Timing

My times are in your hands. . .Psalms 31:15

I have mulled that scripture over and over—particularly if I’m late and stuck in traffic, or if I’m late and hit all the stoplights wrong, or if I’m late and get behind the slowest driver on the road, or if I’m just late. Then I begin confessing “My times are in your hands,” but there is a part of me that believes that the first part of all those scenarios (the “I’m late” part) is actually my fault. I slept too late. I dawdled getting ready. I didn’t allow myself enough time. I hadn’t checked to see if my clothes were clean and ready.

Those are generally the realities, but I use the peace brought about by the “My times are in your hands,” to keep from getting upset and becoming a candidate for road rage. However, I often find that my times do work out for good. Now, I’m not proposing that as an excuse to do the irresponsible, but I have seen God work in spite of my shortcomings.

Today was one of those times. I needed to go to WalMart, but I didn’t want to do that. So, I procrastinated. I tried to do some “stuff” sorting, some laundry, and some TV watching with what I think was a short nap. Then, there was no more putting it off. I needed to go. We had no Cheerios and especially no French Vanilla coffee creamer for breakfast. Some things we can do without, but not creamer.

Saturday afternoon WalMart was like full-blown Christmas season with the parking lot full of cars. “Oh,” I groaned; “what was I thinking?” I parked, made my way in, and hit the candy aisle. My plan was to get candy for three of my grandkids, not for Halloween, but just because I love them. I would have sent some treat to my other grandson, too because I love him, but he is too little to eat anything treat-like.

Anyway, I got the treats, the coffee creamer, and the Cheerios. I grabbed a few more things on my way to the front only to realize that I had more than the 20 items—the limit for the express lanes. Sigh! I made my way to the first aisle with a light on (which was of course half way down the store) only to find it had a couple of shoppers with huge carts ahead of me. The next aisle was the same story, so I went on down the way and got in line. Bigger sigh!

Just then, a dear friend finished her shopping and pulled her cart in behind me. Hallelujah! Her husband is the one I mentioned a day or so ago who is fighting cancer with every ounce of strength he can muster. I had not had an opportunity to talk with her or give her the hug that we both needed for some time. Being there in that line together gave us the chance to reinforce the love that I hope gave her a tiny break from the fierce battle she is waging for her husband’s health. We both desperately needed to hold on to each other if just for a moment; it was like a life preserver.

I waited as her items were checked, and we walked out together, pushing our carts full of what seemed so unimportant. By God’s timing and grace, we had been given the glorious opportunity to walk through this little piece of life together. My friend has not been out of her house for days, and rarely for weeks. Today, her son came to stay with her husband so she could run short errands. The timing was perfect.

My times were in His hands. Thank you, Lord!

October Scrooge

Today was October 30 and tonight is the “Halloween Parade” in our town. Some people love this month, love the decorations, love the mischief, love everything about Halloween. Me, not so much. For a very long time now, it has not felt right for me. Occasionally someone will ask me if we “did Halloween” when our kids were young. Ummmm, no.

We did participate in some terrific alternative activities. The church we attended when the kids were young had a very cool fall fun night. The church was located in a rural area just outside of town with lots of space and away from traffic (that was important for the large number of little tykes running around). The evening began with a big campfire and a lot of long sticks for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. People brought picnic-type sides, hot cider, and lawn chairs and enjoyed a wonderful outdoor feast with tube steaks.

One of the men who lived nearby would bring his tractor and wagon for hayrides—shorter, gentler rides for the little ones, and then faster, bumpier ones for the teens and pre-teens who longed for adventure. The nearby roads and fields often had potholes and rough surfaces which made the wagon bounce just enough to cause squeals and laughter from the passengers.

If there was a guitar player there, we would sit around the fire and sing songs and enjoy the beautiful fall weather (most years). There was usually a volleyball net set up under the lights for as many as wanted to play (not regulation, of course) and the playground was filled with happy sounds until someone scraped their knee. A quick kiss and they were off again.

