Mirror, Mirror

 

My YouVersion Bible study last week was called, "Daily Jewels- Aligning Your Crown As A Daughter Of The King."  The description for the plan said, "Look around. In the midst of chaos, there is always a jewel to be found. Daily Jewels is a 7-day devotion that calls you to boldly align your crown as a daughter of the King. Join me on a treasure hunt to discover the extraordinary jewels hidden in the ordinary places."

 

I thought Saturday morning's was outstanding.  It was called, "The Dreaded Mirror."   The author wrote, "I have made a habit of using the words “fat, ugly, plain, old, and gross” when I see what is reflected back and there are just some nights I don’t want to face it. You can basically say, “I beat myself up.” "  She continued, "The feeling of wanting to be invisible consumed me, until God showed me in Genesis that “We were created in His image.” I read that scripture one day and the Lord gently said, “Stop bashing me.”"

 

This reminded me of a Bible Study Les taught more than a decade ago.  I blogged about it and decided to re-post the entire thing:

 

Les taught a really good Bible study last Wednesday night. "God's Image versus Self Image." He brought out so many points about how our self image is based on family or friends or Hollywood instead of remembering that we are made in God's image.

He challenged us to look in the mirror first thing each morning and say to ourselves, "YOU are made in the image of God." I've been trying to remember to do that each morning. If I remember I am made in God's image I'm going to do a better job taking care of myself. Les and I had a really funny exchange as we were getting ready for church Sunday morning:

Les: What do you see in the mirror?
Me: Bushy eyebrows...
Les: Uh!! (with much eye rolling and shaking of head)
Me: Well, that's what I was looking at! I know, I'm made in the image of God. I guess God has bushy eyebrows...

What a difference it makes when we aren't trying to look like the latest rising star or the thinnest runway model or the tallest basketball player! We all have days when we would rather not even look in the mirror. On those days when you're looking at eyebrows that are bushy, or hair that is flat, or a figure that isn't what it use to be, remember:

You are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
  
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

Feeling better, now?

Imposter Syndrome

The Tour de France is one of the many things that has been canceled or delayed this year.  The three week race usually happens in July, but the 2020 edition happened in September.  Irishman, Sam Bennett, won the green sprinter's jersey.  (You can read all about the Tour and the various jerseys in my Lessons from the Peloton here and here.)

 

In an article from Cycling News, Sam talked about his emotions.  From teary eyed to joyful.  But this statement is what really caught my attention, "sometimes you can have a little bit of imposter syndrome that you don’t know if you’re good enough to be in this position."

 

Imposter Syndrome.  I've been chewing on those two words for several days now.  We notice when someone is puffed up with pride, but what about those who never accomplish anything because they don't feel they're good enough?  An article from Unlocking the Bible addressed Imposter Syndrome and Christianity.  The writer describes Imposter Syndrome:

The imposter syndrome is the name our culture has given to the constant feeling that you do not belong to your own community or that your accomplishments are illegitimate. Far from humility, this is an irrational state of paranoia that causes us to think of ourselves more as we think less of ourselves.  (source)

My Bible reading this week took me to the book of 1 Corinthians. Chapter 12 contains an interesting passage about the body of Christ and its members. Paul gives a clear illustration in verses 15 through 21:

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

It's interesting that Paul spends more time talking about the parts comparing themselves to another part. Only verse 21 talks about an eye or a head saying they don't need another part. How often do people get discouraged because they compare themselves to someone else? "Because I'm not the preacher, I'm not important to the body." "Because I'm not the head usher, I'm not important to the body." "Because I'm not..."

 

It would be an awfully strange looking body if it was entirely made up of eyes. God is the Designer. Just as He designed our bodies to function, so He designed each of us to function within the body of Christ. Be who God called you to be.  Grow your talent.  You are God's child and that's all you need to know to know that you do belong.

Repost: Promises to Make or Break

While working on yesterday's post, I spent some time reading old posts here on my blog.  I stumbled on this one that was posted almost a decade ago - July 28, 2010!  These promises that we need to make or break will help us on our journey to fear not.

