Of Tornados and Treasures

Today is the day that our family celebrates two little boys coming to us making our child total to the number seven.)Isn’t that the number that means complete? That's what I'm counting on.)

The journey began when my husband and I thought what a great ministry we could share if we became foster parents. Our county was struggling with a deeply embedded drug problem and foster parents were in short supply for the children from homes of parents struggling with addiction. We had hoped that while we kept the children safe, fed, warm, and loved, we could also be a presence in the life of the parent that was trying to rebuild and regain their children.

I have always heard that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans! Our first two foster children stayed…forever. We stuck with our plan but God showed us that that was not the completion of His plan.

The boys came to us the day of clean up from a devastating tornado. We had spent the day at a friends home, finding family photos and mementos that were strewn across their property. At one pony our dear friend, Rachel realized her wedding rings, her mother’s and her father’s were missing form the place she always left them. She was heart-broken as she looked at the missing walls and roof and the vast area her belonging were scattered. My daughter, Jill, never one to give up and always the first to turn to God, began the process of looking past the big mess to find the small treasures. Hidden under a wall, in the grass and under a bed, Jill found all three sets of rings.  We often correlate the confusion and mess from the tornado with the confusion and devastation we faced the first few weeks of adjust meant to having these two little creatures. Nine months later, their mama relinquished her rights because she just couldn't find a way to get clean. At the ripe old age of 41 for me and 44 for Joe, we became the parents of two bouncing baby toddlers. We tried hard to find the small treasures in the big mess.

With them came new experiences having been the mother of girls. I never allowed violence or guns in my home but with the boys came constant wrestling that turned into vicious fighting and everything was turned into a gun; even an upside down Barbie became a make-believe weapon (legs make a great gun barrel, apparently.)

I have had to learn to let a few things go. I used to worry more about matching clothes, weather appropriate attire, and bedroom organization. I have had to learn to endure stepping on Legos in the middle of the night, finding Tostitos and tub of butter under my child's bed (don't ask) and walking into the basement to find my son skinning his latest critter and he trapped so he can sell the pelt. (I did make him promise this wouldn’t lead to a life of serial murder a la Silence of the Lambs.)

I have learned about sports injuries, individual education programs, dirt bikes and video games. There are days when I feel like I have become an expert in autism and advocacy for classroom accommodations and then there are days when I feel like I'm absolutely helpless in the lack of knowledge that I possess.

But as I sit and look at my two boys who were almost ferrel when they came,  I realize that God knew more than I did.  The two boys came into my home the day following the biggest tornado that swept through our County, covered in the debris of the brokenness of drug addiction, damaged by the storms of unattended health and developmental issues, and marred by the challenges that they had to face in there very young lives, have grown into near-men, accomplished in so many areas. They have brought a sense of balance to our lives. 

Through the clean up, emotionally and physically, I have learned how to heal my personal scars. Through working through living with challenges I am better equipped to help others with their hurdles. Through letting go of standards that really don’t matter, I am beginning to discover what really does matter. And the big lesson is that God has a plan that supersedes our narrow focus on life.

Where are you open to the tornados of life? The places when God sweeps in and leaves debris and damage behind that is not of His doing but a place where you can come along and clean up using only the power and might of God. 

Clean up, Clean up, Everybody, Everywhere

Whoa Nelly! Sassy girl is a hot mess these days. Everything about her is a giant mash up of life and development. Eating, dressing, singing, moving from place to place is nothing more than a proving ground for new skills. It is as though she has become a test pilot for toddler hood. Sad thing: she is three months shy of 2!


Walking involves tip toeing, then walking on a curb to quickly switch to stomping to kick walk, with something that resembles a Nazi goose step. The song she sang in the car on the way to lunch was as follows, "A-B-C-D-No Jack - No Jack- tomorrow- itsy spider up waterspout." Playlist; ABC song, Hit the Road Jack, The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. She has a future in mash up producing for cheer squads. 

