The Meantime Ends

Surprise! Just when you think I have lost your email for good, I jump back into your inbox like I never missed a beat!

When I started writing the devotional In the Meantime, it was because there was a fork in the road before me in my life. The man I have worked for these past nine years chose not to run for re-election. There was a year to seek the Lord's will in my life and determine what the next phase would look like.

While it is always a good idea to seek the Lord's will in your life, if you are anything like me, you may have a tendency to explain to Him what that should look like. For example, while I said, "Lord, your will be done," I also made the statement that the one thing I would not do was to work for a freshman legislator. My comment was that training a freshman would be too much like house breaking a puppy. I consider myself too old and too wise to take that on.

I also voiced the opinion (in case God needed the advice) that I was through with the legislature and thought that my time might be better spent in a think tank environment. In a think tank, you get to come up with great ideas while the political reality of putting them into practice does not hamper the process. There I could be paid for having an opinion and wouldn't have to mess with those pesky legislators any longer. After all, I have been working in this environment for 18 years. And, in dog years (which many of them seemed like) that is a very long time.

Also, I said that I would not go looking for a job. If the Lord had something for me to do, He was going to have to bring the job to me. There would be no resumes, no fretting over interviews, no looking for opportunities. Just waiting. After the first couple of months, my husband was beginning to wonder if that were truly the best way to find a new position in this economy. He suggested I at least brush up my resume in case someone showed an interest.

The recommendation made some sense, so I began looking at what would need to go into a new resume. However, before getting very far in the process, a dear friend in a local think tank called and invited me to come talk. We caught up on old times, discussed some policy issues, and I was asked if I had any interest in a position with the organization. From my lips to God's ears! Was this great or what?! I was given the weekend to pray over the issue.

I left there delighting in the goodness of the Lord! Imagine that you are given exactly what you asked for. Is that good or what? Then, as I prayed, the revelation came to me. This was God's opportunity to do exactly what I wanted to do. I was free to take it. Or, I could turn it down and wait for the opportunity to do exactly what the Lord wanted me to do. Grateful for the insight before I made the wrong decision, I let the opportunity pass. It felt sort of like petting that perfect puppy in the pet store, and then turning around and walking away from it.

The next day - no kidding, the very next day - I received an email from a fellow staffer who had a candidate who has little opposition in the November general election in her office. She wanted to know if I would come down and meet him. I had received five separate emails from people telling me that this was the person who would be a perfect fit for me to work for. I told them all I had no interest in working for a freshman. I am never opposed, however, to meeting new legislators.

The man I met was about as different in demeanor from the current Marine Colonel, Italian I work for as you can get. In our office, you think somebody is mad if we are not all talking at once. Here was a man who agreed in principle and philosophy, but articulated it in a much quieter manner. He asked if he could bring his wife to meet me the next day. I met her and two of their delightful daughters. Before we even got to the point of discussing working together, I knew where the Lord was leading me.

However, I also knew the challenges that come with working with an employee as opinionated as I am. I insisted on the "New Guy" talking with my old boss. I told the old boss all the bad things I wanted him to share with the new guy. "Tell him I am opinionated and that I don't shut up until I see some glimmer in your eye that you understand what I am talking about. Tell him I annoy other legislators because I speak when they think staff should be quiet. Tell him that he will never have to doubt what I think because I will never be shy about telling him. Tell him…"

Talking it over with Jerry, he informed me that most people who actually want a job do not lead the interview with their shortcomings. He has a point. However, if this was where the Lord wanted me to be, I did not want there to be any of my shortcomings to come as a surprise. In spite of it all, New Guy did his due diligence on me and several months ago offered me the position as his chief of staff. I told him I had not planned on working for a freshman. He shared that he and his wife had agreed he would not hire a woman as chief of staff.

And, God laughed.

Anyway, that was when the Lord quit giving me material for In the Meantime and I fell out of your inboxes. The moral to the story is, do not ever be so intent on knowing what you want to do in your life that you miss out on what the Lord wants to do through you.

And, just so you will know, tomorrow I will begin a new devotional for those who want to stay tuned. It will be a forty day devotional leading up to the November election. Unlike most of the devotionals that the Lord has just imparted to me, He has actually been having me work for this one. I look forward to seeing what He has in store.

If you would like to unsubscribe to the emails, just let me know. If you would like to add anyone to the list, have them send me an email to ksdevotional@gmail.com .

 

If the Truth Hurts

One of my favorite fairy tales is The Emperor's New Clothes. It is the story of a couple of weavers who convince the emperor that they can make him a suit of clothes that will be invisible to anyone who unworthy of honor or position. In reality, the "invisible clothes" were non-existent, but the vanity of the king and all of his advisors dictated that they pretend to admire the new suit. Unconcerned about honor or position, a young child saw the emperor and cried out, "But he is not wearing any clothes." Everyone realized they had been conned and the weavers were run out of town.

The difference in the fairy tale and current events is that the one who notices that the Emperor is naked is ridiculed, punished, fired or shamed while the naked rulers continue business as usual.

Two current events prompted my rant today.

First, Congressman Joe Barton apologized to BP for the government shakedown of their business.

Is the oil spill a horrible disaster? Yes.

Is BP responsible for the mess? Yes.

Has BP made some ill-advised public relation gaffs? Yes.

Should they be held responsible for damages? Yes.

Has the federal government executed a government shakedown of their business? You better believe it.

The federal government has the authority to enforce current regulatory law and the authority to prosecute any violations of criminal law. They do not have the authority to threaten or coerce a company to relinquish assets or control of a private company to the government.

Why should it matter to you if the evil oil company is brought to its knees by the government? It is a violation of the rule of law. Any government that can exert powers not granted to it by the Constitution or statute to break a $191 billion company can certainly take you or me out in a heartbeat.

Congressman Barton is taking a lot of grief over his comments. He may even lose his seniority on the Energy Committee as a result of his fellow legislators insisting that they love the Emperor's new clothes. It was not politically correct for Barton to apologize, but he wasn't wrong.

Meanwhile, the top general in Afghanistan is being called back to Washington to meet with the President over comments that he and aides made in an article in Rolling Stone. (Not the first publication I seek for news.) The article doesn't come out until Friday, but apparently everyone is getting called on the carpet prior to its availability at the news stands.

It is never a good thing for a commanding officer or his aides to make unflattering remarks about the commander in chief. The general in Afghanistan knows that. So, it has to make you wonder just how naked the emperor might be for a general to offer his career as a sacrifice to point out the obvious.

One of my first mentors when I was a baby Christian used to say, "If the truth hurts, it shouldn't be the truth." His point was that when the truth hurts (Barton apologizing to BP), then it shouldn't be the truth (the government was shaking down BP). It is time to quit shooting the messenger.

News

Have you ever thought about what we consider to be news?

Many of you reading the headline might think there is something to share about our new grandson. That's not it. We haven't met him yet. The government red tape continues to slow progress to that of a bug on a fly strip. The current plan is that Stormi and David will meet with his case worker on Thursday and get to have their first visit with him on Friday. Now, that will be news!

Or, maybe you thought there was news about my boss who is on active duty with the Marines. Nope. He is in Okinawa interfacing with the new government about military base issues. The issue actually led to the resignation of the prime minister in early June. It's a hot topic in Japan, but rather ho-hum around the Capitol.

Then again, you might think there was something to share about the bomb scare at the Capitol on Friday. Still wrong. I was out of town visiting family in Houston. The bomb scare was a simple two hour diversion from business as usual in the building. And, since I wasn't here, even the inconvenience of the evacuation had no affect on me.

So, what's the really hot news topic for today?

Well, according to the news report on the radio, summer officially began at 6:28 this morning.

Thank you for that information. And, all this time I had been attributing the high heat levels to global warming.

It just served as a reminder to me that you have to be careful when you allow others to inform you of what is considered to be news worthy. Some things we should really be aware of are considered to be ho-hum. And, the incredibly obvious is being reported as news. It is always a good idea to maintain perspective when viewing the world through someone else's lenses.

When you have heard about as much of the "news" as you can stand, take off your secular, 3-D glasses and filter the day's happenings with your biblical world view lenses. Let the Holy Spirit explain what is happening around you. See God's goodness and grace, even in the midst of our ignorance and greed. It is amazing what a little perspective change can do for your attitude.

Romans 12: 2
Do not conform 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 prefect will.

My Shoe Fashionista

It is summer. My boss is out of the country - on active military duty in Okinawa. To say things are going slow at the office is an understatement. Or, at least I think it is. Since I have managed to be out of the office most of the month, that is just a guess on my part.

