What does "WITH" mean to you?

 

With.

It's not a very exciting word, is it? With is a preposition, and a preposition's job is to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. 

"Come with me to the store."

If you're like me, your focus is on the who and the where in this example. Most of us don't even notice the word with when we read it.

Recently it's gained more attention, mainly because it's being used at the end of the sentence rather than as a connector to other words. 

"Come with," or "Do you want to go with?"

As a writer, this trend bugs me, but proper usage of the word is not what this post is about. Today, I want to share how the word with has become incredibly meaningful to me lately. 

Let's start in Genesis. 

When God made Adam and Eve, he walked with them in the garden (3:8). God's desire has always been to have fellowship and relationship with us, but sin gets in the way. Adam and Eve sinned when they disobeyed God's command not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Their shame made them hide from God when they heard him walking in the garden. 

BUT...

The relationship between God and man will be fully restored according to Revelation 21:3:

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

In Luke 23:43, while Jesus is hanging on the cross, he says this to the criminal next to him:

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Thankfully, we don't have to wait until then to have a relationship with God. Matthew 1:23 says:

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means 'God with us.'"

Wow! 

God loves us so much that he wants to be with us. Jesus left heaven and came to earth to be with us. While he was here, Jesus....

• ate with us. 
• sat with us. 
• talked with us.
• prayed with us. 
• walked with us. 
• cried with us.
• laughed with us.
• did life with us. 

Yes, he did those things with the people who lived back then, but "us" also means you and me. Before Jesus returned to heaven, he said:

 "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

In John 14:16, he said:

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of Truth."

And in Acts 1:5, Jesus tells the disciples:

"...you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So...in a nutshell:

God was with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Jesus was with the disciples and all of humanity on earth.

The Holy Spirit is with us now. 

We will be with God on the new Earth for all eternity. 

I think "with" is my new favorite word!

Blessings, 

~Michelle

When GOD Says Wait

Waiting is hard. 

We wait for a lot of things in life. Jobs. A spouse. Children. Retirement. Peace. But when the thing we're waiting for is healing--for ourselves or for someone we love--the waiting can be excruciating.

This morning my Bible reading took me to Luke 13:10-17. Jesus is traveling from town to town, often teaching in the local synagogue. This time he's there on a Sabbath, the holy day of rest in Jewish custom. One did not do any work on the Sabbath and spent the day reflecting on God's goodness. 

On that particular Sabbath, a woman is in the crowd, listening to Jesus. We don't know her name. We don't know if she's married, single, or widowed. We don't know if she was with anyone or if she was alone. We don't know if she was a regular attender to synagogue or if she'd heard about Jesus and wanted to see him for herself. The latter is a possibility, considering her situation.

What is her situation?

The woman is crippled. Stooped over to the point that she hasn't stood up straight in over eighteen years! The Bible says it was caused by a spirit, and Jesus later says Satan himself had kept her bound in the affliction. I can only imagine the physical pain she's been in for all those long years. Her bones no doubt ached. Her muscles were atrophied. She couldn't sleep well. She stared at the ground whenever she walked. Then there was the emotional pain that comes with being different. Children probably made fun of her. Adults ignored her when they passed her on the streets. Words like "unclean" were whispered. She was someone to avoid. 

On the day Jesus comes to town, this woman, despite all she's been through, is in the synagogue. The very place she needed to be in order to meet Jesus face to face. Although there's much we don't know about this woman, Jesus knew everything about her! He'd heard her many prayers through the years. He knew when he walked into the synagogue that day that she would be there. 

Picture the scene in your mind: Jesus is at the center, a scroll of scripture in front of him, sharing the Good News about the Kingdom of GOD with the crowd. But in the middle of his teaching, Jesus pauses. He sees the bent woman in the women's section. He speaks to her and calls her over. He touches her with his hands. And in that moment, he heals her. 

"Woman, you are freed from your disability." And immediately she was made straight. (v. 12-13)

Everything the woman had been waiting for--for eighteen long years--became reality in a moment! Her rigid spine straightened. Her muscles grew strong. She stood in amazement...and then she glorified GOD! We don't know why she had to wait for eighteen years, but two thousand years later, her story is still being told. 

Are you waiting for something? 

Something you've been praying about for a long time? Are there times when you wonder if GOD even hears you or cares? The woman in our story probably felt the same things. Hopelessness is heavy. Fear is debilitating. Trust is hard, especially in the midst of pain. But the thing the woman didn't know that day was that eighteen years into all of the pain and heartache, she would come face to face with the Living GOD. He would see her, speak to her, touch her, and heal her. 

Jesus knew that woman, and he knows us, too. He has plans and purposes for us. Our job is to trust him while we're waiting. 

If you have a prayer need, I would be honored to pray with you. It will be kept confidential. Send me an email at: AuthorMichelleShocklee@gmail.com

In times when I've been waiting for GOD to see, speak, touch, and heal, I've found this song encouraging. I hope you do too!

Grace and peace, 

~Michelle

Does God Watch Over Us?

Many moons ago, my husband and I were the caretakers of a 400-acre ranch in the Hill Country of Texas. Here's a story from those days and the lesson we learned from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2014 was not a good year for our sheep. We started losing lambs in February, and it didn't stop until April. Coyotes, bobcats, and even some wild hogs killed every single lamb that was born during the winter and spring. It was a sad, depressing time for us. Each day we would hop into the 4-wheeler to check on the sheep, wondering who would be missing from the group. I'd taken to naming the babies as they were born, but after Gimpy, Valentine, and Junior all went missing, I stopped giving them names. It was just too hard on my heart. When the easy-pickings-lambs were gone, the predators started on the ewes. Our herd dwindled to what we referred to as "the lucky thirteen." 

