"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;" Colossians 3:12
I am so easily distracted these days. I tell you, I put a load of laundry in the washer first thing in the morning, with the idea that if I can keep at it, I can have all the laundry in the house washed, folded and put away in no time. Then a day passes, and the washer is still holding that first load. Sigh. I could certainly blame it on this beautiful, beautiful early spring that God is blessing us with. Wow! The sunshine, the warmth, the new beginnings right before our eyes are such a balm for the weary soul after a rough winter.
But the fact remains that I've been too easily distracted as of late. My resolve one minute is literally gone the very next as something else comes up and gets in the way. I've been really distracted lately by trying to figure out why people think the way they think. Many months ago I read online about how Christians were getting in a tizzy because other Christians think it's important to have Christian people in the political arena, in Hollywood, in our schools teaching, running businesses, and so on. Christians were upset by this thought? Why on earth would it be a terrible thing to have good Christian men and women in the White House? Why on earth is it a terrible thing to desire Christian people in Hollywood to make wholesome family entertainment? I honestly, and truly do not get it. And yet in my thought life I keep coming back to these thoughts because they make so little sense to me.
Christians out there are accusing Christians of horrible things right now, and all I can think about when I think of that is that a house divided cannot stand.
"But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." Matthew 12:25
I cannot understand why Christians have decided to attack their brothers and sisters in Christ, accusing each other of awful things. I've watched as Godly people get caught up in these arguments and debates, and in the end, no good comes out of it, because both sides are certain they are correct, and everyone walks away with an even bigger distaste in their mouth for the other people. It's abhorrent, to tell the truth. To attack one another over trivial bits of doctrine and theology. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior? Yes. Then that's good enough for me. Everything else is semantics.
The thing is though, that while our good Christian brothers and sisters are arguing and fighting each other until they're blue in the face (because neither side is budging) other things are happening around them. Scary things, things that we don't read about in our local paper because they are done in secret. Muslim brotherhoods are moving into the remote regions of our country to build their mosques and appear as a peace loving alternative to Christianity. Jesus IS peace! And yet we are not displaying peace in the least because we're so busy attacking one another and breaking our focus- which should be fixed solely on HIM. The devil is taking advantage of this. He's exploiting this divisiveness in the church with relish. He's wringing his hands with glee as he watches our fighting and then when we're not looking, sends something into our very neighborhood that we won't be able to anything about once we finally realize it's there.
What happened to kindness and meekness? What has happened to make normal, rational Christians into the rabid, unkind people they've become? Why do they turn on one another with such hatred instead of embracing one another and appreciating what they DO have in common- the love of a God who would send His son to be our Savior.
And so while I am so caught up in these thought processes, my focus is also broken. While I stay far, far away from these tainted dialogues between various members of the church, it's something that's clearly in my thought processes. Yet, there's nothing I can obviously do about something that's clearly becoming a worldwide problem for the church. So I just think on it, and I get frustrated with people in general. In the meantime, the kids and I have been studying some amazing cultures and people and I am simply aghast that us as Christians can be so caught up in these trivial petty matters while there are people around the world who are really and truly suffering.
I don't get it. And I don't want to get it.
What I want is to have these thoughts out of my head. I want to stop focusing so much on what other people think and believe and simply think on thoughts that God has for ME. That's what this broken focus is affecting. I read something really awesome in my Bible, and instead of just being joyful that God shared that with me, my thoughts are ones of criticism- why don't other people see this? I think it's high time that we as believers stop reading our Bibles and thinking that what God reveals to us is meant for everyone. I truly believe that sometimes God will open our eyes to something in the Bible that He means for only us at that moment. I will read a passage a hundred times, and it isn't until the 101st time that something new leaps off the page- some new revelation or understanding. That's perfectly normal! And in fact, it can be scientifically proven that it's a normal occurrence.
The brain processes thoughts in different ways in every stage of our lives. So a verse that we read when we're eight years old has a completely different meaning that a verse we read as a teenager, as a young adult, or as an elderly woman who has lived her life fully. There's a reason our Bible is called a Living Word- because it actually IS!
I would pray today that this season of broken focus would be put snugly in the past, to never return. God has things to say to us, things to share with us, and He can't do it if we're not focused on Him. He won't do it if we're not focused on Him. I would pray that He would help not only myself, but my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to check our focus and hold it where it should be. Smack dab in the center of His Will.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Unexpected Benefits
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
One of the things that we've been earnestly talking to God about over the past several months has been money. Not so much prayers of asking FOR money, but prayers for wisdom in dealing with the money that comes into our household. And then prayers for actually acting on that wisdom. Every winter it seems we find ourselves, at one time or another, in a pickle about something with money. Some winters it's minor and less important, some winters it's pretty major. This winter has been absolutely horrendous, as we were caught off guard with such an early lay-off. We weren't prepared in the least, and other issues came to light, and it's been a very, very long four months.
Andy is finally back to work, and as the income begins to flow again, I have been praying daily that God would help us to stretch what is coming. It would be so, so easy to take these first few paychecks, pay some on the many back-bills, but then fritter much of it away. How easy would it be to take the family out for dinner, or go on a small spending spree, buying a few clothing items that we've been needing or splurging on higher priced grocery items. The fact is though, that for a while anyway, every penny that comes in is going to be required to go elsewhere. Our livelihood depends on it- if bills are not paid, bad things happen.
I know that God's got our backs on this. We've got the knowledge on how to get through the next few months of catching up, but what we need is the application of that knowledge. And that's what I've been praying on an awful lot. I've been asking the Holy Spirit to get ready to stop us from doing anything dumb. I think He's at the ready, and we'll get through these next few months, and all will be well.
But what I wanted to talk about today is really some of the benefits we've discovered during these four months of lay-off time, because it goes along with wisdom and finances. There have been unintended consequences of being broker than broke for a few months. We've learned to do without A LOT of things, and many of those, we'll not go back to. One such example is that Andy has re-discovered car maintenance and repair abilities. Once upon a time, we couldn't afford a mechanic to take care of our vehicles, and Andy did the majority of it himself. Well, as time went on and his income increased, the mechanic became more involved in our lives. Every oil change went to the mechanic. Every stray sound went to the mechanic. Andy literally forgot that he knew how to do this stuff himself. Well, guess what he's rediscovered? He does know about cars. He can do an oil change himself, easily and way cheaper than any mechanic could do. He can do the research and replace parts in the vehicles as well. Had we not been to a point where this stuff HAD to be done, when we had no money to do so, I doubt he would have rediscovered that he even could.
Naturally, I always discover benefits in the kitchen when Andy is laid off. We get cravings for various dishes, and I learn how to make them cheaply and deliciously. When he's not working, one of my number one items that I make consistently is homemade bread. But last week I ran out of time on a day that I needed a loaf of bread to go with a soup supper. On the way to dance we stopped at a pricey bread shop and picked up a loaf of their bread. It was good, don't get me wrong. But every single one of us thought about how much better my bread tasted. My homemade bread, that I've perfected and can prepare with my eyes closed was so much better than this expensive artisan loaf from the bread shop.
Through this time of lay-off, God has been showing us little ways that we can save money all year round, not just when Andy is laid off and not working. This is huge, because I've really been feeling a need to do more to feed the hungry. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this can be difficult to do, because you need money to feed the hungry. Well, by changing our own oil in vehicles, Andy is probably saving about $300 a year. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but in other countries, that $300 can go far. We can feed an entire orphanage in Kenya for a couple of weeks with that money. By making my own bread instead of buying it, I am easily saving hundreds of dollars a year, more than enough to sponsor a child living in the slums of India, or living in a tent city in Haiti.
Too many years, Andy goes back to work and we go right back to normal. The cars go in for maintenance, the grocery trips adjust. Not this time. I believe that God has been showing us where to adjust for reasons beyond saving money. He's showing us where we can trim so that we can begin giving more in the areas that are on our hearts.
And the examples of car maintenance and baking bread are only a small part of the things that God has been showing us. They're just two of the things that immediately spring to mind when I think of what He's been teaching us. They're also reminders- that God will use anything and everything for HIS good.
One of the things that we've been earnestly talking to God about over the past several months has been money. Not so much prayers of asking FOR money, but prayers for wisdom in dealing with the money that comes into our household. And then prayers for actually acting on that wisdom. Every winter it seems we find ourselves, at one time or another, in a pickle about something with money. Some winters it's minor and less important, some winters it's pretty major. This winter has been absolutely horrendous, as we were caught off guard with such an early lay-off. We weren't prepared in the least, and other issues came to light, and it's been a very, very long four months.
Andy is finally back to work, and as the income begins to flow again, I have been praying daily that God would help us to stretch what is coming. It would be so, so easy to take these first few paychecks, pay some on the many back-bills, but then fritter much of it away. How easy would it be to take the family out for dinner, or go on a small spending spree, buying a few clothing items that we've been needing or splurging on higher priced grocery items. The fact is though, that for a while anyway, every penny that comes in is going to be required to go elsewhere. Our livelihood depends on it- if bills are not paid, bad things happen.
I know that God's got our backs on this. We've got the knowledge on how to get through the next few months of catching up, but what we need is the application of that knowledge. And that's what I've been praying on an awful lot. I've been asking the Holy Spirit to get ready to stop us from doing anything dumb. I think He's at the ready, and we'll get through these next few months, and all will be well.
But what I wanted to talk about today is really some of the benefits we've discovered during these four months of lay-off time, because it goes along with wisdom and finances. There have been unintended consequences of being broker than broke for a few months. We've learned to do without A LOT of things, and many of those, we'll not go back to. One such example is that Andy has re-discovered car maintenance and repair abilities. Once upon a time, we couldn't afford a mechanic to take care of our vehicles, and Andy did the majority of it himself. Well, as time went on and his income increased, the mechanic became more involved in our lives. Every oil change went to the mechanic. Every stray sound went to the mechanic. Andy literally forgot that he knew how to do this stuff himself. Well, guess what he's rediscovered? He does know about cars. He can do an oil change himself, easily and way cheaper than any mechanic could do. He can do the research and replace parts in the vehicles as well. Had we not been to a point where this stuff HAD to be done, when we had no money to do so, I doubt he would have rediscovered that he even could.
Naturally, I always discover benefits in the kitchen when Andy is laid off. We get cravings for various dishes, and I learn how to make them cheaply and deliciously. When he's not working, one of my number one items that I make consistently is homemade bread. But last week I ran out of time on a day that I needed a loaf of bread to go with a soup supper. On the way to dance we stopped at a pricey bread shop and picked up a loaf of their bread. It was good, don't get me wrong. But every single one of us thought about how much better my bread tasted. My homemade bread, that I've perfected and can prepare with my eyes closed was so much better than this expensive artisan loaf from the bread shop.
Through this time of lay-off, God has been showing us little ways that we can save money all year round, not just when Andy is laid off and not working. This is huge, because I've really been feeling a need to do more to feed the hungry. As I've mentioned in previous posts, this can be difficult to do, because you need money to feed the hungry. Well, by changing our own oil in vehicles, Andy is probably saving about $300 a year. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but in other countries, that $300 can go far. We can feed an entire orphanage in Kenya for a couple of weeks with that money. By making my own bread instead of buying it, I am easily saving hundreds of dollars a year, more than enough to sponsor a child living in the slums of India, or living in a tent city in Haiti.
Too many years, Andy goes back to work and we go right back to normal. The cars go in for maintenance, the grocery trips adjust. Not this time. I believe that God has been showing us where to adjust for reasons beyond saving money. He's showing us where we can trim so that we can begin giving more in the areas that are on our hearts.