Last week we mixed business with pleasure as we took our granddaughter with us to Dallas to visit friends and attend the Republican Convention. The whole political convention process reminds me a lot of my mother. As a child, my mother made me eat cabbage every time it was served, even after we had clearly established that it was not on my list of top 5 million foods. The only reason the "at least try one bite" rule was ever lifted was because of my good fortune of developing a stomach virus on one of the days when cabbage was served. (Something about upchucking a detested food seems to seal the point that you are never going to develop a taste for it.)

Back to my point, I do not particularly like politics or political conventions. I attend them, not because there is a chance I will "develop a taste for them", so much as a feeling of responsibility that non-participation leaves the determination of the fate of my political party to those less qualified than myself. Or, in other words, government is run by those who show up. So, every two to four years, I take the time to show up.

But, the really great part of the trip was learning that our granddaughter, Hannah, at the ripe old age of six, is a full blown fashionista monster. I packed for three days, anticipating both business and casual meetings, including two pairs of shows. All Hannah was going to do was hang around with Pops for the three days. She came prepared with five pairs of shoes. At their trip to the zoo, the shoes she was wearing caused blisters on her feet. The following morning as I dressed her, I insisted that she wear tennis shoes with her dress to prevent worsening the blisters. (My motto: If shoes hurt your feet, throw them away.) She was reluctant to give up her fancy shoes and was quick to tell me that the other shoes did not match her dress. Common sense prevailed and she reluctantly donned the tennis shoes.

I thought my common sense had won the argument until we were all discussing the agenda for the day. Since attending business meetings would prevent me from accompanying Jerry and Hannah to the Heritage Park, I suggested that Pops take pictures to commemorate the day. Hannah insisted that her feet were not to be included in any of the pictures. So much for my common sense and her vanity.

Her mother says that traveling with 50 pairs of shoes is a trait she can live with. (She did not get that from me.) Who am I to complain?

But, just so you know, Pops did include her feet in one picture.

It's a Nine Year Old!!!!!!!

Most birth announcements come with measurements in inches and ounces. But, that won't work with the new addition to our family. This announcement comes in feet and pounds.

Yesterday I got the long awaited phone call that I was once again a grandmother (this makes number four). He is a bouncing, not so babyish nine-year-old named Warren. We are awaiting pictures with the same glee and expectation of a mother's first ultra sound during pregnancy.

My daughter and son-in-law have been involved in the adoption process for well over a year. They have chosen to adopt out of the foster care system, because they are not seeking an infant, just a boy who needs a mom, a dad, and (in this case) a little sister. They have submitted on over thirty children - including multiple sibling groups - and, after waiting months in some cases, had heard nothing.

Then, they got the call. They were being considered as a finalist family for this little boy. It came suddenly. They had only submitted on Warren about a month ago. We knew the meeting was on Wednesday at 3:00. All through the afternoon and night the fear of getting our hopes up battled with the fear of losing our faith that God would place the perfect child for our family in His timing. Stormi's emotional roller coaster reminded me of an expectant father pacing in a waiting room, separated from his wife as she gives birth in the delivery room.

There was no word from the case worker on Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Thursday morning the phone rang at work. It was Stormi, cool as a cucumber. "Do you have a minute?"

"Of course, what have you heard?"

"Well, congratulations, you have a new grandson."

Just like that. Cool, collected, in control. Where did this woman come from? That is news that you shout from the roof tops! Or, in my case, I just went up and down the hall opening everybody's office door telling them I had a new grandson.

Then I had to smile to myself. That woman has discovered exactly what the Lord was reminding me of.

The Lord always answers a mother's prayers. Stormi has spiritually grown by leaps and bounds during this adoption process. She has learned to believe what she cannot see and to trust the Lord with all her heart - even when her emotions might not match up with her belief.

And, that just happens to be one of the prayers I have prayed over her since youth, believing He would answer even when I did not yet see the manifestation of the answer. God is good. All the time.

3 John : 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Arizona

Being from Texas where everything is bigger and better, it is not easy to impress me. But let me tell you, the state of Arizona rose to the occasion.

Last week after flying to Colorado for the graduation of our goddaughter, we decided to swing by Arizona, visit with friends who are parents of some of my "grand conservatives," and spend a little money in protest of the protest that the City of Austin has against Arizona because of their immigration policy. We flew to Phoenix, rented a car and drove up to the Grand Canyon, over to Monument Valley, down to The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, on down to Tucson, then back up to Phoenix.

As far as I can tell, that means we pretty much saw the whole state. Oh my gosh! Was God ever in a good mood when He was creating Arizona. The thought crossed my mind that Arizona was the canvas that the Lord used in creation to try out a few ideas. The mountain views and scenic drives are beautiful and watching Jerry's reaction to driving on the edge of a mountain with a substantial drop-off never ceases to amuse me. But, after all these miles of beautiful views, nothing prepares you for the moment you suddenly come upon the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Upon completion of His really big ditch diorama, the Lord moved east and dabbled in sculpture with the creation of His Monument Valley. Randomly, across the country side, huge rock formations sprout up out of the ground. And, in case you did not know it, the road that takes you through Monument Valley is not paved. This may, in fact, be the exact site of the original pothole.

By the time you get through Monument Valley every sense is overwhelmed. You begin to realize that things which would otherwise take your breath away have become almost common to you. So, like the wine taster who must clean their palate between wines, the Lord provided the landscape between Monument Valley and the Petrified Forest to get that feeling of awe and wonder out of your system. Well, at least that is what Jerry told me. Personally, I slept most of the way between the sites. Apparently, as a child I confused the terms "get in the car" with "let's take a nap." Much to Jerry's dismay, I've never straightened out the issue.

The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert were both impressive. Hot, but impressive. They tell you that, "it's a dry heat." But, then again, that's pretty much what I tell my turkey every Thanksgiving right before I put it in the oven. So, the desert loses a few points in my book for the extreme heat, but I suppose if it were beautiful and the perfect temperature I would then be complaining about the traffic jams.

But no scenery in Arizona tops the friends we have there. So, we received a guided tour of Tucson, enjoyed the hospitality of the parents of one of our Patriot Academy graduates, and proved that language is not a barrier to communication between me and a grand conservative. Hugs and kisses to Zoe.

We followed that up with a tour of Sedona, complete with time to spend catching up on current events and getting to watch Gaby (one of the children I have been known to feed ice cream to for breakfast) win first place in her race-walking track event. She even beat the state record for her age group. GO GABY!!!!! Hugs and kisses to Gaby and her brother, my very first grand conservative, Jose Arturo.

If you ever question the greatness of the mighty hand of God, just take a few days and look around Arizona.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, His greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3

Not What I Intended to Say

Having been on vacation all last week, I thought this morning's devotional would be about the beautiful state of Arizona. But, during my scripture reading I found something even better to share.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

That's it. No quips, or smart remarks. Just read over the verse a few times and enjoy the sense of peace and purpose it conveys.

Stay tuned for the Arizona message.

Ice Cream for Breakfast

I started the week with my field trip to Houston and will end it up with a trip to Colorado and Arizona. It is graduation time for our god daughter. How quickly the years have passed since I held little Alyssa in my arms at her christening. Her family moved away to Colorado and we have had to make due with a long distance relationship.

One of the most difficult things in maintaining a relationship with young children is that they so easily forget who you are. If you only see each other every three to five years, how can they be expected to remember what you look like or why they are important to you.

The simple solution: feed them ice cream for breakfast.

It never fails. Once when Alyssa was quite young, ice cream on oatmeal was on the breakfast menu at our home. Several years later, Alyssa and her sisters told their younger brother that when they got to my house, they would get ice cream for breakfast. He didn't believe them, and when the ice cream came out of the freezer he ran in to wake up his parents to ask if it was OK to eat ice cream for breakfast.

Laughing, his mom replied, "Yes, but only at Kathi's."

She is a wise woman.

As Alyssa has gotten older, it has been a joy to watch her mature. Having homeschooled her entire life, she got to pick the theme for her graduation. Her choice - renaissance. She is truly a young woman who marches to a different drummer. Her love of books and book stores has ensured we have always had an interest we can share in common.

My prayer for Alyssa:

May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4

And, on a totally different note. After the graduation in Colorado we are going to drive to Arizona for sightseeing and to touch base with friends in Phoenix and Tucson. Since the city of Austin is boycotting Arizona over their decision to actually enforce immigration laws, we thought it would be a good time to go spend our money in Arizona.

Field Trip!