The evening ended with passing out large candy treat bags to all the kids. We did not know in those days about the “trunk and treat” process that several churches are now holding where candy supplies are put in the trunks of the cars present and the kids move from trunk to trunk for a treat rather than between unknown houses (why didn't we think of that?)

I miss those days. Were they as perfect and picturesque as I remember? Probably not! But they were fun times. They were times of laughing, playing, and eating too many sweets, yet without planting fear and ugliness in the minds of our kids. So, did my kids go see horror movies later when they were out of my reach? Probably! But not on my watch!

I know it’s neither politically correct nor popular to be against anything (except Christianity) today, but I don’t think light and darkness have a middle ground. The way I understand it, darkness is the absence of light.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (The Message) “How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us is a temple in whom God lives.”

Just one more day and October will be over. Perhaps sinuses and allergies will clear up, decorations of fear will be put away, the rain may give the farmers a break, and the holiday focus will turn to “Thanksgiving.” Now that’s a holiday I can really get behind!

♫ This little light of mine
I’m gonna’ let it shine. . .

In Our Time Make Them Known

I heard a man say today that each day brings it own set of unique circumstances—some good and some full of adversity. I often wonder why there are so many challenges in life; perhaps, they increase with the aging process as well as the aging of one’s circle of friends. Or, perhaps, the intensity of the challenges is what increases with age. Or, maybe age has nothing to do with it. I have very recently talked with two friends that are fighting cancer, and I know several others facing varying degrees of that disease.

I chatted with a young Christian woman with a great personality and a beautiful heart for kids. She has been a kindergarten teacher for several years, and in countless little lives, she has been involved in pointing them to a brighter future. The other is one of our very dearest friends. We love him with all our hearts which is why his illness is so personally heartbreaking. Other dear friends are also battling the same malady, and we bring them all before the throne of grace.

I am reminded of a verse in Habakkuk 3:2, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known. . .”

We so much need the power of God. There are many, many healing and help scriptures in the bible which we need to see manifested, such as Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” I guess I’m a bit concerned about that last part, “according to the power that works in us.”

There is a line in the children’s TV show, “Little Einsteins” when the little kids yell, “We need more power!” That is us! We need more power at work in us—in our spirits, our souls, and our bodies. We have been brainwashed to doubt that God’s power is for today. How crazy is that! Why would a God who is (a) the great creator, (b) “the same yesterday, today, and forever”, and the (c) the one who said “believers will do even greater things,” be unwilling to show his power today? He would not!

I know, believing for greater works than Jesus is believing for a lot, but I remind myself that Jesus is the one who said it. It was His idea. He bought and paid for it. I Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

For my dear friends battered by the kingdom of darkness, “Father, renew your deeds in our day, in our time make them known.”

REPENT

Do you know what we need? I’m using the word “we” loosely for all of us in our town, state, country, and world. We need to repent; and in the full sense of the word, change the direction we are heading. II Chronicles 7:14 is the verse we should have plastered on every refrigerator, marquee, and newspaper.

“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

I am struck by the words “my people”—God is talking to Christians since we are called by the name of Christ. We do so need to humble ourselves and pray for God’s will in our land, rather than being so consumed with our individual personal needs.

I’m not sure exactly how to seek the face of God, but I know it’s critical. When my kids were in the early grades in elementary school, I daily would tell them to “watch their teacher’s face” and then would ask at the end of the day if they had done so. I believed that watching the teacher’s face provided the best chance for understanding. I was determined to get them to focus on what was being said and the specific instructions being given. Isn’t that what God wants?

It is a no-brainer that we as God’s people need to turn from our wicked ways. One problem is, however, we have lost some of our moral compass to know what “wicked ways” are. Some wicked ways have become so acceptable to the world around us, that we may not even recognize them. On the other hand, we have several “man-made” wicked ways that each little group is eager to turn away from. Following man-made rules makes us feel self-righteous, but doesn’t cause us to be obedient to God’s word.

