With Love . . . God

(classroomclipart.com)

The past few weeks I have been reading a book that I absolutely love and don't want to end! The title is Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren.

In the book Kay describes dangerous surrender like this (pp.23-24):

Surrendering means that we have come to an end of our independence from him, our reliance on self-sufficiency, and our insistence that we don't need him. Surrender to God changes everything. Why add the word dangerous to surrender? Because we don't surrender to a benevolent but impotent grandfather figure; we surrender to Almighty God-the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

Each chapter is just raw and loaded with thought provoking insight. It has left me both wrecked and ruined, and as Kay writes, "gloriously ruined." As the book comes to a close I have been struggling with how to 'walk out' what I have read, to 'see' what dangerous surrender looks like until a present arrived on my doorstep with a tag that read, "With Love, God."

Last weekend my husband and I picked up a friend to go to a wedding. When we arrived at her home one of children answered the door with his bright smile. Within a few minutes she hurried into the car and we were on our way. In the car she shared that another foster child had arrived this week, one hour before her small church group was to arrive at her home for their weekly study. (So now they have nine children with a wide range of special needs that they are loving and caring for.) Her words were this, "I said okay Lord!" And then she calmy said, "I told myself I was not going to lose the affections of the Lord." I thought to myself, "Did she just say what I think she said? I think I need to pinch her and see if she is for real." The beauty of it, she truly is!

After the wedding we went to her house to visit and when we arrived one of her best friends was putting together a crib because they needed another place for a child to sleep. Nine children in a small home filled with love and the joy of the Lord! (They have already fostered over 65 children.) We spent the evening visiting, each of us with a small child on our lap while the older children slept. When I went to bed that night I laid there thinking about our evening and the incredible couple the Lord has placed in my life. As tears streamed down my cheeks I felt as though God had handed me a gift with a tag that said, "With Love, God" and inside was a picture of my friends and the title underneath was "Dangerous Surrender."

For Him, Kim

(Kay's book can be found at the local library, on-line, or at your local bookstore. Join me each week at http://divingintohisgrace.blogspot.com/ where I am journaling my thoughts one chapter at a time. Enjoy!)

Verse for the Valley

Last month I blogged about how I have an overall life verse in the Bible that guides me through all situations. In addition to that, the Lord also gives me verses and songs for different seasons. Right now I'm doing a Bible study on the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore and she wondered---when we get to heaven would Jesus give us a personalized CD with our name on it with all the songs that accompanied our dramatic moments? I wonder the same about verses. Will I get a cute hardcover gift book in my heavenly welcome basket as well? He has surely carried me through mountains and valleys through verses. Today I'd like to share a valley verse.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31:8

Before I share my story I wanted to let you know again that on the right hand side of the blog is a button that will take you to a free Bible program where you can look up numerous versions of the Bible, take notes, I have yet to begin with all this site has to offer. Right now I'm doing the Bible in a year program in the New Living Translation. I love it! It's not the first time I've done the Bible in a year yet I still come across verses that jump at me like I've never seen it before.

Such is the case with Deuteronomy 31:8.

I was living in upstate NY and I didn't think my name was Julie, I was seriously wondering if it was Job. In a period of months the following took place: my job ended (a good thing overall but I was very anxious about my identity in that transition), my husband's job changed where he went from salary with benefits to commission and no benefits, I had a reaction to my c section (I'm always that 1 in 1000 you hear about) our daughter failed her newborn tests for congenital hypothyroidism, the office erred and did not relay that message to us in a timely fashion missing criticical dosage times, she was given a medicine she should not have that shut her down when she contracted croup and nearly died, she had RSV, and then pneumonia with numerous breathing relapses throughout 2004. Her brother was in kindergarten where I was homeschooling him but he was diagnosed with sleep apnea because of tonsil size. A week before we closed on our house in NY to move to Ohio, he had his tonsils and adenoids out. A few weeks after our daughter had her near death experience, my dad announced he had lung cancer. Although he responded wonderfully to treatment at first, by Spring things went downhill quickly and I was attending his funeral in late May. Three weeks before the funeral my husband received a call from a company out of state that gave him one hour and a half phone interview before hiring him. We visited that area praying the entire time, and we knew the move was for us. But the job and the move separated us as a family. So by summer 2004 I am for the most part a single mom selling a house in one state while my husband is alone with a new job in an apartment looking for a new house. He was looking for a school, doctors, and a new church family. I was taking care of the kids, both not in perfect health at the time, packing up a house, trying to be available for my grieving family, and grieving myself.

