100

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." Hebrews 2:1

Good morning, dear friends!

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Today is a blog milestone for me:  100 posts!  I can't believe that I got here. (Some of you reading may wish that I hadn't gotten here!)  Thank you so much for reading and praying for the different needs I mention here.  You are the reason that this blog exists, and I am thankful for the many kind comments, encouraging words, and helpful critiques that so many of you have offered.

On a side note, I was "googling" a Bible verse the other day because I could not remember the reference (oh! how the mighty have fallen!) and the first article that showed up was one of my blog posts, in which I had referred to the verse!  My picture showed up and everything!  Now, that was strange!

I have no expectations or desires of being an Internet sensation with this blog, far from it!  For many years I have enjoyed journalling about my Bible time, and my Christian walk, that now this has become an extension of that time.

It hasn't always been easy.

At the end of last year, I was in a spiritually dry place.  I like to think that everyone gets them, so that I feel better about myself, but in reality, I am the one to blame.  My Bible reading was routine.  My prayer life was stale. I was having a harder and harder time encouraging myself to continue in the work here.

Around Christmastime I heard the testimony of a friend in Christ whose wife had become a stumbling block to him in the ministry.  The Lord used that testimony to plague me during the days and nights to follow.  Was I going to become a casualty in the ministry?  Was I going to keep my husband from fulfilling God's plan in his life?  Was I going to allow my spiritual walk to drag, dwindle and fade out into mere lip service?

Or was I going to do something about it?

This blog was one of the lifelines that the Lord threw to me during that time.  Over and over again I have heard about the need for being accountable to others in the Christian life, and how true that is.  Writing down my thoughts here, and the things that God is teaching me daily, has become more than a good New Year's Resolution, or, as my friend and I have joked about it, a spiritual mid-life crisis.

It was the shove I needed, to dig deep in the Word of God, to get back on my knees in fervent prayer, and to continue in the walk that the Lord has called me to live here in France, in my family, and as a light and testimony to those all around me.

The Bible verse at the top of this blog has become a rallying cry for me this year: "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." Hebrews 2:1

I don't believe that many Christians deliberately walk out on God after having enjoyed close fellowship with Him.  I believe that more often than not, I allow my heart to grow cold slowly, gradually, until I look back after a time of straying, and wonder, "How did I get here?"

This Bible verse reminds me that I know what I am supposed to do, but if I am not paying careful attention, I will allow my heart to forget, my ears to become dull of hearing, and if I don't catch myself first, I will let the truths of God slip from heart.

My challenge for this year has been each day to dig deeply in God's Word, in prayer, and paying more careful attention to the truths that I find in His Word.  I want to look back at 2015 and see that my life is closer to the Lord, my footsteps more closely in tune with His, and my faith strengthened and encouraged.  I don't want to be a casualty, but a good a faithful servant, enduring to the end.

Thank you for walking with me and my family during this journey.  100 blog posts down, many more to come, with the Lord's help...

Coded Messages

"And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." Luke 18:34

Good morning, friends!

Did you ever invent a secret code for you and your friends when you were little?  

I remember my early attempts at coded messages, thinking my A=1, B=2, etc coded messages were very clever.  I remember learning to speak "pig latin," thinking that I could say whatever I wanted and no one would ever understand me.

(A few well-placed smacks on my bottom after I sassed my mom in this "secret language" assured me that this was NOT the case.)

I had a "grown up" experience with a secret code this week, during one of my English lessons with an adult.  I was playing a recorded voice of a soldier from WWI, with a decidedly British accent that was very difficult to understand. Even as I was listening, I wondered, "Is he speaking English there?"

My student was very relieved when I produced the transcript of the recording.  Finally, something to decode the "secret message" of the recording she was hearing!  All of a sudden, the unrecognizable language patterns and sounds, with the written words, became intelligible to her ears!

A passage in Luke 18 became very clear to me as I was reading this morning.  Jesus had just finished describing what would happen to Him on this earth in just a short while, even using the prophets as reference:

"For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death:  and the third day he shall rise again." (Luke 18:32-33)

Even though the disciples had the words of the prophets, and the teachings of Jesus, this message was still incomprehensible to them.  They had the coded message, but without the decoder, the words did not have any meaning.  This saying, the Bible tells us, "was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." (Luke 18:34)

There have been many times in my Christian life when I wish that I could have been with the disciples during Jesus's time, seeing the miracles that He did, eating a meal with Him, listening to His teachings firsthand.  Other times I am so glad that I live in my day, because I have the knowledge that the disciples did not yet have.

I have the written-down "code," that helps me understand spiritual mysteries:  the revealed Word of God.  The disciples could only understand in part, because Jesus's death, burial and resurrection hadn't happened yet!  Even though they had the prophets and their teachings, this saying went so far beyond their reasonings and understanding that it remained a mystery to them.

I also have the ultimate "code breaker," who indwells me:  the Holy Spirit.  He translates God's Word to me so that I can understand His teachings.  While I may not understand every word of God's message, it's okay, because He does!  He can help me comprehend the hidden truths that the disciples could not:  Jesus, God's Son, would die on the cross, personally taking my punishment for my sins, so that I can have eternal life and peace with God!

Thankfully, when I arrive at a "difficult passage" in the Bible, I can pray to the one who wrote it, and ask Him to "break the code" so that I may live and walk closer to Him.

When I talk with others today about God's Word, may the Lord allow me to share its message freely with others.

Time to get "cracking."

In His Time

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Good morning, friends!

For those of you in the U.S. still struggling under the snows of Snowmaggedon 2014/15, you have my apologies as I post this.  For the record, we had one snow this year that melted by lunchtime.

I'm guessing I know where all our snow went this year.

Early spring is upon us.  My first daffodil bloomed this weekend.  My children were outside for the first time without coats yesterday.  (Yes, they will probably be sick by this weekend.) The birds are starting to be louder in the morning, and the sun setting later.

Spring is definitely right around the corner, and I must admit, it feels, smells, and looks incredible.

People always laugh at me when they ask me my favorite season.  It's spring...or maybe fall.  Winter's pretty, though and summer's nice, too.  I guess I really don't have one, but if my back was to the wall, I would have so say fall.

Or, maybe spring.

I am always amazed by the beauty of the seasons.  What amazes me the most about them, is that God, even after the world became cursed by sin, left so much beauty in the world for us to enjoy.

Yes, there is sickness, and sadness, and disease, and death.  There are natural disasters and tragedies that occur in the physical world.

But there is also great beauty.

The verse in Ecclesiastes at the top of this post reminds me that GOD is the author of beauty.  This is still His Creation, even though it has been marred by sin.  He could have removed the flowers from the earth. Instead, He left the flowers, but gave them thorns.  He could have made the passing of the seasons (also a result of His judgment on the earth from man's sin during the flood) devoid of the beauty and majesty of Indian falls, red maple trees, and sunshine sparkling on fresh snow.

The beauty that remains is a testimony of what was present at the moment of Creation, and a reminder of an eternal God who will one day erase the results of sin in this world and show us just how everything was originally meant to be.

The word "world" in this passage is an interesting one. (No, I do not speak Hebrew, so I have to trust what many scholarly minds have ferreted out for me.)  When the writer reminds us that God "hath set the world in their heart," it is a word that means a sense of eternity, from ancient times to a distant future.

Simply put, God's Creation, and the beauty in it, should remind us 1. that we are not in control of everything as much as we would like to think we are, and 2. God is.

God is the one who made, who gave beauty, and who existed long before everything was here, and will exist long after the world is no longer here.

The next time I am moved at the sight of God's beauty in creation, may He help me to give credit where credit is due.  May I take the time to revel in the blessings of God's wonderful creation and the praise Him for His wonderful works.

Taking time to "smell the roses" in life, means I should praise the loving God who made them.

Over a Cup of Coffee

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love...given to hospitality..."Romans 12:10,13

Good morning, ladies!

I can remember a time in my life, when coffee was just not a priority. 

How did I ever survive?