One of the things I love about my job is the opportunity to learn about things I would otherwise never give a second thought. This month's training came from a "fieldtrip" to Houston where a group of legislative staff were introduced to natural gas drilling rigs. We stopped off and toured a rig in the field and then spent half a day at the Schlumberger facility in Sugarland where they have a drill for training purposes.

The technology and process used in recovering natural gas is fascinating in itself. The engineers at Schlumberger were able to explain the complex process in language even I could understand. But, perhaps the most interesting time for me was not so much learning about the process, as being reminded (once again) that different people looking at the same things do not actually see the same thing.

One of the lobbyists who was with the group also represents BP, the company who is the not so proud owner of the oil spill in the Gulf. Naturally, that was a discussion on several occasions. BP is currently spending money at the rate of the federal government to get the spill contained. They have blown past the billion dollar mark and estimate the cleanup cost will run as high as $12 billion. The difference in BP and the federal government is that BP is good for it.

But, the discussion at dinner one night ran to punitive damages to the oil company for allowing the spill. The purpose of punitive damages is to provide an incentive so that the behavior does not reoccur. With BP's stock dropping like a rock, my question was when your stock value is dropping like a rock and you are paying to clean up after yourself, why do they think BP needs incentives to not let this happen again?

And, on a note that has nothing to do with my point, let me tell you about oil and gas companies and their commitment to safety. This is not my first experience with "field trips" with the industry. Each stop we make we are given detailed safety instructions, issued safety equipment (hard hats, eye protection, and ear plugs) and notified the evacuation route to take and the muster point in the event of an emergency. When we were at the rig in the field, we were more closely chaperoned than a kindergartener's field trip. Even when we were sitting in corporate offices in Houston, the first presentation was on evacuation routes and muster points. Safety is not a second thought with these companies. It is a culture. I digress.

At lunch the next day, the issue of the impact of the health care bill came up. Schlumberger took a $40 million hit in the first quarter. They are concerned about the future impact the legislation will have. On the bus, several of us were discussing the issue. One person said, "You know what I wanted to know when he complained about the $40 million? Just how much does he make?"

My response, "What difference does it make how much he makes?"

"They can afford the $40 million."

My head almost exploded. I had forgotten that some people believe government policies should be dictated by people's perceived ability to pay rather than controlled by the principles of the appropriate role and scope of government. Can any of us really afford for our government to do the wrong thing?

But, the reason the exchange of ideas was important to me was that I felt no overwhelming urge to attempt to change their minds. We were in a fellowship environment, not a policy debate. And, at the end of the day, my new found friends were probably as confounded by my thinking as I was by theirs. There was a time (maybe as recently as last
year
month
week earlier in the day) when insisting someone understand (i.e. agree with) my position would be more important than developing a relationship.

So, in humility, I'm celebrating my tiny little victory, hoping the unusual becomes habit for me.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Immigration Issues

One of my favorite parts of working at the Capitol is the number of young people who come through my office seeking counsel on career choices and job opportunities. Recent college grads can get all the way through a degree program without having someone ask them the most basic of questions that I pop in the first fifteen minutes of a meeting.

Are you a Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal?

Why?

What is your passion?

What do you do better than anything else?

What do you see yourself doing in this environment?

It is interesting to me how many people (not just young people) identify with a political party or philosophy with no understanding of the principles underlying their decision. This morning my meeting was with a young, Hispanic - a first generation citizen, a mother, the first in her family to graduate from college. She is bright, articulate and identified herself as leaning more Democrat than Republican.

Wanting to explore that identification, I asked for clarification on issues about which we might differ. Her dad is originally from Mexico, a hard-working man who worked tirelessly to provide for his wife and six children. She has inherited her dad's work ethic. We seemed to agree on many social issues, so I asked about the big white elephant in the room. How do you feel about the Arizona immigration law?

The question was both to explore her thoughts and to help to clarify my own. The hoopla over the issue never ceases to amaze me. The fact that other states should choose to boycott Arizona because they have chosen to allow law enforcement officers to enforce laws already in place leaves me totally perplexed. There does not appear to be objection to the laws, just the enforcement of them. In a nation whose strength is its rule of law, that is a dangerous precedent.

Emotions are driving the immigration on all sides. Those in favor of stronger enforcement of immigration laws see illegal immigration as a threat to our nation because of low wage workers who are benefiting from our social services and taking jobs from American citizens.

Illegal immigrants are often here for the very things that have made our nation great - the opportunity to work hard and prosper. They are fleeing their native country because they cannot afford to support their families. Many people have or know people who have come into the country illegally and can easily identify and empathize with those who are here.

Both sides are correct to some degree. But, the bigger issue is that the very thing that makes it possible for a poor farm worker from Mexico to cross the border also makes it possible for a foreign terrorist to enter the country. Illegal immigration is a national security issue. The border must be secured. Illegal immigrants should be swiftly deported.

At the same time, both the United States and Mexico benefit from the self-sustaining workers who come to the United States as productive workers. Federal immigration laws should be changed to enable those who come for economic purposes to do so legally and easily.

Such a two-prong approach embraces both the rule of law and the biblical concept of welcoming the alien. (And, no, I don't care if Speaker Pelosi tells the Catholic Church they should instruct from the pulpit that immigration reform is necessary as long as she doesn't mind them also mentioning that the sanctity of life should be protected by government. But, I digress.).

The argument over who gets what benefits and social services should be re-examined and removed from the immigration debate. The same thing that makes illegal immigrants seek government benefits makes citizens seek them. It is not an immigration issue, it is a "nanny state" issue. The government should not be paying for the medical costs of illegal immigrants. But, then again, the government shouldn't be paying for the medical costs of its citizens, either. Solve that problem and, to the degree that it may be enticing illegal immigration, the problem will go away.

The protests and boycotts going on throughout our nation indicate a lack of understanding of the boycotters on the motivation of the real issues facing the Arizona lawmakers. Their citizens are being attacked, kidnapped and killed. It is the first role of government to offer protection to its citizens. In the nation's failure to do so, Arizona has stepped up to the plate. On the other hand, a failure to understand the boycotters indicates a lack of understanding of the fear of minorities that the power of government will be used to intimidate and punish even those who are here legally.

Each side is partially right and partially wrong and they must come together. Both sides of this issue could profit from the advice in Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

It may actually cost you your opinion to gain wisdom in the area of immigration. But, failure to do so may cost you the very principles that have made our nation the success it is.

 

Perspective

Yesterday was spent in a variety of meetings, one of which was also attended by a parade of lobbyists, legislators, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor. Hands were shaken, small talk was made. Yes, the Governor really did shoot a coyote on one of his morning jogs as reported. Long before the meet and greet was over, my feet hurt from standing and keeping a smile on my face was getting a little tedious. All this, and I still had a dinner to sit through. Such is my job.

The good news is that today some really important people are coming to the Capitol, and I get to meet with them, too. It is my granddaughter's kindergarten class. Hannah and 95 other kindergarteners will stop by the Capitol grounds to have lunch on their way to the Austin Children's Museum. Pops is one of the chaperones, and Migi (that's me) gets to come out and visit with them while they eat.

The chatter of the 95 little voices, the trips to the bathrooms, the dirty little hands, and the noses that need to be blown will not cause me to be bored. My feet will not hurt as I walk around with them. It will not be difficult to find things to discuss, because with a kindergartener, the most mundane things can be fascinating topics of conversation. The squirrels on the Capitol grounds, the ants crawling across a picnic blanket or the pecans on the trees all provide great teachable moments for young people. And, the smile on my face when I return to my office will not be one put there by duty, but by joy.

It is easy for adults to misjudge their own importance and that of the people around them. It is a particularly difficult task for many in the political realm due to the prevailing perception that election to public office somehow sets a person apart for special attention. The misconception is validated as people fawn over the elected officials, falsely believing that their own worth increases with the proximity of those elected to power. Elected officials deserve our prayers and our respect. They are not due our worship.

Look around today and consider who the most important people in your life are. Do they know it? Does your schedule reflect their importance to you? If not, what are you going to do about that?

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them.
Matthew 18: 1-2

Gotta run! The bus will be here any minute . . .

Hobo Visits

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:3

Normally a two basset hound family, we currently have a third hound visiting for the week. His name is Hobo and his people are visiting Disney World this week. While they visit Mickey Mouse he is getting to spend the week with Sam and Tilly.

The first time I saw Hobo he was half-starved and scavenging for food out in the country. We were visiting my mother-in-law who is not a fan of dogs. Ignoring her raised eyebrows, I slipped Hobo some of the leftovers from our Thanksgiving meal. When I mentioned that he obviously needed a forever home with someone who would take care of him, there was no ignoring my husband's raised eyebrows.