One afternoon I attended a luncheon in Kanona, NY through the Family Life Network http://www.fln.org/ (you need to be listening to their station, it is THE best!) FLN was about 30 minutes away and over the years we were blessed with great concerts and speakers. The speaker that day was a tool God used to give me peace, hope, and direction.

The speaker was Jill Kelly.

Wife of Buffalo Bill's famed quarterback Jim Kelly.

New Christian through a series of events pretty much surrounding the terminal condition of their son, Hunter, who has gone on to be with the Lord since that luncheon.

She shared her heart and she remains one of the top speakers I can remember because she gave her whole heart. She explained her background and it wasn't one of acting like a nun and having a strong faith in anything. She met Jim at a party. She was part of a celebrity lifestyle. Jesus Christ was about the last thing on her mind.

I can't remember Hunter's whole story but I remember my shoulders shaking because I was holding on to my emotions for all it was worth. We only had one ER visit that was life threatening for us and it shook me to the core and I had been in a personal relationship with Christ for awhile. Jill shared that every ER visit for them was one where they knew they just might not be bringing Hunter back. How on Earth did she make it through that time?

The dam broke when she exclaimed the verse God was using to get Jill through the excruciating time of knowing you are going to lose a child when you still have other children to nurture and a husband to care for all under the glare of celebrity spotlight---as a new Christian no less.

Here is the verse again:

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The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

From that moment on I clung to this verse like a shy child to a mother's leg. He was already in Ohio in our new house we had not found yet. He was already at the hospital double checking plans for our son's surgery. He was already in our daughter's bedroom stroking her hair when I was prepping the nebulizer and steroids. He was already at the real estate office making sure everything was ready for the sale of our NY home. He never not once left me. Every time I wanted to be afraid, I remembered the verse. I prayed for Jill. And I clung.

It's nearly four years since that luncheon and God has been more than faithful. We endured insurance woes once we moved that were difficult but so many good things too. Our son thrived at the school we felt directed to, if that was the only reason to be obedient to the move, I'd do it all over and over again. It wasn't though---our daughter's health has stabilized. She is doing fantastic. People in NY are blown away when they see and hear her. My husband loves his job and is good at it. Doors have flown open for me in ministry and with friendships. I have been blessed to keep special friendships in NY but make new strong ones as I have here with the other Gate Girls, Kim and Maria.

I sense this verse is meant for someone out there. Perhaps when they read this post it might not even be during the time of posting, but later. I don't know, but He does. Here is what I have for you my friend, don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged. The Lord has gone ahead of you. He is with you every step of the way. He won't forget you, He won't leave you. He's got your back, He's got you covered. No need to fear.

And wherever Jill Kelly is, I pray her faith has remained steadfast through the seasons of change. I wept when I learned Hunter passed, but I know her children and her knew whose arms he was now in. I pray Jim has that personal comfort as well.

Thank you Jill for sharing your heart that day. Your obedience to Him changed my life.

Julie Arduini is a surrendered writer with her own blog, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she blogs for the Christian Writers Forum Sundays as the mommy blogger and is the Forum's book club facilitator. She is active with FaithWriters and has several writings ready to publish in different books and anthologies in 2008-09. To get to know her better, read her interview by Lynda Schab at: http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20

To contact Julie, please use the e mail provided in our profile.

Maria's Thoughts As A Newborn Christian

Why me? Why did He choose me to love? Why does He think I’m worthy of His love? Why does He think I’m qualified to fulfill His purpose for my life?All the feelings of unworthiness, guilt, shame—have all been washed away—washed away with the blood Jesus shed for me. Me? Are you sure about me, Lord? Do you know what I’ve done? Do you know my past? Do you know some of my thoughts? Do you know the people I’ve hurt in the past? Do you know my sins?
He does. The beauty of the Lord is that He knows it all—He knows the dreams of your heart– He wants you to release the secrets of your being that have been holding you back for so very long. He wants to show you that through His love and His mercy, you can reach the desires of your soul—no matter where you’ve come from, or what you’ve done. He has no agenda. He will wipe the slate of your life clean.

