Polly, Author at The Ultimate Gift

March 20, 2014May 8, 2014

New Life, Fresh Hope

What is the first thing you think of when you think of spring? My pastor asked that question to open a sermon several years ago. I turned to the friend beside me and said, “flowers” and she instantly replied that she was surprised I didn’t say baseball. Me too! What was I thinking? At the beginning of every season there is fresh hope for winning a championship. I reminded myself of that each year as I remained faithful to my Buccos throughout their 20 consecutive losing seasons. No matter what it is you think of when you think of spring, I imagine it has something to do with new life and/or fresh hope.

I find it somewhat ironic that the 64-team NCAA basketball tournament gets underway today, the first day of spring. I am excited for both! It has been a LONG winter and even though the weather may not feel quite springlike, there is something hopeful about officially moving into that season. I enjoy watching nature come alive as God breathes new life into all that was dormant over the winter months.

There are 64 NCAA basketball teams who have hope of winning a national championship as we mark this first day of spring. No matter their record, their seeding or their level of play heading into the tournament, each of those 64 teams starts fresh today with the hope of winning a title. The slate is clean.

Jesus came so that we, too, could have new life, fresh hope. When He died on a cross for our sins our slates were wiped clean also. He was the final and perfect sacrifice, paving the way to the Father through faith in Him.

Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIRV)

The best part—the invitation isn’t just limited to 64! God is not looking at your record or judging your level of play and seeding you accordingly. He offers new life to all who believe.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NLT)

There are no other qualifications necessary. Won’t you accept the invitation? I guarantee victory!

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 60:12 NIV)

February 20, 2014May 8, 2014

Double Fitness

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT)

If not winter, are you at least enjoying the Olympics? I have tuned in most every night and find myself shaking my head frequently, awestruck by what these athletes are willing and able to do with/to their bodies in order to compete at such a high level. Sometimes it makes me hurt just watching them! I can only imagine the degree of physical training required of these Olympic athletes and the pain they have endured in the process.

Athletes or not, we can honor God with our bodies. And should! Being physically fit is one means of providing the Spirit with a nice home in which to reside. This topic has been heavy on my mind of late; thus, this writing. For some yet to be determined reason, I have recently been sidelined from exercise that has been part of my daily routine for years. My body won’t tolerate it for more than 27 seconds at a time and that admittedly scares me. Maybe the aging process or some other physical ailment has limited your mobility and derailed your ability to be physically fit as well. I have good news—there’s something much better, spiritual fitness. Why? Because its benefits are eternal!

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

We can achieve spiritual fitness by investing in our relationship with the Creator of the universe. Just as there are many ways to get into physical shape, there are a variety of ways to train for godliness as well. We can nurture our relationship with God by spending time in His Word, communicating with Him in prayer, attending and becoming actively involved in a church, and more. The key is staying connected to Him. I’ve done several Bible studies over the years and since I am a bottom line kind of person, I like to summarize what I’ve learned upon completion of the study. I always seem to arrive at the same conclusion—it’s all about the relationship! It is my prayer that each of us would invest in our spiritual fitness daily so that His light would shine through us and reach a dark world.

February 6, 2014May 8, 2014

Trouble

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33 NIV)

Have you experienced any trouble lately? You bombed the test in school today. The snowblower broke with 10″ of snow in your driveway. Someone hurt your feelings. The lab test came back positive. The check bounced. The list is endless, isn’t it? We were warned by Jesus that there would be trouble. He didn’t say IF we have trouble, but that we WILL have trouble.

When I think of the word trouble I can’t help but think of the board game by the same name that we played with the kids growing up. You had to roll a 6 or a 1 to get a pawn in play and then had to race your pawns around the board and get them all safely home before your opponent(s) did. The trouble came when an opponent landed on your space and knocked you back to start. I wish that was my worst trouble, don’t you?

Trouble comes our way in a varying degree every day. My latest trouble came in the form of a setback in my quest to get well these past few weeks. I will admit that this has shaken my faith. Nothing tests your faith quite like a large helping of trouble! I am fortunate to have found a lovely Christian doctor that not only won’t give up her search for a solution, but also encourages me along the way. When she sensed my discouragement last week she explained that this was only a bump in the road. (It looked more like a mountain to me) Her advice was to keep my head up, where it belongs. That brought the story of Peter walking on water to mind.

“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

(Matthew 14:29-31 NLT)

That’s what happened to me last week. I looked down and started to sink! I shall heed my pastor’s advice from his most recent sermon series and fix my eyes on Jesus. That requires keeping my head up, just as my doctor advised.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

Jesus overcame far worse trouble than any of us will ever experience and He did it so that we, too, can live in victory. As my Aunt Judy says at the end of all her written correspondence… “Keep lookin’ up!”

January 21, 2014May 8, 2014

Get That Foot Wet

So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Joshua 3:14-16 (NLT)

Sorry I haven’t written anything lately. I was just waiting for God to supply some material. That, and a little time. I’ve been rather busy with the start of a new semester and watching my favorite cheerleader, my daughter Hillary, in action. As I write this, we are on our way to take a closer look at one of the three colleges Hillary is considering for the next chapter of her life. College has become a bad word at our house over the last several months. It seems my girl isn’t all that excited about leaving her comfort zone and wading into the unknown.

For the past few weeks I have been wrestling with God over a pretty big decision, at least in my small mind. I have waffled quite a bit during this decision-making process. This morning as I was praying for Hillary and about our day ahead God provided the material for my blog as well as an answer to prayer.

It turns out that I’m not so different from my girl. This decision that I have been grappling with would require me to step outside my comfort zone in a big way too. I can give a whole host of reasons why I shouldn’t step into the Jordan by accepting this assignment, the first being that I am not qualified, or at least not in my mind. I can certainly relate to Moses. But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NLT) God reminded me this morning that it isn’t about me. It’s about His power at work IN me. And with that I repeat the words of Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) I was unable to view this as God’s calling until He related it to my daughter’s situation this morning. As I encourage her to put her foot in the Jordan, I must be willing to do the same. For the first time in weeks, I have peace regarding this decision.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Are you facing a decision that would lead you into uncharted waters too? Afraid to leave your comfort zone? May I invite you to step into the Jordan with me? I would welcome the company. Let’s step out in faith together!