My GPS by Doris Lakey

I don’t have a GPS AP on my phone, but that’s not a problem. I have one that is infallible;

not dependent on a satellite in the sky. It’s called the Bible.

It knows where I am going and as long as I pay attention I'm sure to arrive at my true

destination,  neither too early nor too late. Sometimes when I take my eye off it, I get blown

off course. When skies are cloudy, I may have to take a second look to get my bearings,

but my System never goes down, and it offers virus protection against unholy interference.

Its voice never gets drowned out by raucous noises around me.

I never have to worry about where I am going go as long as I trust it and follow its lead.

And it has a lifetime warranty, is never out of service, will never break down, just when I

need it desperately, and there will be no trips to the repair shop, no repair costs, ever. 

Like the American Express television commercial says, never leave home without it.

Perfecy Gift

 The

                 Perfect

                               GIFT

                                                     Keep            God’s

                                                Christmas            Wisdom

                                            In your heart            Can answer

                                        Each day, all year           Any questions,

                                      Everywhere  you  go,           His eternal love

                                   To  everyone  you meet,           Can fulfill any need,

                           Spread the spirit of Christmas--          God's  unlimited  power

                     Perfect love,peace,joy and good will--          Has created and keeps all things

                  Freely    given,   without    measuring;           All good gifts come from His loving hand;

             The more you give, the more you will receive.           His  eternal  presence  rewards  true faith.    

                                    THE PERFECT GIFT

IN OTHER WORDS--- by Doris Lakey

A line from a famous poet says "A rose by any other name smells as sweet".

I recalled that line when Dr. David Jeremiah spoke about Christmas this morning.  Some folks jump through hoops to avoid calling it what it is: a reference to Christ, Savior of the world.

If they say holiday, I would remind them it's a modern reference to Holy Day.

If they say yuletide, it was once referred to as 12 Days of Christmas or Feast of the Nativity.

If seasonal holiday, I know Jesus came in His season, in the fullness of God's time.

If Santa Claus, I remember Saint Nicholas in Myra, Turkey in the 4th century, famous for giving.

If gift-giving is mentioned,, I remember the Magi from the East who gave Jesus His first gifts

If they write Xmas, I know "X" in Greek is "CHI", first letter of the alphabet and symbol for Christ.

Singing seasonal songs remind me of the great heavenly choir of angels over Bethlehem.

If they refer to Hanukkah, the Bible calls Jesus the Light of the World, come to seek and save the lost, as the personification an fulfillment of the Jewish menorah in the ancient temple..

Jesus has been called Emannuel, Savior, Counsellor, Creator, Healer. Deliverer, Lord, and He is all of these and more.

THIS IS LOVE

With the sun for a footstool and wearing

A crown studded with a thousand stars,

Midst adoring legions of celestial beings,  

The LORD OF ALL THERE IS

Sat on His throne in Heaven and

Looked down to ponder my fate.

When He thought of the only way

To alter my well-earned destiny,

He left clouds of angels at Heaven’s gate.

For me, He became a child, born in a stable;

To Heaven's dismay, He paid the price Justice

Required to win my pardon.

And I wonder at the trade He made;

All grandeur exchanged for the debt He paid, for me,

When He allowed His Glory to fade,

Deserted His majesty for a bed of straw;

I'm humbled and filled with awe

That my heart is the manger He chose, that

Because I make room for Him inside,

It's where He now chooses to reside.

MERRY CHRIST.MAS!

Under no circumstances do I wish you a happy holiday.
You can try that if you prefer,but YULE be missing the
point of the occasion

                 (see above)

Where Are You Going?

 Say you want to go to California. You don’t need no stinking map—you fill the car with gas and head out, but the highway is boring. So, a sign ahead says exit here for a tourist attraction and that sounds like fun, and your hand reaches for that turn signal. You’re still going to Hollywood, but not right now.

Wow, that stop took longer than you expected. It was fun though, but not worth the delay.  On the road again, as the country-western singer croons it. Wait, you skipped breakfast for an early start this morning. If you have an early lunch, you can really make up for lost time by driving straight thru until you’ve put in eight hours behind the wheel.

