"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him." Isaiah 64:4

A Change In Plans

Have you ever experienced a change in plans? Maybe you are cruising along, thinking, “This is what God wants” when all of sudden something happens to change course.

It’s happened to me. In the process, I’ve had to ask myself hard questions like, “Am I really following God? Am I walking outside of His will?”

Daily, we need to evaluate our hearts and lives to answer that question for ourselves. Admittedly, there have been times I have gone off track and yet there are times when my fellowship with God has been sweet and then the Lord has shown me a different way.

I’ve been reading in I Chronicles, (after reading Jeremiah, I Chronicles is next in the chronological Bible reading plan), and stopped to ponder chapter 17, verses 1-4.

“1 Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.”2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in." (NKJV)

Years before, Nathan and David had a different type of conversation. Nathan the prophet confronted David, correcting the King when David was clearly walking outside of God’s will by having an affair with Bathsheba. (See II Samuel 12:1-15)

But this time, things are good. The King is not messing around or messing up. So David comes to Nathan the prophet in I Chronicles seventeen and tells him how he wants to build a house for God. Look at Nathan’s response in verse two. “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

But then something happens.

That night God comes to Nathan and tells him something different. God says, “You shall not build Me a house…”

So was David outside of God’s will? No. David was walking with God at this point. But God had a different plan. As David prepared to move forward with his plan, God showed him another way.

When you don’t know what to do about a situation, look to God. Ask Jesus what to do. At times, the way has been unclear to me. I must admit, I’m experiencing one of those times in my life right now. Often, the answer doesn’t come overnight. There have been times I’ve wondered and prayed for months, even years. Instead of worrying through those silent times, I need to come to God like King Jehoshaphat (see II Chronicles chapter 20) and pray, “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You, Lord Jesus.”

I’m so glad God knows the way. All we need to do is commit our way to Him and follow the Lord as He reveals His plan. And with 2008 on the horizon, we can enter the New Year with His peace and promise of direction.

Lord, you know the way. May I simply rest in Your Word and the promise of Your direction today. I thank you for Your wisdom, Your direction, but most of all for Your never ending love. I pray that others might experience the peace that passes all understanding that only You can give. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The Colors of Friendship

It's time to recognize YOU! Yes, you. If you are reading this post. I am writing this to you and I hope you'll take a minute to read and receive this gift.

I recently received a special award from Angie at Sonflower called The Colors of Friendship. In the spirit of friendship, I'd like to pass this award on to YOU my readers. Like I mentioned in my one year blogging anniversary post a few weeks ago, one of the greatest blessings of writing at Adventurous Living is interacting with you the reader.

There is a little song I learned in Sunday School as a child. It is a song I've sung to my children when they were young and it is a song I teach little children at church. Ever since receiving The Colors of Friendship Award from Angie, I can't get this song out of my head. But that's a good thing!

"Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world,

Red and yellow, black and white,

They are precious in His sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world."

God gives us the gift of friends both far and near. I am amazed at the online pen pals I've come in contact with from around the world! But by far the best friend we can ever have is Jesus! He left His throne room in Heaven and came down to earth to save us from our sin that separates us from God. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24, "A man who hath friends must show himself friendly; and there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother."

So in that spirit of friendship, I want to thank Angie for her kindness and then extend that same kindness to my online friends. I praise God for each one of you and pray for you often.

Please feel free to post The Colors of Friendship Award on your blog and feel free to give it to whomever you desire.

Your friend,

Susan

Joy, Joy, Joy

This is my youngest son Joel's Kindergarten class singing at their school Christmas concert. (My Joel is the fifth child on the left with his mouth wide open - hee, hee, hee! Just click on the picture to get a closer view.)

My heart just wells up with JOY!

One summer many years ago, I was walking home from a playground with my ten-month-old son Jared. (Jared is now sixteen.) As I pushed his stroller along the bumpy path, I met an older woman. After we exchanged pleasantries, she politely asked, "Is this your only child?"

Now normally that question would not have been a big deal except for something that had happened six weeks previous.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried my best to paste a smile on my face. "Yep," I said, my lower lip quivering. "He's my only one." In my mind I added, "Yep and he'll be the only one I'll ever have since my husband just died."

