When You Need Help

I don't accept help well. And I wouldn't dream of asking for it. I'm like a stubborn 2 year old, trying desperately to put on her shoes, screaming and crying, yet responding to her parent's offer to help, "I do it myself!" 

But I've come to realize my prideful refusals don't benefit me, and aren't biblical. I love this story in Exodus. Our hero, Moses, is holding up his arms to God, so that his army will win. But his arms get tired, heavy and he can't hold them up anymore. So what does he do? He sits down, and allows his friends to hold him up.

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus 17:8-13

Moses doesn't hesitate to accept the help his friends offer. And as a result, they win the battle. 

Even Jesus, perfect Jesus, counted on his friends to help in times of trouble. He didn't go to the garden to pray alone when his heart was heavy. He invited his friends to go and pray with him. Yes, they did fall asleep and let him down, but he forgives them. Even after Peter denies Jesus, Jesus still asks Peter, his friend, for help. "Peter, feed my sheep."

When life sends trouble your way, follow the examples of Moses. Sit down. Accept help. Focus on God. It's okay to let you friends hold you up so that you can win life's battles

Then follow the example of Jesus. Pray. And ask your friends to pray with and for you. And even when you pray "Father, take this cup away from me," follow Jesus' example and conclude with, "not my will but yours be done." The road that follows may be hard and painful. But it's the road that leads to eternal life.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Choosing Peace

"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 this world." - Jesus
John 16:33

As I studied John 16:33 the other day, I realized something. First, the thing I think we all notice when we read this verse. It says you will have trouble. Not you might. Not your could. But you will. You will have trouble in this world.

But notice the verse before. Jesus is sharing the truth so that in him, we may have peace. Did you notice he didn't say we will have peace.  But we may.  It is a choice. How often we wish the trouble were a choice! No, we will have trouble, but we may have peace, if we take heart in Jesus.  Are you choosing peace?

It's hard to do! When trouble comes our way, we have a choice. We can choose fear, despair, disappointment...or we can choose peace.  What are some ways we can choose peace?

1. Dispute negative thoughts with scripture.

There are so many scriptures that tell us truth! Instead of letting our thoughts run to the negative, claim truthful and uplifting scripture.

2. Pray

God is in control. He may not change our troubles, but we can believe his word that if we come to him, he will give us peace. Furthermore, we can believe that all things work together for the good of those who love him.

3. Take time to rest, recover and recharge.

Some troubles are big. Instead of being in denial, or trying to go on with the status quo, sometimes we have to stop. We need to rest. We need to recover from our troubles. Then, we can recharge and start again when we are ready.

In this life, we will have trouble. There is no getting around that fact. But with the help of God, we can choose Jesus; and with Jesus we can choose His peace.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Book Review: Tangerine Morning

Book Synopsis: Tangerine Morning, Jezzica’s Story. Book Two of the Serenity Cove Series. Jezzica Leigh, a young widow, struggles in her relationship with Christ and with starting over. She moves to Serenity Cove and purchases the Sea Glass Bookshop on Main Street, in hopes of letting go of the past and moving forward with her life. Detective Zack Johnston, the first man her heart reacts to since her husband’s death, also represents a world that failed to bring her husband’s murderers to justice. The same criminals that now seek to harm Jezzica. Can Dr. Ellie Clarimonde help Jezzica find her way back to Christ and the freedom to love again?

Review:  I was immediately drawn into the mystery of this book. As a huge mystery fan, I love a "who dun it" and "why did they do it" book. The characters were well developed, and the mystery was exciting. I was disappointed, however, when a little more than half way through the book the mystery was solved. It took a lot of air out of the book for me.

Then I realized, Tangerine Morning is primarily a romance novel with a little mystery. Not a mystery novel with a little romance.  Armed with that knowledge, I would recommend Tangerine Morning to those who enjoy romance novels; or romance novels with a little mystery. It is a sweet romance, and an enjoyable read.