And the examples of car maintenance and baking bread are only a small part of the things that God has been showing us. They're just two of the things that immediately spring to mind when I think of what He's been teaching us. They're also reminders- that God will use anything and everything for HIS good.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Blessed Are The Hungry
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6
"for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’" Matthew 25:42-45
It's been a while, my friends! I have to admit, February was a very, long hard month for me. And yet, time was certainly fleeting! Every time I even thought about sitting down and blogging, something clamored for my attention. Hopefully I can work on getting back on track here, because I have so much to tell about, so much to share, and so many things on my mind. Today I wanted to talk about something that seems to be everywhere I look these days. Hunger.
And I literally mean everywhere! Abigail and I have been studying the life of Mother Theresa, and her compassion and care for those in poverty was beyond incredible. In addition to that, Zander and I have begun studying the life of George Muller, who also served the less fortunate in a mighty way. I've been posting in and discussing threads about food pantries and food banks on various forums as of late. Last night's sermon at church dove a bit into the subject of hunger, and we even sang the song Hungry during worship, now that I think about it. Different TV shows I watch have called attention to world hunger, and even the fiction book that I'm currently reading has a whole storyline devoted to hunger. It's on my mind. A lot.
Andy went back to work this week after a long lay-off period. It is only by the grace of God that we've made it through, (more on that another day, I promise!), and yet, while our meals may not have always been spectacular, one thing I can absolutely say is that we have never been hungry. Not like so many.
At Christmas time there was an image floating around the internet that showed a starving African child on one side, and an angry Christmas shopping mob on the other side, and asked the viewer to define necessity. It has stuck with me ever since I saw it, because my heart breaks SO MUCH for those who are hungry. I know I've posted about this a dozen times before, but I just feel like it's an essential time to try and do something, anything. I don't know what, but God must have it before me for a reason!
I've often had ideas about the ideal way to stock a food pantry or I've had ideas about teaching basic cooking to moms who truly don't know how. Lately those ideas have shifted to the thought of sponsoring a child through Compassion International, or making donations to Heifer International. The thing is, the ironic thing is, that all those things take finances. Something we don't have! Andy's back to work, yes, but it's going to be a few months before we even have anything that can be called extra income, as we have much catching up to do. So why on earth would God put these things before me that I can't do anything about?
Maybe it's to try and help me find the faith that He will provide. As I begin the planning and the planting for the garden, I have such grand plans this year. Every year I think about how wonderful it would be to have extra and be able to share it with those who need it. Maybe this will be the year that the abundance from the garden actually happens! And, oh, I so want to be able to help those who need help! I want to be able to give money to people when they say they are going to be working in orphanages. I want to be able to sow into various organizations that actually feed the hungry. I want to look into what it would take to make a big pot of chili or stew and take it to one of the homeless shelters in the area.
I don't think that God places these desires on my heart for nothing. So for now, what I choose to do is pray about it. And maybe He'll show me ways to start small. Maybe He'll show me something extra to put in my grocery cart that will really bless someone. Maybe He'll show me a particular region or area in the world that I should pray for. I have no idea. But what I do know is that there are way too many people in this world suffering from hunger. That should not be, and we as a church should begin to do something about it. Government has tried to help. Here in our own country there are programs that can help those who need it, such as the food stamp program. But it's not enough, and since Jesus actually told the church to take care of the hungry, I believe it should be our job to do so, not the government's job.
Feed the hungry. We can start small, maybe in our own backyard. And we can pray. It may not be much, but it's a start.
"For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:9
For they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6
"for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’" Matthew 25:42-45
It's been a while, my friends! I have to admit, February was a very, long hard month for me. And yet, time was certainly fleeting! Every time I even thought about sitting down and blogging, something clamored for my attention. Hopefully I can work on getting back on track here, because I have so much to tell about, so much to share, and so many things on my mind. Today I wanted to talk about something that seems to be everywhere I look these days. Hunger.
And I literally mean everywhere! Abigail and I have been studying the life of Mother Theresa, and her compassion and care for those in poverty was beyond incredible. In addition to that, Zander and I have begun studying the life of George Muller, who also served the less fortunate in a mighty way. I've been posting in and discussing threads about food pantries and food banks on various forums as of late. Last night's sermon at church dove a bit into the subject of hunger, and we even sang the song Hungry during worship, now that I think about it. Different TV shows I watch have called attention to world hunger, and even the fiction book that I'm currently reading has a whole storyline devoted to hunger. It's on my mind. A lot.
Andy went back to work this week after a long lay-off period. It is only by the grace of God that we've made it through, (more on that another day, I promise!), and yet, while our meals may not have always been spectacular, one thing I can absolutely say is that we have never been hungry. Not like so many.
At Christmas time there was an image floating around the internet that showed a starving African child on one side, and an angry Christmas shopping mob on the other side, and asked the viewer to define necessity. It has stuck with me ever since I saw it, because my heart breaks SO MUCH for those who are hungry. I know I've posted about this a dozen times before, but I just feel like it's an essential time to try and do something, anything. I don't know what, but God must have it before me for a reason!
I've often had ideas about the ideal way to stock a food pantry or I've had ideas about teaching basic cooking to moms who truly don't know how. Lately those ideas have shifted to the thought of sponsoring a child through Compassion International, or making donations to Heifer International. The thing is, the ironic thing is, that all those things take finances. Something we don't have! Andy's back to work, yes, but it's going to be a few months before we even have anything that can be called extra income, as we have much catching up to do. So why on earth would God put these things before me that I can't do anything about?
Maybe it's to try and help me find the faith that He will provide. As I begin the planning and the planting for the garden, I have such grand plans this year. Every year I think about how wonderful it would be to have extra and be able to share it with those who need it. Maybe this will be the year that the abundance from the garden actually happens! And, oh, I so want to be able to help those who need help! I want to be able to give money to people when they say they are going to be working in orphanages. I want to be able to sow into various organizations that actually feed the hungry. I want to look into what it would take to make a big pot of chili or stew and take it to one of the homeless shelters in the area.
I don't think that God places these desires on my heart for nothing. So for now, what I choose to do is pray about it. And maybe He'll show me ways to start small. Maybe He'll show me something extra to put in my grocery cart that will really bless someone. Maybe He'll show me a particular region or area in the world that I should pray for. I have no idea. But what I do know is that there are way too many people in this world suffering from hunger. That should not be, and we as a church should begin to do something about it. Government has tried to help. Here in our own country there are programs that can help those who need it, such as the food stamp program. But it's not enough, and since Jesus actually told the church to take care of the hungry, I believe it should be our job to do so, not the government's job.
Feed the hungry. We can start small, maybe in our own backyard. And we can pray. It may not be much, but it's a start.
"For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:9
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Always Changing
"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." Psalm 45:1
The kids read Psalm 45 aloud today at the beginning of our school day. We read through the New Testament in 2011, and when January came along, we decided to start reading through the Psalms. I love starting our school days with verses full of joy and praise. This verse jumped out at me right off the bat this morning- the part about the heart overflowing is just so spot on. My heart is overflowing, each and every day, and just when it seems like there's no more room in there, I am reminded of something else and my heart swells to near bursting. God is just so wonderful.
We've been very, very busy these past weeks. January was such a calm and relaxing month for us, but February has been quite the whirlwind! It seems like we've been moving from moment to moment with little time in between to catch our breath. The blogging has suffered this month because of it, but be assured it's not because of a lack of things to say, thoughts to dwell on, or moments of joy that should be shared. In fact, I've often crafted little short blog posts in my head, and have simply not found the time to sit and put words to keyboard.
But last night as I sat at dance, as I do three evenings a week, I was thinking about how I really wanted to sit down and blog about something, and then the perfect verse popped up just a few moments ago, and I just had to do it. The kids are off doing their reading assignments for the day, so hopefully I can accomplish something here while that is going on. My routine at the dance studio has pretty much been the same ever since we started going there nearly six years ago. While class is going on, I bring a book and sit and get my reading in while classes are going on. I've loved doing that, because I honestly don't have as much time these days to just get absorbed in a book- but when I'm sitting there for a few hours while the kids dance I can get a whole lot of reading done. It's wonderful. But last night, as I sat there, simply holding my book, I reflected on how I haven't been getting as much reading done as of late. On the one hand, that's kind of saddening to me, because I love to read! But on the other hand, it shows to me exactly how God is stretching me and molding me.
Because the reason I'm not getting my reading done is not because I'm so focused on the kids dance classes, but because in the last few months I've actually set the books down and started chatting with those around me. I know, I know, that seems like such a normal thing, but for me, well, I'm just a quiet person. I'm not chatty- when talking, I like to just get right to the point and not waste words. And yet, here I have been, chatting it up with the other parents around me so much more than I used to. Oh, I've talked with people here and there in the past, I'm not completely void of social skills, but it's always been a few things here and there, and then I'd dive right back into whatever book I've got with me. It's very interesting, and I'll tell you what totally struck me about the verse I posted up above today is the line that says "my tongue is the pen of the ready writer". Because 95% of the time, in my conversations with people at the studio, I find myself in the role of the encourager. Something is going on with their lives, their kids, something with dance, etc, that the person I'm speaking with is wrestling with or is concerned about, and I've been spending a lot of time encouraging those around me.
Sadly, I don't hear near enough about that. I find most often that when people are complaining or voicing concerns, most often what is on the other end of the conversation is commiseration. So many people out there are sad, concerned, depressed, and just feeling negative about various things in life. By speaking words of encouragement to someone who needs it, I am using the pen that my tongue actually is and I am writing words of joy, encouragement and strength into their lives and minds. I've literally seen the stress in another mom's eyes melt away as I've shared bits of encouragement here and there. It's remarkable how simple words can make such a difference in another person's life. And as Christians, I don't think we do near enough of it. I think all too often we're too quick to want to engage someone in conversation for the express purpose of getting them saved that we get caught up in their issues ourselves and find ourselves commiserating or affirming the negative feelings instead of encouraging and exhorting.
The Bible clearly tells us to exhort one another, to encourage one another,
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
Now, I realize that these particular verses, and many others in the Bible are speaking to us as a church- we're being given directions on how to behave towards one another as a body. While I definitely agree that we need to be building each other up- how much more important for us to build up someone who maybe doesn't know Jesus as their personal savior? Because I'll tell you exactly how this will play out. As these people hear encouragement over and over from someone, over time they're going to start to get curious, and one day they're going to want to know how exactly it is that someone can be so positive all the time. And that right there is the opening worth waiting for- the moment to introduce them to Jesus, the one who makes everything positive and wonderful. That's where we get to share with them our faith in a God who takes care of all things, no matter how dire it may seem on the outside.
As Christians we're often referred to as clay- we talk about God being the Master Potter and molding us and shaping us until we're perfect.
"Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! " Jeremiah 18:5,6
When I think about that I think that as the clay, we'll probably never really be finished being molded. There's always something new that God would have us do. It makes me wonder sometimes, what I might look like 20 years from now. How different could I be then if God is working on me each and every day?
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." Psalm 45:1
The kids read Psalm 45 aloud today at the beginning of our school day. We read through the New Testament in 2011, and when January came along, we decided to start reading through the Psalms. I love starting our school days with verses full of joy and praise. This verse jumped out at me right off the bat this morning- the part about the heart overflowing is just so spot on. My heart is overflowing, each and every day, and just when it seems like there's no more room in there, I am reminded of something else and my heart swells to near bursting. God is just so wonderful.
