Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.

-John 20:6-7

It had happened just like He said.  Three days and He was up and out.  The grave couldn't hold Him.  The power demonstrated that day is available for us today if we would just take off the ole' grave clothes.  As believers, we are to crucify that love of self, and lay those grave clothes to the side.  Don't settle for a journey dressed in a dead man's clothes.  Remove them immediately. As a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, so do we as we are raised to walk in a new life as we place our trust in Jesus.   Hallelujah--Jesus has risen and with that act, empowered us to live in confidence.  

As you walk this week, how will the power of God be demonstrated in your life?  Pay close attention because you will get lots of opportunities to exercise that power as you interact with others.  The power of God shows up best when you realize that you can't do it on your own, and you have to trust him.  Don't revert to that former way of living, but clothe yourselves with a fresh new set of duds, (Colossians 3) and go light your world.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"
-Psalms 133:1

I had lunch with a friend today, and we had a great conversation about the need for community amongst believers. Then tonight, another conversation about the same subject with another couple. There seems to be such a hunger for community yet it is so easy for us to be so expectant for others to come and seek us out.  How many times have I sat with people that are vocal about "no one caring", yet there is no action on their part to be proactive in building intentional relationships? Let's get real for a moment and take off the masks.   I understand the introvert and extrovert thing but we must all work to overcome our weaknesses. Authentic community is such a "fragrance" to the world around us.

As I walked through the orange grove today, I watched the bees as they went from flower to flower.  It just made me think about the importance of sharing  life together moving freely in and among one another with no hindrances.  We live in a world that is so segregated and lonely, and we give the impression of community through activity, yet too much activity can undermine that which we desire so much.

As you move about the orange trees of life, remember to stop and experience the sweet fragrance of relationships.  There is nothing like it. Be intentional today and invite a person out to lunch.  You will be glad you did.

I made an iMix today on iTunes of some of the songs we've been using during our gatherings on Sunday mornings. You can purchase the entire album for $10.89 or individual songs that you may like for $.99 each. Click here or on the album art above to open mix in the iTunes Store.

G'Day! The other morning I poured a cup of coffee, my third, and sat down at the kitchen table with a legal pad and began scribbling like a wild woman making a "to-do" list that I feared if I didn't get control of myself, would end up long enough to stretch from here to New Jersey. My beloved husband, who seems to remain in a state of complete serenity these days, walked in and said one word. Well, two, to be exact. He smiled, took a sip from my coffee mug and said, "trust". Then headed out back to rake leaves that had taken over our yard. When I stuck my head out the door yelled, "is that all you have to say on the subject?" He looked over his shoulder, smiled, and said, "trust and obey, Babe. A heart that trusts and obeys is all He expects. He will sort out your day. He will make it a good one."

More than a little annoyed at what I viewed as a "quick fix" on my overwhelming schedule, I picked up my Bible, not sure what trust and obey had to do with the price of eggs, or the pile of shirts that needed to be ironed, or the errands that needed to be run, but at least I was willing to try. While refilling my coffee cup, I heard myself mumbling, "Lord, if everything I am, everything I have, and everything I hope to be belongs to You, then it makes sense that George is right, again. I know that even the small things in my life are in your hands."

It wasn't long before Huff came back in for a glass of iced tea. "Aha!" I thought. "Now I can corner him and pick his brain." With that in mind, my to-do list was set aside... as was my legal pad. The next couple of hours were spent together as we searched the Word for the answers to the many questions that come up in the lives of so many as they attempt to live an organized, productive life for the glory of God.

Here are some of the things we gleaned from the Word that morning. God's pathway is a preordained pathway. In reading Joshua 23:1-8, we hear God telling Joshua to stay alert because He had a course charted out for him. Joshua was ordered to remain strong and steady and to follow the commands of God in complete obedience in order to fulfill the preordained path God charted for him. In verse 11 we read, "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that you love the Lord your God."

As it was with Joshua, it is with each of us. We must remain strong in the Word, and keep a watch on our love walk with our Lord and with others.

As we move on in considering God's preordained pathway for our lives, we need to be patient with those around us. God's plan for His children varies just as each of us have varying spiritual gifts. In other words, it is wise to guard against judging one another's walk with the Lord. It is a mark of spiritual maturity when we are able to accept differences in those in the body of Christ.

Notice, for Abraham, following God's leading meant leaving something. Abraham was commanded to leave the Ur of the Chaldees and spend the remainder of his years living in tents. Read Hebrews 11:8-10. In the same passage, we see when Moses following God's path it meant giving up something. In his case, he gave up the wealth and honor of Egypt and was sent, by God, on a wilderness wandering. On the other hand, in 2 Chronicles 17:7, we read that David, following God's plan meant leaving the sheepfold, and sitting on the throne of Israel. These are just examples of the creativity of our Father, as He sets His children on a path that was designed for us since before the foundation of the world.

God's pathway is not only preordained, it is also a personal pathway. It's not a "one size fits all" deal. God cared enough to make a plan especially for you and your offspring, and generational line, just as he made one specially designed for me and George and our twenty-two children and grandchildren. We can get advice from others as we make our journey, but we look to God for the final instructions. In Psalm 32 we see that God graciously covered all the bases by giving us a series of "I wills". Listen as He says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you. I will guide you. Write these out and place them in your pocket of your heart as you set foot on the path. Keep confidence in Him, knowing that our God does not, will not, and cannot fail in keeping one word that is promised to His children.

Remember Psalm 87:23. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord holds him up with His hand." Also be reminded that it is important what we think, speak, and hear. Practice His presence every step of the way, and tune your ears to hear Him. Isaiah 30:21, "And your ears shall hear a word saying, this is the way, walk in it! When you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left." I might add to Peterson's words in THE MESSAGE. "Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on, whenever you wander left or right: He will say, 'This is the right road. Walk down this road.'"

Finally, whether you are young and just starting out in your walk with the Lord, or you've walked with Him for years, just remember that the God-powered life is the only wise course to follow. See Ephesians 5:15-20. "We are to walk not as fools but as wise ones... understanding what the will of the Father is..."

If you haven't memorized Joshua 1:8, I urge you to do so. "This book of the law shall not depart from out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein; FOR THEN you will make your way properous, and THEN you will have good success."

Whatever you face this day, however long your list of things to do, whatever your struggles or burdens, "Be strong in the Lord. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go..." Ask the Spirit of God to etch His Word on the lining of your heart, and step out on God's preordained pathway, His personal pathway, and His blessed pathway. Walk with boldness. Delight yourself in Him. Sing His promises through the day. Declare with the Psalmist, "My soul follows hard after Thee..."

You are wondering about my to-do list? It's still there. And yep! Just as you figured. It remains unfinished. But you guessed it! There's no way its going to rob me of my joy!

See you on the journey!


-George and Dorothy Huffman