Family Tree....

Well, it's official....I have become a genealogy nerd-
Seriously, it's borderline embarrassing.

I'm bombarding family with emails and facts that sound like something out of The Bible.
Jane begat Cora...Cora begat Louise....Louise begat Susan...Susan begat Weezie....Weezie begat Debbi....yada, yada, yada....

Yesterday I made my way back to the 1500s....
(only 500 to go before I figure out which Apostle was mine!)

I had been researching my great (x6) grandfather, Robert Roy MacGregor.Looks like a nice enough ol' Scot. My Dad pointed out to me that he is THE Rob Roy...as in the great Scottish Folk Hero - their version of Robin Hood or even Braveheart. All of which I learn after I Google him to find figure out who the heck he was...I get all fired up.How am I so intrigued about someone I know so little about?
Well, I mean, besides the fact that Liam Neeson played him in the movie, and Jessica Lange played my great (x6) grandmother, Mary MacGregor....
On top of this might I possibly make me eligible for a lifetime of free Rob Roys?
All of the focus and studying on my ancestors has me wondering...
Do my ancestors look like me?
Do I resemble them in my actions?
Would they have liked me?

I can not answer for all of them...but I certainly can for One of them.
The One we all have in common.

I look like Him, as do you....we are made in His Image.
He does like me and even loves me, as He does you....He gave His Only Son to prove it.
I do resemble Him in some of my actions...as do you.

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
By him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ~Romans 8:14,15

It's not too far back that each and every one of us is from the very same neck of the woods.

God, Thank You for allowing us to call you Daddy.

In His Dust,
DCC

Drew...

I went to a Baseball game Saturday to watch my good buddy, Drew.

He plays in the Challenger League. I learned quickly, the challenge did not just apply to the athletes.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 3:12-14

Drew runs with his "eye on the prize."

He's not worried about being faster than others-or concerned if he is slower.

He's busy watching the end- Home.We all can and will finish our race if we look to Jesus. He has gone before us, and he waits for us at the finish line.

Jesus Himself, kept His Eye on the prize, enduring excruciating pain.

Having won His race, He stands at the finish line cheering for us.

God, may we all run toward You, just like Drew runs toward home.

In His Dust,

DCC

Two Paths...

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for The Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

It's been a loooooooong few weeks in the 'hood around here.

Around the 'hood....each day seems to have brought some kind of new frustration, or conflict...
Around the 'hood....each day God offers us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Each day, we have free will to choose one path or the other path.

This is easier read, than done.

God, Please remind us that YOUR path is the only correct choice.

In His Dust,
DCC

Mat Carriers....

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5:11

'They dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus." ~Mark 2:4

Today, we will gather here...We will lift the Chumbley family through the roof.
We will be mat carriers.
We will be roof breakers.
We will stand shoulder to shoulder.

There is no where I would rather live...and no finer people I can imagine living with.

Jesus was moved by this faith. Which should tell each of us that, while our individual faith is important, so is the faith and actions of our community.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." ~Galatians 6:2

God, Thank you for allowing me to live in in a community of “mat carriers.”

In His Dust,

DCC

Philippians 2:14,15...

Christians arguing on the internet...Twitter...Facebook...

If you follow any sort of Christian News you’ve heard about the controversy surrounding Rob Bell’s latest book

Here are some actual facts.

1) Rob Bell wrote a book called “Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived”

2) Christians go nuts

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.'
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." ~Philippians 2:14,15

God calls us to Haggah over The Scripture...to wrestle with it- to get in there and get after it.
He does not call us to get in there and tear each other apart with it.

Don't get me wrong, there is a place for discussing truth.
Yelling at each other across the internet....ain't it.

Bottom line, if you question what The Bible says, about Heaven or Hell, don't listen to what other people say about it. Read The Bible yourself and hear directly from The Author, Himself.

God, Please teach us to take Your Words as the bottom line, not each others.

In His Dust,
DCC

Japan....

First came the earthquake.....then the tsunami and then nuclear leaks....How will they climb out of one massive tragedy on top of another?

The answer will not be found in political parties...or government....

The answer will be found in us....individual human beings...
being The Hands and Feet of Jesus.

65 years ago...we would have possibly rejoiced in this destruction.

today, we cry with them.

The majority of those effected do not worship Jesus.

But He is still there.

The majority of them do not believe He is The Son of God

But He still is.

God, please show each of us what we can do and how to do it.

In His Dust,

DCC

Intent....

Lent......The 40 days of pre-game....or so to speak.

Every year I debate about what to "give up"....what to deprive myself of...so I will magically get super tight with Jesus.
I am not dogging giving up something for those of you who feel called or led to do so-
I commend it.
However, for me, this lent, I choose, to give up...nothing.
I also choose, to add intent.

I want to intentionally read His Word.
I want to intentionally speak to Him.
I want to intentionally hear Him.
I want to intentionally love Him.
I want to intentionally love others.

Jesus Himself tells us, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” ~Luke 9:23-24

God, Thank you for sending your One and Only Son.

In His Dust,
DCC

Catch and Release...

"Catch and release grace. Think rivers, not reservoirs" -Bob Goff

"We want you to know about the grace that God has given"
~2 Corinthians 8:1

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~James 1:17
"For who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive" ~1 Corinthians 4:7

"Because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am.
I'm not about to let his grace go to waste." ~1 Corinthians 15:10

Bottom line? God owns everything,

but He gives to us in His Grace and He expects us to be good stewards of it.

You got it- now let it go!

God, Please teach us to catch and release well.

In His Dust,

DCC

Tinkerbell Pinata...

This I was working on the blog in my head as I drove....should I write about the 16 shades of crazy with Charlie Sheen...or poster child for Clearasil, Muammar Gaddafi...I still needed to comment on all kinds of nuttery at the Oscars....
oh and then I threw in a "God, what would you like for me to say to anyone reading this today?

Bam.

There they were.

They just happened to be parking at the exact same time.
They just happened to be exactly "nose to nose" with my car.

This was no coincidence and I knew it the second I pulled in. There was a divine appointment waiting in front of my face.

I got out- she did too- she didn't speak.
I did.
Me: Good morning!
Her: Do you know where I can get some help?
Me: Yes, right here. If you walk down that hall and take a left...
(at this point, God pops in and says- walk with people, don't just send them.)
Me: I mean, I'll show you.
Her: Thank you.
Me: I'm Debbi.
Her: I'm K. I was told I could find some help here?
(I saw her list of things she needed. There was food and water and a pinata.
Yes, a pinata.
After some time spent talking, she tells me...

Her: It's my granddaughter's birthday this month.
Me: What's her name?
Her: Chloe. She loves Tinkerbell. All she wants is a pinata. Do you know where I can find a Tinkerbell pinata?? (jokingly)
Me: Actually, yes I do.
I think God's message for me this morning was to stop putting so much energy into the wrong things.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
~Colossians 3:2

God, Thank You for the specific reminder that there are people with greater needs and worries than what we see in the media.

In His Dust,
DCC