And the answer is...

A few summers ago I was working outside on my front lawn. Several cars had passed by and I wasn't really paying attention. I was caught up in the tree that I was pruning. Another car passed by. Then, all of the sudden backed up and stopped. That got my attention.


The lady who had stopped lived exactly one block from my home. She, her husband, and their son had gone to our church for a brief time, but had quit coming. In fact, it had been over a year since they had come. We would smile at the grocery store or in the neighborhood but not much more. She had stopped that day to tell me what her preschooler said as they drove by. She said that they were driving by and their son Troy saw me working, he pointed at me and said, "Look! There's Jesus!" The truth is I was Troy's teacher in the preschool room at church for just a short while, but when he saw me, Christ is who came to mind.

All Christians have been given a high calling. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, ..."we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us."  People look at you and  check out your holy meter for the day. But guess what? They should! And it is not for you to prove, but to live!


Have you thought about how much God loves you today? He does! He is waiting to whisper hopes and truth through his Word moment by moment. He is waiting for you to be a living breathing example of his love.


My life is going through some changes. No worry I have placed on it or plan I have made has not made results come any quicker. People are watching. Many are praying (thank you). This week my husband got his last full time paycheck from this church. Four kids, life responsibilities and we are going to be bi-vocational. Randy, my husband, is starting a new job that has yet to match our income. Most people think we are crazy. It reminds me of when we came to San Marcos nine and a half years ago to start a church with three kids (one was a baby) people thought we were crazy... me too. It hasn't always been easy, but we have seen lives changed and God has made our lives better for being here.

So big surprise, the God who has never failed is on the move again working his will in our lives. I don't know if anyone who drives by my house will point at me this month and say there's Jesus, but I hope they drive by and say there are the folks who love Jesus, and he is at work in their lives.

What would someone say if they drove past your home?


Romans 1:17 "The righteous will live by faith."

Knock knock, God's There

If you have ever spent significant time with a preschooler you learn very quickly to never start the dreaded knock knock jokes. It goes from silly to eye rolling very fast. It begins with one goofy joke and rolls into a stream of silly jokes that become the equivalent of a bad Las Vegas comedy act. Today I read Revelation 3:20. It said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock, If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." Why that verse made me think of knock knock jokes, I have no idea. I think perhaps because of the line that comes after knock knock; which is, of course, who's there?

Who's there? In regards to Rev 3:20, how about the King of Kings?! Imagine, Christ came to earth, lived among us, taught us, healed us, blessed us, showed us how to live, died for our sins, conquered death, and rose again. What is Christ doing after that impressive list? He is standing at the door knocking. It is not just any door. It is yours and mine, and ANYONE'S door. Christ came to save us and he is ALL IN!

This past week I was praying everyday and fasting some of those days. I plan on fasting and praying this week as well. I pray all the time, but there is just something about adding the element of fasting. I believe fasting is a physical reminder of taking our eyes off ourselves and placing them on Christ. Christ says, " if anyone opens the door he will come in and he will eat with them, and they with me." Eating together and being together with Christ is powerful. It is a feast we could never have or afford if not for Christ.  It is more than asking "who's there" because when we answer the door we are really discovering "what's there."

When I started last week praying and fasting I sounded more like the preschooler doing her Las Vegas act. Instead of knock knock jokes I was going on and on with my long list. I was just broken and I was listing my needs. You know, on the whole it is okay to ask. I need answers, and I want them from God.

God wants us to ask, but I believe God wants us not to only ask for what we think we need, but to ask Him what does He want for us. You see, I only know what I know... and that ain't much these days. God has these amazing answers that can only be summed up as WOW! I tell folks, "Listen, the reality is you are going to go through life, and at times, trials. The question remains are you going to go through them alone or with God? Because you are you going to go through them one way or the other."

It gives me comfort knowing that God wants in! He is knocking even when I don't think He is available. I need to listen close for His knock. God wants in. The price for opening the door is allowing God to come in and change your menu from mac and cheese to steak with all the trimmings for two. Join me at awake21.org. You might open your door and if you do, you will find God sized answers.

Check out this sweet preschooler I found on you tube. She has a great knock knock song for us all. May we have sweet child like faith to live out these words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1DHGL2r9vE

Getting Answers

Today Pastor Bil preached a great sermon. It was so good that instead of tithe I almost had to write, "payment for therapy session" on the envelope. He was talking about taking your life to the next level. Being married to a pastor myself, I know that the title Welcome to the Next Level is so much better than Hey Slob, Get Your Life Going! One of the verses in his sermon was Psalm 138:8 which says, The Lord will work out his plans for my life for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me. " (NLT)

I love that Psalm. Most scholars believe it was written on no particular occasion, but was instead a song of love, and provision about our mighty  God. In verses 1 - 5 the psalmist is praising God for answering his prayer. In verses 6 - 8 the Lord is dealing with both the humble and the proud. Bil's first point was simple. It was to decide what you want in 2011. He said later in the sermon that most people don't work toward a goal because they see the whole problem and don't take bite sized chunks to reach the goal. I would add that sometimes we see a big goal, we see a big God who is whole, and we see our inept selves and want to crawl in a hole.

