Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Coming in Clouds
It was the second fireworks show that I had attended this past weekend.
In the community where I go to church, a fireworks display had been scheduled for last night. As is the custom in this area, the fireworks were to be shot from a barge on a lake.
Finding a spot on a wooded dock, located behind another, more modern one, I settled in. Striking up a conversation with a woman who happened to be sitting next to me, I found that she was an artist---and a Christian.
We talked away the minutes before the show was to start.
The bursts of color, accompanied by loud explosions were spectacular. The crowd before me sat in rows, watching the sky as I did.
When it was over, I said goodbye to my new friend and made my way to the car.
Some of the fiery designs in the sky had been incredibly enormous, filling a great part of it.
What will it be like when Jesus returns? Imagine all those people sitting at the dock, looking up---but not at fireworks. Imagine that instead, they are seeing Jesus coming in the clouds, returning to Earth.
If that had actually been the case, I would have beheld my Savior and Lord, as would the woman sitting next to me. Others, however, would not have known Him. The option to live forever with Him would be closed.
The great sadness of that hour, when it does come, will be unspeakable for those who are left behind.
There is more for me to do in spreading the good news of Jesus to others.
There is more for you, too.
What will it be like when Jesus comes back?
Monday, July 04, 2011
Sing
I have two sets of chimes hanging in my front yard.
When I am not anticipating it at all, I am often awakened to their lovliness as I walk outside my home or return from a trip.
With my mind keenly focused on other seemingly important things, the gentle tones of the metal tubes ringing calmly as they serenely sway in the wind reach my consciousness, urging me to appreciate their beauty.
I often consider singing and praising God. Sometimes I sing to Him while I am driving, listening to songs on the radio that honor and glorify Him. At other times, I sing to Him as I play an instrument. There are times, too, that I praise Him by playing an instrument alone and my voice is quiet as the music creates my message of worship.
We would not have music to offer to God had He not created it.
As the wind blows mildly through the reeds at the water's edge, music flows.
When I am greeted by the velvet tones beneath my trees, who is playing the music?
God is setting the wind in motion; is He playing the music for me?
As I sing praise to Him, He is also proclaiming His majesty by allowing me to hear the music He has created in this world.
He has given us a voice.
I myself will sing to the Lord.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
All My Fountains
He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
city of God:
“I will record Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
The LORD will write in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
As they make music they will sing,
“All my fountains are in you.”
--Psalm 87
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Without Knowledge
Everyone was getting impatient.
A town not far from my home has a monthly street festival in the downtown area which is located beside a large lake. This month, a fireworks display had been advertised as part of the evening's event.
Set for nine o'clock, I arrived thirty minutes early with two cameras. Sitting on the boardwalk, I had a great view of the water and the sky. I was anticipating an impressive show and hopefully, good photographs.
Nine o'clock came. Many people were crowded around, hoping to experience the brilliant display. Boats were congregating on the water as their owners were wanting to have an even closer look at the scene, since the fireworks were to be ignited from a boat. But there was one problem--nothing happened.
Nine thirty--no fireworks. Nine forty-five--no fireworks. Several people had given up and left the lake. About ten fifty, I began to walk away. From behind me, suddenly there was a loud bang!
I hurried back to the boardwalk and began snapping pictures as I watched a tremendous array of colors bursting in the sky in front of me.
If I had left just five minutes sooner, I probably would have missed it. I found out later that there had been a serious problem that had caused the delay.
Proverbs 19:2 reads,
Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
How many times have I made a decision based upon what I thought I wanted, when I didn't have all the facts gathered in order to make an informed choice? I must say that my feet have been "hasty" too many times. I have missed the best way, because I chose what looked good at the moment, without making a careful--or prayerful--consideration of the matter.
Last night, I was not informed about the delay of the fireworks show. Even though I had not been accurately informed of a cancellation, I decided to leave--only to turn right around after realizing I had made the wrong choice.
When the show was over, I decided to photograph an area near the end of the boardwalk. Some of those who had just witnessed the disply were still standing near the water's edge, illumined by the lights of the lakeside park.
Those who had not been hasty were not disappointed.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Afraid
Sometimes, we feel so alone.
Sometimes, it seems, there's nothing we can do.
Two of my friends tonight have parents who are going to be with the Lord very soon---maybe even before morning.
One friend will be saying goodbye to her father.
The other friend will be saying goodbye to her mother.
Both friends know that the moment is close.
To know that someone you love has entrusted their lives to Jesus by accepting His gift of salvation, is a great comfort.
Beyond that, we know that God is with us and with our loved one, during this passage of life.
