The Wilder Place

My girlfriend and colleague was having dinner with a friend last night, she passed out and never regained consciousness... she died... that's it! She's gone... she'll never come to my home again for tea... she won't be waiting for me Monday morning to go get our coffee together... a morning ritual we had observed for over a year... since I came to this office... I loved her... I'll miss her...

Her whole life wasn't very long... she served in the Navy and was currently working on her computer science degree... she was very smart, a very hard worker, she loved her job, her family, and her friends... she loved to fish and to cook... she was in her early 30's... her life so short.

Scripture says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27.

Elaine has met God now... and if she could reach back, what would she say?

It's real.. God IS real... the judgement is REAL!.... don't delay...

We don't know how short life is.... we don't know when we will see God... She and I talked often of God's love for her and she knew the truth.

As for those of us who remain... Will our debt towards God be marked "paid" through Jesus' death on the cross or will we be judged to be "in debt"?

The guestion really isn't, "What will you do with Jesus?" rather... it is... "What have you done with Him?"... at least that will be the question when we each as individuals face God.

My heart goes out to Elaine's family... who are heart broken over the loss of their daughter, sister, aunt, and her friends all of whom really love her.

I'll miss you Elaine... Goodbye Dear Friend... I won't forget you!... I'll look for you on my appointed day.....

Posted by Luci Wilder at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I have to tell y'all what happened..... I'm living in a hotel... in the middle of relocating.... I've been incredibly busy... learning a new job... driving back home to be with my family most weekends... and until we sell the old house it'll stay this way... I've known all along that God has a purpose in this delay... after all He's big enough to even control the housing market... and what had been booming, now seemed to be busting... but I knew... thanks to God's Word... that this was one of the things in His "all" in Romans 8:28 that is working for my good... (to make me more like Christ).... so I've maintained my patience.... until yesterday....

My company has a very nice relocation package, but the temporary housing (paying for my hotel) is coming to a close... it's only initially good for 60 days, which is up next week.... so two weeks ago I started the ball rolling in my company trying to get an extension.... then last night I got an email from my boss saying I had to submit the request through the relocation company, which would then send it back through my company... now I'm faced with not having any where to live (one of my personal "fear generating" events)... Last night I started to get very upset about it.... If I'd only known... I could have submitted it to the relocation company 2 weeks ago....

This morning I awoke prayerfully asking God to lead me in this... I know that part of this experience, like many others, is all about me trusting Him.... but I felt this morning it's also about me learning to control my temper... self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and I recall a couple of months ago praying for this specific gift... self control...

I should tell you also that one of my biggest fears is that I go out into the world making my own choices as opposed to following my Lord. You know if Jesus is Lord of my life, then I'm supposed to follow Him. Point of fact, is that one significant way I've always messed up in my life is when I do not follow, rather I try to lead... so I frequently pray for His guidance... it's the only place to be... in the center of His will... looking / listening and following His guidance!

As I was saying.. This morning I felt the Holy Spirit telling me this was about me learning about self control... I was not to get angry OR fearful... as I sat down preparing for my quiet daily Bible study... I prayed... Lord, please, if I'm where I'm supposed to be... please let me know... Give me a special message just for "THIS DAY."... Then I actually apologized to God for the short notice... after all how could He answer that kind of question immediately... as I opened the book I've been reading from, a daily devotional... "Thoughts for the Quiet Hour" by D. L. Moody... written some time ago.... today's verse was part of Joshua 24:15....

Choose THIS DAY whom you will serve...

Wow!!!!

It's the ONLY question, that matters... everything else fell away... I burst into tears... so humbled that my Lord loves me enough to speak to me... and that he planted his answer through Mr. Moody long ago... knew exactly when I'd read it, what I'd ask before hand... who am I but dust?... and disobedient dust at that... that almight God would take the time and effort to speak directly to me? ... No one... I'm no one... not worthy... not good... but LOVED and REDEEMED...

I choose... yes, I do... I choose... GOD... can you hear my joy? My Almighty... All Knowing... All Loving... All Providing.. GOD... YES! Him will I serve... with every fiber of my being... for eternity... He and He alone... knit me so skillfully together in my mother's womb... knows how many hairs are on my head... loves me... answers me... MY GOD is indeed the ONLY AWESOME GOD!

I bend my knee... I bow my head... I sing... songs of great joy.... THIS IS MY STORY... THIS IS MY SONG... PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG!!!

ps... I didn't get angry or upset... my house isn't sold... my temporary housing is closing down on me... I don't have an extension... BUT My God has it in control.... I can wait on Him!

Posted by Luci Wilder at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

IF God exists and is an ALL POWERFUL being, which do you think He prefers... human beings with "freedom to choose" or "love by force"? Let's start on a smaller scale. Which would YOU prefer?

When I was in college I actually did make a computer say the words, "I love you." What did that mean? Ladies and gentlemen, that meant absolutely nothing! Yet my wonderful husband doesn't even have to say those same three little words (but I love it when he does ;-) and it means a great deal.