I read an interesting article in the latest edition of Endurance News which is published by Hammer Nutrition. Although the focus of the article is geared toward athletes, it was easy to relate it to other areas of life as well. What goal would you like to accomplish and what is holding you back? Have you made promises to yourself that you need to break?

Promises to Make

Resolve that you will do this for fun
The pain = gain crowd eventually loses interest, because in the end it is impossible to keep up something you don’t enjoy.

Promise not to focus on beating someone else in a competition
Why should you let someone else decide for you whether you are successful? Your true competition is yourself.

Promise to trust yourself.
You are not lazy, you are not inept, and you will improve. So many athletes negate their success by telling themselves they cannot succeed. They are right.

Promise to do what you are doing.
I often see people who want to be fit trying to read a book while they stair climb or listen to music while they ride. They never seem to make any progress. All the best athletes I know pay full attention to what they are doing.

Promise to keep other life goals intact.
A friend of mine let his business languish while he put everything into qualifying for the Hawaii Ironman, and almost did. It cost him five years to put his business affairs back together. He became overweight and stopped his athletics. But there is a happy outcome. I now see him running and riding and since he has aged up, maybe he will achieve his objective.

Promise to try something new.
If you find the long distance cycling training for triathlon pleasant, maybe a double century is the direction you should go. How about unconventional multi-sports events involving kayaking
and mountain bike legs?

Promise to finish.
A finish in a challenging event is always more satisfying than having gone fast at some point, only to fail and DNF.


Promises to Break

Limits to ambition.
If you vow you will never do an event longer than an Olympic triathlon, you may later find that a half iron distance event is actually more fun. I once told myself I would never do an event I couldn’t complete in one day, only to find I really enjoyed multi-day bike races.

Promises to slow down.
So many athletes reach a point where they stop trying to go faster and from there they begin a slide towards giving up entirely. The essence of these sports is that they are a challenge, so a promise to participate halfheartedly is to miss the main point.

Keeping to a preordained race plan, no matter what.
You can sometimes save a race by abandoning intended pacing in favor of one that that feels right and matches the conditions you experience on the course. Last fall in a very hot 12-hour time trial, I slowed after hour 9 when the temperature became an issue. Several of my age group competitors then passed me as they kept hammering onward. But they all dropped out by hour 11 and I won the age group.

Promises to maintain a set schedule of goal paces and times.
You might be observing these standards, when they are beyond your ability or current level of fitness. If you blindly persist it will likely lead to injury or sickness. If your plan is going south as you approach race day you may well find that a somewhat more free form approach will work better. Once in a while forget about pacing and do some runs and rides just for pleasure. Often your fitness will improve and your goals become obtainable as you find your own natural pace.

Promises to quit.
Some athletes do this at some arbitrary age or when they can no longer maintain some previously obtainable pace. I once promised to reach my athletic peak at age 55 and indeed I did finally do an Ironman when I attained that age. Then I realized that I could still get better, so I broke that promise and went an hour faster the following year.

Thus, I have found that many promises I have made were unworthy of me and I have benefited greatly from abandoning them. Do you have commitments that are not working for you and holding you back? If so, by all means break those promises.

- by Bill Nicolai

Having an Apostolic Attitude

We enjoyed Tuesday night Bible study at New Life Pentecostal last night.  Pastor and Sister McGriffin had been in Tennessee for General Conference and some family time so this was the only Tuesday night we got to hear him this trip.  He taught about "Having an Apostolic Attitude," from Philippians 2:3-8.  I forgot to bring a notepad, but I did manage to get a few notes on my iPad.

Deciding to follow Christ makes you a success. Just deciding that means you have the attitude of a winner.  But it is possible to be filled with the Holy Ghost and have a rotten attitude. We also know people who know nothing about God who have positive attitudes. 

