today...

"Today is unique! It has never occured before, and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities." (Charles Swindoll)

I had to use this picture once more before I retire it, and it fits these words so well.

Don't you love this quote?

Midnight tonight ends today's potential forever... but between now and then... a day full of possibilities!



“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matt. 6:34 NLT)

Go ahead... open it!

I love gifts!

Let's just imagine that these beautiful gifts held the very answers to some things we are asking God for in our own life.

Maybe it's peace, or direction, or joy, or an answer to a long time prayer... or to really KNOW that He is there, all the time...

Now, let's assume the tag on the gifts reads... IF...

Have you ever thought of the word IF and looked at the way God uses it in His word?

Definition of IF: (Merriam-Webster)

a : in the event that
b : allowing that
c : on the assumption that
d : on condition that

The very things we desire the most, the things that are the prayers of our hearts, are promised to us over and over....

IF...

... You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.

... For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

... If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

... If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Many times we begin and end with that little word.

I have jumped in and claimed the benefits of many promises, and often have not seen them fulfilled because I didn't pay close enough attention to the IF...

It isn't that God is not clear, rather that sometimes I want the benefits of the promises apart from the way He says they will come.

In other words, the easy way out... and like Dr.Phil says: 'How's that workin' for you?'...

Think for a minute about those 'pesky' little powerful words that the scriptures are so full of...

if...when...

God says things with few words, and they pack a punch.

It's ME who fails to obey exactly what it says, and so the power of the promise is missing.

I think the tag might just as well say IF Sonja... (or your name)... does what I ask her to...she can open the gift!

The slumber party that wasn't!...

When I was about 10 years old, I decided it would be a good thing to have a slumber party one Friday night.


I invited about 10 of my school pals, and their moms dropped them off at our house, sleeping bags in tow, ready for a great time...

But I forgot to ask or even mention it to my parents...

My dad was out of town, and my mom was scheduled to leave for a women's conference where she would be the speaker.

I don't remember what my punishment was, but I do remember that my mom drove every single girl back to their homes, explained to their mother's, and then came home to deal with me!

Have you ever gotten ahead of yourself? or worse... ahead of God?

We can't just decide to 'call a party', and expect Him to bless the whole thing, and to provide for all the details that make a party special... without asking Him first.

He may have some very good reasons for such a party not to happen, one of which might be that He won't be present to host it. (Even though He is with us always, there are times when He is quiet.)

Our bright ideas don't always mean that He will go along with us. He might even like the idea, but wants it to be at another time. Or... He might know that the whole idea is just wrong for us.

When HE calls the party, it is always right.



"Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word." (Prov.16:1)

Yesterday's princess...

This pictures still makes me smile!

When I say 'yesterday's princess'... I mean a lot of yesterdays ago...

One of the blessings of blogging is reflecting back on personal memories, and putting them down in black and white.I was a junior in high school in southern California.

My best friend Margie was the queen and I was one of the princesses of the annual Wisteria Festival in Sierra Madre, California. This was a 7 acre garden of wisteria, which bloomed every year at Easter time.
Youth for Christ was sponsoring the whole festival that year, so it was lots of fun for all of us.

It made me curious to see if it is still going on... sure enough!
Here is the link for this year.

I had to dig DEEP into one of the old, old bins in the garage to find these pictures!

We walked around with all the people who came to visit, and a photographer took pictures of 'the court' with our visitors. Oh boy... my most vivid memory of the whole thing were the clear plastic high heeled sandals... sadly, I felt like royalty in them!

Can you guess which one is me?

A fun memory from a long time ago...


(I'm the far left in the top photo, center front on lower photo)

A health nut before his time...

My dad...

He was ALWAYS into fitness... long before it was "in" to be fit!

Before he went into the ministry, he tried out for the St.Louis Cardinals Baseball team, but ended up going to seminary instead of playing baseball...

All through his years of ministry and travels, he ate right. He flew into new countries with different weather patterns, and temperatures, and he knew it would be wise to be 'built up' and fueled in his own system, by eating wisely.

He studied food and nutrition, even carried Adele Hunt's book 'Let's Eat Right To Keep Fit" in his heavy book briefcase, on his flights, right alongside his Bible and other Godly books.

Along with those books, he nearly always carried a few ripe bananas and other fruit, and maybe some nuts, to snack on during his flight. To this day, even though we laughed about it then in our youthful ignorance, I never pass a bin of bananas in the store without thinking of dad and his bananas!

He tried... he REALLY tried... to teach the 3 of us kids about healthy eating...

One time at the L.A.County Fair, he bought one of the first electric blenders we had ever seen, they were doing a demonstration as we walked by. He was so thrilled. That night we all wanted a 7-up when we got home, he said we could have the 7-up AFTER we drank the first concoction out of that blender. We all groaned. He filled that thing with fresh vegetables of every kind, and added ice and water. It was a disgusting color and we held our noses as we drank it!...Then we had our 7-up.