As indulgent as Jerry is with me, he does have his limits. Two basset hounds seems to be one of them.

But alas, basset rule number one: don't touch the puppy and basset rule number two: don't name the dog had already both been violated. So, I snapped a couple of pictures of him with the camera on my cell phone, and began to contemplate how to find Hobo a home. Waiting for a meeting to begin at work one day, a conversation on dogs came up and offered the opportunity for Hobo's story to be told.

A friend of mine was hooked at the first glimpse of his cute little face. She agreed to give him a home if we could still find him. Jerry was all too willing to transport the dog to Austin to go home with anybody else but me. He was just delighted that Hobo had found a home before he had to do more than raise his eyebrows to keep the basset census at two.

Hobo loves his forever home. And, well he should. He has his own crate, his own food bowl, and his own dog bed. He also is given doggie door privileges and gets to sleep with his new owner. What's not to love? He knows that he has been saved and is one of the most loyal and affectionate dogs I have ever seen.

So this week I am delighting in looking out in the yard and seeing my thundering herd of bassets race to the back steps when I call. Each of them obviously a basset and yet uniquely different, just watching them brings me great joy until they actually reach me - the smell somewhat sooner than the slobber on my feet . But, they are mine (except for the visiting Hobo), and somehow I overlook those frivolous flaws just because I can.

And, every so often, I reflect on how like a basset hound we are in our relationship with the Lord. It is He who made us and we are His. Aren't you delighted He overlooks your smell and slobber?

National Day of Prayer

I erroneously stated that last Tuesday was the National Day of Prayer. If, in fact, you prayed for our nation on that day, please know that it was OK. God knew I was wrong when I wrote it, but He was willing to listen to your prayers anyway. And, just in case you didn't know it. Today actually is the National Day of Prayer, and even if you prayed on Tuesday, you can still pray today. God allows do overs.

There is a huge controversy over The National Day of Prayer this year. A judge from Wisconsin has ruled it unconstitutional, but has stayed the decision until the appeal process is over. The President has ordered that the case be appealed. It will work its way up to the Supreme Court, and in a few years we will find out whether or not our judicial system will agree or disagree on the constitutionality of the U. S. Congress declaring a national day of prayer.

I have not yet digested the court decision (66 pages) or the arguments in favor of keeping the national day of prayer (79 pages). But, like the majority of my fellow Americans, I see no reason that my failure to do so should prevent me from commenting on the issue.

It is extremely easy for something like this to get everyone's emotions running high. But, let's consider the worst case scenario - the Supreme Court rules that the National Day of Prayer constitutes the establishment of religion and Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion , or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Such a ruling will result in a large mob of people, most who do not pray in the first place, wringing their hands and crying, "What will we do? What will we do?"

My suggestion: Drop in your tracks, fall on your face, and begin to pray as if you actually mean it.

Government cannot take prayer out of schools, public places, or anywhere as long as God's people take Him with them wherever they go. There would be no need for a call for a national day of prayer by government if our churches were making the call instead. Instead of having a government recognition of God and inviting church people, why can't we have a church recognition of God and invite the government people?

This is not a government problem. It is a church problem.

In my humble opinion.

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. " 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

 

 

… but our eyes are upon you.

During the past two legislative sessions the Lord has prompted me to write a daily devotional. Initially that seemed like a strange directive since it is during a session that every waking moment is consumed by my work schedule. How could I possibly add yet another task onto my already overloaded calendar? But, on reflection, it seemed a prompting from the Lord would not come without the means to fulfill it.

So, on the mornings when I had nothing in mind for the devotional I would pull up a new document on the computer, carefully title and date it and tell the Lord I had done my part, it was now His problem. He never let me down. My writing of the devotional during the interim (like the rest of my life) is not nearly as disciplined as it is during session. Hence the creation of the "dailyish" devotional. It takes the pressure off of me and my "ghost writer."

This morning, after my quiet time I had no idea what to write for the devotional. But, I got to wondering about how could you possibly spend time in fellowship with the Lord and not come away with something to say. I pulled up a new document, titled it, and waited.

"The battle belongs to the Lord." That's it. The only clue He gave me. But, I can go a long way with a clue.

Two places that discuss the subject in scripture are the story of David and Goliath and then in 2 Chronicles 20 where King Jehoshaphat prays to God about an impending battle. In his prayer, King Jehoshaphat says, "… We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 2 Chronicles 20:12

Look at that. My tactic to putting the ball in God's court is nothing new. And, it is highly successful - for Jehoshaphat, for David, and for me. He just turned nothing to say into six paragraphs of text. Once again, I am awed by my Lord.

Doggie Doors

There are times when writing a devotional that I am as surprised at the end results as some of the people who are reading it for the first time. Those are the times when a brief idea has come to me and as my fingers engage with the keyboard some profoundly simple concept leaps off the page at me. Other times, an idea develops over hours, days, weeks - in today's case - years.

I turn again to the spiritual training the Lord has accomplished through basset hounds. Today's subject is free will.

Coming into our home as a precious little bundle of ears and feet, Sam had our constant attention. That was partially because he was so cute and partially to protect the carpet from puppy puddles. As he grew, we intensified our attention for the daily/hourly search and rescue missions to extract whatever it was he was chewing on that was never intended to engage with a puppy digestive system.

As difficult as bassets are to train, Sam was remarkably quick to be house broken. Thinking that our lives would be easier we installed a doggie door, giving Sam the freedom to come and go on his own schedule. Perhaps that was what God was thinking when he gave man free will.

It wasn't long before the doggie door became a source of irritation for me. At night Sam would let himself out to survey his kingdom. But, not content to just sniff around the yard, he would find a frog, and I would find myself out in my nightgown trying to end his incessant barking at the poor thing.

When Sam wanted to play, he would grab whatever was closest to him that he was not supposed to have and, looking to make sure I knew he had it, would then run out the dog door to see if I would chase him. Usually, I did. A skein of yarn, a half-knit sweater, my reading glasses, Jerry's cell phone - they all made the journey out the dog door. I would race after Sam, threatening to kill him if I ever caught up to him.

One night, as Jerry and I were getting ready for bed, we heard a tremendous racket coming from the living room. Sam was taking his dog bed out the dog door. Not imagining that he would accomplish the feat, we laughed and left him to his task. After a couple of minutes and some really loud noises, things quieted down. As a mother, I know that when things are quiet you need to go check on the situation. Sam had accomplished his mission. His dog bed was now in the middle of the back yard and he was contentedly sitting on it. I suppose it was the basset equivalent of a first camp out.

Growing in wisdom, one day it dawned on me that we had given the dog door and we could take it away. Sam could only disturb my sleep if I permitted him to do so. The doggie door was closed and a crate was purchased. Sam now sleeps in his crate at night and is allowed access to the doggie door if and when it is OK with me. His free will is gone, but my good night's sleep is back.

Looking at the way man has abused free will in our relationship with the Lord, it is amazing that God has not taken it back. Still, sin has established a "dog door" between us and God. Without Christ, the door is closed and we are sleeping in the crate.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "

Whale Barf

Our sermon in church (http://www.celebrationchurchtx.com/multimedia/index/sermons) on Sunday was on the book of Jonah. Jonah is one of those bible characters that I just don't understand, but I am eternally grateful for the inclusion of his story in the Old Testament. Just the visual picture of disobedience = whale barf is sufficient to keep me on the straight and narrow.

But, it wasn't a whale barf scripture that got my attention yesterday. It was Jonah 2:8
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

Imagine the setting. Jonah has run away from a directive of the Lord, and as a result of his disobedience he has been thrown overboard as a last ditch effort to protect the safety of his fellow sailors. But, God wasn't done with Jonah; He was just trying to get his attention. So, as the story goes, the Lord provide a great fish to swallow Jonah and gave him three days to think about things. Talk about a God ordained time out.

And, during that dark, smelly time out, as Jonah thought about the consequences of his actions, he cried out to the Lord, including the observation that "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

Whoa! That scripture got my attention. Having my recent revelation that I lack grace for others because I fail to love them has caused the word "grace" to catch my attention in any context in scripture. "Grace" is defined as "a capacity to tolerate, accommodate, or forgive people." "Forfeit" is a word that is used to describe a penalty for wrongdoing.

Jonah is acknowledging to God that losing the grace they would otherwise have was the penalty for hanging on to worthless idols (FYI - all idols besides God are worthless). Jonah was not talking about his grace toward others, but others' grace toward him. In recognition of Jonah's "ah ha" moment, God showed tremendous grace toward Jonah and had the whale barf him up on the beach.

