Updates

Gliding through God’s Fingerprints

This summer, we rented paddle boards as we headed north to Lake Michigan. We were looking for recreational activity but as often happens, a spiritual connection was also made. I love how God speaks to me as I immerse myself in creation.

The paddle quietly cuts through the big water, and with each stroke I am taken further from shore. Further from the trappings of the world, the noise of children and the scent of sunscreen and campfires. It’s just me and THEE gliding across the unusually glassy lake.

Beneath me I can see the occasional fish or the rock formations, but it is the ripples in the sand that soothe my soul.

The gentle undulating patterns are from the currents as the rhythmic water laps. At the shore line it crashes as it rolls and rolls. But out away from the shore, the gentle waves billow on silently rolling and lulling the board as it cuts its own swath through the lake.

The ripples that decorate the lake floor remind me of what the fingerprints of God must look like. They, like the postcards from heaven sunset I am paddling toward are the small vestiges of the Master artist.

His gentle smooth and wavy designs at the bottom of the lake are pristine, they are untouched. They are my private art exhibit. I lose myself in them as I paddle on. I ponder God’s fingerprints on the story of my life.

The Master’s hand is a genius. His artistry is not only evident in creation but in our lives. I think of the times he deftly plucked me from danger, the times he skillfully steered me in the right direction and the times he’s made the divine connections with those who’ve greatly impacted my trajectory.

I also think of the trials, frustrations and disappointments I’ve experienced and laid at the foot of the Cross, sometimes more than once. Who hasn’t prayed prayers that were not answered in the way we intended for them to be? Even in disappointments God’s fingerprints are evident in our lives. He continues to mold and shape us into the vessel he wants us to be. We are being sculpted, refined and defined by the Master’s Hand. The same hands that carved the Grand Canyon. The same hand that hangs the stars each night.

We need only to yield to his touch and to his hand to fully realize our potential and purpose in this life. If you are struggling with an area of life that seems burdensome or devastating, just remember you are not walking it alone. HE wastes nothing.

One thing amazing about his artistry is that it is true perfection. HE makes no mistakes.

POINT TO PONDER: What area of your life is a work in progress? What lessons have you learned from experiences that were horrific initially? ACT NOW: Share those experiences and offer hope to the hopeless. Be a beacon!
Catch us Monday thru Friday at 7:15am EST for #HOPEscope on www.periscope.tv Look for Connie P. Shoemaker or kissedbythecreator!

10 Treasures from Tower

God was glorified at a powerful weekend at Tower Presbyterian Church in Grove City last weekend! We connected with the Ladies on the topic of HOPE as an Anchor for the Soul. Our topics included: How Hurts Grow Us, How God loves us, and HOPE as anchor.

1.God is Faithful

2.You are never too old to learn something new

3.There is no such thing as “too much” sea glass

4.Hidden struggles brought into the light lose their power over us

5.Old friends are good friends to have

6.Power Points can be made last minute and work

Discussing a Knot in our lifeline to the Anchor of our souls.

7.Counseling sessions can make you hungry

8.When there is purpose to our pain, it is easier to bear

9.Stories of God’s faithfulness never get old J

10.There are NO “chance” encounters

Below are the 10 Truths that Tammy has learned and gleaned and shared in her Testimony by request!

When we go through trials we must believe these truths:

1. There is a specific purpose for my trial whether God sends it or allows it.

2.This trial is designed to meet His purpose in my life.

3. Trials prove to be good if we respond in faith.

4.Trials can strengthen our faith.

5.Trials allow us to demonstrate perseverance.

6.Trials will develop Christ-likeness in me.

7.This trial will help me measure my spiritual maturity. (He is making us who we are designed to be)

8.God will walk me through this trial.

9.God is in control of the time and intensity of my trial.

10.By God’s grace and power I will overcome this trial.

Our team was so blessed. A wonderful team of ladies put together a lovely atmosphere with every detail in the beach theme. The food was amazing and the decorations delightful.

