My thoughts on the "Red Cup" controversy

I have to weigh in on this.

I am disappointed, ashamed, hurt, angry (choose one) at the removal of Christ from Christmas.  It is/has been happening for years.  I do not like it. #KeepChristinChristmas

With that being said, the whole Starbucks red cup brouhaha makes me disappointed, ashamed, hurt, angry (choose all, please)!  

I haven't a clue to the whole decision process taken by Starbucks in this matter.  I'm betting it was far more about marketing to the masses and money, than about denying Christ. I could be wrong, but until I see the paperwork, that's what I believe.

Here's what I believe the whole thing IS about.  It is about creating dissension, schisms, anger, and hurt between Christians.  Guess what? Starbucks is NOT the enemy!  SATAN IS THE ENEMY!  He is using a difference of opinion on this "issue" to rile God's people & pastors into using harsh, condescending, unkind words with one another.  Most of it isn't being done in private, but out in the public realm where it serves to elevate a stupid red cup to from paper to idol status.  Buy the red cup, you're ignoring wickedness. Don't buy the red cup, you're seeing wickedness where none exists! Christians can't win either way.  Guess who's winning this round, folks?

Listen. You have a right to feel about the red cup however you will, and to support your conscience with your wallet. I support your right to these choices.

But can I ask you to consider this:

Have we come to the place where a red cup can so distract us from the true meaning of this season, that we lob missiles at our co-laborers?  Is Christ really being honored by this ruckus?

#redcupcontroversy

Has it really been 5 years?

Five (5) years!  I have not written here for that long.  So much for being a committed blogger!  No explanations, no excuses, no promises...I am going to try to do better.  That is all.

Let me catch you up, a little.  A bunch of stuff, both awesome & not so, have happened in the last 5 years. That is life. I can honestly say I am happy. Thank you Lord!

A couple of significant things I should mention:

1. I left my beloved former church. Pastor left, new staff/management/leadership was not as I was lead to believe.  A loving, committed body was decimated.  Church is now GONE, which I think was the plan to begin with.  I wandered from church to church for months (years?) looking for THAT SAME church,  God finally got it into my bonehead that that wasn't what he had for me.  I have found my church home; not perfect, but looking back, neither was the former church.  It is a place where I can hear the Word preached, worship, serve, love & be loved.  God is good! 
2. My husband & I moved from our 10 acre "farm" & dream home.  Heart-wrenching as it was, we are happy in our new community and smaller digs.  There is a great deal of good to be said for neighbors next door & manageable size houses & yards! My husband misses his tractors, I miss looking out on fields & cattle, but we are content. Again, God is good!

I hope you'll stop by once in a while and read a post or two.  Actually, I hope I can write something worth reading.  WARNING: Since I am not sure where this will go, it might be a completely crazy, mixed up, stream-of-consciousness thing that means nothing to anyone but me.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

It is so beautiful this morning! Clear blue skys, cool spring temps, and the promise of a warm afternoon. I took my cup of coffee out to the back deck and just soaked in God's creation! What a wonderful way to start the day...

Our Tobiosho Japanese Maple, which was planted last fall, has survived the winter and is in full leaf. You can see the Fall color HERE.

My daughter's favorite Gerbera has surprised us with two new blooms! ( I thought it was a gonner.)

Even the pansies from last year's dish garden have miraculously appeared from the neglect of winter and were greeting me with faces upturned to catch a ray or two!

God's word tells us in Psalm 19: 1-4a, that God's creation is a testimony to all people everywhere!

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

I hope you can get outside & enjoy God's world today!

Be Blessed, Chris

Where's your focus girl?

God gave me one of those "aha" moments in my quiet time this morning. I am using a daily devotional by Sarah Young, "Jesus Calling". It has been a real blessing. The devotionals are short, but always just what I need to hear.

This morning, it was all about where we place our focus. I loved the author's analogy!

Just as a spinning ballerina must continue to return her gaze to a certain point to maintain her balance, I must keep returning my focus to Jesus during my day to maintain my balance! Gaze too long at my worries or circumstances, and I become dizzy & confused.

Thank you Lord for being the unchanging One!

~Hebrews 12:2

"The King & I"

The “King & I” retreat was wonderful. 57 women, young & old, met for a time of teaching, praising & revival. We laughed, cried, hugged, prayed, sang and learned what it truly means to be a daughter of the King!

Our speaker, CJ Rapp is a beautiful woman, both in countenance & grace. The words she brought to us were convicting, comforting, based in scripture, and for me, life-changing. I could have spent a week listening to what God had laid on her heart for us! I learned that she had been in regular contact with our Women’s Ministry Director and that she had asked about each woman who was attending and had prayed for us! Is it any wonder that God uses her in such a mighty way?

I am still reflecting and praying about what I received from the Lord this weekend. But one thing I wanted to share was so moving, such clear illustration of our worth in the eyes of God.

As CJ was teaching on man’s creation, in God’s likeness from the dust of the earth (Genesis 1:27 and 2:7) she knelt on the floor before us and created one of the most powerful images I have ever seen.

To paraphrase CJ:
“Picture God kneeling to the ground, scooping a handful of dust and lovingly forming a ball that was to become Adam’s head. Then he carefully sculpted eyebrows & eyes, a nose, a mouth then ears. As a parent adores gazing their child, God continues to form Adam’s body, his arms & legs. When He has finished His perfect design, He takes Adam’s face in His Hands and breathes the breath of life into his nostrils. As Adam opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is the face of pure love, his God & Creator!”

This struck me like a lightning bolt! My heart was so filled with joy, awe & thanksgiving!

Thank you Father for using CJ to give me a small glimpse of your boundless love!

And CJ, thank you for allowing God to use your words to touch me so deeply!

Lord, how greatly you filled my heart and increased my understanding of your love for me, this weekend! Thank you for giving me a new sense of self-worth, for loving me just as I am. Help me to believe that I am beautiful in your eyes. I promise to guard my heart so that when negative self-talk or hurt feelings try to shake that belief, I will remember that You knew and loved me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, my salvation! How glorious, that one day, I will look into that same face of pure love! In Jesus’ precious name, AMEN!

Women's Spring Retreat

I am so busy & very excited!

I have been preparing for our Women's Spring Retreat for several weeks. Now it is crunch time! The retreat starts Friday evening. This, alongside my full-time job and my Tupperware Business, and I am meeting myself coming & going!

Our theme this year is "The King & I". Our speaker, CJ Rapp will be speaking about what it truly means to be a daughter of the King of Kings. I have been praying that God will transform my heart, and that the women of our church will be drawn closer to Him and to each other.

I have been responsible to prepare the retreat booklets and name tags. I am pleased with them. The booklet is 28 pages and contains everything from the scheule information to the devotional on Psalm 139. The name tags are so cute and have a little bling too! (We ARE Princesses, after all! *Ü* )

I thought you might like to see a photo of the booklet cover and one of the name tags.

I would be so grateful if you would take a minute to pray for our retreat and for me. May God do a mighty work this weekend!

Thankfully, Chris

Sanctified Sunday

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
(Psalms 143:8 NIV)

I wish you a blessed Sunday in your homes and churches! Chris