Thirteen terrified, unhappy survivors.

Blackbelly Barbado sheep

Hubby, aka Mighty Hunter, and I knew we had to do something or else the entire flock would be wiped out, but what? How do you protect sheep on 400 open acres of land, bordered by property dense with trees, where all manner of predators live? We tried traps, snares, hired guns, and cameras, but still the sheep disappeared one by one. 

One day I was reading about sheep and shepherds online and came across an article about llamas. Specifically, guard llamas. Llamas have a natural alertness to their surroundings. They dislike dogs and are not afraid to attack a coyote or any other predator that threatens. The more I read, the more I liked the idea of a guard llama, so I passed the information on to the property owners. 

It was soon decided we needed a llama! 

A week later, Jaxx arrived at the ranch. We moved him and the sheep to an enclosed pasture so they could bond. And you know what? We haven't lost one sheep since that day! Our herd is now up to 35 sheep, with all kinds of sweet babies. They are happy, content, and not the least bit afraid. Instead of staying huddled together in a tight group, they spread out to graze and bask in the sunshine. The lambs love "Uncle Jaxx" and follow him around when their mama's are busy eating. 

It's amazing what a difference one year and one llama made!

I can't help but think about how our Good Shepherd is always watching over us the way Jaxx watches over the sheep. Like our sheep, we are often in danger even when we don't realize it. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that our adversary, Satan, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. In Job 1:7, Satan describes how he stays busy: "...going to and fro on the earth, and walking up and down on it." You and I know he is doing his best to wreak havoc in our lives while he's here!

Like our sheep, we need a protector. We need someone who will stay alert to dangers we can't see or anticipate. We need someone who isn't the least bit afraid of the enemy and is willing to do battle for us. I don't know about you, but I need someone who will keep his eye on me 24/7/365 so I don't find myself in trouble!

Psalm 23 is a perfect picture of what we need.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

forever.

On those days when you wonder if God is watching over you...on those days when you're frightened and feel alone...on those days when you sense the enemy is near...know without a doubt God is right there. He will never leave you nor forsake you. All you have to do is trust Him.

Rest in that peace.

Blessings,

  ~Michelle

  

The gang.

LISTEN: My word for 2021

 Happy New Year!

I hope 2021 has started well for each of you. Many are still feeling the effects of all that happened in 2020, and my prayer is that this new year will bring peace, joy, healing, and everything else this hurting world needs. 

For the past few years, I've chosen a word to meditate on in the new year. TRUST in 2017 when we lost our jobs and moved to Tennessee. REST in 2018 after surviving the craziness of 2017. HOPE in 2019 as I began writing a new book. COURAGE in 2020 as that book, Under the Tulip Tree, went out in to the world. 

The word I've chosen for 2021 is LISTEN. 

Listen is such an interesting word. To listen is different than simply hearing. We hear things--music, voices, birds, traffic, etc-- all day long, but we don't necessarily listen to them. The Pharisees heard Jesus speaking, but they didn't listen to what he was saying. The same is all too often true when GOD speaks to us today. Whether it's through His Word or through our spirits, listening to him--not just hearing--is vital! To listen also requires action. James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!"

With the new year underway, I'm determined to listen more. I looked up a few verses to keep me on track: 

"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone." Deuteronomy 6:4 NLT

"This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." Luke 9:35 and Mark 9:7 NLT

"Listen to me and remember what I say." Luke 9:44 NLT

"Pay attention to how you hear." Luke 8:18 NLT

And my favorite, the verse I've chosen for 2021:

"My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 NLT

Listen. 

I think it's a great way to start a new year! This song by Chris McClarney, I'm Listening, is the perfect song to go with it. "Quiet my heart, I'm listening."

Blessings, 

~Michelle

An Angel's Story: Part One

From my family to yours, 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

May you experience the True Joy of Christmas!

This year has been incredibly difficult for many people around the world. Yet despite it all, Christmas still comes. Jesus didn't enter a perfect world all those years ago. In fact, the people of those days could probably relate to much of what's happened in 2020 and 2021. 

A few years ago, I wondered what it might have been like to be an angel during those days. We read in the Bible about the angel Gabriel coming to tell Mary and then the shepherds about Jesus, but perhaps there was another angel--one who wasn't entirely certain what was happening. 

This is his story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN ANGEL'S STORY

PART ONE 

Excitement tingled in the air. I and all the angels of heaven, as well as those serving on earth, had been summoned to present ourselves before the LORD. Something big was happening, but no one knew what. I hurried to take my place among the multitude, anticipation making it hard to stand still. When we'd all assembled--ten thousand times ten thousand and more!---Gabriel stepped forward and stood near God's throne. The Lamb sat on a throne on God's right. He looked peaceful, serene.

God rose from his seat and everyone grew quiet.

"Today the prophecy I gave my servant Isaiah will be fulfilled." His voice thundered through the heavens.

A hushed murmur rose from the crowd of angels. We knew God spoke of the covenant he'd made with a human named Isaiah, one of God's chosen race, the Hebrews. Isaiah was obedient and faithful, and God had placed upon him the responsibility to be His voice throughout the ages to the disobedient Jews. Through Isaiah, God promised to send a Messiah, One who would save the entire world from sin. God's patience with mankind continued to amaze me. They deserved the same fate as the people in Noah's day, but God promised never to destroy them again. Instead, He set in place a plan of salvation that even I didn't fully understand.

Seeing Gabriel standing beside God, I wondered if perhaps he was being sent to save the human race. Gabriel would be a good choice. He was strong and mighty, and God had sent him to earth on other occasions.

But just when I expected God to call Gabriel forward, the Lamb stood.