If we can do those things that God has commanded, he says, “then,” which would indicate that obeying those earlier commands must come before the “then” but what follows is glorious—He will hear from heaven. Good news indeed! He will forgive our sins. Great news! And, He will heal our land. We desperately need a healing for our land. It has become so sick as it has crawled out from under God’s direction and protection.

We are bombarded daily with the news of the H1N1 flu bug and its threat to our physical health, but who is sounding the alarm about the viruses that seek to devastate our spiritual health?

REPENT! (I sound like an Old Testament prophet)

My Name is Carol

I have been on this kick of words from the musical “Antshillvania” which is cleverly written and wisdom-filled. In the future, I will be sharing more nuggets from that, but today I found myself humming from another musical our family was involved in—“It’s Cool in the Furnace.” Can you guess what bible story that is about? I’m sure you can; how many furnaces are there?
One of my favorites from that musical—Know When to Say “No”

♫ Yes, we know when to say “No” yes, we know.
The king says “Bow down and pray;
Worship my idol every day,
And do it now without delay.”
What do you say?
We say “No, no no!”

The king says, “If you don’t obey,
You won’t survive another day,
‘cause you’ll be baked like potters’ clay.”
What do you say?
We say, “No, no no!”

Now God says, “There’ just one way,
No other God shall you obey,
And your allegiance I’ll repay.”
What do you say?
We say, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Yes, we know when to say “No” yes, we know.

The first two verses sound so foreign here “in the land of the free and the home of the brave” but as I watch the news, I wonder. I have watched stories about people being forced to stop the display of American flags and crosses, school children being expected to believe without question in evolution, global warming, and a one-world government, and a beauty pageant contestant thrown out for believing that marriage is between a man and woman.

Christianity has been under attack since first century A.D.; and while there have been times when the attacks were less, this is not one of those times. “Separation of church and state” has become the battle cry of those who would stamp it out, and they act as though it were printed in huge letters in the U.S. Constitution. It isn’t! It isn’t even in the fine print. There is no legal separation of church and state.

So, the day may come when we must follow Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo’s example in taking a stand. (Those weren’t their real names, but names given to coerce them into idol acceptance.)

Daniel 1:7 “Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.”

My name is Carol, which means “song of joy”; may it always be so!

Riddle, The

Yesterday, I wrote about the parable of the sower as my farmer is hurriedly trying to cut as many soybeans as possible before a predicted rain comes in (may the Lord send it somewhere in need of rain instead). The harvest is in full swing and this time of year always brings to mind the reality of the principle of sowing and reaping.

As I was writing, I wanted so much to include a song from “Antshillvania,” a musical my family was involved in (twice, actually) some years ago. The musical is a fabulous one which uses several object lessons from scripture and contains some of the most powerful lyrics and music I’ve ever heard. It was written with a focus toward children, but the lessons are for all ages.

After an exhaustive search for lyrics from my children (dressed as spiders, they sang the song with a few others), they could remember only a few unconnected lines. Finally, on the internet, we found it! I wish you could hear the music so you could sing along if you could say the words fast enough.

The Riddle “Antshillvania” by Jimmy & Carol Owens

A certain sower sowed some seed one sunny summer day
A snoopy sparrow spied the spoils and shouted, “Seeds! Hooray!”
The sower stopped and shouted “Shoo!” then sighed in sad dismay
As a swarm of sassy sparrows swooped and swiped the seeds away.

A certain sower sowed some seed on shallow stony soil.
Some spunky sprigs came sprouting up but started soon to broil.
The sultry searing summer sun swung sweltering overhead
’Til the sizzling seedlings sadly sagged and sighed, “So long, we’re dead!”

A certain sower sowed some seed. Some settled in the ground
Surrounded by a sticker patch with stickers all around.
The sticky stickers stuck and stabbed and scratched and scraped and tore
‘Til they swallowed all the seedlings up, and soon there were no more. Awwwww!

