In the Desert But Not Alone

Are there ever times when you wonder if God is listening to you?  Are there times when you wonder if God really cares about you or if He has perhaps forgotten about you? 

Matthew 3:16, 17; 4:1

Picture this…Jesus has just been baptized.  A holy dove descends on Him to proclaim Him as the Son of God.  Folks are in awe of what just happened.  They are stunned, amazed.  The Messiah they have been waiting for has been announced.  Jesus is ready to begin his ministry.

But wait – what does God do?  God just said, “This is my Son whom I love.  With Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17  And then…He sends Jesus into the wilderness to undergo, loneliness, hunger, hardship and to top it off, temptation.  Don’t you find it interesting that the way the Father chose to show love to His Son at the beginning of His ministry was to put him in the desert?  Why did He do that? I think it was so that at the critical beginning of this most important time in history, Jesus would learn to depend on the Father; the Father alone.  And I don't believe for a moment that God was not there with His Son the whole time.

Perhaps one of the reasons God places each of us into a desert of some kind now and then is so that we will learn to depend on Him in new ways.  So that we will learn to depend on Him and Him only. So that we will turn to Him for answers, guidance, comfort or strength because we have no place else to turn.

Deserts come in different forms - sadness, loneliness, depression, financial...an on and on.   

When you are in the desert, and we all are there sometimes, be assured, God is there too.  He is listening.  He has not forgotten you.  He does care about you, for He says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”  Isaiah 49:16  Jesus nail pierced hands are symbolized here.  Jesus and what He did at the cross is proof of God's love and care.  I heard somewhere that God says “I will be with you” 365 times in the Bible.  I don't know this for a fact, but if it's true, isn’t it so like God that He would speak those words one time for each day of the year.

Here’s one - no two -  for this day found in Isaiah 43: 1-5a.

"But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for your life.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you;..."

Here's an idea to help you remember that even when you are in the desert you are engraved in the palm of His holy hands and you are not alone.  This idea may sound silly, (you can do it when no one is around) but oftentimes a visual reminder goes a long way toward making something unforgettable.  Here's all you need - just 3 easy things:

1. A piece of paper - any kind 

2. A writing implement - any kind 

3. Scissors 

Here's what you are going to do: Trace your hand on the piece of paper, cut out your hand shape, then write your name in the palm of the hand cut out.  Keep that hand in a spot where you see it often. 

You can write the references on it too, if you want - Isaiah 49:16 and Isaiah 43: 1 - 5a.

When you look at the hand you can know that this is a promise of God's to us His chosen people -His loved ones - 

   "in the desert - I will be with you."   

When I had a preschool class, every year we did a Kissing Hand project based on the book titled The Kissing Hand written by Audrey Penn.  I would have the parents trace and cut out their hand and send it in to me with a handwritten note to their child and a family photo.  I laminated all the sheets and made a Kissing Hand book.  When a child was having a particularly hard day missing mom or dad, I would pull out the book, read the parents note to the child while they placed their hand on top of mom or dad's paper hand.  Some days students kept their hand there for a very long time, but it never failed to help them through the day. 

Children have deserts too - scary dreams, monsters in the closet, fears of all kinds.  This idea can help a struggling child as well.  After talking through the idea behind the hand cut out and actually making the project with your child, tuck that hand under his or her pillow at night.  They can tuck their own hand under the pillow as well and perhaps they will feel better resting their hand in God's hand.

Everyone - big people and little people - spend some time in the desert now and then.  It's good to know we are not there alone.  

Tom - "The Father-in-Law"

Families are made up of so many different personalities.  God made us all different - which is a good thing - and sometimes we favor one relative over another because they are funnier or because they understand us the most.  For whatever reason, we are partial to them and find a closeness - a bond - if you will, that makes that person dear to our heart.

My father-in-law was that person for me.  He passed away several years ago, but his memory lingers on in my heart.  I treasure the paintings he left behind because they are a piece of him.  He saw beauty though he rarely spoke of it.  He felt deep feelings though he didn't show it.  I don't know if anyone else in the family saw it, but I did.

When I think of my father-in-law a couple stories come to mind immediately.