Things to ponder:

Grace can look and smell like whale barf. Sometimes when we find ourselves in a sticky, stinky situation, it may actually be a whole lot better than what we deserve.

On the other hand, what are the idols in your life? It can be anything from TV to a sense of security. It can be a job or a relationship. It can be a video game or a football game. Idols are anything that has a higher priority in your life than God.

There is a stiff penalty for clinging to idols. Considering Jonah's experience, I think I'll consider the consequences of those idols (and remove them from my life) before God has to show me how much he loves me by turning me into whale barf.

 

 

 

 

Amazing Grace

Yesterday afternoon was spent at a funeral of a gentleman I did not know. The brother of a co-worker, my presence was merely a means of showing my respect and love for the co-worker. For that reason, the event was not overly emotional for me. But, as funerals always do, the event brought back memories.

Two things in particular ignited those memories. The song Amazing Grace and the 23rd Psalm. After my step-dad's funeral over 30 years ago, it took almost ten years before I could listen to Amazing Grace. Generally, before the first chords of the first verse were complete, I would be reduced to a sniveling pile of emotions. As I grew in grace in my relationship with the Lord, the words of the song became less a reminder of my dad's funeral and more a reminder of the character of God. Today, there hangs above the fireplace in my living room a large plaque with the words "Amazing Grace" for all the world to see. It is my testimony of the Lord's hand in my life.

The 23rd Psalm is one of those verses of scripture that even non-believers can quote. It its most basic level it promises a shepherd's provision and protection for his flock. Read and meditated on at a deeper level, it reflects the nature and character of God and how we can expect to see Him manifest in our lives.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet water, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Read that scripture and picture yourself as the sheep. Your shepherd will make sure you are fed and taken care of. He will make (not let) you rest. Quiet waters can run deep, but you have nothing to fear when He is your guide. He will restore your soul. You will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But, there is nothing to fear when you have the Shepherd with you. He will feed you and comfort you, even in the midst of your pain and sorrow. Whatever or whoever your enemies might be, the Lord has His hand upon you and is blessing you with goodness and love.

Preachers have a captive audience at a funeral. That makes them a perfect place to share the wonderful attributes of a loving God. May he who has ears hear the message before it is preached at his own funeral.

I do believe . . .

One of my favorite quotes when faced with a difficult situation is from the Wizard of Oz movie. The cowardly lion, when facing the Wizard, is wringing his tail and saying, "I do believe, I do, I do. I do believe."

Like the cowardly lion, I have used the phrase to buck up my own courage from time to time. And, I have found that sometimes faith is as simple as reminding myself that my circumstances are not taking the Lord by surprise.

Just reading the results of a word search of the word "faith" makes me feel confident. The 232 references to faith in Christ found in scripture show that it is a powerful thing . It comes by hearing. It can move mountains, justify and sanctify us, leads to healing, strengthen us.

But, faith is a funny thing. You will always be disappointed if you put your faith in the wrong things. Yourself, your momma, your best friend, your elected officials - even your basset hounds - will let you down. If you allow your faith to be in anything other than Jesus Christ, you will be disappointed.

But, when you have faith in Jesus, even the morning news is not all that depressing.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13

Just do it

You know, we really make life a lot more complicated than it has to be. My little tidbit for this morning is:

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Just reading or hearing the word of God does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. It is how you use what you take in that matters.

Not a lot to say about the issue. Just do it.

Thanks, Bud!

Just for the record, God has gone from preaching to meddling in my life this week. First, that whole revelation that there is love lacking in my attitude toward others. And now, building on that one, a reminder of a lesson my dear mentor taught me.

My step-dad, the man who raised me, died when I was 22 years old. His loss in my life left a dad-sized hole that I never expected to close. Fast forward 25 years, and I met Bud and Clauda Orrell. Bud, a retired pastor has a shepherd's heart and tremendous love of people. At my first appearance in his home, he told me I needed to repent for what I was saying about someone. The spirit of conviction zapped me on the spot, and our mentor/mentee relationship began.

Since that day, Bud has taught me a number of lessons - the greatest of which is to love other people. He always teaches by example. When I am wrong, he tells me so. When I am happy he laughs with me. When I am sad he consoles me. And, he always tells me how much I am loved. The Lord has used him to fill that dad-sized hole in my heart - he is a perfect fit.

Perhaps the most important lesson Bud taught me was that you cannot offend a dead man. Well, I begged to differ with him. Since I happened to know the scriptures about dying to sin and alive in God and I am a believer, (therefore) a dead man. and there are still a whole lot of things that upset me. I have never tolerated liberalism or stupidity well - they offend me.

Bud and I argued over the issue for a period of several weeks. I gave all my rational thinking about things that could and should offend us.

He said, "You can't offend a dead man."

I explained and gave examples of ignorant things people do, mistreatment of children, abuse of animals, people cutting you off in traffic. (I almost had him with the traffic example.)

He said, "You can't offend a dead man."

I told him how I felt, which naturally must be the truth, because it was truthfully how I was feeling.

He said, "You can't offend a dead man."

I gave it my best to prove him wrong, then prayed about it and finally came back to acknowledge (as if it were a truth I had just discovered all by myself) that you cannot offend a dead man. We just may need to die a little more completely or in a new area.

It was a revolutionary discovery for me. Each time I would feel myself picking up an offense, my first reaction was to seek out what it was that needed to die in me. Slowly, I began to allow all those things in me that kept getting offended to die. And, since that happened in my life, I have found that there is a whole lot more room for the lesson from yesterday (it is all a labor of love) to take hold.

Sure, there is still a struggle in me from time to time. But I know I am making progress as liberals and people making ill-advised statements cause my eyebrows to raise, but not my blood pressure.

You should give it a try.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:11

Cupcakes in Heaven

My experiences at the Texas Capitol have equipped me to multi-task and to take most things in stride. That means that things that get me really frustrated are generally handed over to the Lord by the end of the day so that I will be free to be frustrated by something entirely new the next day. That is one of the reasons my topics for devotionals jump around like popcorn in a popcorn popper.

But, for a change today's devotional was actually motivated by yesterday's discussion of my lack of grace and mercy for others. Just in case you think the devotionals are for your benefit, please know that both the Lord and I know they are His way of speaking to me.

A friend responded to the devotional yesterday to tell me that her experience was that I had shown much grace and mercy toward her. I responded that in her case it was, "a labor of love."

Boom! (Have you ever noticed how you can remember EXACTLY where you were and what you were doing when the Holy Spirit speaks to you? All the way down to what you were wearing and which side your hair was parted on.)

No sooner had I written the words than the Lord said, "Exactly My point."

And, the angels had a party in Heaven, complete with cupcakes and fizzy water. Kathi finally broke the code and realized that grace and mercy is a labor of love.

Have problem granting others mercy? Do you love them?

Not feeling particularly full of grace? How's your love tank?

I have blamed it on not having the spiritual gift. The trouble isn't a lack of mercy or grace. It is a lack of love. Wait, come to think of it, didn't Jesus say something about that?

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37 -40

Mercy and Grace

One Sunday I was asked to share about my work with the pro-life movement at our church. During the presentation I mentioned that, "Those of you who know me, know that mercy is not one of my spiritual gifts." The rousing round of applause surprised even me.

But, knowing my limitations prevents me from taking on tasks which could lead to disaster. For example, there is no sensitive side of me when it comes to counseling. If you are doing something stupid I ask, "So, how's that working for you?" You have a complaint about your spouse? My advice is almost always, "Well, suck it up and get over it." I avoid the pastoral care ministry. The church appreciates that about me.

Though personally lacking much of the grace and mercy Christ has so graciously given me, even I cringe thinking about the implications of the psalmist's prayer in my daily reading today. "Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused."
Psalm 140:9

While mercy and grace may not be my top attributes, I am always thankful that the Lord does not give us what we deserve. Even I would hesitate to pray that our nation be covered with the trouble our lips have caused. Instead, my prayer is, "Lord have mercy on us." He is our only hope.

What's New?

Did you miss me? Or, did you just assume the devotionals were going to your junk email folder? It has been over two weeks since I sat down to write a devotional. So, what's new?

Congress. Still on track to bankrupt the nation. Not new.

National deficit. Not new.

Volcano in Iceland erupted. New.

Blamed on global warming. Not new.

Democrats don't like Republicans. Not new.

Republicans don't like Democrats. Not new.

There are a whole lot of things going on in the world that are not good and not new. And, if we allowed ourselves to go there, the bad things could easily eclipse all the wonderful things that are going on around us. The quick antidote to an overdose of cable news and the circumstances in which we find ourselves is to take inventory and count our blessings.