Still, fear can come.
When it does, we can pray, reminding ourselves that God really is with us.
We can put our trust in Him.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Darkness and Light
As I approached the bird, I could see that he was missing an eye.
Snowy white, he sat perched and quiet. He knew I was there.
Turning his head to the side as if to listen more closely, his movement told me that he was aware of my presence.
Feeling compassion over the loss of his eye, I immediately wanted to check to see if he had one on the other side. A couple of steps past him and I had an answer.
I looked at him--- and with his one, perfectly dark and round eye---he looked at me.
King David pondered over the presence of God in his life. He understood that He was always with him.
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
--Psalm 139:7-12
What was true for King David is also true for us. Even when we cannot see God, He allows us to become aware of His presence. At specific moments, we may turn our heads to the side to listen carefully, perceiving that He is near. Whether we feel Him close or not, He is with us, still.
Nothing can separate us from God.
So great is His power, the night shines as bright .....as day.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Light
The old lighthouse is still standing.
It was first lit in August of 1884. Giving light to those traveling near in the Atlantic waters, it became an important guide to those who sought it.
As I was taking photographs of the lighthouse, a woman stood not far from me doing the same. From where she stood, the lighthouse took on a different look. As I approached the area where she had been standing, I understood why she had chosen that spot. The sun was high in the sky, directly behind the top of the tall structure. Diffused light encircled it, surrounding it with a distinctive glow.
When looking at the photos I took at that moment, my mind is drawn to the light surrounding it. I'm not sure that I could look at them without thinking of the light emanating from around it.
Jesus said that as Christians, we are the light of the world--
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
---Matthew 5:14-16
When my family and friends look at me, do they see a light shining? Does what I say and do work together to draw their thoughts to the light? Is there a distinctive glow about me that allows them to see God in my life?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Within Your Power
I knew what it felt like to be in the rain.
Just last week, a fierce downpour of rain came along while I was a passenger in a car.
Even though it was raining heavily, I was safe inside and quite dry.
This afternoon as I was returning from the grocery store, it was raining. As I drove down the highway, I spotted a young couple walking on the side of the road. They surely were drenched.
I passed them and headed toward my home.
As I drove, my mind was busy. Only yesterday, I had felt an impression to strike up a conversation with someone in the waiting room of a doctor's office and had not done so. Was God telling me to do it? I probably missed a great opportunity to be a witness for Him. Now, I had just passed two people walking in the rain.
Suddenly, I became aware of the song that was playing on the radio. It was a Christian song about not waiting but doing what God wanted you to do....
Already in my neighborhood, I turned around in someone's driveway and headed back down the road.
There they were, still walking.
I pulled over and when they got closer, I asked them if they needed a ride.
They accepted.
Grateful and polite, they were not too far down the highway from their destination.
I explained a little about the song I had been listening to and how I was prompted to offer them a ride.
It was a great opportunity to show God's love to two strangers in the rain.
I'm glad I didn't miss it this time.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Consider the Ravens
Do you worry about what other people are going to do?
Do you worry about money?
Food?
Clothes?
Tuition for school?
Health insurance?
It is a difficult concept to "turn off" worry.
Worry walks behind a banner in the parade of stolen moments. The banner reads, "What if...?"
When something is of great concern to you, God knows about how you are feeling. Take the turmoil in your heart to Him and pray about it. Ask Him to lead you to a place in scripture that will help you to begin thinking about the situation in the way He wants you to. Ask Him to calm your fears. Pray for the people who are involved in the matter.
Don't waste time hurting and worrying.
Invest your time in consultation with the One who is in control.
The benefits are eternal.
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
---Luke 12:24-26
Sunday, June 26, 2011
I Can Do All
All by myself, without God, I _________________.
How would you fill in the blank?
Before you try, let me warn you----it's very difficult.
Just a few days ago, I saw someone parasailing. A parachute is tethered to a boat by a very long cord. Through the power of the boat, the parachute is lifted with it's passenger (called a paracsender) high above the water to glide in the air at great speeds. The parascender has very little or no control. Without the power at the end of the cord, the parachute would cease to travel.
I have never been parasailing.
Let's look at some of the things I have done, however.
I graduated from college.
I have developed a career.
I have children of my own.
I have learned to play musical instruments.
I sing.
I take photographs.
I write.
I have made good friends.
But wait....can I put any of those in the blank?
No.
All by myself? Without God?
It was He who provided the funds for me to go to college when I was living with a single mom and my dad was no longer living.
It was He who provided the various jobs I have had throughout the years, guiding me to any success that I enjoyed.
