You’ve probably heard the story of the prodigal son. You can read it in Luke 15:11-32 and I’m sure you’ve heard variations of the story many times in your life. A young man decides he’s had enough of living at home, takes his inheritance from his father and goes out on his own. After squandering his money, he lives in misery for awhile before realizing just how good he had it with his dad. So he goes home. Rather than being met with fury, he is met with open arms and celebration. That’s the part you probably know. But have you ever thought about what happened later? Was this young man able to remember how tough life was without his father or did he start to take Dad for granted again? Did he stay home under authority or did he strike out on his own again?

Awhile ago I took God for granted. I took all He’d given me and wanted more. I felt that I was doing well enough and got complacent. In essence, I decided I wanted to go out on my own. I did my own thing and squandered all the peace I’d had when I was with my Father. I lived in misery for a long time, sinking lower every day. I never FORGOT God. I held onto who He is but I lived far away from Him. After being lost in a very dark place for well over a year, I eventually realized that I couldn’t do it on my own and turned back to Him. And like the prodigal, I was met with open arms and celebration. He showered me with blessings. He gave me gifts. He paved the way for me to do things I’d always wanted to do… get my motorcycle license (and a motorcycle!), skydive, unexpected financial gifts… things that were just for me – gifts that said “I’m so glad you’re back! I was afraid I’d lost you and I missed you!”.

In taking these “welcome back” gifts, though, I gave Him the credit. I still do. He did things for me that I could never have done on my own. Over the past 18 months He’s practically rolled out the red carpet on the path to my dreams. There were several times I could almost physically feel things click into place – with little assistance or effort on my part other than doing small, easy things He asked of me and praising Him to all who would listen.

But now that all these things have clicked and I’m almost within reach of my dream, I’m meeting obstacles. I’m no longer being showered with “freebies”. He’s asking me to do my part. He’s telling me to give up some things I really don’t want to let go of. He’s asking me to obey and submit to His authority. I do because I know that God gives and takes away. He is in control. He is asking me to give some things up to make room for the better things He has for me in the future. God never really says “You can’t have that”. Sometimes He says “I have something better in mind for you”.

It would have been very easy to refuse to do what He’s asked of me. I was getting used to the easy way! I liked putting in little effort. I LOVED the fun things He gave me to do! Now it’s not all fun. I’m making hard decisions and fighting myself – and the enemy – every day in order to do the right things. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t hear the easy path calling out… “Just stop. Quit! Come over here – it’s so much more fun when you can do whatever you want! You weren’t really going to reach that dream anyway… come on!”

At some point, though, you have to grow up. You have to realize that there are benefits to living with your Father, under His authority, that far outweigh the “greener grass” you think you’ll find on your own. He protects you, He loves you unconditionally, he works all things for your good, and He always welcomes you home. But if you want to live under His roof, you need to heed His voice.

If you’re willing to listen, obey, and trust, you will have the best He can offer. In His time. In His way. When you’re ready. YOU will have the BEST. You WILL reach your dream. If you just stay close to your Father. If you’re away from Him right now, turn back. It’s never too late to go home. He’s there waiting with open arms. Go home.

By: Andrea Saari

No, really!! As I was going to the store this afternoon, I saw Santa coming toward me on a Harley. He was all in black leather, but I still knew it was him. As I watched him go past, I wished for the MILLIONTH time that life had DVR. If it did, I could download a picture from my head to post on Facebook so you’d believe me. Not only that, I could show you all the funny things I’ve seen my kids do – the things that words just can’t express. And what about all the times you’ve said “I guess you had to be there” because people don’t get how funny something really was? It would be SO COOL if you could just play it back for them.

What if life DID have DVR? What if you really could replay the things you’ve experienced whenever you want to? What if you only had so much recording space available and had to delete the old things to make room for the new ones? What would you keep?

All too often, we choose to hold onto the unnecessary things. We replay all the things people have said to us that brought us down. We relive the bad experiences and wish we could change them. We get so caught up in watching our past over and over that we miss the beauty all around us. We can’t find the time or energy to look ahead and see what the future holds.

What are YOU watching? Is your DVR getting full? Cancel some of the recurring episodes that you live over and over. Delete the old comments. Erase the negativity. You’ll remember enough of the bad stuff to avoid repeating past mistakes; you don’t have to waste the present reliving the past.

Make room for the future. If you do, you’ll find you have PLENTY that’s worth recording.

As a side note, by the way… I can’t be positive, but I’m pretty sure Jesus drives a V-Star. Being the “good girl” I am, I’m trying my best to follow Him 

By: Andrea Saari

B. T. = Believe That?!

Your coworker tells you, “I saw your husband with another woman the other day.” Do you believe it?

The anchor on the national news says, “Scientists have found what they claim as the Missing Link.” Believe that?

Your best friend laughs, “Man, you shoulda seen it! John was WASTED in the bar the other night – alcoholic!” How about that?

Your mom moans, “You want to do WHAT? I don’t think that’s a good idea. You were never good at that!” DO U B.T.?

Doubt. It’s the greatest tool working against you. You hear something from a reliable source and you believe it. Voices telling you that what you believe is not quite right. The people you trust are against you. The “reliable source” might even be YOU – and who do you trust more than yourself? How do you argue against a voice that sounds so much like your own?

Test the doubt against the truth. Ask questions. Confront people. Ask your husband who he was with the other day. Look into the claims that the Missing Link has been found to see if science has really discovered anything that goes against what the Bible teaches. Do you know John? DOES he have a problem with alcohol? And Mom… well, sorry Mom, but just because I was never good at something doesn’t mean I can’t try and succeed.

You were created by the ONE who knows the truth. What does HE say about it? He says that man’s heart is deceitful and can’t be understood (Jer 17:9) so don’t blindly trust it. He says that scoffers will come who purposely forget that He created all (2 Peter 3:3-5), so don’t believe what the scoffers say. He says that He has always been with you, He formed you in the womb, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that His works are wonderful, and that HE IS WITH YOU (Psalm 139) so don’t listen to those who say you can’t. He says you CAN.

He is WITH YOU. Who can stand against you? No one.

Seek the truth. Put an end to the doubt. When negative thoughts or words come into your life, test them. Confront the scoffers and test them. Ask yourself, Do U B.T.? Do you REALLY believe that? When you get to the root of the negativity, when all you’re left with is the truth that can’t be denied, ask again.

Do U B.T.?

By: Andrea Saari