Wear Your Helmet!

If you were among the few lucky individuals to have the opportunity to travel into space, you would want to know everything you could about that bulky space suit that stands between your ability to breath and certain death. You would take every precaution to prevent your body fluids from boiling, your eyes from drying out and your breathing to stop. You would wear your suit. You would treasure it! Despite the awkward bulk of the equipment, the pure oxygen filtering in the suit would be soothing and the thought of loosing that air would bring panic and danger.

Remember this scene in Toy Story.

Sure, Buzz was only a toy and not in any real danger, but a human being walking in space would face extreme danger if their helmet were to open.

When we think of the result we think of instant death, but NASA studies confirm that the death process in that case would be slower than expected.

“Here's what happens when you are suddenly exposed to the vacuum of space.

1. If you hold your breath, your lungs will rupture, which will be fatal even if you are taken back inside right away
2. If you exhale, all blood passing through your lungs will be deoxygenated. It takes about 15 seconds for blood to go from your lungs to your brain, so you have about 15 seconds of consciousness.
3. The liquid in any exposed mucus membranes (eyes, nose, and mouth) will start evaporating, leading to rapid cooling, and severe frostbite after a couple minutes
4. After around 5 minutes, your brain will start sustaining permanent damage due to oxygen deprivation
5. You will also experience slight nitrogen narcosis ("the bends"), but the oxygen deprivation will kill you much faster than this.

Your chances of a full recovery are very high after 30 seconds of exposure. There may be permanent frostbite damage after 2 minutes. After 5 minutes, your chances of survival diminish rapidly.” (Taken from an answer written on Yahoo! Answers)

Pretty scary stuff right?
But here is the part that is the scariest. . .
There are many people walking on earth today who are about 15 seconds away from losing consciousness. I’m not talking about physical death, but spiritual. They have been exposed to a powerful sin nature that has infected our planet since the garden. They’ve refused to wear the equipment provided. It wasn’t comfortable. It asked too much of them. The excuses went on and on. Ultimately, they’ve failed to put on the helmet of salvation and guard against the effects and influence of our damaged world. They don’t know or realize the impact of this decision.

Worse yet, the effects aren’t what they might have expected. With no instant consequence, they might even think they are safe. See, they broke every rule in book and nothing “smote” them. They are fine. In a moment of complete insanity they feel a sense of calm that they got away with something. They stood against God and won.
But then, just as they begin the assent of pride, pressure begins to press against them on every side. The weight of their decision is heavy and before long the truth is obscured by lies. They’ve lost consciousness of God. They don’t know who they are or who they were made for. They gasp for air and struggle for something out of reach while clarity fades. The living water in their bodies has dried out rapidly and they are craving something they can’t explain.

We must wear our helmets. We must make every attempt to share this protective devise with our children. The cost of ignoring it is great!

It’s time for a rescue. After 5 minutes in darkness, death is grabbing a hold. We need to act before it’s too late.

Parents have a beautiful and important task of leading their family toward truth. We’d never dream of letting our toddlers swim the deep end without floaties and an adult at their side. We understand naturally that it’s important to protect what we love.

God felt exactly the same about you. He provided safety from every danger that crept in, even the ones we invited ourselves. He made a way. He shaped the helmet of salvation and endured the death of his own son to create it,but we have to choose to put it on. Its presence allows us to walk in unending conscious awareness of the sacrifice and goodness of our savior. Because of salvation we are able to breathe in the pure oxygen of his word to us. With our helmet on we begin to enjoy the damp beauty of the river of god flowing in our lives. We see clearly through the visor every challenge and obstacle ahead. We walk prepared. We live.

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV)

Get Real with God ~ Sharing What You Love

The little girl in the picture above is mine. So is the teddy bear. I received my Boo-Boo Bear in 1987 for my 8th birthday. I almost didn’t get him at all because I had snooped through my mom’s room trying to discover if she did make my birthday wish come true and buy the adorable teddy bear I’d fallen madly in love with. Love prevailed and, on my Birthday, my mother handed me Boo-Boo Bear unwrapped (so he wouldn’t suffocate).

Boo-Boo was actually one of those “get well” stuffed animals that you give a sick friend. He came with a fabric sling holding his poor injured right arm to his body. A single tear dripped from his right eye. He needed me.

I prayed for him every night until one night I declared him healed and cut his arm free from the binding fabric sling. The tear still remained. It wasn’t until adulthood that I caught the symbolism of that. After all, how often are we freed from pain only to let the painful memory remain long after the bandages have been destroyed?

The newly healed Boo-Boo Bear was declared a Christian which of course meant that he had to attend church with me. While all the other children’s toys patiently waited for their owners from the back seat of the family car, Boo-Boo Bear sat beside me in the pew.

One day the service was really exciting. I was so caught up in the puppet shows and the “arky-arky” song that I didn’t realize Boo-Boo Bear fell to the floor. Nor did I remember him when it was time to leave.

At bedtime I became painfully aware that I had been distracted away from my best friend who was almost certainly alone in a dark children’s church sanctuary. My heart was broken. I had abandoned my best friend. Would he ever forgive me?

My Mom, for the love of peace and the hope of a solid night sleep, quickly produced a teddy bear identical to Boo-Boo Bear. I might have been fooled had it not been for the returned sling and a slight shade difference in the fur.

I looked at the impostor with determined hate. This was not my bear!
Okay, forgive my spoiled fit and ignore that I am, in fact, an only child and try to see that my heart was bursting with loyalty when I violently ripped the nose right off that fake friend.

My mom desperately glued the nose back on and admitted defeat. “You are right,” She said “this is not Boo-Boo Bear. This is Boo-Boo-ette. She is Boo-Boo Bear’s sister. She would like to spend the night with you until Boo-Boo returns.”

In that case how could I refuse?

I held the bear and apologized for hurting her. I took off her sling and cuddled her. In the morning my pastor brought the original to my home.

Since then I have had two teddy bears. I simply couldn't stand to seperate a brother and sister. Not when my bed was big enough for both. Whether it’s the purple cast of Boo-Boo-ette’s fur, her slightly crooked nose, or simply attentive love, I can still tell them apart.