It was He who blessed us with four healthy babies, even through very difficult pregnancies.
It was He who provided me with instruments to practice and the talent to develop skill on each one.
It was He who gave me my voice---He chose it for me!
It was He who placed the desire to photograph His world in my heart.
It is He who gives me words to express my thoughts.
It is He who has brought good friends into my life.
No matter what good thing I could choose to write in the blank, it would be in error, because it would originate with God. Even the very breath that I take originates with Him, as does the tiniest cell in the muscle of my beating heart. If I am not connected to Him, I cease to exist.
This is a far easier statement to complete:
With God, I _________________.
Think of that for a moment.
Imagine yourself as a parascender of life. Throughout everything, you are connected to God, who strengthens you and lifts you up.
Now.....what could you write in the blank?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
And He Helps Me
We got up early this morning.
Our youngest son had been away at a Christian summer camp for several days. It was time to make the trip to pick him up and bring him home.
Parents were invited to attend the last worship service the students take part in before they say their final goodbyes and leave the camp. We were able to experience a little of what had gone on all week.
Afterwards, I photographed some of the camp areas. There was a white cross located by a lake on the grounds. I would think that it reminds all who see it of Jesus.
Hundreds of students left the camp today. Hundreds more will replace them for next week's camp and the next. Countless lives will be touched in some way by the commitments made during these days. I am certain that God met many of the young men and women there and spoke deep within their hearts. In the moments and hours, separated from the day to day madness of the outside world, their ears were more keenly aware of God's voice. They surely found new strength to face the difficulties they have been struggling with. New hope certainly sprang up with the promise of God's help. This has been my experience when I have been to camp.
It's a good thing to get away and focus on God while encouraging each other in the faith.
We may not have a week to set apart to do so, but even a small amount of time is beneficial.
Couldn't we just invite some friends over for the day, play some games and end with some praise and worship time and a devotional?
Why not?
I think God would meet us there....
Friday, June 24, 2011
He Who Promised
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
--Hebrews 10:23-25
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Shout
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
--Psalm 100
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Children
They were quietly swimming beside the shore.
I'm not sure that I could even hear a sound from them.
The ducks were safely carrying on the life that God had planned. They were God's creation, glorifying Him with their presence in this world.
God blessed us with four children. Knowing that each one has asked Jesus to be their Savior is the greatest blessing I could ever hope for concerning them. One of our children has gone on to be with the Lord.
I have spoken many prayers about each child throughout the years, but none would compare to those about their eternal destination.
I encourage you to pray for your children.
They may be quietly carrying on their lives, but do they know Jesus?
It makes all the difference.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sinful Self-Interest
This was quite a day for yard work.
Driving home from the store after purchasing some red mulch, we passed a marquee on the highway displaying the current temperature---103 degrees.
I think it was almost 5:30. Isn't it supposed to be cooler when the sun is going down?
Earlier today, I had pulled up some weeds in preparation for planting flower seeds. There were several of the same type of weed occupying the garden space near our front door. Wearing thick gloves, I would pull very hard with one hand and some of them would come up out of the ground. Others, more stubborn than their neighbors, would hang on and defy me. With BOTH hands, I would pull and pull until FINALLY, the plant would come up, roots and all.
Roots.
That was the key word for the situation. The roots were extrememly long and deep to support the foliage above the ground. I put a few of them on a bench.
After coming home with the mulch, I realized that the weeds I had pulled were beginning to shrivel. They were losing their strength and would soon be dry and brittle.
I know for certain that I have hurt because of sin in my life. I also know for certain that I have hurt because of sin in others' lives.
When sin takes root within us, it begins its pathway deep into who we are. It feeds the outward result into thriving, green foliage, no matter how ugly or unwanted.
Getting rid of it isn't easy, either. In fact, it is impossible for us. We try to tug with our human hands, but to no avail. It takes the hand of God to grab hold and pull it out.
When it is removed from us and laid aside, it cannot thrive on its own. It withers. It dies. It is no longer a part of us.
With God, there is forgiveness of sin and freedom from the roots of those things that displease Him.
It doesn't matter what time of day or night. It doesn't matter what the temperature is. God is ready to pull the roots of sin.
Are you ready to let Him?
Monday, June 20, 2011
What Good
Driving to a birthday party for a dear friend, we reached our destination to a nearby city.
As we made a loop around a quiet lake, I made a quick decision to photograph it.
The serenity in the midst of the hurry here, hurry there atmosphere of the downtown area is a welcome change to those who frequent the area, I'm sure.
The fountains streaming upward, the multi-story building and the family dwellings in the distance made for quite an appealing sight.
