12 NIV).