We need to start looking at trials and tests as opportunities to be better in Christ.  We need to connect the right attitude with the power of the Holy Ghost and our opportunities will be limitless. We live in a restricted dimension when our attitude is wrong. 

Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" The Amplified version says, "Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:"

Ability is what you are capable of doing

Motivation determines what you do

Attitude determines how well you do it. 

- Lou Holtz

Sounds like we're about to have an attitude check. 

In addition to an altitude indicator, a Lear jet has an attitude indicator. The gauge lets the pilot know what position the airplane is flying relative to the horizon. If the nose is down, you are descending.  Even if it is just one degree, if you don't do something about your attitude you're heading for a disaster. This is why some people crash in the kingdom of God. They ignore the signs directing them to check their attitude. 

Change the attitude of the airplane it changes its performance.  When the attitude is lifted, things start heading up. Change your attitude. 

There is a technique called attitude flying.  We need to learn how to engage in attitude flying and maintain an Apostolic attitude that makes sure we're climbing. Our performance will improve. 

If you are always pointing your nose down, you are going down. Think up, look up, be up!  Jesus said "lift up your eyes." Exist in a dimension of ascending attitude. Engage in spiritual attitude flying. 

Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."  To have the mind of Christ we have to have a selfless attitude. Not about me, but how I serve others.

Philippians 2:6-7 says, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"  Jesus was secure in who He was. Our salvation is in Christ so we have no need to be insecure. Insecure people are hard to get along with.  Jesus was selfless and secure. It is dangerous to see yourself as being spiritually sensitive but not being submissive to the will and word of God. 

Giving 100%

I've been doing some much needed Spring cleaning in our office/music room.  I'm scanning and recycling songs, sermons, and lessons that have been taking up lots of space in binders.  I stumbled upon something from a music conference from many years ago and just had to share it!

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint it goes like this:  

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?  

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?  

We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.  

How about achieving 103%?  

What makes up 100% in life? 

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:  

If:   

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

is represented as: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then: 
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K is
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%    

and  

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E is

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96% 

But, 

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E   is
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100% 

 

Now,  look how far the love of God will take you:

LO-V-E-O-F-G-O-D is 
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101% 

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: 

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

In Memory of Sister Connie Ballestero

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Sister Ballestero, although I know she fought a good fight and finished her course with joy.  For her there is no more sorrow, but a crown of life in the presence of the Lord. 

What a great lady!  The wife of the late Reverend Carl Ballestero, she was a familiar face at Truth Tabernacle in Fresno. Her smile was contagious and her hugs wonderful!  She lavished love on everyone who allowed her.  We were blessed by their presence many times. 

Sis. Ballestero and me, April 1985

One memory, in particular, comes to mind.  It was some time in the mid 80s.  Many of my friends and I were single and "waiting."  Somehow, Sis. Ballestero convinced Elder Morton to give up his home for an evening so she could spend time with us (he may have been out of town, I don't recall at this time.)  It was a Friday night I will never forget.  Sis. Ballestero talked to us about walking with God and waiting on Him, she prayed with us, and I know she laughed with us!  It was such a memorable time.  We finally went to sleep and were surprised the next morning with homemade cinnamon rolls!  She was the first to get up and had them ready to go in the oven as soon as we started waking up.

As I think about her, the same thing I wrote about Sis. Margie Becton comes to mind, one word: Joyful!  She knew Who held her hand and she walked with Him until the end.  Her beautiful smile said, "I trust Him, He's going to take care of me."  Her son, Bro. Martyn Ballestero, has written of her ability to turn a bleak meal of beans (for a solid month) into a fun time of pretending they were eating fried chicken or corn on the cob.  She lived up to her name - Content Faith!

Please remember the entire Ballestero family in your prayers.  She will be missed greatly.

Are We There Yet?

Les and I were discussing his Sunday school lesson for this past week. The topic was patience. Job is the one we always look to as an example of patience, but we spent some time talking about someone else...