We've been very, very busy these past weeks. January was such a calm and relaxing month for us, but February has been quite the whirlwind! It seems like we've been moving from moment to moment with little time in between to catch our breath. The blogging has suffered this month because of it, but be assured it's not because of a lack of things to say, thoughts to dwell on, or moments of joy that should be shared. In fact, I've often crafted little short blog posts in my head, and have simply not found the time to sit and put words to keyboard.
But last night as I sat at dance, as I do three evenings a week, I was thinking about how I really wanted to sit down and blog about something, and then the perfect verse popped up just a few moments ago, and I just had to do it. The kids are off doing their reading assignments for the day, so hopefully I can accomplish something here while that is going on. My routine at the dance studio has pretty much been the same ever since we started going there nearly six years ago. While class is going on, I bring a book and sit and get my reading in while classes are going on. I've loved doing that, because I honestly don't have as much time these days to just get absorbed in a book- but when I'm sitting there for a few hours while the kids dance I can get a whole lot of reading done. It's wonderful. But last night, as I sat there, simply holding my book, I reflected on how I haven't been getting as much reading done as of late. On the one hand, that's kind of saddening to me, because I love to read! But on the other hand, it shows to me exactly how God is stretching me and molding me.
Because the reason I'm not getting my reading done is not because I'm so focused on the kids dance classes, but because in the last few months I've actually set the books down and started chatting with those around me. I know, I know, that seems like such a normal thing, but for me, well, I'm just a quiet person. I'm not chatty- when talking, I like to just get right to the point and not waste words. And yet, here I have been, chatting it up with the other parents around me so much more than I used to. Oh, I've talked with people here and there in the past, I'm not completely void of social skills, but it's always been a few things here and there, and then I'd dive right back into whatever book I've got with me. It's very interesting, and I'll tell you what totally struck me about the verse I posted up above today is the line that says "my tongue is the pen of the ready writer". Because 95% of the time, in my conversations with people at the studio, I find myself in the role of the encourager. Something is going on with their lives, their kids, something with dance, etc, that the person I'm speaking with is wrestling with or is concerned about, and I've been spending a lot of time encouraging those around me.
Sadly, I don't hear near enough about that. I find most often that when people are complaining or voicing concerns, most often what is on the other end of the conversation is commiseration. So many people out there are sad, concerned, depressed, and just feeling negative about various things in life. By speaking words of encouragement to someone who needs it, I am using the pen that my tongue actually is and I am writing words of joy, encouragement and strength into their lives and minds. I've literally seen the stress in another mom's eyes melt away as I've shared bits of encouragement here and there. It's remarkable how simple words can make such a difference in another person's life. And as Christians, I don't think we do near enough of it. I think all too often we're too quick to want to engage someone in conversation for the express purpose of getting them saved that we get caught up in their issues ourselves and find ourselves commiserating or affirming the negative feelings instead of encouraging and exhorting.
The Bible clearly tells us to exhort one another, to encourage one another,
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
Now, I realize that these particular verses, and many others in the Bible are speaking to us as a church- we're being given directions on how to behave towards one another as a body. While I definitely agree that we need to be building each other up- how much more important for us to build up someone who maybe doesn't know Jesus as their personal savior? Because I'll tell you exactly how this will play out. As these people hear encouragement over and over from someone, over time they're going to start to get curious, and one day they're going to want to know how exactly it is that someone can be so positive all the time. And that right there is the opening worth waiting for- the moment to introduce them to Jesus, the one who makes everything positive and wonderful. That's where we get to share with them our faith in a God who takes care of all things, no matter how dire it may seem on the outside.
As Christians we're often referred to as clay- we talk about God being the Master Potter and molding us and shaping us until we're perfect.
"Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! " Jeremiah 18:5,6
When I think about that I think that as the clay, we'll probably never really be finished being molded. There's always something new that God would have us do. It makes me wonder sometimes, what I might look like 20 years from now. How different could I be then if God is working on me each and every day?
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Seed To The Sower
"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness," 2 Corinthians 9:10
I wonder if sometimes we don't ask God for different things because we think it's too small. We'll pray for Him to heal someone of cancer, but when we have a cold, we just let it run it's course, thinking it's just a cold. We'll pray for the finances to pay a big bill, or several big bills, but we don't pray when there is a small something that we could need. Or maybe we don't pray about a situation, because we just don't think it's something worthy enough for God to bother with. I've been learning about that a bit this week, as I took a few small things before God, and asked Him about them. I've been sidelined with a nasty viral infection this week, so while its been running its course, I've had more time than normal to just think and take my thoughts to God.
One of the small things I finally took to Him was my daughter's math for school. See what I said above about trivial things? She's such a smart girl when it comes to math, and I've been struggling with which direction to take her in math. At the beginning of the school year I found a math program that was inexpensive, and she enjoyed doing, but it wasn't the one we both really wanted her to do- the one we wanted cost big bucks and just wasn't going to happen. She finished that first book, so I ordered her a second one, and in the last few weeks wound down to the end of that book too. So we were at a crossroads. By all accounts, she was ready to begin tackling Pre-Algebra. But, the main program I wanted was prohibitively expensive. The inexpensive program would work, I thought, but I was concerned about it being thorough enough. And then there was the issue of starting at the beginning of any Pre-Algebra program. They all begin with a serious review- of all the things Abigail has been working hard on these last months. She didn't need review, she needed to move ahead.
So I went to God with it. I did. As I looked at various programs, and tried to see if I could find a thorough, inexpensive program, I kinda gave up. I went back and looked at the cost of the expensive one, and pretty much just laid it all on Him. I asked Him to help us find the funds to be able to purchase this program or to help me find a great alternative. Well, Monday night because I wasn't feeling well, Andy took the kids to dance while I sprawled out on the couch and watched random TV. I had prepared for the rest of the school week and was thinking about Abigail's math. After this week, I was tapped out, I had nothing else on hand that would work for her. As I thought on that, a website literally dropped into my head- along with the idea to go check it out. I know better about random ideas- they don't just come from nowhere, so I did what any sensible person would do and grabbed the laptop and looked it up.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
The website was the perfect solution! Not only does it provide excellent and thorough instruction of Pre-Algebra subjects, as well as practice material, it is completely free. There is absolutely no cost to us to use the materials on this website for Abigail's math studies. It's such a remarkable answer to prayer! What I was expecting was the money to come in to buy the program we wanted, but this website is even better, because we can skip any and all review, and just move on to completely new subjects. And when she's completely all the pre-algebra, we'll move right on into algebra. I'm so excited, and so thrilled to know that God even cares about what my daughter is learning in math. He knows her so well, that He knew that she would thoroughly enjoy the lectures and the practice problems as well.
The second answer to prayer this week is more related to being a sower and needing some seed, because that's exactly what I needed this week. I've scratched my head this week trying to figure out where I can come up with just a few dollars to pick up a few things that I've been needing at church. Some cleaning and hospitality supplies that I'm running low on and would like to have stocked up for a conference next week. There's just been no extra money laying around, and I was thinking about different things I could maybe list online for sale even, I just couldn't think of where to get this extra little bit of money. So I've spent time talking to God about it, and pointing out that I just need this little bit of money to help take care of His house, and to take care of our guests next week that come for the conference. Pretty much though, I was asking for God to show me wisdom- show me where I could find a way to make up this little bit of money I needed.
In this instance, God worked a little more directly than that, as last night someone pressed into my hands actual money. Enough to purchase everything I need. I am so excited about this! Last night I had a hard time falling asleep because I kept thinking about being a gardener, and I was thinking about how when I have seeds, I sow them into the ground expecting a harvest. I don't hoard my seeds, and I don't take my seeds and do something with them other than plant them- wasting them. I'm sure this thoughtful person knew that Andy has not been working, and thought they'd give me a little something to bless me. Well, being a gardener, the absolute best thing I can do with this seed that has been given to me is sow it, and there's no better place to sow it than His House. As soon as I saw that money, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it- there were no thoughts of treating myself to something new or nice. No thoughts of taking my family out for a movie (though that would be wicked fun) or other some fun adventure. I just thought about how generous and special this anonymous person was, and felt like a gardener- that I needed to sow this seed properly. God saw fit to put me on someone's heart so that they would give me seed. I can't wait to sow it!
So what small thing have you not been asking God for? Because to God, there is no such thing as a small thing. If it matters to you, it matters to him! He's a good Father who loves His children and cares about what they care about. I thought of that this morning during prayer time with the kids. We've been praying heartily for their dance costumes to come in for their first competition next week. It may seem like a silly thing to be praying, but it's very important to my kids- they're genuinely concerned about their costumes not coming in. So of course we pray for these costumes to come in- I'm a good mom, and if my kids are concerned, I'm concerned. I have no doubt that God will see to their concerns and will see that they have their costumes. God cares about what my kids care for. He loves them so much. And He loves you so much too! So go ahead and ask Him today. He provides seed for the sower and bread for food- He can provide the smallest desire, but sometimes He just wants to hear you ask for it. Go ahead, ask!
I wonder if sometimes we don't ask God for different things because we think it's too small. We'll pray for Him to heal someone of cancer, but when we have a cold, we just let it run it's course, thinking it's just a cold. We'll pray for the finances to pay a big bill, or several big bills, but we don't pray when there is a small something that we could need. Or maybe we don't pray about a situation, because we just don't think it's something worthy enough for God to bother with. I've been learning about that a bit this week, as I took a few small things before God, and asked Him about them. I've been sidelined with a nasty viral infection this week, so while its been running its course, I've had more time than normal to just think and take my thoughts to God.
One of the small things I finally took to Him was my daughter's math for school. See what I said above about trivial things? She's such a smart girl when it comes to math, and I've been struggling with which direction to take her in math. At the beginning of the school year I found a math program that was inexpensive, and she enjoyed doing, but it wasn't the one we both really wanted her to do- the one we wanted cost big bucks and just wasn't going to happen. She finished that first book, so I ordered her a second one, and in the last few weeks wound down to the end of that book too. So we were at a crossroads. By all accounts, she was ready to begin tackling Pre-Algebra. But, the main program I wanted was prohibitively expensive. The inexpensive program would work, I thought, but I was concerned about it being thorough enough. And then there was the issue of starting at the beginning of any Pre-Algebra program. They all begin with a serious review- of all the things Abigail has been working hard on these last months. She didn't need review, she needed to move ahead.
So I went to God with it. I did. As I looked at various programs, and tried to see if I could find a thorough, inexpensive program, I kinda gave up. I went back and looked at the cost of the expensive one, and pretty much just laid it all on Him. I asked Him to help us find the funds to be able to purchase this program or to help me find a great alternative. Well, Monday night because I wasn't feeling well, Andy took the kids to dance while I sprawled out on the couch and watched random TV. I had prepared for the rest of the school week and was thinking about Abigail's math. After this week, I was tapped out, I had nothing else on hand that would work for her. As I thought on that, a website literally dropped into my head- along with the idea to go check it out. I know better about random ideas- they don't just come from nowhere, so I did what any sensible person would do and grabbed the laptop and looked it up.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
The website was the perfect solution! Not only does it provide excellent and thorough instruction of Pre-Algebra subjects, as well as practice material, it is completely free. There is absolutely no cost to us to use the materials on this website for Abigail's math studies. It's such a remarkable answer to prayer! What I was expecting was the money to come in to buy the program we wanted, but this website is even better, because we can skip any and all review, and just move on to completely new subjects. And when she's completely all the pre-algebra, we'll move right on into algebra. I'm so excited, and so thrilled to know that God even cares about what my daughter is learning in math. He knows her so well, that He knew that she would thoroughly enjoy the lectures and the practice problems as well.
