Transformed by Grace – that’s what we who place our trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are. Well, that’s what we are on the eternal plane anyway. Through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ we are transformed by His grace from being lost in our sin to being forgiven and eternally held in the love of our Holy God.

For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. — Colossians 1:13-14

Wow! Take a minute…take a few more…and think about what that means. Really means.

Does this rescue, does this eternal transformation change anything for me here and now? Does it change how I think? How I speak? How I act? How I interact with others – with all others? Does it change how and what I do in public? How and what I do in private?

Does Jesus really make a difference in who I am? Does who I am in Jesus make a difference to those around me? Do I look and act transformed? How deep is this transformation? Does it only go to my superficial level? To my comfort level? To my go to church, offer my tithe, say some prayers, read my Bible level?

OR does the radical, outrageous act of Jesus dying on the cross to rescue me transform me in radical, outrageous ways?

…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies [your whole being, all that you are, think, say and do] as a living sacrifice to God – this is your spiritual [reasonable] act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. — Romans 12:1-2

May we each allow the radical, outrageous love of God, who has rescued us and transformed us on the eternal plane, to radically, outrageously transform us on this earthly plane. Right here. Right now. Every day, in every circumstance, in every relationship we have.

May the Body of Christ – that would be us – look, love and live more and more and more like the Body of Christ! May we each be Transformed by Grace! Starting with me. Right here. Right now. Amen and Amen!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                                          Sylane

Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the evil man his thoughts.

Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts…” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:6-9

God’s ways are not our ways…God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. God’s sense of timing is not the same as ours. And it’s a darn good thing.

When it comes to precious ones in our lives — those who are either not-yet-believers or not-freed-up-believers — I have found that God’s ways, thoughts, words and actions are always perfect in love and perfect in timing…even if they differ (dramatically!) from what I want and when I want it. Sound familiar?

We need to actively PRAY for those who do not yet know Jesus as Savior…and for those who do not yet know the fullness of His transformation and the full life He offers through His unfailing love. To this, and of this, we must SPEAK. And we must always speak in LOVE…always act and interact in LOVE. And we must TRUST GOD in the WAITING.

While we wait on God – for days, weeks, months, years, decades – God is actively working deep within us, calling us to trust Him fully, opening His loving arms for us to surrender ourselves to His embrace…to surrender our pride and our fear to His perfect way and His eternal will…so that we may be conformed more and more to the likeness of God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And while we wait, God is also constantly working around and within those for whom we are praying…constantly tugging at the hearts and minds of those for whom we want God to show up mightily and tenderly and amazingly in their lives.

Oh! The wait is not so easy. Yet, in the waiting there are deep blessings of knowing our Sovereign and Intimate God in unimaginable ways as we seek to live a life that is being continually honed by trusting God’s Word and yielded to His Spirit. Our lives…and the waiting…become purposeful and peaceful, passionate and fruitful.

Keep praying, my friends. Keep trusting God for all those who do not yet know the unfailing love — the salvation promise and the transformation power – of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray. Speak. Love. And Trust God in the Waiting!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

…those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Where do you get your strength? What helps you to face the circumstances, situations and people that are hard to deal with for you? What helps you to face each new day?

There are so many remedies and suggestions that will help us to be stronger of mind and body. There are a whole lot of DON’Ts when it comes to strengthening our mind and body – here are just a few of them: don’t smoke (pot included here – it dumbs people down and decreases motivation), don’t drink in excess, don’t use substances that are not prescribed for you by a physician, etc. And, of course,  there are some very important DO’s — the very basic ones: eat a well-balanced diet made up of naturally healthy foods, drink plenty of water, get regular exercise, sleep between 7-8 hours each night.

All of the above will absolutely help to make us stronger of mind and body. But for me those just aren’t enough. Because there is still a cry in my soul for a peace, a purpose and a power that I need to face every single day that I live on this side of heaven. And even by living the very healthiest of lifestyles can only get me so far.