I slept with my teddy bears up to my wedding day. I made my mom babysit them when I went on my honeymoon.

When I first had kids I guarded these stuffed friends from the certain danger of baby drool and snotty noses. That is, until recently.

Now my youngest two children love my bears almost as much as I did. I’ve learned that the things we love the most are the most wonderful things to share. I glow when I see my children snuggling my precious teddy bears. Watching two treasures embrace is beautiful to me.

That’s exactly how it feels when we share God’s word with others. When we see our family members embrace God, our hearts soar. As we watch others waken to the truth of God and the importance of his word we begin to understand that all we really had to do is share what we love and wait for the heart to work.

“Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” 2 Corinthians 9:13

Get Real with God ~ The Christmas Rosettes

I was excited recently to be invited to a friend’s Christmas Craft Party. I was feeling burnt out with the kids and the idea of Mommy time couldn’t have been more timely.

The day of the party I packed up my gift to pass, a few pairs of scissors for the craft and a cranberry trifle to share. My friend’s house was festive and warm and the women all seemed eager for fellowship and a good time together.

After a cozy meal of white chicken chili, southwest rolls, and more goodies than I ever thought I could eat, we began our craft project.

A large plastic storage box was filled with fabrics and we were asked to choose our favorites. We were going to make rosettes in three different styles. They could later be turned into hair accessories, pins, or decorations for our favorite lampshade.

I had a great evening and made beautiful hair accessories for my girls and myself. I had so much fun I made five rosettes total.

Later, I began to think about the process I had gone through to make these little pretties and how it reflected the life of Jesus and everything my friend’s and I celebrated about his birth. Let me explain:

The first rosette began by tearing a long strip of fabric from the selvage edge. When Jesus died on the cross we learn that the veil was torn in two. Matthew 27:51 says “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” The separation between God and humanity was erased, ripped completely in two.

The life of Jesus was filled with blessing for humanity long before the curtain was torn. Sometimes he seemed incredible and wise and sometimes his ideas sounded impossible and hard.

The second step involved taking this super long strip, knotting it, gluing it to a circle and twisting the fabric while coiling it around the center. When Mary began her relationship with Joseph she surely didn’t expect such twists and turns to come to their impending marriage. It was a run of the mill engagement. Predictable and ordinary, but then God likes to put the sparkle in ordinary doesn’t he? From the time that Gabrielle explained the future to Joseph, he began a journey down a path full of twists and turns that led right up to the birth of our Lord. Mary and Joseph may have wondered where all the twists were leading. At times they probably felt their faith walking in circles of confident trust to cautious doubt and back again. Their perseverance had a result. As I twisted my last section of fabric and hot glued it to the end I saw that I had made something beautiful. For their faithfulness, Mary and Joseph had the privilege of being named the earthly Father and Mother of the Messiah!

The second rosette required us to cut out circles from chiffon (two big, medium and small). Then we lit candles and held the fabric over the flame. This was tricky and some of the ladies gave up. If you held it too close to the flame the fabric would bubble and burn holes. At just the right distance though, the heat would cause the edges of the fabric to pull together in a crinkle that resembled the petals of a rose. You know, when the three Wise men came in search of the young Savior they knew they were facing a challenge. Herod hated Jesus and attempted to trick them into disclosing the location of Jesus. In Matthew 2:12 we can see how they avoided betraying Jesus by avoiding Herod altogether and heading home a different way. When we come too close to evil we often get caught in a trap of sin. Like the fabric held too close to the flame our ambition is consumed and we become useless. However, at a distance we can let the fire of God smooth and shape us. It’s in this safe place that we meet with God. Our caution is rewarded with beauty as he bends us to his ways and forms us to his image. This rosette was the hardest one to make and my favorite of the three. When we practice caution and are brave enough to tackle what is difficult, the results often make us proud.

The last Christmas rosette was the most poignant reflection of Christmas. I began with a large circle and cut the fabric around in a coil like a snake, leaving a quarter sized head at the end. From the first moments of humanity the serpent, Satan, has been seeking to destroy God’s creation. He’s had it out for humanity since the first breath of Adam in the Garden of Eden. But God had an antidote for snake better than any anti-venom ever administered. It came in human form, in the tiny unexpected shape of a baby boy. Genesis 3:15 explains that human offspring would be the cure, crushing the head of the serpent. I believe the first soft coos of the baby Jesus sent shivers up Satan’s back. As I rolled the coil of fabric tightly a rosette took shape.

The birth of Jesus was a miracle, an answer to redemption that we could never attain without Him. He preserved his people, paid their debt and welcomed all who would come to be accepted into the family of God. He erased the separation between God and man and made a path for relationship that we were desperate need of. He led his people through twists and turns, battles of faith and fear that always ended in beauty. He refined us with his Word and held our actions to account. He made the consequences of sin clear and the promise of following him a reward bigger than we could expect. He crushed the serpents head and made a statement that He would always win. He can be trusted.

This Christmas, whether you celebrate with massive amounts of festive celebrations or in the quiet warmth of your home, I hope you find time to reflect on the life of Jesus, our Messiah, and what his birth and life means to you.

 

Get Real with God ~ Trading Love

Are you having fun teaching numbers, letters and shapes to your little tots? Me too. It's fun to watch them learn.

I like to learn new things too.

For my own crazy fun, I decided to research the origins and history of shapes. There are three beliefs about how the heart shape came to be. Because I know how valuable a mommy’s time can be, and because I think there is a message in it for Moms, I am deciding to forget the first two possible origins and focus on the third.

In 7 B.C. there was a little seed called the Silphium. It was a spice belonging to the parsley family and it was used for cooking and medicinally. Silphium is extinct today. However, in its day, it was a hot ticket item among Egyptians who traded the seed and even printed its shape onto their money. The seed looked exactly like our traditional heart shape.