The second answer to prayer this week is more related to being a sower and needing some seed, because that's exactly what I needed this week. I've scratched my head this week trying to figure out where I can come up with just a few dollars to pick up a few things that I've been needing at church. Some cleaning and hospitality supplies that I'm running low on and would like to have stocked up for a conference next week. There's just been no extra money laying around, and I was thinking about different things I could maybe list online for sale even, I just couldn't think of where to get this extra little bit of money. So I've spent time talking to God about it, and pointing out that I just need this little bit of money to help take care of His house, and to take care of our guests next week that come for the conference. Pretty much though, I was asking for God to show me wisdom- show me where I could find a way to make up this little bit of money I needed.
In this instance, God worked a little more directly than that, as last night someone pressed into my hands actual money. Enough to purchase everything I need. I am so excited about this! Last night I had a hard time falling asleep because I kept thinking about being a gardener, and I was thinking about how when I have seeds, I sow them into the ground expecting a harvest. I don't hoard my seeds, and I don't take my seeds and do something with them other than plant them- wasting them. I'm sure this thoughtful person knew that Andy has not been working, and thought they'd give me a little something to bless me. Well, being a gardener, the absolute best thing I can do with this seed that has been given to me is sow it, and there's no better place to sow it than His House. As soon as I saw that money, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it- there were no thoughts of treating myself to something new or nice. No thoughts of taking my family out for a movie (though that would be wicked fun) or other some fun adventure. I just thought about how generous and special this anonymous person was, and felt like a gardener- that I needed to sow this seed properly. God saw fit to put me on someone's heart so that they would give me seed. I can't wait to sow it!
So what small thing have you not been asking God for? Because to God, there is no such thing as a small thing. If it matters to you, it matters to him! He's a good Father who loves His children and cares about what they care about. I thought of that this morning during prayer time with the kids. We've been praying heartily for their dance costumes to come in for their first competition next week. It may seem like a silly thing to be praying, but it's very important to my kids- they're genuinely concerned about their costumes not coming in. So of course we pray for these costumes to come in- I'm a good mom, and if my kids are concerned, I'm concerned. I have no doubt that God will see to their concerns and will see that they have their costumes. God cares about what my kids care for. He loves them so much. And He loves you so much too! So go ahead and ask Him today. He provides seed for the sower and bread for food- He can provide the smallest desire, but sometimes He just wants to hear you ask for it. Go ahead, ask!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Pass It On
"She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard" Proverbs 31:16
This morning I felt inspired to turn to the passage in the Bible about my favorite woman. Every single time I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I take something away from it. But today, as I read through it, and felt encouraged in my daily duties as a housewife and mom, I noticed that something was missing. There was one particular task that was left out of her list of exceptional achievements. What struck me that was missing was that it never mentioned how she taught anyone what she was doing. It never mentions once that she taught her daughters the ways of managing a household. It never mentions that when she's sewing garments for her family, that she's teaching others to do the same. And when she considered the field above and bought it, it never says a word about her teaching others how to do the same. I found this very interesting.
Because that's exactly what I've been thinking about for some time. I've often thought about teaching other people various abilities that I could pass on, but that teaching never really goes any farther than my own kids. I remember last spring, thinking about my gardening and future salsa-making, and thinking that I should offer to teach people how to make their own salsa. Time really ran away from me last year, though. I was making batches of salsa in my sleep sometimes, just to get it done. I've thought in the past about teaching cooking classes, about passing on how to make simple meals homemade and from scratch. Most recently, just this week I've been thinking a lot on the coming gardening season. I'm in the planning stages for my gardens this year, and I thought about how it would be wonderful to pass on the love of gardening and get others to try their hand at planting a few seeds. I wondered how I would go about doing such a thing, but then I've also wondered if I really know enough about gardening to help someone else get going. I still have plenty of failures in that regard.
But you know, I don't think that any of those thoughts that I've had to pass on what I know have been completely futile and useless. I do think that there will be a time in the future when those thoughts will come to fruition.
"O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep." Psalm 92:5
God gives us His thoughts sometimes, and I actually spent quite a bit of time yesterday thinking about gardening and teaching others how to do so. And what do you think happened? I got a brief little message on Facebook late last night from someone asking about gardening. God couldn't have made it any more clear to me that this idea that's been rolling around in my head is a thought that He has shared with me. I really think that in the years to come, home vegetable gardening is going to become a very important source of food for families all over the world. Food prices are going up, and gardening is actually quite inexpensive- especially if you know people who already garden. Gardeners love to share seeds, tips and fruits of their labor. And with food safety in question all the time, it just doesn't get much safer than food grown in your own backyard. I've been feeling an urgency in getting my gardens set up for the last few years, and that urgency has not gone away. In fact, this year's gardens are already more about what I can grow in quantity, versus what I want to try growing.
So I'm thrilled at the idea of passing on gardening. It's something that literally anyone can do- with a pot of dirt and a handful of seeds, a meal can be produced from the ground.
"The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10
God gave me this ability of being able to plant seeds in the ground and understand how to make them grow. God gave me the desire to do so in the first place- He gave me a very good thing, and it is now my task to pass on that knowledge. I'm really excited to do so. It could be that I end up helping just one person. It could be that I end up helping many. No matter how many it is, what matters is that I follow the Lord's guidance and pass on what needs to be passed on.
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8
From her profits she plants a vineyard" Proverbs 31:16
This morning I felt inspired to turn to the passage in the Bible about my favorite woman. Every single time I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I take something away from it. But today, as I read through it, and felt encouraged in my daily duties as a housewife and mom, I noticed that something was missing. There was one particular task that was left out of her list of exceptional achievements. What struck me that was missing was that it never mentioned how she taught anyone what she was doing. It never mentions once that she taught her daughters the ways of managing a household. It never mentions that when she's sewing garments for her family, that she's teaching others to do the same. And when she considered the field above and bought it, it never says a word about her teaching others how to do the same. I found this very interesting.
Because that's exactly what I've been thinking about for some time. I've often thought about teaching other people various abilities that I could pass on, but that teaching never really goes any farther than my own kids. I remember last spring, thinking about my gardening and future salsa-making, and thinking that I should offer to teach people how to make their own salsa. Time really ran away from me last year, though. I was making batches of salsa in my sleep sometimes, just to get it done. I've thought in the past about teaching cooking classes, about passing on how to make simple meals homemade and from scratch. Most recently, just this week I've been thinking a lot on the coming gardening season. I'm in the planning stages for my gardens this year, and I thought about how it would be wonderful to pass on the love of gardening and get others to try their hand at planting a few seeds. I wondered how I would go about doing such a thing, but then I've also wondered if I really know enough about gardening to help someone else get going. I still have plenty of failures in that regard.
But you know, I don't think that any of those thoughts that I've had to pass on what I know have been completely futile and useless. I do think that there will be a time in the future when those thoughts will come to fruition.
"O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep." Psalm 92:5
God gives us His thoughts sometimes, and I actually spent quite a bit of time yesterday thinking about gardening and teaching others how to do so. And what do you think happened? I got a brief little message on Facebook late last night from someone asking about gardening. God couldn't have made it any more clear to me that this idea that's been rolling around in my head is a thought that He has shared with me. I really think that in the years to come, home vegetable gardening is going to become a very important source of food for families all over the world. Food prices are going up, and gardening is actually quite inexpensive- especially if you know people who already garden. Gardeners love to share seeds, tips and fruits of their labor. And with food safety in question all the time, it just doesn't get much safer than food grown in your own backyard. I've been feeling an urgency in getting my gardens set up for the last few years, and that urgency has not gone away. In fact, this year's gardens are already more about what I can grow in quantity, versus what I want to try growing.
So I'm thrilled at the idea of passing on gardening. It's something that literally anyone can do- with a pot of dirt and a handful of seeds, a meal can be produced from the ground.
"The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10
God gave me this ability of being able to plant seeds in the ground and understand how to make them grow. God gave me the desire to do so in the first place- He gave me a very good thing, and it is now my task to pass on that knowledge. I'm really excited to do so. It could be that I end up helping just one person. It could be that I end up helping many. No matter how many it is, what matters is that I follow the Lord's guidance and pass on what needs to be passed on.
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Perpetual Spring?
"Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven." Psalm 85:11
" Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19
"For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." Isaiah 61:11
One of the areas that I've been taking care of at church has been a little display window when you first walk in the door at church. I don't do anything major or exciting, just keep it clean and arrange different elements as the seasons dictate. The first year I did it, I had a lot of fun changing it up with the seasons, yet trying to keep it classy and welcoming. I loved my display classes in college, and this is a small way I can put that talent to use. But last spring, I did a window that I thought turned out especially nice- basic, but nice. When late summer came though, and I started thinking about changing it up, life happened, and I never got around to changing it. Then fall arrived, and I had these ideas of fall leaves and pumpkins, and yet again, the change didn't happen. Of course, Christmas came next, and I had ideas of evergreens and snowflakes- things that didn't necessarily need to be changed right after Christmas.
That window is still holding the display I made for last spring. It's not because I've been lazy about taking care of it either. It was almost a puzzle for me, why was it that every time I thought about doing the window, something came up? Well, this winter has been incredibly mild and warm. We've had beautiful temperatures- yesterday it crept up close to 50, it was so warm and nice, and when I went out, I just was filled with such hope and excitement. The exact same hope and excitement that I feel come the end of March when the spring thaw finally rolls around. The winter doldrums really get to me by this time every year, and I'm just so tired of being cold. This year, it seems the winter doldrums haven't even had a chance to make an appearance. While I realize that spring may still not happen until the end of March, this mild weather just makes me think spring! It fills my heart with joy and hope and has me eagerly looking forward to tomorrow.
Because that's what spring does for me. Every year when spring rolls around I get so hopeful- the idea of new things springing forth from the ground and from the trees in the air just fills me so much with the goodness of God. The idea of experiencing spring year round is awesome to me- because it tells me that God is preparing to do a new thing! Just as every spring we watch the ground to see what flowers and plants are going to spring forth after a season of dormancy, I am also watching God, wondering what new things He has planned for His people in the days to come.
I love new. I am not one of those people who is resistant to change- I love it, and I look forward to everything constantly changing. I actually try very hard to never settle into routine or keeping things the same- every day is different. When we rolled over into the new year from the old year, I was filled with anticipation at the things that could come in this new year. Yet, as January marched on, it marched very slowly. It seemed to me to be a very long month. For me, this flip into February from January is almost more exciting than the year changing, and I can't wait to see what God has planned. Here in the United States, and in a few other places around the world, we celebrate Valentines Day in the month of February- a holiday that is all about love. Could this be the month that God unleashes His unrelenting love on His children? I'm ready for it.
I'm waiting for it, and I have expectations for it. I think I was meant to leave that spring window up as a reminder that the season of new-ness is upon us.
" Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19
"For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." Isaiah 61:11
One of the areas that I've been taking care of at church has been a little display window when you first walk in the door at church. I don't do anything major or exciting, just keep it clean and arrange different elements as the seasons dictate. The first year I did it, I had a lot of fun changing it up with the seasons, yet trying to keep it classy and welcoming. I loved my display classes in college, and this is a small way I can put that talent to use. But last spring, I did a window that I thought turned out especially nice- basic, but nice. When late summer came though, and I started thinking about changing it up, life happened, and I never got around to changing it. Then fall arrived, and I had these ideas of fall leaves and pumpkins, and yet again, the change didn't happen. Of course, Christmas came next, and I had ideas of evergreens and snowflakes- things that didn't necessarily need to be changed right after Christmas.
