Let the "F" Bomb Fly

What if forgiveness is the new "F" bomb?  Whenever people get exasperated to the point of thinking, or worse yet saying the "F" bomb; what if we replaced it with any and all forms of
 "forgive?"

Forgiveness

Forgiven

Forgive

Luke 7:47-48English Standard Version (ESV)

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The " F" bomb seems to be the "go to" word to make an impact or a statement if things get heated or stressed and people are out of ways to express themselves.
 Once the "F" bomb is out on the table, there is a change; now THAT has to be dealt with.
 It's the line that once it gets crossed, everything changes, this is true for the destructive and the productive "F" bomb.

The sooner that line gets crossed, the situation is either taking a dive into a dead-end road or it takes flight into new territory.

When someone drops the "F" bomb, and it usually happens at some point in a situation that is tense, even if it isn't said out loud, it's often so close. 

 Some people may be sanctified beyond dropping the worldly "F" bomb, but I pray we are never so high and mighty that we can't drop the new "F" bomb.  

Sometimes it's just a long pause because the person is gathering self control enough to just pause for a moment of silence. Sometimes people will tuck their lower lip in behind their upper teeth in ready position.  Wouldn't it be amazing if that is how close and how ready we are to use forgiveness?
  Locked and loaded in our hearts, mouth in position and ready to speak it out.
FORGIVENESS.
FORGIVEN.
FORGIVE.

There are so many forms and ways that the "F" word gets attention, it is an international word and there is even several sign language uses.
There is also an international sign used for the awesome life giving "F" bomb.
The cross of Jesus Christ.


It is not a new sign or concept, but it is one that we should go around passionately sharing with the whole world.
This is the "F" bomb that changes the world and is used by world changers.
Since the God of the entire universe is willing to provide forgiveness and give it freely to all of the people who are willing to ask and receive HIS forgiveness, and live as forgiven people, then we must share it with the whole world every single day.
Forgiveness should be the bomb that blows up our lives, 
in our mind, in our hearts, and in our words,
every single day.

I think when we get to the point of thinking or feeling "F" bomb status, we blurt out

Forgiveness

Forgive

Forgiven

I say drop the new "F"  bomb every chance you get.

I say use it loud and often, no reservation, no pause, use it freely.
I say use it right in front of kids and even right at our kids.
 I say teach our kids from an early age, what it is, how to use it, how to give it and how to receive it in any and all situations.

  We should ask for it and give it like crazy.

Let's be people who light up the world with the amazing
"F" Bomb!!!!

FORGIVE.  FORGIVEN. FORGIVENESS.

Matthew 6:14-15English Standard Version (ESV)

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This Is How I Show My Love

About 8 years ago....our lives took a dramatic change and turn, it happened when our prayers began to change.  

We learned thru the testimony of a man the power in changing our prayers from

"Lord help me to do..........." 

to

"Lord, please allow me to be a part of something you are doing."

It came out of a desperate heart of everything we tried to do seemed to go sideways and we just wanted to be a part of something that would be 

AWESOME.

Well...here is the good news!!!! 

 God is AWESOME and He is always at work.

Soooooo when we pray

THAT PRAYER

it is answered.

Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

10 

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

The thing we have continued to be reminded of in the process is when it's His plan and His work,

we don't get to call the shots. 

 This is such a relief and such a battle.

  I continue to want to give God guidelines of ideas and timelines. 

 He is patient with me, He is not changed by me, I am changed by HIM.

2 years ago, we said YES to one of those God opportunities.

Our friend Tucker, from CSI Ministries in Uganda, Africa

talked about needing to fill a container of supplies to help with their ministry in Uganda.

We were like; hey we have room to host a container.

We had in our minds that it would be a quick thing, fill it up and ship it out. 

One of the things that was big on Tucker's mind that needed to go in that container was a tractor.

The ministry owns a farm, and a tractor would make a world of difference in what they can accomplish on the farm.

There were several of us praying for a tractor and looking for a killer deal on a used tractor that we could ship in that container.

As the container got fuller and fuller I kept thinking,

 "Oh, Lord how are you going to get a tractor in there?"

Well to shorten a really cool story....God provided for a brand new tractor and it didn't have to be shipped, it was bought in Uganda.

I love that God always does far more than we can ever think or pray for.  

When Jesus turned water into wine, his first miracle, he made it the best wine and when he provides for a ministry farm he provides the best tractor.

The other thing that the container was meant to supply was medical equipment.