If you and I feel that way, then what do you think God in heaven prefers? Did you know: He's got angels around Him that sing, all day and night without ceasing, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, The Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."

If we continue logically, the next question would be along the lines of: If God gave us free will to choose, don't you think He might have done that so we could freely choose Him?

I don't know you, your circumstances on this planet, or your religious beliefs. But, if there IS a God who IS almighty, and He created us, He certainly wants us to love Him and HIM alone by our free choice. Not because another person forced us.

If you really think about this, you'll probably also come to the realization that no one can force another to love; they may be able to make someone say the words, but not to feel them.

Do you think God needs you or I to say "I love you"? I don't think God needs either one of us at all. Well, maybe He needs you, but He certainly doesn't need me. There is not one single thing I can do for God that He can't get some where or some way else; After all, He IS God! The beauty of it all is, He WANTS you, me, us to love Him! That's why He created us!

Posted by Luci Wilder at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Life can be hard... does anyone really dispute that? It doesn't seem to matter whether you're rich or famous (or both) or poor and homeless... extremes... yes... but the point is that every one of us has problems... every single one of us... no matter where we are in life or in the world... albeit some of our problems may be significantly more tragic than others... and while some may be happy today... wait 5 minutes...

There are hundreds of people who think they know the answers... they write books... how to be rich, skinny, married, divorced... whatever it is you think you need to be happy... I guarantee you there's a book about it... Periodically someone thinks they've found THE answer and a new top 10 book is born... but that book gets shelved (pun intended)... life goes on... so do the problems... and the wonder-book of the moment is forgotten... ever thought... if even one of those books was right why don't things change?.... Seems like a book that really had the answers would be in the top 10 for longer than just a couple of months... wouldn't it?

My life's no different from yours... I have "issues"... better translated... "problems"... I'm getting older, kids live too far away... never see enough of the grandkids... work is hard and getting harder thanks to a new boss... over weight... diabetic... hard of hearing... get the picture.... but, you know what... I have so much joy in my heart, it makes me want to shout from the roof tops... I mean I'm... "I don't really need anything"... profoundly happy... why? I know what's really going on here... but MORE importantly I KNOW what comes next and it's soul-satisfyingly glorious!

It's all a matter of perspective.... if you're miserable... I bet you're looking in... focusing on yourself... thinking you and you alone have to come up with the solutions... or maybe you think you have the solution, but it's dependent on something you have to do... so maybe you buy a book....

There's one book that beats all the others hands-down... the #1 best seller of all time that really can put it all in perspective... it's the Bible... and it can answer all of life's guestions. I can take any event (absolutely any... Dad's suicide... husband's stroke... any) and find the solution... why I have a problem to begin with, what I should do about it... all talked about in the Bible... name me any other book like that... sharper than a two edged sword... I can find any answer in that book to any question about how I should or should not behave.... Have you ever thought about what it is? It's marvelous... It's a love letter... from God to man... me... you!

One time David (as in King David) was having it tough... he'd lost his job, his home... everything... his son was trying to kill him, he was sleeping in a cave... in Psalms, he started to ask God, "Why me?" But, he switched perspectives and started praising God for all the good things He'd done in David's life... before long David wasn't sad any longer... he was singing God's praises to the highest of heavens.

If you're a believer and you're unhappy... get back to basics.. pray about it, lay it at God's feet... pick up your Bible and start reading... Romans is great.. so is John ;-)

If you're not a believer what then... the Bible can solve your problems too... this entire thing called "life" is a process... a process of making a decision... a decision for Christ or against Him.... people choose not to believe because they do not want to be responsible to God for their actions... their pride stands in their way... they don't want a God telling them what they can and can't do.

But, did you know it's really all about love? The earth and everything on it were created to be a setting for a jewel... where's the jewel? Why, Honey, it's you. You are the jewel!!!

The whole book is about love... love of God the Creator for you!.... John 3:16 says it so well... "For God so loved the world [that's you too] that He gave His only son..." He didn't come for Himself... HE loves you so much, HE did everything necessary so YOU can have a relationship with HIM.

It's a choice... your choice... go at the world alone, with only you by your side... or go at it with God by your side... the choice is totally up to you.

I'm keeping you in my prayers... God loves you so much!!! He is not willing that you should perish and be separated from Him forever!... choose GOD and you'll find everything else falling into proper perspective.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 06:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I came across this today while studying... all I can say is "Well said!"... and I wanted to share it...

A mind at perfect peace with God — O, what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled to God — This, this indeed, is peace!

By nature and by practice far — how very far — from God!
Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him.

Through faith in Jesus’ blood.
So nigh, so very nigh to God — I cannot nearer be;
For, in the person of His Son,
I am as near as He.

So dear, so very dear to God — More dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son — such is His love to me.

