THANKFUL THURSDAY...the quiet

THE QUIET
I am joining IRIS and all the other participants in THANKFUL THURSDAY. Today I would like to express my thankful heart for THE QUIET.

All week, I have enjoyed the quiet around the walls of my house. The two children left at home are away at Church Camp this week. Five days of nothing but silence!

No fighting. No arguing.

No name calling. No fussing. No outbursts.

At times, the silence and quietness almost drove me crazy! I never thought I would miss the noise around this house, but I do!

No laughter. No ballgames to attend.

No one to watch TV with.

No one to pick up after. No hustle and bustle.

NO-ONE! NOTHING, BUT SILENCE AND THE QUIET!

Today I read MARK 4:39:

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."

The state of quietness can be refreshing. The PRESENCE of God can be found in the quiet. When we get still before Him, I am so thankful for His calming peace that floods our spirit:

* I AM THANKFUL for His peace in the middle of my storm

* I AM THANKFUL for His healing touch in sickness

* I AM THANKFUL for His wisdom when I can't see the answer

* I AM THANKFUL for His calming when everything is confusing

* I AM THANKFUL for His love when nobody seems to care

* I AM THANKFUL for His grace that He gives so freely

How long has it been since you experienced

the refreshing quietness of God?

CLICK HERE to read other thankful hearts on THANKFUL THURSDAY.

With a THANKFUL HEART;

Blessings, Laurie

WHAT IS IT WORTH?

A PIECE OF MY HEART
This time of year, you can find all kinds of garage sales.

Growing up, I learned at a young age what a good bargain was. My Grandparents worked at a flea market, this is how they earned a living. I can remember Grandma buying out a local gift store and then reselling the items at the flea market. It was always so much fun to go visit Grandma and Grandpa during a "SALE WEEKEND". We would help behind the stand (usually until we got under their feet) and then off we would go to check out the auction line.

My Grandma knew a bargain when she saw one, and she did not sell junk! She sold china and collectibles, and she knew exactly what it was worth!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A GARAGE SALE OF YOUR OWN?

IT IS QUITE THE EXPERIENCE....

* No matter what time you advertise it, people show up at your door hours before hand, sometimes even the night before!

*No matter how cheap you mark items, it is never cheap enough for some people! 50 cents for an American Eagle shirt with the tag still on it (org. $21.99).. "Would you take less for this?"

Garage sales are a great way to get rid of your junk! Have you ever heard the saying, "your junk is someones treasure?" Its true! That old record player that has been sitting in the garage for the past 12 years ...someone is looking for one and is thrilled to find one at YOUR garage sale!

YOUR JUNK IS

WORTH SOMETHING!

1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's"

Jesus Christ died on Calvary, over 2,ooo years ago for your junk. He paid the ultimate price, with His life. His blood shed on the cross was a price that He was willing to pay for you and for me. He didn't try to plead with the Father for a bargain, you were worth it all to Jesus!

Even though your life was full of junk (lying, bitterness, envy, drunkenness, adultery, stealing, lust of the eye, murder....) Jesus saw BEYOND our faults, beyond our junk and saw beauty and something precious! He knew exactly what your were worth! You were worth everything to Him, so much that He died for you!

Dear Lord: Help us to see people thru Your eyes, help us to see the beauty in those that seem unlovable to us. Help us to see past the junk, and open our eyes to see the worth that each person You created has within them. Thank you for seeing past the junk in my life, and extending Your grace, Your love, and Your forgiveness to me even though I am unworthy. I praise You and give You glory! AMEN

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR SOMEONES JUNK?

ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR THEM?

and that's a piece of my heart today;

Blessings, Laurie

GREEN EYED MONSTER...June 8 devotion

AMBITION is one of those terms that can mean something very good or something very bad, depending on the context.

If we say that someone "has no ambition", we are not generally complimenting them.

If we describe a politician as "ambitious", that is not a compliment either.

Like many things in life, what seems like an appropriate dose can be fatal if you get an overdose. A medication like an aspirin can relieve a headache or help protect against heart attacks, but with the incorrect dose, an aspirin can cause the stomach to bleed.