We ended in worship and praise having accomplished the goal of sharing how important Hope is, and our role as Christians in being a Hope-giver to the hopeless.

A special thank you to the Tower team, especially Lisa Flick for all her hard work! May He continue to till the hearts of all who attended.

Living Water

Vibrant. Brilliant. We eagerly scoop up the luscious looking stones in various colors and put them into our treasure bag. “Look at this one Mom,” Hannah shows me a brilliant red stone and Rachel carries over a green stone.

Back at the camper we reviewed our finds and empty the treasure bags filled by the lake. Now dry, the stones looked dull and drab. Ordinary. Having lost their luster, we couldn’t even tell which stone was whose. They looked nothing like the treasures we eagerly picked up along the lakeshore.

Before frustration and disappointment totally set in, I grabbed a bottle of water and poured it over the rocks in my hand. Once again, the colors burst forth like fireworks on a hot summer night. In my hand I once again held the colorful treasure now restored.

What made the difference? It was the water. Devoid of water the stones look like nothing more than driveway stones worthy of a toss. The water made them appear alive and vibrant and something to be treasured. Much like us.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:38

It’s the Living Water or Christ in us that makes us appear vibrant and brings life into our souls. It’s the Living Water that keeps us from leading a lackluster life. When we become parched, dry and distant from the Living Water, our spirit is rendered barren, and cracked.

Crevices are where things can hide or take root. Our spiritually dry fissures become places where the enemy can gain a foothold. These gaps take the form of looking the other way at sin, or justifying ungodly behavior. The dark dry places of our hearts are fertile ground for secrets and apathy.

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” – John 4:14

Immersing ourselves in the Living Water regularly is crucial to living a life that glorifies the Lord. When we are infused with His truth and His presence, our lives can’t help but reflect Him. When we radiate His presence, people are attracted to HIM in us. His goodness and mercy and grace shine brightly in our lives.

We were drawn to the stones for their beauty. It was their reflection in the water that caught our attention. Like the stones bathed in water lively sparkled and beckoned to us, a soul swathed in the Living Water becomes a beacon.

We weren’t made to be a lackluster, dry, stone that is cast aside or overlooked. We shouldn’t want to be a treasure missed. We need to be saturated with His presence. We want to be a brilliant find, one that can point the seeker to the source of water that will never run dry.

POINT TO PONDER: What does your life currently reflect? Are there places in your life that could benefit from a good dousing of Living Water? Some creative ways to connect with your Creator were listed on the blog here: Feel free to connect with me, I would love to share some ideas and encourage you.

Check out #HOPEscope the Weekday Show on www.periscope.tv at 7:15 am featuring quick devotion and prayer to start your day HIS Way!

Wildfires and Flourishing in Barrenness

Wildfires 2015, These photos are from a friend of mine…her view…her life…her reality..

Jenny's back deck — View from Jenny’s back deck

Back in 2010 I wrote the blog below. It was more of an essay on flourishing in barrenness. Currently, as I watch the fires rage out West, my heart is ripped apart thinking about the devastation. I’ve been praying for those in the path and those dedicated to halt its progress.

There really can be beauty from ashes, you have to look hard. I can imagine how hard it must be to see through the smoke and tears out there.

2010 Post

During a powerful windstorm I was watching leaves fiercely being plucked from the tree in my front yard. The afternoon wind relentlessly yanked the amber leaves until at dusk; all that remained was the skeleton of the tree.

How beautiful that tree was at sunrise and by night fall it was vastly changed.

It made me think of Job. Job woke up one day on the top of the world and in a short period of time he was stripped of his wealth, his family, and friends.

How many times have I been stripped of something and temporarily my faith goes with it? As a writer, rejection is a huge part of my life. Sometimes I allow rejection to strip me of my confidence and belief that I am doing what God has called me to do.

