"I'd like you to join me on Wednesdays as together we examine ideas and concepts on how to truly Live Life and experience all this life has to offer. I believe that when we walk with God, He enables us to live beyond the limits we see ahead on our path, growing and stretching us to heights and lengths we never thought possible! Please come along and see what God has is store for us on this journey through life!"
Love, Linda

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

KEY RB#2: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?



As we begin our new journey deeper into the Land of Abundant Life, I find myself frantically hunting through various compartments in my trusty, lavender vehicle for a road map.  Up until this time, the roadways have been laid out neatly and orderly with prominent signs.  Now I find myself at the start of a new path with many twists and turns.   I'm confused.  No one that I’ve met in this Land has given me any instructions or directions.  I don't know where I am going!
Another scary thought just occurred to me.  If I don’t know where I’m going . . . what my destination is . . . how am I supposed to get there?  All this time, I’ve wandered in the Land, experiencing new discoveries and pleasures . . . finding answers.  Yet, now that I am preparing to journey into the depths of the Land where I hope to discover hidden treasures of wisdom and insight, I am confronted with uncertainty and questions. Where am I going?  Which way do I turn?  How do I know I’m on the right road?  And exactly what is my destination?  
There really is no point in beginning to travel if I don't know where I expect to end my journey!
I remember as a child, my daddy always knew the right direction.  You could place him in the middle of a tall cornfield and he could tell you which way was north, south, east or west.  My mother, however, was just the opposite.  Although she was a very intelligent and competent woman, she could easily get lost because she didn’t have an inborn sense of direction.  Her best friend, Shirley, was also directionally challenged.  Since the two women were my primary role models, I grew up thinking that it was unfeminine to know where I was! 
I guess I’d better make a decision soon or I could just sit here forever clueless as to which way to turn.  But I can’t do this alone.  I need guidance from someone who has been deep into the Land, someone who knows the way.   
Isn’t it a shame that this well-built and classy-looking vehicle doesn’t contain a road map?  The only piece of literature in it is my Bible, which goes with me everywhere. 
Of course, that's it!  The Bible is my Road Map!  There is SomeOne who has gone ahead of me and SomeOne who knows the way.  God provided His Road Map, the Bible, to set before me a choice of destinations as I journey through Life.  And if I choose His Way, He will lead me every step along the correct route.
I realize now that I already made my choice of a destination when I entered the Land of Abundant Living.  By reading God’s Word, I learned that I could choose to proceed to the Kingdom of Light, ruled by God’s Son, Jesus, the Life-giver.  Or I could go to the Kingdom of Darkness, ruled by Satan, the Life-taker.  "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."  Colossians 1:13
Come on, this is a no-brainer!  Why would I choose the dark kingdom where my life will be stolen from me?  Why on earth would anyone choose it above the Kingdom of Light?  And yet, so many people do that very thing. . . it doesn’t seem logical to me. 
Maybe some answers await me as I journey on.   
But once again, my mind is at rest.  I remember when I first entered the Land of Abundant Living, Christ met me at the Door and told me that the only way to enter was through the blood of Jesus, which He gave willingly on the cross because of the Father’s tremendous love for me.  So I am safe.   I have nothing to fear. I will follow God’s Road Map all the way to the Kingdom of Light. 

Fellow traveler  on the Road of Life, have you also been through the Doorway of Christ’s blood?  Have you made the decision of your destination as you travel through Life?  Have you confessed your sins against a holy, loving God and accepted His free gift that will transfer you from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light?  Will you join me in the Land of Abundant Living and travel towards the best Kingdom?
“. . . I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”  Deuteronomy 30:19b
Do YOU know where you are going? Do you know how to get there?
I hope you join me next week when we take the first road on our journey into the depths of the Land of Abundant Living!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