A certain sower sowed some seed in super soil he found.
And soon some super shoots sprang up and super roots sprang down.
As seasons sent the sun and showers, at last there stood full grown
A shady, shiny orchard where the sower’s seeds were sown.
A shady, shiny orchard where the sower’s seeds were sown.

Psalm 85:12

“The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.”

For us the bean harvest has begun. It’s not dry, but when October comes, farmers have to go for it. The sun is bright and a breeze is blowing—perfect! Now, if we could just keep those conditions for a few weeks. (There is a forecast for rain, but let’s hope the weathermen are wrong) We are counting on the fruitful harvest scriptures. Psalm 107:37 “They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest.”

The bible tells quite a bit about farmers, probably because the people understood farming at the time it was written. People have always needed food. Genesis tells us that God himself planted a garden and placed Adam and Eve there. I guess you could look at Adam as the second farmer sent to work the ground as in Chapter 2.

When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-the LORD God formed the man. . . Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. . . The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (I do see that Adam didn’t have to worry about rain.)

In Matthew 13, Jesus told several stories about farmers. The first is probably the best known.

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

That last part always tickles me as I imagine Jesus standing by a field of corn, saying “He who has ears. . .” Isn’t that funny? Corn? Ears?

That parable is such a wonderful description of life and of us. Are we beaten down and hard like the path where no seed can grow? Are we rather rocky with not much good soil in our lives? Are our hearts and minds so busy and full of thorns which can choke out any good thing that tries to grow? Are we willing to be broken (like the soil in the spring) and cultivated to bring a harvest? Are we like corn and have ears?

God and I are both interested in the harvest. Luke 10:2 "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

"Stuff"

I have had the opportunity in the past couple of weeks to spend a little more time at home and in doing so have re-discovered something my kids have known and disparaged for a long, long time—I have “stuff” that accumulates here and there. I don’t consider myself a genuine packrat, but I’m pretty close. As I consider that possibility, I really hate it; but, I do have excuses.

1. So many times I have thrown an item away only to need it and replace it a short time later. I really hate having to buy the darn thing again and then have to figure out what to do with it as it becomes part of the stuff accumulation.

2. My mother was an older mom who with my dad had lost all their savings when their bank closed during the great depression. My dad had died when I was 2, so my mom was by necessity the picture of thriftiness (one of the original recyclers). She re-used everything—made quilts from leftover materials from homemade clothing or from worn out garments, crocheted afghans from yarn, and even learned to tat lace Christmas ornaments. We churned butter, grew an enormous garden, and raised popcorn.(You could never guess what we used to get the popcorn kernels off the ears)

3. I have, on occasion, thrown away an important paper that someone in the family needed which cannot be replaced. That feels dreadful! Once, when my daughter’s necessary ticket for a national exam, required for her college graduation, was missing, I felt physically sick thinking I had inadvertently thrown it away while cleaning up “stuff.” Fortunately, as I frantically looked through every stack of “stuff” around, there it was! Hallelujah! How would you feel if your daughter could not graduate from college because you threw away the missing ticket? I have to mention at our house, all problems are the mother’s fault.

4. In order for the US Postal Service to survive, it is essential that they deliver 12 pounds of mail each day to our mailbox. It then must be carried in and placed on our kitchen counter to be strewn out so all pieces are visible at the same time. Many are bills that must be placed in the special to-be-paid slot. Many are credit card offers which we have been warned not to throw in the trash as they may contain too much personal information. There is the regular stack of catalogs, magazines, and sale brochures which we might want to look through sometime, so they should not be thrown away immediately. Then, there are 2 or 3 reminders of appointments that must be posted on the refrigerator. That leaves 1 small piece of mail to be thrown away in the trash to never end up in a stack of “stuff.” Sigh

Today, I’m going to look through some “stuff” and try to eliminate non-essentials. Wait, we might need that sometime. Well, maybe I’ll just rearrange.

Hebrews 12:1 “. . .let us lay aside every weight . . .”