Go ahead—Listen. That quiet voice you think no one knows about—that voice inside you that guides you to do the right thing no matter what…the voice that says “ You can do it!” , even though you’ve never tried such a thing before…The same voice that overrides your natural mind; the logical part of you.

Go ahead. Shhh. Listen.

That’s Him. That’s Jesus.

Let Him in. Let Him hold your heart and embrace your soul. Focus on Him and only Him—don’t wait…try it now. Shhhh.

Allow His love to take over and hold you like no other. He will keep you safe and take you step by step. Surrender your soul to His unending love and mercy. Listen to His call for your life. He’ll teach you things about yourself you never knew. He’ll show you gifts and talents that have been waiting patiently inside you—the more you listen, the more you will discover. Take that step. Let Him fill you up with His joy-His peace-and His unending love—It’s all there for you. Yes, you. Go ahead—don’t keep Him waiting any longer.

Maria and her family reside in NE Ohio. She and her husband are the parents of two. Their daughter is a person with hemipelegic cerebral palsy. Because of her experiences, Maria provides parent-to-parent support for families involved in her local early intervention program. Her gift for writing has come directly from the Lord since her daughter’s diagnosis. She writes a monthly column entitled, “Special Parents, Special Kids” for the Mahoning Valley Parent magazine in Ohio; and has expanded into Parent magazines in parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She is also a contributing author at www.mommiesmagazine.com. Maria is very passionate about getting the word out to special parents that they are not alone in their journey of raising their special child; and that they were chosen by God to parent their children. Maria welcomes comments and communication.

A Matter of Life and Death

Before my blog rotation I pray and ask God what He would want to say through this blog. Typically I want to share issues that God is pointing at me about because I never want to come across as someone who has mastered anything. This topic is no different--I'm working on it, I still fail, but I wanted to offer awareness and hope. I felt the direction for today's post was about words. I get to church Sunday and guess what the sermon is on?



The power of words.



Nothing like a confirmation to seal the deal.



James 3:9 NIV
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.



I'm guilty of this. I can be in church worshipping and ten minutes later be in the parking lot heaping sarcasm on the kids. What is the one thing in common? Words come from the tongue. They can give life, or they can give death.



A compliment feels pretty good, doesn't it? I read once that it takes seven compliments to erase one, just one criticism. The saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?" I may sound a tad passionate here but I think that adage came from the devil himself. Words hurt. Words heal. Words are powerful.



For a long time I carried such guilt because I knew as someone with so much anger inside me, I spewed a lot of venom in my non faith and early faith days. I even became known as poison pen. Same deal. I might have put it on paper but still, I was wielding a mighty weapon with my pen--words.



My writing today is to make you aware and encourage you, as well as myself. Simple statements like "stupid, loser, failure" can damage in ways that could take years to heal. I suggest you even reflect on the nicknames you give to others. Are they words that build people up or tear down? If you are using the reason that you're just joking--is the other person laughing?



My husband and I have a heart for marriage ministry. Believe it or not, a man's top need is not in the bedroom. He needs to be affirmed and believed in. The very worst word you could throw at him besides divorce is anything that depicts him as a failure. I have been around conversations when the wife had not one thing, not one thing to say that was positive about him, even when pressed to think of something. It was heartbreaking to watch.



I've also been the recipient of a mom telling me my kid could do one thing because my kid was smart, but her kids never could because they are stupid. I stopped her right there. I knew enough about her family to know words had been used against them for generations. The cycle CAN be broken. I let her know that those words tear down and that her children are gifted by God Himself and I prayed against those words to ever be uttered again. But if mom isn't hearing words of life, how can we expect her to pass them on to her children?



The Bible has a lot to say on the tongue and our words. Do a word search on tongue and see what all comes up. There are great verses to think on. I know James 1:26 NIV
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless is something I've seen in action. They let me know how often they are in church, what positions they hold on the board, and that I should be doing x, y, or z, right before they launch a joke session that would make George Carlin blush. I don't want to be around that, and I don't want to be that. How can I make sure?



Take every thought to Christ. If I keep my focus on Him, my words flow a lot nicer. I think of it like a pipe. If I make God my first priority of the day, water falls freely and clearly in the day. If I move my God time further and further until the day is basically over, I can picture a clogged rusty pipe called my tongue. I get short tempered, sarcastic and my thoughts aren't much better.



