A Goldilocks Life

That’s My Dad

A recent interview with Anne Graham Lotz on Moody Radio surprised me. She shared that her father, evangelist Billy Graham admitted that he wasn’t the most present of dads due to his call to share the love of Jesus Christ around the world. Yet Lotz said she’d rather have him than any other dad. His love for God and his family was undeniable.

With seven brothers and sisters, I never felt lonely. Of course, it wasn’t always easy getting into the bathroom when I wanted to, but I barely remember that hurting me in the least. I sure had fun growing up because of Dad. After bath time, he would play Button Button with us on the basement stairs, and in summertime we enjoyed games like Kick the Can that Dad taught all of us including the neighbor kids. At Christmas, Dad pulled out his guitar and sat on the living room floor strumming and singing carols, and we all sang along as loud as we liked. One unusual afternoon, Mom sent Dad and me shopping for shoes. I came home wearing fancy black ones with clicky heels. I imagine Mom didn’t approve, but I wore them the whole school year. That’s my dad.

Since Dad wasn’t uber famous I would never expect to be interviewed about him. But like Ms. Lotz, I wouldn’t trade my dad for any other.

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there. Take time to remember your dad if he’s gone like mine is. If he’s still with you, I hope you spend precious time together.

What Do You Need?

Being part of our church’s worship team for the past year has been a privilege and pleasure. I’ve been singing all my life. First, I sang in Brownies and Girl Scouts and school programs. In fifth grade I got to sing a solo. After high school, I became lead singer in a number of rock bands, and I lived that lifestyle, too. But the Lord Jesus finally drew me to Himself around my 30^th birthday, and I left the rock music scene behind. I joined a church, and soon I was singing special music and joined the choir.

Last Sunday, we on the worship team led the congregation in a song titled, “Isn’t the Name,” recorded by Jeremy Camp, a well-known Christian artist. The whole week before as I rehearsed, the song just grabbed my heart like it has every time I’ve sung it with the team.

The lyrics contain many kinds of blessings that followers of Jesus Christ receive in His name—God’s love, forgiveness for and freedom from sin, healing, salvation giving eternal life, and provision of every kind. When I come to the part where we sing, “There is freedom in the name, there is healing in the name, there is power in the name,” my heart and voice soar to the stratosphere.

I know the healing touch of Jesus. Nearly twenty years ago, I felt ill and went to my physician. Numerous tests were run, and the diagnosis was lymphoma. Surgery took place a few weeks later. As the surgeon rolled me to the recovery room afterward, he leaned down close to me with a huge smile and said, “There was nothing!” After I was out from the anesthesia fog, that surgeon confirmed that the growth in my abdomen was no longer there. He removed my appendix and stitched me back up. So many friends prayed for me, and Steve and I were praying. The Lord took away my lymphoma and freed me from what may have been years of treatment.

Since then, I am assured that God has whatever it is I need. All I need to do is pray in faith and tell Him what I need. When I sing, “Isn’t the name of Jesus wonderful, powerful, beautiful, and all you need,” I personally know that is true. He’s brought me through so much more than I can write in this blog, but praise the Lord, He healed me from lymphoma!

As “Isn’t the Name” says, Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to God. Isn’t the name of Jesus all we need? And I say a resounding, Yes! I encourage you to please come to Jesus for everything you need.

I hope you enjoy listening to “Isn’t the Name” by Jeremy and Adrienne Camp. Link below.

Finding Rest in Jesus

In Exodus Chapter 20 we find The Ten Commandments. I’ve been considering the importance of the fourth commandment as I’ve read the book, “Rhythms of Rest” by Shelly Miller ©.

Exodus 20, verse 8 says, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Practicing Sabbath isn’t new to me. For several years, I have skipped checking social media and emails on Sunday and we eat a simple lunch rather than cooking.

Reading further in Exodus 20, verses 9-11 describe a day “dedicated to the Lord your God” and “in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day…”

Don’t get me wrong, I am not in the habit of following the Old Testament laws to the letter. Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. I believe honoring the Lord’s Day is worthwhile, by that I mean Sunday rather than the Jewish practice of Friday night through Saturday night.

In reading Miller’s book, I’ve gained insight into making it more of a day of true rest without feeling duty-bound by it. For example, she describes planning meal preparation for Saturday so that no cooking is needed on Sunday. No washing of dishes, which I appreciated getting a break from last Sunday. Most of all, she emphasizes finding time for listening to the Lord and reflecting on His words. She says it has been found that sabbath and optimum health are linked. I’m looking forward to making Sundays dedicated to the Lord by attending church followed by resting in a spiritually attentive way and/or spending time with friends, doing an activity I find refreshing such as biking, etc. My sabbath since choosing to be more intentional has felt peaceful and quiet. I’ll update you after I settle into a new routine of rest.