Toe Jam Love

Black toe jam fuzzies

From first-worn black socks

Out of scuffed Sketcher sneakers

Full of school playground rocks,

    Float with

Green army soldiers

And Grave Digger trucks

Clogging bath tub drain pipes

Saved by yellow squish ducks.

Splashes on windows,

A soaked bathroom floor

Tell the tale of the battle:

The army men's war,

Crayons made for tub

(That's what the box said)

Scribbled, during bath time,

Over tile walls instead.

Bubbles up to here

And bubbles up to there

A squeaky clean boy

With cotton white hair,

It's time to get out!

It's time to get dry!

I towel wrap him tight.

Peeking out with one eye

He looks at me sweetly

As only he can

Knowing his mommy

Is his number one fan

Who cheers for his soldiers

Who just won their bout

And brags of his rainbows

I'll have to scrub out

Who empties his sneakers

And puts them away

And unclogs the drain

For bath the next day

Who tucks him in snugly

With favorite stuffed toy

Who whispers night prayers

And softly kisses her boy.
_____

(Pin me, please)

God is Greater Than Game Shows... even Jeopardy

Did you hear the latest?  The latest about "Jeopardy," that is?

A Nebraska man found out the particulars of the pronunciation on Monday's episode of "Jeopardy." Reid Rodgers correctly answered a question (or questioned an answer) about the first women's champion at an 1884 tennis tournament. "WimbleTIN," he said, with a distinct hint of Midwestern twang.

A moment later, before Rodgers was set to receive a Daily Double answer, Trebek issued a ruling.

"I'm informed that you very clearly said Wimble-TON not Wimble-DIN a few moments ago," Trebek told him.

Rodgers' money was taken away and the railroad mechanic had money deducted for the incorrect answer. His total went from $1,000 to $200.  from http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/tennis-busted-racquet/man-jeopardy-penalized-mispronouncing-wimbledon-165649407.html

Really?  Wow.  Let's think of all the words I mispronounce.  I mean, for crying out loud, up until I was in high school I thought "Volley ball" was "Bolly ball" (I'm not proud of it, but stay with me on this.).

I'm certainly glad God isn't up in heaven judging every technicality.

Peter, mark this down: Allyson did not say "In Jesus' name" when she prayed.  Her rights to heaven are officially revoked.  Were her eyes closed?  Let's assume they were not.  That's another mark against her.

I'm so thankful for the grace of God, who sent His Son not to condem the world, but to save us.

Sneaker-Tying Christians

Verse:  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18, KJV

(Elijah has just told God that he knows of no one left in Israel who still worships Him.  This is God's response.)



Do you remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three friends in Daniel 3 who refused to bow down to any so-called-gods?  They were 100% devoted to God (who, at the time, hadn't died for their sins or blessed them beyond measure or walked in the fire with them before). 

Picture it: King Nebuchadnezzar had just made an image of gold and commanded everyone to bow to worship it once the instruments were played.  People everywhere are gathered around, crowding the public areas.  Right in the middle are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  Let's watch...

Cymbals crash, flutes play, trumpets blast.  The Nebuchadnezzar faithful bow in obedient worship.  Not the three friends.  They unabashedly, proudly stand tall.  Whispering arises.  Townspeople begin to point.  Surely the three misunderstood.  The King himself gathers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego unto him.  "Don't you know?  When the music starts you must bow down!  If you don't, I'll throw you in a pit of fire!"  I'll save the end of the story for another time, but just know that the boys didn't bow and God saved them.

Let's pause here and bring this to modern day: 

Jill Christian (could be you, could be me) is standing in this group.  The pressure is mounting to bow and the trumpets will sound any moment.  Jill thinks...

Wait!  There they are!  I hear them! 

I believe in God.  I am a Christian!  I can't bow! 

But, the fire is hot. 

Oh, wait.  Is my shoe untied? 

I'd better bow down, er, I mean bend over and tie that...

The music stops.  Everyone stands back, waiting for the next blast of the horns, which happens...right...now:

No!  Not again!  Everyone is bowing except me!

The fire - I'll be thrown in!

Wait a second... did I double knot that? 

I'd better retie that shoe to make certain.

Let me bow down, er, I mean bend over and tie that...

Wow.  This hits home for me.  How many times have I tried to blend in just so I wouldn't stand out?  Is that what God's called me to do?  Proverbs tells us many times that our ways may seem pure to us, to others - but God knows our heart. 

Lord, let me never be a sneaker-tying Christian.  Forgive me for trying to blend in.  You've called me to be a peculiar person.  You've set me apart, sanctified me as I prayed you would.  Please do so again.  Let me stand, boldly, for you.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Direction... and RE-Direction (A Connection Group Lesson)

Verse: Take the … sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17


1 year from today, where do you think you’ll be living? Working?


Are you making any current plans? Maybe small plans – like for the weekend or a future trip.


Have your plans ever been broken by someone or something other than you? How did you feel?


2 Chronicles 25:1-9: Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. … 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. … 5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men ready for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. 6 He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel--not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow." 9 Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that."


Amaziah made what appeared to be great plans. He made certain the men were ready for battle and gathered plenty of them – even extra from Israel. But this was not God’s will. Chances are, you won’t have a “man of God” come to you and tell you face-to-face that your plans are or are not God’s will. So, how do you know if your plans line up with God?


Amaziah sent home the troops, but it made him unpopular. The troops were furious. Amaziah turned from God, back-talked and stopped listening to the prophet from God, and eventually was killed. Listening to God can be unpopular: but not listening to God can cause earthly and eternal consequences.


From Judges 7: 1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink." 6 Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place." 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.


God gave Gideon a talent – he was a mighty warrior of God (Judges 6:12). What if Gideon had thought that just because God had given him direction, that he would never need direction from God again? What if he hadn’t listened to God when God told Gideon to get rid of over 31,000 warriors and leave him with an un-thinkable 300? God will never give you more wisdom than He has.


Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp."


Think of a time you were scared to do the right thing.


Is it wrong to ask for a sign from God?
Don’t feel guilty for your emotions. God made us. He made our emotions. He knows we may doubt. He knows we may be scared. Do you think He expects us to hear his word and, with total confidence and joy, act on it?

So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. 13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." 14 His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." 15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands."


God wants to give us direction. For what do you need to ask for direction now? In the future?

Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.


James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.