My  husband and I got married when we were very young…very young…naïve, unworldly and… young.  Our first apartment was in the heart of the south side of Chicago as was our second apartment.  I like to think that Tom and Helen really didn’t want their new baby grandson raised in that kind of environment so they helped us buy our first home in Oak Forest, Illinois.  The house had character to say the least.   It was originally a barn and someone turned it into a residence. We made it a home.  I made simple yellow curtains for the kitchen windows, we had second hand furnishings and a barber chair.   Tom and his young son, my husband, spent a day or more reworking the pipes in the little mini basement.  When we bought the house the pipes looked like a game of mousetrap with all the twists and turns and elbow pipes all mushed into one little area near the water heater.  Little did we know that “mousetrap” was soon to be a key word in this little house of ours.  One sunny morning I walked into the kitchen to find a couple mice crawling along the counter, I stopped dead in my tracks, just then a few more appeared on the floor then more on the counter, now I am trying to shoo them away and they start crawling up the yellow curtains, I am shaking the curtains to try and get them off – and shouting “Go away!!”  What do I do – there are mice everywhere…of course I do what any young, naïve, girl would do - I crawl up on the kitchen table and call my father-in-law.  I can just imagine him rolling his eyes at the call – “Help me we are being over run with mice!!” “I’ve got a baby!!”  I cry into the phone.  Calmly he says – “I’ll be right there.”  I’ll just bet he laughed all the way out to Oak Forest.  By the time he arrived most of the mice were gone – probably running for cover from the crazy lady.  He set out mousetraps, which I heard going off all day and each time I heard the 'snap' I felt bad that I called in the “big guns” – the “Father-In-Law”. 

Not only was the “father-in-law” the mouse-hero, but he was also on at least one occasion the bearer of news that needed to be delivered with a tender calm understanding touch.  Same house – same young girl – another sunny morning. The phone rings.  I answer in a cheery voice – “Hello”.  It’s Tom. “Rox, Steve’s been in a car accident.”  “He was turning onto 159^th street and was hit.”  In shock and with a million scenarios running through my mind, I ask, “How bad is the car?”   Not “is Steve okay?”  In my twisted way of thinking if the car wasn’t too bad, then Steve was fine.  Tom obviously understands “my twisted way of thinking” and he replies “Steve is a little banged up but okay. “  My father-in-law says everything is OK, so I'm good.  

I always had the impression that Tom was not raised in a family that did a lot of hugging - he just didn't seem like the huggy type.  My family hugs.  For years I wavered - to hug or not to hug - that is the question!  It took quite a while for me to feel comfortable enough to give hugs to my father-in-law.  Finally, one time after a holiday gathering, I just dove in and did it!  I hugged my father-in-law.  To my delight he accepted the hug and even reciprocated.  After many such hugging experiences, I began whispering in his ear “I love you” as we hugged.  Each time, he would smile his big toothy smile, I would see a very special twinkle in his eye and he’d say, “Aw, Rox.”   I can hear that “Aw, Rox” in my head each time I think of it.  It is a fond remembrance of something special shared between father-in-law and daughter-in-law.  That “Aw, Rox” said so much more than just those two little words.  It said, “I love you, too!”  And I knew he did.

Family is a funny thing!  We don't get to pick our family, but I think God does a really great job of matching people up in families. He places family members in our lives to help us and encourage us, to challenge us and support us.  Our family, is our family.  We git who we git and there's no point in throwing a fit!  as my preschoolers were taught.  I have been blessed with an amazing family - immediate and extended.  They have all influenced my life in many ways but Tom - my Father-In-Law, was special.  We had a different kind of relationship - subtle, sweet and endearing.

"Aw, Tom"  I loved you then. I love you still!


To my family:  "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers."  Philemon :4

   



  

Perfect Peace

A conversation with Jesus:

"Good Morning, Jesus," I say to Him, "You, Jesus, are peace.  I can imagine You walking through the streets talking to people.  Not rushed and truly interested.  You are the same today.  I can imagine You sitting across from me on the couch, right now, attentive to my concerns.  Your soft loving eyes looking into my very soul with complete understanding.  And I feel at peace.  At peace knowing You are on my side, You care, You are for me. I am safe with You."  And then He calls me child --

"Child," He says, "Do not be afraid. Trust Me fully. I will never let you down.  You are mine and I will never leave you."

And I believe Him.

