Personalized

Have you seen where an online merchant lets you know they want to buy back what you’ve purchased, and they’ll credit your account? What if you’ve written your name on it? What if you’ve scratched whatever it was? Sometimes I put my name in books, for example, as soon as they arrive. Couldn’t “sell” those back. They’ve been personalized. The other day I was on a site, and they had a picture of a familiar little Bible I’d purchased from them. I haven’t written my name in the Bible. I used a sticky note and included my address. Why? Because if this little Bible ever gets lost, I want it back. Please mail it to me. ;) 

Why do I prize this Bible so much? I’ve already underlined lots of Scriptures, dating them as I “find” them or as God speaks to me through them. I’ve been marking up my Bibles like this for years—with dates and colorful underlining. This process is very important to me, not just for convenience so I can find the verses later, but because the underlined words testify about a moment in my life. 

Years ago, God showed me that all those dated passages, all those notes, all those colorful underlined markings were memorials before Him. They’re memorials to me too. But I was so blessed to know God took them so seriously. He values my time in His Word. Now, we knew that, right? But to that extent? That He calls those moments, these personalized markings, memorials? Amazing. Makes me want to spend more time in the Word. Drop everything, it’s time to “build” a memorial before the Lord. 

How does God feel about memorials? Here’s an example of how seriously He takes these:

“Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4b NKJV)

Acts 10 describes a devout non-Jewish man named Cornelius who gave to the poor and prayed “continually.” His merciful deeds and prayers which may have gone seemingly unnoticed here on earth “built a memorial before God.” And because of that memorial, God acted on his behalf.

So, all those markings in my Bible not only remind me of devotional, prayer, prophetic, or study times with God, they “remind” God. Knowing that builds my faith. Knowing that assures me of God’s astounding grace. 

So, thanks but no thanks. I will not be selling this little Bible back for credit. It’s worth too much to me now. It’s been personalized. And through it, God’s Word has become more personal to me. Memorialized. And you can’t put a price on that.

Forced Rest

I talk about rest a lot here on Net’s Notes. It’s not that I’m taking a lot of rest, or lazy. It’s that I often don’t get enough, I think.

This week we’ve been bombarded with winter weather. Snowstorms, ice storms, freezing rain, yeah—the fun stuff. And with all that “weather” comes snow days. Feels like an extension to the Christmas holidays. And very distracting. And it wasn’t just the houseful of peeps. It was the two large windows allowing me a view of all the changes in the weather. Don’t tell my bosses, but I didn’t get as much done as I normally do. Not for lack of trying, but every single day felt like a Saturday. I shook things up and *gasp* worked on my own writing during the work day (don’t worry, I'm not employed at a nine-to-five). Normally, I give my own projects the last part of my day or the weekend, but never the middle of a weekday unless I’m on retreat. But why not? Why not prioritize what God’s called me to do? I got somewhere. I think He was blessing that choice.

See how rambling this post is? That’s been my week. I played a little more than usual—the indoor games fitting for bad weather—Uno with my youngest. She’s gotten good! Who taught her the tricks and best strategies and helped her get so competent? Uh oh, I did. And I watched The Lion King with my big kids and beloved husband. We laughed, tried to sing those words in another language, and giggled over impersonations. Just gave ourselves permission to kick back.

Amazing what a bit of snow will do. Amazing what a little rest will do. This hasn’t been a 16-hour-a-day week and I think we’re all better for it. Hmm… rest. Who knew?

The Courage of a Lioness

I didn’t hear the lion roar. He wouldn’t. Too docile that day as we stood in the cat house at the zoo. I so wanted to hear the lion roar, to tie together the symbolism of Jesus as the Lion of Judah. To witness the power and command of this beast who was tearing into his raw meat dinner.

People milled about. My kiddos were off with their grandparents at a different exhibit. C’mon, Lord, one roar? Nothing. Okay, maybe it’d scare the kids from families around me if the lion roared. I get it. Then, the Lord said, It’d scare you.  Oh… *grin*

There were other big cats nearby: a few tigers, a lioness. As I was leaving, the lioness roared. Powerful cat. Courageous cat. I peered toward her cage. Too many people between her and me for me to see her clearly. But the atmosphere changed. Kids around me clutched at their parents for security. Spirit of fear slithered about, but didn’t bother me. 

Fascinating. 

If the lioness’s roar is that powerful, that frightening, that deafening in the room, imagine what it’d be like if the lion roared. 

So, this year’s word for me from the Lord is courage. And the best picture of courage I know, the one God’s been giving me for two Januarys now (this year included) is that of a lioness. She walks through the jungle completely confident. She doesn’t fear. She doesn’t back down. She doesn’t slow down. Nothing keeps her from her mission (to hunt, to kill, to care for her cubs, to support the king). 

Now, only God knows why He has given me this image again this year, paired with this word: courage. But, He’s the Lion this lioness will accompany through the days of this year. 

Here’s the Scripture He gave me for 2012:

And Yahweh, He is the One who goes before you.

He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you;

do not fear nor be dismayed. (Deut. 31:8)

What has God been speaking to you about this year? Happy new year, dear readers. Let’s draw nearer this Lion of Judah, this Savior. He is so good. So powerful. So kind. And a million favorable descriptors besides.

It's All About Your Investment

Are new years a big deal to you? I was chatting with a friend the other day, and she brought up how people make such a big deal out of a new year.

I like new years because there’s the hope of a new beginning of sorts. Of course, we’re not actually going back to something we can remake, but we can start over in the sense of changing habits and bettering our quality of life through our new, wiser choices. And with a new year, there’s hope we’ll succeed. We all have a reasonable timeline to work with.

FB lets you see photos from previous years. One of my dear friends posted photos of herself from last January. But she’s not the same person. Well, okay, she is, but she’s been very successful this year with her goals. And she looks much more content with herself now that she’s succeeded. She inspires me and others, I’m sure. She transformed her appearance all in one year and without outside help.

So, it occurs to me, that the new year can be what we make of it. Do you set goals? Do you make plans for change? Do you want to make changes? Why not go for it? That’s the hope of a new year. But it’ll only be as successful as your investment.

If I go into the new year without setting goals, if I decide January 1st means nothing, that it’s just another day on the calendar, then I won’t make plans for change. And guess what? I may change (let’s be honest, we all change) but it won’t be as I’m secretly hoping I will.

But, if I go into the new year with a plan for change, if I decide to restructure my schedule or rework my priorities or set goals, then I strive toward them, I will see the changes I want to see.

Here's what it will take:

Prayer.

Planning.

Investing.

Implementing.

Persevering.

Reaping.

God’s law of sowing and reaping will manifest in our lives, for better or worse. If we work toward positive changes we’ll see them, eventually, if we persevere.

So, where in that list above are you weakest? Do you make a plan you think is wise, but never discuss it with God, or better yet, get His leading before you begin? Do you prayerfully plan well, but then give up when things don’t go as planned? Do you have a hard time implementing the carefully constructed plan? Maybe you give up after the hard work but just before you would have reaped the reward.

I think the possibilities of a new year lie in what you make of it. Just like any restart. If you invest in it through prayer and planning and implementing, through persevering, you’ll reap. If you blow it off, you’re giving in to the inevitable changes and those might not all be desirable.

Isn’t it interesting God gives us plenty of chances for a fresh start—sunrise, seasonal changes, new years, birthdays? And He give us some means to make the changes we want to see. I say take advantage of them. Sow and you will reap, good or bad. So, sow good deeds and seeds, and reap good benefits. By summer, or by next December, you’ll be a new you. And you’ll be glad you invested all you did.

It’s gonna be worth it.