Today, we see the heart and we automatically associate this shape with love. Imagine if we could time travel. Picture yourself in a marketplace in 7 B.C. watching heart stamped coins being exchanged. To us, it would seem they were trading love. We would marvel at the thought. Trading love? As if it was something that could be earned, bought, or sold. What a silly thought.
Silphium no longer exists, but we still trade love today. We trade love by giving and withholding affection when we feel it has or hasn’t been earned. Moms do this often, and it is very dangerous.
When my little ones fail to obey or they embarrass me through their actions or behavior, I can feel my love get cold. I don’t feel like hugging my little ones when I see that they’ve drawn on the wall again or stolen candy from the not so secret stash in the kitchen.

But when I’m getting something positive from them I feel differently. When they pick me a flower from the yard while they are out playing, or they draw me a picture in all my favorite colors, I can feel their love and I give it back to them in abundance.

My favor and affection is too often tied to what I’m getting out of the relationship.
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t think this way?

His love isn’t traded for His benefit and it doesn’t waver when we fail to meet His expectations. He loves us even when we frustrate Him. He laid down His life when we didn’t deserve His sacrifice. He loves us when we are rotten and un-loveable. It’s constant and it isn’t for sale. It’s freely given to all who would accept it. Wow.

Time and time again David called on God to show his unfailing love. He knew that God’s love couldn’t be shaken. It could always be counted on.

Psalm 86:15 says:

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

In case you still have any doubts, check out this scripture:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 KJV

While we were scribbling on creation and mocking all things holy, Christ DIED to show his love. Yeah, I’d call that unfailing.

His favor was undeserved, unmerited and most often unappreciated but he didn’t hold back.
Silphium is extinct. We moms really need to stop trading our love, making our children work to earn our favor. I’m going to strive to give my family a God- inspired unfailing love that doesn’t seek its own gain. Let's hug them really tight.

Get Real with God ~ Dinosaurs, A Lesson in Variety

When it comes to dinosaurs I know very little. However, what I do know is very reassuring to me.

You probably already know that there was a great variety of dinosaurs that once roamed the earth. Some were as small as chickens, while other species grew to be as tall as 40 feet! Some were herbivores, some carnivores, and some would eat anything that fell in their path. Through their existence they reflected the creative nature of God. The size, shape, and behavior of each dinosaur reflected God’s love of variety.

We’ve all heard William Cowper’s famous quote:
“Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor”.

Variety is something I value very much. It is always reassuring to know that God had a specific design for you. You weren’t created to be a carbon copy of the mother down the street. That mom, even if she makes delicious cookies that all the kids adore, has a trampoline, a pool and a degree in child psychology—wasn’t meant to raise your child. With all her amazing skills she lacks the composition that God required to influence and impact your children toward the direction He laid out for them. Whether our kids entered our family through birth or adoption God had us in mind to parent them. It wasn’t a surprise to Him. Our kids were meant for us. Our variety is what shapes them for God’s special purpose.

Another exciting factor to me is that dinosaurs are commonly referred to as dinosaurs. When my son plays with his toy dinosaurs he doesn’t say “Please pass me the Apatosaurus”. He just plays dinosaurs. Labels are left to the professionals.

Too often we place labels on ourselves and those around us. Each label we affix takes away from God’s special gift of variety. I imagine that when God looks at me he doesn’t think “ there is my blue eyed, Caucasian, curly haired five foot freckled female human” He just wants to spend time with his daughter. All my quirks, qualities, and descriptions were just part of the fun of making me. What really makes me special is that I belong to Him. Once my life has been laid in His hands he’ll take the variety that is Heather and use it for His glory.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Get Real with God ~ Just a Piece of the Picture

Any little glimpse of an Eric Carle book will reflect his use of collage. His style is colorful and bright. Tissue paper is an essential in his artwork. He paints the sheets of tissue paper and eventually cuts them into shapes like a puzzle to form his collaged picture. You can see his painting techniques here. His process is very interesting to me.

Imagine painting a pattern. You select colors and patterns. You aren’t painting a picture , but a pattern. Still, each page becomes art. Each piece has a beauty of its own and a unique tone and value.

I think this is the same process that God employed when building his church. We are all a piece of His picture. We have beauty and value all our own, but we are not the picture. We are simply a pattern within it.

As the church we should be a very special pattern. We don’t follow the pattern of this world, but we are transformed through Christ in us. We have something special. Our pattern should be so beautiful and exceptional that the world will want to stop and stare. When we are in unity with one another we build a compound and meaningful picture that the world can see clearly. They don’t just see splashes of color and light, but they see the very face of God reflected in our devotion to one another.

Unity is a hard concept to grasp. We struggle with the concept from the time the cord is cut until we take our last breath. In our society independence is turned into self sufficiency in the blink of an eye. We really feel like we can go it alone, but we weren’t meant to. We think we know best. We act as if we are the picture.

I deal with a lot of sibling rivalry in my house. I watch the battles for power and it crushes me to see the fragmented pictures of a family. I imagine that God has a similar feeling when he watches His church fragmented and fighting for power or importance instead of coming together to show themselves as the family of God.

Psalm 133:1 says “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

If you’ve ever lived with squabbling children you know this scripture is true. Your house is so much more peaceful when everyone learns to “just get along”. But it is downright pleasant when there is unity. Unity is more than getting along, it’s like mindedness. It is a complete bond of vision. It isn’t just tolerance that says “I’ll put up with you”, but love which says “we share one heart”. Unity is a masterpiece of God.

You are a piece of God’s artwork. You are unique and special in your own right. You have a function and a value that will draw the world to you. God made you that way. No one is more important. No one steals the show.

1Corinthians 12:14-20 says “14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

We all have value and together we make a beautiful picture. What sticks us all together- our glue-is love. Colossians 3:14 says “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” God is love and through him we make a very cool picture. In unity we reflect his goodness.

Get Real With God ~ The Urge to Protect

The theme at Totally Tots for the month of August is Community Helpers. When I think about community helpers I think about the many uniformed people that work to provide our safety and maintain order. For some reason the word community just sparks a protective image in my head. I think of those crazy looking signs in neighborhoods with the spooky looking thief. The signs warn that a neighborhood is watching, on guard, and prepared to take action against anyone with malicious intent.