And Eating?!?!? Wow! When ordering she has become vocal. The other day, at the local donut shop she ordered coffee (Mom vetoed.) And yesterday at lunch she ordered "molie" (guacamole), salad, rice and beans." She ate that and chips and salsa and cheese dip and some of her dad's vegetarian nachos and some of my avocado and so on. Sassy not only enjoys her food, she experiences it; something that makes Papa a little crazy. He wants to wipe her hands after each squish of a new handful of food but he trusts that her parents have got this figured out. She is experimenting with utensils but don't you pick up your food and stick on the fork? Her Mom and I just let go at it and clean her up at the end. I have noticed Dad sits at the other end of the table. Hmmmm

When finished eating/experiencing all she wants, she begins to sing, Clean up, clean up everybody, everywhere. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share. She sings as she picks up the stray mushy chips, rice pieces and other debris from the gastronomic tornado we just experienced. She occasionally stops to "rediscover" a bite of something she had laid aside and forgot about.

If only...

If only we caught the parallel between the development of this growing baby girl to those growing into maturity as children of God; both are eager to experience, both fall back and make seriously interesting choices; choices we "mature" people would never make. 

Sassy's parents are smart. They know when to let her explore and experience the feeling of walking on her toes or kicking rather than rush her from here to there or tell her it isn't proper to walk like that. They let her get a little messy knowing that all the while she is learning that what ever mess she makes she will need to clean up. 

Our Heavenly parent is the same. God gives those that are just discovering all the richness that comes from Him a wide open field to explore and discover. God doesn't stop people from tip toeing in to a life in Christ or kicking their way into a full blown relationship with Christ. God allows for spiritual development to happen at an individual pace. God allows for poor decisions (or at least questionable ones.) Decisions are part of the growth process. However, God will try to steer us and nudge us into a better choice. And more importantly, we are left to deal with our own messes we make. 

What is important to note. We are called into the process of letting children develop and we are called into the process of allowing Christians to mature. growing children is called parenting. Growing Christians is called discipleship. In parenting, rigidity and rules stifles exploration, creativity and more importantly enjoyment of growth. Too much control creates a spirit of rebellion in children; worse yet, a crushing of the spirit.

In discipleship - the same. If we approach people with rules of what is right and what is not right, not allowing them to explore with God what is hoped for them we can take away the enjoyment of growth in Christ, the creativity found in God is stifled. Too much control creates a spirit of rebellion in children; worse yet a crushing of the Spirit; a crushing of their desire to allow the Holy Spirit to move, shape, guide.


Sassy's parents are smart. God, as a parent is the ultimate in wisdom and knowledge. Why do we Christians sometimes feel we need to control what the parent is trying to do? Experiencing life can be messy but messes are ok. But there is also learning in the cleaning up.

Clean up, clean up, every body every where. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share. 

Parenthood...you're killing me!

By the title one might think that I struggle with parenting. Duh! Any parent that says otherwise is lying to themselves or others. Doing parenting well, whatever that looks like, is hard. Caring creates questioning. I should be a pro. I am educated on the subject; I have a double undergrad of elementary education and early childhood development. I am experienced; other than the 15 years I worked with children professionally, I raised my younger sister, gave birth to two daughters that are grown and Joe and I adopted two boys. People have actually been known to ask me parenting advice. But as my daughter put it at the height of her pre teen snarkiest, "Mom, you always blow Mother of the Year right before nominations." Parenting is hard.

Not whining here but my challenges have not been small; oldest daughter had all kinds of weird health issues, youngest daughter had all kinds of weird control issues, (both grown and awesome now!) divorce, remarriage, adoption of two boys from a horrible situation and then BAAM! The one challenge that is daily, hard, funny and puzzling all at once. Our oldest son is on the autism spectrum. He has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS to be exact. What is even more fun is we didn't get the diagnosis until he was at the end of 5th grade. To our defense, he is very intelligent, and we had to wade through some lingering emotional issues from his "previous life."

Enter Parenthood, the television series on NBC. I started the show at its beginning and haven't missed an episode. Granted it doesn't take much to get me hooked on a television show but the character Max intrigued me from the beginning. Max has Aspbergers on the show. And like our son Kota, it took a while to get a to a diagnosis, some answers. In fairness, many friends had said, "Have you seen Big Bang Theory?" For so long, my no answer was followed with you should because Kota is like Sheldon Cooper. Yes, Sheldon and Kota share so many traits, particularly in their need to impart vast amounts of information and similar fashion sense. But as much as I have grown to love BBT, it is Max and Parenthood that has been so helpful in parenting Kota in so many ways.