A collective gasp went through the crowd. Surely not the Lamb!

"I am sending the Lamb to be a sacrifice for all mankind," God said. "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life with us."

"No!" angels shouted all around me. "Not our Prince!"

God raised his hand for silence. "It must be so. There is no other way."

I looked and saw Michael and his army draw their swords. Relief swept through me. The Lamb would be protected. No harm would come to him.

But God instructed them to put their weapons away. "The Lamb will go alone. He will become human. He will be born of a virgin, and he will grow in wisdom and stature. After a time, however, the men of earth will reject him and kill him."

A terrible hurt rose inside me. I'd heard humans talk about something called sorrow, and I knew this must be what they meant. The pain grew deeper than anything I'd ever known as I watched my beloved Prince--heaven's treasure--depart God's presence. I didn't understand how God could allow this to happen, but I trusted Him to know what was best. He had never failed us before, and I knew He would not fail us now.

I felt a strange wetness on my face and was surprised to find tears dripping from my eyes. I looked and saw others around me wiping wetness from their faces too.

I hadn't known before.

Angels can cry.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Click here to continue reading An Angel's Story Part 2.

Click here to read An Angel's Story Part 3, the Conclusion.

NEW Fiction Coming Fall 2020 & Giveaway!

Hi Everyone,

I want to share some exciting news with you! I've signed a contract with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. to publish my NEW historical novel! Release date is tentatively set for Fall 2020. I'm in love with this story and the characters, and I can't wait to share it with you! If you've followed my posts the past year while I worked on this book then you know it's a time-slip story set in Nashville in 1936 and the 1860s. Stay tuned to the blog and/or my social media outlets to keep up with dates, news, and happenings.

Signing with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. is like coming full-circle. How? Let me explain. 

Way back in 1973, my Sunday school teacher gave me The Children's Living Bible. I already owned a Bible Mom and Daddy had given me, but it was the King James Version and I didn't always understand it. The Living Bible, a paraphrase, made things so much clearer. A few years later, for Christmas in 1980, Mom and Daddy gave me The Living Bible. I was a senior in high school, getting ready to spread my wings and leave the safety of the nest. Mom knew I'd need God's word to protect and grow me, and the verse she wrote inside the cover, Psalm 119:11, is a verse that is still very near to my heart. 

The reason I feel like I've come full-circle is because these Bibles were published by Tyndale House Publishers. From Tyndale's website, the story of Tyndale House Publishers and it's founder, Kenneth N. Taylor goes like this:

For Dr. Kenneth Taylor, making Scripture accessible for all people was his life’s passion. Concerned that his ten children were having a hard time understanding the King James Bible, Taylor began paraphrasing the scriptures, so they could better understand the nightly Bible readings.

In 1954, as he rode the commuter train to his job in Chicago, Taylor started paraphrasing the New Testament into modern English. After seven years of writing and rewriting, he submitted the manuscript to several publishing houses, but it was rejected by all of them. Convinced that there was value in the work for more than just their children, Taylor and his wife Margaret, decided to use their limited savings to publish Living Letters.

In 1962, Taylor exhibited his self-published Living Letters at the Christian Booksellers Association convention. The following spring Billy Graham saw a copy of Living Letters and asked if he could print a special edition and offer it on the telecasts of his crusades. Half a million copies were given away through the Graham crusades. Ken Taylor’s dream had become a reality and more—a publishing entity had been born. Tyndale House Publishers grew from a modest home into a major publishing entity that reaches every continent in the world.

It makes my heart smile to know the same year I was born, Dr. Taylor and Rev. Billy Graham birthed Dr. Taylor's dream. 

Fast-forward to May 27, 1992. That's the day Jesus got all of me. I've shared about that amazing day here on the blog, but what simply happened is that I was reading in the Book of John, chapter 6, from my Living Bible, when God became real and personal to me. He went beyond the pages of the book and into my heart. 

Now it is my utmost honor and privilege to become an author for Tyndale House Publishers. Not only was this company founded on biblical principals that are still in place all these years later, they strive to give back from the blessings they receive. This video titled "Tyndale House Publishers: Who We Are" is so informative and inspiring.

So that's my news. To celebrate, I'm giving away TWO print copies of The Mail-Order Brides Collection, but only subscribers to this blog will be entered. If you haven't signed up yet, it's EASY! Just type your email address in the space to the right of this page where it says, "Sign up to receive my blog in your inbox." DONE. You'll be entered in the contest, plus you'll receive news and updates without having to remember to check back here. (I promise you won't be inundated with emails from me!) I'll draw two winners--one from "old" subscribers and one from "new" subscribers--on August 30. Sound good?

Thank you, Readers and all, who've supported me with your purchases, your encouraging emails and reviews, and your continued interest in my writing. I appreciate each and every one of you! I'm very excited to share this new novel with you. SOON! 

Blessings, 

~Michelle  

When Easter Makes Sense

Getting older has an upside. It's called Wisdom! When I was a child and even a young adult, I didn't truly "get" Easter. I knew Jesus died on a cross even though he wasn't guilty of anything, and I knew he rose from the dead on the third day. I believed he did it for us because of his great love, yet the full meaning of what it was really about escaped me.

Now that I'm old and wise (heh heh), I get it. But I didn't acquire this understanding just by celebrating birthdays. It came from reading the Bible. Sounds simple, and yet it wasn't until I was in my thirties that I truly became a student of the Word. Imagine my utter amazement when I discovered that reading the Bible from cover to cover--from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21--makes things soooo much clearer than picking and choosing verses and books to read. The Bible truly is a story, and as a writer of fiction, that really speaks to me. I wouldn't pick up a novel and start reading from the middle or flip to this page or that page. I'd read it from Chapter One, page one, and continue on until I reached the end.

