A New President

This morning I awoke to the news of a new president - Barak Obama. While he was not my choice for the office based on his plans and ideas, I am very excited about his election. Our country has experienced an historic event, electing the first African American as President. Thinking back over history, it was only about 40 years ago that African Americans first were give the legal right to vote. And only about 100 years ago that they were considered "subhuman" by many Americans. As the mother of an African American daughter, I am thrilled to see this wide step across the racial threshold. I want my daughter to know that she has the ability to do anything with her life, and that her race should not ever be a limiting factor. This election is further proof that in America, no matter what your skin color, you can achieve most anything that you put your mind to. Mr. Obama's achievement was the result of education, hard work and character building - something everyone should strive for. I pray that he will be a wonderfully positive role model for young African Americans all over our country to help them realize that no matter what their status or background, they can become anything they want with hard work, character and education. And I pray for Mr. Obama as he steps into his overwhelming new position, that God would be his guide and his shelter.

One Piece at a Time

Another surgery...gallbladder this time. It would seem that over the past 15 years, consisting of 10 surgeries + gallbladder makes 11, God has been bringing me home one piece at a time. And while none of these experiences has been pleasant, they are a kind of picture of what He's doing with me spiritually - spiritual "surgery", so to speak. There's the prideectomy, excisional laziness removal, selfishectomy, minimization of gossip and repeated tongue binding procedures. None of those are pleasant when they are going on, but God's Word tells us that He's working in us to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus. I think that all of these "procedures" - both physical and spiritual, are the cause of the groaning while we're in this tent ("For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling," 2 Cor 5:2). I've been doing more than my share of groaning lately, and long for Heaven. Even if I have to get there one piece at a time...

20/20

Maybe I thought of this because I work in the ophthalmology field. Who knows why my mind thinks of stuff like this? But I was thinking the other day that with perfect 20/20 vision and nothing hindering our sight, our visual perception of things can only be as good as the light source allows. Darkness, clouds, sun or the best GE light bulb all determine how well we are able to see. I think of how I love looking out a freshly cleaned window on a beautifully sunny day - everything looks so sharp and clear. And then I remembered Revelation 22:5, which talks about how there will be no need for lamps or the sun in Heaven, because God will be the light. Imagine what our vision will be like when we see everything illuminated by the glory of the light of Christ! This must be part of the reason that we will have perfected bodies. Moses, in his sinful flesh, had to be hidden in a rock just to catch a glimpse of the back side of God's glory passing him by. It's too much for our sinful eyes to behold. But with our heavenly bodies we will live througout eternity in the constant glow of the glory of the Light of the World! Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know
Whatever comes my way.
When Satan knocks upon my door
That’s all I have to say.
His darts are meant to make me doubt
My Savior’s love for me.
But when they fly around my heart,
I’m safe as I can be.
Jesus loves me, yes He does!
In this I’ll never waiver.
Satan’s darts don’t make me cringe -
In fact, they make me braver!
“Jesus loves me!” is my cry;
In this, my soul’s best shield.
No matter what may come my way,
In Him I’m always sealed.

Happy Mother's Day!

Recently I was asked to write about what I thought was the best part of Motherhood. With miscarriages and years of infertility behind me, being a mom is more than I could have ever imagined! But whittling it down , I'd have to say that the very best thing about motherhood is hearing my 9 year old daughter Lizzie call me "Mama". That was always my least favorite of all the mother names. My mom called her mom "Mama", and for some reason I just always disliked the sound of that word. Mommy and Mom were names that for years I longed to be called. Then God in His abundant mercy gave us Lizzie through the miracle of adoption. Finally my longing was fulfilled, and I was a mother. And when I heard my sweet little one call me "Mama", my heart melted. There is so much wrapped up in that name for me now. God poured His amazing love into my heart, and though this child didn't grow inside me, I look at her and see the one person in the world for whom I would give my life. He has given her the ability to know me as nurturer, protector, cuddler, playmate, "Mama". By His grace, this wonderful relationship of mother and daughter exists for us. He has made this barren woman "the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!" (Ps 113:9)
Happy Mother's Day!
Ann

Spring

Cocoon of soft, protective snow
Gives way to warm embrace;
As deep within the ground below,
New birth is taking place.
The daffodil and tulip make
Their hesitant debut,
The tiny blossoms now awake ~
Old life reborn, anew.
Then nestled high in wooded arms,
The robin’s small fledglings
Heed the sun’s enchanting charms,
And boldly try new wings.
All sight and sound and scent now tell
The coming of the spring;
Through hill and vale, o’er cliff and dell,
The earth begins to sing.
So life, for all, begins once more,
As winter fades away;
Creator gives His grand encore ~
Earth’s splendor on display.