I watched a documentary on Yellowstone. They were discussing forest fires. Looking at the the barrenness left behind by devastating forest fires, I was heartbroken at all the glorious green that was turned to rubble and stripped by the raging flames. The charred blackened earth looked desolate and barren, similar to the way my spirit feels sometimes.

I learned about a certain tree whose seeds can only regenerate after a fire. Yellowstone geologists showed tiny shoots that emerge amidst the black barrenness within days of the fire. They even mentioned that the burned out area is like a firewall of sorts that will protect the area from another fire for up to 100 years.

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house.” Job 42:10-11

so-much-to-do-so-little-time@blogspot.com — [email protected]

Interesting that growth happened in the midst of what seemed to be desolation. Growth with roots! Job was restored, the forest regenerated. So the trial yields something beneficial?

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire test and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So that when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7.

ACTION ITEM (added) Pray for the people in the fire…literally the firefighters as well as the Jobs in your life who are under fire spiritually!

Point to Ponder: Are you in a season of barrenness or testing? Do you feel God allowing things to be stripped away? Look deep perhaps you will see the tiniest shoot of growth, it may be small but it has the potential to grow into a flourishing forest of faith. Enduring the stripping seems worth it when you know the outcome will be positive – that is His Promise!

5 ways to Creatively Connect with the Creator in Prayer

“Our Father who art in Heaven….” I remember our nightly ritual, brushing teeth and bed time prayers with folded hands. I knew the prayer by heart. I could offer it up in my sleep, and often said it as my Father carried me to bed. As I got older, those words became more powerful and the practice of prayer more personal. I began to learn about the value of personal prayer. Coming from a charismatic background I’d seen prayers for healings yield lengthened limbs, and bid diseases away. I saw doors of opportunity open and relationships restored as a result of prayer.

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces

wonderful results.” (James 5:16b NLT)

Sometimes our prayer life can become routine or stale. I felt like my prayers were becoming laundry lists of petitions lacking sincerity. I decided to shake up my prayer life a little by reading some devotionals and old school prayer books and was blessed by how new the practice of prayer became.

Last Blog we discussed visual reminders to keep a focus on God’s presence, this blog I am going to share with you some things I’ve incorporated that keep me focused on prayer time and block out distractions

1 My prayer beads were a gift from my ministry partner. They are smooth and purple.

Sometimes I will just hold them as I pray each stone representing a different prayer of thanksgiving and I’ll go through them again with petitions…helps me balance my conversation with God. Sometimes I will just sit quietly and thumb through them allowing for silence for God to speak.

“The LORD is near to all them that call on him, to all that call on him in truth.”

(Psalm 145:18)

2 I am known for writing the name on my hand of someone to pray for throughout the day. (YAY for Sharpies) I also keep a dry erase pen in my bathroom to write on my mirror and shower door so that I can be prayerful while I am getting ready for work. “A day hemmed in prayer is not likely to unravel” (Note: Do not confuse Sharpie w/dry erase. Much harder to get off mirror; lesson learned the hard way.)

“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

3 This past year, I have been making coloring part of my Sabbath. I will sit on my

back porch with soft music playing and chose a picture, while I color it, I lift my prayers to God. It makes prayers less rushed and more heartfelt. I find the contemplative quiet in between is so beneficial to the “Listening” part of prayer. It really is a two way conversation.

“Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. Gods voice in response to mine is its most essential part.” ~ Andrew Murray

4 Journaling prayers has always been a part of my life, but I had gotten away from keeping record of answered prayer. Answers are such an incentive and encouragement to our prayer lives. The bible is full of answered prayers which show the Power of Prayer. Journaling our prayers gives us a gentle reminder that the God who answered us back then….is the same God we are seeking today.