Don't get me wrong. I am NOT saying the Bible is fiction. Far from it! But it IS God's story. A story that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. And when you read this amazing story, you can't help but see the order--the plan--that was in place from the very first four words:

"In the beginning GOD..." Genesis 1:1

The word for GOD used here is Elohim. It's plural. Why? Because God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all present at the creation. When God made man, he said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." Genesis 1:26

John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men."

When Jesus left heaven to come to earth, he knew it was temporary. He knew he'd only live a mere thirty-three years before he would die a horrific death on a cross, yet he came willingly. He lived in relative obscurity the first thirty years of his life, earning a living with his hands, and obeying the Laws of God. Yet he had a far greater purpose. When John the Baptist saw him, he spoke truth and prophecy about Jesus: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29

Those words came true when Jesus was crucified. He was nailed to the cross at 9:00 AM, the time of the Jewish morning sacrifice. He committed his spirit into the the hands of God the Father at 3:00 PM, the time of the Jewish evening sacrifice. When he spoke, "It is finished," (John 20:30) he became THE sacrificial Lamb for all humanity. He bore all our sins--every single one that I've committed, and that you've committed, and that every person who ever lived committed!--offering us reconciliation with God in a way that had never happened before. And God himself acknowledged this new relationship, this new covenant, by tearing the veil--a huge, thick curtain in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies, the place where he dwelt, from the rest of the temple--making it possible for us to approach him, to know him, as very few had experienced up until this point.

My prayer for you on this Easter Sunday is that you will know the truth of the cross and the empty tomb, and that the truth will set you free! Free from sin, free from shame, free to live with hope and joy, free to forgive and be forgiven, free to give and receive, free to die in the knowledge that Jesus has prepared a new home for you where you will dwell in God's presence for all eternity. 

That, my friend, is Easter. 

May you and yours have a blessed day celebrating all that Jesus is!!

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

~Michelle

Lessons from Ruth

I'm reading in the Book of Ruth these days. It's a very small book, only four chapters long, about an obscure woman named Ruth. She wasn't a queen or a descendant of Abraham or anyone special...or so it seems.

Do you feel like that sometimes? No one special? I do. As the youngest of five children, I often felt unseen. I was shy and quiet in school, so no one paid much attention to me. I've outgrown much of that shyness, but I'm still a relatively quiet person. I'd rather let everyone else be the center of attention and stand back in the shadows.

Ruth's story is a story of hope for everyone, but it's especially hopeful for people like me, the shadow lurkers. Ruth was born in Moab. Her husband's family had come to Moab because there was famine in their home country. They were of the Hebrew, or Jewish, faith, but Ruth was not. After Ruth's husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law all died, Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, decided to return to the land of her birth. Ruth insisted on going with her, leaving behind her own blood relatives. When they reached Bethlehem, Ruth worked hard to provide for her mother-in-law by picking up leftover wheat in a field being harvested. The owner of the field, Boaz, turned out to be a godly relative of Ruth's father-in-law, and he married Ruth. They had a son named Obed who had a son named Jesse who had a son named David who became King!

What if Ruth hadn't gone with Naomi--hadn't obeyed what her heart was telling her was right--and had instead stayed in her homeland? King David would have never been born!

God had plans for Ruth that she could have never dreamed possible. He saw her there in Moab and chose her, not a Hebrew woman, to be the great grandmother of King David. She is listed in Matthew 1 in the lineage of Jesus! We remember her today and tell her story because of her obedience, her faith even when she didn't know what was ahead of her.

Ruth's story tells us to never give up and always trust God's plan even when it seems too big, too scary, too unknown. He sees the whole picture in a way we can't and probably never will. We don't know if Ruth lived to see David on the throne, but her obedience made it possible.

Is God asking you to trust him today about something?

Ruth's advice would be simple: Do it! You won't ever regret it! Always remember that He is El Roi, the God who sees you, knows you, and knows the plans He has for you!

Have a fabulous day! And be sure to enter the drawing for FREE books! I'm giving away a whole bunch of books at the end of January. Some of mine, some by favorite authors, and some Chicken Soup for the Soul books that have my stories included in them. All you have to do is type your email address in the "sign up for my blog" box at the top right of this blog page. Easy peasy! Winners will be notified by email. (US residents only, please!)

Blessings,

~Michelle

Rocks, Words, and a New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Wow! What an amazing year we've had! I look back and see God's fingerprints all over it, and that truly makes me smile! We went through some rough waters and made some major changes, but God was with us through every minute and every mile, and folks ... it doesn't get any better than that!

Last year I decided to join the "word picker crowd." You know, the people who choose a word to sort of represent the year ahead. Of course, it shouldn't just be any ol' word, but rather a word that is impressed upon you by the Lord through prayer and Bible study. A meaningful word just for you. As I thought about what my word would be in the days leading up to the new year, "Trust" kept coming to mind. I trusted the Lord, but I sensed He wanted to take me deeper. As the old hymn says, "Oh for grace to trust him more." Psalm 34:8 was perfect to go along with my word: "O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him." On New Year's Day I found a rock and wrote my word and my verse on it. I've kept that rock where I can see it every day of 2017. It serves as a reminder that my trust is in the Rock. When our jobs ended in August and we were unemployed for eight weeks, we trusted God had a plan. When that plan was revealed, we knew we could trust it. I never dreamed I'd be writing a blog on January 1, 2018 from a cozy little farm house in Tennessee, but here we are and we love it! Trust took on a whole new meaning for me the past year, and I'm ever so grateful for the faithful lessons God is teaching me.


