The Perfect Church

Is Your Church Perfect?

Do you attend the perfect church?

The music is biblical. The preaching is on fire every week. Teaching is solid at every level, no matter where you are in your walk. The pastor is always available, ready to meet with you and answer your questions with wisdom. The pews are comfortable, the temperature just right. The children are perfectly behaved, and the youth group has never even heard of rebellion. And best of all—there are more than enough volunteers for every single project.

If that sounds like your church… I invite you to look closer.

No, go closer. Take a long, honest look. Is your church really perfect?

In Revelation, John writes about seven churches, each unique—and none of them perfect. So, where does your church fit?

• Maybe it’s like Ephesus, standing firm against false teachers, but losing sight of its first love.

• Or Smyrna, faithful through trial and persecution.

• Perhaps it’s like Pergamum, letting just a little compromise sneak in—a little bit won’t hurt, right?

• Or Thyatira, where compromise has grown into full acceptance.

• Could it be like Sardis, having the reputation of life but spiritually asleep?

• Maybe it resembles Laodicea, lukewarm, comfortably indifferent to truth and holiness.

• Or, prayerfully, your church is like Philadelphia—steadfast, true, enduring in the face of opposition.

Most churches are a mix of these. Many go through seasons, shifting from one to another over time. So what’s the most important thing we can do for our church?

Okay, that was a slow pitch, right over the plate:

Pray!

• Pray for your pastor—he is on the front lines.

• Pray for the leadership team, navigating with discernment.

• Pray for the person beside you in the pew, for their faith, their burdens, their walk with Christ.

One of my former churches had an amazing prayer chain. When someone had a need—or a praise—it took minutes, maybe hours, before people were already lifting them up before God. They didn’t have to wait days for a formal team. That’s what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like.

If you haven’t read Revelation 2–3 recently, go back and do it—it’s only 51 verses. This time, read it personally. We are the church. Where do you fit? Have you allowed false teachings or worldly compromise into your life?

Go ahead… I’ll wait.

And now I’ll ask again:

What’s the most important thing?

Prayer.

We need to pray for one another. We need to pray for ourselves. We need to repent, rejoice, praise, forgive, petition, thank, love, and adore our Holy and merciful God.

Don’t chase the “perfect church.” It doesn’t exist. But you can find a church with faithful, expository teaching and a desire to follow Jesus. Like the Bereans in Acts 17, search the Scriptures daily to test what you hear. Tradition, dogma, even doctrine—these aren’t always the same as truth. If you have questions, go to your church leadership and ask! A healthy church welcomes truth-seekers.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of prayer, for the invitation to come boldly before Your throne of grace.
Help us remember that there is only one Church, and You alone are its head.
Guide each person reading this to the place where You want them to serve.
Give us peace as we worship together, and eyes to see where we can help correct errors in our churches.
Grant us extra grace and discernment as we speak with the leaders You’ve appointed.
Jesus, we love You.

Amen.

Where to Turn

Where Do You Turn?

Where do you turn when your strength is failing?

• When the kids have gotten on your last nerve.

• When nothing seems to be going according to plan.

• When the doldrums hit you out of nowhere.

Where do you turn?

• Maybe your spouse.

• Maybe your best friend.

• Maybe your pastor or mentor.

• Maybe a parent, or your adult child.

Or… maybe you have no one to turn to.

Maybe it’s time to turn to The One—first.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
—Hebrews 4:16

Don’t stop at just one verse. Go read the whole chapter. It’s short—I’ll wait.

Done? What did you think?

Hebrews 4 talks a lot about rest. But what kind of rest? Chapter 3 sets the stage by reminding us of the Israelites’ unbelief. They didn’t trust that God could lead them into the Promised Land. Because of their mistrust, they wandered for 40 years, never entering His rest. Unbelief kept them from peace.

But Chapter 4 reminds us: we still have the opportunity to enter that rest. And not someday—today.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (v. 7b)

This rest is both spiritual and physical. In the original Greek, the phrase “enter into” implies physically stepping into a state. And “rest” means to cease from activity—to experience refreshment and freedom from anxiety. Doesn’t that sound like something we all need?