Although captivating, none of these things really matter, do they?
Many people will spend their lives persuing the means to finance a company large enough to grace the skyline of a major city. Others will spend their lives trying to build their career to a point where a large and spacious home can be purchased. Architects may look on their creative landscaping and feel the pleasure of a project well done.
But does it really matter?
Not if, at the heart of all these, they have forgotten God.
I know someone personally who believes that there is no God. They are doing very well financially, yet they are very poor spiritually.
I know someone personally who has great faith in God. They are struggling financially, yet they are very rich spiritually.
Mark 8:36 reads,
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
What good is the whole world?
It is of no worth at all.....
when compared to the precious saving knowledge of Jesus.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Wise Son
I didn't know who they were.
As I was taking a walk with my husband by the lake, they were up ahead of us, fishing.
Huddled together, they had a common goal---catching fish.
Although it is the summer of 2011, the same scene could have been captured 50 years ago with little change. In fact, the same scene could have been captured 100 years ago with very little change.
Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts and cousins have grouped together to enjoy each other's company and catch a little fish while doing so for centuries.
Time spent together is more than just time. It is the avenue of transference of skill, faith, wisdom and character. How can anyone emulate those they are not familiar with?
Today, our youngest son wrote a note to his Dad for Father's Day. Within the note were the words, "We need to go fishing again, soon."
An invitation of time. He did not say, "I need to learn your skill" or "I need to learn about your faith" or "help me to be wise" or "what kind of character should I have?" He didn't need to. These are the types of things that naturally begin to happen when moments are shared together. "We need to go fishing again, soon" was good enough.
Proverbs tells us that, "A wise son brings joy to his father..." (from chapter 10, verse 1)
There must be great joy when a father can look at his son and see the fruit of the time they have spent together.
Have you gone fishing with anyone lately?
Maybe it's time to go.......
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Our Own Decisions
Should I go?
Should I not go?
Should I go by train?
Should I go by boat?
Should I do this at all?
What does God want?
What do I want?
What will I end up doing?
Someone I know recently commented that they were their "own worst enemy."
I think I understand. I immediately thought of the apostle Paul when he said "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." (from Romans 7)
Second guessing ourselves, trying to make the right choices and decisions---sometimes we fail miserably.
We do make our own choices, but God is still sovereign.
When we do fail and make a poor decision, it is important to turn right around and run back to God.
For the next choice, ask Him what you should do--or perhaps, what you shouldn't do.
We make our own decisions, but the LORD alone determines what happens. --Proverbs 16:23
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wash Me
Wash me with hyssop until I am clean
and whiter than snow.--Psalm 51:7
I have two Crepe Myrtle trees in my yard.
The flowers on the oldest tree are a delicate pink color. The younger tree produces a bright pink blossom, deep and rich.
Although I do not own a white flowering Crepe Myrtle tree, they are quite common in our area. Recently, I photographed the pure, white blooms of such a tree while walking in a park.
I have read that there is a small bush with white flowers called hyssop, and that it was sometimes referred to as a symbol for being cleansed from sin. Another source that I found spoke of the use of hyssop in the treatment of illnesses. Although I have never seen a white hyssop bush, I can imagine how the white blossoms reminded earlier generations of purity and freedom from sin.
Whatever white flower we may be looking at, the symbolism of purity can be present.
We long for forgiveness and the knowledge of being clean before God.
Isn't it wonderful that God can make us clean?
Whiter than.....snow?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Like a Mother Bird
Today, the lesson for me was huge.
Tremendous.
Inspiring.
Encouraging.
The kind of thing that remains in your memory.
My husband and I had decided to trim large limbs from a tree in our back yard.
After cutting several limbs with the loud and threatening chain saw, we were discussing which limb should go next. As I looked very close to where I was standing, there--on a low branch---sat a silent dove. Almost motionless, except for the quick blink of her dark, determined eyes.
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
The giant monster with the loud growl was destroying what she knew as her home. It could come and get her, too----but she was NOT---repeat---NOT leaving her babies.
Were they only eggs? We heard no baby bird sounds.
Leaving our tree somewhat lopsided, we continued cutting limbs that were far from our momma bird and her precious children. The limb could stay as long as she needed it to.
Throughout the rest of the loud cutting, she remained. I prayed that God would tell her that we were not going to hurt her or her children. Even though I knew she couldn't understand me unless God allowed her to, I approached her and spoke aloud the sentiments of my previous prayer.