For me it’s not WHAT I do or don’t do that gives me the strength I need for each new day — each moment, each circumstance, each interaction with someone. Rather, my strength comes from a WHO: the Holy LORD, my God and Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus, and through the relationship He offers me, I find my hope…He is my strength — my peace, my purpose and my power.

I may face the day with tears as I say goodbye to yet another friend who has just entered into the arms of Jesus; I may face the day with heart-breaking concern about the choices someone I love very deeply is making; I may face the day with trembling as I am called to counsel, to be the ears and voice of our Lord Jesus Christ for precious ones with deep emotional pain and behavioral baggage; I may face the day with physical exhaustion as my AARP card-carrying body reminds me that I’m slowing down (and creaking) a bit.

And yet! STRENGTH, TRUE STRENGTH, NEVER FADING STRENGTH is available to me always, at all moments, in all circumstances, with all people as I choose to set my HOPE on my LORD and allow GOD’s STRENGTH to wash over me, swirl powerfully within me, and flow freely from me.  God is true to His Word, and so my hope in my LORD will always be my strength!

What about you? Will you choose today to get your strength — your peace, your purpose, your power — by placing your hope in the never-fading strength of the LORD Jesus Christ, the GOD of all creation? I HOPE SO!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

What really matters to God? What really counts as God’s top priority for us as His children–as His people of faith? God gets right to it, and He schmushes (my word!) everything down for us. God’s Word speaks so clearly and concisely that we cannot deny or doubt God’s meaning.

What matters–what counts–to God is that we love. Is there anything unclear about that?

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6b

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I know for some of you this is just a schmaltzy day that the card, candy, flower, jewelry and restaurant industries have infused with advertising-steroids to make it bigger and more important. I’m not going to argue that point. But let’s put all that aside.

What is going to make this day count for you? Whether you have that someone special in your life or not right now? Whether or not that someone special–that is in your life now–has been acting all that special to you?

Real love. Really given. God has given us His perfect, sacrificial, passionate, compassionate and everlasting love through the life, death and resurrection of His One and Only Son Jesus. God has given this love through His Son to all who would believe–that we may become God’s full children by faith in Jesus. Each one of us, as God’s child, is to draw from God’s love–constantly and continually–as we interact with others. All others. Our special ones. Our more challenging ones.

As a child of God we are given the answer for how to make Valentine’s Day count. Actually, God has given us the answer for how to make every day, every moment count. And it’s not convoluted or complicated. To live out our lives as a child of God–to live out our faith in Jesus Christ–the only thing that counts is love.

We are called to love. Really love. Our love for God and our love for others really do count to our God. We shouldn’t waste any more time. We need to stop doing any and everything else that isn’t a true expression of love–no matter how entrenched in our not-so-loving habits we may have gotten. We need to get over ourselves and love those around us.

Make this day count for God, for others and for yourself. LOVE…really LOVE…in your thoughts, words, actions and interactions!

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6b

Happy Valentine’s Day…each and every day!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

I want ALL of it! Give me ALL of it! Now!

No, I’m not mimicking a two year old who is demanding what she wants, how she wants it, and when she wants it. Although, I can, and certainly have sounded (or thought) this way far too often!

The ALL of “it” that I’m talking about is wanting ALL that God has for me — ALL that God has for ALL of us when we let God be God and follow our LORD’s loving, healing and renewing ways for our lives.

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it. 

Isaiah 30:15

O, Holy LORD, I want ALL of it! Don’t let me be foolish enough to choose none of it!

Help me to turn to You in repentance — daily, in honesty, in humility — and turn away from my sins, my wrong attitudes, my excuses, my judgments, my pride, my laziness, my yuck! Help me to rest in You, rest in the truth that You are Sovereign, You are God and I am not. Help me to rest in Your perfect care, in Your loving arms as the very little, very dependent child of Yours that I truly am. LORD, help me to want to live in the gift of of Your Salvation – in ALL ways, each and every day of my life!

