The Meandering Mind of a Christian Woman

            Have you ever experienced something so wonderful that you couldn’t decide whether to share it with the world or to hoard it for yourself? It is as if giving it away will somehow lessen the experience. I frequently feel that way about my relationship with God, it is intensely personal, especially my prayers. Praying allows me to spill it all before the Lord. I don’t want to spill it all with another human being. You see, God keeps my secrets, he cherishes my praise and he readily forgives my sins.             There are some moments too special, you can share them with another but they really don’t get it because it isn’t the same as being there. You know how it goes; trying to share a funny story and you’re laughing so hard, you finally get the story out and your friend just grins. Then you say, “I guess you had to be there.” But when I share with God it is so deep and intimate because he was there! He is always there! I love those moments.             Matthew 6:6 “But

            My favorite Christmas carol is “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him” just the word ‘adore’ has so much feeling in it. It means to love and respect someone deeply; worship, venerate . And the melody of the refrain is also in the right key for me (don’t ask me what that key is; I just know I can hit the notes.) When I give it my full voice, I truly feel the spirit of worship deep in my being.             If I could bottle that feeling and break it out whenever I’m just not feeling my faith, it would be so awesome. Yet, I wonder if it would lose its zest were I to have access to it all the time? Would it become routine? Would it be like a steady diet of rich foods? That would not be so good. In the book of Daniel, we read about Daniel and his friends becoming part of the king’s chosen. He was to be fed food from the king’s table, rich foods; but he asked for special favor to eat a diet of vegetables for ten days (Sorry vegans, I’m not promoting the lifestyle). It was risky on the pa

                It is the time of year when Christians reflect on the birth of Christ. For me, Luke chapter 2 is as good as it gets, Linus from the Charlie Brown Christmas special thought so too as he quoted from the chapter. Having been to Bethlehem and viewed the Shepherd’s Field as well as a manger representation it goes even deeper.                 The shepherds field is uneven and rocky, there really isn’t much to protect one from the wind. Certainly, the shepherds were grubby, being a shepherd in those days was not the most respected of positions either. Yet, God chose this sampling of humankind to be the first to see His son. The appearance of the heavenly host was the most majestic thing about Jesus’ birth, but they didn’t appear to Mary and Joseph, they appeared to shepherds! Everything else was humble to the extreme. Born of a virgin, translation- unmarried, teen, Mom. Born in a stable – this is actually more like a cave than what we think of as a stable. The animals were

Have you ever heard the argument; how can a loving God send people to hell? These people don’t realize that it isn’t God ‘sending’ them anywhere, it is their choice, heaven is always an option. To be perfectly honest for a long time I struggled to refute that argument. Because I also fell for that rhetoric. In reality going to hell is a choice just like heaven is. Believing in Jesus, the son of God, and that he lived, died and lives again to cover our sin is the criteria for going to heaven (very simplified). We accept and expect criteria for earthly things; why is it so difficult to place heaven and hell in the same framework? One expects that to go to a fitness center or a price club, a membership fee and identification as a member will be required; but doesn’t expect that there are criteria for heaven? Paradise? I suppose it’s hard to accept that Jesus already paid the membership fee. People feel that they have to do something on a grand scale to earn the privilege. Perhaps the

            I have heard that the closer we are to God the harder Satan fights to pull us away. It occurs to me that perhaps America is fighting to get closer to God because it sure feels like Satan is doing his hardest to pull us away. I have the impression that the voices of nonbelievers are being accentuated and the voice of believers is muted. (Don’t get me started on the media) I have seen posts of people saying the prayer doesn’t work. The thing is, we don’t know how many evils are being thwarted because of prayer because those things don’t make the news.             You see, God doesn’t do the glitz and glamour of the world to get our attention. He is a steady, constant, trustworthy, and not going anywhere being. He doesn’t need to do the showy things, as demonstrated to Elijah.             1 Kings 19:11-13 “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart

            Are you like me? Does the media frustrate you, whether liberal or conservative? The bias is everywhere and it causes one to wonder if we ever hear the real story. Why do they choose to promote the news stories that they do? As I write this we have just experienced another mass shooting, yes, that is news. It concerns me however, that it becomes the sole focus and creates a tunnel vision that leads many to the idea that there is nothing good in America. While I am not by any means discounting those who were injured or killed, we, who believe in salvation through Christ should not take part in fear mongering. “Do not fear” is in the bible more than 300 times. It also reminds us that “ in this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33) but it goes on to say “…But take heart! I have overcome the world.”             A hymn that has often brought me comfort is, I’m but a Stranger Here; Heaven is My Home . Yes, people are hurt, sick, and dying every day but there are so many m