Caleb was one of the 12 spies sent out by Moses. He and Joshua were the only ones who came back with a good report. Caleb "stilled the people" trying to convince them to go forth at once. (Numbers 13:30)

Caleb then received a promise from God. Yes, he would have to spend 40 years in the wilderness, but he would get to go into the promise land.

Fast forward 40 years. The next generation is going in to the promise land. We don't hear a word from Caleb for another FIVE years. Every bit of the land is conquered when Caleb says to Joshua "Give me this mountain." (Joshua 14:12)

Caleb was 85 years old when he received his inheritance. He watched all of his peers die. He watched others settle into the land. When Caleb gets his land, then "the land had rest from war." (Joshua 14:15) As far as I can tell, Caleb was the last one!

What an example to follow! How many times have we watched someone else receive a blessing or a healing or an answered prayer while we are still waiting? The definition of patience is "cheerful or hopeful endurance." It's waiting with a smile, even when others receive their promise.

Don't despair when your answer doesn't come as quickly as you'd like. Hebrews 10:36 says "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Do the will of God and trust Him to send the promise... even when it take 45 years!

When Bitterness and Ambition Intersect

We started revival with Bro. Greg Ballew this week and it has been so good. Tuesday night he preached from 2 Samuel chapter 16 about David, Absalom, and Ahithophel. It wasn't the point of his message, but he made a statement that I have been chewing on since. He said it is a dangerous thing when bitterness and ambition intersect.

Bitterness destroys the one who is bitter. Ahithophel was known to give counsel to both David and Absalom. 2 Samuel 16:23 says, "And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom." But Ahithopel was also the grandfather of Bathsheba, the one with whom David had an affair. Bitterness towards David was in the heart of Ahithophel and he used it when speaking to Absalom.

Selfish ambition causes one to stop at nothing to get to the top. Absalom was the ambitious one. He wanted to be king of Israel. 2 Samuel 15 tells of Absalom stealing the hearts of the people of Israel. He worked towards the goal of becoming king for forty years.

The end of the story for the ambition of Absalom and the bitterness of Ahithophel was tragedy. Absalom was killed in battle and Ahithophel hung himself.

How different the story would have been if Absalom and Ahithophel could have read Paul's words to the Ephesians: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Hold on to Your Hat!

What a weather week we're having! (Now say that five times fast!)

Monday was like a summer day - it was in the 70s while we were riding our bikes and we had a high of 91.


Tuesday was normal and yesterday was more like "winter" - about 48 when I got up to ride, completely calm.

Now today... today is a different story! It was 58 at 5:30 with howling winds! Gusting up to 35 MPH. More than once while I was running a gust of wind would grab my hat and yank it right off my head!!


I thought it was fitting that my Verse of the Day is James 1:2-3:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

God's Word translation puts it this way: "My brothers and sisters, be very happy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance."

Life is general is so much like the weather! We can check the forecast, but even knowing the forecast doesn't change the weather. Just as running in the wind produces endurance physically, pressing on through times of testing will produce endurance spiritually.

What happens around us in largely outside our control, but how we choose to react to it is inside our control. We can throw our hands up in defeat or we can choose to trust God for his solution.
~ Mom's Bible

Mirror, Mirror

Les taught a really good Bible study last Wednesday night. "God's Image versus Self Image." He brought out so many points about how our self image is based on family or friends or Hollywood instead of remembering that we are made in God's image.

He challenged us to look in the mirror first thing each morning and say to ourselves, "YOU are made in the image of God." I've been trying to remember to do that each morning. If I remember I am made in God's image I'm going to do a better job taking care of myself. Les and I had a really funny exchange as we were getting ready for church Sunday morning:

Les: What do you see in the mirror?
Me: Bushy eyebrows...
Les: Uh!! (with much eye rolling and shaking of head)
Me: Well, that's what I was looking at! I know, I'm made in the image of God. I guess God has bushy eyebrows...