My grandchildren. Hannah. Kaden. Hunter. Brother (grandson TBA in the foster system). Not new, but always guaranteed to bring a smile to my face.

Warm spring days. (Also known as global warming.) Good. Not new.

A new book and a hammock in the sun. Good. Not new.

Goofy basset hounds. Not new. Rarely well behaved. Good for my soul.

Jesus loves you and me. Not new. Really, really good.

So, what's the best way to deal with the depressing news of our times? Not new.

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

 

It's a Fact

Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when He led you in the way? Jeremiah 2:17

The workshop on media bias was an eye-opener for me. The object was to explain that different people process information differently. Some people make decisions based entirely on emotion. Others make decisions based entirely on facts. Of course, the majority of people can be swayed by a combination of the two. And, with the success of marketing, my guess would be that there are a lot more "feelers" than "facters" in the world.

I was not surprised to find on the accompanying assessment that my emotion processing skills were so low that I rarely allow emotions to affect my decisions. (Except where basset hounds are involved, and then my reason goes to mush.) It was, however, an eye-opening experience for me.

Suddenly, I understood why so many policy issues were black and white for me. When others saw poor little sick children and thought government should do something, I saw dollars and cents and knew it was not government's job to intervene. Don't get me wrong. If I see a poor little sick child, I am even more likely to get personally involved in the situation than I am to pick up a stray basset hound. But, I don't confuse my responsibility to take action with the role of government.

So, naturally, verses such as the one in Jeremiah today make sense to me. God had chosen Israel and they were in a situation where there was absolutely nothing good left to say about them. The facts were in, and Isreal deserved to be abandoned by God and left to ruin.

Actually, forget Israel, the facts are in and we all fall short. Left to our own devices, we deserve damnation. Praise God who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And, praise Jesus who acted on the fact (in the face of conflicting emotions) that there was no way humanity could reconcile with God apart from His sacrifice.

It's Easter week - a good time to be thinking about the facts.

The Puppy in the Dog

It was a glorious weekend to be a basset hound. Sam and Matilda took up residence on the deck. Sam sunning his belly, and Tillie looking for all the world like bloated road kill. Truly, her girlish figure is a thing of the past. But, as long as she raids the pantry and eats entire bags of marshmallows and sneaks tootsie pops for treats when our backs are turned, things are not likely to change.

Sam is getting on in basset years. He will turn eight in May. As a puppy, Sam was "an only pup." As such, he was incredibly high maintenance. Before learning to channel his enthusiasm we lost a couch, two cell phones, a couple of heirloom keepsakes, many nights of sleep, and much of my sanity. After learning that a tired basset puppy is a good basset puppy, we made evening swims part of his daily ritual. I would put his harness on him, connect a leash and carry him into the river to swim against the current. I could stand there while he paddled feverishly, making little progress, but expending great amounts of effort to do so.


We went through countless dog toys. His sense of delight apparent when he successfully gutted a brand new toy in less than ten minutes. But, his very favorite toy was a blue peacock. He particularly liked the sound the unique sound that the squeaker in the peacock made. The peacock has been gone for years. But, on Sunday, while shopping for new collars and tags for the dogs, we ran across a duck that made the same unique sound. Thinking it might be a treat for Sam, we purchased it and brought it home.

At the first quacking sound, Sam's ears perked up and it was apparent that the sound had struck a chord with him. He came running up in anticipation of a great treat, knowing it had to be for him. Then for the next two hours, Sam carried the toy around in his mouth. He was not letting go, and he was not sharing. Every so often he would bite down so he could hear the quack, then he would go back to just carrying it around. When he finally decided it would be safe to lay it down, he would come back periodically to make it quack and carry it around some more. You could just see the puppy in the dog.


Oftentimes I ask young people what they want to be when they grow up. As some struggle with the answer, I tell them it is OK, to not have an immediate answer. As for me, all I know for sure is that I want to be really, really old and in good health when I finally grow up. "Growing up" implies reaching an end in the growing process. Personally, I never want to reach the place where growing ends. Regardless of the gray hair and the slower movement, I always want others to be able to see the "puppy in the dog."

Joshua and Caleb received the blessing of God when they went into the promised land and brought back a good report. In reward for their faithfulness, the Lord gave them long life after all the naysayers had passed away. You could still see that puppy in the dog when Caleb said to Joshua at the age of 85, "I am still as strong to this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war, and for going and coming." Joshua 14:11

This I Know

Contemplating the changes that will occur in the coming year, I could be concerned about a number of things. Personally, with a boss who is retiring, my employment situation is a question mark. Who wants an opinionated policy advisor? Is there another position for me at the Capitol? Is it time to move to another arena? What about salary? What about benefits? Can I walk away? Should I walk away?

This I know, that God is for me.

What about the condition of our nation? Can the torch of freedom be passed to the next generation? Have we ever been so close to the edge of falling into ruin? Do any men and women of virtue remain in leadership? Can we survive the damage done in the attacks on our freedom? Can our children afford the consequences of the policies that are being heaped upon us?

This I know, that God is for me.

What about my children? Do they have the moral fortitude to sustain the coming difficulties? Will they raise their children to love and serve the Lord? Are they equipped to step up to the plate in leadership as my generation faces its sunset years? Have I, am I doing everything I can to prepare them for the future?

This I know, that God is for me.

Those are all things I could worry about. But, I don't. All I can do is all I can do. Having done it, the results are up to God. For . . .

This I know, that God is for me. Psalm 56:9

The Desires of My Heart

Hannah, my granddaughter, has never experienced lack in her life. When she was born she had enough clothes, toys and stuff to provide for at least three children. At the ripe old age of six, she has more high tech gadgets than I had in my first forty years of life. So, the last thing I expected to see upon opening the garage door to get her "bicycle" so she could accompany me on a walk was a good old-fashioned red tricycle, just like the one I had when I was her age.

The memory of my red tricycle is precious to me. I was five. My mom and step-dad had just gotten married and moved our family to Houston. The preceding few years had been rough on my mom, and my step-dad wanted to give her the gift of not having to work outside the home. At the time, kindergarten was not mandatory. So, my step-dad asked me if I would rather go to kindergarten or stay home with my mom with a puppy and a new tricycle.

Yes, it is true. I skipped kindergarten.

The puppy's name was Puddles, and watching Hannah, elbows flying and knees pumping up and down, I remembered the joy of riding my tricycle in endless circles on the driveway in front of our home. It was particularly exhilarating to get up enough speed to take the turns on two wheels, especially since a failure to appropriately negotiate the curve usually resulted in a new band-aide.

My step-dad raised me, and often gave me similarly difficult decisions to make. Would I rather clean the kitchen or go out and work on the car with him? Would I prefer to stay home with my siblings or go to work with him? (I know he made this offer to my siblings also, but I like to think that I am the only one who knew "going to work with Dad" meant a stop at the malt shop.) As a teenager it was, would I rather do [ insert anything here] or take the boat out and go skiing on the river?

My husband tells me that my step-dad spoiled me rotten. But, in reality, he just knew the desires of my heart, and over the years, he offered them to me on many occasions. And, isn't that just like our heavenly father?

Take delight in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

In Case you Were Wondering

Just in case you wondering, an executive order from the president does not trump statutory law established by Congress. Of course, most people with even a rudimentary level of civic literacy knows that, but it seemed to confuse some of our elected officials on Sunday when a deal was brokered for the president to issue an executive order to prohibit the funding of abortions with tax payer dollars in exchange for several votes for the health care bill.

It isn't rocket science, or even brain surgery. It is the simple separation of powers provided for in our Constitution. If an executive order could override statutes, there would be no need for Congress, the president would be able to establish, at will, any policy he wanted. In fact, if an executive order would trump statute, I'm pretty sure as important as the issue is to this president, he would have already instituted a national takeover of health care by executive order. But, he didn't, because he couldn't. And, he couldn't for the same reason that the executive order being signed today to prohibit the spending of tax dollars for abortion is not worth the paper on which it is written.

Throughout the debates on the health care bill, I have listened to the congressman leading the group of holdouts on the principled stand of the sanctity of life and the belief that tax dollars should not fund abortion. He and his small band of followers held out until just hours before the vote. As his press conference was announced, I prayed it would be to announce that since there was no suitable compromise, he would be voting no. But, that wasn't his announcement. He announced, instead, the sham of the executive order, and acted as if he actually believed what he was saying. Nothing in this process is quite as disappointing as watching a man of principle capitulate on those principles.