Maybe it’s not just about taking a nap (although more sleep never hurts). It’s about intentionally stepping away from the source of stress and stepping into God's peace.

You may be thinking, Sure. Easy for you to say. I’ll just snap my fingers and poof—instant calm.

But how do we actually enter that rest?

Hebrews 4:12–13 tells us:

“For the word of God is living and active… piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit… able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart… and all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Stay in God’s Word. Let it speak to you. Let Him search your heart.

He already knows your worries, your hurts, your fears, your failures. Nothing is hidden from Him. And He—Jesus—is our Great High Priest. We don’t need to go through anyone else. No priest, pastor, or mentor stands in that place. Just Jesus.

So draw near. Walk boldly to the throne of grace. Lay your burdens down—every worry, complaint, fear, and hidden ache. His mercy and grace are there, waiting for you.

He is your help in times of trouble.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I come before You humbly—yet confidently—
because of Jesus.
I lay my sorrows, burdens, guilt, and secret struggles
at the foot of the Cross and at Your throne of grace.

As I spend time in Your Word,
Help me understand what You want me to know.
Guide my steps. Speak to my soul.
Give me grace, mercy, and peace as only You can.

I love You, Lord Jesus.
In Your precious name I pray, Amen.

God's Vending Machine

Vending machines are a wonderful invention. In 1822, English publisher Richard Carlile built a machine that would dispense banned books and other works. In the early 1880s, coin-operated machines were invented by Percival Everitt, his machine gave patrons stationery supplies like envelopes and postcards. However, these were not the first vending machines. According to our friend Google, the first recorded example of a simple vending machine was invented by a Greek mathematician, Hero of Alexandria. His machine dispensed holy water in Egyptian temples.

Enough history. 

I have seen vending machines that dispense everything from candy and cookies to shoes and electronics. I have even seen cars in vending machines. The concept is simple. Put in some money, make a selection, and poof! out comes the requested item. 

How many of us treat prayer like God's vending machine? I only have to ask for something (my selection), use the phrase "in Jesus' name" (the money), and my selection will soon arrive. After all, Jesus did say that whatever we ask in His name, He would do it (John 14:14). Sometimes we do not even have to ask in His name. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He said nothing about praying in Jesus' name: "give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:9-13, Luke 11: 2-4). Later in the same chapter in Luke, Jesus went on to say that if you ask for something, it will be given to you (Luke 11:9-10). 

So, no, there are no magic words or special formulas when we are petitioning God for something. 

God, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves us more than we can possibly comprehend. He only wants the best for us; however, if what we are asking for is not in God's will, the answer will be no! Jesus prayed that He would not have to die for our sins - let this cup pass from Me - but He also prayed for His Father's will to be done, not His (fleshly) will (Matthew 26:39-42). 

Thank God, Praise His Holy Name, that prayer was answered "no."

If we let Him, God will give us more than we ever imagined possible. Sometimes, the blessing is the way we imagined, but often, it is nothing like we thought it would be. Trust Him!

Praying is talking to the God of the universe. It is personal communication with the Living God. When you pray, you never have to wonder if God hears you (Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16) or understands you (Romans 8:26). You do not need flowery words, you do not need to assume a specific position, and you do not even have to close your eyes. You just need to talk to Him, He wants to hear from you!

Heavenly Father

Thank You for letting us come before you to talk with you,

to pour out our hurts, triumphs, petitions, and worries.

As we come before you in humble praise, thanksgiving, and adoration, help us to remember

You are our Abba, Father; we are Your adopted children.

Help us also remember that You are the Holy God, 

the Creator and Sustainer of life.

Help us never to forget your Holiness and Awesomeness 

Forgive us when we reduce You to a vending machine.

We love you Jesus, Amen

When is Fear Sinful?

 Isn't fear a wonderful thing? Fear is what keeps us back from a ledge, from racing down a mountain at high speeds, or walking down a trail after smelling a bear. Fear can keep us safe from danger. 

Of course, we are commanded to fear God, twenty times in Proverbs alone it talks about fearing God or extolling the fear of the Lord. That fear is showing the proper reverence for God. Respect, awe, majesty. It is not the afraid fear. After all, the only thing we should be afraid of regarding God is not having our names written in the Book of Life. 