My children have been reminded fairly often not to talk or even make eye contact with me in the morning before that first delicious sip of life giving nectar. I haven't yet mastered the skill of drinking it straight like my mother-in-law, but still, I do enjoy my daily coffee.

Living in France, it's a good thing.  

Having someone over for a cup of coffee in France is more than just an invitation for a hot drink.  A cup of coffee represents a person opening her home, inviting pleasant conversation, and sharing of her life.  It is a welcome break in a busy day, at the very least a convival pause where time is not so much a factor as is the company.

Like many aspects of French etiquette, there is a measure of "savoir faire" (the "right way") for having a guest for coffee.  

The most important is stamina. 

I have invited ladies over for a spontaneous cup of coffee.  Often they reply, "Well, a quick cup," and then stay for over an hour.  Anything less would be considered inhospitable.  I have been invited for coffee, and have stayed for as long as three hours, extending coffee time to snack time to almost the next meal.

There was a time in America, I am told, when having a neighbor over for coffee was, well, the neighborly thing to do. That is, when we knew our neighbors and people were actually home. But that's a subject for another blog post.

The Bible reminds us to be given to hospitality, which literally means to be lovers of strangers.  Opening my home to others is not optional--it is a commandment given in the context of showing love to those in the family of Christ, as much as having an open door and a safe haven for strangers to be welcomed in.

It is during this relaxed setting that trust is built, friendships are formed, lifelines are extended, and the good news of Christ shared.

Is is inconvenient?  Sometimes.  Does it take time and energy?  Of course.

Is it worth the effort?  Most definitely.

So, with whom will you share a cup of coffee today?

Willing Hands, God's Strength

"Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly..." Psalms 108:12-13a

Good morning, friends!

Have you ever found yourself looking at your present life, your present circumstances, and think to yourself,

"How did I get here?"

There have been times that I have said this in my shame.  I looked at my present circumstances, saw my sins and failures in my faithfulness in the "basics" of Christian life.  I found my faith failing and my Bible reading dry and my prayers few.  When I realized how far I had come from obeying God's truths, I looked back at amazement and shook my head.  How did I allow myself to get so far away from the Lord?

There are other times when I find myself shaking my head in disbelief. I am living in FRANCE!  My husband is a pastor.  I am a missionary wife.  How did this happen? How did the Lord see fit to equip and use me for the work He has called me to do here?

Speaking a foreign language on a daily basis.

Writing Bible lessons for kids and ladies.

Singing in front of the church.

Baking the communion bread for our service.

Fixing a meal for a large groups of people with relatively short notice...and being very calm about it.

Hosting missions groups from the U.S.

Writing and directing the camp "Christmas" play.

Playing the piano in a church service with my hands shaking so hard only the Lord got me through it (and feeling like I was going to throw up the entire time--don't laugh.  OK, you can laugh a little.)

During moments like the ones I mentioned above, I can honestly say that I had no qualifications or preparedness in ANY of those areas to make it a comfortable experience.  All I can say with any assurance is that there was a need, and I made myself available to the Lord to answer that need.

This works well in my life, as long as I remember that I am not the one who does anything.

My friend brought this verse in Psalms at the top of the blog to my remembrance this week.  This whole Psalm is the outpouring of David's heart to the Lord for help in distress.  David reminds the Lord of His promises to His people for help and deliverance, and he ends this passage with the thoughts:

"Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly..." (Psalms 108:12-13a)

How many times have I attempted to labor for the Lord in my own strength, only to see those attempts fail horribly?

How many times have I attempted to help others with the wrong attitude or wrong motivation?

How many times have I attempted to "get out of" a difficult trial or situation by my own reasoning or logic?

How many times do I forget that without Christ, "ye can do nothing?" (John 15:5)

"Vain is the help of man..."

BUT...

"Through God we shall do valiantly."

By relying on God through prayer, I can ask for physical strength, and He gives it willingly.

By relying on God through prayer, I can ask God to give me His love, so that I may serve others with the right attitude.

By relying on God through prayer, I can ask for wisdom, or grace, or patience, or faith, to persevere when life's challenges overwhelm me.

Will I choose today to rely upon my talents, my abilities, my thoughts, my ways?

Or will I choose to live "valiantly" and victoriously through Christ "who strengthens me?" (Philippians 4:13)

I pray, that I will choose the latter.

Change of plans

"For ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that."  James 4:15

Good morning, dear friends!

Ever had a change of plans?

I am a planner.  I make to-do lists.  I like to know what's on my schedule, my kids' schedule, on my husband's schedule.  I like to plan ahead for things.  I have not gotten to the point where I plan out my meals, but I do try to think ahead towards future events, even if they are not for a week or a month.

My oldest son is also a planner.  He will make out elaborate lists for how to spend his vacation day, or his allowance, or prioritize his Lego projects.  This will be a great help for him later in life, if he will remember one essential truth:

Life doesn't always go as it is planned.

My son and I both experienced one of those hiccups this week.  For my son it was a day off from school (teacher's strike) that he had been planning to spend his time doing certain activities. Well, as it turned out, he had to stay longer at school that he had planned, which led to a mini-meltdown in his schedule, and a mini drama in his life.  

For me, it was unexpected car problems this week that meant that my long-awaited (and finally close to being realized) back deck project, would be waiting a little bit longer.

What is my reaction when things don't go according to my plans?

Well, from past circumstances, it has resulted in mini tantrums, anger, tears, or a rebellious heart.  I don't do well with change, and especially when I have devised out what I think would be the best solution to a given  situation.  There's only one problem with that:

I am not God.

Only God's plans are perfect for my life.  He alone sees the big picture.  He knows what is coming my way this week, this month, this year, this lifetime.  I may have things worked out for me, but that doesn't mean that I have thought of all of the possibilities that only a perfect God can know about.

Here are some problems that come when I try to order my steps:

Presumption.  I assume that my circumstances are going to continue just as they are, without any foreseeable changes.  James 4:13-14 reminds me that I do not know what is coming my way:  "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow."

Reliance on my riches and timeline.  God appoints me as a steward, and my resources, both in terms of money and time, belong to Him alone.  In the same passage mentioned above, God reminds me that there are no guarantees that today's financial plans are His will for tomorrow:  "To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain."

Shortsightedness.  "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) My life here on earth is not forever.  Making my plans apart from God, with whom I have the blessing of living for all eternity, is just foolishness.  I do not even have the guarantee of my next breath, much less the next years to come.

Blinding pride.  Achieving my plans at any cost keeps me from the flexibility that I need to be able to see and respond to the needs of those around me.  I am again reminded in this passage:  "But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:16-17)  I must allow God to change my plans as needs arise, so that I can reach out to help others in need, rather than selfishly hoarding God's blessings for myself.

The key verse here in the passage is the verse at the top of this blog:  "For ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that."  (James 4:15)  By allowing God in my thoughts when I am making my plans for this day, whether with my time or my finances, I am putting Him in the rightful place as King, Lord and Master of my life.

Then, if my plans for the day must change, I am ready for that.  I am not caught unaware, but am ready to do whatever needs to be done, so that Christ would be honored in my life, and that I would get a little bit smaller in my own estimation. 

I praise the Lord for a mini victory in my life this week.  I was able to accept the changes in my plans with graciousness, and not worry.  I was able to hand the deck/car problem situation to the Lord, and walk away, my faith intact and maybe a little bit more like Christ in my life.

May each day bring similar victories, so that my plans always become God's plans, so that I am able to say, in all honesty, "Not my will, but thine."

(Just FYI:  Any stories that are related from my children are always printed with permission from them and their approval before posting!)

Tears of...

"Oh, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" Jeremiah 9:1

Good morning, dear friends!

Photo: georgehodan publicdomainpictures

Ever feel like you need a good cry?

For any guys reading this blog today, a "good cry" is probably a mystery to you.  My husband was very perplexed when we were first married, and he had good reason to be.  After all, he would ask me, "What's the matter?" and I would respond with the female, "Nothing...and everything..." and procede to burst out in tears.  I'm sure my husband was asking himself, "So, are you crying about nothing, or everything?" but he had the wisdom instead to respond, "There, there," and give me a hug.

