Lies in Need of Vaporizing and Truths that Do the Job

The green vapor of venom wafted past my heart.

Lies. 

Subtle Lies. Loathsome Lies. Bold Lies  Twisted and evil lies.

“You are not enough.”

“You are unworthy.”

“You are invisible.”

“You are pathetic.”

I wasn’t expecting the odor nor the hissing sound, of the vile venom, that came out of nowhere.

I’m getting better at sensing their presence and knowing their smell.  

They reek and resonate of destruction.

These lies from the past or the present, they come to me when I am weary and worn down from the troubles of this world, troubles that taunt me to believe that I am not truly who I am – Whose I am.

Lies.  Like old tapes and stinky smells, they come in to our senses and try to convince us that we are not worthy and not loved by God.

But they are just that – LIES.

My dear reader, maybe you need to hear this today – YOU ARE LOVED, DEEPLY, SACRIFICIALLY and WITHOUT END.

But don’t take my word for it, take His.

You are redeemed (Rev. 5:9). 

You are Christ’s possession (1 Cor 3:23).  

You are free (John 8: 32-36).  

You are a friend of God (John 15:15).  

You are chosen (James 2:5).  

You are a child of the light (Ephesians 5:8).  

You are significant (Phil 3:20).  

You are loved (John 3:16). 

Period. Amen.

What lies taunt you?  What truths help vaporize those lies? Take heart, dear friend, Jesus is crazy in love WITH you and He is FOR you.

A Silly Oversight with Cupcakes

This is my drawing of a cupcake ... not a tub of popcorn!

My middle daughter invited a few girls over for a group project. I rushed off to the grocery store to pick up some cupcakes.  Generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of ‘group projects,’ so I thought I’d try and make it fun.  Like a party!

The thing is, in recent years I find I need my glasses more and more.  Early on, I only needed them for reading, but now … well, I probably should get to the eye doctor, because my eyes are starting to slightly blur, even at mid-distances.

Anyway, I was NOT wearing my glasses. 

I went over to the display case, and picked up two packages of brightly frosted cupcakes. 

I went home.

I served the cupcakes to my eleven year old and her friends.

The next day, while working in the kitchen, I glanced at the leftover cupcakes, this time with my reading glasses ON.

Martini glasses.  What I saw was small, plastic martini glasses (complete with painted olives) on the top of the cupcakes!

“Honestly,” I mumbled to myself, “I sure hope those little girls didn’t bring home the decorations, and show their parents the fun free gift that they had on their cupcake!”

Slightly, embarrassing!

Reminds me, though, that there are some things I need to keep put my physical glasses on for (and apparently, cupcake shopping is one of them!) , and lots of things I need to keep my spiritual lenses on for.  Sometimes, things just aren’t as they seem!

Life is humbling, but the Lord is always giving us opportunities to connect life with the eternal … even in a plastic martini glass decoration!

How about you?  Any humbling, silly experiences got you thinking about the Lord, lately?

Will I Trust Him Even When I Do Not Understand?

It’s not that it was something bad; it’s just that I had a sense that the timing wasn’t right.

I had to hold back on an opportunity for one of my children.

I knew she was disappointed.

“Why can’t I do it, mom?  It will be fun! I’ll be fine!”

There were a number of reasons I didn’t want her to go.  I knew she was tired and I knew what was on the schedule for the days to come.  I knew a few more things, though, too. Things that I felt were not necessary for her to understand at this point.

“We’re just not going to do that today,” I encouraged her, my hand of gentle care and concern, cupping her heart.

“But, why?” she pleaded. “Why?”

She persisted. I listened.  

And then wise words welled up from deep within me, and I spoke softly to her.

“Honey, can you trust me?  I think you’re tired, the days ahead are going to be full, and I just don’t think that this is good for you, today. Will you trust me, even if you don’t understand?”

She thought about it for a few minutes. Who can blame her? Trusting when reasons are not crystal clear, is not easy.

“Yes, mom.  I trust you.  It’s hard, but I will.”

You see, sometimes I am the little girl with plans.  I have high hopes of wanting situations to go a certain way. I have things to do, places to go, people to spend time with, and I think they are good – good for me. 

But there are times in my life, like right now, when God says, “No, my dear. Not now.”

I pleadingly persist, and He listens.

And then I finally listen, and realize that He says to me what I did to my daughter (I knew I had learned it from somewhere), “Are you willing to trust Me, honey? I know you are disappointed about My holding back on an opportunity for you. However, I think you’re tired. The days ahead are going to be full; I planned them. Furthermore, I don’t think that what you are asking for is good for you, right now; I know a few things that you don't need to know right now.  Will you trust me, even if you do not understand?”

(sigh)  

(sigh, again) 

His soft voice searches the hesitant, doubting corners of my heart.

And I finally choose to trust Him, believing that He knows what is best for me and for those around me. 

It’s not easy. He never said it would be.

What about you? Do you have a hard time trusting the Lord when the path ahead seems to be uncertain, when life doesn’t make sense?