A new year means a new word, and I'm already ahead of the game. Back in November I was reading in Hebrews 4 out of The Message Bible. The word "rest" is all over that chapter. I felt the Spirit telling me that was my word for 2018: Rest. So despite the frigid temperatures outside yesterday -- 17 degrees with a nippy wind! -- hubby and I set out to climb the hill behind our house and find a new rock for a new year.

Hubby searching for his rock

Although I don't necessarily make resolutions each year, I'm determined to keep the word rest as part of my daily existence.  Hebrews 4 reminds us that God gave the Israelites the promise of rest, but they didn't accept it. They constantly disobeyed God, so he basically said, "Exasperated, I vowed, 'They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest.'" (v. 6) I don't want that to be me! I absolutely want to get where God is taking me, do the things he has planned for me, and be the woman he wants me to be.

In this new year, I am going to rest in God's ...

• Power
• Peace
• Presence
• Provision
• Protection
• Possibilities
• Purposes
• Plans
• Promises
• Partnership
• Grace
• Mercy
• Love
• Salvation
• Discipline
• Instruction
• Word
• Strength
• Healing
• Help
• Holiness

Truthfully, the list is as endless as God's love, but you get the idea. Rest. It doesn't mean I get to be lazy and lay around for a year. I've got a job, a husband, responsibilities, and two new books releasing in February that all need my attention. But I will rest in knowing my Lord and my God has things under control.

Do you choose a word each year? I'd love for you to share it.

2017 was a year of Trust. 2018 will be a year of Rest!

I pray 2018 is a year full of God's presence and blessings in your life! I'm excited to see what the new year holds!

~Michelle

In the Beginning...

February is known as the Month of Love. I've been loved my whole life. My parents loved me. Family and friends love me. Twenty-nine years ago this April I married the love of my life, the bestest hubby in the world! When I gave birth to two amazing little boys, my understanding of human and God-love grew exponentially!

But let me tell you about a different kind of love affair...

I love my Bible. I mean, I love my Bible. I love my Bible!

Get it?

God's written word has become like breath to me. I can't live without it. I can't function without the life-giving nourishment it gives my soul. If I try to begin my day without getting into the Word, I get the feeling something important is missing. And more often than not, I'll have a really icky day. Not because of the things that happen necessarily, but  because of my own attitude and thought process toward whatever comes my way. It's just so much better to start out the day with a word from the Lord, ya know?

I didn't always feel this way. Growing up in a Christian home, we had plenty of Bibles around. I often saw my Mom reading her Bible, and when my Grandma moved in with us my Senior year, I found comfort in passing her open door to see her sitting in her Lazy-Boy recliner reading the Word. But very seldom did I pick up my own Bible to read. Very seldom did I turn to God's word for answers to life's problems. I was a married woman with children before I fully understood the powerful resource I had within my grasp. Now I cherish God's word! Like many of you, I have an abundance of Bibles to choose from:

• A white-covered King James version given to me by "Mother and Daddy" on June 30, 1971
• A Children's edition of the Living Bible given to me by our church Christmas 1973
• The Living Bible given to me by "Mom and Dad" Christmas 1980. I would graduate from high school and head off to college a few months later. I'm sure my parents hoped the Word of God would go with me!
• For Christmas 2001, my sweet husband bought me the New International Version Bible. Funny, he accidentally bought a Large Print, but I'm so glad! My eyes ain't what they used to be, so the larger print is awesome! This is the Bible I read every morning. I have so many, many scriptures highlighted or underlined, with notes written off to the side, some with meaningful dates. If our house ever caught fire (Lord, never!), that Bible would be the first thing I'd grab! It is literally my life. 
• In 2003, hubby gave me The Message Bible, which is a way-cool version. Makes things so, so clear sometimes. 

Every Bible, no matter the version, is God's word to us. It's a story of His great love for mankind. So many, many lessons are within those pages. So many, many lives touched by God's amazing grace. I honestly don't think I will ever tire of reading my Bible. Seriously. I learn something new every single time I open it!

But I came to an interesting conclusion while reading in the Book of John. Despite the fact that the Bible contains 66 books with 1,189 chapters and somewhere around 31,000 verses....

...there are only TWO verses that really, truly matter when it comes to our faith. Twenty-seven words, to be exact:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

Those two verses sum up everything we need to know about God. In fact, you can whittle those sentences down even further:

"In the beginning GOD!"

"In the beginning was the WORD!"

God is the Creator of everything. He has always been and will always be. And John 1:1 makes it abundantly clear that Jesus--the Word--is God. John 1:14 says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Those two truths -- God is the Creator and Jesus is God -- are the very foundation of our faith. They are what we build everything else upon. Without those two principals firmly rooted in your heart, the rest of the Bible probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. 

If you aren't a regular Bible reader, I encourage you to become one. God speaks through His word. Let Him speak to you today!

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This week's Shout-Out countries are:

USA, UK, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Georgia, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Slovenia

An Angel's Story: Part 3, The Conclusion

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story's conclusion...

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I was going to see the Lamb! I practically shouted with joy! 

Gabriel and I made our way back to earth. We passed over the same land, water and grassy field where we'd been moments before. Only the sheep stood there now. Soon a small village came into view. The streets were crowded with people, even at this late hour. I guessed they had all come to worship the Lamb.

Gabriel took me to the edge of town. I looked about for the palace. All I saw were simple houses and a place where animals were kept. 

"Why are we here?" I asked, confused. "I thought we were going to see the Lamb."

"We are," Gabriel replied. We stopped at the entrance where animals lived. The sound of lowing cattle met us.

I turned to Gabriel, thinking he must be mistaken. "Here?"

He nodded again. "See His star?"