Oops! Just passed an IHOP. A U-turn won’t take long. Back on the road, again, that sunshine streaming in feels good, but soon you’re getting drowsy. Need some caffeine; better safe than sorry. Back behind the wheel. And just ahead there’s a guy on a tractor. Outa the way, Jerk. Finally, he turns off and you hit the gas to make up a little time—and you pass a Highway Patrol car, and--of course he’s holding a radar gun. He doesn’t care how important your trip is. He says he only cares about your safety. You could have bought an airline ticket for what that stop cost.

Well, this day was a total loss. Disappointed and depressed, you begin looking for a motel, promising you will get back on track tomorrow. Right off the bat you face a detour. Oh-oh! Rough road ahead, single lane only. Another long day.

Eventually the road opens up and you sigh in relief. Just ahead is a car beside the road, its hood raised in surrender and a woman pacing along the road, wringing her hands. Somebody should really stop and help her, but not you—you can’t keep having these delays. She should have planned her trip better, had her car serviced before she set out.

Okay, you can probably fill in the rest of this story. You can guess what excuses you might give for your failures to accomplish your goal. Finally you smell an ocean breeze! But the roadway sign says Miami. And no matter how sincerely you believed you were headed toward California, you now realize you were headed east, not west. What you believe does matter.

If this tale sounds vaguely familiar, perhaps in childhood years you encountered the classic story from pioneer days, PILGRIM’S PROGRESS. If the age-old legend were updated, it might sound similar to your trip. Desire doesn’t get you to your destination. Only the hated words discipline and preparation gets you there.

.

Giving Thanks

As we approach the one day per year, we are reminded to count our blessings, my mind goes back over years of inadequately expressed gratitude for kindnesses and loving grace received from so many sources. In taking inventory, I realize anew how wealthy I am, and it’s not taxable!

Broad strokes considered first, I am thankful for the Christian community which helped form me. Many nations offer no right to vote or express discontent (although I think we often go overboard in exercising this right). I give thanks to the moral and Christian creators of our constitution, and for the many charitable foundations they passed to us: hospitals, libraries, schools, care for the poor and needy and for children, born or unborn. Thank God for providing Christian parents and grandparents and good churches.

I am thankful that my last employer was the best ever. Abbott Labs gave me a sense of respect and appreciation unequaled in my history, and many friends I value greatly. Pat Pool encouraged and taught me; he gave me a sense of close partnership and great desire for us to excel together. The Abbott Extras allowed me to become better acquainted with many more good people, enriching my life.

A community of writers broadened my horizon; NTPWA brought me a group of like-minded friends and two especially became life-long companions. Mell Morris has moved on to create even more perfect poetry I look forward to reading when I see her again in heaven. Betty Kurecka, my heart reaches out to you, my encourager, my supporter, there in time of need. Maybe we can learn together to Skype and shrink the miles between us since I moved away.

My family has shown me great love always, and Sandy and Keith Pipkin have made room for me in their hearts and home when my living alone became difficult. They each have made myriads of silent daily sacrifices for my comfort. I’m sure there are many times I have been unaware, or only later realized the extent of their efforts to incorporate my needs and desires into their busy lives. And they do these things not because I deserve it, but from the depth of love they so graciously show me.

In two months I’ll be 84; I thank God that I’m not approaching the end, but coming nearer to the glorious day I will see my Savior face to face.

TO BElieve OR NOT TO BElieve

Some people are so open-minded, their brains could fall out. Like, they think whatever anyone believes is great, equal in values. They don’t believe in the existence of absolute laws---like right, wrong, gravity. I don’t see any of them floating away though.

Some ideas may sound good, until you apply a little logic and find they dissolve when they get wet. And too many conflicting, diverse ideas floating around in your head may make you dizzy.

In a hospital ER, they use the term “triage” to sort out priorities determining  who will be treated first--all patients are not equal in their eyes. “First come, first serve” is not their primary concern. Mandatory rules govern here. No flexibility of emotional preference, judging which  life is more important. There are set rules governing their time-sensitive behavior, ensuring maximum preservation of life, giving priority to those at greater risk. The same discretion applies for any ideas you adopt. (All ideas or philosophies are NOT equal.)

