My New Tattoo

"If you had to get a tattoo, where would you get it and what would it be?" Have you ever been asked that in one of those 20 Questions type of games? I always have a hard time answering. I guess I'm just not a tattoo kind of gal.

I remember when my two sisters went together and both got tattoos. My feelings were a little hurt that they didn't invite me. "You'd never get a tattoo!" they exclaimed. They were right. But it still would have been nice to be invited.

While some Christians are strongly against tattoos, others equally for them. Leviticus 19:28 says,“‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD," but even that is up to your interpretation. Some say we aren't under the Old Testament laws anymore, so it no longer matters. Others say the verse means not to tattoo the names of your dead on yourself, but does not forbid other tattoos.

But the other day, I read a verse in Isaiah 44:5, and realized what tattoo I wanted. The verse says, "others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s.'" THE LORD'S. I love that. How wonderful to have a constant reminder tattooed on my hand that I could always see. THE LORD'S. Reminding me who I belong to, who I represent, and who died for me.

Did you know the Lord also has my name tattooed on his hand? In Isaiah 49:16 God says, "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." The Amplified Bible puts it this way, " I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands."

Just imagine that on my hand is tattooed "The Lord's" and on His hand is tattooed, "Kelly." I love that image. He is our forever God, written in permanent ink.

So, about my new tattoo...truth is, I didn't get one. I'm still not the tattoo type. Besides the complete verse in Isaiah 44:5 says, "Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel."

I guess I'm more the type to just say, "I belong to the LORD." And I do. Do you?

Dancing in the Rain, Book Review

Imagine hearing these words, "Your baby won't live. It most likely won't even be born alive." These are the terrible words that Cindy Shufflebarger heard when the baby she was carrying was diagnosed with trisomy 18.

The pain that followed was the greatest storm of Shufflebarger's life. Her precious daughter was born and died within a couple of days. The suffering of the loss of her daughter, Ashlynn, left Shufflebarger with two choices: drowning in the storm of her life, or Dancing in the Rain. She was determined, with the help of God, to dance.

Shufflebarger shares with her readers the hope of God's love even in the midst of suffering. She shares her story, while drawing the reader in to examine their own life storms. I especially enjoyed the "God says" heading at the end of each chapter where she shares Bible verses to help weather your own storm. The book is heavy with scripture to support each chapter, and I found that to be a huge positive and a blessing to the reader.

Each chapter also has a "Your Chance to Dance" heading where she offers substantive and concrete application tips for the reader to apply in their own life to help overcome their storms.

Because of her faith, Shufflebarger is Dancing in the Rain. If you would like to be able to dance in the rain too, you may purchase her book. To learn more about Shufflebarger, visit her website.

I Will Survive!

Go on now go! Walk out the door.
Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore.
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor, 1979

Sin. Sometimes it seems it's hard to resist doing the wrong thing. We try to do right, yet we blow it! Don't think that it's by accident either. The Bible is clear. The Devil is there to attack us and tell us lies. As a matter of fact, his name "Diabolos" means slanderer, and the root word also makes the word diabolical.

The Devil takes evil and makes it look good to us. Look at his first victims, Adam & Eve. He confused them as to what exactly God had told them (not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil.) He convinced them that God was holding out on them, and next thing you know Adam & Eve ate the fruit and created the divide of sin between them and God.

And we continue to do the same thing today. But the Bible is clear on how we can make the accuser, the slanderer, the diabolical liar leave us alone. Submit to God, and resist the devil. If we resist him, the devil will flee us.

So next time the devil is accusing you, simply sing out loud, "Go on now go! Walk out the door. Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore!" The devil's lies can make us feel like dying, but with God on our side, we can sing "I will survive!" With God, we can not only survive, but thrive.

Musical Musings:
1. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Does knowing this confirm to you the fact that sin is no accident?
2. James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Do you believe this, and if so what is keeping you from telling the devil to Go!
3. Ephesians 6:11 says, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Stand firm against the devil today and tell him to "walk out that door!"

Karaoke: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me ammunition to use against the devil. Forgive me, Lord, when instead of standing against the devil I give in to his lies and temptations. Help me to be strong in your word, so that I can resist the devil and submit to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock on: Read Ephesians 6:10-20 to learn how to put on the full armor of God and win the battles against the devil.