I looked to where he pointed. A brilliant light shone down from the black night directly onto this place. I didn't understand. Why would the King of kings be in a smelly, dirty stable? Why would he leave the riches of heaven and come here?

Gabriel motioned me inside. I took hesitant steps into the dimly lit space. I was surprised to find the shepherds from the field there. They knelt in front of a small wooden structure. I noticed a young woman sitting on a blanket on a bed of straw. She looked tired but happy. Her eyes shone bright as she spoke softly with the shepherds. A man stood nearby. I got the distinct feeling he was alert to every noise and every movement, as though watching, guarding.

I followed Gabriel as we moved closer to the humans. They couldn't see us, for which I was glad. I was confused about what was happening and didn't want them to know it. We stepped into a circle of lantern light, and I gasped at what I saw before me. 

A tiny, brand new baby lay in a manger, wrapped in cloths. His eyes were closed, and he slept peacefully. 

I looked at Gabriel. "The Lamb?" I whispered in shock.

"Yes. Our Prince." He looked at the baby. "The Savior of the world."

I gazed at the small, helpless lump of humanity. I didn't recognize him at all. Gone was the Prince of heaven, to be replaced with a creature who could do nothing for himself, let alone the entire world. I glanced at the lowly shepherds, ragged and dirty, worshipping him. At his mother and earthly father who clearly did not live in a palace but were forced to take refuge with animals.

It didn't make any sense. None at all.

"How can this be?" I asked. "Where is his throne? Where is his palace? Why should God leave the riches of heaven to come to earth in this manner?"

Gabriel shrugged. "In what manner should he have come? As a Warrior God, forcing the people of earth to worship him?"

I frowned. "No." God doesn't want anyone--angel or human--forced to worship him. "Tell me then. Why is the Lamb here, like this?"

"For them," Gabriel said simply, indicating the shepherds. "And for others like them. Had the Lamb come to earth with an army of angels and set up his kingdom in a palace, many humans would have come and bowed before him. But they would not have come with a pure heart seeking a Savior. And that is why the Lamb came: to seek and to save the lost. To do that he must dwell among them and know life as they do. He must face the same temptations, the same trials and, ultimately, the same death. But when he is raised to life again, then they will know that he is their King. Then those whose hearts are open and receptive will bow down in true worship."

I understood then.

God had asked the Lamb to sacrifice himself for all mankind. He left the perfection of heaven, knowing he would be born in a barn to a humble couple with lowly shepherds as the only worshippers. He knew he wouldn't live in a palace or be honored as Lord. He knew the people of earth would eventually reject him and kill him. 

Yet he came anyway! He came because of his great love for mankind. He came because he wanted the people he loves to be free from the bondage of sin. He wanted them to live a life of joy and peace with God. And He wanted them to spend eternity in heaven with Himself and the Father.

I looked at the baby again. He was awake now, silently studying the faces around him. Then he looked at me, and I fell to my knees.

"My Lord and my God," I whispered.

His tiny lips lifted in a smile. I smiled back. 

While Mary, Joseph and the shepherds laughed and cooed over the smiling baby, I stood, ready to return to heaven.

I knew God had things firmly under control here on earth.

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Jesus left the glory of heaven to dwell on earth for one reason: You! His love for you is beyond anything you could ever imagine. It is full and complete. It is everything your heart and soul desires. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, my prayer is you will take time this Christmas to truly seek him.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

~Michelle

Click here to return to An Angel's Story Part 2.

Click here to return to An Angel's Story Part 1.

An Angel's Story: Part 2

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story continues....
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Heaven seemed different without the Lamb.

As though the very light of heaven had dimmed somehow. It hadn't, of course. God is our Light and His presence is always near. 

But still, an emptiness that could not be filled persisted. 

We angles went about our work as usual. We sang praises to God. We took care of heaven's business. With God's permission, Gabriel shared with us about his mission to earth to prepare the way for the Lamb. Angles didn't often appear to humans, even though many of us are serving and working throughout the earth at all times. He told how he spoke with the young woman--Mary--whom God chose to carry the Baby in her womb. I was pleased to hear that Mary understood what an honor was being given to her. I was also pleased to hear that the man who would be her husband was righteous and humble. It would take a man like that to be father to the Lamb! 

One day God summoned us all before the throne again. It troubled me to see the Lamb's empty throne. I hoped God would tell us the Lamb was coming home. 

When all were present, God smiled. "Today is a blessed day for the people of earth," He said. "Today Salvation will come to the world. The Lamb will be born unto a virgin."

 Angles around me cheered. I knew I should be happy for the people of earth, but my shoulders slumped. It seemed as though half of eternity had passed since the Lamb departed heaven, but He hadn't even been born as a human baby yet. He wouldn't be coming home anytime soon.

"I am sending Gabriel to announce the birth to my people. Some of you will join him in the celebration."

An angel stood beside God with a scroll. He began to read off names. I held my breath, waiting. Name after name. Angel after angel came forward until a very large group circled Gabriel. Finally, just when I began to give up hope, my name was called! 

We left heaven and traveled through the stars and planets. God's handiwork truly was beautiful. Gabriel led us to earth, across water and land, until we finally came to a wide-open grassy area. It was dark, but I could see several men relaxing around a fire. A herd of sheep stood nearby. 

I looked around, waiting to see the crowds of humans who would receive Gabriel's message about the Lamb's birth. Surely all the kings of the land and the important leaders should be here, ready to pay homage to the King. 

But Gabriel didn't wait for anyone else to arrive. He showed himself to the men in the field, who seemed terrified when they beheld Gabriel.

"Do not be afraid," Gabriel said to them. "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Gabriel turned to us and suddenly the men in the field saw us too. 