The author, Rita Garcia, is a talented writer, and created a compelling mystery within her romance, and left me wanted more...mystery! But overall, her talents overcame and I really enjoyed the book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Does Jesus Have a Tattoo? - Interpreting the Bible

"And Jesus is going to come back riding a white horse, and with a tattoo on his thigh!"....

Jesus...with a tattoo? Chapel at my daughter's school started out simply enough. I love the Chaplin there, who is a wonderful teacher and the kids hang on her every word. But Jesus with a tattoo?  I'd never heard such a thing. I leaned in to the mom next to me, "Did you ever hear that Jesus had a tattoo before?" She hadn't.

Upon coming home I began my research, when I found the verse the Chaplin was interpreting: Revelations 19:16:

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  king of kings and lord of lords.

When Jesus returns he will have "king of kings and lord of lords" written on his thigh. How will it be written? It could be a tattoo. If could be a mark similar to a birthmark. For all I know, it could be written in Sharpie. The fact is, it's Jesus. There are lots of ways it could be "written", but the Chaplin shared her interpretation, that the writing would be a tattoo.  And I'm not disputing that fact.

But likewise on the same verse, I could say that Jesus is going to return wearing a monogrammed robe. Because really, if your name or mine were written on our robe, it would be monogrammed, right? So I could interpret that Jesus is going to wear a monogrammed robe. But that isn't what the scripture says. It says his name will be written on it.

There are lots of ways that we can "re-word" scripture to make it more understandable to us.  But we must exhibit care not to over reach. 

Whether Jesus has a tattoo or not, I don't know. Isaiah 49:16 has been translated several ways; having our name engraved, inscribed, written and graven in God's palm. Yet, I have heard some folks interpret it to mean God has our names tattooed in his hand.

Some people are strongly against "The Message" Bible, because it is paraphrased, not a word by word or thought by thought translation. Still others will only read from the King James.

I don't know the answers. Does it matter whether Jesus or God have a tattoo? Does it matter if we read a paraphrase? Does it matter how we interpret, as long as we believe Jesus IS the king of kings, and lord or lords?  I don't know. I just pray that God leads me the way he wants me to go. And that when I get the details wrong, not from lack of trying, that he will forgive me and help me find the answers on the things that matter.

What do you think?

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Long Suffering

The first time I heard about long suffering as a fruit of the spirit was in a Bible study. Of course I was used to my NIV Bible translation: "Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Patience is hard. Like waiting in line at the grocery store when they're calling for snow. Or worse, waiting at the DMV. Or dealing with a strong willed child. And never, ever pray for patience, cause God will make you wait for something, right? Patience is a virtue.

But then someone with the King James Bible read the verse, and instead of patience, she read the word longsuffering. Longsuffing? I actually said something to the effect of, "Who would want the fruit of longsuffering? That is a terrible fruit!"

Several years later, in 2001, my best friend wrote me a letter where she shared the ways I exhibited the fruits of the Spirit. On patience, she said:

The 4th fruit is Patience - another translation is longsuffering. The definition is a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. I have seen you in situations where this definition could have said, 'here is Kelly.' I have been amazed at your ability to 'let things go' when others hurt you. This is truly God's patience manifested in you.

From her letter I was able to look back at my relationship with my mom. A childhood and early adulthood filled with longsuffering. (Also defined as patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties; patient endurance.) While I was in that phase, I didn't realize it was longsuffering. It just seemed like life. But in hindsight, I see it for what it was. Now I am able to see other times of the fruit of longsuffering in my life, and there are several.

What I've noticed is that longsuffering without Jesus produces bitterness in people. But longsuffering with Jesus makes us hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

I may have felt broken at times, but I am stronger because of my longsuffering. 

I can't imagine ever praying for the fruit of longsuffering in my life. But I am thankful to have come through it with Jesus. While I am hopeful that my fruit of longsuffering has matured, and I don't need to go through more, I am confident that with Jesus I will not lose heart.

