No Regrets

Sunday afternoon as my dad and I were working in the shop, he asked me if I every regret becoming a teacher instead of a veterinarian. My first response was sometimes. For example, when they announced at graduation Friday night that a couple of the girls wanted to go into veterinary medicine, or when I wish I could bring my girls (three dogs) with me to work because they calm me and brighten my day. But then I began to honestly think about the question. Do I regret?

You see I had a true gift for working with animals and it had been my dream from the time I was nine years old until a couple of years after getting my bachelors degree. I was working for a veterinary and I was applying for vet school, but I was not having success. Then one day in the mail I received a letter from the education department at a local college. They wanted me to apply for their masters program. I was at a crossroads. Do I continue pursuing my dream of veterinary medicine or do I change dreams and go into education? I began to earnestly seek God's direction on this. Looking back now, I do not remember if I ever asked God if He wanted me to become a veterinarian. I do not remember if I ever asked what His purpose was for me until that moment.

I chose to follow the new dream. I am finishing my 16th year of teaching. It has had its ups and downs and every year is a new adventure. But do I regret it? No. How do you regret something when it is God's purpose for you? This year has brought new challenges as my job changed, but my purpose has not: working with high schoolers to get them to graduation while in the process showing them patience and God's love. When my job gets tough, I think of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

What Will Jesus Be?

The question that was asked this week to me was "Ms D, how will Jesus come back, will He be the same as the first time - as a baby?" When I answered, "No, this time He is going to return as a conqueror and king," the student did not understand and I think did not believe. This led to the question, "how do you know?"


I know because Jesus is alive! He did not stay on the cross or in the tomb. He rose from the died, ascended into Heaven and one day He will return. I know because God tells me through His inspired word in Revelation 19:11-20. He gives an awe inspiring picture of the return of our King.

I saw heaven open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

This is not the picture of a child or a baby. This is the picture of someone who is in charge, in control and someone who is here on a mission. Jesus' purpose has changed with His second coming. His purpose the first time was to bring forgiveness. When He comes again His purpose is to bring judgement and victory! Are you ready?

You Are My Shield...

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)


But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm 3:3)


The words in these two verses I want to focus on are safe and shield.  Recently God kept me safe. He was my shield, literally.


My mom and I had to drive 30 miles to Tacoma to pick up transcripts for work. It wasn't a trip I wanted to make. It was a waste of a day to make the drive up and back. It was a waste of money for gas and a waste of money for the transcripts. But I did it.


So, we head up I-5 and when we got to Tacoma there is an area of the freeway where there are multiple on-ramps and exits. There are a lot of changing lanes and slowing down and speeding up. It is usually bumper to bumper. A year or so ago the traffic flow was changed and redirected. We got off the exit for the City Center which is now about a quarter - half a mile from the actual exit. I exited and I thought where am I going there's only one other car here? Did I make a wrong turn? This are is usually packed. People are fighting to get over onto the freeway. The freeway is full but no one's on the exit.


This is when God's hand, God's shield was seen. As we were going down the road at 60mph, a truck and trailer flew pass us. Both were full and overflowing with construction materials. The truck was about 30-40 feet in front of us when a 10 foot and 4 foot board about 10 inches wide slid of the truck. We saw the longer board hit the road and splinter into pieces. The shorter board came at us. But instead of going through the front of our car, the board hit the ground in front of the bumper and bounced under my car. It hit the bottom and as far as we could tell everything was fine.


God was there that day. He shielded us from that accident. He kept people off that ramp so no one was injured or killed. He kept us safe. That board could have very easily have gone through the windshield, I could have slammed on my brakes and been rear-ended, or I could have swerved and rolled my car. But I did not have to because God kept me safe.

Legend of the Christmas Rose

During this time of year, we are bombarded with advertisement, commercials, and a frenzy of holiday shopping and the desire to purchase the right gift. I have begun to ask this year if we have truly lost the meaning of the Christmas season in the pursuit of the perfect gift to give. We will never find that gift online or at the mall. It cannot be bought for any price. The perfect gift is priceless and has already been given to us 2,000 years ago when Christ was born. All we have to do is accept what has already been given. 

While searching this week for items to put in our church's bulletin, I came across this legend. It spoke to my heart about what gift giving is all about, so I wanted to share it.