"Glory to God in the highest heaven!" we said, lifting our voices as one. "And on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

The men stood wide-eyed. When they couldn't see us anymore, they talked among themselves excitedly.

"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!" And they set off, leaving their sheep unattended.

We started our journey back to heaven.

I felt...disappointed. Why had we delivered the most wondrous news to a tiny group of lowly shepherds? Why hadn't the kings of earth been there to hear the message? Why hadn't we been allowed to announce the Lamb's birth to the entire world?

Before I could stop myself, I came up alongside Gabriel.

"I don't understand," I said. "Why are we leaving? All the men of earth should be told about the Lamb. They should all be summoned to his earthly palace to worship him."

Gabriel studied me for a long moment before he spoke. "Come," he said, taking me by the hand. We separated ourselves from the group of angels returning to heaven and went in the opposite direction, back to earth. 

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To see the Lamb. Then you will understand."

I couldn't help but smile. I was going to the palace to see the Lamb.

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Click here to read An Angel's Story Part 3, the Conclusion.

Click here to return to An Angel's Story Part 1

Unsearchable Things

Search engines are my friend. I love that I can type in just about any question or subject and get an answer or information within moments. Sometimes I miss the days when a trip to the library was a necessary event if I needed to do some research or wanted information on a topic that interested me. But I must admit the convenience and the vastness of the information on the Internet amazes and thrills me daily.

So it makes sense that a phrase I read in Jeremiah the other day would stop me in my happy tracks:

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

That is the LORD speaking to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a prophet of God in the days leading up to and during the years Jerusalem was attacked by King Nebuchadnezzar. God's warnings through Jeremiah were ignored by the people of Judah and they suffered because of it. Many lost their lives, their homes, their families. Some, like Daniel, were taken into captivity to Babylon, while others rotted in prisons. Ultimately, the beautiful temple and the City of David were destroyed, all because of the disobedience of God's chosen people.

Yet in the midst of all the turmoil and uncertainty, God tells Jeremiah something utterly amazing. Not only about what can happen when someone is obedient to God, but about God himself. He promises to reveal "unsearchable things" to Jeremiah.

Unsearchable things.

I don't know about you, but those two words absolutely, positively hold me captive! Think about it. There are things about God and about the world and about who knows what that are unsearchable. No earthly search engine created by man knows these things! No library has a book on them. Only God knows them and he's willing to reveal them to Jeremiah. All Jer has to do is ask!

If you look up the word unsearchable, this is the definition you find: "Not capable of being searched or explored." Understand those first two words: Not. Capable. The things that God wanted to reveal to Jeremiah were things that he as a human was not capable of knowing on his own. They were not something he could search for either, because, as we see at the end of that verse, they were things he didn't know. And remember, Jeremiah wasn't an ordinary guy. He was God's prophet. God spoke to and through Jeremiah. If anyone would have known these unsearchable things, it would have been Jeremiah.

Is your mind whirling, wondering what these unsearchable things could be?

Isaiah 40:33 (ESV) says God's "understanding is unsearchable."

David tells us in Psalm 145:3 (ESV) that God's "greatness is unsearchable."

Job said the number of God's years was unsearchable and that we "know him not."

And Paul writes in Romans 11:33 (ESV): "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable his ways."

God had a message for the people of Judah and he needed Jeremiah to understand it. I think God has messages for people today, too. His promise to reveal unsearchable things was made to Jeremiah, but I believe God actively wants to reveal himself to us in the same way. Sending his Son Jesus into the world is evidence that God wants a personal relationship with each of us. His Spirit is as close as our breath when we put our faith in Christ.

I, for one, want to know and experience everything God wants to reveal to me, including unsearchable things.

You?

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Ukraine, China, France, Greece, Indonesia, Russia, Nigeria, Turkey, United Kingdom, Brazil, Germany

Weeds and Sin: Get rid of 'em!

I am not a gardener. In fact, I think I've killed more plants than should be humanly possible. My husband and kids laugh hysterically when I so much as mention the idea of purchasing a potted plant or flower. They know what will happen within a couple weeks to the poor thing.

Lately, though, I've had a bit of luck with green and growing things. When Mom passed away last May, our church sent me a lovely potted plant. The fact that this plant is still alive and thriving eleven months later is just short of a miracle. Mom had ten green thumbs and could grow anything -- and she did! -- so I think this plant somehow knows its purpose was to keep Mom's memory alive in my everyday life, because it refuses to die despite being under my care.

Weeds were Mom's nemesis. On the 3/4 acre plot of ground she called home for more than 60 years, she battled weeds. In her vegetable garden. In her rock garden. In her flowers. Along the driveway. Along the fence. Everywhere, everywhere...weeds! Knowing she couldn't fight them alone, she'd recruit her five kids to help pull the little buggers. We weren't exactly thrilled though. One of my older brothers once declared, "What's the use? They'll just grow back." And he was right. They would indeed grow back, but that wasn't a good enough reason to let them get bigger in Mom's mind. If left on their own, the weeds would eventually take over all that was beautiful and productive.

Being the caretakers of a nearly 400-acre ranch-estate, hubby and I now battle weeds. LOTS of weeds. In the flowerbeds. Along the mile-long paved driveway. And most especially, embedded in the large sections of ornamental buffalo grass where weeds positively are not allowed. There are quite a variety of them, too, including dollar weed, a small, round-leafed weed that spreads on tiny little vines. I've given it the dubious label of insidious. It is simply everywhere!

Aren't they lovely? Not!

Dollar weed --- Ack!!

Hubby provided me with a handy little tool to dig the more difficult ones out of the hard soil. 

But it's only when I get the whole stinkin' root that I feel successful. 

Ta-da!!!