If you are someone that has heard negative words for any period of time, I want you to know you don't have to receive those words anymore. Years ago someone innocently made a comparison that pitted me against someone else. I came off as the smart one, and that person was portrayed as the pretty one. Couldn't we be both? I had no idea and for decades I unwillingly made choices based on what a "Smart" person would do. Once God showed me that I believed in a "word curse" I realized what was going on. I went to prayer and I let God know I no longer agreed with that statement and I wanted to make choices that reflected His plan for me, not what I heard years ago. It's a process. It took time and it truly took (and still takes) every word and thought to the cross. I'm not walking around like a model, but I wear bolder colors than I used to. I have my hair done with professional color, something I never thought I thought was meant for me because I thought it was a pretty person thing, not a smart person choice. The power of words.



I've seen people struggle in school because they were told they were not college material. I know women who had self esteem issues because someone laid their own baggage of guilt and shame on them and proclaimed them ugly or unworthy in some way.



I've also read about forgotten children with a scandalous beginning who came across someone who spoke a blessing over their life. Those kids came alive and became leaders, doctors, politicians and believing in the dreams God gave them.



I don't know where you fall---maybe both places. Maybe you are using hurtful words because someone hurt you. It's a simple cliche but a true one. Hurt people hurt people. But it doesn't mean it has to stay that way.



If you are using words that are tearing down instead of building up, confess it to God. Ask for His help. You can not conquer it in your own strength. Don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake because you most likely will. Keep going to God with everything, start your day with Him. Dive in the Bible and do the word search. Just don't let that spark called your tongue become a forest fire.



If you are remembering experiences where words defined you, ask God to reveal them all. You can't change what you don't know. Go to prayer and break agreement with those word curses. Let God renew your mind with His truth. He will never, ever put you down or make you feel like a failure or ugly or a loser. If that is a voice you are hearing, it is not God. God truly is love. He may rebuke us, but He'll never condemn.



And neither should we.

By the way, Joyr Chickonoski's mentoring and http://www.getrealliving.com/ is where I learned how to break agreement with word curses and live freely. She has a book available at this site as well that has helped me greatly called Becoming Lovers: The Journey from Disciple of Christ to Bride of Christ.





Julie Arduini is a surrendered writer with her own blog, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she blogs for the Christian Writers Forum Sundays as the mommy blogger and is the Forum's book club facilitator. She is active with FaithWriters and has several writings ready to publish in different books and anthologies in 2008-09. To get to know her better, read her interview by Lynda Schab at: http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20
http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20To contact Julie, please use the e mail provided in our profile. She also feels she needs to confess as she was writing this post she yelled at her kids.

Time In The Desert

I remember the day I received Julie's picture of the Blue Heron asking if we had any insight to the bird's significance. (See yesterday's post.) I immediately consulted my son, the animal expert, and he shared information about the bird's solidarity and uniqueness. Over the next few weeks it was both exciting and amazing to watch the Lord speak and reveal His plans and purposes for Julie's life and journey with Him. When I read her post it took me back to that time and confirmed how God speaks and how He has been speaking to me too.

You may have read in my bio that I have a heart for the abandoned children 'over the seas.' The past few years I have been praying and asking the Lord to use me to reach others and be a voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. In the beginning when I prayed I thought God would answer me with this 'booming' voice followed by a road map and clear instructions on which direction to go. I often became frustrated and could not understand why He was not speaking to me. He was speaking, I was just not paying attention. Then I thought that if I filled up my days with bible studies, prayer groups, church activities, . . . that I would have 'clear' direction like other spiritual people I interacted with. Again, He was speaking and this time I was too busy to listen. And then my life took a turn.


In April I traveled back to Romania, a dream come to true, to minister to the children and village people. My time there was eye-opening, heartbreaking, and confusing. Then I returned home not knowing what to do with all the emotions inside. In the meantime a childhood friend of mine and I started having some difficulty. Although there were apologizes and forgiveness, I felt in my heart it was time to walk away. The pain I carried with me was almost unbearable. Then summer came. Three months with little ones at home, friendships changing, long periods of lonliness, and inside I knew He was calling out to me.