5 These prayer stones were stones I intentionally

picked up on Lake Erie several years ago. I wrote topics on them in sharpie and set them in a basket. Throughout the day I would take one out and pray about that specific need and lay it on the table. At the end of the day the basket was empty and I had some great unstructured conversations with God. Often I will leave a particular stone out to remind me to pray about an issue that burdens me. It prompts me to be a “Prayer WARRIOR and not a prayer WORRIER”

I am super excited about the movie coming out called WAR ROOM – it looks fabulous and is centered on prayer. Check out the trailer here : http://warroomthemovie.com/

Prayer is part of a Christian’s daily walk. Prayer is connecting to the Creator. You don’t get to know someone by only spending one hour a week with them. Talking with God daily will increase your faith and your connection to him. We are called to pray without ceasing in Thessalonians 5:17.

My prayer is that you will find a method that works for you and that as you grow deeper in your relationship with the Savior; Prayer will become something you crave.

POINT TO PONDER: What can you incorporate into your prayer life to make it more meaningful to you and to the Lord?

What is a tzitzit?

I was sharing with my #Periscope* devotion group #HOPEscope* about how I often use visual objects to keep me focused on God during the day, and during my prayer time.

This particular day we were discussing how he is our firm foundation. I mentioned that HE is our Rock. The lyrics “On Christ the solid rock I stand” were playing in my head. I showed them a rock I set out as I reminder of this truth. I mentioned the variety of other ways that a visual person, such as myself, can use items to represent truths and remind us of scripture.

Rocks represent the Christ who is the Rock on which I stand

Sometimes it takes something to pull our thoughts back to our Creator. In my ministry I often leave the audience with a token, a book or a bookmark to help them remember what was shared. I’ve gotten emails from people even years later who mention they still use the token to remind them of a particular truth.

For a visual person, images are extremely powerful in processing the world. As a lover of Nature and the Creator, I often see the fingerprints of God where ever I look outside. My heart longs for the sea constantly as I feel HIS presence so strongly there. My connection to the Creator is both enhanced and strengthened by the visual.

God's thoughts of us outnumber the grains of Sand. Psalm 139:17/18 — God’s thoughts of us outnumber the grains of Sand.
Psalm 139:17/18

Today I was reading in Numbers 15:37-41

“³⁷The Lord said to Moses, ³⁸“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. ⁴⁰Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”

Even God saw that HIS people needed tangible reminders of his commandments or his words.

These reminders were called tzitzit [tsiˈtsit] the Hebrew name for specially knotted ritual
fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and today by observant Jews and Samaritans. They were a tangible reminder ordained by God.

A collection of nature photos and verses.

Now these were the same people who saw the seas parted and manna fall from heaven. They “experienced” first hand (not just read about) intense miracles and blessings from the very hand of God. They were first and second generation evacuees from Egypt…and yet…they forgot. They got sidetracked from God and what he required.

God created us. He knows how we think. He knows how we can be distracted like the Israelites. The world is a busy and noisy place and it causes us to be sidetracked much like the Israelites were. If distractions were prevalent back then before electricity and social media…flash forward.

POP up ads lure people into situations that are unholy. We have beeps/whistles/passwords and codes. We are forced to remember so much other information that often what God speaks to us gets shoved out or put aside. While I have seen Social Media used for good and to positive ends, there is no denying that it can become a huge time waster and massive distraction.

It is prudent that as believers we utilize whatever means possible to remember the

commandments and promises of God. Having tangible reminders visible helps pull our focus back to our Creator. It might mean setting our phone alarm to remind us to pray or study the word, or putting a Post-it note on our computer. I don’t see many of us sewing tassels to our clothes. The word of God doesn’t change though our visual reminders might.

Sea Glass reminds me that God can take Trash and make into treasure.

39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.”

The word consecration literally means “association with the sacred”. I want to be associated with God how about you?

Next blog will be focusing on Prayer and Tangible ways we can stay focused or make it more meaningful!

POINT TO PONDER: What visual reminders speak to you about the awesomeness of God?