L: Max Burholder and R: Dakota Jack Mowdy

First of all, Max's age, development and interestingly, appearance has mirrored Kota's. Watching what his TV parents went through to get to first, a diagnosis and then acceptance and finally becoming a facilitator and advocate for your child. Many of Max's challenges have been Kota's challenges. Please understand, they are not identical. The biggest mistake most people without a spectrum person in their home makes is to think all Autism looks and acts the same. Even within similar categories of spectrum conditions don't share identical traits. All people with Aspergers are not Max, all people with Classic Autism are not Rainman and technically Sheldon Cooper's character is not identified with any issues on the spectrum according to the writers. (The same is true for many adults that are possibly on the spectrum, it has never been identified.)

Although not identical, I have been able to explain what a new teacher may experience if they have watched Parenthood. I can watch Max's parents, Adam and Kristina try, fail and still love each other and Max through each and every challenge. Their successes give me hope.

Parenthood is killing me. This is the last season. I find myself as I watch each episode how my son will end up with out know what is in store for Max as he enters his teen age years. Max has found a girlfriend. While we aren't there yet, Kota is 15 and girls are inevitable. Max and Kota both entered high school this year. How will I know how that will go? Way to go Parenthood. You are taking away one of my parenting tools.

Other spectrum parents, please don't attack me for equating our struggle with a fictional show on television. I get it. It isn't the same. I know. Trust me I know. And yes, Max is no where near what many of of you face. But struggles in parenting are struggles and any insight is winner winner chicken dinner in my books. Any way I can help those that are charged with teaching and interacting with my child is a bonus. Kota is in neuro-typical classes in high school. His teachers are often the honors teachers and the advance course teachers. WARNING: generalization ahead! In our school system these are the teachers that have less understanding of working in an alternative way. Rarely does Kota come in contact with Special Education faculty; you know, the people trained to work with those on the spectrum. Being able to say, "Have you ever seen Parenthood?" is finding a starting place for conversation. Especially when I get questions like: "Why don't you cut his hair?", "Why does he throw so many fits?" Or statements like: "He won't look at me when I am talking to him" or "He spends way too long in the bathroom."

So Parenthood, I understanding the concept of going out on top. I get that your actors want to do other projects and break outside of the characters that have almost become who they are. But for this one mom, I have to say, "You're killing me." But seriously, thank you for all you have done for us in this house hold.

Extra Jesus: A Book review "God Made Light"

I went to seminary when my boys were little. Like many seminarians I used words I rarely use years after graduation; words like "exegesis," "eschatological"...you get the picture. I wasn't trying to impress, they were just words that flew around the classroom that I felt I had to try on for size in real life. Interestingly, the boys made sense of them in their own way, particularly the word exegesis. I don't remember which son came up with the best interpretation but one of them felt like they heard and understood exegesis to be "extra-jesus." I think he may be closer than we think. Exegesis, the critical interpretation and examination of scripture, often becomes a hunt for some "extra Jesus" in the passage...at least in my mind.

For a person that came from an early care and education background before entering ministry, looking for Jesus in children's literature was hardly considered, mostly because it just wasn't there. The few "Christian" children's books were non useful in the early childhood classroom. I found I left them behind. (pun intended) Most books, Sunday school and VBS curricula written for children is either dull and cheesy reducing the relationship between humanity and Christ to something akin to the "Jesus is my best friend" genre. When a publication is given depth it is most often dry, colorless and ends up being boiled down to a flat, one-dimensional snap shot of the historical God.  While I have dreamed of writing to reconcile these flaws, I spend more time complaining than writing. 

Thank goodness for people like Matthew Paul Turner. I found MPT a few years ago when I stumbled upon his blog, Jesus Needs New PR. Many of the subjects he wrote about resonated with me. I found his writing assuring me that I could not like a lot of what people called Christians do and still like and follow Christ.  The blog inspired me to be the Christian I thought the world needed. Through his blog I was led to the first book I read, Churched leading me to read many of his others. 

I don't know if wanting to write for his children inspired him to write his latest book, God Made Light or if he just had a deep seated desire to correct the wrongs in Christian Children's Literature, but either way he wrote a book that did. 