What a difference it makes when we aren't trying to look like the latest rising star or the thinnest runway model or the tallest basketball player! We all have days when we would rather not even look in the mirror. On those days when you're looking at eyebrows that are bushy, or hair that is flat, or a figure that isn't what it use to be, remember:

You are:

• Made in the Image of God
• Chosen by God
  
• A Child of God
• An Heir of God
• A Joint-Heir with Christ
• A King and Priest Unto God
• The Apple of His Eye

Feeling better, now?

We Are All Runners

I posted this quote a while back:

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.

I realize some of you are thinking, "I don't run anywhere." Well, Pastor White preached from a verse Sunday night that says otherwise. Psalm 119:32 says, "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."

Yes, we are all runners. We are either running the way of His commandments or running from His commandments. There is no standing still in this race. We're all runners. So lace 'em up and run the way of His commandments!

Promises to Make or Break

I read an interesting article in the latest edition of Endurance News which is published by Hammer Nutrition. Although the focus of the article is geared toward athletes, it was easy to relate it to other areas of life as well. What goal would you like to accomplish and what is holding you back? Have you made promises to yourself that you need to break?

Promises to Make

Resolve that you will do this for fun
The pain = gain crowd eventually loses interest, because in the end it is impossible to keep up something you don’t enjoy.

Promise not to focus on beating someone else in a competition
Why should you let someone else decide for you whether you are successful? Your true competition is yourself.

Promise to trust yourself.
You are not lazy, you are not inept, and you will improve. So many athletes negate their success by telling themselves they cannot succeed. They are right.

Promise to do what you are doing.
I often see people who want to be fit trying to read a book while they stair climb or listen to music while they ride. They never seem to make any progress. All the best athletes I know
pay full attention to what they are doing.

Promise to keep other life goals intact.
A friend of mine let his business languish while he put everything into qualifying for the Hawaii ironman, and almost did. It cost him five years to put his business affairs back together. He became overweight and stopped his athletics. But there is a happy outcome. I now see him running and riding and since he has aged up, maybe he will achieve his objective.

Promise to try something new.
If you find the long distance cycling training for triathlon pleasant, maybe a double century is the direction you should go. How about unconventional multi-sports events involving kayaking
and mountain bike legs?

Promise to finish.
A finish in a challenging event is always more satisfying than having gone fast at some point, only to fail and DNF.


Promises to Break

Limits to ambition.
If you vow you will never do an event longer than an Olympic triathlon, you may later find that a half iron distance event is actually more fun. I once told myself I would never do an event I
couldn’t complete in one day, only to find I really enjoyed multi-day bike races.

Promises to slow down.
So many athletes reach a point where they stop trying to go faster and from there they begin a slide towards giving up entirely. The essence of these sports is that they are a challenge, so a promise to participate half-heartedly is to miss the main point.

Keeping to a preordained race plan, no matter what.
You can sometimes save a race by abandoning intended pacing in favor of one that that feels right and matches the conditions you experience on the course. Last fall in a very hot 12-hour time trial, I slowed after hour 9 when the temperature became an issue. Several of my age group competitors then passed me as they kept hammering onward. But they all dropped out by hour 11 and I won the age group.

Promises to maintain a set schedule of goal paces and times.
You might be observing these standards, when they are beyond your ability or current level of fitness. If you blindly persist it will likely lead to injury or sickness. If your plan is going south as you approach race day you may well find that a somewhat more freeform approach will work better. Once in a while forget about pacing and do some runs and rides just for pleasure. Often your fitness will improve and your goals become obtainable as you find your own natural pace.

Promises to quit.
Some athletes do this at some arbitrary age or when they can no longer maintain some previously obtainable pace. I once promised to reach my athletic peak at age 55 and indeed I did finally do an ironman when I attained that age. Then I realized that I could still get better, so I broke that promise and went an hour faster the following year.

Thus, I have found that many promises I have made were unworthy of me and I have benefited greatly from abandoning them. Do you have commitments that are not working for you and holding you back? If so, by all means break those promises.