A community helper, in my mind, is someone who goes out of their way for the good of the community. A community helper is willing to sacrifice sleep to put out a fire. They spend a day head to head with the public at their worst and yet are willing to endure a great deal of pain to see them safe. A community worker will look for a way around problems that seem too big to solve. They make a plan and follow it out with precision, choreographed for excellence.

The uniform isn’t what makes them special. In fact many community helpers look like ordinary people. Maybe they haul the garbage away every week. Maybe they treat a sick child and work to restore healing. Maybe they are ordinary Moms and Dads who sit alone in the dark when the city is quiet and pray for God’s favor on its people.

I have police officers in my family and my brother-in-law is a fireman. I have a lot of respect for the jobs they do to keep us safe. I’ve watched politics and apathy from the community wear on them, making the sacrifices they make sting a little at times. It isn’t easy to lay down your life for a friend, try doing it for someone who lacks respect for you. But it’s what they do. It’s who they are.

What these workers are doing as they put on the uniform (whether they realize it or not) is reflecting Christ. Their uniform alone is sending a message to the potential offender that they aren’t to be messed with. They also send a message to the good guys that someone has their back.

If you rise up in the morning and put on the Armor of God (whether you realize it or not) you are sending a message to the enemy that you are a force to be reckoned with. You are an opponent who won’t back down and you have authority and power backing you.

Through every act of alert attention to the needs of those around them, the community helper reflects the nature of God. As a painter reflects the creativity of our Heavenly Father, a community worker reflects God’s drive and motivation to guard His children, protecting them from harm.

Every human act done to protect or provide is a picture of the spiritual work God is doing on our behalf. Even the sanitation worker is a picture of God if you think about it. In the spiritual sense God is removing the garbage to make the house (our hearts) clean. Think of the fire fighter facing the fire and relying on the water pumping through the hose to lessen the flame. We know God as a river of life. He is a source of refreshing when the fire of trial and testing have brought us to our knees. The police officer placing a criminal in handcuffs points to our God who will place eternal chains on our enemy. The doctor, with all his knowledge and medicine, is reflecting God’s healing nature and the lengths He went to in order to see us whole and free of sickness.

And that Mom or Dad sitting alone in the dark praying for a city fast asleep—they reflect God too. Through the darkest night and into the first glimpse of morning God is interceding for us. His whole heart is engaged in our welfare. His eyes are pealed and his ear is turned to our cry. He is a vigilant defender, Mighty to save.

Psalm 5:11 says “But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

Get Real with God ~ Like a Bee

Bees communicate a lot like children communicate. Bees speak to each other by touching antennae while infants and toddlers also obtain much of their early knowledge from touch. Bees are known to dance or wiggle on top of the hive to give other bees directions to finding pollen. What mom hasn't gotten the wiggle signal from a little one? The non verbal wiggle states a need or gives the parent directions for helping them. Maybe hands are flailing because they want to be held, or the waste wiggle communicates that the diaper is in need of attention. Bounce, rhythm, dance, movement and touch are natural instincts to children. These skills build a child's fine motor skills. Communication begins with these little gestures.

Luke 18:15 (NIV) states " People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them . . ." These parents had unintentionally discovered the power of God's touch. This sensory experience with the King of Kings would be enough to imprint him into their memory and create a bond that would allow Jesus to communicate with them in a way far beyond words.

Have you ever noticed how there is an age limit that society imposes on touch? As we age we begin to feel increasingly awkward communicating through touch. Maybe that was one (of many) reasons that the disciples were so annoyed by the children's presence. How many times did they want, even crave the touch of Jesus and resist out of their age or appearance? Maybe they too wished to climb into the saviors lap and lay their head against his shoulders.

That's one of the ways that the woman with the issue of blood is shown for bravery. Not only did she humble herself to crawl through a crowd, but she ignored the invisible social "Do NOT Touch" and reached out her hand against his garment. She knew the power of touch.

Many people where healed by Jesus' touch. His touch communicated to hearts in ways that words could not. His touch was healing, comfort, and reassurance. It confirmed his identity for those with questions and left no doubt of his divine authority.

There are also instances in the bible where people are instructed not to touch. Sometimes touch can defile. Be careful little hands what you touch. When we have been touched and cradled in the arms of God's truth it becomes easier to avoid the "no no"s. It's the same way for our children. The more we embrace our little ones, the more easily they will build respect for our words and trust our admonitions. Power is in our touch too. With a gentle touch we can build their self-image, offer comfort and apply the band aide with a kiss.

We also need to model touch by showing our children our affection for God. Moms, you aren't too big to curl up on Jesus' lap and lay your head on his shoulder. Clutch his word in your hands and flip the pages slowly. Let it touch your heart. Let his encouragement pour over you, comforting and reassuring you. Let your children see you do it.

Sometimes, get really wild and worship with movement. Sway, bounce, dance your love to God. Let him know that you found the "pollen", the goodness hidden in his word, and communicate this path to your children with a joyful dance.

Bees communicate a lot like children. They touch and they wiggle and they point the way. Are you like a bee too?

Get Real with God ~ The Smallest Ones in the Jungle

The Bumblebee Bat, also known as Kitty's Hog-nosed bat is not only the smallest mammal in the jungle, but the smallest mammal in the world!


As it's name implies, it is the size of a bumble bee. They weigh less than a penny and are no bigger than the tip of your finger!

You can find these fascinating little bats in the jungles of Thailand and in Myanmar. They live in limestone caves in a very remote area.

Though I love science, this isn't really a science lesson. At least I don't mean for it to be.
As I studied the smallest mammal on the planet, God began to speak to me and show me lessons that parents of the littlest humans can benefit from. I hope you can glean something useful from it.

Beyond their size, there are two other amazing facts about the little Bumblebee bat. Most bat species, all accept this one actually, have tailbones that connect flaps of skin to the bat's ankle bone and allow it to have control in flight. The Bumblebee bat has no tail or ankle bone. The second amazing fact is that they have no known predators!