Figure out what's important to you. Examine your heart. Search your soul. Believe in something greater than yourself. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. What you believe is important. Be sure the thoughts governing your life are your own and are carefully chosen. Run your virus scanner to avoid dangerous spyware being implanted to soften your brain!

Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life and few are those who find it.         Matthew 7:13-14

Two Kinds of Christians

 When I was young, I struggled to understand the stories about the giant characters of the Old Testament.They were different, unique. It seemed to me that they were super strong, faith like a rock, able to – I don’t know – leap tall buildings, bulletproof, wiser than people in the world today. The Bible didn’t seem to talk much about their fears or failures so I assumed they were almost a different species, whereas I spent much of my time fearing, doubting and never really trying to live up to their standards. I wasn’t like them. I didn’t even know anyone like them. Different species.

Job and King David were exceptions; they both seemed to whine a lot about their fate, and yet they were both men after God’s heart. Why? And why did such detailed account of their misery appear in God’s word? Long after it should have been obvious to me, I realized that while in deepest trouble, they still trusted God for answers.

When I mentally put myself in their sandals, I began to see their long waits for His promises to materialize, the loneliness, desperation of Abraham trudging up the mountain with his son Isaac, wondering whether God had changed His mind about Isaac’s future. I saw Job refusing to listen to his friends telling him to curse God and die to be rid of his pain, Noah spending years building an ark in a dry land while his neighbors jeered, Joseph sold into slavery by his jealous brothers before being vindicated decades later when God’s plan was fulfilled, Moses waiting, exiled (for murder of an Egyptian guard) for decades before God revealed His great task.

I began to experience the thoughts and fears these men must have felt through the long periods when God was silent. And yet, they still listened for His voice, relieved and ready when it came. I felt Abraham’s and Sarah’s doubt and sorrow when God delayed in sending the promised child of her old age. And I saw major flaws in the life of King David, years after being anointed as the next King, moving from a hillside dotted with sheep to the King’s palace via the battlefield where he slew Goliath. Surely he had ample history with God to remain faithful in all things, yet he took the wife of a faithful servant and sent him to the battlefield to be murdered. It takes my breath away that David could stray so far after the sweet times he had spent with the Lord. Yet I know I stray daily in so many ways.

These leaders, examples of faith, lived in a dangerous world, filled with every sin that we see around us today—the devil hasn’t invented any new ones. They experienced fears, doubts, temptations as we do, but God’s word tells us He honors a repentant heart, always keeps His promises and teaches us daily how to maintain a right relationship with Him. He is ready to do for each of us what He did for them, if we honor Him as they did. I now see truth is this: there are in fact two kinds of Christians. Not strong or weak, but obedient and faithful, or rebellious and selfish. Some days I’m the first kind; other days the second. Maybe the big difference is in patience, learning to take long view. God does.

The Trip of a Lifetime

You’re planning a trip, a long journey. You’re looking ahead to all the highlights and making lists so you won’t forget any of the must-see sights you don’t want to miss, poring over tourist maps, perhaps consulting friends who have made the same or similar trips. Their counsel could help you to get the most out of your adventure, avoiding missteps that would cause you to waste precious time getting lost in a strange land.

Your first decision: where do you want to go? Somewhere far away. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but it will cost a lot and you don’t want to blow the chance on anything less than  your perfect dream location. After all, you only get to do this once.

What if I told you that you have already begun your travels and you must determine your final destination on the way? The road ahead has many detours and dead ends to be avoided. Thankfully, U-turns are permitted when you see you missed a highway marker and with care, prayer and planning you can steer through rough roads and heavy weather without serious mishaps.

Use your GPS; listen closely to stay on your path and ensure your safe arrival. Besides listening to the GPS (the Holy Spirit) you need to follow His instruction. Failure to correctly obey His direction gets you off course and means you need to go back to that wrong turn you made and find the right road—it’s a narrow road; be suspicious of a wide highway with heavy traffic. You know where that will end up!