- by Bill Nicolai

If We Were All Eyes

My Bible reading recently took me to the book of 1 Corinthians. Chapter 12 contains an interesting passage about the body of Christ and its members. Paul gives such a clear illustration when he states in verses 15 through 21:

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

It's interesting that he spends more time talking about the parts comparing themselves to another part. Only verse 21 talks about an eye or a head saying they don't need another part. How often do people get discouraged because they compare themselves to someone else? "Because I'm not the preacher, I'm not important to the body." "Because I'm not the head usher, I'm not important to the body." "Because I'm not..."


It would be an awfully strange looking body if it was entirely made up of eyes. God is the designer. Just as He designed our bodies to function, so He designed each of us to function within the body of Christ. Be who God called you to be! Find joy in your calling, no matter how great or small.

Every talent, strength, and compassion is a gift of God.
- Mom's Bible

Badges of Honor

I saw an advertisement for "The Runner's Rule Book" in my most recent Runner's World magazine. ("Great Holiday Gift for Runners!") The subtitle is "Everything a Runner Needs to Know - and Then Some."

Rule 1.4
Black Toenails Are Badges of Honor
But that doesn't mean you have to flash those badges at everyone you meet.

I can so relate to that! My middle right toenail is black today and I'm wondering if it's going to fall off. I've also lost both of my big toenails, at least twice. But I will NOT be posting pictures! It's just too gruesome!! Yes, they prove that I'm a runner (or a total klutz) but they are not something I'm going to share with the world.

Just as I am not showing my black toenails, for the most part, I choose to keep negativity to myself. Does that make me hypocritical? Does that mean I'm hiding hurts, worries, and frustrations from the world because I don't write at least one "venting" blog a week?

I've questioned myself more than once when I haven't written about certain things. I have, and will continue to, post prayer requests. I hope I can challenge each of us to do better from time to time. A few weeks ago I started a post about a bad mood I was having but decided to delete it. My bad mood was not a badge of honor, and it definitely did not need to be seen by everyone I met!

I find the greatest example of this in Mom's Bible. Page after page is filled with handwritten notes that are repeatedly upbeat and positive. If you did not know that she was going through chemo and radiation, losing her hair and her youngest son during those years, you would think her life was charmed. But she CHOSE to focus on the good. So in honor of her memory, I CHOOSE to make this blog about the good. I can direct you to a number of news websites if you need to read some bad news!

What happens around us is largely outside our control,
but how we choose to react to it is inside our control.
We can throw our hands up in defeat
or we can choose to trust God for His solution.

- Mom's Bible

What Really Happens to Shepherds

While I was listening to Christmas music the other night, I listened to my favorite musical. "Child of the Promise" was written by Michael and Stormie Omartian. It is one of the most Biblically based Christmas musicals I have ever heard. You can turn to the book of Luke and just follow along as the songs are being sung.

"Child of the Promise" came out in the year 2000. With the release of the album was also a nation-wide tour. Les and I saw the performance at the Pond in Anaheim and enjoyed it so much. The cast included Steven Curtis Chapman as Joseph, Crystal Lewis as Mary, Russ Taff as Gabriel, Russ Lee as Herod and many more.

Then there were the shepherds...


The group 4Him had the distinguished role of the shepherds and their part is still one of my favorites. The set was not the usual elaborate stage that most Christmas musicals have. It was very simple. For the shepherds, there were just a few sheep and they were stuffed animals! Here is the shepherds' song, entitled "Nothing Ever Happens to a Shepherd"

It's cold out tonight in this God forsaken place
And we're stuck here with a thousand sheep
While life is exciting everywhere else
The highlight of our day is sleep!
Shepherds are notorious for making little profit
We garner just enough for room and board
While everyone else wallows in their wealth
We're financially ignored

'Cause nothing ever happens to a shepherd
Life is boring as can be
While exciting things occur all over the world
Nothing ever happens to me
Nothing ever happens to me