KEY RB#1" FOCUS ON THE LIGHT

Thanks for joining me as we begin a new series in the Land of Abundant Living!  The road we travel together this fall will take a few new twists and turns as we venture deeper into the center of this amazing land.
Oh, thank you for pointing out the first road sign! "WARNING . . . ROAD BLOCKS AHEAD."  I see some smaller writing underneath that is difficult to make out at this distance.  I need to get closer and slow down to read it.   Hold on . . . we'll pull over to this grassy area and stop for a moment.  If I lean out my window and squint I can just barely make it out.
"Patience and stamina are required to continue, but you will be well rewarded!"
What should we do, fellow travelers?  Do you think so?  Are we in agreement then?
Great!  I'm for going on, also!  After all, we are in this Land to find adventures and purpose, right?
OK, let's move on.  Sit back and relax.  I'll tell you when we near a trouble spot.  So far, it's a pleasant day and the view is enticing.  Peaceful hills rise in rounds like a series of cakes frosted with green grass and dotted with purple and yellow candy flowers.  I am reveling in the fresh, gentle breeze and the warmth of the sun on my shoulders.
Oh oh, another sign.  This one is easy to read:  "FOCUS ON THE LIGHT."  We can hardly miss a sign that large, but what could it mean?  The only visible light source is the sun and it is behind us.  If I focus on that, we'll have to drive backwards!
Hmm . . . a memory is pricking at the edges of my brain.  Bits and pieces are slipping through the narrow entrance and expanding as they enter, like a flat sponge that expands when soaked in water.
Yes!  My memory is getting clear now.  Let's pull over here and I'lll share it with you.

One gorgeous afternoon last week, my husband took me out for a boat ride on a small, but pretty lake a few miles from our home.  The trip was a wonderful balance of peaceful, serene contentment as we floated smoothly on crystal clear waters near the shore and exciting, invigorating thrills as we sped up and raced through the middle, bouncing over cresting waves.  Enchanting diamond sprinkles popped up in nano-seconds here and there and burst like the bubbles I blow with my grandsons as the sunshine flicked them across the surface.  I was awed and absorbed by the beauty of God's world.
When we finished the ride, my husband towed the boat out of the lake with his trusty, green truck.  As I stood waiting for him in the parkway, I happened to glance across the highway and noticed a cemetery on the other side.  How strange!  We have lived in our country home for six years and this was the first time I noticed the cemetery.  How could I be so unobservant?
I suppose at some point, maybe the first time I took that road, I saw the cemetery on one side and the beautiful lake on the other and, possibly unconsciously, made the decision that viewing the cemetery was not worth my time.  From then on, my eyes were riveted to the waters whenever I took this route and gradually I forgot the cemetery even existed.

Wow!  What a lesson as we begin our new journey in the Land of Abundant Living!  We have choices every day as to where we will place our focus.   Will I turn my spiritual, emotional, and intellectual eyesight to the Light of God's Word and His holy presence in my circumstances just as I turned my physical eyes towards the light sprinkles dancing on the lake?  Or will I harbor dismal "death-producing" worries and fears about possible calamities to come as represented by the quiet cemetery?


"Every single day, things happen to us that we consider good and bad.  What do you suppose God wants us to focus our thoughts on?  See Philippians 4:8:  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."
Why do you think God wants us to think about these things?
God wants His children to live with joy, in the midst of problems and to be happy!  He loves us and He knows that He can handle our problems if we yield them to Him.  He wants us to trust Him and go on our day rejoicing!"  (Taken from The View From Eternity by Linda Ruth Stai)

I have to admit, my thoughts and general well-being are lifted when I turn my eyes towards the sparkling waters instead of gazing on the assortment of tombstones across the highway.  So can I expect my thoughts and sense of well-being to be lifted to a higher spiritual level when I turn my eyes on Jesus, the Light of Life, instead of letting Satan, the dark deceiver of death, control my thoughts?
Yes!  All right, let's travel on together and see what adventures await us . . . full speed ahead! 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

KEY #SA: GOD'S SPECIAL AGENTS

Are you one of God's special agents?  Two influences have recently directed my thoughts towards this area.  First of all, I want to make it clear that this discussion is not based on a theological fact, just my own mind delving into areas of interest to ponder.  I have never seen the term "special agents" in my Bible!  But I would love to help stimulate your thought process and welcome you to ponder along with me.
First of all, as I was watching a television show the other night about special agents, it suddenly occurred to me that God may have His own special agents!
When I was a teen-ager, my secret aspiration was to become a spy.  I even mentioned that in a yearbook article that was written about me.  OK, so it lost it's "secret" status.  But why such a strange ambition, you may ask?  Probably the idea of a mysterious life full of thrills and adventure enticed me at the time.  My life was good, but rather "set" in the ordinary realm.  As true with many young people, I craved excitement!  And no, in case you are wondering, I never did get into that field.  But would I tell you if I did?!?  :o)
Secondly, in my Bible these past days, I have been reading about the life of Job, the righteous man who lost all his children, livestock and health at the hand of Satan, but remained faithful to God through it all.  And, at the end of the book, God rewarded Job's faithfulness by giving him more than he had before the tragic circumstances happened to him!
But of course, Job was not a spy, or even a government employee, so what on earth could he have in common with a special agent?