Imagine having no enemy. The freedom you would have and the peace of mind would be so vast. So then . . .why have the Bumblebee bats been on the endangered species list since 1984?
Well, it seems they had a problem very similar to that of our toddlers. They were afraid of new places, independence and adventure. They stayed close to home, hung out with Mom and never explored the wide spaces and possibilities around them.

I picture a toddler clinging to it's mommy's leg in the church nursery. The separation is a safe one and it won't even last that long, but the fear sends them into a death grip of Mom's thigh.

We need to teach our children that it's okay to spread out and test some boundaries. We need to teach our little ones to trust God while building our own faith that God will be with them even when we are not.

Joshua 1:9 says "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

It isn't just their limited habitat that endangered them, but the burning of their limited habitat that sealed their fate. All they have to do is move, just a little, and the threat would be gone. Instead they don't move an inch and the fire begins to spread right to their front door.

We need to teach our children to spread out, but we also need to teach them to not fly solo. With the absence of an ankle and tailbone, the Bumblebee bat looses the ability to control it's flight. It wavers to and fro, aimless flight without any direction. We want our children to depend on Christ as their ankle bone or tailbone. We want Him to pull the reigns in their life and control their flight patterns. We want God to be the leading force behind every adventure they are brave enough to face. Then we know their safety is in His hands. There isn't a safer place for them to be.

Most importantly, we want to teach our children to avoid the flame. Hell is all too ready to tackle our little ones' hearts and capture them with lies from the enemy. We need to be vigilant protectors while building brave explorers following their heavenly guide.

I looked up verses about "stepping out". You can read (Judges 19:27, 1 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel 20:8, and Matthew 26:51) on your own if you choose to. What you will discover from these verses is that the enemy is always ready to step out. Every scripture relates to some enemy stepping out, from Goliath to the men seizing Jesus.

We want our children to grow to take steps too. We want them to be ready and equipped to face whatever comes and stand strong for Jesus.

Let's take our hints from the Bumblebee bat. Let's work to build our children's courage to step out, while teaching them where to turn for direction and what to avoid on their journey through life.


P.S. If you want to know more about the Bumblee bat, there is a picture book called Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Darrin Lund. I haven't read this myself yet, so please review it yourself before sharing it with the kiddos. :)

Get Real with God

"If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn." - Andrew Mason

Dandelions are not hard to grow. Maybe that's why I have so many in my yard.
They are wild and easy to please. They are sunny and children are often drawn to them for their cheery appearance. The truth is, they aren't really flowers at all. Dandelions are merely deceptive weeds that take on a cunning appearance with the intent of stealing the life and true beauty from your garden.

My kids love picking dandelions, but they have learned that to bring one inside will cause their Daddy's eyes to get puffy, red and watery. Dandelions make their Daddy miserable, but they just can't seem to leave those "pretty flowers" alone.

Sin too is like this. It's subtle and alluring and it can pop up in the most innocent of circumstances. To the eye it seems good, but it has the distinct intention to destroy. Handle one of these little "flowers" and your hands will be stained, a dirty residue will form on your hands that is stubborn and difficult to remove.

The destruction began a long time ago. It started with an exquisite looking angel. He was so lovely that a group of angels began to follow him around. Maybe they were captivated by his stunning glow or his extensive musical ability. They may have praised him for his talents and appearance. They listened to him and believed that he was wise. He seemed so right, the very picture of perfection. He was a dandelion.

In time, the angel began to grow in ambition. He formed ideas that were contrary to is Maker. In fact, he began to secretly question his Maker on everything. Eventually the secret questions stirred his heart so violently that he shared them (in his own charismatic way) with the captivated group following him around. His ideas began to make them cynical of their Maker too and, in time, they followed this beautiful angel as he plotted a revolt.

This angel was called morning star, Lucifer, and Satan. Your kids probably call him the Devil. You can read about him in Isaiah 14: 11-13. He didn't wear red and carry a cartoon pitchfork. He was beautiful. He was also very destructive. His revolt led to an exodus of 1/3 of the angels in Heaven! He went out big and he never quit his momentum as time passed. He fails, only to form another strategy.

Like a dandelion, he spreads out and seeks a new garden to destroy. If unchallenged, he will infect the flowers, wilting them, robbing them of nutrients and destroying their color.
Though he makes our Heavenly Daddy's eyes swell with tears, we are drawn to him just the same.

It takes work to be a flower, but a dandelion's life is easy and epidemic. Flowers have to fight the elements and weather the storms. They are valued for their beauty, but also for challenges they endure. They are strengthened and treasured for their vulnerability in the hands of the Gardener. They are splashes of color on a gloomy day, and an apology after a fight. They are hard to grow and easy to love.

Likewise, the life of a Mom isn't easy. Like a beautiful garden flower, we are fragile and easily broken. We crave a refreshing rain to pour some energy and life into us. We battle the elements: the crying baby, and the child afraid of the dark, the crayon masterpiece doodled on our newly painted walls, and emotions that can't be explained in language anyone else could discern. We fight to bring color and beauty to our homes and our tenacity pays off. We are treasured not merely for our presence, but for all we battle just to be present.

When we read that extra story at bedtime, even though we can hardly keep our eyes open, we emit a scent of love that is beautiful to our children. The rallying determination to show love (no matter what) makes us treasured in their eyes.

A Mother's life goal is to ensure that when our children grow to adulthood, they will discern the flower from the weed. We pray with our whole hearts that the dandelion will be ground up mercilessly under the wheels of their lawn mowers.

This is the goal, the prayer and the motivation of Christian mothers.

Get Real With God: Bent By Love ~ Lessons From a Rainbow

After spring showers we occasionally see the magic that follows in the sky above us. Stray bits of moisture come together to form an arch in the sky that bends light to form colors that dazzle us and remind us of a promise made long ago.

We find this promise in Genesis 9:13-17 when God explains his covenant with Noah and all mankind.
Today when we see a rainbow in the sky we often associate it with the word "promise" because it reminds us of God's faithfulness. However, have you ever noticed the shape of the rainbow?