I attended a conference alone during this emotionally trying time. It was my first time to the church sponsoring the weekend event so I was uncertain about what to expect. Well, God blew me away! To summarize, the speaker used a small willow tree as He spoke about God in our lives. First He began pruning it, gently, slowly. I could relate to that. We all need things pruned off our life like bad habits, negative thoughts, . . . Then He picked up a larger tool and whacked off the branches. I felt the tree and myself yell, "OUCH!" My friendship was one of those branches. Sometimes the things that are taken away hurt, I know my branch did. Then came the ax, I closed my eyes. The skinny little trunk was now in his hands. "Okay, enough!" I wanted to scream. He was still not done. He laid the the scrawny trunk on the floor, in the sun to dry out. "Ughhh!" I thought, but look, here he comes to pick it up. No, he came and turned the trunk over to dry out on the other side. My life, my body, was lying in the sun just like that tree trunk!

As Julie quoted from Hosea 2:14, "I'm going to allure her to the desert and speak tenderly to her." I was in the desert. He had allured me to the desert to speak to me, to spend time with me, to just be with me. And He wanted all of me. At times the desert was so hot and the only water that could be seen were the tears running down my face. Some days I found myself exhausted, falling to my knees wondering if I could withstand one more day. But it was there, in the desert, that I cried out to Him and said, "Lord, help me, save me! I feel so broken and shattered that I do not know what to do!" It was in the desert that I sat alone and listened. It was in the desert that I knelt and prayed. And it was in the desert that He taught me to rely on Him.

I cannot even remember the time coming out of the desert to where I am today. I can tell you that since then my life has focus - focus on Him, my family, and my purpose. So many things that consumed me before have been cut away. In my quest for direction the Lord heard my cry and led me His way, not mine. He knew what needed to be changed in me before His direction was to be revealed. Imagine that! And my prayer is slowly being answered in ways I never dreamed of.

Be Blessed, Kim

The Blue Heron

A couple weeks ago Maria wrote about people asking how do you know when it is God's voice.

http://thenarrowgateinvites.blogspot.com/2008/03/maria-shares-her-thoughts-on-that-voice.html

For me, I find repitition to be a huge clue for me that sends my spiritual attenae to attention. If I read a certain verse more than once in a short span of time, I know there is a message. If someone repeats a phrase that has been on my heart, I go to God with it for more. The same for music. Late last year, I was positive God was speaking to me through of all things-a blue heron.

I love walking in nice weather and feel closest to God when I'm near a body of water. Last September in a span of about 7 days I had in one form of another, several sightings of the blue heron.

1--I was taking pictures at a local park that has a lovely waterfall. I got home, printed my favorite, and in the middle of the picture directly below the large rock you can see a blue heron standing as still as can be. I couldn't stop looking at it. The picture is at the top of this post. Can you find it?

2. The next night I went to another part of the park located several miles away. I was walking along on a bike trail. I was in the middle of my "romantic" Captivating moment described by authors Stasi and John Eldredge. God gave me a huge sunset directly before me that I captured on my cell phone while driving. Crickets serendaded while I had the bike trail all to myself (that never happens) and birds flew ahead. I walked by a small pond and guess what was there...a blue heron. Again, standing as still as can be.

3. Two days later our family traveled to upstate NY. During this 300 one way trek I passed by two or three separate blue heron sightings. This is with 65mph highway driving with not a lot of bodies of water.

By now, I'm like ok, something is up with the blue heron. On the return trip home I asked God "if" this was something He was trying to show me (I can be kind of slow on these revelations!) to be very specific with the blue heron.

4. Twenty minutes later we passed a billboard, one I have not seen since. What for?

The Blue Heron.

No kidding. I can't remember if it was a restaurant or hotel but I recall my jaw dropping.

God talking to me? Yea, that doesn't surprise me anymore. In fact, I long for His communications. I am in a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father through believing in His Son. So that part doesn't surprise me so much anymore.

But by using a blue heron?

Well that part was new!

I have a network of friends that I trust when these things happen and I'll usually send out an e mail or call and ask if they have any prayerful thoughts. I went online and googled blue heron. One thing that struck me was that they were a solitary bird. At that time God was also giving me a verse from Hosea 2:14 (I'm going to allure her to the desert and speak tenderly to her).