God Made Light is pleasing to the eyes. God Made Light is colorful and bright and beautiful. I find my self smiling just at the pictures. The rhyming cadence is familiar to children and those that have read to them. His wife Jessica in her blog, The Mom Creative, writes about wanting to read books about God to their children that were engaging like Dr. Suess' and other quality children's authors writings. And Matthew brought that to the table. As a former early childhood professional, the book meets all the requirements for a child to love hearing.

But here is the best part of God Made Light. It has extra Jesus! Turner has managed to not weaken the message of God's creative influence on His creation. In kid friendly terms, they learn about how God lives in them through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that lives and dwells within them. They experience how God eradicates evil. I could exegete for days in this children's book.

Yesterday I read this book to the children of our church family for Children's Sermon. As I read the book, large pictures streaming to the big screen overhead for the "big people" the moment became more than I had imagined. I found that I was reading this book over them. Blessing them with light and love through the words on these page. When I read the words, "...cause on the day you were born, God said, 'Let there be light!'" I became emotional. These precious children, some of which I had been given the privilege to baptize, were brought into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and in this moment I saw the light in them. God is good!

My grown daughter, the scientist, loves that the book doesn't dumb down the science of God mentioning subject like constellations and the function of the sun to the moon and marries God in science instead of separating them. 

I am a book person, I collect them as many adults do fine wines or expensive clothing. I also cherish them as a child would their collection of stuffed animals in their bedroom. I am the grandma that buys the books every chance I get and look for and excuse to read them to her. I was also that mom. We still have the favorites and will pass down the "keepers"; the ones the kids know by heart due to repeated reading. God Made Light has already joined the ranks of "The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear," and "Good Night Moon" in our home. Thank you Matthew Paul turner for some extra Jesus.

Well.. I Had to Slow Down and Pay Attention

As a pastor I am always looking for great resources; studies, ideas, insights. Listening to others is the best way I know how to not begin to shape God in my image. Of course, many of us would much prefer God would just go along with us. But I consider my #1 role as a clergy leader is to take the hands of those I meet and walk towards God in the most direct path possible. Along the way we will have conversations and experiences that could either pull us away from God or move us towards a more holy connection with the Divine. One of my favorite resources is a site called Seedbed. My friend (aka professor from seminary), JD Walt, is the sower of this seedbed. Seedbed is filled with articles, blogs, video and curricula to assist me in maintaining consistency of the message. Today as I read "The Daily Text," a commentary piece written by JD something caught my attention; their tag line stating their organization vision:

"Resourcing people, communities, and movements to love the whole world with the whole gospel."

Whoa, slow down. This statement may capture my thoughts for the entire day or longer. Wouldn't it be amazing if this was every follower of Christ's goal for each day. 

"Allow me to unpack" (a cool term I learned in seminary meaning, "I don't really know what you mean but I don't want you to know so spell it out for me". 

"Resourcing" - People are our faith's greatest asset. Jesus knew what he had in his people. We are broken, messed up but we are covered in God's rich grace, a grace that makes us right in God's eyes and gives each of us gifts that support and enrich the people of the world. It is only smart to gather these, resources and and put them to work. Jesus did this with His disciples. He found the right ones, or the wrong ones depending on how you look at it. these men were not religious leaders or scholars. They were fishermen, tax collectors, average "joes". Men with no voice or power but through their face-to-face relationship with Jesus they came to know God and their gifts were empowered to be resourced for change. I am an average joe but aren't we all? 

"Communities" - Groups of people, living close, geographically, often have begun to resource their gifts in coordinated efforts to benefit their communities. Setting forth to elevate those existing assets into a larger product is a grand plan. Maybe even a Divine plan!

"Movements" - Movement is a word most of us United Methodists should be familiar and comfortable with. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodsit Movement is reported to never aspire for the people called Methodists to be a denomination. He had his reasons, one of which he was an Anglican priest and never wanted to move away from that affiliation, but I think he had faith fed insight to more. Denominations are institutions. Institutions, by their definition, are in danger of becoming sedentary. Movements...well...move. Jesus told us to move. There was no room in his dialogue for standing still. He even said, "Go, therefor...". We can't live out our faith if we are not in motion. A group of people, a community, moving in a concerted effort, are powerful, amazing. When those very communities are resourced for God it is transformative. 