Hours later, my husband brought a ladder outside for me. I climbed it in order to be on a little higher level than the nest. Our little momma would move away for a few moments, then return. I was able to photograph what was worth dying for---not eggs, but tiny little babies--huddled in a nest-- so lovingly constructed, one twig at a time.
Who placed such devotion into the heart of a dove?
Who places it into the hearts of human parents who are completely devoted against all odds?
Where does such love come from?
God is the creator of love. His love is pure and holy.
He gives us the ability to love in the midst of our frailty.
He places the capacity to love within our hearts and from His love, we draw our love.
Would we abandon our children?
Would He abandon us?
Even when the big growl of destruction is all around?
No.
In the book of Isaiah, verse 5, God is decribing His protection of Jerusalem at that time:
I, the LORD All-Powerful,
will protect Jerusalem
like a mother bird circling
over her nest.
The vision of this determined, loving mother, sitting on top of her children in the nest, speaks volumes to me.
Her babies were not even aware of the danger, yet she could see it plainly.
When the danger was at it's worst, she stayed.
Even when the danger is at it's worst in our lives, God will not leave us.
He'll stay.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Lord Is For Me
The wild rabbit was searching for food near the sidewalk.
Close to his precious brush, where he could hop if any danger arose, he seemed quite content to go about his business as I crept closer and closer with my camera.
He knew I was there.
He simply did not regard me as something to be feared.
He must have decided that, if he needed to, he could hop into the brush faster than I could run.
Psalm 188:6 reads.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Sometimes unfamiliar things invade our comfortable space. We just want to go about our business doing whatever we please, and then, well, something changes. Something or someone shows up and then we have to make a decision. Are we to be afraid, or will God take care of us?
Has God really provided the nearby brush and the ability to hop if we need to?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Lord Hears
The following is actually, absolutely true for me right now.
I'm guessing that most, if not all, will be true for you right now, as well.
I know someone who is grieving the loss of their spouse.
I know someone who is looking for a full time job and is now out of work.
I know someone who is struggling emotionally.
I know a couple who are often seriously at odds with one another.
I have a friend who got divorced today.
I know someone who is an atheist.
I know someone who says they are an agnostic.
I know someone who is battling cancer.
I have a friend who is grieving the loss of his mother.
I have a friend who is sad most of the time.
I have a friend who has a child who is chronically ill.
I have a friend who does not read the Bible.
I have a friend who does not attend church at all.
Even though I would want to help each of the tender hearts represented above, I am limited. There are ways that I can help. There are also many ways that I cannot help.
Psalm 34:7a says,
The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.
The help that all my friends need is ultimately from the Lord.
Am I pointing them to Him?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Hold the Wind
A simple replica of a windmill stood near the rustic museum.
Through the ages, men have tried to harness the wind and use its power.
Sails have billowed as ships have challenged the sea.
Windmills functioned in milling grain or pumping water.
Through the ages, men have tried to harness something very real--yet invisable.
We have grown so used to the idea of the unseen wind.
It moves as God directs it to.
Only He has the power to harness it.
Do you have anything in your life that needs to be harnessed by God?
Is it something that is very real, yet invisable to others?
Fear?
Anxiety?
Lack of self-worth?
God can replace fear with peace.
Anxiety with calm.
Low self-esteem with the realization of who we are in Christ.
God can hold the wind in His hand.
Are you trusting Him today?
Who has gone up to heaven and come back down?
Who can hold the wind in his hand?
Who can gather up the waters in his coat?
Who has set in place the ends of the earth?
What is his name or his son's name?
Tell me, if you know!
"Every word of God is true.
He guards those who come to him for safety."
--Proverbs 30:4,5
Sunday, June 12, 2011
As A Father
Our son was leaving to visit the nature preserve area near our home.
I was in the kitchen when I heard him call to me.
A baby bird was sitting near our front porch by the sidewalk.
Sweet and innocent, he looked at me with his clear, black eyes.
After a couple of photographs, he decided to run away---peeping loudly.
We could hear the parent birds calling, as well. They were greatly concerned about their little one.
Flying to the branches high above where the tiny bird hopped, they continued to be very vocal.
Immediately, I began to think, "I understand."
Being a parent, one of my strongest desires is to know that my children are doing well.
Beyond the physical, my concern and desire for their walk with God is paramount.
When they are ready for the next phase in life, whatever that may be at the moment, I am not too far away.
As walking gives way to flight, I am somewhere close in the distance, ready to call when I see danger approaching.
If the little bird today could have spoken when I approached him, would he have responded to his parent's warnings with a statement like,
"It's okay! Stop worrying about me! I can do this! Just leave me alone!"
Perhaps his high pitched peeps were exactly that---but I will never know.
Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, felt this way:
I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. --I Corinthians 4:14-15 The Message
Although Paul was not their biological father, he loved them and wanted what was best.
Throughout my children's lives, I have taken the time and effort to help them grow up spiritually.
As God has blessed us with children, we have a responsibility to share our faith with them.
Throughout each phase of their growth, our call should remain,
"God is with you! You can do it! Always trust in Him!"
Isn't it worth the time and effort?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Hawk
This morning, my husband and I decided to visit a park.
Being very natural and rustic, the area is also a popular fishing spot as it borders a large lake.
We hadn't been there long when a hawk began to call.
A very LOUD call.
I decided to take a closer look, camera in hand.
The hawk was beautiful and stately and yet, a little miffed at my presence.
God made him, gave him his perfectly arranged colors of feathers and equipped him with everything he needed to be in order to be a....hawk.
God is in charge of everything.
I am not.
In the book of Job, God asks him a series of questions. One of those is,
Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
and spread his wings toward the south?--Job 39:26
God is reminding me that I must trust His sovereignty.
Even when I am confused.
Even when I am afraid.
Even when I am unsure of what to do.
I must trust.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Another Book
It was long ago when I heard this set of questions.
So long ago that I don't even remember how I heard it.
It is a series of questions without answers.
Those who hear may only respond, because no one can decide the final question for them.
The questions I heard are similar to these, with some possible answers:
What do you plan to do when you finish high school?
(Go to college, get a job)
And then what?
(Well, I think I might get married.)
And then what?
(We'll probably have some children.)
And then what?
(I will want to succeed in my career.)
And then what?
(I can see myself doing well enough to spend leisure time playing sports and vacationing by then.)
And then what?
(Having done so well financially, I hope to retire by the time I'm 55.)
And then what?
(I'd like to settle down and see the kids start families of their own and enjoy being a grandparent.)
And then what?
(Well, I guess I'd be getting pretty old by then--maybe I'll go into a retirement home.)
And then what?
(Hopefully, I'll live to a ripe old age and die peacefully in my sleep.)
And then what?
(Hmmm. I really don't know.....)
An entire adult life----ten questions.....
the last question being the most important one to answer.
Whatever you may do in the years you are given, what you decide about Jesus is the most important thing.
Go ahead---why don't you answer the questions for yourself?
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.--Revelation 20:11-15
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Fruit That Will Last
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. -John 15:15-17
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
He Guides Me
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His namesake. ---from Psalm 23:3
In The Message this verse is stated this way:
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Would it be like God to send you in the wrong direction?
Would He ever tell you to do something that wasn't in keeping with His great love for you?
Would He lead you down the wrong path, keeping you from what was best?
Of course not!
God is always true to His word.
Even when life is confusing, we can trust God's directions.
He knows what lies ahead on the path.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
He Cares For You
Humble yourselves,
therefore,
under God's
mighty hand,
that He may
lift you up
in due time.
Cast all
your anxiety
on Him
because
He cares
for you.
--I Peter 5:6,7
Monday, June 06, 2011
You Still Them
The air was pleasant.
The water that brushed quietly against the plants that grew along the shore was calm and peaceful.
Enormously tall clouds danced gracefully in the wind above, the sun spotlighting their performance.
This is not always the scene. On other evenings, the rage of a storm can be found, chopping the water and bending tree branches.
It is God who rules over the skies.
When there is a storm, it is He who calms it to a whisper.
Are you sitting beside the peaceful waters today, enjoying the cool breezes or are you in the midst of a storm?
Wherever you are right now, God is with you.
If the waves are mounting up, remember....God has the power to still them.
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, You still them.
--Psalm 89:9
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Renewed
There is a popular Christian song that God has used to inspire me, comfort me and break my heart in joy more than once.
Today was one of those days.
So strong was the message to me this morning on the way to church that tears were coming to my eyes.
When viewing a piece of artwork---a painting or a sculpture---each person forms a unique understanding to what the art represents. When listening to music and lyrics, I feel that it is much the same.
Going a step further, I feel that God can use visual art or music to touch our hearts, over and over again.
The song, "I'm Alive Again" by Matt Maher, traveled to my ears this morning by way of my mp3 player and car stereo. I hadn't expected to "hear" what God would reveal.
I think that the words were originally intended to portray an individual's coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus. I was feeling something different.
Here are the lyrics to the first half of the song:
I woke up in darkness
sounded by silence
oh where, where have I gone?
I woke to reality
losing its grip on me
oh where, where have I gone?
Cause I can see the light
before I see the sunrise
You called and you shouted
broke through my deafness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!