Once my brother dreamed that my dad was in the pulpit preaching, with vigor... but his words were all about fruits and vegetables and vitamins! We all laughed at the dream, as it was a possibility if you knew my dad. Fortunately, prayer and revival always trumped healthy eating for him, so we never saw that happen.

I wish he could know now how many times I have thought of the way he carefully made sure he ate the right foods... 'live foods', he called them. While we all 3 teased him during those years, we have all found out that he was right on the money!

Health and fitness, a man before his time! I'm sure working at it now dad...



"An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies." (Prov.15:14 MSG)

from Is: 55... "Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest."

P.S.... If you want a good hearty laugh, head over to Marsha's blog "Health Nut or Just a Nut??" ...

Blessing the hands that made these...

When I was growing up, my dad traveled and preached all around the world. He always brought a gift home for my mom, and usually some for the 3 of us kids as well.

Today I was thinking of the intricate linen tablecloths and napkins that he brought my mother from Japan.The detail of the needlework was amazing.

My mother used everything he brought, they loved to entertain. But this tablecloth was ' a beast' to iron! They didn't just send everything to the cleaners back then. So, one day when my mom was ironing that tablecloth for the next use...

She was probably grumbling a bit about how hard it was to make it look right, there were so many stitches and little places to make smooth... first she sprinkled the whole thing and rolled it into a ball and put plastic around it and stuck it in the fridge... later she took it out to steam press... as she labored over that tablecloth, the very one pictured above...

She began to think of the little women in the orient who sat and made these beautiful pieces by hand, and how difficult it must have been to even see the needle as they worked. She began to pray for each Japanese lady who did that hard labor, day after day, and for their eyesight as they labored, and for their families, and for their knowledge of Jesus.

Her ironing was changed that quickly... from drudgery to praise.

I have thought of that many times as I have ironed clothes through the years for my husband and our children. Not so much now, as we are blessed to wash & dry most of it and send the 'hard stuff' to the cleaners.

I wonder though, if I took the time, especially when I am irritated and impatient...

...when someone is slow in traffic

...or sneaks ahead of me in the grocery line

...or yells at their kids in the mall

...to say a quick prayer for whatever their needs might be, and to ask God to speak to their hearts in whatever place they are... if that wouldn't also be the very thing that turns my irritation into something much better.

I know this works... so do you. I think I can do better... there are lots of 'wasted' blessings all around me!

Every situation is a potential for praise. (and now that I've said that in black & white... I'm convicted by my own words!)

God thought enough of me to think me up!

I was mulling on the very fact that I was created at all...

I wonder if God said... I'm going to make a 'Sonja', and here is what her life will look like...

And then I wondered... Do I look like that?...

I know that He had specific and clear plans for what I should be. I know that He planted gifts in my life that He meant to use for His glory.

Am I using them?

Do you ever have those random thoughts, and suddenly you know they aren't so random?

I wonder how close to His blueprint for my life I am living.

I'm telling you... these thoughts came to me out of the blue, and made me head straight to my computer before I forgot them...

I know one thing for sure!

God did NOT accidentally flick His fingers and throw us into this world, and since then has waited around to see how we would turn out...

He isn't that kind of God.

He knew from the very beginning who we would be and what the design of our lives looked like... to the last detail.

What He does wait for is our response to all that He has invested and promised to us.

Our lives were formed with purpose and meaning, and to bring glory to His name.
Now you know why those 'random thoughts' have bolted me upright, and have my full attention...

I know deep down in my heart that God created me and gave me life. Today... that thought from His heart to mine has both riveted my attention and reminded me again that all of my life is His gift.

I want it to be used the way He intended, every day, so that one day when I come face to face with Him, He will smile in recognition and be happy to see me.

Like my dad used to say... "May I be known at His throne".

Buried??...

I'm remembering an incident when our 3 kids were young and we lived in Austin, Texas.

One night when I went to tuck the boys in and was ready to say prayers with them, I found them both on their knees by their beds with their hands clasped, praying. I asked them about it. With sober faces, they told me...

The neighbor boy across the street had found some Playboy magazines in his dad's closet, up on a high shelf. He took them down, and collected our 2 boys to come and take a furtive look at these magazines.

Our boys were full of guilt... they knew better!

After they looked at the magazines, our 2 boys took them out into the woods and dug a hole and buried them... That was what they were confessing on their knees that night.

Several nights later...

There they were on their knees again. I asked about it, and with big sad eyes they said..."we dug them back up!"...

...and before you react with either a smile or maybe even shock...Isn't that just like us with sin?

We do it with our own sins, and we do it with the sins of others!

We confess it, we get forgiven, or we forgive someone who has wronged us, and it's buried, 'as far as the east is from the west', and then our minds begin to think about it again, and we go back and dig it up...