The sense of peace that overtakes me cannot be described adequately.  Perfect Peace that can only come from focusing on the Savior.  Trusting that all my cares are in the most capable of hands - His. Knowing that my life is built on the Rock of Jehovah - solid and strong.

"Yes, child," He says to me, "I am for you. I am your solid Rock, your Safe Harbor.  I am your Perfect Peace."

Ever so quietly, almost in a whisper, I reply, "Yes, Jesus, You are my Perfect Peace. Help me stay focused on You instead of the storms, instead of the troubles, instead of the pain.  Focusing on You brings Perfect Peace."

"My Jesus, I love You." I tell Him.

"And I love you, child."  He says.


"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal."  Isaiah 26: 3 & 4 

Checking Account

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Eccl 3:1

There is a time for everything - but, is there time for everything?  No one ever seems to have enough time to accomplish all they want to do in a day, a week, a month, yet we have all the time there is in each day, week and month.  The amount of time we have is what it is.  We can't extend it.  We can't carry it over.  We can't multiply it.  This looks like math...and that is sort of what time is.

Each day, we are gifted 24 hours - no more - no less.  It is as if those 24 hours were deposited into our checking account.  As we use the time allotted us each day it is as if we are writing a check against that 24 hours.  The one difference is that at the end of the day, whatever has not been used is lost. Our days are a use it or lose it proposition.  Which brings me to the next thought...doesn't that make HOW we use our time all that much more important?

The other night, I went upstairs to turn off my computer.  I sat down and feeling not really tired enough to go to bed decided to check email, my social media and the latest recommended pins for me for "just a quick minute".  I know you know where this is going.  I also know that you have probably done this same thing.  Before I knew it, I looked at the clock and it was 2:00 a.m.  Seriously!!  What a waste of time.  Now don't get me wrong, I love keeping up with what is going on in my friends lives. But I shouldn't be doing it at 2:00 in the morning.  That's just not good for my body and if truth be told, if I am going to be up till 2:00 in the morning, I would much rather it have been doing something creative, like sewing or writing or even reading a good book.

Since retiring, with only a few weekly commitments, I have my days free for the most part.  The Holy Spirit has really convicted me that I should be using this time much more wisely.  God deposits 24 hours into my time checking account every day as a gift.  Each check I write against it needs to be intentional and purposeful.  Wasting that gift is being ungrateful.  The Bible speaks to us about this in Ephesians 5: 15 & 16 when Paul writes: "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."  I think perhaps we could use the word moment in place of the word opportunity to fully grasp what God is admonishing us to do here.  If we fail to make the most of every moment our days will be wasted, i.e. evil. Yikes!! That's pretty serious.

Is there time for everything?  I think the answer to that depends on how we write checks against our Time Checking Account. I am going to be a much better financial steward of my time.
How about you?


Benjamin Franklin said, "Doust thou love life?  Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.  Lost time is never found again."

Willy Wonka on time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvOO1Whi_Gc

.



 

Woman to Woman

Beauty is only skin deep.  What does that mean anyway?  I know there are several ways to look at this phrase but the way I read it is definitely not a compliment.  What makes a woman beautiful? Yes, make up covers skin imperfections but do cosmetics make a woman beautiful?  Do fancy clothes or expensive jewelry make a woman beautiful? I think not.

Let's imagine for a moment a woman named Daisy.  One look at her and you feel inadequate.  She obviously has it all.  Daisy has perfect skin.  Her body is shaped perfectly with a flat tummy and no saddle bags.  She has long, thick blonde - no, golden - hair with just a slight wave in it.  She has long thick lashes and perfectly shaped nails that are always polished to perfection.  Her clothing is always ironed, neat and tidy with matching shoes to go with each outfit.  She looks beautiful.  And then she speaks.  With all that outer beauty the assumption is that her words will be as flowing and sweet as milk and honey, as kind as Mary Poppins and as inspirational as Mother Teresa.  But that is not the case.  Her words are full of anger and bitterness as is her heart.

You see, beauty is not about the outward appearance of a person.  Beauty is about what's inside.  Kahlil Gibran said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."  How soft a woman's heart is toward others.  How warm and tenderly she looks at her children, her friends, her family, strangers.  Beauty is seen in how she willingly helps and serves others.  A woman's true beauty is found in how she makes others feel.  Real beauty is in authenticity and genuineness.  These are the inner qualities that make a woman beautiful.