You shattered my darkness
washed away my blindness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!
Imagine this being the words of a believer in Jesus as they are experiencing death on this earth.
As darkness and silence begins to close in, they are questioning..."Where have I gone?"
The reality of earth and all that is here in our physical realm, begins to lose its grip on this precious one. Quickly--suddenly---they see the LIGHT! It is not the sunrise; no, it is God!
He calls! And He SHOUTS!!! He victoriously breaks through the deafness of death! The believer is now BREATHING IN and BREATHING OUT! Now, it is their turn to shout----
"I"M ALIVE AGAIN!!!!"
God SHATTERS the DARKNESS of death!
He WASHES AWAY death's BLINDNESS!
"I"M ALIVE AGAIN!!!"
With joy at the realization of what this could be like, my heart was broken at the love of God, the power of God and the promise of God to His children.
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, please don't delay. Don't wait any longer. Believe that He has come to pay the price for your sins, ask Him for forgiveness and tell Him that you want Him to guide you for the rest of your life.
If you were to die today, how could you answer the question, "Oh, where, where have I gone?"
God is waiting.
It's not too late....
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
---Psalm 103:1-5
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Pilgrimage
I didn't know who the man was.
He was simply walking down the boardwalk to the secluded lake as I was walking away from it.
We each had our own destinations. We had chosen our own way.
There have been times in my life where I just wasn't in the right place.
I needed to get back to where I belonged, but it didn't always happen immediately.
This could apply to me in a spiritual sense, but what I am thinking of is an actual, physical place.
As a child, I can remember being very seriously frightened while walking several city blocks at night as a thunderstorm was approaching. The lightning was flashing all around. I didn't want to be out in the weather, but I had no choice that evening.
Finally, I made it to my grandmother's home. I made it there before the storm hit. Safe inside her house, I was completely relieved from my anxiety. I was with her.
It was going to be okay.
As an adult, I attended a funeral in another state. Grieving terribly over the loss, I was separated from my church family and close friends back home. I needed comfort only they could give. I yearned to be with them. I made the decision to leave quickly and return sooner.
It was going to be okay.
There are moments, hours---days even---that we find ourselves in a place that doesn't feel right. We long for the place that is.
Spiritually, there is a part of us that longs for God. If we make the decision to follow Him, we set our hearts on completing our journey of life as a pilgrimage. We spend the rest of our days following Him, moving toward a closer relationship.
If we do not choose to follow God, all our places will never quite seem to be "right." The emptiness will still prevail.
I realize that I am on a pathway toward God. Each step is down a more narrow walkway than is usually chosen.
My heart is set on continuing.
I know it's going to be okay....
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
--Psalm 84:4,5
Friday, June 03, 2011
Undivided
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
--Psalm 86:9-12
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Aren't We All
I photographed a wasp today crawling atop the bloom of a Queen Anne's Lace plant.
It wasn't until I got home and looked at the image on my computer that I realized that the wasp had not been alone in his endeavor. Just a couple of wing spans away was a love bug--maybe two. I could just barely see the out of focus image that could've been its mate.
When I think of wasps, I think of stings. It is necessary to take a wasp seriously. When disturbed, it goes on the defensive.
When I think of Love Bugs (they are EVERYWHERE in this area at a certain time of year) I think of:
1. how they are harmless and travel together in pairs and
2. they get all over cars and seem to be almost impossble to remove.
Going with my first thought about them, they get along well enough to fly together and they are not agressive. What a stark contrast to my thoughts on wasps!
Now, I know that wasps seem to get along quite nicely with each other, even though they pose a real threat to humans.
What is interesting to me about the photograph is the fact that they were all thoroughly content to explore the bloom together without incident. Passive, never-hurt-anybody bugs coupled with an agressive, be-careful-around-me, stinger-wielding wasp.
Hmmm.
If they can do it, why can't we?
If we happen to be the stinging type, couldn't we just decide to put that on hold--one day at a time--and ask God to help us be kinder to those around us?
If we happen to be the congenial, phlegmatic sort, couldn't we step out of our comfort zone and at least try to relate to those somewhat, shall we say, confrontational people in our lives?
Wouldn't it be nice to just graze on the same flower every once in a while?
In the book of Malachi in the Old Testament, God was very displeased with the behaviors of His people. It was a serious, serious time of judgment for them. Malachi writes,
Don't we all come from one Father? Aren't we all created by the same God? So why can't we get along? Why do we desecrate the covenant of our ancestors that binds us together?
---Malachi 2:10 The Message
Following God's commands and loving each other---getting along with one another---is what we need to do.....
everyday.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Not The Healthy
Suddenly, I looked up and it was there.