—Catesby Pacet*

But that's just a man (human) like you and I...

Hebrews 10:14 says,

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

*First Steps in the Christian Faith. 1957 (Revised 1984, 1993, 2004). Moody Bible Institute: Chicago, IL.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

During the course of my life I've had 3 serious relationships. During the first one I tried to handle problems "my way" (as opposed to God's way). As for the 2nd, well.... I refused to even ask God what He had to say about it, because I knew He'd say, "NO!" For the failure of those relationships I have no one to blame but myself... simply because I refused to let Christ be Lord in my life and to ask for and listen to His direction... then.. I was alone and very lonely for a long time......

I finally got to the place a few years ago where I'd only "go for" something if and only if the Lord indicated it was OK. I was very specific in my prayers... about wanting only what He would allow in my life.... and then one day.... He brought Gordon, my husband... we laid out many proverbial fleeces to be sure we were where the Lord OK'd us to be... and now.... I continually praise my Holy God for allowing me the blessing of this marriage. I certainly don't deserve His mercies and I'm very grateful for them.

When someone treats one of my kids special, they treat me special... and in that way my husband honors my mother and father; by treating their daughter special. He honors our children too, by treating their Mom special and setting an example.

The Bible tells men to love their wives as they love themselves and it tells women to respect their husbands. For the very first time in my entire life I feel that someone loves me best. That's how my husband makes me feel, like he loves me best. And, he loves me no matter what! Wow! What a blessing that is to me! His care and consideration of and for me seem to know no bounds. I can never be grateful enough to God for allowing Gordon into my life!

The secret to this success is doing it God's way!

To my Darling Husband Gordon:

Thank you for yesterday, today, and always...

For bringing me happiness right from the start
and offering me both your life and your heart --
For being so thoughtful in all that you do,
overlooking my faults, understanding me, too --

For all our tomorrows, whatever they hold,
and for sharing a love that will never grow old --

This brings all my love and a special prayer, too,
that you'll be as happy as I am with you.

Honey, if I can give you back but only a fraction of the love you've given me, you'll be completely happy; because my cup really does run over! I do respect you Darling, and want more than ever to be a good wife to you.

To my God... Thank you! from the bottom of my heart! May you receive all glory and honor for showing me what it's like when it's done your way!!!

Posted by Luci Wilder at 05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I love New Years for the same reason I love mornings... new beginnings... everything past is wiped away and I can start all over again to be better than I was... I even named my 1st child for new beginnings... Dawn.

I usually don't make "resolutions" I find them to be a tad pithy, if you know what I mean. "Lose weight", "be more organized", "quit smoking", blah, blah, blah.... well I DID quit smoking, but not on January 1... I waited a reasonable length of time, till February 13th, and then I quit... my rationale behind all this is I hate to make promises that I know (at least deep down) that I am not going to keep.

For me, achieving a goal is a mind set. Being your classic Type A, Obsessive-Compulsive person I have to make up my mind to do something and then everything, and I do mean everything, except the achieving of that goal takes second place.

One side of this is that those who know me will tell you that when I set my mind to something I get it done. Unfortunately for my family and friends this often means that I pay them less attention, do fewer considerate things (such as phone calls) during those "focused" times than they rightfully deserve or than I should, simply because I really do love them. I don't have time for them since all my time is going to achieving something else. It also means not being patient with strangers who get in my way, such as on the freeway; after all, what I have to do (where I'm going) is very important.

Look again, if you re-read the above more closely you'll see it's all about "me". Fits in perfectly with our world as it is today, doesn't it? The love yourself folks are probably out their thinking... "yeah.. right on"... or something to that effect. The attitude that one has to "take care of oneself first, because no one else will" is a prevailing ideology today.

The TRUTH is that it is absolutely the WRONG approach! Approach to what? To everything... life... love... people. And, I AM WRONG when I do that - shoving everyone else aside for the attainment of some goal of mine. But, it also includes things like getting angry with other drivers when they get in my way, which I think of as "them not considering where I have to go and when I have to be there." In actuallity, it's me who's not doing any considering of others at that point.

It's supposed to be all about LOVE. Not the "love" of the 60's but true unmitigated love for others, that's what should be always paramont in our lives. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus responded that "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." Mark 12:30. He went on to say, "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." John reports that Jesus also said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus did as he taught... he laid down His life for us. His Father loved us too, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son." John 3:16.

So this year, I am making a "resolution", actually two... even though I know I'm not going to get either right, I am going to try... My first resolution is to Love God with ALL that I am and my second is that I will love you more than myself. It doesn't matter who "you" are... you are my neighbor (the internet's made it a very small world). Like I said I know I won't get this perfectly correct, no matter how hard I try... but it's worth trying... and if I fail, I'm going to try again, and again... This includes being more patient and thoughtful of others. After all, isn't that what it really means to love? And, I want to remember to treat other drivers as I want to be treated. And when I fail, please remind me that I promised.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)