Now we are able to joke about it, but there are those days, when I just feel so overwhelmed that the only "logical" solution is to have a good cry, and then many times I feel better.  There are other times I know when my tears are not the best solution....

...when I am crying in anger about a "wrong" in my life...

...when I am having a pity party because I don't have something or someone close by...

...when I am frustrated because of "out of control" circumstances in my life.

Sometimes, the hurts cannot be seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart, and the tears I shed are from a deep pain that no other outlet can express.  

I think Jeremiah was having one of those moments in the verse at the top of this blog.  Jeremiah had been receiving the warnings and upcoming judgments toward the wickness of the people of Israel.  He had been warning them, knowing full well that they would not listen to God's warnings and return to their service of God alone.  He had been faithfully transmitting God's message, and the people were turning a deaf ear to God's Word.  

What prompted Jeremiah's tears? It was the continued rebellion of God's chosen people to their Creator God.  It was their indifference to sin in their lives.  It was the willful ignoring of God's pleas to return to Him, before God executed judgment on them.  

Their continued disobedience brought tears to Jeremiah's eyes. 

I don't believe this was a little cry, either.  Jeremiah describes his sadness and grief at the hardness of the hearts of those around him, that he exclaimed:  " Oh, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jeremiah 9:1)  That is a lot of grief, and a lot of tears.

It begs the question:  When was the last time that I was so moved in seeing the wickedness of this world, that I was moved to tears?

How easy it is to harden my heart against the injustices of the world!  How easy it is to hear about natural disasters, or even the destructive acts of men, and not have any pity, or concern for others!  As long as all is well in my little bubble, I can easily ignore the pain and suffering going on all around me, and the horrendous consequences of sin in the lives of others around me!

My eyes should not be dry.

May God open my eyes, and break my heart anew, so that my heart is overrun with conviction and a desire to do everything I can to stand against the evil that is so prevalent today.  May each lost soul, each erring child, each wicked sin in my own life, cause my heart to be so burdened that I take to my knees in prayer.

May I see the world as God sees it, and be willing to act as His hands, feet and lips today.

There have been too many tears unshed today, and that needs to change...

Holding each other up

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

Good morning, dear friends!

For the first time in several days, I have been able to bend my knee, without any pain!  Woo hoo!  Still haven't walked much yet without the brace, but it felt so good to be able to move my knee!  What a difference a few days makes!

I was talking on the phone last night with a co-worker here in France who is struggling with many health problems, including severe leg pain.  To say that I felt small, however, in comparing my pain to hers, is an understatement.  This dear lady lives with constant pain, that she will probably have for the rest of her life.  I knew my leg was on the mend, and soon I would be pain-free, and able to walk with relative ease.

God used this encounter yesterday to remind me, that no matter how annoying or difficult my present circumstances might be, there are always those around me whose hurts are far greater, and need my compassion and love.  I was humbled yet again that in that God in His great love cares for each and every person through the trials that He gives, no matter how big or small in our eyes they seem.

How easy is it to get nearsighted to focus only on our own problems and struggles and forget that there is an entire world of Christian brothers and sisters on whom we need to show compassion and help in their distresses!

As I read the verse in Galatians 6:2 this morning, I am reminded that the family of Christ is likened to a human body (Romans 12.)  If one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts.  In the same way, if one part of the body is weak in strength, the rest of the body can help to carry the weaker part along.  My knee was out of commission for a few days, but that did not keep me from being able to get around this week.  The rest of my body, that was stronger, was able to bear the load for my weakened member.

How can I help carry along my brothers and sisters in Christ this week? I need to be in tune with the hurts of others around me.  Sometimes it takes time to ask the right questions, and really listen for the answers that are given. I can pray.  I can encourage. I can ask, "What can I do to help?" and then get busy.  All around me are people that need help, if I will just take the time to get involved with others' lives.

The second part of this verse in Galatians 6:2 has often come to mind, especially on the lips of those who would accuse me of not being a "very good" Christian.  Even the unbelievers realize that when I hurt, or at the very least refuse to help a brother or sister in Christ, I do not "fulfil the law of Christ." What a harmful showing to my testimony, when I refuse to help others in their times of need, or worse, judge others who find themselves in difficulties.

People are always watching.

May the Lord help me today to open my eyes to the needs of those all around me, having compassion on those who are hurting, and helping to bear up those that I can, so that the cause of Christ is not hindered today.

For all my hurting friends out there, know that I am praying for you today.

Let's hold each other up today.

Good news from far away

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25

Good morning, dear friends,

Photo: petergriffin publicdomainpictures

I know there is a lot of good and bad on both sides of the issue, but can I just say how thankful I am for instant communication?

I know, I know, sometimes it seems like (and I would agree) that there are times in our day and time where we are TOO connected.  The "glowing magic box" too often vies for my attention when there are real people in the room with whom I need to be communicating.  It is very tempting to check Facebook, or see what is trending at any given time.  

For me, being here in France, though, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Just yesterday, I read of the birth of a daughter for whom I had been praying.  I am in contact with people from all over the world, who share their prayer requests and burdens.  I hear about people that need prayer, and can follow the updates until the need is met.  I know what is going on in family members' lives, some of whom I would have a very hard time keeping in touch with otherwise.  

When I think of how far and how fast technology has come in recent years, I am amazed and many times overwhelmed by the changes.  After all, when my husband and I were dating, only 19 years ago, we only had snail mail and fixed landlines with which to support our two and a half year long distance relationship.  I read recently that the average person living in present day time will have to learn to use at least 20,000 different pieces of technology, just in everyday life, everything from alarm clocks to portable phones.  The times are definitely changing.

Something that does not change? 

Good news, especially good news from far away.  The way in which it is delivered has changed, but good news is always welcome, no matter the age.

The Bible verse at the top of this blog came to mind yesterday as I was thinking about the way our good news is delivered these days:  "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." (Proverbs 25:25) How comforting, how refreshing, how needed, is that cup of cold water when you are thirsty.  How comforting, how refreshing, how needed, are those words of encouragement from folks who live far away.  It is such a blessing to be reassured that people care, that people pray, that people weep with me, even though I haven't physically been in their presence for a long time.

I am also reminded of another "good news," that came from a far country, that refreshed my dry and thirsty soul:  "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

I do not always take the time as I should, but I want to thank you, dear readers, for your constant prayer and support for our ministry here.  It has been such an encouragement to me to read your comments, be assured of your prayers, and just to know that someone cares.

May I always be willing to share the "good news" of my days with you, and share the greatest news of all, of Jesus coming to earth, with others around me.

God says...

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the old ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..." Jeremiah 6:16

Good morning, dear friends!

One of my favorite games to use with my youngest English students here is Simon says.  Not only is it a game with which the French children are familliar (they call it, "Jacques says...") but it also allows me to teach a lot of actions, some of them pretty abstract, in a quick and fun way.  I play it almost every lesson with them, and they never get tired of it.  

Best yet, there is no extra preparation on my part.  I say what to do, and they do it.  Simple, right?

If only it were always that easy to obey...

I was reading in Jeremiah this morning, and the verse at the top of the blog caught my attention, mainly because of the number of short commands in this one passage.  God is reminding His people how to find the path of His blessing in their lives, if they would only obey.  These are the same actions that God requires of me today.  