Brighten Up!

♫ Rejoice in the Lord always,
And again, I say rejoice.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
And again, I say rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord always,
And again, I say rejoice.

This is part of a little scripture chorus from Philippians 4 that I need for today. Sometimes I forget to rejoice. I get lazy. I get pre-occupied. I get anxious. I get blah—especially on cold, cloudy days (like today). Are any of those good things? I think not!

Yet, there are situations rumbling beneath the surface of my consciousness that leave me vaguely distressed. I’m not unhappy, angry, or even grumpy; I’m just not cheerful, and I regret that. I have allowed those underlying circumstances to be an internal weight; so, I need to have a little chat with myself.

Carol, you are concerned that a granddaughter is sick today—not terribly sick but has a combination of allergies to October as well as a nasty cold. As a fan of radiant health, anything less is definitely less. Then, there are those scary words floating around about the flu. But, I remember, “God exalted Jesus…and gave him the name that is above every name,” above the name of flu and all other sickness.

There is also a concern about the weather because of farmer husband. Planting was so late and the summer so un-hot and un-sunny that crops have not grown and matured as they should. Mix that with a fall that is cold and wet and you have a harvest emergency.(Where was global warming?) I am so sorry that this agricultural crisis hit our area just as the economy is suffering with job losses, salary cuts, and the looming threat of higher taxes and medical uncertainty. But, I remember:

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Well, I’m feeling better. “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” Do you know how that part ends? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” That’s what I need—a heart/mind guard!

♫ Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

The Plan

For I know the plans (a) I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans (b) to prosper you and not to harm you, plans (c) to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

This has been a favorite verse at our house for a long time and has seen us through stormy times; but my natural, human mind occasionally wanders off from the narrow path of faith, trust, and wisdom. Particularly when I look at hurdles in my own or in the paths of my kids and grandkids, an uneasy feeling creeps into my midsection. I look down one path and then another and find that I cannot see more than a step or so in any forward direction. (notice there is no rewind button?)

I should be accustomed to this after years of one-step-at-a-time living, but I’d like to be able to help my kids have an easier trip. However, I’m reminded of something I heard someone say, “God has no grandchildren.” Each of us, old and young, must personally look to Him as our Father and walk out those plans He has for us.

Now I would like to have a 1-year plan, a 5-year plan, and a long-range plan. Then, I would like for all things to work out well with my plans. I don’t believe I have seen that scenario in scripture—“Lord, here are my plans so bless them please.” As I write it, I realize the arrogance that is the basis of such a life system. Of course, I don’t know the future; so why would I think I could make any call about what I or anyone else needs apart from what God (who does know the future) has planned?

The first part of the verse is challenging enough for me to get my mind around. Does God really know me? Does He like me? Does He have time to make an IEP (individualized efficacious plan) just for me? Well, the verse says He does. Most of the time I find that the steps ahead look a bit murky, and I begin questioning whether I may have wandered off the path. Hmmmmm.

While I so much hope that those “part a” plans are in place and that we are following them in the right direction at the right speed, I also want “part b” to be in effect—to know prosperity without harm (in all areas of life). As “part a” and “part b” become more evident, I trust that “part c” will indeed follow—a hope and a future.

The Sidewalk Prophets have a song called “These are the Words I Would Say” with good advice:

♫ Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope;
You're gonna’ do great things
I already know God's got His hand on You.
So don't live life in fear;
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here.
Take your time and pray;
These are the words I would say.

20 Years Later

Okay, so I missed a few days again. I sat down and started writing; but just as in your life, the tyranny of the urgent took over.

Saturday my office conducted a joint workshop with two other offices. We had four speakers—two state Congressmen, a motivational speaker, and a very practical message on financial literacy. That all may sound a bit dry but actually was surprisingly interesting and informative. I hugely appreciate people who have something to say and who say it in a way that is engaging.