Beauty is inside, true, but does that mean we don't have to take care of our outer selves?  Absolutely not.  I heard Chuck Swindoll speak one time about women taking care of themselves. He was encouraging them to make the most of how God created them and to respect their body by taking care of it and always being presentable.  My husband tells this story of his mom often.  When she was getting ready to go out, anywhere, she would always take time to "put on her face."  She could not/would not go out until she was presentable.  It was a matter of self-respect.  How you present your outer self says something about how you feel about yourself as a whole.

In Chuck Swindoll's speech, there was one little line that spoke volumes.  He said, "Teeth, have them!".  I still crack up every time I think of that line.  But there is some truth in it.  We do need to make the most of what God has given us by making sure we do what we can - by using make up sparingly to enhance our features.  By wearing cloths that flatter our shape.  By eating healthy, exercising and getting plenty of rest.  The Bible proves to us that God cares about our bodies in Philippians 3:21 and so should we. We must keep it in shape, tend to it's needs; it is the only body we will have here on earth. In addition, we read in the Bible about the sacredness of our bodies.  Think about that!   "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20   When I think of my body as housing the Holy Spirit, it makes me want to take care of it.

I don't know who said this, it is listed as an unknown author but this about sums it all up:

 "Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself on the inside and out."

I think that is what God wants from us when He instructs us to honor Him with our bodies --

 Be the best possible version of yourself, on the inside and out!

   

      

Who Do You Belong To?

Mine, Mine, Mine...we hear these words from toddlers over and over.  There is a book written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen called 'The Mine-O-Saur'.  In this book the Mine-o-saur keeps all the blocks to himself, grabs snacks from the other little dinosaurs and in a very loud voice shouts, "Mine, mine, mine!"  In the end he learns that the toys in the school actually belong to the school and that sharing is best.

When reading Psalm 43 this morning, a few words and verses jumped out at me and screamed - hold the phone - mine, mine, mine!  Vs. 1 - "But now , O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.  O Israel, the one, who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name, you are mine."  I belong to God.  I am His.  I know this because I have been forgiven, ransomed by the shed blood of Jesus.
Who do you belong to?

When something belongs to us, that makes us responsible for it and typically we take very good care of it.  We make sure our pets are fed and have water, we tune up our cars and we make sure our children are safe and loved.  Because I belong to God, He takes very good care of me.  He feeds me through His Word.   He tunes me up by chastising when I have erred.  He protects and guides.
Why does He do this?  Vs. 4  "Others were given in exchange for you.  I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me.  You are honored, and I love you."  I belong to God.  I am His. I am precious to Him.  I am special because He loves me.
Who do you belong to?

Knowing that I belong to God gives me security.  He has proven over and over again His faithfulness in my life and the lives of my family.  He has met needs.  He cares about what I care about.  I am safe and secure in the knowledge that I am His and always will be. Vs. 13 "From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done."  I will always belong to God but, He is willing to share.  He shares me with my family, He shares me with friends, He shares me with the church, but I still belong to Him.  I am so glad He shouts mine, mine, mine!
Who do you belong to?  

Belonging to God is a choice each person must make for themselves.  (John 3:16 & John 14: 6) There is nothing you have done that God can not or will not forgive.  God's desire is to call you His child - His son or His daughter. ( John 4:23)  But it takes a response on our part for that to happen.  Ask, Believe and Confess - shout it from the roof tops if you must but proclaim it.  I belong to God. (1John 1:9 & 1John 4:15)   Once that response is made, God takes you into the fold and never lets you go! (John 10: 27-30)

Who do you belong to?

Click below:
I Belong to A Mighty God

Leap of Faith

Who Are You?

I have found that most women have some type of insecurity.  Perhaps how their body looks, perhaps the house they live in, the job they have, the fact that their children are always in trouble. Or it could be a much deeper personal insecurity such as a feeling of inadequacy, fear, the feeling of being unlovable, or not good enough or not good at anything.  All of these insecurities, no matter what they are, cause us to falter and be less than God intended us to be. I am obviously not a psychologist, but if you look very closely at insecurities, they all seem to stem from fear.  I speak this to myself as well as you, my friends.