In the hours upon hours I've been parked in the grass pulling weeds lately, I thought about how much sin and weeds have in common. This is the list I came up with:

• Like weeds, sin can start out small. So small we don't take notice of it until it becomes big and ugly and, yes, insidious, and takes over our lives.
• Like weeds, sin chokes out what was planted and desired. 
• Weeds can fool us. Some of them look very similar to legitimate plants. 
• You have to dig down to the root to get rid of a weed. Same with sin. If you don't get the root, the weed will simply grow back.
• Tools can help. Your Bible, your pastor, a godly friend. Utilize them all. 
• If left unattended, the weeds will get bigger and multiply. They will affect every part of your yard and even spread into neighboring yards. 
• Ask the Gardener for help. He is, after all, the One who planted you. (John 15:1)

I'm getting rid of weeds here on the ranch, but I think I'll take a look at my heart-garden just to make sure it's weed-free too!

How about you? Got some weeds that need pulling?

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, France, Canada, Germany, India, Belgium, Brazil, United Kingdom, Philippines, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Israel

How to Read Your Bible: Confessions of a Cliff Note's Kind of Girl

I was a Christian long before I was a Bible-reader. I didn't start reading my Bible on a regular basis until I was in my 30's. Sure, I went to church and heard it read and preached. I'd gone to Sunday school my entire life, memorized verses and knew the books of the Bible pretty well. When I needed some encouragement, I'd flip around until I landed on a verse or chapter that spoke to me. But to read it daily...nope. Why? Excuses. I didn't have time in my busy mornings. I was too tired in the evenings. Etc. etc. You know the drill.

A few years ago I decided to read the Bible from cover to cover. It took a while, but I finally made it through. I was amazed at how much more I understood about God and the history behind Christianity after that! I read it through again, and am working on my third time through now. I will never again read the Bible in a "hit or miss" kind of way.

Back when I was in college, I was a lousy student. I mean lousy and lazy. Shortcuts and midnight cram sessions were the only thing that saved me from flunking out entirely. My poor parents. I know they were disappointed. Sigh. When it came time to read a book for a class, I inevitably bought the Cliff Notes and skimmed through them, hoping to glean just enough information about the story to pass the test. Because that was all I wanted. I wanted to pass the test. Period. I had no desire to know what the book was about or what motivated the characters. I simply had to pass the test.

Can Bible reading be a little like my college lit career?

Yep. Sometimes we want to glean just enough of the Word to get us through this crazy life and into those pearly gates. After all, does it really matter if we know about all that boring stuff that happened in the Old Testament? Do we have to know everything the New Testament says as long as we believe the stuff it says about Jesus?

Well...in a word...YES!

Why?

Think of the Bible as you would a novel. When you pick up a book or load one onto you Kindle, you start reading on page one, right? And then you turn page after page, going deeper into the story. Think of how many, many details you would miss if you skipped around, trying to piece together the story from the bits and pieces you've read and the comments your friend made about the book. It's pretty much the same for the Bible. There is so much in it, that it's really impossible to grasp the whole story without reading it from cover to cover. Bits and pieces may help me pass the test--and get into those pearly gates--but I'd miss so much of what the Author wanted me to know about the story.

So, take the advice of a Cliff Note's kind of girl: Read the Bible from Genesis 1 and work your way to the end. You will be amazed at the details and order God wrote into His story.

And I'm here to tell you, the movie definitely isn't as good as the book. ;)

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This week's Prayer Shout Out Countries are:
USA, Russia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Philippines, Ukraine, Macau

"OMG" = Profanity in God's Ears

Gonna step on some toes today. But sometimes we need a little toe-crunching to help us see things we've ignored or let slip or simply didn't know. Today I'm taking on the vastly popular phrase: "Oh my God!" You hear it on TV, on the radio, in movies. You hear it from friends and co-workers or even in your own home. You see it written in texts, Tweets and Facebook messages, usually shortened to "OMG." It's catchy, to be sure. It's easy to utter when you're surprised or scared or happy or whatever.

But I'm here to tell you: OMG = Profanity in God's ears.

From the very beginning, God was to be revered by man. And not just God himself, but his very name! In Genesis 4:26 we see that "men began to call on the name of the Lord." God himself told us not to misuse his name in Exodus 3:15 and Deuteronomy 5:11 when he gave us the Ten Commandments:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD your God will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (NIV)

I like the way the Message Bible puts it:

"No using the name of GOD, your God, in curses or silly banter; GOD won't put up with the irreverent use of his name."

King David declared "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." Psalm 8:1

The Prophet Joel wrote, "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." (2:32)

Jesus himself told us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9) Merriam Webster defines "hallowed" as "holy, reverent, sacred." Jesus is telling us that God's name is holy.

This week I've been reading in the book of Ezekiel. In chapter 20 God is speaking to Ezekiel the Prophet about Jerusalem's disobedience. Three different times God says this about his name:

"But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations..." (v's 9, 14, 22) 

God's name is important to him! (Also see Ezekiel 36:21-23)

He doesn't want it misused. He doesn't want it to be the word-of-choice when we feel the need to utter an exclamation of some sort. He sure doesn't want it used as a curse word. In fact, Revelation 11:18 tells us God will reward "those who reverence your name."

While I'm on my soapbox I'll go ahead and add that the name of Jesus Christ is the same as God's name. Saying "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" in a way that is irreverent is breaking the third commandment just as surely as if you had used the name of God. God is Jesus. Jesus is God. Keep his name holy!

It makes me sad when I hear God's name used in vain. And if it makes me sad, I can only imagine how God feels. =(

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Germany, France, China, Vietnam, Latvia, Ireland, Kenya, Russia