Tired of Being Good

Just a few weeks ago, I was thrilled to receive a magazine that one of my articles is published in. Recently my article "Tired of Being Good" appeared in Lookout Magazine through Standard Publishing.

It is always a thrilling process to reread the article that I had submitted months prior. Often times it ministers to me, reading the words that God put on my heart.

This particular article was a fun one to write...I mean, who doesn't struggle with the temptation to break the rules??? I was one of those types of kids who constantly did what was expected of me. I was afraid of deviating from the path of "being good". But despite that, I still had a secret urge to go against the grain...to do things my way...to live life for myself.

Sometimes I do feel like just giving up on everything. It would be so easy to live for myself. It would be so fun to just do what I want and to not care about any expectations.

But did God call us to be rebellious? Does He intend for us to be rule-breakers?

God has a distinct and perfect plan for each and every one of us...and this is a plan that requires the direct opposite of rebellion. It requires OBEDIENCE. God has the best in store for us. But are we willing to trust Him for that? Are we willing to follow Him, even though we may not know what His plans are? Do we trust our Maker and Creator?

To read the entire article, follow this link:

http://www.lookoutmag.com/articles/articledisplay.asp?id=780

Just a Sliver

A few days ago at work, I sat down in my chair at my desk and felt a surge of pain...like a lightening bolt...go through my arm. The source of the pain came from my index finger, so I immediately checked it to see what in the world was causing such havoc.

To my amazement, I saw the tiniest piece of wood or metal...something sticking out of my finger. I carefully took hold of it with my fingernails and pulled it out...all the time wondering how in the world this little piece of sharp material got in my finger in the first place. My office chair doesn't typically injure me when I sit down!!!

A few days went by and I realized that everytime I used my finger...for typing, playing the piano, etc...each time another pain surge went through my arm. But it just didn't make sense...looking at my finger, there was absolutely no indication of anything still being in there! There was no red mark. There was no black spot to show where the sliver was. There wasn't even a mark to show where it may be.

I brushed it off for a few days, trying to convince myself that it was just a result from being stabbed by some rogue piece of something sharp. But by Friday, I decided that I had enough. The pain had overcome me to the point where I was ready to open up my flesh and dig around until I removed the source of my pain and discomfort. And for anyone who knows me...and how I faint at the sight of blood...this was DEFINITELY a bold move on my part.

I took a clean safety pin and went into the light of our bathroom...and sure enough! I found a little mark and after about 20 minutes I successfully removed the sliver....WITHOUT fainting! My finger is no longer in pain. I can type...I can play the piano...everything is wonderful!

It was just a tiny sliver. It was microscopic. I could barely even see it with my own eyes. How could something so very small affect my body in such a large way?

The more I think about it, I equate this sliver to the sin that creeps in our lives. Just a hint is okay, right??? Just a little sin won't affect me, right??? .....or will it???

If you take a clear pitcher of water an add a drop of food coloring, it will affect the entire pitcher of water in time. Sin DOES affect us...even a little bit...even just a hint. We may think that we can handle it, but it does stick to us, just like this annoying sliver in my finger.

Just a hint...just a bit...just a taste...it all has an impact on us, even if we don't see it now!!!

Strep Throat

This past weekend, my daughter and I were attacked with an awful sickness called STREP THROAT!!! It was horrible. My fever wouldn't go under 101 degrees...my throat hurt to swallow or talk...and I had no energy at all to even get up and walk.

I woke up last Sunday morning feeling so horrible, but still determined to make it to church. I remember rolling over in bed and telling my husband..."I can make it through worship. I'll just lead the worship and then come home and sleep..." Yeah. What was I thinking? I couldn't even get out of bed! He took one look at me and knew there was no way I would even be able to make it up to church. He set up things so that my worship team took over for me. Instead I spent the day going to the doctor with my daughter to get the medicine we so desperatley needed.

Through this sickness, I couldn't help but yearn for the times when my body felt good. All I wanted was to feel better. It hit me then that I take "feeling good" for granted far too often! We go through our day-to-day life while feeling good most of the time. But how often do we take the time to thank God for our health? It's times like these when I realize just how awesome it is to be in good health. Last Sunday I would've gave anything to get the sickness to leave my body. As we were so very sick, all my daughter and I wanted was to feel better.

As of now, my strep throat is gone...my daughter and I are back to good health...laundry is caught up on...and the house is once again cleaned. But that just means we have even more reason to praise God!!!

If you are in good health, take the time to thank God for this blessing! All too often we only thank God for making us better...and forget about all the days when He has kept us in good health!