So why am I posting this at Christmastime?

Because as the months progressed, I knew I needed to give all my unfulfilled dreams to Jesus and leave them there. It wasn't easy. Many times my desire for a husband and more children seemed to strangle my perspective on life. Each time that hurt would surge, I just kept laying it at Jesus feet.

God tells us in I Peter 5:7, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (Amplified Bible)

So why is it when we have anxieties or worries or concerns that we try to take them back from God? God tells us to leave them with Him once and for all. Why? Because He cares for us and wants what is best for us.

God works differently in the lives of people. Not everyone sees their hopes and dreams fulfilled. But sometimes God gives us visible reminders of His eternal promises in everyday life. In my life, God blessed me once again with the joy of loving a husband and the birth of another child. God in His infinite wisdom knows just what we need. And in that knowledge, I find rest.

So as Jim and I, along with our oldest son Jared (Jim adopted Jared after we were married), Jim's mom, my grandparents, and parents, watched Joel sing his little heart out on stage, I was acutely reminded that although God allows sorrow, He also brings joy. My little six-year-old boy is a daily reminder of God's willingness to give unexpected surprises along life's journey.

May you find the true and abiding source of JOY - JESUS! God loves you so much!

Live the adventure,
Susan

Heaven's Gift

by Susan Kelly Skitt

2007

Gentle snow softly falling,

Swirling, twirling, winter night,

Coats the earth in sheets of whiteness;

Land of beauty, wonder bright.

Dawn brings gladness for the children,

Boots, and hats, and scarves to play,

Rolling snow in rounded mountains,

Snowman gleaming, happy day.

Thankful for this special Season,

Friends and family celebrate,

Gather, oneness, giving presents,

Thinking of that day so great,

When God in love sent the Savior

To this earth to mend the rift.

Sin long wrapped hearts in darkness,

Jesus Christ, Heaven’s gift.

He conquered death and offers life

To all who would believe,

So we may know God’s great joy,

Both now and for eternity

May each of you have a wonderful Christmas...

All because of Jesus!

Cling to the Rock

(This is a picture of my youngest son on a trip last year to a rock climbing gym. I thought it matched the post title better than the previous picture from this morning. If you've commented or you're visiting again, I'm sorry for any confusion!)

It's been awhile since I shared one of my favorite author's devotionals. Joni Eareckson Tada has a way of getting right to the point. That's one of the things I love about her. She inspires me to look away from life's problems and look to Jesus.

Life is one amazing adventure. Sometimes it's fun, but other times it is difficult. When trouble comes your way, cling to the Rock. Jesus is the source of all strength. He will see you through when you lean on Him.

Live the adventure,
Susan

Troubles

"We are 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

We are proud and independent people. Just ask yourself what you would do if, at a street corner, a Boy Scout reached to steady your arm as the walking light turned green. You would surely shake him off. But let's say the walking light and traffic were obscured by a blinding snowstorm. Pride and independence would then be your downfall, and you would appreciate the aid of a steady arm.

This is the reason that God fills our lives with so many troubles. Troubles ensure that we will reach for God's steady arm, learning thankfully to lean on Him. "The reason why the Bible spends so much of its time reiterating that God is a strong rock, a firm defense and a sure refuge and help for the weak, is that God spends so much of His time bringing home to us that we are weak, both mentally and morally,and dare not trust ourselves to find, or to follow, the right road," says Dr. J. I. Packer.

This is why constant troubles such as a chronic health condition, or a difficult marriage, can be considered advantages in the Christian's life. Constant troubles give the believer a constant opportunity to lean on the strong Rock. A godly habit of resting in divine help can be more easily formed.

No trouble comes my way, Lord, that You haven't decreed. And if my troubles are constant, I acknowledge that Your purpose is to have me constantly lean on You. Forgive me when I grumble at hard times that never seem to go away, and teach me to find peace in Your perfect will for me. Trials may be constant, but Your love is even more constant. Thank You for that.

Joni and Friends

It’s my first anniversary… in Blogville.

I never dreamed God would bring so many good things from this experience. Just another great example of how God is full of surprises on life’s journey!