Recently, it struck me in a powerful way that this great symbol shows light leaving the earth (to the ground upward) then light returning to the earth (the bending arch back down).

When God created the world he cherished and enjoyed his work. He put his whole self into it. The Bible tells us that He was pleased with His creation. Over time humanity became unrecognizable to Him. Tainted by sin and rebellion He was disillusioned by humanity's state.

I believe God's first regret is evident in Genesis 6:6 where it says " And the Lord was sorry that he made man on the earth, and he was grieved in His heart." Wow! His pain was so deep that He was done with His creation.

Imagine your child holding up a broken toy. They once loved it and treasured it, but now it's lost it's value. It will not take long for that child to cast the toy aside and find a new working toy to love and enjoy.
Humanity was in that same state of brokenness. God's disappointment was like light leaving the earth, departing with disappointment and disgust, regrets raining in his mind. In Genesis 6:7 God says . . ." I am sorry that I have made them." Ouch!

Then something strange happens. Just as this light and hope is about to turn away from creation something catches Gods eye. Some movement turns God's head and He watches with eagerness at the one thing in creation that still honors Him. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8). God found something redeemable in Noah. He found a working piece of this broken toy and He saw hope.

Noah was obedient enough to endure the mockery of a sinful world and He began to follow God's directions to build an arc and fill it as God ordered. As the rains began to fall and the storm clouds formed, God bent down in mercy and placed his hand over the door of the arc to seal His treasure in safety (Gen. 7:16).

There are many times in the Bible and modern history that God's people have called on to "bend down and hear their prayer". There are also many Biblical example of God bending to hear, bending to feed, or even bending down to write in the ground.

Remember the story in John 8 about the woman caught in adultery? In verse 8 Jesus stooped down and "wrote on the ground with His finger." What might he have written? Whatever he wrote, combined with His words, brought conviction.

The story just confirms what we already knew about God. When others are bent on revenge, God is bent on mercy.

When the heart of God was broken in Noah's day by the complete depravity of the world, His glory began to pull away. Then He saw Noah and in mercy He bent back toward humanity. Like a rainbow, he changed course, he arched back to His creation and was bent by the love He saw in Noah's heart.

***

When I became a Mom I was eager to create life. You probably were too. You may have worked hard to create that life. Maybe you took your temperature, saw a fertility doctor, or worked a different and challenging road of adoption. In either case, you worked to create your family.

Then that child began to grow.

I'll never forget the first time I heard my child use the word "I hate you". The anger and rebellion that flowed from the tiny mouth was shocking and it broke my heart. In that moment I couldn't recognize my own child. I just saw the source of my pain. I felt the disappointment and fear that perhaps I'd made a mistake. Maybe parenthood wasn't for me.

I picked up that tiny little body and placed it in a time out. Truth be told I needed a time out myself to sort out my feelings and find the correct response. It took about two minutes until the little pouting face began to show remorse and slowly I watched love come out of teary little eyes.

How could I resist? I bent down. Eye to eye I faced her. I protected her in my arms from the anger that had only moments before flooded the room like a storm and threatened to destroy our most precious bond.

The rainbow is a promise. It's also so much more. It's Gods love bent down to hug humanity. It's a second chance to turn from our selfish, evil ways and love God bigger. It's a miracle in the sky that can also remind us mothers to bend in love, forgive when we are hurt, and show mercy when other's would seek revenge.

Get Real with God ~ Learn to Purr

We have a new member in our family. She is a gray calico kitten named Elizabeth Sparkles (Elsie for short). Elsie was a recent gift to my oldest daughter on her 8th Birthday. My girls wasted no time prettifying their new pal. They dressed Elsie in doll clothes and put barrettes in her fur. The kitten looked adorable, overwhelmed, exhausted, and completely in love with her little masters and all the attention she received from them. Within a few days the excitement had sort of worn off. The sun was shining and my kiddos were aching to be outside with the other neighbor kids. Elsie sat at the door and stared, as if she didn't understand how there could be anything else in the world more important than petting and playing with her.

The thing about babies- of any kind- is that they demand attention. Elsie is no different. She is feisty and playful and desperate to be seen. The first week, my children's hands were full of tiny scratches their new friend had inflicted in her youthful attempt at play. Elsie was eager to be held and chased after my little ones so closely that it was a wonder she didn't get accidentally stepped on. She wanted to be everywhere they were.

Elsie isn't alone in her quest for attention. The theme is bursting in nature. Spring is the time that new growth screams out to be seen. Look at your garden begging to be cleared of weeds and any remaining leaves from last fall that fell beyond the reach of the rake. The new growth wants to be seen, to spread out unencumbered and sparkle with new life for all to admire.

Honestly, there is no green thumb on my hand. I lack the ability or desire to garden. I'd rather visit the dentist. But it's not just babies and gardens that need attention. Look around the house. Where did all the stuff come from? It's time to make room for the new, pack up the old and start fresh. Have you looked in the closets? By Spring our children's clothing is getting snug and we begin to prepare for the new season and allow for new clothes to fit their new growth. A lot of things demand our attention, but if we are brave enough to be real we'll admit that we ourselves strive for a bit of attention too.

What mom doesn't crave the strokes of a compliment from her husband or children? We soak up attention as pathetically as my new kitten. I'm sure that if we had the ability we'd even purr. It's not just people we seek attention from, often we wrestle with our need to be "seen" by God. We long for a spiritual pat on the back from our Heavenly Father. We seek His attention so desperately that we can exhaust ourselves trying to bring pleasure to Him. We say no to nothing, take every opportunity to minister, put everyone else's needs first and pour out until we're drained and empty. "God," we ask "you are seeing this right?" Though we may never be bold enough to admit it, we wonder if we've done enough to earn His love.

We're probably as silly looking and pathetic to God as Elsie is to me as she pounces on my toes and fights for me to notice her. As I pick up the little kitten I think to myself You silly kitten, I already love you, just relax. Rest on me. I think God feels the same way.