It is not yet out in the open how much his district will benefit in the coming days - grants for airports and money for a hospital have been mentioned. But, the fact remains that once a legislator has agreed to exchange his vote and principles for something else, he has established his profession, and all that remains is negotiation on price. I just cannot fathom what might be worth trading your reputation and the lives of the unborn for.

Do not misunderstand me. I do not think it was easy for Rep. Stupak to hold out as long as he did. He was under extreme pressure by his friends to switch his vote. And, I do not necessarily believe it was easy for him to surrender. But, the point is, he did. And that only added to the perception that the men and women who lead us are lacking in moral virtue.

Join me in praying for moral strength for our elected leaders. It is not always easy to do the right thing.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. Proverbs 25:26

God Answers Prayers

God answers all prayers. Sometimes we get exactly what we want. Sometimes we get exactly what we asked for. Always, we get exactly what we need.

Our family moved to Ft. Worth the week of an historic ice storm. From the window of the breakfast nook, the back yard resembled a frozen tundra, the skeletons of the trees weighed down under the burden of ice. As winter turned to spring, one tree stood out from the others. At the first sign of warm weather, it literally burst into bloom, a promise of things to come. As spring turned to summer, the tree began to droop under its heavy burden of apples.

As summer was winding down and moving into fall, we received the news that my husband's company which had moved us had been sold and his position would be eliminated. We began to prepare, once again, to move. My prayer was that we would be able to stay in the house until the apples turned red. Having watched the tree with delight for most of the year, reaping the harvest was one small way of relieving the grief of another move.

Working in the yard one afternoon Jerry picked an apple. He came into the house and asked me if I wanted red apples or ripe apples. The apple tree was a green variety, and they were ready for the picking. I got what I wanted, not what I asked for.

A friend and I were on our way to a women's retreat at Camp Allen, hopelessly lost in the country side. As we pulled to an intersection I prayed, "Lord, show me a sign to Camp Allen."

We turned right, traveled about 8 miles and came upon the sign I had prayed to receive. "Camp Allen - 10 Miles." It pointed us back in the direction from which we had just come. It would have been better to ask God for Camp Allen, rather than a sign. I got what I asked for, not what I wanted.

Praying over our nation and the health care debate for the past few years, I often reduce my request to, "No, no, no. Please don't let it pass."

But, as I watched the coverage of the issue on TV on Sunday and listened to the live debates on the radio, the realization that another long-term prayer of mine was being answered. People are engaged on this issue. Tens of thousands of people protested passage on the bill in Washington on Saturday. The phone lines to the U.S. Congress were continually busy on a Sunday afternoon when we were enjoying incredibly beautiful weather. People are beginning to stir. Could this be the awakening of the American people for which I have prayed for so long? And, what did I expect that answered prayer to look like?

Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Honest, I Tried to Let it Go

Honest. I tried to let it go.

It is spring break. But, old habits die hard. Coming into my craft room with that first cup of coffee, I switched on my computer and flipped the TV over to Fox news. The first news was of the "yes" votes that have switched to "no" votes and the "no" votes who have switched to "yes" votes on the health care bill. The hair on the back of my neck began to tickle. Call me a cynic, but at this point in the game, if you are changing your vote short of a visitation from an angel of the Lord, I have to question what is in it for you.

But, having written about health care several times, I let it pass.

Then, President Obama came on giving a speech to George Mason University. Initially, I muted the TV, not wishing to raise my blood pressure. My desire is to respect the office of the presidency and the person who holds it, so I generally attempt to avoid those situations where I know that my respect is likely to be undermined. But, the speech continued for an extended period of time, so I began to listen.

For those of you who are not involved in public policy, let me tell you a secret. You do not have to understand legislation, the legislative process or politics to understand what is being proposed in the health care bill. All you have to know is a little bit about money and government.

1. There is very little that government can do better than the free market (think national defense).
2. When government is responsible for paying, they then have a reason to regulate EVERYTHING that is covered by those payments.
3. Health care is a commodity - the services you receive costs money.

So, here is what the proponents of the health care reform before them would have you believe.

1. Mandating insurance companies to provide free preventive care will lower your insurance costs. (They actually tried that once before - remember HMO's?)
2. Increasing the number of people on Medicaid (socialized system) will lower the cost of health care. (The bill for the State of Texas will be about $2 billion a year. They get that money out of your pocket.)
3. Increasing the number of people on government programs will lower the deficit. (Deserves no explanation. If you believe that, I have ocean front property in Arizona for you.)
4. You will be able to keep your current insurance. (Of course, that doesn't take into account the fact that your insurance company is likely to go out of business.)
5. You can keep your own doctor. (Unless they are one of the 30 percent of doctors who say they will retire immediately or early if the health care reform passes.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to watch has been the switch in the debate from the merits (or lack thereof) of the bill to the politics of it. In my 18 years at the Texas Capitol, "it's for the little, sick children" has always been a trump argument. We are now hearing that the reason for passing the legislation is because it is critical for President Obama's presidency. If the legislation fails, there is a fear that the liberal arm of the party will be alienated. Well, isn't that a special reason to take control of 1/6 of the nation's economy.

It is not political rhetoric to believe that the outcome of this particular debate is going to leave a mark on our history that will be discussed for years. This week will be remembered as the time when our nation tottered on a precipice. Will we slide into the abyss of socialism and the resulting slavery? Or, will peeking over the edge and just seeing the abyss, shock us into pulling back?

Only God knows. And my prayer goes out to Him to hear our cry and save our land.

Blessed be the Lord , who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Psalm 68:19

Springtime and Pumpkins

Last fall "Mom's house" was designated as the place for my daughters and granddaughter to carve a pumpkin. While the idea that they wanted to make sure "Migi" could enjoy the festivities of the occasion sounds sweet, the deciding factor was probably who would be responsible for clean-up. Knowing all that, I sent them out on the front sidewalk with their pumpkin and carving tools. It wasn't too long before Hannah came in and said, "Migi, I need some kid spoons."

She was referring to my demitasse spoons, reserved for special guests and children. And, she was wanting to use them in scraping out a pumpkin.

"How many do you need?"

"Two."

"Okay, Migi will loan you two kid spoons, but you are responsible for returning them to me when you are finished. Mama is not going to return them and Aunt Kristi is not going to return them. OK?"

"OK"

And off my good spoons went to carve the pumpkin.

Hannah quickly lost interest in the carving - probably because her mother does not allow her to play with knives. But, she was very interested in the pumpkin seeds and asked her mother if she could plant one. Moms tend to be very practical, so the explanation of why you do not plant pumpkins in the fall was given. Aunt Kristi concurred that pumpkin seeds planted in the fall were not likely to survive. So, when all else fails, ask Migi.

Yes, I know that pumpkins are a fall crop, that the chances of a pumpkin sprouting after a freezing winter are unlikely. I also know that planting a pumpkin seed can be fun even if you don't get a pumpkin. So, we picked a spot in the front herb garden, as far from the edge as Hannah could reach from the sidewalk, dug a small hole with the kid spoons and put the pumpkin seed into the ground. While Hannah was covering it up with dirt, I went inside to get her a glass of water to pour on it. We talked about the fact that it might not come up, but that all we could do was put it in the ground, water it and let God do the rest.

Hannah returned the kid spoons to me and all the adults forgot about the pumpkin seed except for the times when she would ask how her seed was doing. Each time we would prepare her for the eventuality that the pumpkin was not going to sprout. Imagine my surprise this week as I perused the herb garden and recognized that the new "weed" sprouting was a pumpkin plant! The recognition was quickly followed by the realization that my herb garden would be co-opted for the season by Mr. Pumpkin.

I immediately sent a picture of the plant to Hannah, via her Mom. Hannah's response was, "I'm so excited. Kiss me."

Lessons learned:

1. We should all have the faith of a child.
2. We should all sow, regardless of expectations of reaping.
3. Migi should think about what a pumpkin plant growing only feet away from the front door would look like before she plants a seed.

For in this case the saying is true, "One sows and another reaps." John 4:37

Spring Break and Health Care

Spring has sprung! My plans for spending the week in Houston with my sister changed suddenly when she was unable to make the trip. So, I find myself with the week off and no plans. Wow!!! Life is good.

Unfortunately, there is way too much policy wonk in me to turn off the news reports of the health care debate. But, more than the actual policy issues, it is the procedures being suggested that are captivating me. Like a train wreck about to happen, I just can't draw my eyes away from it.

One of the great disappointments of the American public is the perception that special interests and lobbyists are controlling what is happening in Washington. If only that were the case. At least I understand the motives of special interest groups. But what we are now seeing is procedural maneuvers which circumvent the Constitution and pork projects which are using our taxpayer dollars to bribe legislators to vote favorably for the legislation.