I fell into blogging quite by accident.

In June 2006, I created a Blogger account so I could leave comments on my friend Connie Pombo’s posts. She was asked to be a guest blogger for author/editor Allison Bottke’s God Allows U-Turns blogsite. Connie and I are contributing authors to the 2006 Bethany publication, “God Allows U-Turns for Women.”

On December 11, 2006, I accidentally pushed a wrong button on Blogger: the “Create Blog.”

“Oh my,” I thought. “What have I done?” I bit my lip, then let go before drawing blood as an idea began to formulate. “Well, maybe I’ll keep going… I do like to write… I love adventures…”

Enter http://www.livingtheadventurouslife.blogspot.com/ Little did I know what a pain such a long URL would become to write, but up until that point, I had little knowledge about URL’s at all!

My original intent was to keep a devotional journal of sorts. Kind of like what I did all ready with a hand-written journal with my Bible reading, but this online journal had some bells and whistles to add. Soon, I joined the CWO (Christian Women Online) Blogring to find other good blogsites. The rest, well, you can get a feel from where this blog has gone from there. Topics of Faith, God’s Guidance, and God’s Word seem to be on the top of my list in the labels category.

But what has surprised and delighted me the most about my blogging experience is YOU. Yes, each and every one of you who visit Adventurous Living. I love corresponding with you about life, about God, about the Bible. I love visiting your blogsites. I love praying with you and for you. I love catching glimpses of your life and your walk with God.

Thank you for making this blogging experience so fun. Life with Jesus is one amazing adventure. It’s a journey brimming with all things possible; because Jesus Christ, the One true living God is leading the way.

Love and prayers,
Susan


P.S. I’d love to hear how you starting blogging… just let me know if you post about it, okay?

In Times Like These

This picture is of my oldest son (he is now sixteen)

climbing rocks in New York state's Adirondack Mountains.

In Times Like These
by Ruth Caye Jones

“In times like these you need a Saviour,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, Be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these, oh don’t be idle;
Be very sure, Be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Saviour,
In times like these, I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure,
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus,
Yes, He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus,
The only One;
Be very sure, Be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!”

And the Winner Is...

Okay folks, the big day is here. The winner of the Adventurous Life Book Giveaway for the One Year Life Verse Devotional has been chosen. I put everyones name in the hat, well technically, it was a plastic bowl, and my six-year-old picked… (insert drum roll here)

SweetAnnee

Sweet Annee, please contact me by email with a shipping address for your signed copy of The One Year Life Verse Devotional book. (My email address is in my profile.)

Congratulations! And thank you all for playing along. What fun this has been!

I hope and pray everyone has been blessed by the favorite verses shared and the powerful testimonies given in the comment section of that post. I know I was!

Now, in the spirit of giving, I’d thought I’d mention a few other giveaways going on. Just click on their name below for a link to their site.

Sue at Praise and Coffee

Julianne at Family Blueprint

Connie at her ShoutLife site

Jan at Bold and Free

Did I miss any other giveaways?

Have a great weekend everyone. Remember, Jesus is the best gift of all!

Live the adventure,
Susan

About "His Dark Materials"

Good day my friends.

I thought I'd post one more thing about the upcoming movie, The Golden Compass which is based off the first of the books in the trilogy, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. It is due to release in American theaters tomorrow.

Below is a response I wrote to someone who left a comment on my What Compass Are You Following post from November 29th. After I write today's post, Lord willing, this will be the last you hear from me about this topic.

"Thanks for you heartfelt response about my post, What Compass Are You Following. You are a very articulate woman and I can tell from your blog that you are concerned about reaching out to people in this world. For that, I applaud you.

You said your compass "is set for true North" and that is wonderful. My concern is that many people who will read “His Dark Materials” are not. As a mom, I believe it will be confusing for children to read, especially when it comes to the main character, Lyra, lying her way through life and that being "okay" according to the movie, The Golden Compass. A person who does not allow Jesus Christ to guide his life might, like the book of Proverbs says, think he is right. However, if it doesn’t line up with what God says, it is wrong. It is sin. The Bible makes it very clear in the book of Romans that we are all sinners who need to be saved by God’s grace.