'maybe it wasn't so bad'...

'it really didn't hurt anyone'...

'she should never have done that, she deserves what she gets'...

you know what I mean...

I can't tell you how many times I've thought of this story through the years, it's a snapshot not only of 2 little boys, but of God's very own children... us.




"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal.5:1)

The end of the world...

I am helping myself to our friend Dr. John Stumbo's blog, written yesterday, since 'the world is going to end today'...

"THE END OF THE WORLD + HAROLD CAMPING + MATH = ONE BIG PROBLEM

I have a book in my library titled 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988. I never read it. But, I like to have it on my shelf. It reminds me of what idiots Christians can be.

Not that I should need any reminders.

Before I proceed, I should identify myself. In case a new reader stumbles onto this blog today, may I clearly state that I am a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ and (sometimes with embarrassment, sometimes with great joy) include myself in the Christian community. I’m writing as an insider.

By now you’ve no doubt heard the news that we’re down to our last 24 hours…at least according to radio host, Harold Camping. At age 88, Harold continues a worldwide broadcast and has studied the Bible longer than most of us have been alive.

If history reveals anything to us, it tells us that just because one has studied a subject at length does not automatically make one accurate.

I believe Camping is wrong.

I believe he’s worse than wrong.

I believe Camping is in the same “camp” as the pastor who burned the Quran, the crazed individuals who bomb abortion clinics or kill doctors, and the venom-mouthed haters of homosexuals.

Let me introduce myself a second time. I believe the Quran misleads millions, abortions are the taking of a human life, and the act of homosexuality is a degrading sin. Yet, I’m convinced that Christians are to love Muslims, abortionists, gays and a thousand other people groups that have different perspectives than ours. I’m convinced that this love should be genuine and tangible … you know, like the love Jesus expressed.

The reason I lump Camping in with these others is because from burning Quran’s to predicting dates, Christians once again come off looking like idiots.

The news media loves these stories. The skeptical community has more reason to scoff. Stand up comedians have an easy night on the job.

And don’t think that people haven’t heard about Camping’s prediction. One of the best ways to know what has the world’s attention is to follow Google Trends. The brains at Google make available to us what are the hottest searches each day. For most of this week, searches like “end of the world may 21”, “judgment day may 21” and “harold camping may 21” have been high on the list.

I’m no expert in Harold Camping’s theology, nor do I care to be. But, from what I understand he came upon his date-setting by using mathematical calculations. These calculations arose from the theory that words in the Bible have numeric value. By putting together three words atonement, completeness and heaven, multiplying them and then doing so again (squaring them) – Waa Laa – the Judgment Day is tomorrow!

Make sense to you?

Not to me either.

But that’s what billboards across the world—from Minnesota to India—are proclaiming: Judgment Day May 21 The Bible Guarantees It.

At least Harold’s Bible does.

Mine says something simpler, “No one knows about that day or hour … therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Jesus in Matthew 24)

None of this would matter much to me if I didn’t fear one thing. I’m concerned that because of people like Harold Camping, many serious minded people will not bother exploring who the real Jesus is.

When they wake up on May 22, I don’t think they’ll head off to find a Christian church. I think they’ll have all the more reason to write off the Christian faith as a myth or conspiracy theory.

The real Jesus—the heaven-sent Messiah come into this world to atone for our sin, conquer death and lead us to the Father—will be missed.

And that makes me sad.

Thanks, Harold.

Next time save your math skills for a Sudoku puzzle, not the Scriptures."

Written by Dr.John Stumbo, May 20, 2011



POSTSCRIPT: It's 6:05 p.m., and here we are, still waiting, but... He IS coming again! May each of us live daily with that expectation motivating us.

Bob's...

I'm having a moment!

A little background...

When you are working at weight loss, and doing what it takes to return to your former size and break the habits of years of wrong eating...

...the mind digresses...

Today... I am back in Pasadena, California at Bob's, Home of the Big Boy Burgers!

During my growing up years in Pasadena, there was NO place I would rather eat. Their burgers, fries and malts, or even a plain Coke... unless you grew up there and loved them like we did... there's no way to explain today's memory.

When we moved to Texas, it was called Kip's here, same thing, just a different name. But now there are none in Texas, and I think 2 are left in California.

Recently, an In and Out Burger place opened north of us. (Also from California) I happened to be out there with my daughter shopping nearby. There were 100's, maybe close to 1000 people waiting in long lines, and cars snaked for blocks for the drive through. One former California lady was in tears. It was unbeleivable! I couldn't imagine being one of those people...

...until I thought of Bob's!

If they open a Bob's in Texas... I WILL be in the line!

Meanwhile, back to my oatmeal for breakfast...

Final 'food' for thought...

"Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Don't drink too much wine and get drunk; don't eat too much food and get fat." (Prov.23:19)