A few odds and ends of medical equipment were gathered up and  put into the container, but not nearly what would be needed to efficiently supply a whole clinic.

Sooooo, as God would have it an entire container that is filled with awesome medical equipment that is supplied by hospitals in the USA and put together by a non profit organization that does this professionally was discovered.

  CSI applied for a medical container from the organization and the application was approved and the money was provided for the shipping of the container and it was done.

 God supplied and provided and delivered the best medical equipment.

The other need that could fill that container and bless the CSI ministry is any and all school supplies.

CSI has 5 schools and they can always always always use every kind of school supply that they can get their hands on.

As God would so graciously have it.... a whole bunch of computers were donated from a school in our area right off the bat, when the container was delivered 2 years ago.

  Every time I would get bummed about what was going into the container at our house I would go back to those computers and think....well, God gave them computers at least, and that is huge, but there was some stuff being dropped off that seemed pretty random or junkie.

 I wanted that container to be filled with ONLY the best, first fruits kinda stuff.

God asks for our first and our best, not our left over junk, so if we are truly giving it to the Lord, it should only be the best.

Here's what God did..... 

Carol, who is a faithful servant to the Lord and has served CSI ministry in countless ways....she began to look for school equipment to fill the container since they already had a

 brand new tractor

 and 

 a container LOADED with medical equipment

 on sight in Uganda.

Carol found school desks, and chairs, and tables that were for sale because a couple of the schools in our area closed down,

 so of course it's for a crazy low low low price and it's awesome stuff and it was delivered

 RIGHT TO OUR HOUSE!

As all the furniture was being delivered, it became crystal clear that it would never all fit in one container.

You can't put God in a box or limit His blessings to one container.

Another container was delivered within a few days and 

Tucker and Charlie and an amazing work crew (our kids)

took a Saturday and worked their heads off until everything was placed perfectly in the containers. 

 As we were all getting ready to tackle the container and get it all packed and loaded and knowing it was going to be a very long day, I asked Tucker if he ever gets tired.  He has a lot going on, and he has to sacrifice a lot of time with his family in all his travels.  His response was just this simple,

"This is how I show my love for Jesus."

He didn't say he was burdened or obeying or anything big and bold, just a humble admission of wanting to express His love for Jesus.

I was so proud of our kids, they worked hard and long hours, and they didn't get one worldly thing as payment, not even lunch!  

But they were blessed and learned values beyond anything the world can offer, they got to be a part of something that only God could have put together.

 We can't supply lessons or payment THAT good on our best parenting day.

Our God is a good good Father!

2 Corinthians 9:10-11English Standard Version (ESV)

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Brand New GRAND!!!

 There is nothing that brings me more awe of God and His miracle of life than 

NEW LIFE.

   Everything else pales in comparison to the beauty and purity and blessing and glory of 

a new little life. 

I would like to introduce you to the newest GRAND baby

 Becklee Rose Bowen.

We loved her the minute we found out she was growing in her mama's belly, and now that she is born our hearts feel like that might explode every single time we look at her.  

Genesis 1:28English Standard Version (ESV)

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

I have been in Montana waiting the arrival and then celebrating the arrival of the newest

GRAND. 

She is amazing!!!!

I could have stayed right there in that rocking chair and been surrounded by all those little loves for the rest of my life, but there were some older loves that I missed like crazy and they needed a reprieve from their 

Dad.

  He did a great job, but runs a real tight ship with not a lot of time and attention to the extra little needs of the children.  He is good at keeping them alive and in motion and on task with school and sports and meals, but if they are having any kind of need or feeling outside of muscle soreness or hunger pains, he is out of touch and unable to help.

 It's pretty much attention to the physical needs and demands and there are a lot of chores and drills  and order and not a lot of conversation in between.

I could tell from the texts I was getting they were physically well, but the emotional temperatures were getting to stroke level and needed a bit of attention.

  I'm thankful for him and the kids holding it together very well while I was gone, but I knew it was time to come home when I heard Charlie was using my wash machine, and not even giving

 her

 the love and appreciation she deserves.

 THAT

 is where I draw the line and had to head on home.

Psalm 119:36-40The Message (MSG)

33-40 

God, teach me lessons for living

    so I can stay the course.

Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—

    my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments;

    I love traveling this freeway!

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,

    and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,

    invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

Affirm your promises to me—

    promises made to all who fear you.

Deflect the harsh words of my critics—

    but what you say is always so good.

See how hungry I am for your counsel;

    preserve my life through your righteous ways!