I am going to say something I have never said on my blog...hear me well -
those insecurities are from the evil one.  His goal is to make you feel less than the amazing person God made you to be.  Those insecurities, those fears, are hindrances to all God has planned for you.

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind." 
 2 Timothy 1:7 

So, how do we get over our insecurities? First, we identify them in ourselves.  Next we give them to God.  "I am done with feeling inadequate, Lord, I give it to you and claim the spirit of power and adequacy You promised in Your Word." Last and most importantly, remember whose child you are. When you absolutely without a doubt know that you are a child of God, (John 1:12) that automatically makes you a daughter of The King.  You, my friend, are a child of the Most High God, a daughter of The King of Kings. Think about that for a moment.  Let it sink in. You - are - a - daughter - of - The King.  That makes you a Princess with a capital P.  You are royalty of the most holy kind.  You are God's prized possession. (James 1:18)   A child of God. A Princess. - That is huge!  And there are no insecurities in Princessdom!!!

Of course with Princessdom, it goes without saying, (but I have to say it) comes responsibility.  You also represent The King in how you dress, how you walk, how you talk, what you do or don't do. (Romans 8:12-17) Just sayin'

Here's what I want you to do...go into a room with a mirror.  Look at your self and say "I am a daughter of The King! Say it slowly and stare right into your own eyes.  "I am a daughter of The King!"  And every time you begin to doubt yourself or those little insecurities try to sneak their way into your life, say it..."I am a daughter of The King!  A child of the Most High God!"  They say if you say something enough times you begin to believe it.  Say it enough times that you believe it.  It will change everything!  It will change how and what you think of yourself.  It will change how you see you and how others see you.  You will walk taller.  You will be more confident. - I am a daughter of The King!   You might think I am kidding about the mirror suggestion, but I am not.  I want for each of you to realize all God has in store for you.  That will happen when you accept and embrace who you are in Christ.

I think the next time someone asks me who I am, my response will be, "I am Roxanne, a child of The King!"

What about you?  Who are you?

 

What Is Success?

Success means different things to different people.  Ask 4 or 5 people what success is and you will get 4 or 5 different answers on what success is in each of their worlds.

I think I have found the very best definition of success in a little book called 'Think on These Things' by John C. Maxwell.  He says, "Success is choosing to enter the arena of action, determined to give yourself to the cause that will better humanity and last for eternity."  That is a mouthful but it is also a mindful...so please take a moment to read it again, slowly.  If you still have not grasped it fully, read it again.  I had to read it several times myself.  It is a doozy!!   Ok, ready to move on?   Maxwell goes on to explain each of the seven components that make up his definition of success. But at the end of the chapter he summarizes as follows:

"Success is
Knowing the truth and accepting it;
Finding a need and filling it;
Facing a challenge and meeting it;
Losing a life and finding it;
Having a plan and following it;
Developing a talent and sharing it;
Going to heaven and knowing it."

Your world is your family, your home, your workplace, your church, organizations you belong to, teams you are on, etc.  You have a great opportunity to change your world.

Much like the infant church in the book of Acts, every major decision in your world should be made under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Just think about the widespread influence of that handful of people...Peter, John, Paul, Philip, Stephen, Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, Lydia, Apollos.  Who was behind the success of those early church planters?  The Holy Spirit.

So, I would encourage you - daily, invite the Holy Spirit into your world, not as a guest, but as a resident.  Speaking from experience, on the days I remember to intentionally do this, I can tell the difference in myself, in my home and in the interactions I have with people around me.  I am different.  My world is different.  It is successful.

Friends, God wants to use each of us to make our worlds successful. This is how we can do it.

Maxwell closes this chapter with, "I wish you all the success in the world!"

And I say to you, "As do I".

Prayer Unspoken

The dictionary defines prayer as "an expression, especially of devout petition, addressed to God or a diety",  "an earnest entreaty".  (Webster's II New Riverside Desk Dictionary)

As Christians we address our words of prayer to God.  We believe He hears and answers our prayers. Always.  Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait, but He always answers.