What if you are so overwhelmed by the whole that you are confused as to what you want at all? Remember when you were little and a band aid fixed everything? The band aid was almost euphoric as it covered the pain, and it seemed to disappear. As we grow we realize band aids are a fix but they are not the solution. Do you know what you want in 2011? You do? Lucky! I can't say I am quite there. Some years it comes pretty easy. This year has started as more of a journey. The thing I want most in 2011 is for God to give me a clear vision for my life. 

I have a daily calender based from the book The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormy Omartian.Today she spoke about prayer itself. She said:
"Prayer is acknowledging and experiencing the presence of God and inviting His presence into our lives and circumstances. It's seeking the presence of God and releasing the power of God, which gives us the means to overcome any problem."
For me, today was not about moving toward, but moving forward. Seeking God and loving Him along with loving my family, my church, and others I get. How 2011 looks in the big spectrum is still a bit fuzzy. A little slack please. Our lives are changing. Our finances are changing (for the better or worse I can't yet say), and did you know no one asked me if I wanted them to change?! I am, as you say, along for the ride.

Today, I am making a conscientious decision to stop this ride and ask God for directions. I mean really ask as in REALLY ASK. I am choosing to be part of a movement called Awakening. You can find it at awake21.org. This is 21 days of prayer, fasting, and personal devotion. Honestly, I am perplexed this year. I have pieces of  God's direction but to say I see clearly... not so much ... yet. But God is so good. I know the result of truly asking God and that is He answers.

What is ahead that God would have me go to my knees this hard? (big breath) We will see.

(also from the sermon) "...fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of maturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
Romans 12:2 MSG

2011

43 years in and I am heading toward a new year. Each year seems sweeter than the next. Well, at least it can when you aren't in the middle of a crisis. I am in a bit of a crisis. Actually, I haven't decided if it is a crisis or a "mesis". A "mesis" is different. A crisis is a predicament you feel trapped in by circumstances that are beyond your control. A" mesis" is when you trap yourself in a circumstance and don't allow yourself to get beyond the situation. With 2011 fast approaching I am struggling to make goals that I may or may not succeed in but always have fun reaching for and it is all because of this cri/ me-sis I am in.

Don't get me wrong I want 2011 to be all that God will allow for my life and those I love. In fact, I pray that my main goal is to let God reign in all that He has for my life in 2011 and beyond. But you see, I have been struggling this week. Something I had hoped would happen didn't and it has raised doubts that effect who I am. More importantly it effected where I thought God was leading.Of course you know there is only one thing I can say in such a predicament... thank God for Okies. I'll explain.

It is true that I have lived in Texas for over half of my life, but make no mistake, I am a displaced Okie. I hail from the great state of Oklahoma. My husband and children (aka The Texans) put up with me. My extended family still live in Oklahoma and many great leaders,writers, actors, athletes and let us not forget singers come from (sing it with me) O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A! It was by chance (hmmm) that I felt led to walk into a store I had never visited. Obviously, still in a funk over my whatever-sis I went and  was touched by what I found. It was an embroidery shop filled with every cute whatnot a woman could want. On the walls were little plaques with sayings. One of the sayings was from an Okie named Will Rogers. On the plaque were nine little words. It said, "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." I needed that quote to remind me of something I already knew.

It reminded me of Paul. He had a lifetime of achievements that may have been squashed if he had lived in his yesterdays. When we read Philippians 3 we see Paul is not looking back. His eyes are focused with ONLY what is ahead. Why? I think God shared something with me a few years ago in my quiet time. When I read those verses in my quiet time that day, I was reminded that people feared him when he was first saved. Now walking with fellow Christians, it is totally plausible that Paul ran into people he hurt or folks who had been effected by what he had done before receiving Christ. On the day I read this I felt the Holy Spirit say, "What would have happened if Paul would have looked back and not ran ahead with me ?" I wonder if Paul would have focused on his past how very different his future would have been? Living in regrets there might not have been a missionary journey ... ever. He might not have spoken with such authority in his letters or stood before the various courts to share Christ.

When I read Philippians 3:13-14 I see those verses differently now. I see that we have to be "all in" with Christ. We don't make life happen, we just run in abandon with the Savior who does. The prize hasn't happened yet. THE PRIZE lies ahead. Mess up or not Christ still chooses you and me. He isn't finished till we see him coming on that cloud. Till then, we run!

Guest what? My whatever-sis still hurts. Guess what else? I have to lay it down. I have have run. 2011 won't wait and I don't want to waste this year because I am only promised one day at a time as it is. I have decided... it is 100% a "mesis".  Because while it is a crisis, I am holding it and not giving it to God.