Ambition is the same way. It can help you reach your highest potential; but taken in excess, it can cause havoc on an organization and leave relationships bruised and destroyed.

How does one know when

they are overdosing on ambition?

THE GREEN EYED MONSTER

When you see a person's face turn greenish, you can be sure they are not feeling well. Something has happened to throw their system out of whack. Spiritually, the same thing can happen when we become "green with envy".

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I asked the question, "In what area of life do you most tend to envy others?" The top 3 results were a 3-way tie....

28% of those polled, said they envy others family life

28% voted physical appearance was something they envied

28% of others said they envy professional success of others

Envy is a symptom that says our ambition is no longer healthy and has turned selfish. Instead of focusing on us being the best we can be, selfish ambition starts focusing on tearing down the person who is performing well, so we might not look so bad.

If you turn on your television set, you will find a variety of "reality" shows. One of the first ones I remember was the show called The Apprentice. This show offered a variety of young would-be entrepreneurs to compete with each other to impress Donald Trump and win a high-paying executive position. All of the contestants were quite ambitious, many of whom were cut-throat in their approach. Those who participated in this show displayed a confidence merely because of the success of Donald Trump. Trump built a billion-dollar empire.

Jesus Christ, however, is building an eternal kingdom. Selfish ambition has no role in the kingdom of God. Look at a few examples in the New Testament that found this out...

* JAMES and JOHN ask to sit at the right and left hand; but Jesus shot them down

(Matthew 20:20-28; mark 10:35-45)

* SIMON, a magician who was concerned with his own personal greatness, sought to buy the gifts of the Spirit, but Paul angrily turned him away (Acts 8:9-25)

Healthy ambition is fed by a

spiritual wisdom that comes from God.

JAMES 3:17

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good-fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy."

To be a servant leader, we need to nurture healthy ambition. We need to avoid destructive and selfish ambition. We need to see ourselves accurately. If we find ourselves envying others for their creative talent... seek to submit your ambition to Jesus Christ instead of allowing the GREEN EYED MONSTER to surface.

"To get the best out of who we are, we cannot "dismiss the organist" and expect the organ to play itself. We have to let God direct our ambitions."

- PAUL TOURNIER, Christian Psychiatrist

WHAT PROPELS YOUR AMBITION?

ENVY?

MONEY?

FAME?

ARE YOU STRIVING FOR PURE,

PEACE-LOVING AND GENTLE WISDOM?

It is my prayer and desire that this week we will strive to submit to the One who made us and knows us best, and that thru our ambitions that the best of who we are will emerge!

Have a GOD-filled week!

Blessings, Laurie

NEXT WEEK....

I will begin a 3 - part study on forgiveness. Please stop by and check out my FATHERS DAY special blog entitled, "MY FATHER'S EYES". During these next 3 weeks, I will be sharing my testimony of God's restoration in my life.

Please take time to vote in this weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, "what characteristic of your Dad do you most resemble?" YOUR OPINION REALLY DOES MATTER!

THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY...every season

After posting this week on THANKFUL THURSDAY about the change of seasons, My dear husband asked me this question...

"WHAT CHANGE OF SEASON ARE YOU IN?"

WHAT??!! Do we live in the same house? I guess he was relieved when I said "empty nest" instead of something else (like separation).

I thought it to be fitting to follow up today on THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY with Nicole Nordeman's song EVERY SEASON. It's message goes right along with what I am feeling about my change of season...

(MAKE SURE YOU PAUSE MY BLOG MUSIC ON THE SIDE BAR FIRST SO YOU CAN HEAR THE VIDEO!!)

"THANKS FOR WHAT HAS BEEN

AND WHAT IS TO COME"

Whatever season you find yourself in...

there is joy and peace and so MUCH MORE to come!

Continue to have a WORSHIP-full heart. Visit AMY for more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY postings!