When you experience times of longsuffering in your life, I hope you know that Jesus is walking through it with you, and that together you are achieving eternal glory.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

Book Review: A Thin Film of Lies

A Thin Film of Lies is a Christian crime novel. 

If you like suspense and crime novels, this book is a great Christian option to that genre. Still packed with the crime and action, we see a police woman who follows God, and listens to his nudge.  No, He doesn't help her solve cases, but His presence is presented true to life in His still small voice to follow Him.

Full of intrigue this is not only a  "who-done-it," it is a "why did they do it" that keeps you wondering how it will end. A fun summer read for the beach, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Summary:
The story tells of a homicide detective, Fran Anders. Fran is a dedicated, no-frills cop who takes her job seriously but with a wry sense of humor. A middle-aged, divorced, single parent with two teens, Fran hopes someday to find a great man and remarry, but she’s not holding her breath. Right now, she just wants to be a good cop and mother, and use her faith to help those she encounters in her line of work learn there’s someone “up there” who truly cares for them.

Her next case throws her into the lives of Mike and Alisa Jepson, a couple whose marriage is disintegrating fast. As leads come into the precinct for a recent murder case point at Mike Jepson, Fran watches the damage wrought on this couple, yet is unable to ignore the incriminating evidence. 

Although Fran reaches out to Alisa during her crisis of faith, she is unable to stop events from barreling toward a crash. Yet, despite the tragedies to follow, Fran sees how God has used the Jepsons’ trials and pain to bring Alisa back into His arms, with hope that Mike might follow suit.

Note: This novel is a suspense, crime fiction novel, faith-based but an intense exploration of human failings. It is spiritually uplifting but does have some gritty characters. This book would be best suited for readers who like to read mystery/suspense and like relational drama.

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com

The Tape

I was late. And tardiness is one of my biggest pet peeves!

The day started out well enough. I was speaking for a women's luncheon, so I was busy prepping and praying. As I began to get dressed I remembered I needed my Bible. The day before my 9 year old asked if she could read my Bible - and when your kid asks to read your Bible YOU SAY YES! But now, the next day, she didn't know where it was. So I sent her on a seek and find mission.

Soon, I enlisted the help of her sister, and finally after I was ready I joined in, but the Bible was gone. Finally, I had to leave, so I grabbed another Bible and headed out the door. However, if you are in YOUR Bible often, you know that "another Bible" is a foreign place.  You can't "feel" you way to verses, you actually have to look them up. But - I had a Bible and it was time to go.

I jumped on the interstate and started practicing my talk. About 15 minutes later I noticed an exit sign. A distressing exit sign - because it was an exit in the opposite direction of the way I was supposed to be going. In my stress over the Bible situation, and speaking in general, I had gotten on the interstate in the WRONG direction. Now, I was 15 minutes away, in the wrong direction, and I was going to be late!

Immediately the tape started. You know the one? The negative self talk tape. Maybe you have one too, it's always on standby ready to play. It starts with a true fact, "You're going to be late." But from there it turns into all fiction, "How could you be late, how stupid! You are an idiot. What kind of person gets on the interstate the wrong direction. They'll never respect you if you're late. And what makes you think they want to hear anything you have to say anyway?" and on, and on.

But this time, I hit the "stop" button. And I started to pray. I thanked God for loving me just as I am, and for sending Jesus for filling the gaps by my failures.

One of my favorite contemporary Christian praise songs is Redeemed, Savior, Friend. I love the lyric that states, "You're familiar with my weakness, devoted to the end." Jesus knows full well all my weaknesses, but he loves my anyway. He doesn't expect me to be perfect, he died because I can't be. He knows my weakness, but he is devoted to me anyway.

Next time you "mess up big" like I did, stop the tape! Don't let the recording in your mind remind you of all your faults. Instead, remember your Redeemer. He knows your weakness, and he loves you anyway.

And as for being late...I was indeed 15 minutes later than the time I wanted to be there. But still 15 minutes before the event began. Because I hate being late. :-)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com