It's lonely out here in this isolated job
Our position is without esteem
We're socially challenged, we're society's scourge
We're not exactly every woman's dream!
Shepherds have a humble purpose
Of our fate, few people care
Sometimes I wonder if God knows we exist
If He does, I'm certain He's forgotten where

Nothing ever happens to a shepherd
I'm common as common can be
While exciting things occur all over the world
Nothing ever happens to me
Nothing ever happens to me

Shepherds are the lowest of the low
Our lives are void of mystery
Except for David killing Goliath
No shepherd will go down in history

'Cause nothing ever happens to a shepherd
I'm common as common can be
While exciting things occur all over the world
Nothing ever happens to me
No, nothing ever happens to me

At this point, Gabriel and a multitude of angels appeared, stunning the shepherds that something actually happened to them!!

Do you sometimes feel like those shepherds? "Nothing ever happens to ME." Maybe you're a Sunday school teacher, or you sing in the back row of the alto section, or assist in bus or van ministry. You don't have a fiery pulpit ministry or sing solos for the choir. But if you'll look closely at any church, the platform is not the largest part of the building! It takes more than a platform and those who are on it to have church.

Don't be discouraged! When Jesus talked about the talents in Matthew chapter 25, each servant was rewarded for being "good and faithful." We do not know what any of the servants' talents were. I imagine their abilities were varied, but there is no mention of what those abilities were. It didn't matter. All that mattered was faithfulness!

When the shepherds are spoken of in Luke chapter 2, they were not anticipating a heavenly visitation that night. They were "abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." They were doing their duties, being faithful.

Keep being faithful, whatever your duties may be. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" Colossians 3:32. Who knows, God may have a surprise for you just around the next corner!

Answered Prayer!

This is the face...

of someone who just ran in the RAIN!!! Yes, that's right! It is raining this morning!! There's been a storm in the forecast for a few days, but you know how that is. It might rain and it might not. When I got up this morning it was cloudy, but dry. 54% chance of rain. That's 46% chance of NO rain in my book, so I headed out.

About a mile from home it started sprinkling, then coming down a little harder! As the water was hitting my face, all I could do was laugh! I've been praying for rain. I posted about it here and here. What was I going to do? Shake my fist to the sky and say, "Lord, I wanted rain, just not now!!" Instead, I said, "Thanks, Lord, we really need this!"

I had to decide if I would continue running or not. I was close enough to home to quit, but decided to enjoy it instead. After about half a mile, it stopped and I continued on my way. Just as I made my final turn towards home, with about 3 miles to go, it started raining again. Oh, but I knew that when I got home, a warm shower awaited. With about a mile to go, I remember I had the ingredients for pumpkin muffins, so those went in the oven before I took my shower!

And that is exactly how life is. It is not a matter of IF a storm will come, but WHEN. 54% chance of trial, means 46% of smooth sailing! But it's what we do when the storm comes that counts. We can cover ourselves with a protective shell, hoping that life won't hurt us, but we'll never grow that way and we'll never know the joy of coming through the storm. And remember, there's a Home prepared and it's more than pumpkin muffins waiting for you!

I'm sitting here now, clean and dry, and have enjoyed 2 muffins! I don't regret running in the rain!!

UnLIMBited Attitude!

I received an email with pictures of a darling boy. A darling, smiling, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. Who is also a double above knee amputee. After looking at his pictures and thinking about how cute and amazing he is, I told Les, "He has amazing parents!"


I also had to know more about him. This little doll is seven-year-old Cody McCasland and you can read all about him by clicking on his name. In a nutshell he was born with a rare birth defect called Sacral Agenesis that caused his legs to form both missing tibias and knees. He has had 15 surgeries in his short life but has always had a cheerful attitude!


As a spokesperson and multi-year grant recipient from Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), Cody has been able to train, travel and compete in various athletic events, and to act as an inspiration for others, such as our military professionals that have come back from Afghanistan and Iraq with amputations. Cody has been allowed the opportunity to meet with several of these servicemen, spending time with them and showing off his "unlimbited" abilities.


So what's holding YOU back??