Imagine moving these large gifts from God, through large groups of people to love - to love the whole world. Imagine what it would be like to not only love those in our family, but those in our community, our world; even those that are not loving toward us. I have a person in my life that can only be described as having a retaliatory spirt. If this person perceives an injury from you, this person will hurt you back. The other qualities in this person are eventually overshadowed by the desire to hurt those that she feels are injurious to her. Eventually division is created between her and those who so desperately want to be in friendship with her. They end up loving her from a distance to avoid being hurt. Unfortunately, some may stop loving. We are created to forgive and forgive again. to extend grace to all, deserved or not. God set the standard and invites us to respond to his extension of mercy to pass it toward others. This grace extension is at the root of love. In order to love as we are called to love the world - we have to love the whole world - even those that are like my friend; hard to love, maybe even against us. Division and retaliation is never productive.

But loving all people is the whole gospel. Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, wrote a book about the whole gospel called, A Hole in Our Gospel. The "Monica's Cliff Note What it Meant to Me Version," states that loving God, as a Christian, is important, and we often stop there. The greatest Commandment actually urges us to love others as we love ourselves. Without loving others there is a hole in our gospel. Have you ever thought about giving people the whole gospel; more than John 3:16. But maybe through in a pinch of John 3:17; maybe loving people into a real relationship with Christ.

While I love Seedbed and all they offer. For me today, I feel today, the thinking I was forced to do in looking at their organizational vision will propel me into being more intentional in my movement in this Kingdom. I hope you will too. 

To Do List

All you have to do is scroll through Social Media to discover that people like lists; "21 Things That Only Happen to Awkward People", 15 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Faith", or "5 Ways to Know if You Are Prone to Cheat." You get the picture. 

Lists are handy. It is natural and easy to get information this way. You can quickly scan the list, check off those that apply to you and walk away happy knowing you are not awkward or prone to commit adultery or have the deepest faith - EVER!!! 

It is a great feeling when you check the list and you are "good." A recent list I read ticked off the traits to decide if you were prone to spiritual maturity; "What Does Christ-Like Maturity Look Like? 15 Characteristics." I have added a few of my thoughts, things I Had to ask myself before I could check them off. 

Check them out. If you dare. 

The article listed traits such as:

Guided by the Holy Spirit (even into uncomfortable places) most of us are willing to boldly go where we have gone before or were we feel equipped to master the area. But are you willing to go into uncharted territory where there are more questions than answers in the name of Christ?

You are a disciple finder and maker. Before you answer "yes". Ask yourself to give examples of When? Who? How? You might be surprised at your answers. IT is so easy to assume we are great disciples because we follow…right? but we are also called to find and make disciples. Jesus said. Re-read Matthew 28:19-20

You are a teacher and defender of the truth. (WARNING: You must really know the truth first.) Too often we shape God’s truth and Christ’s word into what we want to hear, but there are really hard places like “blessed are the meek, or we scatter our blessings.” Some of what Jesus says id hard to really do!!

We model spiritual disciplines which include prayer, fasting, meditation, etc. The key word here is discipline. In other words you are called to practice spirituality with disciples; everyday, consistently, intentionally, first-priority. 

A need meeter. (Hint: not your own needs) 

A protector of church members from false teachers. False teachers are not always atheists, cult leaders or folks of other faith practices. Anyone who teaches something other than Jesus' intent for us is a false teacher. 

A faith builder. In others. By living by faith, too. By walking by faith. You can’t build faith in others when you hide behind fear.

Partnering with God to see healing take place in the lives of church family (emotional and physical) by serving, caring, praying for and most importantly trusting they will be healed. 

An empowerer. Empowerment requirs letting go...of control, of old ways...of fear. 

A model of good citizenship. Be kind. Be honest. Be fair. Be NICE! Treat everyone exactly how you wish you were treated.

A transcendent hope builder. Wow! Refer to #2. Ask yourself the same questions. In this broken world, hope is what separates mature believers from those that are unbelievers or minimal believers.

A sustainer of and leader in communal expectations. Matthew 26:26-30 institutes the sacred moment of the Holy Eucharist. We should crave to share in these moments with others bringing Christ into our midst. 

A defender of the principles. We have to do the right thing for the right reason which means we may have to question our motives sometimes. Are we standing on a Christ principle or a worldly principle? 