Read your Manufacturer Warranty and User’s Guide and consult them often. Service and

keep your vehicle in good running order. Keep your battery free of corrosion; (Corrosion

of unconfessed sin can cause loss of connection to your Source of Power.)

Now, I’m not your example for a clean driving history, God knows. But I’m many more miles down the road than you so I‘ve explored many rocky paths I can’t recommend. Maybe I can serve as an example of wasted years and misplaced priorities, but please don’t doubt I care for you and yearn for you to choose the narrow, straight road leading directly to Heaven without running out of gas along your way. And try to take someone you love with you.     

                       

                 Intention doesn't put gas in your tank. Focus and determination deliver!   

Games We Play

Growing up, there often were times when there were no other kids to play with. I had to find ways to entertain myself. Reading was usually a good choice, but I soon ran out of books, even those favorites, read and reread. So I would move onto other things: jigsaw puzzles, coloring books or maze puzzles. I could spend hours on these favorite pastimes.

Assigning vivid colors to my make-believe world was soothing until fingers clutching the Crayola began to cramp. I seldom came across a maze I couldn’t solve quickly, often without more than one or two false starts or  dead ends. A jigsaw was more of a challenge though. A bit of mystery as to the finished product, much diligent concentration to make sense out of the colored cardboard bits, even with the small picture on the boxtop as a clue. Success was determined by two things from me:  stamina and unwavering focus for long sessions subject to the fear of the unknown—were any puzzle pieces missing--which I wouldn’t learn until after hours of work doomed to failure.

Life is like that some seventy years later. I’m deep in the maze still and can’t fathom when and where my travels will be complete. Following the guide the Toymaker left on the box top of my heart has enabled me to fit much of my picture together. Of course, looking back I found some ill-fitting pieces I tried to force in, which actually didn’t belong to this picture and had to be removed.  At a very young age I found out what the missing piece at my center was and that took away any doubt that I would eventually successfully complete the picture formed by combining all the random bits of my life with its key piece, no longer missing: Jesus. With that in place, the entire result cannot be other than beautiful.

Garbage In-Garbage Out

There is a phrase graphically describing a common cause of computer errors, glitches, operator error. etc.: garbage in, garbage out.  In plain English, and it's true in any walk of life, you get out of something whatever you put into it, only more so.

The obvious lesson here is: set our minds on our goal in order to succeed. Something more subtle occurs to me. Daily we are bombarded with ideas and lifestyles that are foreign to us. Sometimes it seems my mind is a vacuum, ready to absorb every stray thought, good or bad or indifferent, that comes my way. It's so easy to just take in all the opinions, get used to them, let them blend in, tolerate them as "acceptable, alternative" versions of life, giving them equal validity to the moral code I grew up with.

I know when I hear something often enough, it becomes less shocking, less foreign, begins to sound okay to me; it takes up residence in my brain and masquerades as my own thoughts. You know, there is a bird, I think it's the cuckoo, that avoids building, preferring to lay its eggs in another bird's nest. When the babies hatch, the mother, unaware of the intrusion, unknowingly feeds the interloper, who crowd out the tiny chicks the nest was built for.

That may be the origin of the saying, "You can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you don't have to let it build a nest in your hair". We need to take care what thoughts we allow to take root in our minds and hearts. There's just no telling what weeds will sprout up in our lives. I wrote a little verse to remind me.

WORD NEST  

Words, unlike birds, once on the wing

Can't be recalled or turned away.

Once given place, they soar through space,

Then lodge in the heart to stay.

If we can make a habit to keep our minds filled with the right stuff, then that other junk just floats on by.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things.       Philippians 4:8, NIV.

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Family Dynamics

                                                

Parents, we love our kids intensely, but as they grow, don’t they drive us crazy sometimes? You have to keep after them or they go way off-track in nothing flat. Honestly, they can look right at you and you’d swear they’re listening. But you get “I didn’t hear you/ didn’t know you were talking to me/I was outside/the TV was too loud”.

“All I asked you to do before I got home is…”, you say.  Isn’t their frequent reply, “I was gonna, but I didn’t know you’d be back so soon”? Every tenth time, don’t you begin to wonder what it will take to get their attention?  