What about the fear that grips your stomach and will not let go. The fear that makes you break out in a cold sweat just thinking about what might happen. The fear that holds you back from God's best plan for your life. The built-in safety mechanism calls us to take flight, fight, or freeze. 

God knows everything about us, including our natural fear of the unknown. That is why He gave us the flight or fight instinct. But, I have come to realize that for me, that fear of the unknown is a form of pride. It is a sin that must be dealt with. Let me explain.

When I walk into a crowded room I am always a little fearful. If it is a crowded room of strangers, I am ready to flee or freeze, depending on the situation. I think Joshua was a bit like that at first. He was Moses' right-hand man. He had all authority under Moses, he was one of two people in his generation to step into the Promised Land. He was an adult when he was sent as a spy and then wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Joshua was at least 60 by my guess when Moses died and he was put in charge. He was expected to conquer the Promised Land, lead hundreds of thousands (or more) of people, and talk to God like Moses.  Whew! I would have been terrified! Too much responsibility! Joshua did not have to say a word though. God knew his heart and encouraged Joshua most sweetly. I imagine God putting His arm around Joshua's shoulders and pointing across the river. To paraphrase God told Joshua not to worry, to get ready because we are crossing the Jordan River together. I am giving you this land, He said, just as I promised Moses. God went on to describe the territory Joshua would conquer, with God's help. Then He gave this promise "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous." (Josh 1:5-6a). He goes on to tell Joshua, one of the mightiest men in the Bible to be strong and courageous four times in that single chapter. God does not repeat Himself without reason. Joshua needed to be reminded to be strong and courageous. 

I have come to realize that my fear is not in disobeying the Lord, it is in people. It is my pride - what if they don't like me, what if I am not smart enough, what if I  am not good enough, or articulate enough, what if I am not enough for this group or that person? My focus you see, was all on me! I was not even giving God a chance to work through me even though I said that was what I wanted. I was allowing my fear to dictate my actions. I was using being an introvert as an excuse not to be around people created by God, in His image. (Introverts usually like people, we just need time to recharge after being around them.) I need to be reminded to be strong and courageous. I promise I do not have those attributes in myself but, if I step aside, I can be strong and courageous with God's help. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NASB, 1995)

Lord, Heavenly Father

Forgive me for taking my eyes off of You, and putting them on myself.

You command me to be strong and courageous, 

I cannot do that without Your help. 

Please give me your strength and courage. 

Thank you for encouraging me when I am discouraged,

Thank you for being with me wherever I go. 

Your promise never to leave me or forsake me is humbling, 

yet it fills me with hope and joy.

I praise Your Holy Name and pray in Jesus' name

Amen

A New Adventure Part 2: Driving down, settling in

Lynn and I had a great adventure while driving the Alcan highway. Bears and Buffalo, Ravens and Eagles, good drivers, and some no-so-good drivers. We ended up taking Duke and two of my cats. Thankfully, neither cat tried to escape and were surprisingly good travelers. Neko is a talker so we had to give her some meds to keep her quiet for part of the ride. She relaxed and watched the world go by as we moved steadily south.

Gas prices were high, very high in Canada; as much as $2.19 Canadian/liter (1 gallon is 3.78 liters) which made that stop $8.27/gallon. Fortunately the conversion rate was in our favor, but still...yikes! One of the concerns we had before leaving was getting Canadian currency. If you want Canadian money, they recommend stopping at an ATM or bank after crossing the border. We did not get any because I could use my VISA (AK Airlines miles baby!) everywhere we stopped.

Speaking of border crossings, we crossed into both the US and Canada twice on our travels. The longest we were stopped was going into Canada from Alaska. It took about 10 minutes to get through as they checked our passports and pet health certificates. They did not want to see the critters and the guard chatted pleasantly while waiting for the computer to confirm we were not a threat. The longest line was crossing into the US at Sweetwater Montana, which was close to an hour. When it was our turn it took only a couple of minutes, the same as crossing in and out of Haines. The drive from Haines Junction YT to Haines AK was beautiful. If you get a chance to go, I recommend you do so.