Stand ye...  God was reminding the people to remain in the teachings that they had heard from Moses and the law, from God's own mouth and hand.  They were to hold fast to what they had learned, and not move from them.  In the same way, I have been set free from sin, and I need to remember that so that I will not return to my sins:  "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)

and see...  The people of Israel had allowed their eyes to stray from serving the living God to idols and false teachers, who were leading them astray.  God was calling their attention back to the path of blessing:  following Him and Him alone.  In my life, I must focus on Jesus.  He alone should attract my attention:  "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2)

and ask for the old paths...  The children of Israel no longer desired their God.  They had to repent and return to the path of their God who had saved them so many times in the past.  Jesus spoke of Himself as the "way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6) There is only one path of God's blessing in my life, and that is following Jesus.

and walk therein...  The children of Israel had to return to the laws and commandments of God, and follow them in obedience to be pleasing to God.  That was their path of blessing.  My path of blessing to follow the path that Jesus has laid out for me, in obedience to Him and His Word.  God  reminds me to "continue thou in the things thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast heard them." (II Timothy 3:14)

and ye shall find rest... The children of Israel found themselves on the verge of destruction as a nation at the hand of the Assyrians, with war on every side.  There was also enmity between themselves and God because they refused to follow His commandments.  As long as I too war against doing God's will in my life, and following the path that Jesus has set before me, I will never know peace in my own heart.  This verse reminds me so much of Matthew 11:28, where Jesus calls His children to Himself: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

How easy it would have been for the children of Israel to return to the Lord!  He was waiting, and willing for them to return from their unfaithfulness to the path of blessing in their lives.  How many times the Lord waits for me to return from my wanderings, and regain the path of close fellowship with Him.

When I am tempted to wander away from God in my sin, or stubbornness, or pride, may I remember that in this life, there is only one path, and that it is the one that Jesus has laid out for me.

May I, like a little child, simply humble myself to "God says," and then do what He says.

The View from the Chair

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Good morning, dear friends!

Day three, of my view from the chair.

It's easy, when I am forced to make a sudden change, to think in terms of what I cannot do.  For example, since Wednesday I have been either sitting or laying down for most of the day.

I know that sounds like a vacation for most, but I'm used to being up and at 'em, most of the time.

Even though I am supposed to walk some, just to keep my leg going a little, a lot of daily activities are on hold for right now.  I will not be planting any plants this week, or walking into town with my family, or jumping on the trampoline, or jogging, or any of the other activities the beautiful spring weather is beckoning me to do.

It would be easy to fall into the pity-party trap, and think about things that I am not ABLE to do.  However, the view from the chair, doesn't have to be a "can't" outlook, but a "can" outlook.  So, I can't walk or get around normally today, so what CAN I do?

I can delegate.  I have a house full of willing helpers and able bodies.  Others can handle the dishes, the floors, the laundry, for a few days.

I can talk!  I'm not going anywhere, so I have the chance to sit down and engage my children in meaningful conversation, and actually listen, without being distracted by the "busy-ness" of life.

I can encourage!  I can sit and type at the computer, and write notes of encouragement and prayers to those close to me.

I can pray!  And I have been.  I have so many people all around me, whose needs are far greater than mine.

Many times I get so distracted by all the daily tasks around me, that I forget just to sit, and take the time, to listen, feel, act and interact with others.  There is always that next task clamoring for my attention.

Actually, the view from the chair, is not that bad. I can do a lot, if I keep the right perspective and focus on the "why" I'm doing it.

Resisting...or blessing

"But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6

Good morning, dear friends!

Pride is such an ugly thing, indeed.

There's something about needing to depend on other people, for things that normally I can do myself, and find out all of a sudden that I can't, that makes my pride flare up.  I always want to do more than I should.  It's hard to sit down in a chair, or lie down in a bed, and have other people take care of me.  Even though I can, and am supposed to walk, I can't clean, or take a shower, or even get in and out of bed without a struggle, and some help.

It's hard to admit, that I can't.

The world considers "self-made" men, or confident, charismatic figures to be the measure of success in this life.  If you must rely on someone or something else to get you to the point where you are successful, then you are weak.  The world measures success by pushing human limitations to the extreme, until those who manage to climb to the top can proudly proclaim, "I did this!"

How foolish and arrogant to believe that, as the frail humans that we are, we can do anything worthy of acclaim, all by ourselves.  After all, people who say they "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps," had to start off with a pair of boots.  Where did those boots come from, anyway?

As my hand has been forced for the last few days to rely on God and on others, I realize how much I have adopted this worldly mentality toward accomplishing goals, any goal, whether spiritual or physical, relying on my own abilities, rather than on the strength of the Lord.

There are so many Bible verses that speak toward a Christian trusting in the Lord and His strength, but the one at the top of this blog spoke volumes to me this morning:

"God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble."

I did a little study this morning on the word "resisteth" used in this verse.  It can mean "to range oneself against," or "to oppose."  Webster's definition of "oppose" is very interesting:  it means "to disagree," or "to try and stop or defeat," something or someone.  Older definitions include "to place over against something so as to provide resistance."

In short I cannot rely on my own strength, my own abilities, my own intelligence or wisdom, and hope that God will not set Himself in opposition to me.  I must choose:  will I try to be the lord over my own life in my pride, or will I let God be my Lord?

As much as it is true that God will oppose me if I choose my ways over His, the second part of that verse is also true.  God promises to give "grace" to the humble: His favor and blessing.  That is the place that I want to be today.  I want to be in God's hands, being used by Him to be blessed and be a blessing.

I cannot in my pride, resist Him, and expect to find His blessings in my life.

As I sit on the receiving end of His blessings today, I discover once again the joy of loving family members and faithful friends, who delight as much in giving as receiving blessings.  I enjoyed meals lovingly prepared by others, and shared in the joy of closer times with my family.  If only I would just get out of the way, and let others help.

May the Lord help me today to rely on Him, and the help that He sends from others' hands, and remember that this is all part of His blessings that He loves to give toward His children.

And when I am "back on my feet," may God help me to continue to rest and trust in Him for my daily help, instead of trusting in myself and my own abilities.

Trusting

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding..." Proverbs 3:5

The view from here

Good morning, dear friends,

I'm a little bit later than usual getting to my blog this morning.   I guess my morning got off to a slower start than usual.  Usually I'm up at 5 am, but today I'm taking it easy.

Yesterday, when I was in town out to lunch with some of the teachers I teach English with, I wrenched my knee and went down.  That was it.  I hobbled back to the center, and taught a lesson sitting down, before my knight in shining armor came and whisked me away...to the doctor's.  Sprained knee, perhaps something torn inside, and a lot of pain.

I was trying to describe it to my children.  If 0 is fine and childbirth is 10, let's just call this one an eight.  Thankful for pain pills, and a lot of help from my family and friends.

One lady finished my lesson at work.

My kids were my legs.  My daughter even joked, "I can see where THIS is going."

My husband was my encourager, my strong arm, and my substitute legs.  It was very comical getting me into the doctor's office, into the house, but most especially into the car with a full leg brace on.

Have you ever tried to get into a car without being able to bend your leg?  Enough said.

Of course, all of this is perspective after a 10 hour sleep.  Yesterday, not so amusing.

Around 3 am, I woke up, frustrated because I could not get comfortable, crying from the pain, wondering what the next few days, weeks, or even months were going to be like.

Will I need surgery?  How will I get things done around the house?  How will I...the lists just kept replaying themselves in my head, and the more they tumbled around, the more frustrated I became.

I finally had to stop myself, and pray, and the Lord helped me to make a decision.

Was I going to be the kind of sick person that no one wants to be around, or am I going to let the Lord use this trial to teach me a lesson?  Am I going to wallow in self-pity, or am I going to get a grip on my emotions, and let the Lord use me to be a blessing to others?

I think I'll choose the latter.

I don't think this is going to be a quick recovery.  It might be, but I am preparing myself for the long haul.  And I want to look back on this moment of trial, and come out of it walking, literally I hope, closer to the Lord.

Gone missing

"Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you." Jeremiah 5:25

Good morning, dear friends,

Contrary to what my children may think in their hearts, I do not enjoy correcting them.

There have been many times while correcting them, that I have had to remind them of this fact.  I sometimes wonder if they feel as if I have nothing better to do with my time than invent cruel and unusual punishments for them.  I don't.  Generally speaking, I consider myself a nice person, and a nice mom.