Red lights flashing, the ambulance was hurrying up the hill.
Seconds before, I had been standing with a friend across from a park in a nearby city, with no thought, whatsoever, of an emergency.
Although it wasn't my emergency, there was one, nevertheless.
What if the ambulance had sped up to me and my friend?
What if the paramedics had emerged with everything in hand to aid us, rushing to our side?
It would have been useless, seeing that we both were fine.
We were not in need of any medical attention.
Ambulances travel to the rescue of people who are in genuine need---those who may not live unless the proper help arrives to them quickly.
Matthew 9:9-13 reads,
"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
When it comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, wouldn't it seem unusual for us to quickly run to someone that we know is a believing Christian to tell them about Jesus, while bypassing another who has never heard of Him?
While it may be easier to tend to the "well" person, it is the "sick" of this world---those who do not know the healing and forgiving power of Jesus---who need to hear of His love.
Who do you know that is having a real spiritual emergency?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
He Causes Me To Stand
Red winged black birds are common in our area.
Beautifully colored with yellow and red on a contrasting black, they are vivid to behold.
This past weekend, one came to rest in front of me on a protruding tree knob. A perfect opportunity for a photograph!
Looking at the image later, I happened to think about where he was.
I considered his little legs and feet.
Even though he was only a few inches above the ground, I don't believe he could have walked there.
It would have been too steep.
He surely didn't worry about that, however, because he was also equipped with...wings.
With wings, he could fly, and he knew it.
Up, down, sideways, high, low---they could take him there.
There are places we would like to go, things we would like to do.
There are places God wants us to go, things He wants us to do.
Many times, we look down at our scrawny legs and little feet and think, "No. I'd never make it. It's just too difficult. The path is too steep."
We forget that God can give us unseen "wings."
Wings to give us flight to those places in life we thought we would never attain.
Wings to carry us up over the obstacles we think will win over our God given dreams.
Wings to send us far into the will of God for our lives.
Why not open up your heart to Him?
Where does He want you to.........fly?
As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
---2 Samuel 22:31-34
Monday, May 30, 2011
I Will Bring Them Back
I have had great concern in my heart for someone for a very long time.
Becoming aware of the hurts and disappointments in their life, I have witnessed a wandering--almost a retreat--from embracing faith in God. Floating ever so slowly, farther and farther from a daily reliance on Him.
At least, that's what it seems to me.
I have come to understand that what I think I know about another person is derived from mere glimpses into their lives. Only God knows the entire story.
Still, with glimpses, I am determined to pray in this instance, convinced that He is viewing every need of the one for whom I am burdened.
In my Bible reading, I discovered a passage in Jeremiah about the exiles sent to Babylon. God regarded them in this way:
My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. --Jeremiah 24:6,7
Last night in my journal, I decided to write this prayer, modified from the scripture in Jeremiah:
I pray, Lord, that your eyes would watch over_____, for his good and You would bring him back home to You. I pray that You would build him up and not tear him down. I pray that You would plant him and not uproot him. I pray that You would give him a heart to know You, that You are the Lord. I pray that he would be Your servant and You would be his God. I pray that he would return to You with all His heart. Amen
Is there someone in your life that needs to return home...to God?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Lovingkindness
For two days in a row, I was blessed to see a rainbow.
As my husband and I were driving our youngest son to a birthday party late yesterday afternoon, we saw it. After dropping him off, we drove to a nearby lake. There, the view was fantastic above the water and the lighthouse.
For those who are traveling by boat, a lighthouse is crucial in guiding them to safe passage.
As we are traveling through our lifetimes, looking to God as our "Lighthouse" to guide us is crucial, as well.
The combination of the rainbow and the lighthouse together is quite a reminder of God's power coupled with His desire to guide those who are willing to follow.
But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them. ---Psalm 103:17-18
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Then He Prayed
Do you ever feel like your prayers are useless?
That, just maybe, you aren't important enough for God to listen?
From the book of James, chapter 5, verse 13, he says,"Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray..." He doesn't put a stipulation on what kind of person should pray if they are suffering. It's not "if any important person among you," or "if any wealthy person among you."
Later in the chapter he says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed." (from James 5:15) Again, there are no clarifying words in between "therefore" and "confess." No "therefore, you who are well known, confess..." or "therefore, you who have been the hardest workers, confess..."
James further encourages us again by saying, " Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:17-18)
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours..."
If you ever feel as though your prayers are useless, remember:
Elijah prayed; God listened.
We can pray; God will listen to us, too.
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