(*Periscope is app where my show #HOPEscope airs mornings after 7am and eves after 8pm I am over there at ” kissedbycreator “)

Soul Fire

I watched her collecting twigs. She gathered them diligently and then sat down at the fire ring carefully building a pyramid of sticks. It was the beginning of a nice fire and I told her so. But she replied, “I don’t have time to build a big fire, I just want to feel the heat now.” It was 37 degrees and the sun had just set so warmth was a definite need.

She grabbed some dryer lint from our fire supplies and torched the twigs. They burned big and bright and put off some great flames and heat…for a about a minute. Her disappointment grew before the last ember faded. A cool breeze tossed the papery white ashes across the campsite leaving no evidence a fire ever existed, just moments before.

We talked about fires and to really feed a fire it needs to be built in stages until the base is hot enough to catch the harder, bigger, solid wood. Then not only does the flame last but the heat that it gives off will continue to give off warmth long after the flames die because the embers of a hardwood continue to give off heat for hours.

As we talked we rebuilt the fire and eventually with time and patience and the proper fuel had a fire for smores, supper and snuggling long into the night. The next morning she was able to add some bark and pine needles with a few small sticks to the still warm embers from the night before. In no time she had created a lovely morning fire.

It made me think about our faith journeys and what it takes to ignite our passion and walk with the Lord. We need fuel. If we slack off and cool down the embers of our faith, they are much harder to rekindle. The fuel we use to build and grow our knowledge and faith in Christ needs to be constant. A diet of light twigs such as feel good teachings with a big flourish but little substance will not keep us stoked and on fire for the Lord.

The fire that fuels our souls has to be more than just kindling. To be strong in our faith we need to look to the Pillars of Faith. Those teachers that stood the test of time who lived and died sold out to God. We need to dig deeply into the word of God and feed on its truth’s. We need to go regularly to the foot of the cross.

Tossing in some spiritual feel good fluff now and then to fan the flames isn’t a problem as long as the balance of our diet is the solid teaching and truths that will sustain us long after the kindling turns to ash.

Soul Fire Starter Recipe:

15 Minute Tune Up

Be still for 2 Minutes
Be Thankful for 2 minutes
Be Quiet for 2 minutes
Be in the word for 5 minutes
Be prayerful 4 minutes

Camp Fire starter Recipe:

Cardboard Egg Carton or paper Dixie cups
Dryer Lint
Wax (old candles)

Fill the the containers with dryer lint then pour melted wax over top of the dryer lint. Sprinkle a little more lint on top to float on the surface. Cool. Place in fire build over top and light the fire starter. It will burn for approximately 15 minutes.

Point to Ponder: What have been good fire starters for you when you’ve hit a cool spot in your faith? How have you gotten your faith journey back on track? Share it with us

ACTION! Congratulations Lisa from Grove City on winning our April contest. Our May contest will feature some campfire fun for the family. Winner will be drawn June 1st. So leave a comment and sign up to enter!

Hand crafted by God

It was Palm Sunday when the photo of my soon to be 21 son came onto my phone. My eyes were drawn to Jacob’s hand. The one that was boasting a thumbs up on a 12,000 foot peak. In China. China? How did my little boy go from lying on the floor and playing with Matchbox cars to a Man on top of a mountain half a world away. How did his chubby little fingers turn into the strong man hand that found its way to China?~Time.

Earlier that day, because it was Palm Sunday, I was contemplating the hands of Christ. Now I know that Palm Sunday is really about the branches…from a palm tree. But my wordsmith mind was busy juxtaposing the whole vine and branches and nails in the palm and what must it have been like for Mary.

Mary, the mother of Jesus and the first holder of Jesus’ hand. Her son too found himself on top of a mountain. I wonder what she thought. When she received Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh as baby gifts did it plant a seed of knowing or did the whole trajectory of Holy Week take her by surprise? Culminating by weeks end with the raw groaning pangs of seeing her little boy’s palms brutally pierced and bleeding.

Her boy was innocent. He was falsely accused. Her hands were tied, his fate was in the hands of his Father. I can remember going to bat for my son when he was falsely accused and standing up for him in his defense. Mary didn’t have that chance.

Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus which sent him to the cross.Palm Sunday forced my thoughts back to the hands.

God’s hand shaped and formed universe and he breathed life into all of humanity.

“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” ~ Isaiah 66:2

The hand of God punished.

“You who have forsaken Me,” declares the LORD, “You keep going backward So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting!” ~ Jeremiah 15:6

The hand of God saved and protected.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”~ Isaiah 41:10

His hands Healed.

“Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” ~ Matthew 8:3

His hands offered proof.

“And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” ~ John 20:20

From His beginning and from ours we have been in the palm of His Hand. He goes with us, he will never leave us. He never lets go of us. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was falsely accused and willingly executed on our behalf. When life becomes a handful, remember who is really holding it all together.

Point to Ponder: Has there been a time when you truly felt the hand of God in your life? How did you know it? What did it feel like?

Nothing Artificial Added

Nothing Artificial” “All Natural” is what it says on my peanut butter, my orange juice and the almond milk in my fridge, (Yikes the Almond milk is 2 weeks past the ‘use by’ date). A toothpaste and a deodorant or two are in the cupboard boasting the same status, “all natural”. Shoes in (my husband’s) closet have a label stating Genuine Leather – no man made materials.

If there was a label on my heart…what would it say? Have you checked the label of your faith lately? What ingredients does it testify?

What does it declare?

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. Immersing myself in reading and teaching of people who are genuine Christians and discovering those who are less so. Now, hang on. I am not judging here, but just trying to see what GENUINE faith yields. Exploring what a GENUINE relationship with Christ looks like in life and just this week in death. Pondering if my Faith is Genuine enough to withstand what God might call me to.

Is my heart GENUINE enough to lead? Is my relationship with Christ authentic enough? Am I the real deal? Could I be a counterfeit Christian?

One of blogs I’ve been following is Kara Tippets http://www.mundanefaithfulness.com/home/2015/3/22/homecoming which chronicles her journey and fight against breast cancer. It’s heart wrenching and faith challenging. She was the real deal in life and in this past Sunday…in death. She recently posted:

“I feel too young to be in this battle, but maybe I’m not in a battle at all. Maybe I’m on a journey, and the journey is more beautiful than any of us can comprehend. And if we did understand, we would hold very loosely to one another because I’m going to be with Jesus. There is grace that will seep into all the cracks and pained places when we don’t understand.”

Last year I walked a similar journey with a dear friend that ended last May just like Kara’s. Since then my blog has been mostly silent save for a few musings. During the hiatus I have been struggling with what Genuine Faith looks like and do I have it? Below are some journal thoughts

Hebrews 11:6 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Am I pleasing Lord?

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21. “Not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Will I be one of those let in?

I want nothing artificial or man made on the ingredient list for my soul or heart.

I want the banner of my soul to read, Organic, Genuine All Natural, Nothing Added.

What characterizes a Genuine faith or an authentic heart for God?

To live a life dependent on Christ means we must be humble. We need to be “Christ Sufficient” not self sufficient. It’s not about us, if we are honest. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. Therefore anything we accomplish is because of GOD. Proverbs 25:9, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

Am I humble enough Lord?

The status of our heart depends on what it craves. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:2) I watched a movie where this verse was quoted: “Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Hunger for God’s Word is always a characteristic. Our cravings and the nourishment that quenches it speak volumes about the authenticity of what we allow to fill us up.

“What do I hunger for Lord?”

How do we get filled up? E. M. Bounds wrote, “What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use…men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”

Are my heartfelt prayers real enough Lord?

After exploring what makes for authentic or genuine faith, I made a list for myself of things that could hinder it. What is the “man made” stuff that spoils the “organic” or “all natural” state of my faith?

Some of the artificial ingredients I found were:

Distractions and rationalizations that keep me from prayer.
Pride that wants to take credit for the things that work in my life.
Giving in to unhealthy cravings or feel good gospel that in not in line with scripture.
Filling up on worldly things to satisfy my hunger pangs.
Uninspired prayer.