Blessings, Laurie

THANKFUL THURSDAY...change of season

We are in the middle of my favorite season here in the south. Not too hot! (90's isn't too hot for you, is it?) I love the warm sun, the smell of flowers blooming, the sound of grass being mowed and the chirping of the birds early in the morning. A WONDERFUL SEASON.

I could say the same sentiment about every season, because there are some great experiences in each season as the weather changes. Today, I join IRIS and other thankful hearts over at THANKFUL THURSDAY as I express my thanks for the changing seasons....

SUMMER: THANK YOU for the early morning coolness; for the afternoon bbq's; for the all day swimming fun; for the fresh garden vegetables; for watermelon to eat; for baseball games to attend; for ice cold lemon-aid; for home-made ice cream; for vacation time at the beach.

FALL: THANK YOU for the beautiful art of colors changing; for the cooler weather; for the sound of leaves being raked up; for volleyball games; for camping trips; for Harvest Time; for Pumpkin Pie and Turkey; for Family time during the Holidays.

WINTER: THANK YOU for the beauty of freshly fallen snow (even if it is alittle bit here in the south); for ice skating, for snowball fights; for Holiday shopping; for eggnog; for Christmas baking; for the smell of pine; for the giving spirit.

SPRING: THANK YOU for new blossoms on the tree; for tulips blooming; for long walks; for bike riding; for fishing trips; for no more snow to shovel; for the sunshine; for the celebration of life.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1

"TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON,

A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN"

With each season, there is a blessing and so much to be thankful for. The same is true in the season of life. With each season we experience - whether it be marriage, having children, empty nest, becoming single (whether thru divorce or death), old age and retirement ...there is growth in change.

I AM GOING THRU A SEASON CHANGE RIGHT NOW...

ARE YOU?

IT IS MY PRAYER THAT GOD WILL HELP ME TO EMBRACE MY CHANGE OF SEASON WITH JOY, HOPE AND THANKFULNESS

With a THANKFUL heart...

Blessings, Laurie

MISTAKEN IDENTITY...a piece of my heart

A PIECE OF MY HEART
I picked up a book the other day at a local bookstore to take with me to the beach in a couple of weeks. I am not much of a reader for pleasure as I am for books for studying. However, I knew I needed to have something to carry down to the beach with me on vacation.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

As I was sitting out on the patio the other day, I thought I would pick this pleasure book up and get a head start on reading it. If you have not read this book and looking for a good cry....YOU HAVE TO GET THIS BOOK!

Picture this...I am sitting out on the patio, as I turn to page 2 and all the way to the fifth chapter...I am sitting, I am reading, I am crying. As I turn each page, I wipe my face that is wet with tears. (this would not have been a good scene at the beach!!) AMAZING STORY.

You may remember the story. It involved 5 lives that were lost in a tragic accident involving students and faculty from Taylor University a few years ago. Of the five lives that were lost, one pronounced dead was Whitney Cerak. There was one survivor from the crash, who was taken to the hospital with very critical injuries. Laura Van Ryn, laid in ICU for the next five weeks. Her family at her side, encouraging her and praying that Laura would come back to them.

Whitney's family

...held her funeral

...grieved and mourned

Laura's family

...kept a bedside vigil, praying for her recovery

...expressed joy that she was spared from the accident

-TWO FAMILIES

-TWO LIVES

-ONE GOD

JAMES 4:9 " Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom."

This book reveals the unwavering faith and hope that two families possess. Their lives are intertwined with mourning and joy. The mourning of Whitney's family soon turned to joy while the joy of Laura's family turned to mourning.

So much can happen in 5 weeks. After weeks of her parents praying, Laura began to respond....only to find out that the young girl whom they have held a bedside vigil for was not their daughter...IT WAS WHITNEY!

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

written by Don & Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerak with Mark Tabb

And here is a piece of my heart....No matter what circumstance you find yourself in. No matter how dark or bleak. Stand on the Word that says your God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is still in the miracle business and your miracle is just waiting around the corner. It may take 5 weeks or 5 years, but God has a plan and desires us to walk by faith not by sight!

