Who Holds Your Hand?

I love the calendar in my kitchen window.  (I think I may have mentioned this before.)  It's one of those perpetual ones that has a page for every day of the year.  There are all sorts of those calendars available on the market.  Calendars with sports trivia or a "word of the day".  With inspirational sayings or historical facts.  My calendar has scripture verses.

Part of my routine every morning is to flip the page on that calendar and see what the verse of the day is.  I pour my first cup of coffee and then flip the page on the calendar.

This is what I read today:

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.  When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD holds his hand.  I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."  (Psalm 37:23-25 NASB)

"The LORD holds his hand."  That's the phrase that really grabbed my attention.

What do you think about when you think about holding hands?  Children holding hands as they walk across the playground.  Grandchildren holding hands as they walk through the mall.  Holding your child's hand as you cross the busy street.  Holding your sweetheart's hand while you watch a movie.  Holding the hand of a loved one who just got some devastating health news or who is grieving a significant loss.

There are all sorts of reasons for hand-holding.  And we all have situations and circumstances where we want someone to hold our hand.  To tell us everything will be OK.  To make us feel safe.  To make us feel loved.

The good news is, we have such a One.  That's what this verse tells us.  The Lord holds our hand. 

What a great truth to hold on to today.  No matter what happens.  Let that thought encourage you today.

"The LORD is the One who holds his [your, my] hand."  (Psalm 37:24b NASB)


 

Don't Give Me Attitude!

I think it is a universal truth that big sisters always boss around their younger brothers.  I almost said "little" brothers, but the fact is that older sisters will always boss around younger brothers even when the younger brother is no longer the little brother.

Al and I witnessed this phenomenon a couple of days ago as we were doing some errands together.  A brother and sister were bringing lunch to their mom who was working in the store.   We (and the mom) were very amused at how the sister was bossing the brother around.......put this here, put that there, hurry up, don't take so long.....

And I will have to confess that I, the older sister, have occasionally been described as "the bossy one." Just ask my younger brother!

I believe that this family tradition (bossy older sister) will continue in fine form in January when my great-niece Ansley, along with her parents of course, welcomes her new baby brother into the world.  She's off to a good start already.

I laughed out loud when I read on Facebook what Ansley, age 3, had said to a 12-year old boy.  She said, "Don't give me attitude!"  Definitely a good start to the role of bossy big sister!

But as I have been thinking about that phrase, I wonder how often our Heavenly Father might like to say that exact same thing to us.  Don't give me attitude.

Our attitudes often need an adjustment, don't they?  Sometimes we're a little too bossy (and not just the "big sisters" among us are guilty).  Sometimes we're a little (or more than a little) rebellious.  We're sometimes a little (or a lot) short-tempered.  Or impatient.  Or rude.  Or unkind.

Maybe today is a good day to stop and evaluate our attitudes.  To make adjustments where they are needed.  To examine our thoughts and our motives.  So that our Father doesn't need to say to us, "Don't give me attitude!"

"All the ways of a man [or a woman] are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit."  (Proverbs 16:2 ESV)

"Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."  (Proverbs 13:3 ESV)

And Here We Go Again......

Yesterday started out to be such a good day.

But then things took a wrong turn. Shortly before noon, Al and I were planning to go to a favorite restaurant in town and have lunch together before he headed out of town for a couple of days. He left first because he had a stop to make.

A few minutes later, I got in my car, put the key in, turned it, and nothing happened. Dead silence. No beep beep beep when I put the key in. No clicking sound. Nothing. Silence.

So, I had to call Al to come back home.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may recall that we had a similar scenario back in February. You can read about that here: http://susanssittingroom.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-dirty-refrigerator-greasy-stove-and.html and here: http://susanssittingroom.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-about-that-dead-battery.html.

After that fiasco, we had purchased a brand new battery. And ever since then we have been talking about buying a battery charger. A battery charger would be a handy thing to have for all the times, especially in winter, when the car just sits in the garage, or for the times the car doesn't get driven enough to keep the battery charged.

We had talked a lot about a battery charger. But we never had bought one. Until yesterday.

The lunch date turned into takeout that Al picked up when he went into town to buy a battery charger. His travel schedule was rearranged. We were both frustrated.

All because we didn't do what we had been intending to do all along. All because we talked a lot about buying a battery charger, but we never actually bought one. It wasn't because we didn't have the money to buy one. We did. But we just never got around to it.

I think there's a lesson here that is about a lot more than dead batteries and battery chargers.

It's about doing what you say you're going to do.

And that applies not just to battery chargers. It applies in all areas of life. Don't just talk about what you're going to do. Actually do it.

Whether it's buying a battery charger or losing weight or beginning a disciplined exercise regimen or being disciplined about Bible study or about Scripture memory or balancing your budget. Whatever. Just do it.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV)

How Was Your Weekend? Or, The Tale of the Headache

Do you ever wake up with a song running through your brain, one that you can't seem to shut off?  That happened to me this morning.  Over and over, on a continuous loop through my brain, the Gaither Vocal Band song "Greatly Blessed, Highly Favored" is playing.  I'm not sure why.  I didn't hear it sung any time recently.  I haven't sung it myself.  Maybe it's because that's how I'm feeling this morning - greatly blessed.