Prayers can be of the simplest kind or very complex.   Small children can speak words of prayer that will reach God's ears and tug at His heart as can the greatest orators and preachers found.  Words of prayer can be focused on one particular thought, need or idea or they can be broad enough to encompass thoughts, needs and ideas for the entire world.   Our prayers can be those of complete and utter anguish or they can be full to overflowing with joyful worship of the Creator.   There are also times when we are at an absolute loss for words to speak in prayer.  It is in those times of weakness, those times of desperation that we have an intercessor that speaks on our behalf.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words can not express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."  Romans 8:26&27

The Holy Spirit groans on our behalf.  Close your eyes and imagine the nearly unbearable groans of a woman in labor...if you have ever heard this kind of groaning, you will know without a doubt of the pain the woman is in.  This is how earnestly the Holy Spirit entreats God on our behalf.  He groans as a woman in labor bringing our requests and needs, our hurts and most humble gratefulness to the Father. We may ask the Holy Spirit to speak on our behalf, but it is not required. God has sent the Holy Spirit to be our comforter to be our intercessor for those times when we feel something so deeply we are simply unable to voice it.  We have no words.

Sometimes when we are in this state, we fail to give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak on our behalf.  We are so frozen we fail to come to God in prayer.  We do not know what to say, so we do not go to Him.  Have confidence that the Holy Spirit will speak for you.  Have faith that the Words of promise found in Romans 8:26&27 are just that - a promise.  Have faith that God keeps His promises. Have faith that your unspoken prayer will be heard and answered by the Almighty through the groaning of the Holy Spirit.

    

Lost & Found Diamonds

Not once, but twice, did I lose the big diamond in one of my rings.  The first time I was at work in an insurance office.  At that time, each client had a paper client file.  We had over 1000 clients so we had a lot of file folders.  At the end of one of our busier days, I was putting files back in the file cabinet so they weren't on the floor and in the way of the cleaning crew.  As I pushed and shoved one especially large file back into a not quite large enough opening, the top of my hand scraped across the bottom of the file cabinet shelf and I heard a scraping sound and then saw my beautiful pear shaped diamond sail through the air to nowhere.  Seriously, it was as if it vanished in mid air for as quickly as it dislodged itself from my ring it also disappeared - all in the blink of an eye.  The front office was fairly small, so I thought to myself, it really couldn't have flown very far.  So the receptionist and I searched every square inch of the floor.  No diamond.  Next idea was that perhaps if fell among the files so we proceeded to pull out each and every file folder from that cabinet and shake the file.  Then we dejectedly returned all the files to their rightful places.  No diamond.  We looked all around the two desks, all around the chairs, on top of the file cabinets.  We spent hours looking for the diamond. Finally after much thought, I concluded the diamond was just plain gone.  The receptionist, too, had sadly assumed it was a lost cause.  As she sat down in her chair we were joking about the fact that someday we would probably find the diamond stuck in a file.  I was standing next to where she was just about to sit down.  As she slowly sat down on her chair my eyes followed her and I saw a small flash of something fall to the floor.  You guessed it, my diamond.  It had obviously lodged itself in the chair cushion and then dislodged as she sat down.  You can imagine the giggling and hooting and hollering - what was lost was now found.

2 years later - the same ring, the same diamond.  Only this time, I had absolutely no idea where I had lost it.  One sunny summer day as I was driving home, as I re-positioned my hands on the steering wheel, I noticed that my beautiful pear shaped diamond was missing.  It could have been lost anywhere.  It could have been lost for days and I just happened to notice it that day.  I felt sure this time I would never in a million years find that diamond.  After calling my husband to tell him the diamond was gone - again, my next thought was to pray.  I walked into the house and went to the bedroom to remove my now naked ring and put it in the jewelry drawer.  The sun was shining brightly into the room through the patio door and I stopped to admire the sunshine when I got to the foot of the bed.  For some reason, to this day I do not know what made me do it, I glanced down at the floor at the foot of the bed and there shining brightly in the sun was my diamond - what was lost was now found.

In so very many ways these two stories remind me of how God pursues each person - His treasures - His diamonds in hopes that one day they will be found.  That's why Jesus came. ("For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10).  I once was lost, but now I am found and every single day, I thank God for finding me!

"Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  Luke 15:8-10

Perhaps you are feeling lost.  You, too, can pray!  Today might be a good day to be found!

There is nothing you have done, that God can not and will not forgive.  He is seeking you today as a lost diamond - let yourself be found!


"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10: 9-13 and Acts 2: 21