Saturday night, my husband and I went to work at our restaurant so our daughter could attend a surprise birthday party for an old friend she had gone to school with two decades earlier. It is an amazing reality how quickly the past passes and how lives once lived so closely can lead to places so far away. I feel some tinges of responsibility for what those girls did with their lives as I was their Sunday School teacher for several years. It is difficult to know how much (if any) influence such teaching had on choices they made and the lives they are living.

Do we make a difference? I tend to give little thought to what the small children I see regularly will look like and live like twenty years from now. I simply appreciate their cuteness and their variety of personalities. As I sit here typing, I realize what a mistake that attitude is. Every one of those young lives is precious to God, and I’m thinking that He expects every one of us olders to help those youngers get to know Him and His ways—to be role models who say follow me to eternal life.

I’ve heard many olders say that it isn’t their “call” to work with children. Poppycock! I am reminded of two scriptures:

"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” Mark 9:42

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." John 21:15

I guess I believe that Jesus would say to each of us that if we love Him, we will care about His lambs.

Focus

One of my favorite KJV scriptures is Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Occasionally, I experience that. When I hear just what I need, just when I need it, it is indeed an apple of gold—a precious, life-giving tidbit. It feels like it came directly from God’s mouth to my ears and it often comes as a surprise. It sometimes come when I hear my own voice speaking like a child secretly taping words spoken and then playing it back really loud. I hear what I need rather than what a listener needs.

Monday evening, I sat down and wrote my blog entry about how important it is to control my focus instead of giving in to fear, worry, etc. Tuesday morning was our annual Workshop where all employees come together for general sessions as well as department-centered ones.

The workshop opened with a motivational speaker, Mr. Caperton. A few minutes into his presentation I was amazed. He spoke on the importance of our focus in our lives. He explained that he had made the decision years before to set his focus on being joyful; not that everything in his life was lighthearted and happy, but that as soon as possible after an unhappy occurrence he would return to a focus on joyfulness. He wanted that to be the norm with anything else being not the norm. His tool to create that norm, he explained, was his sense of humor.

He was a pretty funny fellow who believes that optimism is a choice and described “pessimism” with 3 P’s. First, pessimists think everything is Personal—“of course things would go wrong for me—lights turn red as soon as I approach the intersection.” Mr. Caperton pointed out how silly it was for me to have the perception that all traffic lights are just waiting for my approach.

In addition to being Personal, everything is Pervasive; it will always happen this way to me. There’s no reason to have hope for blessings because bad always happens. Again, the speaker described how silly it is to think the universe is poised waiting to rain on me.

Finally, he explained that not only is everything Personal and Pervasive, but everything is Perpetual; it will be this way forever. If I’m a pessimist, I can’t look for any happy ending because bad is chasing after me alone, continually, and everlasting. (Wasn’t there a character in Peanuts that had a dark cloud just over him?)

I needed to hear that gentlemen. He provided me encouragement to be thankful and joyful. He sought to persuade his listeners to choose an optimistic focus. As I think about this, if Jesus Christ, the risen Lord cares about me, I can’t be a pessimist. In fact. . .

♫How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing"

Chris Tomlin - How Can I Keep From Singing

A Refreshing Sip

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25

I have noticed over the years that in everyone’s life there are bright seasons and dark seasons. Perhaps that’s why God created a visual aid as He set up our part of planet earth with four seasons—spring with newness of life, summer with warm sunny days, autumn with beauty as the life within plants recedes back to the earth, and winter with long dark and cold days. Oh, I know in each of those seasons there are times when opposites appear—frost when flowers bloom early, dark clouds and storms or too much sun leaving the earth dry and parched, cold rains that bring down the pretty leaves too early, and the occasional sunny day with warmer temperatures between the frigid ones.

The same can be said for the seasons of our lives—some clouds in the bright times and some sunshine in the darker ones. It is in both those seasons that the choice of focus becomes paramount, a focus on thankfulness. It’s easy to be thankful when good abounds but such a challenge when good is hard to find.