I am working toward a more authentic relationship with Christ which hopefully will result in a genuine faith.

Point to Ponder: What would the sign over your heart or the label on your faith read? Leave a comment below about what defines “Genuine” or “Authentic” faith for you.

Those who comment AND sign up on the email list (top right) will be considered for a drawing of a special Kissed by the Creator token that is 100% Natural. Totally Genuine and Nothing Artificially Added. Prizes will be awarded on April 15^th!

Enter Today!

Our God REIGNS…even when it rains!

Weather has always fascinated me. Currently I am dealing with Rain…did you know?

1: Rain can fall up to 22 miles per hour.

2: One droplet of rain stays in Earth’s atmosphere for about 10 days.

3: Rain isn’t a teardrop shape, it’s actually ovular.

4: Every second, 16 million tons of water is evaporated from the surface of Earth.

5: Every second, 16 million tons of water precipitates back onto Earths’ surface (Water Cycle!).

( according to: http://explainers.nysci.org/post/72706480434/5-facts-about-rain-you-probably-didnt-know-1)

Scripture is fraught with references to weather. There is talk of clouds, sun, storms, rain, snow, lightening, thunder, and of course, the famous one…the flood. This is one I can relate to currently as the water rises in my basement. It’s a combination of snow melt and spring rains and a situation that started when our township forced residents make mandatory changes to our septic systems.

The process took all the solid matter like clay, and years of packed dirt out of our back yard and replaced it with new gravel and porous material along with slanting the back yard toward the house, much to our dismay.

Now this current flood is not as bad as ones we’ve had in the past or as destructive because we’ve somewhat prepared for it by storing items in plastic and raising things off the floor and adding second pump. However the clean up is daunting. Drying out and taking precautions to prevent mold…its all so draining (no pun intended) but as I sit waiting for the waters to subside I think about the fact that Our God REIGNS…even when it rains.

This entire situation reminds me that when we lose the solid – the bedrock firmness of our faith…when we replace the solid truth with porous stuff that is easily moveable our faith becomes ripe for the flooding of the world into it.

As the world seeps into the crevices we’ve allowed – often under the disguise of “tolerance” with the lies of “just this once” or “I won’t actually do it, just read about it” the leaking makes our truth dank, moldy and repulsive.

The foundations of our faith, just like the foundation of my house are vulnerable to penetration unless we are surrounded by a firm solid wall of protection. Not only can our faith suffer, but our witness as well.

It’s hard not to get mired down in our soggy wet storms and take our eyes off the SON. When we do that we are left with just soggy wet feet. Our trials or storms can lead us to grumble and complain which can breed bitterness if left unchecked. If we keep our eyes on the Son ~ HE will give us the opportunity to turn our valleys into victories.

People are watching. Unbelievers are watching. Our children are watching how we navigate the flood waters. Where is our higher ground? What do we cling to as the waters swirl around us? Will our actions encourage others to follow to where we’ve set our eyes?

Ironically or perhaps not I stumbled across this verse today:

The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. ~ Psalm 29:10

Preparing for the flood starts in the heart. One of the ways we can stand firm as the water rises is to seek the LORD first.

As I listened to the rain and saw the water seeping in, despite two pumps working to keep it at bay, I had a choice. I could let this destroy my attitude and my day or I could ask God to turn it into something that would bless others.

Hopefully this little “blessing” of a reality check will give you the incentive to check the walls around your faith. How firm is your foundation? Will it be ready when the flood waters come?

While writing, my playlist hit on this song by Jesus Culture: Our God Reigns. If your spirit is in need of a little revival you might want to take a moment, crank up the speakers and revel in the REIGN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jpf7q4VnRU

Point to Ponder: Are you ready for the rain? How can you show God Reigning in your life to someone who is watching?

Kissed by the Creator