What do you need to lay down in order to run with God?

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider I have made it on my own. But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal to win the  prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We are watching our four year old play with his favorite "present." It is a giant box that held his true gift. May you eat many cookies, laugh way too much, and celebrate God's love that came to mankind in the gift of His son.
God Bless,
Randy, Debbie, and children

Who Has Time for Christmas?

I was a 12 year old waiting for Christmas Eve dinner at my grandparents. My favorite uncle had flown in from California. He'd flown into Oklahoma City that morning and my mom and I took him immediately to the mall for some last minute present buying. Uncle Joel was the quintessential "fun uncle." He always had a present, a smile, and would play games with you when no other grown up would. I didn't think he was ever upset until I watched the evening news that fateful Christmas Eve.

The kids and a few others were in the den watching the 6 o'clock evening news. Just as they were about to sign off they said, "some folks are a bit bah humbug this year." They then flashed to a segment in the mall. There they had earlier recorded my uncle who said something along the lines of he couldn't wait for all this to be over. He was tired and he just wanted to rest! He had said it so cross. There was silence in the room and then we all burst with  laughter! We knew his heart. He loved Christmas it was just that getting there that year was a little harder than usual. We all went to dinner where he was lovingly teased the rest of the evening.

I must confess that I am glad no one is interviewing me this year.  I don't know what I would say. This has been a rough December. There is a rumor going around that December started 19 days ago, but where it has gone, I have no idea! This weeks forecast isn't much better. It promises to be partly cloudy in my brain with a 100% chance of extra services. I think if I were interviewed I might say something like, "Who has time for Christmas? I'm busy!" Parties, life events, shopping has kept Christmas at bay!

To all you who may agree with me, I have a warning. Beware of a very real Grinch, who is always trying to steal Christmas. In fact, he is always trying to steal, kill and destroy anything that has to do with Christ. This year is busy. We went from zero to sixty as we as a body of Christ kept the church going. There have been school parties and youth parties at my home. We just decorated our tree Friday and we always have it done the first week of December. Financial choices have come into play this Christmas and we feel grateful for what God has enabled us to do this year.

Who has time for Christmas? You do, and if you are like me you might need to be intentional about making time this year.Spend sometime in your prayers today pondering the mighty act of God coming in the flesh. He was born in a stinky stable, wrapped in strips of cloth, and placed in a food trough for animals. Think about how God told Isaiah 500 years before Christ would come, where and who and how it would all happen. Imagine being on a hill on a dark peaceful night (just like you had 1000s of times before) when all of the sudden BAM! Angels appear and tell you a lowly shepherd  that a baby has been born and he is Christ the King! That story only reinforces my belief that God not only has a divine plan, but a sense of humor as well.

One of my favorite songs is "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name, and to come to save me? Merry Christmas to The King of Kings who gives the greatest gifts of all. First he came to earth, second he died for our sins and conquered death. I can't wait for his third surprise. I know his  return will be amazing and I look forward to celebrating the true meaning of Christmas for eternity.

Isaiah 9:6b "... and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the ever lasting Father the Prince of Peace."

Pumkin Cheesecake, Weight Watcher's Style

A new friend of mine, Sharon Baijense, sent this recipe to me. It was amazing! I met her at the writer's conference. She had lost a lot of weight and has kept it off for quite a while. I wish her all the best as she shares her story with others.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 ½ cups low-fat honey graham cracker crumbs (12 whole cookies)

2 Tbs granulated sugar

2 Tbs light stick butter, melted

1 Tbs water

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2 (8-ounce) package fat-free cream cheese, softened

1 (8-ounce) package light cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened

1 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree/fresh pumpkin

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1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

2 egg whites

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1.       To make the crust, preheat the oven to 350*F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick spray. Combine the cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, melted butter, and water in a small bowl, stirring until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan and 2 inches up the sides. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on rack.

2.       Reduce the oven temperature to 325*F. Put the fat-free cream cheese, light cream cheese, and yogurt in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and process until just blended. Pour the filling onto the crust. Bake until the center of the cake is lightly set, 60-90 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven 1 hour. (Do not open the oven door.) Cool completely in the pan on a rack, about 30 minutes; refrigerate at least 3 hours before unmolding and slicing.

3.       Great Idea:  For a crunchy cheesecake topping, when preparing the crust in step 1, make an extra ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs. Spray a small nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the crumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool then sprinkle on top of the cheesecake just before serving.

 Per Serving (1/16^th of cake):  211 Calories, 6g Fat, 3g saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 42mg Cholesterol, 319mg Sodium,32g Carbohydrates, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein, 112mg Calcium. Points value: 4.

I found this recipe in WW Magazine Nov/Dec 2006 issue on page 141