You’ve left notes, called or texted reminders explaining your urgent deadlines; eventually you get to the point of despair. Don’t your concerns matter to them? All the mushy birthday and mother’s day cards to the contrary, do they really care what you expect, what you need from them? There comes a point when good intentions either result in obedience or discipline.

And then there develops a mindset that “What Mama doesn’t know won’t hurt me” and “I didn’t lie, exactly; I just kept quiet” or “I changed the subject.” That really sets up a barrier between them and you. They avoid your presence; you endure their absence.

You become disillusioned. Any discipline brings accusations or defiance: “If you loved me, you would still let me go to that party, I promise I’ll finish my homework this weekend--it’s not due until Tuesday.”

If you give up trying to instill or awaken their awareness of normal family values, write them off, go with their flow, let them set their own agenda, what happens? For a while they may brag about how cool you have become (if they notice) but one day when they get into trouble, they will blame lack of good parenting as cause for their unforgiveable or illegal behavior. “It’s your fault. If you really cared about me, you would have taught me right from wrong.”

The many excuses we hear from our children may stem from their hearing or sensing the same excuses we give to God. “I know I promised to get back into church, but the Pastor said something I didn’t like” or “The alarm didn’t go off” (oh, really? It worked fine yesterday in time to get to that clearance sale.) Sometimes I get to the point of realizing I haven’t heard a word from God lately.  Then I notice a coat of dust on my Bible and recall most of my recent prayers (when I remembered to pray) have centered on my own daily wants, needs, and concerns.

Funny, when I get those two things activated, incorporated into my daily routine, God takes the time to speak quietly but surely and more frequently. It feels as though I left God on hold until I finally come back to continue our conversation. As soon as I pick up the phone, so to speak, He has something to say. He won’t interrupt me when I act like I am too busy with anything other than Him, but shows His willingness, no, eagerness to continue our dialog.

I know, there’s no thunderous voice from the sky, but when I tune into the right frequency, I begin to discern the source of thoughts which come to me, to distinguish between my random thoughts and the strident, angry whisper (from you know who) and the calm, strong words (which seem to be expressed clearly, briefly, no drama, He only needs a few words).

That sudden flash telling you to call someone you haven’t thought of lately. Too often, is your next thought, “I just sat down,” Or “I’ll need to make myself a note to call him when I have the time”? As our Parent, how do you think God feels about us when we tune Him out? Has He stopped talking to you, tired of being ignored?

Are you exhausted, trying to do everything on your own? Do you feel alone, far from our Holy Father? Does He seem too far away to care about you?

….who moved?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.    James 1:5
It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.   Philippians 2:13
Make me know Your ways, O Lord,  teach me Your paths, Lord,. Lead me in Your truth and teach me.      Psalm 25:4-5

EGO

Sometimes I used to fancy that I had flashes of genius and the world

hadn’t caught on yet how witty I was. Sooner or later they’d see

my many talents, I figured. In the meantime, after the flash, I would 

feel sorely unappreciated. It started back in school. My teacher was

the only one who noticed how special I was. She even laughed at

my jokes—sometime.

Other days I even rolled my own eyes along with the crowd. Who was I to try and attract friends, to try to garner approval from the popular crowd? I cringed when I looked in the mirror—pigtails, freckles, scrawny legs, worn out shoes and home-made dresses.

Sadly, it took a few decades for me to see beyond the pigtails, now

thinning hair, freckles traded in for wrinkles, and extra pounds I added, just for the fun of it. I now go out of my way to avoid mirrors because there’s nothing for me to learn there. That’s not a bad thing, because there are other faces, smiling faces, all around me. Wait, what?

It was a surprise to me when I became aware of this phenomenon.

After thinking, wondering how this came to be, I truly had a flash of

genius. Perhaps all along there were people waiting for me to look up, to smile, to speak, too look away from myself and really see them!

But first I had to learn my true identity; a child of Royalty, stolen by

the Gypsy would-be god of this world for a time. There are so many

promises waiting for each of us when we search the Bible for them.