He was also transitioning me from a very busy schedule to a very slow one. I felt like a freight train that went from full speed ahead to near stop, in about five seconds. It was jarring and unsettling. That verse comforted me because I realized it was of course by His hand, but also for His purpose.

I also saw the heron in a picture eating a snake. For any of you that know me, you know I dislike snakes so much I can't even stand them in cartoons. Like comedian Bill Engvall, I think the snake and satan are one and the same. I am an intercessor---it's no big title or job, I am just someone that God asks to pray for certain things and I do until I feel that burden lift. Sometimes just to pray for things feels like contending between two kingdoms---God's and the defeated one. To see a blue heron eating a snake, well that was exciting. Praying is a solitary thing a lot of the time and there are times when it is draining physically and emotionally. I love that picture of victory!

To read about the blue heron being isolated, this comforted me too.

Kim has a family member that is anointed with wisdom about God's animals. Honestly just name an animal and you'll learn all about it. This member is my go to person and I'm so thankful for their willingness to share.

She went to them with my blue heron quest. I received a summary that confirmed their solitary state. Blue herons also stand so still because they blend in for hunting purposes. Fish have no idea that they are about to be dinner.

Further feedback from a mentor gave me more to pray on. She was struck by the stillness to blend in. I tend to be someone that wants to make things happen. I don't always fit in places because I'm either frustrated by the mediocrity or outright rejection of the One I serve, or, I am so intimidated that I stick out with my quaking fear.

The blue heron for me, through a lot of prayer, gave me the insight to be still and at peace as I moved through a new season. For months now my entire life has changed. It has been a very quiet time where even if I could, I can't make things happen. The isolation and rest has given me time to mature, pray, seek, and prepare for whatever might be next. He has revealed so much to me in this. His words for me have been to seek and give compassion and grace. As I have sought this (not always with success) I find myself blending in better. Not because I'm giving up or compromising, but I'm not coming on like some obnoxious squawking bird.

I'm still. Solitary. At peace. Hungry. Devouring the snake. Loving water.

All of this from God---via the blue heron.

Think back---is there any sighting, reading, song, or sermon that struck you time and time again? It's not too late, ask the Holy Spirit for help. He's your counselor, teacher and friend.

UPDATE: April 4

Today in the mail I received a book I won online signed by the authors. It is I believe from Heartsong Mystery line, so it is a Christian book. The title? Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

I am NOT kidding!

Thanks for reading! If you like the new design here at TNGI, please visit http://dustin-lee.com/blog/ and http://christianwritersforum.com/Blog/. These are creations by Dustin-Lee, and the neat part is God didn't just bless him with great artistry, he can also write. Check it out!

Julie Arduini is a surrendered writer with her own blog, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she blogs for the Christian Writers Forum Sundays as the mommy blogger and is the Forum's book club facilitator. She is active with FaithWriters and has several writings ready to publish in different books and anthologies in 2008-09. To get to know her better, read her interview by Linda Schab at: http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20To contact Julie, please use the e mail provided in our profile.Julie Arduini is a surrendered writer with her own blog, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she blogs for the Christian Writers Forum Sundays as the mommy blogger and is the Forum's book club facilitator. She is active with FaithWriters and has several writings ready to publish in different books and anthologies in 2008-09. To get to know her better, read her interview by Lynda Schab at: http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20To contact Julie, please use the e mail provided in our profile.

Thank You

Two simple words stated about the most powerful moment in history.

The moment when all of our sins were nailed to a cross-- always to be forgiven.

Simple, yet profound words stated by my eight year old son.

He loves the Lord, is curious about learning more about the Bible, and prays directly from his heart to God.

He viewed a portion of “The Passion of the Christ” at church Easter morning, and to my surprise, he didn’t ask questions, and more importantly, he didn’t question the power of that moment. Then almost a week later, he decided to draw this simple picture to respond to that moment:




He didn’t ask why, he didn’t try to understand every detail leading up to that moment, but in his pure, sweet mind he just simply wanted to say thank you.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we adults could just let that moment be an opportunity to express our gratitude to Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins, and not allow our minds to over-analyze it?

Why do our minds make it so difficult?

He loved us enough to have his only son die for our sins.

We should be forever grateful.