Help me to quiet myself before You, LORD — to still ALL of my thoughts that do not line up with the truth of who You are and ALL the strength You have to give me! LORD, help me to quiet ALL my anger, frustration, self-righteousness, self-pity, self-focus and selfishness of any kind so that I may receive ALL of Your strength!  Help me, LORD, to trust You in ALL areas of my life, in all circumstances and relationships that flow in and out of my life. LORD, help me to trust You with ALL that I am, ALL that I do, ALL those I love, and ALL those precious ones still lost or limited in knowing Your trustworthy, eternal love. Help me to trust in Your Sovereignty and Your Holiness with every thought I have, with every breath I take so that I may know and live ALL of my life in ALL of Your strength!

O, Holy LORD, I want ALL of it! Help me to follow Your loving, healing and renewing ways so that I may live in ALL the freedom of Your salvation and the power of Your strength!

May this be ALL of our prayer! And we can be sure that our Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, will give us ALL He has promised. Our God is faithful and true to His Word! Amen and Amen!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Holy One, first, thank You for You and Your love that even allows me to approach You.

Thank You, My Lord Jesus, for coming into this world, into my world to offer me full connection again to Creator Abba. Thank You for Your living words of grace, truth, freedom and fullness of life. Thank You for Your incomprehensible, extravagant humility in giving Your Beautiful, Holy Self over to death in my stead, for the forgiveness of my sins, for the renewing of my soul.

Lord, thank You for You. I can only begin to understand Your love for me, Your love for every person, in the smallest of ways. Yet what I know and grasp overwhelms me. You are God. Creator of everything — everything I see, everyting I can’t see, everything in my little world, everything in the universe. You are Creator of all things ”in all their vast array.” -Genesis 2:1 You are Sovereign over all that exists.

And yet, Holy One, You are here with me…now…in my little space filling my mind, my body and my spirit with a sense of Your presence, Your love, Your intimacy.

Holy One, Sovereign and Intimate One, thank You with all that I am. Thank You for life now and the hope, the assurance, You give of being with You for for all eternity. It is too much for me to truly comprehend, but I believe You and I trust Your unfailing love with my every breath. Thank You, Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, my Lord and my God. I love You. You love me. Thank You.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

As the aged King David prepared his son Solomon to take up the throne—as servant of God and King of Israel—David had strong and wise counsel for his son.

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.

If you seek Him, He will be found by you;

but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

1 Chronicles 28:9

David’s counsel to Solomon is counsel that we, too, as children of God should embrace fully as we live out the details of our daily-day lives…and during our times of great joy and peace…and during our times of great turmoil and sadness.

God knows us full well. And our LORD wants our hearts and minds to be wholeheartedly and willingly devoted to Him—actively seeking Him—in all that we do and think. Our blessing, and God’s promise to us, is that “He will be found”  by us!

Our God has promised that we will find and know our LORD, His loving, intimate presence with us and His strong and holy leading of us—all the days of our lives.

Through our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, we, as children of the King of kings, have been invited “to approach the throne of grace with confidence…” –Hebrews 4:16.

Is there anything stopping you from serving and seeking the LORD—and approaching His throne of grace—with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind? 

Ask the LORD to take away any and all obstacles that you have put up in your own life that stop you from serving and seeking the LORD—and approaching His throne of grace—with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind.

Ask the LORD to take away any and all obstacles of hurt, bitterness and resentment that may have grown out of experiences with other people or from disappointing and difficult circumstances.

Let nothing rule over you except the love and leadership of the LORD our God!

There is joy and freedom, peace and purpose as we serve and seek the LORD—and approach His throne of grace—with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane 

This is what the LORD says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Jeremiah 6:16

So, there we are facing another life-decision, wondering what to do…which way to go.

The LORD tells us to STAND and LOOK—to recognize—that we are at a decision point in our lives. We are to be stable and alert—not pushed around nor blind-sided—when assessing our circumstances and the decisions we need to make.

Maybe for you those decision-demanding-crossroads are about a major life change—a relationship, a move, a job, a total career change, a change in your physical or mental health.

We also need to recognize that we are standing at decision-demanding-crossroads everytime we choose to think, speak or act. Yep, everytime—whether in our daily-day lives and relationships OR in the more obvious crossroads during a major life change.

