Questions

Sometimes we ask those difficult questions like “Why does God allow Pain and disease?” Those are not easy questions to deal with and when asked, I am always thankful that the Holy Spirit is in me guiding my words and giving me sensitivity for the hurting person asking the questions. I shared with a questioning friend that I even struggle some days when my physical aches become overwhelming. But this morning, sitting in my backyard, with bumblebees and hummingbirds flying around, I choose to turn the tables!

Why does God allow a hummingbird to fly so close to me that can see his beautiful iridescent shade of blue?

Why does God allow the pungent smell of the orange blossoms fill my nose with citrusy perfume?

Why did God give me eyes to see the rich colors of a rose and ears to hear the wind in the nearby redwood trees?

Why did God allow Jesus to die for us?

The answer is love. He loves us and nothing can separate us from His love.

Deconstruction Continued!

I was so excited to be studying the “love chapter”! That great chapter in I Corinthians that helps you dwell on what love really is. When I was younger I looked at it as a “feel good” passage. Reminding me of how good God’s love is. It does. But now that I’m wiser older I know that God wants me to have His love reigning in heart every day and I look at this passage with different eyes. It’s a spiritual loofa! It wants to scrape all the unlovely things out of my soul! I cringe a bit, I swallow my pride and say, “Let the scrubbing begin!” 

Hard to Run

This morning, after a day when the news is filled with pain and suffering, I am thankful for the pain in my hip and the ache in my leg. Even though they are crooked I have hip joints. I have legs! Even though I have never run in a race, let alone a marathon, I can run across the church grass in my wobbly way and be happy for the sting in my muscles. I choose to turn to thankfulness and prayer. 
I am convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8

Deconstruction

Have you ever gone to a retreat, camp or simply a good morning at church and you loved how you felt inside? Only to have the circumstances around you fall apart and you wished you were back in that place where you felt refreshed? It's normal and if God is doing a really good thing in your life then the enemy doesn't want it to continue. Maybe you are like me and He doesn't want the retreat to end. God wants to keep teaching me, sanding me. You know, the rough edges that hurt other people and get in the way of becoming more like Jesus. I dug up this picture up to show how yucky it looks when there is deconstructing going on. It's the "before" picture of my kitchen wall. I'm one of God's projects. Are you? Praying for you!

Be bold! Leave a comment about your own deconstruction!

More about this subject soon! Read aholyexperience.com today. Really good!

Good Stuff

At retreat I mentioned Sheila Walsh and we listened to two of her songs. Two days ago, Ann Voscamp posted a devotional from Sheila Walsh that's so good. Take time to read "When It's A Bummer, It Might Be Perfect".

Also if you are interested in talks by Timothy Keller, go to Youtube and look for Timothy Keller sermons. "Getting Out" is the one with the Red Sea story, and Counterfeit Gods is his fantastic talk about idols.

Lastly, yesterday I glanced at the T.V. in our main dining room at work and the View was on. The young Christian woman on the panel was holding up a "Jesus Story Book Bible" showing all the viewers my favorite children's book! I also saw it in the hands of a Haitian orphan child's hands, living in a Compassion orphanage! Amazing! You can't stop God's Word!

Ann Voscamp's blog

Hi friends! Take some time to read Ann Voscamp's blog this week. We talked about worry on Saturday and you might like her piece called When you are tired of worrying from February 28th. I also love Kings and Queens by Audio Adrenaline. She's got lot's of good stuff lately! Check her out.
Blessings-Janice

Zip Codes

We are frequently asked for our zip code, as we go about doing our errands. And often, when I repeat those 5 numbers, I think about the places around my neighborhood- the two rose gardens where my grandkids and I have smelled countless roses, the architecture of a beautiful old bungalow, and the local library. Because I have been dwelling in Romans 8, I have been thinking about my real address- my real life! Romans 8: 9-11 reminds me that I live in God’s realm- the realm where the Holy Spirit tells me that I am alive because of Christ’s righteousness. Then it reassures me that I will have an eternal life in Heavenly realms. Wow! I like that zip code! “…you’re real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3