Extreme Makeover - Lisa Keck

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV


Extreme Makeover-Home Edition has been remodeling homes since 2003. Team leader Ty Pennington, his crew and volunteers work to make life-changing makeovers in the lives of families with unique stories. Every episode brings excitement to the chosen family as they wait to see the results of their home makeover.

One afternoon my friend and I chatted about our spiritual makeover. It wasn’t just a remodel, it was a complete rebuild. That’s about as “extreme” as it gets. But do we really believe that? Do we seek God’s transforming power in our life?

When the Executive Producer of our life sends His Spirit to work, do we welcome Him openly and expectantly? I suspect that sometimes we try to make the changes alone, without the guidance of the Master Carpenter, only to find that a project without a project manager doesn’t work well.

But, when we allow God to work within us—help us tear down the old and rebuild to new—then our makeover is complete from the inside to the outside.

When the Extreme Makeover Team shouts, “Driver, move that bus,” the receiving families are overcome with joy. What joy if we could come before God saying, “Soul Dweller, move the veil so I may glory in Your work.” What if we came expectantly, trusting Him to supply all our needs? He desires to embrace us, accepting our thanks.

So, go ahead . . . share your heart with Him. Let Him take your life, tear away the old and rebuild you from the inside out.


Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts.

For By Grace - Lisa Keck

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it. So did the lady who had just opened it. It was one of the few coveted gifts in the white elephant exchange. We’d all picked numbers and on our turn could “steal” a gift or take our chances with what was on the table.

I pondered my options. This lady already had another nice gift “stolen” from her, which is how she got the Thomas Kinkade ornament. Normally it’s not okay to steal but that is part of the game. The chances of there being anything nice left at the gift table seemed rare.

My turn came. I went toward the gift table before giving into my covetousness. It was The Painter of Light after all. I had no way of knowing that poor gal would wind up with a monkey potato peeler. But the gift wasn’t mine yet.

I was the first stealer and a gift could be taken three times before it was safe. I sat nervously and then someone swiped my ornament. I took my chances with the gift table. There was a lovely gift bag that caught my eye, which proved curiously heavy.

Could it be pottery? I had met a ceramic artist at dinner. No such luck. It was a five pound can of jalapeño peppers!

Then the unexpected happened. Someone stole my peppers which meant I could get my ornament back. My husband leaned in and said, “That’s the third steal.”

The ornament was mine!

I’m reminded of another third that’s the best steal ever. It was the third day after Christ’s crucifixion when He rose from the dead. He stole death’s power by becoming the sacrifice for our sins.

Those who accept this Truth are saved to live for eternity with THE Light of Heaven. God gave His only Son because He wants the best for His children and He wants us to share Heaven with Him. His Grace is as unexpected and undeserved as someone stealing jalapeño peppers.

Have you thanked Jesus today?



Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts. Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts.

Seeking the Future - Lisa Keck

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Stepping into the warm evening, the conversation was full of hope.

“What do they do in that room?” I asked Donna who was leading a tour for prospective volunteers.

“Take a look,” she answered. We strolled across the courtyard, the smell of night jasmine in the air.

“We’ve come to see our future,” I said as we entered—a future I’d worked hard toward. I’d finished my coursework to become a Braille Transcriber and next was certification. It was just a few years ago I'd begun this path. I'd prayed for an opportunity, wondered aloud about the life God had given me.

One day as my husband dropped off the kids, he overheard the teacher talking. I had volunteered with her since my daughter began school four years earlier She needed to hire an aide. This particular teacher taught the blind and my mother was blind so it seemed like a good fit. Since my husband was out of work I applied.

I got the job and began learning Braille but, when the school year ended, so did my job. Is that the Lord’s cane tapping ahead of me, leading me down this path? I decided to continue learning and soon was told a boy in church may one day need Braille. Yes, that definitely was the Lord’s cane!

Night jasmine gets its name because it releases a beautiful fragrance in the evening when dusk arrives with its shadows and doubt. By the time I made the walk across the courtyard at Braille Institute, I knew my future included transcribing Braille books. I still have things to learn and our work group meets at night so I can smell the jasmine. After an evening of dots doing a crazy polka, I can step out and smell the sweet aroma, then remember I have one who goes before me.

How will the Lord guide you? Will you allow yourself to be still and know Him so that you may recognize His scent?

Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts.

Three Dots ... Three Days - Lisa Keck

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (NIV)

In Braille code one to six dots are used to represent letters, punctuation, words, or to change a word. When the letter C stands alone it becomes the word can. But if you put dots 4-5-6 before the C it becomes the word cannot. Those three little dots wield much power, changing a positive into a negative.

What else has such power—three days. Over 2000 years ago, three days changed the course of human history. Jesus died, spent some time in a borrowed tomb and rose again, conquering death. He also conquered the devil changing what he can do, into what he cannot do in the life of the believer. For those who are in Christ, Satan no longer has the power to condemn. We are sinners saved by grace. Now that’s not an invitation to sin but an understanding that fallen man needs a covering.

The devil can no longer use shame to make us feel guilty for our wrong doing. The bumper sticker fades but the message remains: Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven. So the next time someone tries to make you feel unworthy of Christ’s love, just remember, He chose to die for you.

Unfortunately, Satan hasn’t read the memo. He’s still going to try to condemn and control. When you stand firm in Christ’s power Satan cannot control you. It’s a message that’s hard to apply.

Our lives seem so out of control but we can give that control over to God. When we allow Him to reign, rust corrodes Satan’s tool box, filled with big and small things designed to turn us away from God. But rust doesn’t deter him from trying to wield the sledgehammer of alcohol and drugs. Rust doesn’t stop him from reaching for the drill of distraction or any of the other tools.

Satan can try to use his tools but he cannot succeed when I am in Christ. When I pray, I never forget to thank Him for Calvary. Those three days changed my history. And now, it’s the first of blessing I count.

How will you let those three days change you?

Lisa Keck is a happily married mother of two. She home-schools her children and is a volunteer Braille transcriber. In her free time she enjoys writing and doing crafts.