It brings to my mind immediately the picture of Peter as he got out of the boat to walk on water to get to Jesus in Matthew 14.

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him…And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.”

I have some friends I love struggling in the midst of terrible storms; and it is so hard to keep the proper focus when a storm is raging, a hurricane is blowing, and the waves are crashing. We so much need Jesus to reach out his hand and cause the wind to die down.

Today we heard just a bit of good news. To me but especially to them it was “like cold water to a weary soul.”

Lord Jesus, be our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

A Thankful Heart

Because I have spent almost all of the past week inside recovering from surgery, many good things in my life became way more noticeable (because I didn’t get to see and do them). It is so easy to take for granted the people I see regularly and the fun or even mundane things I do. I noticed that the ability to get into a car and go wherever whenever is also an overlooked blessing.

Don’t get me wrong, I am immensely grateful that I wasn’t lying in a hospital bed all week in varying levels of pain. I seriously appreciate that; so I guess it’s a matter of the glass being half full or half empty. I definitely see it half full, but there are parts of the half empty that I want to allow to teach me about my attitudes and inner thoughts.

Many times I have read James 4 that, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow… Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." Yet I, like so many others, go my own way making plans, expecting life to go as I plan, and getting irritated when it doesn’t work out.

Here are some random abilities to be appreciated
1.Get out of bed with the alarm, shower, and go to work
2.Bend over and put on one’s own clothes
3.Get to the bathroom in a somewhat speedy fashion
4.Take a shower and towel dry carelessly
5.Sit down and stand up without careful consideration
6.Carry a loaded clothes basket to the laundry room
7.Load and unload the washer and dishwasher

I’m sure there are many more, but you get the idea. If you can do those things, BE THANKFUL! Do not take them for granted.

Some things I noticed that require almost no strength or dexterity:
1.Use the remote control
2.Graze mindlessly through all the channels
3.Eat what very kind, thoughtful people bring
4.Snuggle under a soft blanket
5.Doze off when feeling sleepy
6.Chat on the telephone
7.Listen to loud noises on the roof (my husband and his crew are re-roofing our house this week)

Nevertheless, I have learned this week to be grateful for vision, for nimbleness, for healthy digestion, for sleep, for the ability to talk, for having those around that I love to talk with, and for hearing as well as for having a roof that will not leak when the rains come.

I said all that to say, "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” and “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I want a thankful ♥

Birthdays and Adoptions

I’ve taken a short leave from blogging recovering from a surgery I had a couple of days ago. I’m told it went well and that I am doing likewise. A few decades ago I had a C-section birth of my youngest child. Today, it feels like I had another one but without a baby to show for it.

At my age, it is good that I can have grandbabies instead of babies. As many people have said, there is a reason young women have babies and chase toddlers. Darling as they are, they require considerable strength, agility, and perseverance. All that said, I do love babies and especially my grandbabies.

At this particular time of the year, we celebrate lots of birthdays in our family. My older son’s was yesterday, my second daughter’s is next week, and my youngest son’s is in three weeks. One granddaughter's was 4 weeks ago. Additionally, our baby that has been in the hospital is 6 just weeks old and our newest is coming in 7 to 8 weeks. Birthdays make me pause and consider the new lives that came into being on those days and the effect they have had on my world and the world in general. It is so fun to see what gifts and abilities manifest themselves in each life.

Scripture indicates that God noticed and planned for families. The whole nation of Israel was the family of one man—Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel. We first met his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac, but it is through his 12 sons and Judah in particular that God’s plan became more evident. It was a family preparing to bring forth God’s son, Jesus.

I love the fact that God adopted some “outsiders” into His family and included them in the genealogy in Matthew. I love it because it demonstrates that God has room for you and me in His family. When you think about, adoption of one outside the family is wonderful because that child is particularly “chosen.” Isn’t it amazing that God chose us to adopt us?

“He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” Ephesians 1:5

You gotta’ love birthdays and adoptions!