Sure, we can talk these things through with our kids, and I do when it comes to viewing movies or reading books, but the whole premise for this book series is what concerns me. Not everyone will talk things through when kids bring home His Dark Materials trilogy from the Scholastic book order form. (It’s in there because my Kindergartner just brought home the form.)

Mr. Pullman has said about his own work, “I don’t think I’m writing fantasy. I think I’m writing realism. My books are psychologically real.”

Think back to the Garden of Eden and Satan’s interaction with Eve. The Bible says Satan was “subtle”. That seed of doubt grew in Eve’s mind by listening to Satan say, “Yea, hath God said?” Satan questioned God’s authority then flat out lied by saying, “Ye shall not surely die…” (Genesis chapter 3)

As for the "corrupt and weak God" portrayed in the movie and the books, our God is absolutely nothing like that at all. Deuteronomy 33:3&4 says, “Because I will proclaim the name of the LORD, ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is our Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”

Mr. Pullman would like to portray God, YAHWEH, which is one of the Hebrew names of God that talks about God’s desire for a personal relationship with people (from my understanding Mr. Pullman refers to the god in his books as Yahweh), otherwise. He would also like to portray that people who believe in God are corrupt.

You might find a recent article in Christianity Today (I found it online) of interest. The author, Jeffery Overstreet, has explored this subject after reading the books. I don’t agree with everything the writer says (and don’t have time to explain all the reasons why), but here’s a point the article brought out about Mr. Pullman’s quotes.

“On the one hand he says, ‘What I am against is organized religion of the sort which persecutes people who don't believe. I'm against religious intolerance.’ But then elsewhere he says that if there is a God, and he is as Christians describe him, then that God should be "put down."”

Mr. Pullman has made it very clear what he is trying to do with his books. He says in his own words, "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief". (Washington Post article, The Last Word, by Alona Wartofsky, Feb. 19, 2001)

In that, I do take offense.

Do I stand by, agree with this man, and cheer his great storytelling techniques in hope of reaching him? I cannot and I will not promote his work to unsuspecting people. Certainly, we are to speak the truth in love, but it does not mean I have to agree with what he is saying. From what I can tell, (and I can’t know Mr. Pullman’s heart, only God), I’m getting a sense that what Mr. Pullman doesn’t like is what the Bible has to say about the human race. At the core of all this is his anger that he and everyone else in this world is a sinner who needs God’s salvation. His books promote that humanist philosophy of “I”. Just like when Lucifer fell, Mr. Pullman raises a fist at Almighty God and His authority.

Along with my concern and yes, anger, I feel a sense of sadness for this man whose father died when he was a young boy. Could his father's death have made him wonder, "Where is God if there is a God?" I know people have felt that way. My husband's father died when he was only eight and he has struggled in the past with issues of feeling "ripped off" and I too have experienced the hurt that comes with profound loss. When I was twenty-five, my first husband died when our son was only nine-months-old. I certainly understand those feelings of "where are you God?"

BUT, we can either turn to God in our pain or turn our back on Him. Yes, we have free will and our choices make all the difference both in life and for all eternity.

My hope with my post What Compass Are You Following along with my entire blog is that people will see the truth of God’s Word. God took on flesh and became a man. He came into this world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, shedding his blood to save us from our sins, and rose up again from the dead. He did that to save sinners, of who I am like the apostle Paul said, chief. (I Timothy 1:14-16)

I will continue to look into this subject. I spent most of the day yesterday (instead of getting my bathrooms and kitchen cleaned-[smile]), researching. My intent on writing my post, What Compass Are You Following was ultimately to encourage people to spend more time searching the Scriptures, instead of what “man” has to say. Yesterday, I spent more time learning about Mr. Pullman, than with Jesus and I missed out.

It is not my intent to be "nasty" to Mr. Pullman. But, I will stand up against anything that undermines the Christian faith. Granted, many have corrupted their witness by their hypocrisy, (if they truly know Christ as personal Savior at all) and it breaks my heart. Everyday I pray my life is one that will shine the light of Jesus love. Some days I fail miserably, and I confess my sin before Almighty God with brokenness. He is faithful to forgive and for that, I am forever grateful.

