What Are The Odds?

Good morning from Vancouver, B.C. I am here with my husband for a conference. This morning we were pondering life. We have been reading about Ruth and Naomi and observing all the things that could look like coincidences in their lives. The one that really stands out to me is how Ruth just happened to glean in Boaz's field, her nearest relative. What are the odds?


My husband, Pete, was pointing out things like that for us. Many years ago, Pete and I came to Vancouver for the World's Fair. We parked quite a distance away, so we took a bicycle taxi to the fair. Years later we were in Australia at a missionary school. Guess who was in our school with us? The man who rode the bicycle for the taxi. We are still friends with him today. What are the odds?


Last night we checked into a hotel with 20 floors. Pete went to get ice and found that 2 doors down from us is a man that lives near us and is in the same business as us. What are the odds?


God moves in mysterious ways that our puny brains can't quite grasp. He is moving, none the less. He is guiding our lives in amazing ways. We are not on our own. We are his beloved children. He has great adventures in store for us. He has wonderful people for us to meet up with. Watch, be aware of some of the great treasures that God has for you today.

God has Gifts For You

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV Bible

God is asking us to look to the future, even the future of this day, through eyes of hope and expectation. The same circumstances will take on a whole different look. Yesterday, when we were praying, we felt like God wanted us to bring each difficult situation to him and ask him,"Where is the gift in this?" He does have great plans for each of us. We are his beloved, and he takes great care of his children.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV Bible

God Will Show You Life

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 NIV Bible

I am understanding just how crucial God's love is to us. We are not just a house dog that is taken out on a leash a few times a day. God wants us free and in his love at all times. This is real and natural. Plants that grow in nature may end up dusty and looking imperfect by man's standards. We are not hot house plants. We are not hybrid animals that are groomed and perfumed and awarded prizes by human judges. God cares for us. He wants to strengthen us. He wants to equip us for freedom.

"Open your eyes, little ones and see my love for you. You have perceived it wrong and judge me harshly when I try to bring you true freedom. Walk in my love. and I will show you life."

The God of Peace Will Be With You

"Finally brothers,whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." Philippians 4:8 NIV Bible

As I wrote the above scripture, I sensed a sweet, gentle compassion in God's heart towards us. He knows that we have some very challenging things in our lives. He knows that there is darkness all around us. Our temptation is to dwell on those things. He is asking us to think about the good things that make us happy, the things that are right in life. Then he goes on to say in verse 9,

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Have a peace filled day as you meditate on the good things in life. God be with you.

Rejoice In The Lord

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 NIV Bible

As I write this, I sense an urgency in God's heart. We truly do have a hope that the world knows nothing of. We are blessed and cared for by a loving Father. The list of God's goodness towards us could go on forever. I know that we have many trials too. This is part of life. Rats! Anyway, I feel like God is asking us to make a practice of rejoicing. One activity that I have been doing the last few days is, first thing in the morning, I start pondering good memories and the happy emotions that come with them. I savor them like a delicious piece of candy. I know that psychologically and even physically, this has an impact. Darkness has to back off and make room for joy. God is asking us to choose that joy, no matter what our circumstances are and no matter what the attitude the people around us have. It reminds me of that song that says,"I'm trading my sorrows. I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord." You can click the link below to hear this song being sung by Hillsong

Trading My Sorrows

Good Friday

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.
Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions tearing their pray open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him-
may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-
for he has done it."
Psalm 32 NIV Bible

You Are Filled With Undiscovered Treasure

Do you know that you have a treasure chest within you? It is filled with amazing, undiscovered treasure. God wants to open it and give it to you. It is you to the max. You really are fearfully and wonderfully made. There are just parts of you that God has to keep hidden until you are ready for him to bring them out. When he knit you together in your mother's womb, he gave you the amazing heritage that came down from your ancestors. Every good quality that you have ever heard that your ancestors had, you also have in you in some form. He also gave you brand new qualities that are totally unique to you. There is one other element. We are now God's children, so we get to inherit his qualities too. These treasures are like an inheritance that can't be passed on until a child is ready to receive them.

I guess it is time for God to open my treasure chest. He said that I get to choose with my free will whether I want it opened or not. Of course, I said, "Yes." He showed me what it looked like as this chest was opened. Even when it was only open a crack, generational curses had to leave. They couldn't stay there when they were exposed to the light. Then when it was all the way open, wow! The gold sure did shine!

I am understanding that as I go forth in life, I am going to be capable of way more than I was in the past. Generational garbage can't hold me back. I am free to be all that God made me to be. I am not to look at my future based on my past. The possibilities are endless.

I encourage you to ask God to bring forth your hidden treasure.Then step out. An exciting future awaits you. Go forth and be you to the max. Look out world. Here we come.