Willing to die for God’s Kingdom. Fair enough. None of us are Jesus. Jesus is God. We aren't right? But mere humans have died for God. Sure Joan of Arc, Dietrich Boenhoffer, but do you know but do you know Cassie Bernall? She was a mere 17 year old girl. Sitting at school. A shooter killed her because she refused to lie about her faith to save her life. Would you?

Sending others out to make disciples. Go Make Baptize ALL the Nations. 

Lists are great fun. They however, make it all too easy to feel as though we have accomplished something great when at closer examination we may not have accomplished all God had intended for us. 

Usually when I make lists they are to do lists. Maybe this one is too. 

TIP-toeing Through Life?

Well the inevitable has happened...Sassy is TWO. Well, not really. Actually she doesn't chronologically turn two until late March; a full four months down the road. Regardless of the math, she is two. Or least she has reached that tipping point when children stop reacting to the world around them and begin to insert their desires, will and opinions into their tiny little world. Most parents that experience this period of development in their children call it the "terrible twos."  As a former early care and education person I will let you in on a little secret; anyone that thinks two's are terrible haven't had a three year old. Threes KNOW what they are supposed to do it, know if they do you won't kill them so do it anyway.

Sassy noticing a part of the yard away from the watchful eye of adults

Two year olds are only finding out who they are and what they can and are allowed to do. They want to find out how they can influence the tiny, little sphere that circles around them. The method employed for investigation is to walk right up to boundaries and then tip toe right over the last line drawn. Some exert their "two-ness" with a little more exuberance and hop, skip and jump past the line of expectance. Others, ignore the line completely. For a parent, this constant pushing at and pushing past the lines of right and wrong, good and bad, safe and dangerous can be wearisome. It makes you long for the days of infancy when a child lay helplessly with only the desire to have their needs met. Independence doesn't seem to be the great milestone is made out to be.

Looking back to see who is watching.

The desire to push past limits in in our DNA. God created each of us with a willful soul craving to use our creative minds to sculpt the world around us to...well...suit us. Sassy is only doing what each of us have done and still do each day of our lives; grabbing the gusto! Is it all bad to enjoy life and explore all the endless possibilities of life? Isn't exploration what this world is built upon. Imagine as if Columbus had stayed home, Alexander Graham Bell had not sought to find a new way to hear or if a few crazy test pilots had not boldly gone where none had ever gone before.

Sassy's exerts her independence with wings, bling and bows; much to the consternation of her minimalist momma. Being a smart women, she allows this bit of freedom. Recently, to have minor surgery, she arrived complete in comfy clothes, hair scooped up in a big fluffy bow and shoes she had chosen for her self, pink and glittery. As you do. Some days she wants to wear a bumble bee costume all day and others she may just wear four bows and a set of wings. She is developing who she is and who she will be. That is why God gave us will, so we can develop into who we are; use our creative minds to explore and shape and "blossom." I mean really, are wings and bows all that bad in the grand scheme of things?

Still checking to see if far is too far.

No, wings are not bad. Choosing our style and flair is what God wants for us. But there is a tipping point. That moment when our exploration and independence combine and take us to that place that we KNOW is too far. We are fully aware we are going beyond what our Father wants for us. As parents we all desire safety for our children. We want to protect them from harm; real physical harm or damage to our soul when our choices set us outside community. Our children push those boundaries; we push those boundaries. There is a delicate balance between moving in freedom and not falling into a spot that can lead to injury, pain, or heartbreak.


Sassy isn't quite big enough to always know how far is too far but, fortunately, at this point she is smart enough touch base as she proceeds towards independent thinking. That is the Tipping Point. We all have it. That place were we disregard the part of us that urges us to check in with God before proceeding and the part of us that urges us to run headlong into freedom without pause. Most of us are fully aware of the tipping point with in us. If not, I urge you to discover where is that place in your life where you are tempted to throw caution to the wind and run. The consequence to independence without insight is nothing short of someday getting lost; lost to our ourselves, lost to our earthly family, lost to God. We need to learn to know those places where our Parent is excited by our independence and willfulness; loving to see what we discover. But there are those places (often including apples and serpents) that we need the protective insight of someone more experienced and mighty that ourselves.

What is your tipping point? What is that button inside you that could be pushed that causes you to run outside the arms of your Heavenly Father? Are you intentionally seeking to know the great plan God has for you? 

Maybe is the day you need to start looking.