That window is still holding the display I made for last spring. It's not because I've been lazy about taking care of it either. It was almost a puzzle for me, why was it that every time I thought about doing the window, something came up? Well, this winter has been incredibly mild and warm. We've had beautiful temperatures- yesterday it crept up close to 50, it was so warm and nice, and when I went out, I just was filled with such hope and excitement. The exact same hope and excitement that I feel come the end of March when the spring thaw finally rolls around. The winter doldrums really get to me by this time every year, and I'm just so tired of being cold. This year, it seems the winter doldrums haven't even had a chance to make an appearance. While I realize that spring may still not happen until the end of March, this mild weather just makes me think spring! It fills my heart with joy and hope and has me eagerly looking forward to tomorrow.
Because that's what spring does for me. Every year when spring rolls around I get so hopeful- the idea of new things springing forth from the ground and from the trees in the air just fills me so much with the goodness of God. The idea of experiencing spring year round is awesome to me- because it tells me that God is preparing to do a new thing! Just as every spring we watch the ground to see what flowers and plants are going to spring forth after a season of dormancy, I am also watching God, wondering what new things He has planned for His people in the days to come.
I love new. I am not one of those people who is resistant to change- I love it, and I look forward to everything constantly changing. I actually try very hard to never settle into routine or keeping things the same- every day is different. When we rolled over into the new year from the old year, I was filled with anticipation at the things that could come in this new year. Yet, as January marched on, it marched very slowly. It seemed to me to be a very long month. For me, this flip into February from January is almost more exciting than the year changing, and I can't wait to see what God has planned. Here in the United States, and in a few other places around the world, we celebrate Valentines Day in the month of February- a holiday that is all about love. Could this be the month that God unleashes His unrelenting love on His children? I'm ready for it.
I'm waiting for it, and I have expectations for it. I think I was meant to leave that spring window up as a reminder that the season of new-ness is upon us.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sometimes, You've Got To Move On
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no
longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking." Ephesians 4:17
I had a rather strange dream last night. In this dream, my family and I were driving on a vacation somewhere when we ran into someone we knew at a gas station. This person was lost, they were running away from things in their life, and searching for answers and truth. We counseled as best we could, and suggested places that they could turn to for help. Our suggestions were not well received, and in the end, we did what we could. We filled that person's vehicle with gas and then drove on to our destination. While we were concerned for this person, we did what we could, and the time had come for us to move on.
Isn't our walk through this earth kind of like that sometimes? I've been thinking on Facebook as of late. It's become quite the tool for me for communicating with groups and with people in various organizations. I really like using it in that regard. But what I'm really not a fan of is the whole "connecting with your past" thing that they've got going on. I'm just not interested in connecting with little Susie that I went to elementary school with. And yet, there she is popping up from time to time in my sidebar, with a suggestion that we be friends.
I honestly and truly think that way too many people are caught up and stuck in the past. I can't even imagine wanting to think in that regard- every day that we get to be here is another wonderful day- I love my today's, I look forward to my tomorrows, but I almost always am happy to move beyond what has already happened. I know that a lot of Christians have all these friends on Facebook with the idea that they can reach out to the unsaved through Facebook. And I have no doubt that God can use that tool in just that way, but I think that sometimes, you do what you can, you plant the seeds you can, but then you've got to move on.
Because what happens if you don't move on is that you can have your focus distracted or broken. Samson was a great man of God with supernatural strength. His focus was on doing what God asked of him- which included keeping his hair unshaven. Look what happened to Samson when his focus was broken.
"Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” Judges 16:15-17
Samson's focus on God was broken by his focus on this woman who was trying to do her best to weaken him and steal his strength. And she succeeded.
"Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him." Judges 16:19-20
When we allow ourselves to get tangled up in the unbelief of others, it can cause our focus on Him to be broken. We can become consumed with trying to sway the minds of others that it becomes almost an obsession- and not something that comes from God. Oh, I have no doubt that if we see something in error, that God would want us to say something, but He doesn't want our focus to shift from doing His Will to doing our will- to focus completely on the issue that's bothering us. In my dream last night, we realized that nothing we could say or do was going to sway this person. We had an original focus of getting to our vacation destination. While we took the time for an aside, to try and offer assistance, when we realized that our assistance was not going to be taken without considerable effort on our part, we refused to be swayed from our focus of getting to our destination. We did not allow our focus to be broken.
Our focus should be on Him. All the time. When we are focused oh God, and what He would have us do, He will guide us correctly every single time. We don't need to make it our personal mission to badger all of our Facebook friends over and over about going to church and getting saved. By focusing oh Him, He will guide us as to when we should be planting those seeds. He will let us know when the moment is right- when the soil is properly prepared to receive our seed. We do not need to chip away at the boulders that may be blocking the soil- instead, maybe that's an opportunity to simply commit that person to prayer. It's not the moment to allow ourselves to get all worked up, because it's not even our issue to get worked up over.
The thing is, the devil will use absolutely anything and everything to try and break our focus off of doing what God would have us do. And if the devil can use another person, under the guise of "that person needs to be saved" he'll do it. Any time we allow our focus to be shifted away from God and what He has for us, the devil rejoices. I myself have been quite guilty as of late about worrying about what other people are saying or doing that goes against my faith. I've decided to just move on and stop thinking on it. Oh, I'll still shake my head from time to time when I see something that causes me to pause- but my task at that moment is simply to put the issue to prayer. To lift it to God and then continue to keep my eyes on Him, and not let them be shifted to this new distraction. Sometimes, we can try to do what we can, but then we have to move on, we have to keep on striving for the prize, because that's the point.
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24
Focus on the prize. When a runner runs a race, they do not get distracted by the runners and the goings on around them. Their eyes are on one thing, and one thing only. The finish line. Do not allow the things of this world to cause such a distraction that it would take your eyes of the prize. The finish line that Jesus Christ is preparing for us.
I had a rather strange dream last night. In this dream, my family and I were driving on a vacation somewhere when we ran into someone we knew at a gas station. This person was lost, they were running away from things in their life, and searching for answers and truth. We counseled as best we could, and suggested places that they could turn to for help. Our suggestions were not well received, and in the end, we did what we could. We filled that person's vehicle with gas and then drove on to our destination. While we were concerned for this person, we did what we could, and the time had come for us to move on.
Isn't our walk through this earth kind of like that sometimes? I've been thinking on Facebook as of late. It's become quite the tool for me for communicating with groups and with people in various organizations. I really like using it in that regard. But what I'm really not a fan of is the whole "connecting with your past" thing that they've got going on. I'm just not interested in connecting with little Susie that I went to elementary school with. And yet, there she is popping up from time to time in my sidebar, with a suggestion that we be friends.
I honestly and truly think that way too many people are caught up and stuck in the past. I can't even imagine wanting to think in that regard- every day that we get to be here is another wonderful day- I love my today's, I look forward to my tomorrows, but I almost always am happy to move beyond what has already happened. I know that a lot of Christians have all these friends on Facebook with the idea that they can reach out to the unsaved through Facebook. And I have no doubt that God can use that tool in just that way, but I think that sometimes, you do what you can, you plant the seeds you can, but then you've got to move on.
Because what happens if you don't move on is that you can have your focus distracted or broken. Samson was a great man of God with supernatural strength. His focus was on doing what God asked of him- which included keeping his hair unshaven. Look what happened to Samson when his focus was broken.
"Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” Judges 16:15-17
Samson's focus on God was broken by his focus on this woman who was trying to do her best to weaken him and steal his strength. And she succeeded.
"Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him." Judges 16:19-20
When we allow ourselves to get tangled up in the unbelief of others, it can cause our focus on Him to be broken. We can become consumed with trying to sway the minds of others that it becomes almost an obsession- and not something that comes from God. Oh, I have no doubt that if we see something in error, that God would want us to say something, but He doesn't want our focus to shift from doing His Will to doing our will- to focus completely on the issue that's bothering us. In my dream last night, we realized that nothing we could say or do was going to sway this person. We had an original focus of getting to our vacation destination. While we took the time for an aside, to try and offer assistance, when we realized that our assistance was not going to be taken without considerable effort on our part, we refused to be swayed from our focus of getting to our destination. We did not allow our focus to be broken.
Our focus should be on Him. All the time. When we are focused oh God, and what He would have us do, He will guide us correctly every single time. We don't need to make it our personal mission to badger all of our Facebook friends over and over about going to church and getting saved. By focusing oh Him, He will guide us as to when we should be planting those seeds. He will let us know when the moment is right- when the soil is properly prepared to receive our seed. We do not need to chip away at the boulders that may be blocking the soil- instead, maybe that's an opportunity to simply commit that person to prayer. It's not the moment to allow ourselves to get all worked up, because it's not even our issue to get worked up over.
The thing is, the devil will use absolutely anything and everything to try and break our focus off of doing what God would have us do. And if the devil can use another person, under the guise of "that person needs to be saved" he'll do it. Any time we allow our focus to be shifted away from God and what He has for us, the devil rejoices. I myself have been quite guilty as of late about worrying about what other people are saying or doing that goes against my faith. I've decided to just move on and stop thinking on it. Oh, I'll still shake my head from time to time when I see something that causes me to pause- but my task at that moment is simply to put the issue to prayer. To lift it to God and then continue to keep my eyes on Him, and not let them be shifted to this new distraction. Sometimes, we can try to do what we can, but then we have to move on, we have to keep on striving for the prize, because that's the point.
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24
Focus on the prize. When a runner runs a race, they do not get distracted by the runners and the goings on around them. Their eyes are on one thing, and one thing only. The finish line. Do not allow the things of this world to cause such a distraction that it would take your eyes of the prize. The finish line that Jesus Christ is preparing for us.
Monday, January 30, 2012
First Love
"But I have this [one
charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love
that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]." Revelation 2:4
I love it when I'm sitting in church, listening to a message, and a verse and an idea come up that I've been thinking about for some time. It always confirms for me that my thoughts have been in the right direction, and it also always brings me to a little more understanding about the verse that I've been thinking on.
I've had several dreams over the past few months about first love, about the idea of first love. At this stage in my life I found each and every one of them odd and strange. As a more-than-happily-married person, it's been some time since I experienced the actual process of first love. But I think that was the point, and I don't think, (now that I think on it some time later) that the dreams were anything about love between two people. It was love between myself and God. First love that maybe has lost it's luster.
So what is first love? It's an excitement, an expectancy, a shyness. It's discovering a person for the first time, getting to know their likes and dislikes. It's thinking on that person all the time- it's waiting by the phone impatiently, waiting hours for them to call, and then squealing in delight when they finally do. It's spending an entire day thinking about the person you'll be going on a date with later, and then after the date, you can't stop thinking about them then either. It's being completely consumed by someone else. It's going about your day, doing your work or your tasks, and then pausing to reflect on something the other person said that made you smile. It's saving a small note that they wrote you and reading it a thousand times over, even though you have every word memorized.
Gosh, the more I think on this idea of first love, and think about what it actually is, the more I very clearly see a relationship with God. Andy and I have been together for... just over thirteen years... and the love we share has matured greatly, it's different, but the same in many regards. And I think that's what God is after with us. So many Christians get saved, they meet Jesus and experience God's love, and get all excited in the newness of the relationship for a time, but then the excitement fades, and God just becomes another aspect of that persons life, instead of the consuming focus He should be. With God, He wants us to experience that first love each and every day with Him. Every time we open up our Bibles to see what He's written, we should be squirming in excitement and anticipation, to see what He has to say to us today. Instead, so many of us have relegated Bible reading to a chore, something that has to be done for a set time every single day.
God wants us to experience First Love with Him each and every day. Think about that- the excitement and the joy and the happiness that comes with a new relationship. How could we not want that every single day? God wants that for us, and He wants it with us.