Oh surely He loves all of our effort. I'm certain He's pleased with our willingness to serve. However, He also wants us to rest. He longs for us to trust His love for us and relax in His peace. We don't have to earn His love, He gave it freely. Just like my children covered in kitten scratches continued to love the source of their pain, God loved us at our worst. Before we were tamed by His Word and wrestled fiercely against Him, He sent us His best. His only son poured out His life on a cross for our sake. It wasn't an attention seeking action. He didn't shed His blood just to be seen. He did it so we could rest. He gave Himself so that we wouldn't have to strive against sin and battle the heaviness of seeking Gods approval and always falling short. His blood was like a blanket of grace poured over us allowing us to relax and rest secure.

This is Spring cleaning at its best! Accept Christ if you haven't already. Allow him to clean your heart and curl up in His love. Rest.

Learn to Purr.

Get Real with God ~ A Message of Love

I began making Valentines when I was very small. I remember the feeling of accomplishment as I folded the construction paper in a slightly crooked half. I handled my scissors with great caution as I followed my mother's pencil marks. I felt proud that I'd been trusted with such a dangerous object. The glue stuck on my fingers, the sparkle of stray glitter colored my fingerprints. I loved this project.

Grade school squashed my creativity. Those little boxed cards littered my friend's desks, manufactured and glitterless. For a while I gave up the homemade Valentines.

When my first child was born I pulled out the construction paper with the glee of a child in a candy store. It didn't matter that my daughter could barely walk. I would cut the heart for her. I squirted purple and hot pink paint onto the pink paper and watched as she smeared her tiny hands across the page. When it dried I made an outline around the edges with glue. In the trails I sprinkled red glitter. We made a dozen of these.

Inside the cards I wrote love quotes and set them aside for family members. They were fun to make, and special to give. I didn't know how treasured they could be.

One of our Valentine's was my Uncle Michael. He was only ten years older than me and actually more like a brother than an uncle.

He passed away the following year.

My Grandpa was in charge of the estate. He went through everything meticulously.

While searching through my uncle's small lock box one day my Grandpa found the old Valentine card that my daughter and I had created. Along with the faded Valentine was a letter I'd written where I had shared my faith with the uncle I had loved so much.

I never dreamt that he'd kept these things, under lock en key no less. Had he even said a word when I'd placed the card in his hands? Yet, he had treasured my message of love along with all his prized possessions. I was amazed.

As my Grandpa handed the items to me I read the quote the card contained. I had forgotten the message myself. Inside I had written a quote by Francois Mocuriac which reads:

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path

of our destiny without leaving some mark on us forever."

Below that I'd written "Love. . . and leave a mark." He had certainly done that.

Saving the Valentine was a testimony of his love for me. He'd taken the challenge I'd given him and had left a mark on me that has never faded as the years pass. The Valentine also read like a message to my heart, inspiring me and cautioning me at the same time. Live, love, and leave a mark. Not just any mark though, a mark that will bless and inspire the future.

It blesses my heart to know that my uncle had treasured my act of love. I can only imagine how it must bless the heart of God as we meditate on, and treasure, the precious act of love He demonstrated through the life and death of His son.

When nails were driven into the hands and feet of our innocent Saviour, they left a mark that stung the pit of hell. The piercing mark of His pain and death spelled out love like no paper Valentine ever could. As He breathed his last breath the mark of His influence on His followers fell like a wave, like a challenge begging them to pass the message on.

After Christ rose from the dead He showed the marks in His hands to His follower, Thomas, as evidence that He was who He claimed to be. The message of love was powerful. I bet Thomas' heart nearly exploded at the recognition that his greatest hope had come true.

Isaiah 49:16 (NKJV) reads:

"See I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands;

Your walls are continually before me."

His mark isn't just a physical mark. His is a mark of influence, a message of love that has been carried from one believer to another through the testimony of His followers and the scriptures they lived, breathed and shared.

I want to treasure God's Valentine above anything else. His is a love I can't fully fathom and can only hope to fully imitate. God's Valentine didn't need scissors, but His Words cut right to my heart. God's Valentine didn't need glitter, but it shook up my life and left me glowing and vibrant. It took everything He had to make it. No treasure can compare.

In everything we do we leave a message. We leave a mark when we aren't even aware. Sometimes these messages are love-filled treasures, sometimes they are marks that are better off erased. What messages of love are you writing on those around you? Are you living to treasure God's message of Love for you?

Love . . .and leave a mark.

Get Real with God ~ Like Snow

I grew up in Michigan. As a kid I was quite familiar with harsh winters that seemed to start in October and last well into March. To the kids in my town, snow was a toy and we knew how to use it.

In elementary school some friends and I formed a pretty nice little business during recesses. For 25 cents we would build igloos for other children. For 50 cents we would build furniture to go inside. Our snow furniture was a big seller on the playground and we took it very seriously. We built snow arm chairs and couches that were a huge hit. My friends, Andy and Julie, would bring washcloths from home that we would wet down with hot water from another friend's thermos. We would use the hot cloths to melt and smooth our creations turning them into pretty cool icy sculptures. We spent our whole recess designing and creating in the snow, but by three o'clock each day we had to leave them behind.

Sometimes we would arrive at school the next day to find that the afternoon sun had been hotter than we had thought. The heat would leave pock marks in our creations that we'd have to fill in and sand down with warm water to smooth out again.

Sometimes a rotten high school student would pass our snow furniture and kick them down to ugly, formless piles of snow. We would spend entire recesses correcting the damage and re-building.

Other times we would ruin a structure ourselves by putting too much weight on them. Again we would re-build. This was, after all, our wintertime passion.

I think God takes the same approach to our lives. He passionately pours His energy into perfecting us and building us in His image. Then life happens and, like with the sun on our snow furniture, a piece of us starts to melt. Like the sun, you can't stop these things from coming. Think of a trial you didn't ask for and didn't invite, something that happened naturally. Maybe the death of a loved one. God shows up in the circumstance and He fixes the hurt. He wipes away the tears and makes a clean surface.

There are also trials that are forced on us by the world we live in. Think of the pesky high school student. Some people just seem to enjoy knocking down our faith. Once they're done with us, it might look pretty bleak. Our confidence might resemble the snowy rubble. God shows up again though, right on time. He starts from the ground up and rebuilds us better than we were before. He makes a miracle that no one dares to mock.