The one true God Mr. Pullman is attempting to parallel in his books is loving, just, and kind. He does not lie and He is truth. You and I both know the name of the father of lies, Satan.

Will Mr. Pullman and others turn to God? I can only hope and pray he and people around the world will discover the truth of God’s love before it is eternally too late. I pray that I will be some small part of that quest. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He saved me, a sinner, and for that, I am forever grateful.

I will agree with you about this: Christians being nasty will not win people over. I am praying with you that he and others who are lost, come to know Jesus as personal Savior. May each of us who know Christ learn to shine the light of Jesus love."

In Jesus' love,
Susan

Greetings on this fine December day from the Skitt family!

The excitement is mounting... Don't forget to hop on the train for the free One Year Life Verse Devotional book giveaway. (Enter here) Can't wait to pick a winner on Friday! I think I'll give my youngest son the honor of picking from the hat. What do you think?

(This is a favorite shot of mine of our family while on vacation at Camp of the Woods a few years ago. Every summer we vacation for a week in New York state's Adirondack mountains. We just sent in our deposit to reserve our cabin for next year. Can't wait...)

Fire and a Hammer

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you the whole story...

I’ve been reading in Jeremiah. Chapter 32; verse 33 struck my heart like a hammer.

“And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face; though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction.” Jer. 32:33

Doesn’t that sound like it could be from Proverbs?

What was going on with Israel during the days of the prophet Jeremiah? Why did God send them into a seventy-year captivity?

It’s time to back track.

“‘For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; though I make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will CORRECT YOU in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’” Jer. 30:11

“Because they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I know, and am a witness, says the LORD.” Jer. 29:23

“Who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.” Jer. 23:27

“I spoke to you in your PROSPERITY, But you said, ‘I will not hear.’ This has been your manner from your youth, That you did not obey My voice.” Jer. 22:21

“Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.” Jer. 22:9

“Thus says the LORD: ‘In this manner I will ruin the PRIDE of Judah and the great PRIDE of Jerusalem. This evil people REFUSE to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve and worship them…” Jer. 13:9,10

“You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But FAR FROM THEIR MINDS.” Jer. 12:2

“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods who you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations?’ Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD. Jer. 7:8-11

“They have also healed the hurt of My people slighty, Saying ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.” Jer. 6:14

“… For they have perverted their way; They have FORGOTTEN the LORD their God.” Jer. 3:21

What did God tell His people to do?

“‘RETURN, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you for I am merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not remain angry forever. Only ACKNOWLEDGE your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the LORD your God…” Jer. 3:12

As a nation, Israel didn’t heed God’s words for revival. And the good with the bad were taken into captivity. Why? So the nation as a whole would turn back to God. (Does anyone remember what four young men were taken into Babylonian captivity? More on this later. It is one of the biggest reasons I have committed to continue reading through my Bible cover to cover.)

I feel overwhelmed, convicted, and rebuked.

Daily, I need to repent, and ask God to show me what sin I need to confess to Him. No, this need for forgiveness is not about going to Heaven—that was sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ at the cross when I received Him as personal Savior. This is an issue about fellowship, an ongoing friendship with God that is broken when I sin. I can never lose my salvation, but I can miss sweet fellowship with my Savior and wind up hurting myself and others.

What sin is God convicting you about today? I love what God says in Jeremiah 23:29. “Is not my word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

Lord, oh how I need you. I need You every hour. Let the fire of Your Word burn out what’s wrong in my life. I want your Word to be that hammer that breaks apart my stony heart. Help me to yield to you today! I praise You for Your mercy. I don’t deserve it, but You freely give it. I acknowledge my sins before you today. Thank you for forgiving me. You are so wonderful, so beautiful to me. Praise You Jesus…

Just a reminder, there's still time to enter the free book give-away contest for the One Year Life Verse Devotional. All are welcome to enter. There is no obligation. Just leave a comment on my November 12th post and I will pick a winner on December 7th! (Click here to quickly navigate to that post and put your name in the hat!) God bless! Have a wonderful weekend!

"Ah, Lord God!
Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth
by Your great power and outstretched arm.
There is nothing too hard for You."
Jeremiah 32:17