As our children have grown, our corrections have grown as well.  Many times now it involves withholding from them something that they really enjoy doing, or having.  During these times, I often say to my children, that I cannot reward them for their disobedience, bad attitude, etc., and so I have to withhold their blessings, until they show themselves responsible enough to have them again.

I wonder, how many times in my own life, God has applied this same principle to me.

This passage this morning in Jeremiah is almost word for word what I say to my kids, without me realizing its source.  I cannot bless disobedience, and God certainly cannot, either.  God through Jeremiah tells the people that they are receiving the "just desserts" for their actions: "Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you." (Jeremiah 5:25)

What were the blessings that the children of Israel missed out on, by their disobedience?

The most notable one here is the most obvious:  God's care and provision for His people, in the most basic of ways:  sending the rains needed for their crops, their animals and themselves (Jeremiah 5:24).  In turning their backs on God, they turned their backs on the only one who is able to care completely for all their physical needs.

Because they turned their backs to God, God withheld His blessing from them.  If this is the case, then the opposite is true.  Psalm 84:11 reminds me, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."  The path of blessing is the path of obedience to God, in my walk with Him.

I do not believe this is a blanket promise, as many "name and claim" people have used it.  As a mom, even if my children were always obedient, and I could give everything that my children wanted, I wouldn't, because I would not want them to become spoiled and "forget" that these are blessings and not their "rights."  God has promised to provide my needs, and because He is a loving Father, He delights in blessing His child with many wants as well, but the danger is always for me to become too "spoiled" and forget the God who blesses.

May God remind me today to live my life free from sin, so that I can always enjoy the best of relationships with my Heavenly Father, who loves to give good things to His children.

And may I never again forget, as I so often do, the hands from whom all blessings come.

Something new

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old." Isaiah 43:18

Good morning, dear friends,

I'd just like to make a clarification before I start today's post.

I do not have a bucket list.

Don't get me wrong, if you are a bucket list person, that is fine with me.  I do not tend to think of my life in terms of things that I need to do before I leave this earth.  There are certainly things that I would enjoy doing, if the Lord permits, but not the urge to check off random activities before I die.  I tend to think of things that I tell myself, "If I ever get the chance, I would love to..."

Yesterday, I got to do one of those things.

My dad is, among his other talents, a builder, and loves to make things.  He created our dining room table, built our bunk beds, and built decks around our house while I was growing up.  He even built a storage shed outside to hold all our extra "stuff" that didn't fit in the house.  I loved to be Dad's "step and fetch it," and to this day, I remember holding the chalk line, pounding in crooked nails, and holding boards in place as he nailed or screwed them in.  There was one thing that I never got to do, though:

Play with concrete.

Yesterday, I did.  OK, in all fairness, my husband mixed it up, but I got to put it in place, to hold up some wood borders next to our concrete steps.  I have no idea how well it's going to hold, or if I will eventually have to restart the whole thing again, but I did it.

And it was FUN!

I used to hate trying new things!  What if I failed?  What if I made things worse?  What if I made a fool of myself in the process?  Maybe I am growing up a little bit--finally--but those things don't seem to bother me as much anymore.  There are few things in life that if I "fail", or "make worse," that cannot be fixed.  If I make a fool of myself, well, at least people will know how to pray for me for next time.

Yesterday, as I was thinking about trying out "new things," I read an interesting passage in Isaiah 43, where the Lord is encouraging the people of Israel to look to Him and to the future:

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-20)

God is encouraging His rebellious people in this chapter to turn to Him for the future.  His promises to guide them through dangers (Isaiah 43:1-2), if they will turn to Him in the midst of their problems (Isaiah 43:3-9).  He reminds them that they are His witnesses to His great works that He has done on their behalf, even as far back as His deliverance of His people from Egypt. (Isaiah 43:10-17) What He has done for them in the past, He will continue to do for them in the future.

The first part of verse eighteen in my French Bible reads, "Don't think anymore about past events..." Leave the past in the past, it reads.  I know my past is there, but I don't need to wallow in it.  I need to be looking toward Christ, and the promises He gives for "new things" in my future.

The children of Israel had their past to remind them of past victories, but also their past sins and failures.  I also am reminded that though the "old things" in my life are there, I am called to new things as well:

'Therefore if any man be in Christ, He is a new creature.  Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)

God also promises new hope to His children, if they will trust in Him!  This passage about the "new things" that God would do for the children of Israel ends with a promise: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

Through Christ, I have access to this promise as well.  My sins were placed on Christ.  These old things are "passed away," never to be remembered any more.

I am so thankful for the "newness of life" that God granted me through forgiveness of my sin.  If there were ever an "eternal bucket list," that should definitely top the list:  to be a new creature in Christ.

As I live my day today, may I be constantly reminded of all the new blessings that I enjoy today, because of my relationship with God.

May I encourage others, today, to "try something new," as well.

Sunshine

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I John 1:7

Good morning, my dear friends,

Yesterday afternoon was a gorgeous spring day here in Boves.  The sun shone all afternoon, and the kids and I played outside for most of the time.  At one point, I spread a blanket outside on the ground, and read a book while my daughter sketched in her sketchpad next to me.  I could have fallen asleep in the sunshine, it was just so beautiful.  I could not help but wonder, though:

Why would people prefer darkness to light?

I remember as a child playing in the dark with flashlights, or catching lightning bugs outside, but it was always with a light.  I never wanted to be caught in the forest outside my house without a flashlight.  I remember many camping trips my family took together, and even though we enjoyed being around a campfire, when the lights went off, I had no desire to be stuck outside, much less try to make it to the bathroom without a light to guide me.

Light shines.  Light reassures.  Light guides.

Why would I ever want to live without light?

In many passages in the Bible, God refers to the Light to describe His relationship with His creation, and His children.  There are too many to mention here, but here are three that the Lord put on my heart this morning as I was thinking about God's marvellous gift of light.

Jesus equates Himself with the light.  John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  Jesus came into a world that was dark in sin, to shine and chase away the darkness and shadows that had long plagued mankind.  Jesus's light revealed the darkness around Him, and showed that the only true source of light could be found in Him.

God reminds me that as His child, I am to reflect the light.  Ephesians 5:8: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"  As a Christian, I must choose:  will I ressemble Jesus in my life, or will I keep others from seeing Him in my life?  As a "child of light," my actions and attitudes must chase away the shadows and darkness in my own life, so that:

I may show God's light to others.  Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  If all I reflect to others is darkness, there is no difference between me and those who have not received God's light.  I must shine, to show the darkness around me, and point others to Jesus the light.

While I was outside enjoying the sunshine yesterday, I had to wear my sunglasses.  The light was so bright that it was difficult to ignore, and there were very few places in my garden where the light did not shine.  The only shade was when something came between it and the light source.

May God help me to shine brightly for Him today, so that I can point others to the true source of Light.  May I not get in the way of the light, so that others stay in darkness today.

It's going to be a bright day today...

Preparation

"For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns." Jeremiah 4:3

Good morning, dear friends,

If you enjoy gardening like I do, you probably enjoy looking through the gardening and landscaping magazines and getting ideas.  Of course, it always looks easier than the actual effort that went into planning that beautiful picture on the cover.  Hours of planning, preparation, and hard work preceeded the breathtaking result.  

Even though I am definitely an amateur gardener, I spend a lot of time on the front end of the project, than on the actual planting itself. 

I must spend time at the gardening store, picking out the right combination of flowers and bushes.  I must plan out my budget, and think about the right types of plants to grow in my less-than-fertile ground.  If money were not an option, or if our dirt were different, maybe this would not be such a difficult task, but it takes time. 

There is the backbreaking labour of breaking up the ground.  That is not fun, but it has to be done.  If I could just throw the plant so that the roots had contact with the ground and hope that it would grow, I would.  Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that.

There is the weeding as well.  A patch of ground that is overgrown, if not properly weeded and dealt with, will choke out any seeds that I would put there.  Again, if I could just throw the seed on the ground and hope for the best, I would, but that is not how it works, either.

The longest part of planting is not the planting itself, but the preparation.