Roots

The other day I was listening to a little blurb on Bott Radio (1090 AM for y'all in Fort Wayne). The speaker was talking about how the Christian life should be like the California redwood trees - growing close together, with roots that, although not deep, are entangled with all the other trees. The trees are supported by the roots of all the trees around it. At first that sounded good. I thought, yes! That's been my problem since moving to Indiana. I left all my Christian friends behind. I have no support around me, and I've been floundering spiritually.
Fortunately, I have recently been memorizing Psalm 1, and the Holy Spirit brought that Psalm to mind while I was listening to this radio speaker. I realized that the righteous man is like a tree planted beside the still waters. The picture is a solid tree standing alone with deep roots. No matter what comes - wind, storms, whatever - that tree yields its fruit in its season, and it's leaf never withers. If my roots were deeply anchored in Christ, I wouldn't flounder no matter what my circumstance. Surrounded by Christians, or alone in a prison cell - I would not be moved in my faith, because I am abiding in the True Vine, the Solid Rock, the Firm Foundation.
I thank God for His constant hand on my life, even when I'm not abiding, but am allowing my circumstances to toss my faith to and fro on the waves. I thank Him for the evidence of His work in my heart and life. And I praise His for this great love that He has lavished on this undeserving child.

A Prayer

A Prayer
Ann Dunlap, Nov 3, 2003

“Brethren, join in following my example,
And observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Philippians 3:17

O give me, Lord, a simple mind
That dearly loves Your Word,
So I will not chase after
Every foolish thing I’ve heard.
Give me feet that swiftly run
In Thy right, perfect will,
Rather than a leaden pair
That keep me standing still.
Two holy hands to minister
Your tender, healing grace;
That don’t hold on to earthly goods,
Or put them in Your place.
Touch my sight, that I may see
My sin before my brother’s;
To see my needs as so much less
Than desperate needs of others.
And most of all, give me a heart
That beats so like Your own,
To live this life You’ve given me
For You, and You alone.

The Anchor

The Anchor
Ann Dunlap, May 7, 2006


The anchor holds
When tossed into the ocean;
Left in the ship,
Its’ strength cannot avail.
The ship, unfettered,
Tossed to and fro, unaided,
Cannot securely
Over storms prevail.

The God of refuge
Only provides shelter
To the pilgrim
Who seeks refuge therein.
But when he wanders
Out of fear or anger,
Troubles plague him,
And doubt’s assault begins.

And then so weary
From traveling far unaided,
Finding home
Becomes a daunting task.
The shame of wand’ring
Masks fear of rejection;
After wandering,
He becomes afraid to ask:

Are you still there, Lord,
Or have I strayed too far?
Can you forgive
This wanderer anew?
Help my heart, God,
Take and seal it,
Keep it firmly
Anchored, Lord, in You.

Pressing On

We have been innundated with snow. Lots and lots of snow. We work to move it out of the way, and then we get more. Always striving against the snow. Reminds me of a poem that I wrote a while back.

Pressing On
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Phil 3:13-14

Pressing on toward Calvary
Just to show His love for me;
Pressing onward to the Cross
All to seek and save the lost.
Pressing on to meet the grave,
Pressing on, His sheep to save,
Pressing upward to His throne
Pressing forth to claim His own.

Pressing onward toward the goal
Pressing on to be made whole.
Straining forward toward the prize,
Jesus, ever before my eyes.
Pressing on to heed the call;
Giving Him my life, my all;
Pressing on to run this race,
Able to because of grace.

One of the best ways to spend 10 minutes

Watch this when you're able. It's John Piper, talking about Christ.
Need I say more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYGLl0gO1dk