Blessings, Laurie

THE BEST SEAT...weekly devotion

thank you for joining us this week for the weekly devotional. It is my prayer that your heart will be challenged by the Word this week!

THE BEST SEATS

There used to be a popular sitcom on television, FRASIER. (blogging has replaced tv watching for me...so maybe it is still on ...I don't know!) This show depicted a pompous, self-focused radio psychiatrist named Frasier Crane. (also known as Frasier on the ever popular CHEERS tv show). Frasier was an uppity character who never thought he got the respect due him. He always wanted the best seats at the best places. Unfortunately, on this adventure of getting this recognition he felt he so deserved...he often would find that people did not think as highly of him as he thought of himself.

We are very well warned by Jesus about this very thing that Frasier was expecting out of life.

LUKE 14:7-14

He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don't recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. (9) The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.

(10) But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' You will then be honored in the presence of the other guests. (11) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

WHY DID JESUS FEEL IT IMPORTANT TO TELL THIS STORY?

Prestige is not something you can give yourself. It is what others give you when you are not really looking for prestige. The question Jesus was putting before His disciples was this: "Can a person really understand what life is about if their main concern in life is only about the most prestigious seat?" Life IS NOT about exalting us! IT IS about exalting God!

To fully understand what was happening here in the scripture, you need to read what is recorded earlier in verses 1-6:

- It was sabbath day.

- Jesus had been invited to the home of a prominent Pharisee for dinner.

- Since Jesus had been healing people on the Sabbath...He was being watched very carefully to see if He would do it again on this occasion. (and HE DID!)

- This angered some of the guests, causing a need for Jesus to respond to justify what He had done.

- However, Pharisees were campaigning for social position. They were looking for seats of honor at the dinner table.

- The Pharisees were called to honor the Sabbath, but instead shifted the focus of honor on themselves.

The Pharisees were doing exactly what they were accusing Jesus of doing! However, Jesus WAS honoring the Sabbath by healing people. The main purpose of honoring the Sabbath was to honor God, and the main purpose of life is to honor God. When we surrender our quest for personal status to serve God, we learn what life is about:

"ANYONE FINDING HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT,

AND ANYONE LOSING HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF ME WILL FIND IT."

The BEST SEAT at the banquet is not important, especially if you lose sight of the reason you are at the banquet. My children are PK's and every one of them know the ADAMS rule at a church dinner or banquet.... to be LAST in the food line! I can remember one of my boys stating to me one time, "But what if there is NO food left?" Not to worry dear...there is a McDonalds on the way home! We have tried to teach our children that part of serving God is serving others, and there is no better way to show that than allow others to go first!

This is probably a very difficult thing for young ones (and some seasoned Christians also!) to grasp. I am reminded of family dinner parties, especially Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandmothers house. The dining table in the dining room, set with the fine china was designated as the ADULT TABLE, and the kids had TV trays set up in the living room with paper plates!

That always seemed unfair to me as a young child. I see some of you also experienced that from last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL....

" When you were a child and your parent(s) had a dinner party, where did you end up sitting?"

The top 3 results:

53% voted that they sat at the same table with the grown ups. (lucky!)

23% polled said they sat at a "child's table" in the same room.

23% voted (and joined me) at a "child's table" in some other room, away from the grown ups.

When Jesus spoke of who would inherit the kingdom, He didn't speak of the beneficiaries being those who had spent the most hours studying Scripture or those who most heartily defended the faith. The receipients were to be those who served others! Remember the story of the sheep and goats? (Matthew 25:31-46) This story reminds us that it is the one who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and imprisoned - they will be honored!

THIS WILL BE AN HONOR WORTH

SURRENDERING HUMAN STATUS FOR!

WHICH SEAT ARE YOU SERVING FROM?

Thank you for joining me for the devotion this week! Please check the PRAYER BLOG for prayer needs this week.

Blessings, Laurie

THIS WEEKS "YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL"

Please vote in this week's poll located on the side bar of the blog. This week I want to know "In what area of your life do you tend to envy others?"