I love it when I'm sitting in church, listening to a message, and a verse and an idea come up that I've been thinking about for some time. It always confirms for me that my thoughts have been in the right direction, and it also always brings me to a little more understanding about the verse that I've been thinking on.
I've had several dreams over the past few months about first love, about the idea of first love. At this stage in my life I found each and every one of them odd and strange. As a more-than-happily-married person, it's been some time since I experienced the actual process of first love. But I think that was the point, and I don't think, (now that I think on it some time later) that the dreams were anything about love between two people. It was love between myself and God. First love that maybe has lost it's luster.
So what is first love? It's an excitement, an expectancy, a shyness. It's discovering a person for the first time, getting to know their likes and dislikes. It's thinking on that person all the time- it's waiting by the phone impatiently, waiting hours for them to call, and then squealing in delight when they finally do. It's spending an entire day thinking about the person you'll be going on a date with later, and then after the date, you can't stop thinking about them then either. It's being completely consumed by someone else. It's going about your day, doing your work or your tasks, and then pausing to reflect on something the other person said that made you smile. It's saving a small note that they wrote you and reading it a thousand times over, even though you have every word memorized.
Gosh, the more I think on this idea of first love, and think about what it actually is, the more I very clearly see a relationship with God. Andy and I have been together for... just over thirteen years... and the love we share has matured greatly, it's different, but the same in many regards. And I think that's what God is after with us. So many Christians get saved, they meet Jesus and experience God's love, and get all excited in the newness of the relationship for a time, but then the excitement fades, and God just becomes another aspect of that persons life, instead of the consuming focus He should be. With God, He wants us to experience that first love each and every day with Him. Every time we open up our Bibles to see what He's written, we should be squirming in excitement and anticipation, to see what He has to say to us today. Instead, so many of us have relegated Bible reading to a chore, something that has to be done for a set time every single day.
God wants us to experience First Love with Him each and every day. Think about that- the excitement and the joy and the happiness that comes with a new relationship. How could we not want that every single day? God wants that for us, and He wants it with us.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Crazy Weather
" If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
The weather has been completely bizarro and strange these last several months. One day it's 50 degrees in winter and the next week it's 20 below zero. In the last 24 hours we've gotten rain, sleet, freezing rain and right now the biggest, fattest snowflakes you have ever seen are falling from the sky. They look like cotton balls, and they're not even gracefully falling- more like plunking. In the south part of the country last night, they experienced thunderstorms and tornadoes. In January. What on earth?
That may be the wrong question. What on earth should actually be what on heaven? Because God is doing something. You know, we can think we know everything, can think that we understand the way the earth works, the way the weather is going to go, and the reality is that only God knows. And you know what? It's really interesting to watch. I know that the "experts" are all out there scrambling, trying to decide if global warming is to blame for this mild winter so far, and I say phooey on them. Because God is alone responsible for this mild winter.
Admittedly, I have no idea, really, what He's up to. I can read verse after verse in my Bible about weather events and ideas, and I can read what different preachers and pastors have to say, but the truth is, all I can do is smile and ask God if any of this is something that He wants to tell me. Right there in James, chapter one, that's exactly what it tells me to do- to simply ask God. And you know, I've kind of been half-heartedly asking, to be honest, because I'm just in a place where I'm enjoying the mystery. The weather is making me smile, and I can't help but wonder what's coming next. The gardener in me would like to know exactly what's going on,because if we're going to have an early spring, it would be wonderful to have plants started early for the vegetable garden.
But honestly, I'm just enjoying God's wondrous creation right now. For once when you talk to other people about the weather, it's not a normal conversation, and it's kind of fun. Only God knows what He is up to, and what we can pray is that the unsaved people around us will see the hand of God in the weather. Maybe this will open up doors and opportunities to talk about God with our neighbors. Mother Nature has been sent on vacation and God has the reigns. I can't wait to see what He does next!
The weather has been completely bizarro and strange these last several months. One day it's 50 degrees in winter and the next week it's 20 below zero. In the last 24 hours we've gotten rain, sleet, freezing rain and right now the biggest, fattest snowflakes you have ever seen are falling from the sky. They look like cotton balls, and they're not even gracefully falling- more like plunking. In the south part of the country last night, they experienced thunderstorms and tornadoes. In January. What on earth?
That may be the wrong question. What on earth should actually be what on heaven? Because God is doing something. You know, we can think we know everything, can think that we understand the way the earth works, the way the weather is going to go, and the reality is that only God knows. And you know what? It's really interesting to watch. I know that the "experts" are all out there scrambling, trying to decide if global warming is to blame for this mild winter so far, and I say phooey on them. Because God is alone responsible for this mild winter.
Admittedly, I have no idea, really, what He's up to. I can read verse after verse in my Bible about weather events and ideas, and I can read what different preachers and pastors have to say, but the truth is, all I can do is smile and ask God if any of this is something that He wants to tell me. Right there in James, chapter one, that's exactly what it tells me to do- to simply ask God. And you know, I've kind of been half-heartedly asking, to be honest, because I'm just in a place where I'm enjoying the mystery. The weather is making me smile, and I can't help but wonder what's coming next. The gardener in me would like to know exactly what's going on,because if we're going to have an early spring, it would be wonderful to have plants started early for the vegetable garden.
But honestly, I'm just enjoying God's wondrous creation right now. For once when you talk to other people about the weather, it's not a normal conversation, and it's kind of fun. Only God knows what He is up to, and what we can pray is that the unsaved people around us will see the hand of God in the weather. Maybe this will open up doors and opportunities to talk about God with our neighbors. Mother Nature has been sent on vacation and God has the reigns. I can't wait to see what He does next!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Let My People Go!
"And the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me." Exodus 8:1
All week long, God's been reminding me about the plight of the Israelites, and their flight from Egypt so long ago. It seems like everywhere I look there are references to this- from other people's Facebook status, random verses I find online, and even Andy has been building a set for a musical based on the life of Joseph. It's just everywhere I look, and I feel like God is getting ready to free His people from a lifetime of servitude, and about to set them free!
When Jacob and his sons first went to Egypt, it was a great thing for them. They were in danger of losing everything- of starving to death, and watching their family and livestock starve to death. God used Jacob's son Joseph to bring the family to Egypt to save them- and preserve God's promises to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. But after years and years, and several generations, the Israelites were still in Egypt, only they were slaves to the Egyptians.
In the exact same way, debt comes to us. We go into debt because we're doing something good. We're going to college and getting an education, so we take out student loans. We buy a car or a house, doing something good, and we take out loans for those. We get credit cards and use them, because everyones says we need to build up a credit score to be successful in life, and the way to do that is through credit cards. But as the years go by, we get more and more encumbered by this debt that was good in the first place. And now, so many have been completely enslaved by this debt. When we work our jobs and bring home a paycheck, it all goes to pay down debt instead of being used to help the poor or even take care of our own basic necessities.
Over and over, the Israelite people tried to get free of their captives, but it took some amazing works of God to set them free in the end. Over and over, the people around me have tried to get out of debt, only to find themselves in an even worse situation. God is going to take care of His people. God is about to do something really incredible that will cause us to be free of our captors.
Even better, when the Israelites were finally free of Pharaoh, the didn't just flee Egypt empty-handed. They plundered the Egyptians. The Egyptians filled the Israelites arms with gold, silver, fine clothes, and whatever they could carry.
"Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." Exodus 12:35-36
We are going to rise above this debt crisis and when we do, it is not going to be as destitute and penniless servants of God. Instead we are going to rise up and find ourselves in an abundance that can only come from God above. And then we will be able to reach out our hands to our neighbors and our friends and family and help them through their own periods of captivity.
Take heart children of God. The day is coming when we will be free of our oppressors, and that will be a mighty fine day, indeed, worthy of much rejoicing.
All week long, God's been reminding me about the plight of the Israelites, and their flight from Egypt so long ago. It seems like everywhere I look there are references to this- from other people's Facebook status, random verses I find online, and even Andy has been building a set for a musical based on the life of Joseph. It's just everywhere I look, and I feel like God is getting ready to free His people from a lifetime of servitude, and about to set them free!
When Jacob and his sons first went to Egypt, it was a great thing for them. They were in danger of losing everything- of starving to death, and watching their family and livestock starve to death. God used Jacob's son Joseph to bring the family to Egypt to save them- and preserve God's promises to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. But after years and years, and several generations, the Israelites were still in Egypt, only they were slaves to the Egyptians.
In the exact same way, debt comes to us. We go into debt because we're doing something good. We're going to college and getting an education, so we take out student loans. We buy a car or a house, doing something good, and we take out loans for those. We get credit cards and use them, because everyones says we need to build up a credit score to be successful in life, and the way to do that is through credit cards. But as the years go by, we get more and more encumbered by this debt that was good in the first place. And now, so many have been completely enslaved by this debt. When we work our jobs and bring home a paycheck, it all goes to pay down debt instead of being used to help the poor or even take care of our own basic necessities.
Over and over, the Israelite people tried to get free of their captives, but it took some amazing works of God to set them free in the end. Over and over, the people around me have tried to get out of debt, only to find themselves in an even worse situation. God is going to take care of His people. God is about to do something really incredible that will cause us to be free of our captors.
Even better, when the Israelites were finally free of Pharaoh, the didn't just flee Egypt empty-handed. They plundered the Egyptians. The Egyptians filled the Israelites arms with gold, silver, fine clothes, and whatever they could carry.
"Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians." Exodus 12:35-36
We are going to rise above this debt crisis and when we do, it is not going to be as destitute and penniless servants of God. Instead we are going to rise up and find ourselves in an abundance that can only come from God above. And then we will be able to reach out our hands to our neighbors and our friends and family and help them through their own periods of captivity.
Take heart children of God. The day is coming when we will be free of our oppressors, and that will be a mighty fine day, indeed, worthy of much rejoicing.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Lift Your Eyes
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth. " Psalm 121:1,2
It's a classic scenario. The hero or heroine is in their most desperate hour, doom is upon them, and then, they look up, and salvation is before them in one form or another. In our own lives, when we're looking for hope, I often find myself just looking to the sky. Even though I know that God is all around, for some reason I always find myself looking up- or to my Bible, of course. But the simple act of looking up can just fill me with such a peace... I couldn't explain it except for verses like this in the Psalms. Just read that- I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? This is a rhetorical question, because we know exactly where our help comes from every single time.
Our help comes from above- every, single, time. Oh, God will use various people, angels and circumstances to do the actual act of ministering to us, but it always comes from God. From our God, the one who created the heavens and the earth. Our God- the one who spoke our every fiber into being.
Zander and I have been reading early history, in particular right now the Greeks, who had a dozen little gods who they credited with different aspects of life. Every time we read about these Gods, Zander just shakes his head- especially when we're reading about how people would offer sacrifices or favors to different gods in order to make their way through life. We talk about how wonderful it is that we have the One True God with us, that we can know that He created everything and will always be there for us. And even better, unlike the Greeks and their gods, and the ancient Romans and their gods, the ancient Chinese and their many gods, we don't have to offer sacrifices and favors to idols and statues. All we need to do is look to the hills, and our help will be there.
Our help, which comes only from God above. Just think about that today. Think about the ease with which we have in our faith in God. Other religions have requirements, works, acts, and programs that are necessary to follow their path. We have Jesus, and that's it. Our one and only requirement is that we believe that Jesus died for us, and that's it. We have such freedom in Him! There isn't a big long litany of things we need to do, we can just be. We can develop our own relationship with him that doesn't require sacrifices at an altar or idol, or a penance when we do things wrong.