The House, under Speaker Pelosi, is proposing to use a rule to specify that the Senate health care bill is "deemed" to have passed. That means, that even though there has been no vote on the bill, they are going to pass the items to "reconcile" that not yet passed bill and in doing so, both the bill and the "fix" will be passed at the same time. Why would they do that? Because they do not have the votes to pass the legislation on a heads up vote. The process violates the constitutional requirement that a measure pass both chambers of the legislature to be sent to the president for his signature.

No one has a clue what is in the bill that is being considered. Speaker Pelosi even said that they need to pass the bill so they can see what is in it "without the fog of controversy." No. The legislative process should be a deliberative process where there is clarity on what is being passed and what the future ramifications may be. There has been no scoring on the fiscal implications of the legislation because NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS IN IT!

Frederick Bastiat explained exactly the situation we find ourselves in when he wrote his essay The Law in the 1800's. "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law."

It is apparent that our medical system as we know it will not survive the radical changes proposed to give the government control of that sector of the economy. However, as more and more citizens are rising up in protest over the health care bill, the even larger question may be whether our Republic and the constitutional rule of law will survive the current environment in Washington.

Now is the time to stand in the gap in prayer for our leaders. Pray that they will not lose sight of the bigger picture as they are in the trenches on this particular policy issue. Pray for wisdom in all of their decisions. And, pray that anything that is being done in the dark will be brought to light.

"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." Luke 12:2-3

Things I Can't Talk About

The idiocy of the government "borrowing" an hour of my sleep time and holding it in reserve for me until the fall is generally my topic of discussion on the Monday after daylight savings time goes into effect. However, on Sunday we heard a sermon on "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Therefore, I hope you will understand why I have nothing to say about daylight savings time this morning.

But, that's not the only thing I can't talk about. For the life of me, I cannot find anything positive to say about the manipulations of the U.S House rules to pass the health care bill. They are not suggesting changing rules at the beginning of a session, or even at what might be perceived to be half-time. The changes they are considering making would affect a bill where the game is actually in the last two minutes of the final quarter. The political maneuver flies in the face of the rule of law. But, since I can't say anything nice about it, I have nothing to say at all.

Then, there was the story on the news this morning about a math teacher who wrote across the top of a student's paper, "20 points off because you are a loser!" What is there nice to say about that, other than the fact that the teacher is blessed it was not my child's paper?

But, disagreeing on public policy issues is not the same as saying harmful, hurtful things, so long as disagreements are on policy, not personal. There are a number of people with whom I disagree on policy, but find to be fine individuals of character on a personal level. We generally understand each others' positions and rarely take offense at the disagreement. Learning to disagree agreeably in this environment is crucial to staying in the battle for the long haul.

As you can see, some of my comments this morning are rather tongue-in-cheek.But, that one about the teacher, I am dead serious about. Scripture explains why words are so powerful. God spoke and the world came into being. In the same way, the words we speak can shape and form our world. Words spoken over young or vulnerable people (loser... stupid...ugly...) can literally shape how they see themselves. The parent or teacher who is a role model for a child should take those phrases totally out of their vocabulary, choosing to correct behavior, rather than to attack self-esteem. Putting the words in writing is even more egregious. To not say something in defense of the child who received that note would be a worse travesty than to say something "unnice" about the teacher.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

The Pink Dome

There are a lot of special treats that go along with working at the Texas Capitol. Yesterday the perk was a tour of the Dome. A representative from the Preservation Board hosted the group of six up into areas of the Capitol not generally open to the public, giving us information on the history and the architecture of the building.

Taking the elevator from the basement level to the fourth floor of the Capitol, we began our stair climbing trek up -- and up -- and up. At its pinnacle, the Dome looms 22 stories above the ground. Our upwards journey was interrupted on numerous occasions as we stopped at first one level and then another to venture outside to see the majestic views. A storm line moved through shortly before our tour, washing the air clean, and leaving a brisk wind in its wake. But the temperature was in the low seventies and it was a near perfect day to see for twenty plus miles in all directions.

A shot of the star that is the focal point of the dome taken from the center of the rotunda on the ground floor is a must take picture for most visitors to the Capitol. What appears to be a small star from the bottom is actually eight feet across. Looking up is impressive. But, leaning over the edge and looking down is not for the faint hearted.

Each time I take the tour of the Dome, I learn something new. This time it was about how the weight of the dome is actually designed to hold the walls of the Capitol in place. The tons of granite are supported on steel buttresses which push in against the walls, using the weight to counter the natural tendency for the walls to collapse under a flat roof. So, what looks like only a decoration on top of the pink granite building is actually integral to holding the entire building together.

And, isn't that just like God? Oftentimes in our lives, we have heavy burdens. We miss the fact that sometimes the weight is to counter balance the otherwise natural tendency for our lives to collapse.

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Wisdom

Mark your calendars. I have had nothing to say for the last two days. For someone with a response to everything, it is an unusual state of events. Part of it is that the continual news about the debate on national health care reform has worn me down. Could having to live under a system of nationalized health care actually be any worse than having to listen to the politicians and pundits continually talking about it? (Uh, that was a rhetorical question and the answer is, "yes.")

The other part of having nothing to say is that we are hosting a couple of young people in our home who are interning at the Capitol this week. Most of my attention has been on them. Being several years beyond having teenagers in residence at my home allows me to thoroughly enjoy the company of the "young folks." There is nothing like seeing their passion and enthusiasm to rekindle my hope for our nation.

One of the topics we have focused on this week is wisdom. Wisdom is a trait that is spoken of often and greatly respected in scripture, however it is not an attribute that seems to be prized in our society. It is a gift that is available for the asking, yet who remembers to ask for it? Wisdom is necessary to understand righetousness and justice, but we argue the issues without understanding. We call evil good and good evil and expect the Lord to bless us anyway.

Where is the wisdom in passing legislation where one generation will enjoy the benefit and the next generation will pay the bill? Where is the wisdom in using tax dollars to prop up companies or banks which have made poor financial decisions? Where is the wisdom in passing entitlement programs with no hope of sustainability?

Think about it. When you voted in the primary last week, was the wisdom of the candidate you cast your vote for a major factor in your decision? Or, are you in the majority of people who did not even bother to cast a vote? Was that because a lack of wisdom on the part of the candidates running made you decide to just sit the race out? Or, was it a lack of wisdom on your part not to even weigh in?

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

He freely gives us wisdom. Do we freely use it?

What's in a Word?

Those of you who have known me for a while, either personally or through my writing, know my love of words. Equipped from childhood with a vocabulary sufficient to keep me in trouble, my logic, sarcasm, analogies and puns have moved me from the frying pan into the fire on more occasions than one.

And, while making plays on words delight me, I detest when people involved in policy attempt to change the meanings of words to suit their situation. Case in point: A news item on talk radio this morning was discussing the City of Austin's move to implement a "no kill" policy for their animal shelter. They wanted to specify that the policy to euthanize animals would continue in the case of vicious or ill animals. Just to clarify their position, "euthanizing" animals is not the same as "killing" animals.

Perhaps the limited amount of time dedicated to the news story detracted from my full understanding of the point. Yes, I know that there is a difference between killing healthy animals and killing ones who are ill or vicious. But, the point is, they are still being killed. And, the dog that is killed is just as dead as the dog that is euthanized.

Why does it matter what you call things? It matters because when the debate turns from euthanizing or killing dogs turns to the debate of euthanizing or killing people, you really don't want to be confused about the definition or the outcome.

"How did she get to that point on this issue?" you ask.

Well, the city that wants not to kill animals is the only one in the state that uses tax payer dollars to fund abortions - the killing of unborn babies. They call it a woman's choice. Just as the animal that is euthanized or killed is just as dead, the baby that is prematurely evicted from the womb is just as dead if it is called a choice or an abortion.

The war of words is one of the most important ones we play in the policy and political arena. And the one who controls the definitions of words is the one most likely to win the argument. But, you have no animals and are past childbearing age, so what's it to you how life and death terms are defined.

It's simple. As we move further and further into the national health care debate, there is the real possibility that medical decisions are going to be made based on financial, not health grounds. What health care is cost effective for an elderly person? Since euthanasia is not killing (in their minds) would it be more humane than causing someone to suffer from the aches and pains that accompany old age? It would certainly be less expensive and would allow the precious resources to be used for younger patients.

When you are old, advanced in years, don't you hope the policy makers are not confused by definitions?

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12