The Legend of the Christmas Rose
On a cold December night, everybody was coming to see their new Savior and brought Him all kinds of gifts and presents. The three Wise Men came in with their valuable gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold and offered them to Baby Jesus. At that point, a shepherdess, Madelon, who had seen the wise men passing through, reached the door of the stable, to see the Child. However, being very poor and having brought nothing to offer to the child, she felt helpless and started weeping quietly at the sight of all the wonderful gifts that the Three Wise Men had got for the child. Earlier, she had searched, in vain, for flowers all over the countryside but there was not even a single bloom to be found in the bitter winter.

An angel outside the door was watching over her and knew about her fruitless search. He took pity on her and, when he saw her head drooped down in sorrow, decided to help her with a little miracle. He gently brushed aside the snow at her feet and where her tears had fallen, sprang a beautiful cluster of waxen white winter roses with pink tipped petals. Then he softly whispered into the shepherdess's ear that these Christmas roses are far more valuable than any myrrh, frankincense or gold, for they are pure and made of love. The maiden was pleasantly surprised when she heard those words and joyfully gathered the flowers and offered them to the Holy Infant, who, seeing that the gift was reared with tears of love, smiled at her with gratitude and satisfaction. Thus, the Christmas rose came to symbolize hope, love and all that is wonderful in this season.

(http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/legend-of-christmas-rose.html)

Give Thanks...

To me Thanksgiving is a day of family, friends and good food. It is one day out of 365 set aside for us to reflect on what we are thankful for. But it seems that it has become just another day on the calendar. Unfortunately, for many it has just become another day of work or a day to start Christmas shopping early. 


This year at dinner my mom ask what I imagine many families ask that day - What are you thankful for? I was stumped by the question this year because I was the last person at the table to answer and I wanted to say something different. Unfortunately, I drew a blank.


I know the answer to her question is late, but here it is. I am thankful for...

• My parents who love me and tolerate me. The ones who loved me, protected me, and taught me to be the person I am today.
• My brother who is always there for me; who I know is there even though we don't talk every day; who calls me at odd times just to say hey and catch up.
• My sister-in-law who sends random texts to me to brighten my day and to wish me a blessed day.
• My nephew who finally has a job he loves and that allowed him to be home with us for Thanksgiving day (Yeah!).
• My students who are the most awesome young adults on the planet; who make me smile, laugh and cry (sometimes all at the same time).
• New friends.
• Growth and maturing as our church goes through a transition period.
• New experiences - singing on the worship team and teaching Children's Church.
• But most of all, for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave the greatest gift and sacrifice by laying down His life so that I can have salvation and eternal life. And because He cares enough about me to walk with me daily.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you found a few moments to reflect on what you are truly thankful for.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

We read this verse in relationship to death and the journey we take when our time arrives.  We gain comfort to know that God will be there with us. 


But when I read it this time I saw it in a different light, with a new meaning. Why do we only look at this verse at a time of death? Why not take comfort from it in our daily lives?  


The Life Application Bible had a note that the verse could also read "through the darkest valley." Our darkest time is not always death. We go through times of highs (mountains) and lows (valleys) in our lives. Those valleys are not always a physical death. It could be pain, sickness, injury, conflict, etc. 


I have a reoccurring valley in my life. I am one who copes with migraines. They are the most excruciatingly painful things that I have experienced. I have prayed in the middle of them that God would either take away the pain or take me home to be with Him. It gives me great comfort to know that God is there with me at these dark time. I know that I am not alone when that debilitating pain is there. God is there when no one else can help me. 


Strength and comfort cannot overcome the valley of pain, sickness, injury or conflict, but just as God is there to get us through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there to get us through the other valleys too. Take comfort that you are not alone. Take comfort that God is there to defend you with His rod and to keep you from danger with His staff.

Psalm 23:2-3

Psalm 23:1 tells us that if we depend on God then we will not want. What more could we ask for? God does not leave us there. He offers even more in verses 2-3. He says "He will make me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters." When I hear green pastures and still waters I get a tranquil picture in my mind. I see myself stretched out in that green pasture next to the still waters. I hear the birds singing, I feel the gentle breeze blowing. I feel the weight of the world left off my shoulders. I fell renewed and refreshed.


God does not say He will put you in a car in rush hour traffic or chaos. He takes us to a calm and tranquil place. He offers restoration to our souls. That sounds great but what does it mean? To restore means to replace, to renew or revive, to return. How wonderful to know that when I am beaten down, torn apart by the world, God will replace, renew or return me to how He created me. He doesn't just leave me in the state I am in.


God offers this to all. All you have to do is accept Him as your Shepherd too.