I love thinking about that, and I love that Zander and I are learning about how easy it is to love God as part of his schooling. And the best part? God is for everyone. He doesn't care about the past, He doesn't care about the wrongs we may have done, all He cares about is that we accept the love that He had for us in sending His son to die for us.
Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth. " Psalm 121:1,2
It's a classic scenario. The hero or heroine is in their most desperate hour, doom is upon them, and then, they look up, and salvation is before them in one form or another. In our own lives, when we're looking for hope, I often find myself just looking to the sky. Even though I know that God is all around, for some reason I always find myself looking up- or to my Bible, of course. But the simple act of looking up can just fill me with such a peace... I couldn't explain it except for verses like this in the Psalms. Just read that- I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? This is a rhetorical question, because we know exactly where our help comes from every single time.
Our help comes from above- every, single, time. Oh, God will use various people, angels and circumstances to do the actual act of ministering to us, but it always comes from God. From our God, the one who created the heavens and the earth. Our God- the one who spoke our every fiber into being.
Zander and I have been reading early history, in particular right now the Greeks, who had a dozen little gods who they credited with different aspects of life. Every time we read about these Gods, Zander just shakes his head- especially when we're reading about how people would offer sacrifices or favors to different gods in order to make their way through life. We talk about how wonderful it is that we have the One True God with us, that we can know that He created everything and will always be there for us. And even better, unlike the Greeks and their gods, and the ancient Romans and their gods, the ancient Chinese and their many gods, we don't have to offer sacrifices and favors to idols and statues. All we need to do is look to the hills, and our help will be there.
Our help, which comes only from God above. Just think about that today. Think about the ease with which we have in our faith in God. Other religions have requirements, works, acts, and programs that are necessary to follow their path. We have Jesus, and that's it. Our one and only requirement is that we believe that Jesus died for us, and that's it. We have such freedom in Him! There isn't a big long litany of things we need to do, we can just be. We can develop our own relationship with him that doesn't require sacrifices at an altar or idol, or a penance when we do things wrong.
I love thinking about that, and I love that Zander and I are learning about how easy it is to love God as part of his schooling. And the best part? God is for everyone. He doesn't care about the past, He doesn't care about the wrongs we may have done, all He cares about is that we accept the love that He had for us in sending His son to die for us.
Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Waves
"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:7-8
I had a dream last night that a great wave billowed up in front of me. It was absolutely massive- as tall as the tallest building. And yet, when I saw it, I was not afraid in the least. I stood fast and mentally prepared myself for this wave to come. And as it came and swept me up, I was filled with an amazing peace and calmness as I rode along with the wave. I was hidden within the wave, calm and relaxed. When the wave deposited me elsewhere, I was with the one I love most, and not one was lost to the terrible wave. Even better, as the wave dissipated, I discovered that I had a new nephew, and was filled with great joy at this new little life.
I'm not sure how I feel about this dream, to be honest. I take great comfort from the idea that there was this terrible wave, this horrible event happening, and it didn't even faze me. It was almost as if I'd hopped on an escalator, and I was just waiting for it to deliver me to my destination. I didn't experience any fear or terror for even a millisecond, those things simply weren't there. And the idea that at the end of this experience I would find great joy is wonderful. But I don't like the idea of the wave itself. That there could be some trial or tribulation headed my way... If we haven't currently been going through such a trial, I cannot imagine what could still be coming! But at the same time, maybe the dream was speaking of the current season of trials.
It's been really, really difficult to stay above the murky depths this time. There's been so many moments over the last several months that I just wanted to curl up and cry and just... I don't know... give up, maybe. But I would go to church, and every time something would be said that would speak to me and give me encouragement to go another few days. And in the midst of all this awfulness, I've also had the wonderful distraction of family- my nieces and nephews, so new and so full of wonder that I just love spending time with them and loving them.
And when I think on it some more, that wave in my dream was indeed an outside force. It was something in the natural that was going on around me, and it didn't affect me in the least. Thinking about that... now that's wonderful. To think that whatever comes my way, I can just close my eyes and rest in His Peace, that gives me such a boost this morning, such a comfort, because I'm tired of these tough trials.
But the more I keep my eyes on Jesus, the more I think that I'll be able to experience what I experienced in my dream- the great calmness and peace no matter what comes my way. It's a perk, if you will, of keeping on the straight and narrow. I think I can handle that, and I'm really, really looking forward to the joy at the end of the trial. That right there also gives me great encouragement this morning. And if I look at verse 8 that I posted above, that makes me smile too. That I would experience God's loving kindness in the daytime, and His Song in the night. Not a night goes by that I don't find a worship song in my head as I drift off to dreamland. And I would pray this morning that He would continue speaking to me in the night. It's been a while since I've really had an intense dream like this- and while it did cause me concern for a bit as I thought on it, it felt good. Like doing a workout after a few months off. And may he share that same thing with everyone reading this today. May you have wonderful God dreams that will speak to you and give you encouragement for the days ahead.
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:7-8
I had a dream last night that a great wave billowed up in front of me. It was absolutely massive- as tall as the tallest building. And yet, when I saw it, I was not afraid in the least. I stood fast and mentally prepared myself for this wave to come. And as it came and swept me up, I was filled with an amazing peace and calmness as I rode along with the wave. I was hidden within the wave, calm and relaxed. When the wave deposited me elsewhere, I was with the one I love most, and not one was lost to the terrible wave. Even better, as the wave dissipated, I discovered that I had a new nephew, and was filled with great joy at this new little life.
I'm not sure how I feel about this dream, to be honest. I take great comfort from the idea that there was this terrible wave, this horrible event happening, and it didn't even faze me. It was almost as if I'd hopped on an escalator, and I was just waiting for it to deliver me to my destination. I didn't experience any fear or terror for even a millisecond, those things simply weren't there. And the idea that at the end of this experience I would find great joy is wonderful. But I don't like the idea of the wave itself. That there could be some trial or tribulation headed my way... If we haven't currently been going through such a trial, I cannot imagine what could still be coming! But at the same time, maybe the dream was speaking of the current season of trials.
It's been really, really difficult to stay above the murky depths this time. There's been so many moments over the last several months that I just wanted to curl up and cry and just... I don't know... give up, maybe. But I would go to church, and every time something would be said that would speak to me and give me encouragement to go another few days. And in the midst of all this awfulness, I've also had the wonderful distraction of family- my nieces and nephews, so new and so full of wonder that I just love spending time with them and loving them.
And when I think on it some more, that wave in my dream was indeed an outside force. It was something in the natural that was going on around me, and it didn't affect me in the least. Thinking about that... now that's wonderful. To think that whatever comes my way, I can just close my eyes and rest in His Peace, that gives me such a boost this morning, such a comfort, because I'm tired of these tough trials.
But the more I keep my eyes on Jesus, the more I think that I'll be able to experience what I experienced in my dream- the great calmness and peace no matter what comes my way. It's a perk, if you will, of keeping on the straight and narrow. I think I can handle that, and I'm really, really looking forward to the joy at the end of the trial. That right there also gives me great encouragement this morning. And if I look at verse 8 that I posted above, that makes me smile too. That I would experience God's loving kindness in the daytime, and His Song in the night. Not a night goes by that I don't find a worship song in my head as I drift off to dreamland. And I would pray this morning that He would continue speaking to me in the night. It's been a while since I've really had an intense dream like this- and while it did cause me concern for a bit as I thought on it, it felt good. Like doing a workout after a few months off. And may he share that same thing with everyone reading this today. May you have wonderful God dreams that will speak to you and give you encouragement for the days ahead.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Faith In People
"And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it
under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one
on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady
until the going down of the sun." Exodus 17:11-12
I didn't hardly post at all last week. On the one hand, I was quite busy for some reason. But on the other hand, I was terribly distracted last week, and I don't know why I let that happen.
The kids and I have a radio station that we prefer listening to when we're driving around. It's got the most upbeat and contemporary Christian music of any other (though it's still got a long ways to go in that regard, really), and the kids enjoy it. Not too long ago they started a small talk show in the mornings, and we're not out driving often when it is on, but every once in a while, we'll catch a snip of it before I turn it off. I've listened to it a few times on my own, and honestly, I really don't like it. It's one of those shows that is all about warning Christians about this and that. They warn against things they think are false, they warn against certain preachers or books that they think a Christian should stay away from- or movies or TV shows that they think go against basic Christian principles. It's really not a good show, in any regard, because they are so full of stirring up fear within the body of Christ. This past week I heard rumors of some of the things they'd been sharing and it just really, really bothered me, and I spent far too long thinking about it and dwelling on it. Quite honestly, I don't understand what they think they are doing trying to get Christians to be afraid of the world around them. Fear does not come from God in the least, and yet here they are, trying to get Christians to fear one another- to fear the church down the street because their worship is too contemporary for their taste.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
The fact is, there are far too many of these types of people out there trying to stir up fear in the Body of Christ today. And as I thought on this further, the thought came to me that it really is a sad state of affairs in the church today. When good Christian people decide it is their personal mission to basically tell the church that they should have no faith in each other, because that's exactly what they are doing. They are telling us that we should suspect our Christian brother who prays in tongues of consorting with the devil, because tongue talking is not so common today. They are telling us that when a woman shouts out in a church service, she is actually listening to demons, because it's disruptive of the church service. Truly, these are the kinds of stories they are telling, and they are not alone in doing it!
The more I thought on this, the more it just made me sad, because you know what? I have great faith in my fellow believers. I have great faith that my Christian brother and sisters would know when they are doing something that goes against the word of God. I have faith that Christians as a whole are smarter in their walk with God than all these fear mongerers make them out to be. Were I to walk into a service where there was in fact, things of the devil going on, I would trust that the Holy Spirit would stir right up within me and tell me that I do not belong there, and to leave. I have the exact same faith in my brothers and sisters in Christ- that they would listen to the Holy Spirit, and trust in His counsel to guide them out of a dangerous situation.
We do not need talk shows and organizations who basically tell us to eye one another suspiciously. It's absolutely preposterous that there are people out there warning the church as a whole to be careful of each other- because we never know who is in the devil's pocket. Shame on them.
I have faith in people. I have faith that people of all walks of life know better and will heed the Holy Spirit should the need arise. We do not need the aspect of fear introduced- we should not be afraid to walk into a new church on Sunday morning, for fear that they are not following the words in the Bible. Instead I should be excited to see how God is using this group of people.
I was reminded of the story that I posted a snip of in Exodus, chapter 17. The Israelites were battling the Amalekites, and to keep the battle turned in Israel's favor, Moses needed to stand with uplifted hands the whole time. Every time his arms began to lower, even a little, the battle turned in the favor of the enemy, so Moses absolutely had to keep his hands lifted up. How does a man do this all day long? It's absolutely impossible without help from a brother or sister in Christ. Moses' friends did what any Christian would do. They came beside him, one on either side, and they bore his burdens with him. Aaron held one hand up, and Hur held the other hand up, and in the end, Israel was victorious.
THAT is exactly what we as Christians should be doing for one another. We should be coming beside each other, sharing in the burdens of those around us. We should lift each other up. We absolutely should not be tearing each other down by spreading fear. We should have faith in each other, and not hear about something new that God is doing for someone, and instantly think that they're being possessed by demons. God can and does work in mighty and mysterious ways, and we should have faith in each other, as human beings and fellow Christians. We should purpose to come beside each other, lift each other up as the need arises, and rejoice in the truth of Jesus, our Savior.
I, for one, choose to have faith in people.
I didn't hardly post at all last week. On the one hand, I was quite busy for some reason. But on the other hand, I was terribly distracted last week, and I don't know why I let that happen.