Let's consider the likely job description of a special agent.  Here are some ideas I came up with:
1.  Being called upon for a specific, challenging task.  Only the best men and women are even considered for this type of devoted work!
2.  Going way beyond the normal "call of duty," often working behind the scenes with little or no public recognition.
3.  Living a focused and prioritized life, giving one's whole all . . . mind, body and soul . . . for a noble cause.
You may have more to add.  Anyway, keeping all these characteristics in mind, which children of God  do you think would qualify for the position as a special agent of God?
Some whom I personally would vote for include:
1.  Someone who is living with constant pain or suffering from a debilitating or terminal disease.
2.  A child of God chosen for a specific purpose away from the spotlight in an unobtrusive place, such as caring for a vulnerable person (ex:  the elderly, small children, or one who is mentally or physically challenged).  Their work is highly regarded by God as important,  caring for the "least of these."
2.  Someone who is mentally or physically challenged, facing misunderstandings and rejection from others who don't know how to relate to them.
Can you think of others?  Maybe even yourself!

Next, let's consider how could these situations possibly fit into the category of being a special agent of God's.   When sin came into the perfect world God made through Adam and Eve's choices, it became a constant source of trouble for everyone born after them.  God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin on the cross, and everyone who choses now to surrender to God and accept Jesus' sacrifice for them will have God's free gift of eternal life.  In the meantime, while we co-exist with evil on earth, God is quite capable of using the evil for His good purposes, one of the greatest being to share this Good News and bring multitudes of people to heaven.
God sometimes "calls" an individual for a specific, challenging "task" that will stretch them way beyond the normal existence.  These chosen "special agents" face a lifetime of questions, often setting aside their own dreams and personal expectations so God can use them in ways that only He sees as purposeful in this world.  The truth is that a child of God who is assigned this type of confusing and uncertain place is given a high trust from his or her heavenly Father.  And that trust is, as Job experienced, to accept the situation without losing faith in their loving heavenly Father.  God expects them to trust His goodness to use them in a very special and powerful way even though they don't understand what He is doing at the time.

If you as a Christian find yourself existing in this type of cloudy circumstance, you can be assured that God has chosen you for a special honor.  He knows that when we are faced with a difficult situation and do not turn away from God, we become a tremendous influence, an example to show others that God alone is enough . . . that He alone can make life worth living.  Others who see our God-given peace through hardships may be convinced to accept God's free gift of eternal life through observing our patience and hope in the midst of trials.  Some of us are also selected for a one-time "special assignment" before returning to a life of normalcy.  The trust we hold in these temporary situations is also of critical importance.  
I know it does not seem like an honor when the days are dismal, painful or full of turmoil . . . when the light at the end of the tunnel is not only unseen, but extinguished.  But the fact is existence on this earth is only temporary.  The "real" forever life is yet to come, when God "shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4
When all we have is the hand of God to hold, that is enough.  His grace will enable us to carry and protect the large trust He has placed in our hands.  And when we get to heaven, we will see with clear sight how God has used our trials in this world to work miracles for eternity!
I confess, at this time in my life, with more experiences behind me than I posessed as an idealistic teen-ager, I have no desire to become of of these "special agents."  I can only pray for God's grace to handle whatever comes my way with a child-like trust in His love and goodness.

My novel, The Rose Journal, addresses in an imaginative story the questions and possible outcomes through one woman's life when she is given an opportunity to accept a trust from God with no guarantees of a positive outcome.  If you are interested, you can go to my website, www.rosejournal.com to check it out. 

NEXT WEEK, I PLAN TO START A NEW SERIES ON FINDING MY WAY THROUGH ROADBLOCKS IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING.   I'D BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU JOIN ME!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

KEY SB#16: "Go Deep into the Woods . . . "