Edmonton AB provided the most stress for me. I had ensured all the hotels I booked accepted animals so Duke and the girls could stay with us. When we got to the hotel, they told us they did not take pets and it was too late to cancel our reservations. Trigger panic mode! I suggested Lynn take the room and I would stay in the car with the critters. She did not like that idea (go figure!). We called a dog boarding place where Duke could stay but they did not take cats. However, they recommended another place that accepted Duke and both cats on about a half-hour notice. They were truly an answer to prayer!

Salt Lake City had the worst room (by far) and also the worst traffic but it was also the last day on the road so it was not too stressful. There was rain in the mountains between St. George UT and Mesquite NV and I worried a little about flash floods. I was a few hours too soon in my concern. When we hit Ely NV the sky opened up. I am an Alaska girl; the first time I ever got behind the wheel of a car there was ice and snow on the road. I can drive through a raging snowstorm in the dark and think nothing of it but I have never driven through rain like that. I needed my wipers on full-high, for the first time ever. I was very grateful the person in front of me was driving with their hazard lights on because I could barely see the road. We found out later that it was the worst rain the area had seen in years. 

I am settling into the next chapter of life in a huge city. I love the sunshine and the much warmer temperatures. Duke and I are finding new hiking places and I have taken a two-day jaunt into Phoenix and back through Lake Havasu.

 I have found a good church and am learning to enjoy a new preaching style. They have been doing a series titled Signs and Signals based on Abraham and Sarah. It has spoken to me and my situation so much that I know it is from God. I am looking for work to get a place of my own. I have an interview tomorrow; it wouldn't be my first (or second or third) choice but it is work. I start working toward my Master's degree in Health and Wellness, emphasizing Family Dynamics on Thursday.

To You, O Lord I lift up my soul, O my God, in You I trust! (Ps 25:1)

Thank you, Heavenly Father

for bringing people into my life 

who love You and Worship You.

These brothers and sisters are precious when 

I am weary and alone.

Lift up those who are reading. Give them the desires

of their hearts that align with Your will.

Help them to see You and Your hand in all they do. 

Help them not to tire or be discouraged. 

We love You, Lord.

In Christ alone, and in His name I pray

Amen

if you are interested in photos and other details, see my facebook posts!

A New Adventure Part 1: Getting Ready

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 

As many of you know I am on a new life adventure. The adventure began in earnest earlier this year when I retired from a state job. The job was getting too stressful and was no longer fulfilling.  The past couple of winters have taken their toll on my mental health, and it was time to find warmth and sunshine. My mother is at a stage in life where my brothers and I felt it was time for me to move closer. Enter Las Vegas! 

 I thought moving was going to be a fairly simple thing. I'd be able to work my (two) part-time jobs, play one more summer in Alaska, and pack to move with no trouble. Boy, oh boy did I think wrongly about that one!

Fortunately, it rained all summer - not wonderful for going out and exploring my favorite places but great for clearing out excess stuff and packing. My goal was to only take the essentials, those things that really meant something or would not be easily replaceable in Las Vegas. I posted a lot of things on Marketplace, donated a lot, and made several dump runs. I whittled a three-bedroom house into two UHaul pods. I am starting from scratch with a plan and a purpose!

My first task was finding a good church. Have you ever looked for a good church in a city of 3 million people? It is not easy. I looked for one that offers an AWANA program, knowing that such a church would have good Bible teaching. I have attended one service and have not found anything that stood out as a red flag. I will attend a four-evening seminar next week and see how the teaching goes. This church offers three Sunday morning services and a Spanish evening service every week and boasts around 3000 members. 

My second task is finding a home in the same community in which my mom lives. It is a nice condo complex, with around 110 units. Each is single story with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The complex has a pool, hot tub, gym, and clubhouse. The area has large, mature trees and great walking paths. Duke is not crazy about the heat but he likes taking walks. I have liked this complex ever since Mom moved in nearly 30 years ago and have dreamed of living here for nearly as long. I need to sell my Alaska home and start working a second part-time job again before they will consider a mortgage. (prayers are coveted!)

