Category Archives: Writing

God made the two great lights—the greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night; He made the [galaxies of] stars also [that is, all the amazing wonders in the heavens]. Genesis 1:16 (AMP)

I chose this particular verse in the Amplified Bible because of the colorful way it describes God’s imagination – the amazing wonders of His creation. Anyone with any of their senses intact and a brain that even remotely computes can attest to the magnificence of who, what, and where we are.

And God, the Ultimate Creator, has placed in us that same creative imagination.

Shame on those who try to stifle that imagination in children and grownups alike, blocking ideas to build wonderful things, to develop vital solutions to impossible problems, to create beautiful art, and to write incredible stories.

Like me, you’ve probably worked for employers or with groups of people who shunned your innovative thoughts in favor of the same old, same old. Maybe you’ve had teachers who ripped your art to shreds because it didn’t follow their guidelines. Perhaps you’ve stopped trying because someone(s) told you that your ideas/efforts weren’t good enough. Or you didn’t know the right people. Or you didn’t have the right experience. Or your haircut was offensive. Okay, that last one might be a bit extreme, but you get the point.

Now, listen to me. Read on.

No matter what anyone says or has said to you, remember this: Nobody – NOBODY – has the right to cut your imagination off at the knees. If you can’t use it at work because of some idiot boss or coworker (yeah, I’ve had a few of those), then find a way to let it go in another area of your life. If you’ve been told you have no imagination and you fell for it, please recognize those words for what they are – LIES. Big fat ones.

Every single person is creative. Every single person has the spark of something new, something amazing, something completely awesome. EVERYONE. That includes you.

I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! Psalm 139:14 (TPT)

You are mysteriously complex. A breathtaking creation of God, the Father.

Think about that.

Now go and create!

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.” Psalm 23:1 (HCSB)

I am drawn to this verse in Psalm over and over, particularly as it is written in this translation.

As our Shepherd, God is leading us, taking care of us, protecting us. And when we wander off, He goes searching to find us so that we can be a part of the flock again. He makes sure that His sheep lack nothing. Nothing. 

Now before you get all in a huff about being compared to sheep, let’s understand that the focus here is the Shepherd. He is the one who is handling things. He is the one who is providing. In that provision, there is everything that would be a proper object of need or desire (don’t miss the word proper), whether that is physical or spiritual, pertaining to the body or the soul, or having reference to the present or to eternity. All of our real lack is supplied.

How completely amazing is that?

On a personal level, it means that when I am allowing God to lead me, taking care of me, and protect me – not wandering off to do my own thing – He is making sure there is absolutely nothing important that I lack. I have everything I need in Him.

Sometimes I need Him to use the hook on that shepherd’s staff of His to catch me and pull me gently back into the place where I’m supposed to be. Close to Him. And that is always, always, the best place.

When the Lord is your Shepherd, there is really nothing you lack.

My first post of 2019 will be an encouragement, I hope, and a challenge.

After the busy-ness of the Christmas season and settling back into familiar routines, these first few weeks of the new year sometimes need a little boost to keep us on track. Our church usually kicks things off with a 21-day fast, in whatever form that takes for each individual. This year, however, we’ve changed things up a bit. We’re fasting for a week and meeting together at the church for a prayer time every evening.

Wow.

And I say “wow” for several reasons. First, the turnout has been nothing short of stunning. People want to pray! Second, the Holy Spirit has been moving in His gentle way, touching deeply the hearts of those who step out of their busy schedules to be there in that room. Third, God has downloaded so much into my own spirit that I feel as though I will be sorting through those files for a good long while, basking in His love for me.

Wow.

Call them visions or whatever, but I sometimes see things in my spirit when I am praying. I have learned to pay attention when these pictures come. During the prayer times at the church this week, I’ve seen the same thing twice, but in different ways.

The first was a window, much like the one I inserted at the top of this post. There was a bright Light shining through – brighter anything could ever be. All I could think was GLORY! This is GOD’S GLORY! It was a good thing I was sitting at the time, because I would have fallen to the ground at the magnitude of what I saw.

The following evening, I saw the same Light at the very core of me. Actually IN me! The Light was spinning and growing and expanding and spreading, filling every single part of me. I knew without a doubt that the Light was Jesus, who lives in me – His GLORY! To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)

But what does all of this mean? Glad you asked, because I asked the same thing.

Think about a dark room. A really dark room. If you light a match in a corner of that room, it’s amazing how much light there is. Just like that, the Light of Jesus penetrates the darkness, shedding Light on every situation, every problem. There are no shadows. The Light reveals every issue and sin, enhances every joy, and everything becomes clear.

The Light draws you to Him. He holds you, surrounds you with love you can’t explain, infuses you with peace that you’ll never understand, washes you with His living, purifying water of life.

The Light inside you pulls you in and keeps you close. His Spirit speaks wisdom to you. He teaches you and motivates you and encourages you. He gives you the ability to see the next step to take.

And the fire! The fire of the Holy Spirit burns hot and never goes out. The fire spreads and sparks, bursting outward with power and love.

It’s real.

It’s the only real there is.

Seek the Light – the Light who is Jesus Christ.

For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

I wasn’t going to post today, but then I read this:

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.          Proverbs 18:2 (ESV)

Does this not perfectly describe our totally insane world?

As I read the highlights of various news websites this morning, I was once again struck by the idiocy of high-ranking, prominent people – leaders of countries, even – who spout off bizarre opinions that anyone with a brain would discard in a second. At least, I hope they would. And once again, I realized this: We are surrounded by fools.

The fools aren’t interested in understanding. They just want to talk and make sure everyone hears them because, of course, they are right and everyone else is wrong. And if, by some remarkable chance, they discover that their opinion is faulty, they will never admit it.

Want to see what else the Bible has to say about this?

The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.             Proverbs 10:8 (NLT)

God has provided a solution to all of the lunacy out there. Pray for wisdom – His wisdom.

Seek His direction.

Follow Him.

Look for godly understanding in a very ungodly world.

Don’t be a babbling fool. Please.

We gravitate to people who are just like us – people who enjoy the same activities, share similar tastes, are close in age, come from the same country, have the same beliefs. Human nature is to surround ourselves with like-minded people, lessening the chance of conflict.

Because, really, who likes conflict?

Not me.

But . . . (you knew there was going to be a “but”, didn’t you?) . . . surrounding yourself with other yous tends to create an atmosphere that can become shallow and predictable. While it’s comfortable to be around those who have similar thought patterns and familiar perspectives, you do yourself a great injustice by excluding people who are not like you.

Why?

We need each other to grow. We need people in our lives who think differently, solve problems differently, produce different ideas – people who challenge us. Assembling a diverse group of friends and acquaintances keeps us alert, seeking, and finding.

Let’s throw this into a church environment.

Every single congregation I’ve ever been involved with has been the same in this regard. Small groups of like-minded people huddle together in the larger church setting, seldom mixing with other groups who might be of a different age, culture, or social class. And then there are always individuals on the edges longing for an invitation to join one of these cliques.

This happens everywhere. But is it right? Nope. Is it helpful to our mental and spiritual growth? Nope. Is it an example of the body of Christ working together? Nope. Is it God’s best for us? Absolutely nope!

Next time you’re out among people, look past the other yous and see:

• Someone who is not like you might just have the solution to a difficult problem you are dealing with.
• Someone who is not like you may have insight in an area where you are struggling.
• Someone who is not like you may share an unexpected revelation to a passage of Scripture you’ve wondered about.
• Someone who is not like you might have an idea that you absolutely love.

Surrounding yourself with other yous is okay – sometimes – but it will often be the not-like-yous who make the difference in your life.

Think about that.