As I was reading in Jeremiah today, the verse at the top of this blog caught my attention:  "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."  Since I have been thinking much about my garden in recent days, I was interested in this gardening analogy that God used towards the children of Israel.  Was God giving them gardening tips, or was He more concerned with the state of their hearts?

Obviously the children of Israel were well acquainted with sowing and planting.  They knew that having any crop that was worthwhile in their fields was a direct result in the effort that they fournished.  Their hard work was rewarded in the crop that they harvested.

For many years, the children of Israel during the time of Jeremiah had been serving false gods and practicing the futile religion of the peoples all around them.  Judgment was coming to God's people, but there was still time to make it right before the Lord.  Unfortunately, too many years directing their worship to false gods had hardened their hearts.  Nothing for God would grow there without a lot of hard work.

I find it interesting that God tells them to break up their own ground, to do the work of preparing their hearts before God.  The tools that God puts at their disposal are the same tools that He makes available to me today.

Repentance.  The first verse of Jeremiah 4:1 gives the first vital step in this process:  a change of heart:  "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord..."  They could not continue in their wickedness, and I cannot, either.  If I continue in my sinful ways and exclude God's truth in my life, I cannot hope to have a life that yields anything but sin.

Forsaking sin.  "...and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight..."  They had to not just agree with God that their sins were wrong, but they had to get rid of their sin entirely, and replace it with correct worship of God and God alone.  I must do the same in my own life.  

Recognizing God's Lordship over my life.  "And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory." (Jeremiah 4:2) The children of Israel could not continue to recognize other "gods" in their lives.  They had to surrender wholly to Him.  How much more do I need to remember the God that I serve in my everyday actions and attitudes.

These verses also remind me of the parable of the sower in Luke 8:11, where Jesus explains that the seed of the sower is the Word of God.  I know that I cannot grow in Christ apart from God's Word.  In order for God's Word to grow in my heart, and make lasting changes in my actions and attitudes, I must allow it to penetrate deep, place its roots and begin to grow.  I cannot hope to have God's Word grow in my heart, if I allow its "soil" to become hardened.

May God help me to plow up the "fallow ground" in my heart, so that I may live a life that is growing and producing a crop of righteousness for the Lord.

Time to break things up a bit... 

Family fun

"Rejoice evermore..." I Thessalonians 5:16

Good morning, dear friends!

Ever wonder what a missionary does for fun?

Consider the unique challenges for the missionary on its field, and their "fun times" will be very different.  Even though we live in a western European field, with many modern conveniences, the American-style fun that so many enjoy is just not available.  So what do we do for fun?

Friday nights are set aside as our family fun-times.  I usually start off preparing a "fun" meal, usually handheld.  Yesterday it was quesadillas and  jalapeño poppers, and cookies for dessert.  We often have board games or a fun video to watch.  Sometimes our coworkers come by and we have a "game night."

My family has a "Family Fun" jar.  We toss in our small change, and decide what family outing toward which we will be saving.  Even the kids contribute.  One time it was bowling.  Another time we were able to afford a visit to an aquarium, all from our "spare" change.

In between Fridays and these special outings, we go on walks.  We play board games.  We play badminton outside, or build Legos.  We pull all the covers off our big bed and wrestle and have ticklefests.  Many times these special moments are not planned.  They just happen, and everyone goes to bed with a smile on their face.

There are several passages in the Bible that come to mind when I think about a "merry heart." Three of them are in the book of Proverbs.  Each verse has a different lesson for me as I start my day today:

1.  What goes on in the inside, shows up on the outside.  Proverbs 15:13 reminds me, "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."  It has almost become trite to say, "You are never fully dressed without a smile," but how true it is in real life! Smiles are a rare commodity, because hearts are heavy!  One time, on a rare occasion when my family was in a restaurant here, I had my children look around the restaurant and tell me if they saw anyone smiling.  There weren't, and that was in a restaurant where dining out should be a pleasure!  If I have joy in my heart, it will show up on my face, and others will notice.

2.  A happy heart satisfies my deepest hungers.  Proverbs 15:15 explains that "all the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."  I don't know if you have ever been invited to someone's house for a meal that seems to have no end, but I have been to several.  Just when you think you should be heading towards dessert or a diabetic coma, out will come another plate, or even whole course!  The Bible compares having a merry heart to a continual feast.  Imagine constantly being filled with good food, and just when you think it's run out, there's another course to eat.  If I will train my heart to be happy, I will never run out of reasons to praise the Lord.

3.  Not all medicine has to taste bad.  In Proverbs 17:22, I read that "a merry heart doeth good like medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones."  My children before taking any medicine will always ask me, "Is this the medicine that tastes good, or tastes bad?" I can't always remember what flavors are good to them or not, so sometimes I tell them yes, and then get rewarded with horrified looks and shudders as the medicine goes down.  There is one medicine that will always be a pleasure as it heals, and that is a merry heart!

I cannot help but pause when I read the second half of these verses:

"...by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." (15:13)

"...all the days of the afflicted are evil..." (15:15)

"...but a broken spirit drieth the bones..." (17:22)

Do I want my life to be characterized by a sorrowful heart, a broken spirit, an afflicted person with evil days, or a dried up skeleton with no substance?

Or do I want my life to be lightened and encouraged by a merry heart?

I know which one I hope to choose today...

Got time for that?

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil..." Ephesians 5:15-16

Good morning, dear friends!

I have been reading articles about time management, which, when you consider it, is counter-productive.  After all, if you should be making the most of your time, shouldn't you be doing something other than reading articles about keeping track of time?

Hmmm....I'll have to think about that one...for a minute, no longer...

I am not a time-management guru.  I am a recovering control freak, and that is very different.  But still, things have to be done, and I have a limited amount of time given to me in each day, and so I need to make the most of my minutes, right?

For several years now, I have practiced the "ten-minute" method.  There are many times when I wake up in the morning, look at the overflowing laundry basket, the dirty dishes piled up in the sink, the dirty tile floors and just general "untidiness," and just shut down.  I can't, I tell myself.  I can't do all these things again.

Do you know how many daily tasks you can accomplish in ten minutes or less?

I have found that I can empty the dishwasher, and fill it back up, and even rinse out the sink, in just ten minutes.  I can fold a load of laundry and put it away in ten minutes.  I can vacuum my downstairs, or mop my downstairs tiles, in ten minutes.  I can make my bed and straighten up my bedroom in ten minutes.  The list is endless.

Whenever I have one of those days when I just can't, I make myself think in terms of ten minutes.  Start one task, and move to the next, reminding myself that ten minutes isn't that long, after all.

If this is true for my housework, could this "ten-minute" principle be applied to other areas of my life as well?

In ten minutes, I can read a chapter in the Bible.  I can memorize a Bible verse, or short passage, in just ten minutes, even with my middle-aged brain.  I can pray for a missionary, or several missionaries, or skim my Facebook feed and pray for the different requests that are mentioned. I can write an encouraging note, or email.  I can walk to a neighbor's house, any neighbor, in less than ten minutes time.

Finding the time to do what I need to do, is usually not difficult.  Taking the time, and investing the time instead of watching it go by, is something else entirely.

The Bible verse mentioned at the top of this blog, when read in context, in a reminder to me to be different from the world that I have been called out of.  All of the worldly things mentioned in the verses preceding this passage are vain, empty and downright wicked (and not the New England wicked, either.)  I should be walking, as I am reminded in several places in this passage, as a child of light, fleeing the darkness, not partaking in the evil deeds all around me.

The word "redeeming" is this passage means buying up, ransoming, or rescuing from loss.  If I am not careful with my day, it will be frittered away in whatever activity strikes my fancy at the moment--sometimes very good things--but not the BEST things.  If I want to make the most of my day--real time management--I need to have eternal perspectives on my daily activities.

Will I keep the house clean, because I am a dutiful housewife, or because I don't want neighbors to think we're slobs, or will I clean the house because I love the Lord, and my family?

Will I read the Bible, or pray, or visit someone, because I know that's what a Christian is supposed to do, or will I do it because I love the Lord, and want close fellowship with Him and those He died for?