"Where is the path, Grandma?"Big C turns and lifts his arms upwards in frustration.  "I can't find it with all these trees!"  I tighten my grip on Little c's hand and together we hurry to catch up with him.  My seven-year-old grandson had run ahead in his eagerness to discover the hidden pathway through the woods to the secret place I had promised to show him and his two-year-old brother, Little c.
(*NOTE:  IF YOU WANT TO READ OF OUR PREVIOUS SUMMER ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING, PLEASE GO TO THE ARCHIVES ON THE RIGHT!)
"Hmmm, it was around here somewhere.  My friend, Marian, showed me the path a while ago."  We hunted for a few moments.  
"No sekwet pat," Tears start to form in Little c 's eyes.  "Me no see sekwet."  
My heart melts as I try to encourage him.  "I know it's here somewhere.  Let's keep looking."
"Here it is!"  Big C suddenly exclaims with delight.  "Is this it, Grandma?"
Little c's tears evaporate as quickly as they had appeared and he rushes ahead of his brother.  
"Watch out for fallen branches and eye-pokers!" I shout in warning.
"Eye pokers?" Both boys turn mid-step and stare at me with bewilderment.
"Those are the branches on the trees that stick out at you.  Push them away or walk around them."
"I know that, Grandma," Big C reminds me.  "I'm old."  He adds with caution, "But you watch out, Little c." 
"Okay."  His younger brother nods solemnly as he pushed a branch out of his way. 
We plunge on ahead between the large trees for a few minutes when Big C thinks to ask, "What are we looking for, Grandma?"
Just then, I trip and squeal, toppling forward and hitting my chin on the ground.  Now tears form in my eyes as I roll over on one elbow and rub my tender chin with one hand.  
Little c, who is the closest, rushes to grab my arm and tugs on it in an attempt to help me up.  "Gamma," he admonishes me, "You watch out!  Be care-fo."
Laughter replaces my tears.  'Yes, Little c, I'll try harder to watch where I'm going."
I stand up and brush myself  off.  "We are here, boys!  We're at the secret place!"
The boys gaze around in puzzlement.    
"Me jest see twees," says Little c, "Aw awound."  
"Oh, but look, Little c," exclaims his big brother, pointing towards the sky, "That tree is reeee-aaa-lllly huge!"  
Oooh," Little c cranks his neck upwards trying to catch a glimpse of the tree top.  "Goes up aaw da way to hebben!"
"My friend told me that this tree was written up in the Minneapolis paper a long time ago, because it is one of the oldest and largest cottonwood trees in our state of Minnesota!" I explain.  "I brought my camera with me.  Why don't you two stand by the tree and I'll take your picture?"
"Can I take your picture instead, Grandma?  I like to use the camera!" Big C offers.  
"Me help!" Little c joins in.  
"Very well!  Here, hold it just so and push this little button," I give instructions as I hand the camera to Big C.  You may each take one picture."
"I'll take a picture of you, Grandma and Little c can take one of the top of the tree," Big C suggests. 

"Grandma, you are hugging the tree backwards!"  Big C bursts into giggles.  So does Little c.  They hold their tummies and grimace with joyful laughter.
"Well, I want the picture to show how wide the tree is!" I explain.
"Now pwease move, Gramma," Little c requests politely.  "Me take my picture."

"Whoops! Ouch!"  Little c topples backwards onto the leafy ground in his efforts at photography.  "Me not hurt."  He pops up quickly.  "Big twee.  Berry big twee."  He picks up the camera and hands it to me.  "But me got da picture!" A beaming, proud smile adorns his precious face.  
Minutes later, as the three of us sit on a blanket spread out on the grass by the church, we examine the pictures and talk.  
"Grandma, we wouldn't have ever found the huge tree if we hadn't gone into the woods," Big C pondered.  "I wouldn't have known it was there."
"Yes, just think.  I've been here many times during the past years and didn't know it was there either.  I never looked for hidden paths or went deep into the woods.  " I answered him, then added,  "It's kind of like the way some church-attenders are.  Many times I've visited this little church but never searched for hidden paths or walked deep into the woods around it.  Lots of people go to church on Sundays and hear some parts of God's Word.  But that's all they do.  They never read the Bible on their own to discover the hidden truths God wants them to learn.  They never "walk deeper" into God's Word looking for special surprises that God has to encourage them along the Path of Life.  
"I read my Bible everyday!" exclaimed Big C, "and sometimes I read it to Little c, too."
"That's a great habit to start at a young age," I affirm him.  
"And I'm glad you told us about the path, too, Grandma. And the tree."  He thinks for a moment.  "You showing me about the secret path and the tree is sort of like me showing my friends at school the story of Jesus!"
"Yes, God wants us to share the news of salvation, of His great love for us!  That makes me think of one more song, which is a good one to end our summer's journey in the Land of Abundant Living  before you return home and go back to school.  It's a song my mother . . . your great-grandmother  . . used to sing often . . . 'I love to Tell The Story":
"I love to tell the story of unseen things above, 
Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know it's true.
It satisfies my longing as nothing else could do.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story; it did so much for me.
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
the message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 
'Twill be the old, old story, that I have loved so long."

PLEASE COME ALONG WITH ME NEXT WEEK WHEN I START MY NEW SERIES IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING!   WE'RE GOING TO RUN ACROSS SOME ROAD BLOCKS AND DISCOVER HOW TO COPE WITH THEM.