I plan on getting my Master's Degree and work in a crisis pregnancy center or a church as a counselor. I hope to do the two of them at the same time. Stay tuned for Part 2, in which driving the Alcan with a friend, a dog, and two cats is described!

Heavenly Father

You are so good to me. You have brought me through

so much as I have grown and learned to really trust You. The 

adventure you have laid out for me is exciting and frightening at the same time.

You have taught me to step out of my comfort zone and into

Your comforting arms.

You have brought the right people into my life at the right time. 

You have given me a great family and amazing friends. You have 

taught me to acknowledge You in all things, to trust You in all things, 

and to turn to you in all things.

I love you, Lord Jesus. It is in Your precious name I pray,

Amen  

Drowning in Snow

That winter, there were more days with snow than not. It seemed every day there was another inch, maybe another foot, but a lot of snow fell at Paradise Lake. We tried to track the accumulated depth, but our measuring table was soon covered.

Jim had to snowshoe in front of our dog team to break trail for them, sometimes both ways when the snow fell inches per hour. We had to pull some of the longer trap lines early because we could not keep up with the snow. Keeping the trails around the cabin open to collect firewood or water was a chore.

Our house looked like a cracker box turned on its side. It was long and straight, with no fancy roof lines or jutting extensions. We had solar panels on our roof, and while the roof was not flat, it did not have a steep pitch either. The roof had to be shoveled off - often. That was my job.

Early in the season, it was easy; the snow would slide off the metal roof under its own weight. Removing a foot or more was a little more challenging; I had to get on top with a shovel, but the snow would slide off. Our house was built on a slight slope, so the front eave was 15 feet or more off the ground. However, the back was only about 7 or 8 feet off the ground. The job became more challenging by Thanksgiving when the accumulation of snow was up to the back eave of the house. The windows were long buried, and the back of the house was perpetually dark. The snow no longer had an easy path to follow, and I was no longer breaking apart slabs of snow to slide. I was shoveling snow onto an ever-growing pile. Soon I was shoveling snow over my head.

It was too much; the burden was too great. I could no longer pull my own weight and needed help. Even though Jim was exhausted from his own battles with the snow we pulled together, we moved some of the snow away from the house. I still had a lot of snow to shovel, but there was no longer a danger of losing the roof to the snow load.

Jim cut a tree near the house that winter. He cut it even with the snow line at the time. Later, when all the snow had melted, and summer was again upon us, the stump was over 15 feet tall. We had a lot of snow that year.

That season seemed like a never-ending cycle of waking up, digging or snow-showing trails, doing chores, and collapsing into bed. There was no time or energy left for leisure or relaxation; rest was a dream.

Sometimes we seem caught in a rut of work, chores, sleep, repeat. How do we manage without getting burned out or snapping at those we love? Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him all who are weary and burdened; He will give you rest. Paul described several times when he did not want to be a burden to those to whom he was writing. Yet he told the Galatians to “bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

What does bearing burdens look like in a practical world? It begins with prayer. Pray for one another. Yes, prayer is immensely practical! When we pray, we are bringing our burdens, or those of others, to the foot of the throne of God. We are laying them at the feet of the One who gives us strength, peace, and comfort. God will also tell us how to physically help.

Next, find out what is needed. You might have to ask a third party. Ask the burdened one if you can help meet their need by (name something). Do not ask how you can help; often, you will be met with, “Nothing – I am OK.”

Third, “It is more blessed to give than receive” also speaks to helping others. Helping or service is one of the gifts of the Spirit. It does not speak only to helping at the church building but helps those who make up the church. We are one family, and families do for one another.

Finally, if you have burdens, let people know! It is wise to admit it and accept help if you are burdened. Rugged individualism does not have a place in giving or receiving Christian service.

Heavenly Father,

You are our Help in time of need.

Remind us, Lord, that coming to You should not be the last resort

But the first cry of a life in need.

When the snow is overwhelming

And never seems to end

When life has stopped sliding easily and

We begin to dig,

Remind us, Lord, that we are a  family.

And it is right and good to help the family.

Remind us, Lord, that we are a family

And it is OK to ask family for help

When we are drowning in the busyness of life

And simply need help, remind us, Lord.

In Christ alone, and in Jesus’ name, we pray,

Amen