No matter what decision-demanding-crossroads we are at, the LORD tells us to ASK for the ancient paths, ASK where the GOOD way is. In other words: ASK the LORD—who is the Ancient of Days, the Eternal One—what His righteous, GOOD direction would be for us.

Then the LORD tells us (because apparently the LORD knows He needs to be that specific with us!) to WALK in that GOOD way—to WALK in His way.

The LORD loves us powerfully and passionately and wants the very best for us. God knows that His GOOD way is the very best for us. And our LORD promises that we will find rest for our souls—peace, restoration, security, strength, joy—when we do WALK in His GOOD way.

Oh! It would be so fabulous IF that was where this Scripture verse ended. You know—we stood, we looked, we asked God, we obeyed God and we received the LORD’s strong and loving rest for our souls.

But, sadly, that’s not the end of it. Instead, our tendency towards stubbornness and rebellion against our LORD’s Holy, Loving Authority is revealed. Way too often, we—in our thoughts, words and actions—stomp our feet, shake our fists and turn our faces away from where the LORD wants to lead us. We make it clear—one way or another—that when it comes to the LORD’s way, “We will NOT walk in it!”

Living our life really is ALL about CHOICE! And it is ALL about trusting God’s Word and God’s Love for us as we make those choices.

Choosing the LORD’s good way gives rest to our souls. Anything else weakens and warps us.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

Today is going to be a very special, very meaningful day for me. I get to go back, for the first time, to minister to—and with—the Counselors and Staff at the Christian camp where I first accepted Jesus as my Savior. I’ll be doing, first, a session on Leading a Child to Christ in the afternoon and, then, in the evening I’ll be speaking at the Counselor and Staff Commissioning Service.

Thank You, my ABBA, for this humbling and beautiful privilege!

Forty-two years ago when I was seven (yes, that currently makes me forty-nine for all you math whizzes in blog-cyberspace—FIFTY in December!), my parents sent me and all four of my siblings (all of us born within five years from oldest to youngest!) to a camp for one week. They needed a break. I don’t think it really mattered much to my parents what camp would take us.

But! It mattered very much to our God.

For just one short week back in 1967 I attended Ontario Bible Camp in Oswego, NY. And through the faithful servant hearts of the OBC staff, and especially through the Camp Chaplain’s clear, powerful and loving sharing of God’s grace and truth through God’s Word, Jesus became my Savior. Oh! What a difference a moment…a day…a week—orchestrated by the loving heart of our God—can make in a life!

For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus entered my life with His passionate love for me and His eternal salvation. I knew, then, that no matter what the hands of others would do to me, I was still held in God’s perfect, loving, strong, good hands.

Thank you, ALL of you, who have served over the years at OBC—or in any form of ministry, formal or informal—to share with others the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, His salvation, His transformation and His outrageous, unfailing love!

Your seemingly small act of service in the Name of Jesus, the Name that is above ALL names—ABOVE the names of abuse, incest, rape, fear, brokenness, hate, anger, my own sins, the evil I have done and the evil done to me—has made ALL the difference in my life! For all eternity!

Before I left OBC I was given a Bible.  And it was—and is—only through God’s intervening love, God’s living and active Word and God’s intimately present Spirit that my life has been completely healed and transformed—from a broken, abused child to a mighty woman-child of our Sovereign God!

Yes, today is going to be a special, very meaningful day for me at OBC! Thank you, JESUS! It is All from you and it is ALL for you!

May we ALL seek to let Jesus use us to touch at least one life for Him! Oh! What a difference a moment…a day…a week—orchestrated by the loving heart of our God—can make in a life! Amen!

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

But! That doesn’t mean we are going to like, or even understand, everything that happens when it happens. Yet we are called to trust in the One True God whose sovereign purpose and love will one day reveal to us how:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 

Until that time—whether our seasons bring birth or death, weeping or laughing, mourning or dancing, war or peace—we are Always in a Time to Trust in the One who is Eternal, True, Righteous, Wise, and Loving.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                               Sylane