Ah, what peace would come to all of us if we could make a conscious effort of choosing to not complicate the fact that He did it just for us…

Thank you.

Such wise words from such a small boy.

It’s really that simple.

Maria and her family reside in NE Ohio. She and her husband are the parents of two. Their daughter is a person with hemipelegic cerebral palsy. Because of her experiences, Maria provides parent-to-parent support for families involved in her local early intervention program. Her gift for writing has come directly from the Lord since her daughter’s diagnosis. She writes a monthly column entitled, “Special Parents, Special Kids” for the Mahoning Valley Parent magazine in Ohio; and has expanded into Parent magazines in parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She is also a contributing author at www.mommiesmagazine.com. Maria is very passionate about getting the word out to special parents that they are not alone in their journey of raising their special child; and that they were chosen by God to parent their children. Maria welcomes comments and communication. If you would like to talk to her, please e-mail her. Our e mail address is in our profile. We also love comments!

Free Sacrifice: An Oxymoron

One of my treasured Christmas gifts was Beth Moore's A Heart Like His Personal Reflections 90 Day study. This study on David was something I was excited to dive into, as I am with any Beth Moore resource.

It's April 1 and I'm excited to say I finished this study. I learned so much not just about David--his ups, downs, victories, mistakes, strengths and weaknesses, but about the Father in Heaven who loves David so much, and you! Take heart---if God can call David a man after his own heart after committing adultery, conspiring to have the husband killed, being disobedient, and a pretty lackluster parent, well then isn't there great hope for all of us!

One particular element of David's life is one I can't shake. In fact the same day I read about it in 2 Samuel 24:18-25, I read it in another devotional as well. Those are the times you know God is trying to say something. Well Lord, your clueless servant is listening!

I don't know that I totally comprehend what He's trying to teach me, but this I can say I grasped out of that part of David's life. Sacrifice is not free.

18.
On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
19.
So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad.
20.
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
21.
Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped."
22.
Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
23.
O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you."
24.
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
25.
David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
(Christianity.com Bible Study Tools---you can access it for yourself at the right of this blog.)

Before this reading we learn that David took a census and had to choose what method of punishement to take. A census isn't so bad unless you are being disobedient, and David did it with a spirit of pride. Of the three choices God gave David, he chose the plague. Seventy thousand men died because as Beth Moore stated in the study, David deserted the throne and didn't trust God. He didn't intercede for his nation, and he had the wrong motive for the census.

As we read this passage, God commands David to go to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar. After you saw 70,000 men die of a plague that was basically your fault, you'd get moving to the threshing floor, wouldn't you? David did.

Araunah greeted King David with open arms and after learning David was there to buy the threshing floor to make an offering of sacrifice to the Lord to end the plague, this man wanted to give the floor to David. No need for a real estate transation, just have it. Nice sentiment, right?

It is, unless you came to make a sacrifice. It's pretty hard to offer a sacrifice when there is no---well---sacrifice! Verse 24 has David saying basically, I insist. I have to pay. I can't give the Lord my God an offering that cost me nothing.

David paid for the threshing floor. He built an altar for God.

The plague stopped.

Whatever your goal or destination, I'd be shocked if the journey was full of smooth paths and short cuts. Sure we have blessings and easier seasons than others, but full devotion to your Heavenly Father takes sacrifice. It isn't free and without adversity. Sacrifice costs. Just ask God's Son.

But I have a feeling when we get to heaven to talk with the Savior and King David, they both will agree sacrifice is worth every penny, every bead of sweat, every tear, every drop of blood.

By the way, this Beth Moore study explains further that the threshing floor of Araunah was so special to God because it was the exact spot in Genesis 22 where Abraham obeyed God and sacrificed Issac. Later on that same spot would be used again by Solomon. As Beth notes, this place is a place of sacrifice and substitution.

May David's payment encourage you in your own threshing floor sacrifice.

Julie Arduini is a surrendered writer with her own blog, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, she blogs for the Christian Writers Forum Sundays as the mommy blogger and is the Forum's book club facilitator. She is active with FaithWriters and has several writings ready to publish in different books and anthologies in 2008-09. To get to know her better, read her interview by Linda Schab at: http://www.faithreaders.com/featured-author-details.php?id=33%20To contact Julie, please use the e mail provided in our profile.

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