The kids and I have a radio station that we prefer listening to when we're driving around. It's got the most upbeat and contemporary Christian music of any other (though it's still got a long ways to go in that regard, really), and the kids enjoy it. Not too long ago they started a small talk show in the mornings, and we're not out driving often when it is on, but every once in a while, we'll catch a snip of it before I turn it off. I've listened to it a few times on my own, and honestly, I really don't like it. It's one of those shows that is all about warning Christians about this and that. They warn against things they think are false, they warn against certain preachers or books that they think a Christian should stay away from- or movies or TV shows that they think go against basic Christian principles. It's really not a good show, in any regard, because they are so full of stirring up fear within the body of Christ. This past week I heard rumors of some of the things they'd been sharing and it just really, really bothered me, and I spent far too long thinking about it and dwelling on it. Quite honestly, I don't understand what they think they are doing trying to get Christians to be afraid of the world around them. Fear does not come from God in the least, and yet here they are, trying to get Christians to fear one another- to fear the church down the street because their worship is too contemporary for their taste.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
The fact is, there are far too many of these types of people out there trying to stir up fear in the Body of Christ today. And as I thought on this further, the thought came to me that it really is a sad state of affairs in the church today. When good Christian people decide it is their personal mission to basically tell the church that they should have no faith in each other, because that's exactly what they are doing. They are telling us that we should suspect our Christian brother who prays in tongues of consorting with the devil, because tongue talking is not so common today. They are telling us that when a woman shouts out in a church service, she is actually listening to demons, because it's disruptive of the church service. Truly, these are the kinds of stories they are telling, and they are not alone in doing it!
The more I thought on this, the more it just made me sad, because you know what? I have great faith in my fellow believers. I have great faith that my Christian brother and sisters would know when they are doing something that goes against the word of God. I have faith that Christians as a whole are smarter in their walk with God than all these fear mongerers make them out to be. Were I to walk into a service where there was in fact, things of the devil going on, I would trust that the Holy Spirit would stir right up within me and tell me that I do not belong there, and to leave. I have the exact same faith in my brothers and sisters in Christ- that they would listen to the Holy Spirit, and trust in His counsel to guide them out of a dangerous situation.
We do not need talk shows and organizations who basically tell us to eye one another suspiciously. It's absolutely preposterous that there are people out there warning the church as a whole to be careful of each other- because we never know who is in the devil's pocket. Shame on them.
I have faith in people. I have faith that people of all walks of life know better and will heed the Holy Spirit should the need arise. We do not need the aspect of fear introduced- we should not be afraid to walk into a new church on Sunday morning, for fear that they are not following the words in the Bible. Instead I should be excited to see how God is using this group of people.
I was reminded of the story that I posted a snip of in Exodus, chapter 17. The Israelites were battling the Amalekites, and to keep the battle turned in Israel's favor, Moses needed to stand with uplifted hands the whole time. Every time his arms began to lower, even a little, the battle turned in the favor of the enemy, so Moses absolutely had to keep his hands lifted up. How does a man do this all day long? It's absolutely impossible without help from a brother or sister in Christ. Moses' friends did what any Christian would do. They came beside him, one on either side, and they bore his burdens with him. Aaron held one hand up, and Hur held the other hand up, and in the end, Israel was victorious.
THAT is exactly what we as Christians should be doing for one another. We should be coming beside each other, sharing in the burdens of those around us. We should lift each other up. We absolutely should not be tearing each other down by spreading fear. We should have faith in each other, and not hear about something new that God is doing for someone, and instantly think that they're being possessed by demons. God can and does work in mighty and mysterious ways, and we should have faith in each other, as human beings and fellow Christians. We should purpose to come beside each other, lift each other up as the need arises, and rejoice in the truth of Jesus, our Savior.
I, for one, choose to have faith in people.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
To Have Dominion
"What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:
7All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field,
8The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas." Psalm 8:4-8 (AMP)
Whew! Time has been an issue for me this week! I feel (blessedly so) that the month of January has been going really slowly. This is wonderful, I'm happy for a bit of a slowdown, but the last two days as a whole, I've just felt like I'm always looking ahead to what has to be done next. Today is nice, I get to relax just a bit this afternoon, get some housework done, and then it's off to mid-week service at church. I thought that maybe I should pop on here and post some thoughts, less anyone think I'm doing poorly or anything.
The last few weeks have seen our family relishing in some time with our favorite fantasies. We've spent time both watching and reading about the land of Narnia, spun by C.S. Lewis, and Andy and I have also spent time in Middle Earth, watching Tolkein's world brought to life on the big screen. I particularly like both of these series' in multiple forms, because they are the ultimate example of good triumphing over evil. Good, and light always wins, every single time. The struggles along the way may be impossibly difficult, but in the end, the struggles are worth it.
But a few weeks ago when we watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, something struck me with one of the last lines of the movie, "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia". And then I really looked at what I was seeing. This fantastical place, this Narnia, is place where there are no humans, and when the humans show up, every creature bows and follows the commands of the new Kings and Queens- and very matter-of-factly at that. It made me think of when the earth was created, and God set man to have dominion over the earth, and I thought this display of Narnia was the ultimate display of that very thing. Even to the point where one of the characters in the story passes a message on to another by asking the trees to share the message.
It made me wonder, just what all would really be possible if we really got a revelation of what the Bible tells us about being the sons and daughters of God. I think that line in the movie could very easily be changed to "once a son or daughter of God, always a son or daughter of God". Oh! Now doesn't that just sound absolutely wonderful?
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name " John 1:12 (NKJV)
Then when we were watching The Two Towers, and the trees started marching to war, I just felt such a stirring in my spirit- what if such a thing were truly possible? I struggle sometimes just to get a seed or two to sprout, I can't imagine how much faith it would take to make a tree move!
Yet, when I read the books by these two authors- or watch the dramatizations of their works, I can't help but wonder how much these men understood of their Bibles. The Psalm I posted above says that God has put all things under our feet- all things. As the sons and daughters of God, it should not be fantasy that we can affect the things around us. It shouldn't be impossible that I go and spend time out in the gardens, blessing the plants, commanding them to grow, and they do. It shouldn't be an impossibility to go out to the backyard and command the rabbits to leave my plants alone. Yet, when I fail in maneuvering a silly little rabbit, I feel discouraged, and wonder how on earth I'm to do something grand like calm a storm.
Calm a storm? Why not? Jesus did it! And yet, I cannot get some simple basil seeds to sprout. Jesus said just a few words to a fig tree and the whole thing shriveled up and died. Surely I can get one measly little pepper seed to sprout and send out it's shoot.
I love reading fantasy books, because I like to think that with God, all things are possible, and I'm always wondering if God whispers to fantasy authors and gives them different glimpses of what heaven might be like. And then I open up my Bible and read about all the things that Jesus did while He was here on earth, and I know He was connected with Heaven the whole time. What does Heaven have for us here on earth? That's such a fun thing for me to think on, because while there are many fantasy worlds I'd love to explore in person, I know that Heaven is going to be beyond all expectations, and truly be paradise for all eternity.
What IS man, that God cares for us so? He cared for us so much that He gave us this amazing instruction manual for life- a living, breathing instruction manual that always has something new to tell us. If I experience for myself none of the other miracles found within the pages of my Bible, at least I get to experience the miracle of The Word itself. That every time I open it, I find something new. In that way, it is so unlike the fantasy novels that I read over and over. I always know what those are going to say, their words never change. But every time I open up my Bible, I find new secrets hiding within. New thoughts, new ideas, and new desires to want to be more like Jesus each and every day.
And Jesus had dominion over the earth around him. Someday, I'm going to understand how. And I'm going to find those answers in one place only- in my Bible.
5Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:
7All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field,
8The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas." Psalm 8:4-8 (AMP)
Whew! Time has been an issue for me this week! I feel (blessedly so) that the month of January has been going really slowly. This is wonderful, I'm happy for a bit of a slowdown, but the last two days as a whole, I've just felt like I'm always looking ahead to what has to be done next. Today is nice, I get to relax just a bit this afternoon, get some housework done, and then it's off to mid-week service at church. I thought that maybe I should pop on here and post some thoughts, less anyone think I'm doing poorly or anything.
The last few weeks have seen our family relishing in some time with our favorite fantasies. We've spent time both watching and reading about the land of Narnia, spun by C.S. Lewis, and Andy and I have also spent time in Middle Earth, watching Tolkein's world brought to life on the big screen. I particularly like both of these series' in multiple forms, because they are the ultimate example of good triumphing over evil. Good, and light always wins, every single time. The struggles along the way may be impossibly difficult, but in the end, the struggles are worth it.
But a few weeks ago when we watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, something struck me with one of the last lines of the movie, "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia". And then I really looked at what I was seeing. This fantastical place, this Narnia, is place where there are no humans, and when the humans show up, every creature bows and follows the commands of the new Kings and Queens- and very matter-of-factly at that. It made me think of when the earth was created, and God set man to have dominion over the earth, and I thought this display of Narnia was the ultimate display of that very thing. Even to the point where one of the characters in the story passes a message on to another by asking the trees to share the message.
It made me wonder, just what all would really be possible if we really got a revelation of what the Bible tells us about being the sons and daughters of God. I think that line in the movie could very easily be changed to "once a son or daughter of God, always a son or daughter of God". Oh! Now doesn't that just sound absolutely wonderful?
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name " John 1:12 (NKJV)
Then when we were watching The Two Towers, and the trees started marching to war, I just felt such a stirring in my spirit- what if such a thing were truly possible? I struggle sometimes just to get a seed or two to sprout, I can't imagine how much faith it would take to make a tree move!
Yet, when I read the books by these two authors- or watch the dramatizations of their works, I can't help but wonder how much these men understood of their Bibles. The Psalm I posted above says that God has put all things under our feet- all things. As the sons and daughters of God, it should not be fantasy that we can affect the things around us. It shouldn't be impossible that I go and spend time out in the gardens, blessing the plants, commanding them to grow, and they do. It shouldn't be an impossibility to go out to the backyard and command the rabbits to leave my plants alone. Yet, when I fail in maneuvering a silly little rabbit, I feel discouraged, and wonder how on earth I'm to do something grand like calm a storm.
Calm a storm? Why not? Jesus did it! And yet, I cannot get some simple basil seeds to sprout. Jesus said just a few words to a fig tree and the whole thing shriveled up and died. Surely I can get one measly little pepper seed to sprout and send out it's shoot.
I love reading fantasy books, because I like to think that with God, all things are possible, and I'm always wondering if God whispers to fantasy authors and gives them different glimpses of what heaven might be like. And then I open up my Bible and read about all the things that Jesus did while He was here on earth, and I know He was connected with Heaven the whole time. What does Heaven have for us here on earth? That's such a fun thing for me to think on, because while there are many fantasy worlds I'd love to explore in person, I know that Heaven is going to be beyond all expectations, and truly be paradise for all eternity.
What IS man, that God cares for us so? He cared for us so much that He gave us this amazing instruction manual for life- a living, breathing instruction manual that always has something new to tell us. If I experience for myself none of the other miracles found within the pages of my Bible, at least I get to experience the miracle of The Word itself. That every time I open it, I find something new. In that way, it is so unlike the fantasy novels that I read over and over. I always know what those are going to say, their words never change. But every time I open up my Bible, I find new secrets hiding within. New thoughts, new ideas, and new desires to want to be more like Jesus each and every day.
And Jesus had dominion over the earth around him. Someday, I'm going to understand how. And I'm going to find those answers in one place only- in my Bible.
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