Will I fill my day with activities, or will I invest my time for things that have eternal value, as a child of light should?

Ten minutes may not seem like a long time here on earth, but I am sure that there are many "ten minute" actions or decisions, that will last forever.  May the Lord help me today to redeem the time, and multiply it into eternity.

The clock is ticking...

That next goal...

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Good morning, dear friends!

For the past several months, a group of ladies and I have been completing various fitness challenges together.  These are thirty day challenges that start off fairly easy, and progress in intensity until by the end of the month, you feel like you have really accomplished something!  It has been such an encouraging and positive experience that I hope to continue with the next challenges, even though they seem to get tougher each time.  

The most daunting part of beginning each new fitness challenge is before I start.  I look ahead to the end of the month, and see the end result, and I think to myself, "No way, I'm not going to be able to get there."  Then I begin the challenge, and start training until little by little, I begin to achieve new strength, or new flexibility, and at the end of the challenge, what seemed impossible at the beginning of the month becomes achievable!  I can look back and see the rewards of my faithful training!

If this is true in the physical realm, isn't it also true in other areas of my life?

How do couples stay married for 50 + years?

How do people attend church regularly, and faithfully, for many years?

How do I stay faithful in Bible reading, or praying, or witnessing?

Ever heard the joke about eating an elephant?  One bite at a time...

I think that had I known June 27, 1987, all the twists and turns that my life would take, all the joys and trials, and realize that my decision for Christ was going to change every aspect of my life, that might have given me pause.  I would never have regretted the decision of coming to Christ--the blessings far outweigh the difficulties--but I am so glad that before I came to Him, God did not reveal all that I would now, and will one day, go through in my daily walk.  

I'm so thankful that I had only the starting line--and the finish line--in view.  

The verse at the top of this blog helps me put my Christian walk in perspective.  I should have "tunnel vision" as I complete my daily activities.  As trials come and circumstances, both blessings and burdens, come my way, I should have one objective:  becoming like Christ.  Any obstacles or trials that come my way are just that--obstacles and trials--that may slip me up or cause me to stumble along the way.  My ultimate goal is to arrive in heaven, where I shall see Christ face to face, and ressemble Him the most so that my transition will be the natural conclusion of a lifetime of service.

This verse reminds me that my walk with God begins and ends with Christ, and His finished work on the cross.  He is the Author, the Creator, the Planner, the Institutor, and the Finisher of all grace.  If I am able to stand one day before Him, it will all be because of His work on the cross.  He is in heaven with God, seated at His rightful place as King and Lord of all, and one day I will stand before Him as a beloved child, all because of His grace.

Anyone feel like shouting with me?

May I press on today, keeping my eyes fixed on Him, so that I may arrive at the finish line and not be ashamed of the way that I ran.

Accept no substitutions

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13

Good morning, dear friends!

I have another secret for my blogging friends, something that I rarely share with others.  I am probably the most un-female female on the planet, but here it is:

I hate shopping.

I do not like it, Sam-I-am.  I do not like it in a car, I do not like it where you are.  I do not like grocery stores.  I do not like it, more and more.

Maybe one of the reasons why I hate shopping so much is trying to figure out what I need, and how much I should pay for it.  There is no choice to shopping for food or clothing, but I never know if the price that I pay is what I should be paying, or if I just held out a little bit longer, I could find a better bargain somewhere else.

I guess that's why I go grocery shopping twice a month, and that's it.

I love a good bargain.  Usually in the grocery stores, or in clothing stores, I don't look much at the brand.  As long as it looks fairly edible, or fairly durable, I don't mind trying generic or knock-off brands.  In fact, most of the things that are in my grocery basket or shopping cart are not the "real" brands, but the black and white store label.  My kids prefer the store-brand Nutella, for example, than the real stuff.

There are some exceptions.  Ketchup, for example, that is the store brand, is little more than tomato juice here, and definitely only good for sloppy joes and meatloaf.  Anything that says "American style," usually isn't.  I mean, when is the last time you bought hot dogs in a can that were not Vienna sausages?

Some things just do not substitute well at all.

While reading in the book of Jeremiah this morning, I was amazed again at the goodness of God toward His people.  In chapter two, God relates to Jeremiah a brief history of the Jewish people, how He led them out of Egypt "into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof..." (Jeremiah 2:7)  How God must have delighted in offering this gift to His children!  He gave them the very best that He could offer them.

After many years of enjoying the gracious mercy of God, the attitude of the people changed: "...but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination." (Jeremiah 2:7)  God gave them everything they needed, even more than they needed, and the people went away from Him to serve other gods.  They despised the gift they were given, and "have changed their glory for that which doth not profit." (Jeremiah 2:11)

The saddest verse in this passage for me is the verse at the top of the blog: "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13)

God outlines two crimes against His children here:

1.  They turned their backs on God.  God likens Himself here to "a fountain of living waters," the source of refreshment and life for their souls.  God took care of all their needs, and more, and yet they rejected His rule and Lordship over them.  Instead,

2.  They tried to substitute ANYTHING for God.  Instead of enjoying the life and blessings from God's hand, the people tried to work out for themselves their own solutions to their problems.  They refused to go to God the source, and instead went searching for help anywhere but God.  They "hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."  Not only were their solutions a pitiful substitute--give me a spring fountain anyday over a well--they were useless.  A broken well that doesn't even hold water makes no sense at all.

Before I am too quick to pass judgment on the people of Israel, should I not examine my own life? Are there areas of my life where I try to ignore God and seek out my own inferior solutions?  I may not bow down to a statue or pray to an idol, but the moment when I exalt my own intelligence or my own abilities over God's perfection, don't I do the same thing?

May God help me today to put Him first in my activities today.  May I seek to please Him and listen to His Word, more than I try to fix and fashion things in my own image.

May I refuse to accept substitutions, and pitiful ones at that, for knowing and serving the true and living God.

Growing Like Weeds

"But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Luke 8:15

Good morning, dear friends!

It was another beautiful spring afternoon here in Boves today, and I couldn't resist puttering out in the garden this afternoon.  There were lots of things I could have been doing, but there was a job that had been waiting for me for some time....

WEEDS

I think when we get to heaven, we're going to find out that God's favorite flower is the dandelion.  No, really.  Those things are UNSTOPPABLE!  Just when you think you have cleared out the last one, your children decide to blow fuzzies all over the yard.  Although...who can blame them?  I like blowing the fuzzy flowers, too...

I am always amazed as I am working on the dandelions, how large the root system is!  It is no wonder that dandelions survive weed killer, bleach and nuclear holocaust.  Their roots are so firmly anchored that it takes much digging, pulling, and hacking away at the ground before the dandelion breaks loose!

That is the secret of the dandelion:  strong roots.

I have been reading much lately in the Bible on the subject of plants for the French blog I help author.  The next few weeks will be a series on trees, plants, flowers, and all things spring.

One thing that has amazed me is how often God uses roots to illustrate spiritual truths.  Here are some things I have observed these past few days:

Roots, though invisible, are the support structure of the plant.  As a Christian, my faith in Christ must be my foundation on which I build my life.  In Colossians 2:7, I read that my roots in the faith come only through Christ's work on the cross:  "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Roots bring nourishment and stability to the entire plant.   "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Good roots are essential to healthy plants.  All plants have needs for the right kind of food.  Ephesians 3:17 reminds me where I should place my "roots as a Christian,"in love..."  God's love is the foundation of my life as a Christian.  If I am not rooted in His love, then I will be weak and not useful for the work He has called me to do today.
so that I may grow:  "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded

The next time I am working in the garden on an especially stubborn plant, may God remind me how important my roots in Christ are.  May I stay firmly anchored in the Word of God, so that I may grow to be a healthy, mature Christian that brings honor to my Lord.

Time to get growing...

Public speaking

"Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." Jeremiah 1:17

Good morning, dear friends!