When we meet the One who loved us enough to die for us, even

when we ignore or disappoint Him, it does wonders for your self-

image. You find your true value and see other people and love them

like Jesus does; you can no longer be self-centered. Even if your jokes are lame.

self image: whenever you feel insignificant, remember

how important you are to God. God doesn’t help us

because we deserve it, but because He loves us. Find

your self-worth in God’s unconditional love, not in your

accomplishments. Nothing we do in our own power for

God can be good enough—our obedience in being.

available to Him to do great things will stand thru eternity.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is 

made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast                                                                     in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

        2 Corinthians 12:9

Time to Mourn by Doris Lakey

Sing,

Angels!

Dance in joy,

Greet her gently.

Her short path was steep;

God alone  heard her cries;

Others saw peace in her eyes;

Silently  she  lingered  in  trust,

Listening  for  His  beckoning  call,

Which seemed to take so long, yet came so soon.

Now,

Alone,

Silently

I face the day,

Yet I'm  not alone,

Your  Spirit is  with me,

Your love surrounds me with grace;

Your   mercy   endures   my  failures;

O   God,   Author   of   Love    Eternal,

Prepare my heart for your presence within.

Hard Times

There are hard times in all our lives. Some of us would look around and deny our neighbors have the kind of troubles we have and that’s probably true, but if we had a chance to compare, we’d probably prefer not to trade ours for theirs.

I was born into Hard Times shared by a nation. The Great Depression caused much suffering, even suicides by some millionaires who had lost what they held most dear. Others were sustained by love for their families, sacrifice and struggle and faith in something—the future, their strength, each other, or God.

Unemployment was widespread, and even those who found work struggled to feed and house their families. My Grandmother Nora sold household cleaning products door-to-door and later worked in a commercial laundry ten hours a day, six days a week, for six dollars a week and raised three teenagers on spaghetti, beans and fried potatoes. The boys would hunt squirrels and possums to sell to neighbors not too proud to eat them and had newspaper routes, to augment family income.

Parents quietly sacrificed to give the best and most of what they had to their children, shielding them from the fears and insecurity of their situation. A few years later I became aware of how deeply this sacrifice went and realized what it meant.

I remember when I was about three, there was often a bowl of oranges or apples on our table, and to please her finicky daughter, my mother would peel an apple for me and eat the peeling herself. At first I was surprised but guessed that grownups had strange preferences and came to expect it as normal. A few years later, she peeled my apple and threw away the skin. Surprised, I asked her “Don’t you want the skin?” She wrinkled her nose and said no.

Throughout my life I have seen parents doing without to provide the best for their children without letting them know all the sacrifices they made. This parental instinct to care for one’s own was implanted in our hearts by a Holy, loving God, who even sacrificed His only Son to provide life for each of us. If He did this for us, can you imagine the home He is now preparing for us, His adopted family?

A Butterfly

Did I read something once, long ago?...If so, this is my tribute to the inspiration that outlasted my memory of that author and his work.           

                THE EXCHANGED LIFE

               

Consider the caterpillar...

When asked to name his heart's dearest wish,

He pondered a long while, then said,

"I'd like to have a tree all to myself;

The biggest tree in the forest,

With so many juicy. green leaves

I could eat without stopping as long as I live."

The Lord smiled and said, "That's what I thought,

But I have a better plan for you;

One I'm sure you will enjoy even more--

But I’ll need your cooperation.  Before I can give you

My gift, you must be willing to give up your dream

And trust me enough to lay down your present life."

So the caterpillar trusted the Lord to do what was best

And closed his eyes on his green, fragrant world.

While he slept, the Lord spun a silver web around him

To keep him warm and safe, until one bright day

He awoke and began to wriggle free of his blanket

And look around his cool green tree;

But something felt strange, and he stretched all over

And looked up in surprise to see two bright, silky wings

Waving above his head, and when he fluttered them,

His little body lifted from the branch, and as he

Rose higher and higher into the blue sky,

                He remembered the Lord's words and gave thanks.



             Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
             what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about
             your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than
             food and the body more than clothing?
                                                       Matthew 6:25