Then there are times when we blow it ourselves. We apply too much pressure and we fall short of God's plan. We feel like failures too broken to ever be fixed. Once again, God comes on the scene. We really think that He'll just throw his hands up in disgust and count us a total waste of time, but He stays. He kneels down and He picks up the pieces and he gets to work. While He corrects our mistakes He speaks to our hearts and reminds us of His plans for us. He extends forgiveness to us and promises to wipe away our failure and totally forget it!

Our God is passionate about His creation: us. He wouldn't leave us in destruction. That's a pretty nice thought.

In Psalm 51:7-10 NKJV it says:

(7)Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

(8)Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

(9)Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

(10)Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."

If you doubt that God is capable or willing to clean up your mess check out Isaiah 1:18... "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 NKJV.

That sounds like an amazing offer doesn't it?

Get Real with God ~ High & Lifted Up

High and Lifted Up

James 4:10 NKJV says, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” In John 12:32 Jesus says “And I, if I am high and lifted up from earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

I imagine my life like being on the teeter-totter with Jesus. I press my weight against the seat and put all of my force into lifting Him up. He’s so high up that everyone around can see Him and feel pulled like a magnet toward His grace. I smile at the accomplishment, humbled by His willingness to be lifted up by simple little me. I’m amazed at the strength He’s given me to do the job of spreading Him to my world.

Just as I’m caught up in His presence high above me, He drops to the earth and sets His feet in the soil and He lifts me up with His grace.

Wow! He returns the favor and we go back and forth exalted, humbled. That’s the way life should be. It’s an ongoing act of surrender and reward.

Watch a child play on a teeter-totter and you’ll see a joy of taking turns. They have a complete satisfaction whether in the air or resting on the ground.

I want to be exalted by God and I’m willing to be made less to see Him glorified to all men.

Motherhood is one of these acts.

Sometime the diapers, dishes, and daily grind of Motherhood leave me feeling unimportant and somehow less valuable. My act of serving my family isn’t unimportant to God though. My love and care for them points my family to God and lifts Him up. Then God trades up and He exalts me. He lifts me up when I’m tired and He shows me off. I’ll stay on this ride forever.

Get Real with God ~ When My Head is Spinning

When My Head Is Spinning

I hate merry-go-rounds. I avoid them at all costs. One quick twirl will send my stomach into knots that far out way any potential thrill. I hate to be dizzy. I can’t stand the lack of control.

Any dancer can tell you how to avoid this tummy upset. You set your eyes on something prior to the spin and “spot” as your head turns. I know this trick from my time in ballet classes, but even there I couldn’t seem to keep my focus through the spin.

Remember the head spinning, nauseating feeling of birth? Remember the focal point that centers the room and your mind until the last push and the beautiful sound of the crying baby?

When your head is spinning it’s easy to draw inward. It’s natural to shut your eyes and will the spinning to stop, but it rarely works. We need to have focus.

When our world is spinning and the issues we face are dizzying we have to set our eyes on our focal point, the only one who can stop the spinning and steady us- Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 45:22 NKJV says, ”Look to me and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

I crave, and pray for, the resolve to set my eyes on Him. I strive to focus on Him and never flinch when my head is spinning.

Get Real with God ~ Safe on the Slide

Safe on the Slide

It is amazing to me how fast I can maneuver around a slide when my little ones are on it. I’m right there climbing up the ladder steps providing a shield from the ground below, but as soon as the little tush is seated I fly down and rush to the bottom of the slide with my arms ready to catch and hug my little adventurer.

God does the same thing. It never fails. I find Him at the peaks of my life providing a shield for me. He guards me from my pride when I’m feeling on top of the world. He keeps me focused and prevents me from feeling overwhelmed by the climb. He blocks my eyes from the fear of the steap incline and he keeps me safe. In the valleys and low places of my life He’s waiting at the bottom, cheering me on. His arms are ready to embrace me and His hands lead me around to the other side to climb the steps again.

He never leaves me, and you can count on the fact that He will never leave you either.

Sometimes my eyes deceive me. Just like a child standing before a playground slide, my eyes get big at the sight of the enormous climb and the depth of the drop. My mind is so psyched that it’s hard to trust and I forget His presence.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV says, “Be Strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 9:10 NKJV says, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

After a while a child begins to relax and trust the parent to move into the places that provide security. That’s what I strive for in my walk with God. I want to expect His presence in all of the ups and downs of my life. I don’t want to hesitate when the mountains I face seem exhausting. I want to remember Him at the top and trust Him to wait for me at the bottom. He’ll never leave me, or you. Isn’t it amazing?

Get Real with God ~ Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?

Remember the Fisher Price toy telephone? Of course you do. Your little ones might even have one.

I remember sitting on the floor with my Mommy beside me trying to teach me what numbers to dial in an emergency and drilling me on my home phone number. The eyes on the toy telephone would wiggle and bounce at me and I was too distracted playing with my Mommy to really care about emergencies.

Now I’m the Mommy teaching phone numbers and watching the thrill in their eyes at being beside me to learn. We’ve moved five times since my oldest was born. That’s a lot of numbers. Chances are good they won’t remember these numbers 20 years from now. They’ll remember their time with me.

I think prayer is a lot like this. We need to teach our children to pray. We need to sit with them and teach them the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11). We need to train them to be with God through prayer.

But think about it, do you remember every prayer you’ve ever prayed? They probably won’t either. We need to teach them that prayer is not all about requests or the words we use to communicate. Just like the numbers they’ll remember so briefly, the memory of each prayer will slip away. What matters are the moments that we sit at the feet of God, just being in His presence feeling caught up in His love. We need to teach our children to get excited in the presence of God to the point that everything else fades.

Prayer is as much an act of listening as it is of speaking. Sometimes I imagine God saying “Can you hear me now? Are you ready to listen? I have a plan if you’ll just be quiet and hear it.”

Psalm 85:8 NIV “I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly.”