When I was in school, I did not like giving speeches in front of the class.  I did it, but it was not something that I enjoyed.  It wasn't until I took drama in high school that I got over my fear of speaking in front of a group.  Even today I still am very nervous getting up in front of a group, even if I know that I am among friends, and have no real reason to fear.

I can't imagine what it would be like to address in public a group of people hostile to me.

There was one public speaking experience that was not fun for me.  In my sophomore year of college, I was required to take a philosophy class.  My teacher was very antagonistic to my Christian views and enjoyed ridiculing my thoughts and ideas in front of the group.  Early on in the class, I had to debate that God is the author of morality and that there are absolutes in this world because God ordained them.

I have never been so nervous speaking in front of a group in my life.  I don't know to this day if there were any Christians in that class, but I don't remember receiving any support from other students in that group.  I was on my own.

Well, not exactly on my own.

When I think about God's words to Jeremiah during the early days of his ministry, I can only imagine how much of a comfort it was to him to know that God was going to be putting His words in Jeremiah's mouth.  He did not have to wonder if he had the correct message, or if he was going to convey the wrong message to his audience.  He did not have to convince of his own intellect or experience.  He just had to make sure that he was where he needed to be, addressing the right group at the right time.

That certainly does not mean that he had an easy task.

What an encouragement to Jeremiah to know that God was not only going to give him the words to stay, but also assured him of his presence and protection during that time.  The last verse of this first chapter of Jeremiah records God's promise to him:

"And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee." (Jeremiah 1:19)

Several truths jump out of this verse at me:

God told Jeremiah that his would not be an easy job.  Earlier in this passage, God tells Jeremiah, "...gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces..." (Jeremiah 1:17).  God was warning Jeremiah that this would be a difficult task, one that he would need to be prepared for, both physically--by girding up his loins--and mentally--by being prepared to have his message rejected, as would be evident on the faces of his hearers.  As God's prophet during a difficult time, Jeremiah had a hard message and a hard job to do.

God told Jeremiah that he could not go in his own strength.  The rest of verse 17 reads, "...lest I confound thee before them."  Even with God's words in his mouth, Jeremiah had to rest solely on God's words and His spirit to guide him.  If he tried to trust in his flesh, he would not be able to say what God had called him to say.

God promised Jeremiah that He would be with him the entire time.  Having God's words in his mouth was one thing, but having the presence of God with him was an entirely more comforting presence.  I would much rather have my husband in the room than a letter from him, or a text.  God promised Jeremiah:  "...for I am with thee, saith the Lord..."

God promised His help and deliverance.  At the end of verse 19, God promises to deliver Jeremiah from  those prevailing over him.  God promised that He would be with Jeremiah, even when others turned against him, perhaps even in the peril of his own life.

What amazing promises!  I read similar promises for God's children today.  Jesus right before He left this earth, encouraged His disciples to stay faithful in the task that He had set before them.  In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus leaves His parting promise to His followers:

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Knowing that I have God's sending on my life, and His promises to equip and sustain me, and even the promise that He will never leave me, why don't I go?

Fear of what others may say?

My own pride?

My apathy?

May God help me today to be His faithful messager, relying on His strength as I share His Word, and trusting in His promises that He will not leave me alone.

There is no reason to have "stage fright," knowing that the God of the universe has given me all I need to be faithful to Him...

Coming Apart

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." Mark 6:31

Good morning, dear friends,

Have you ever found yourself to be so stressed and worn out, that you didn't realize that you were, until you stopped?

This week had been one of those weeks.  There seemed to be always something or someone clamoring for my attention.  Even activities that I usually enjoy became just another "to do" on an ever increasing list.  Coupled with that were some extra burdens that came out of nowhere and were more than unexpected.

I have a hard time shutting off my brain and learning to relax.  It doesn't come easily for me.  The tasks around me seem endless, and it seems like the more I get done, the more that is always waiting in the background.  So, I keep tackling and working, until I physically just can't keep up.

It was just one of those weeks, where, looking back, there wasn't anything extreme that happened, but it left me feeling tired and drained, like a wrung-out dishrag.

It was time for some refreshing, and it came in the form of beautiful spring weather, a relaxing backyard cookout with friends, and stopping not just to smell the roses but remember the Creator who made them.

As I look back, I realized that I was trying to run on low batteries all week, with no real reason other than I hadn't taken the time to recharge, until it was almost too late.

It wasn't until my husband really began working with me after our marriage, that I began to realize the beauty of rest.  My husband is a hard worker, but he understands the wisdom of building his schedule around proper rest times as well.  There have been many times in our marriage where he has had to "stage an intervention" and get me to slow things down.  Looking back, I understand that my husband's work/rest balance has been such a blessing to me and my family as well.

I rejoice that there are passages in the Bible like the one at the top of this blog, that shows that even Jesus, as pressed and urgent as He knew His business was, took time to rest.  Jesus was compassionate toward His disciples, ensuring that their physical needs and limitations were given time to be replenished.

Consider the context of this busy time in Jesus's life and ministry.  The disciples had just returned from being sent out by Jesus to minister to the needs of others, one of the most draining aspects of their ministry.  During this time, Jesus learned of the beheading of John the Baptist. The disciples returned and gave their report, and Jesus's reaction was to encourage them to take a break:  "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." Mark 6:31

How wise and compassionate were these words from Jesus!  How welcome they must have been to the disciples, who were excited over the ministry God had given them, at the same time they were physically depleted.  Being invited by Jesus to rest must have been like a greatly anticipated vacation or three-day weekend:  a time to catch their breath, recharge, and then continue in the work.

Their rest time was of short duration, however, because as they departed to a "desert place," the crowd got wind of this, and followed them.  The short time in the ship, and the shorter time before the others caught up to them,  was all the rest that they got.   What followed was more teaching, the feeding of 5000 people, and THEN some time to rest, before getting back in the boat, and rowing in a storm, and...well, you get the idea.

While I was reading this account, the Lord impressed several truths from this passage on my heart:

1.  It's okay to rest sometimes.  There are times to work, and time to take a break.  Sometimes, because of the many admonishments against laziness (and a healthy dose of pride), I think that as long as I am busy, I am doing what God wants me to do.  That is certainly true for the responsibilities that God has given me, but it's also okay to take breaks.  Jesus invited his disciples to rest, to even "come apart" (or move away from) their responsibilities, even for a time.  I will have more energy, and more brainpower, if I will just learn to let go a little, put things aside, and do something else less tiring until I am more refreshed.

2.  Building a life of constant busyness will take its toll, and hinder my long-term service for the Lord.  There are many studies linked to the physical side of burnout for it to be just a byword:  migraines, heart attacks, panic attacks, and high blood pressure, to name a few.  If I understand correctly, God expected His people to rest at least one-seventh of the time (Exodus 20:8-11).  Allowing myself to rest is as much honoring His design for His creation as my work and service for Him.  Jesus knew what was waiting for them when the boat landed, but He still encouraged His disciples to rest up, before tackling the next ministry opportunities.

3.  There are sometimes very small windows of opportunity to rest, and if I don't take them, I may not be ready for the next challenge that God puts in front of me.  Working myself 24/7 may seem like efficiency, but in reality, if my every moment of my day is scheduled, then when an unexpected opportunity presents itself for a new relationship, or new ministry opportunity, or a long-awaited answer to prayer, I may not have the time or energy to give it.  If the disciples had known what their next 24 hours were going to be like with Jesus, I think they would have appreciated even more His encouragement to "come apart..."  They needed that calm before the storm in their lives, and I need it as well.

I am glad for the opportunities to rest that present themselves everyday.  I am ready to type the last words into this post, and head to bed.  Tomorrow will be a busy day (aren't they all?) and I want to be refreshed for whatever challenges the Lord puts in front of me the next day.

May God grant you each a sweet rest today as well.



(A book that I have read recently that has been such an encouragement to me in this area of rest is called Stewarding Life: One Lifetime, Limited Resources, Eternal Priorities, written by Paul Chappell.  If you would like to get more information about this book, you can find out about it by clicking here.)