For starters, my 5-day-long sinus headache, the worst in my recent memory, is gone!  That is indeed cause for celebration!  Aside from the obvious - the pain of the headache - along with all the accompanying nausea and sensitivity to light and all that stuff (you really didn't want to know that, did you??!!), that headache caused me to do some really stupid stuff!

Let's take yesterday as an example.  When I woke up, I was actually feeling a little better than I had felt on Saturday, although that was to be short-lived.  Al and I decided that we would stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast before church.  As we were getting ready to leave the house, and as I was gathering up my belongings - Bible, notebook, purse, coffee mug, etc. - I decided that since my medicines, particularly the new arthritis med, need to be taken with food, I would wrap all my pills carefully in a tissue and have them to take with my breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  I very carefully placed this carefully folded tissue in a specific pocket in my purse.

And off we went.  Since, as you may be aware, it is quite a distance from our house to Cracker Barrel....and to church......and to anywhere, really.....I had time to drink my coffee.  After that, I dug into my purse for a piece of gum.

When we arrived at Cracker Barrel, we ordered and ate our breakfasts.  And we then each proceeded to get out the pills.  That's what old people do at Cracker Barrel, isn't it?  (Not that I'm admitting to being old, you understand!)  Well, Al got out his pills.  I couldn't find mine.  I searched through my entire purse, but found no carefully wrapped tissue-packet of pills.

At this point in the story, I should probably mention that I always clean my purse out on Saturday, and get rid of all the gum wrappers and receipts and used tissues and extra lipsticks and all the stuff that really doesn't need to be in there.  But on this particular weekend, I didn't do that.  Because of The Headache.

Since I couldn't find my carefully-wrapped-packet-of-pills, I dug into my purse for some headache meds, and we went on to church.  At that point, I was still feeling some better than I had on Saturday, so I thought all would be well.  And it was.  Until we got to church and I leaned over to hug a friend who was already seated.  At that point, all the pressure in my sinuses concentrated on one spot in the front of my head and I thought I would pass out!!  Thankfully, I didn't.  We got ourselves into the Dining Hall, where all the adult Life Groups were meeting together yesterday.  From the moment the doors to that room opened, I knew I was in trouble.  It was cold in there.  COLD.  Cold enough to, as we say in this part of the country, hang meat!

For the next hour I sat balled up in my chair, trying to get warm and trying to focus, without a great deal of success, on what was being said.  Then we headed to the Sanctuary for the worship service, where - you guessed it - it was COLD.  Maybe the thermostats were pre-programmed for typical August heat.  Except we weren't having typical August heat.  It was really cold in there.  And being so tensed up into a ball trying to get warm for the previous hour hadn't helped my headache at all.

Al gave me his suit jacket to wear.  Which, of course, looked ridiculous.  But I didn't care.  I was finally beginning to thaw out.  Al, however, shivered through most of the service.  Bless his heart.

When we got home after church, I expected to find my pill-packet on the table.  It wasn't there.  It wasn't on the countertop next to the coffee maker.  It was nowhere to be found.  So, I dumped the entire contents of my purse out on the bed, thinking that in all that junk, I must have just missed the pill-packet.  Not there either.

Remember that earlier I mentioned getting some gum out of my purse after I finished my coffee?  At that point, the gum wrapper and a piece of a straw wrapper and what I thought was a dirty tissue were all balled together and put in the trash bag in the car.  Turns out that wasn't a dirty tissue after all.  It was my carefully-wrapped-pill-packet!  Which ended up in the trash bag!

A 5-day headache can cause strange behavior!

One more example.  On Friday morning, I cooked sausage for breakfast.  As I typically do when we have sausage, I cooked the entire roll (you know those little pound-sized rolls that sausage is sold in?).  We ate a couple of pieces for breakfast, and the I put the rest in a ziploc bag to be reheated for breakfasts on other days.  Saturday morning I opened the refrigerator to get out a couple of pieces of sausage from that ziploc bag.  But the bag wasn't there.  So I opened the freezer side of the refrigerator.  Not there either.  And it wasn't in the "big" freezer.  Or in the pantry.  Or in the microwave.  Or in the dishwasher.  Or in the cabinets.  I have no idea what happened to that sausage.  I guess I must have thrown it away.  All because of The Headache.

This short blog post has turned into quite an epistle.  So, I'll wind things up.
I began this post by telling you that this morning I am feeling greatly blessed.  Certainly one of the reasons for that is the absence of The Headache!  But that isn't the only reason.

Yesterday we were privileged to have our pastor's father, Dr. John Wilton, bring the message in our service.  (We attend what is known as "The Classic Service" at our church.)  Our pastor, Dr. Don Wilton, was still on vacation. I was so blessed by the entire service.  The preaching.  The music.  Everything.

Even though I was VERY COLD.  And even though I had The Headache.  Which just proves that circumstances don't have to be perfect in order to be blessed by God.

Blessed I was.  And blessed I am.  How could I not be feeling blessed as I continue to think on these verses which were the text of the message yesterday:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:1-2 ESV)

No condemnation.

Greatly blessed.  Highly favored. 

Indeed.

"To be included in the family of God ought to make us grateful beyond anything we could think of or imagine."  - Dr. John Wilton

Where Did It Go?

As I look out across the mountains in front of me on this cool, foggy August morning, I find myself wondering what ever happened to summer.  Where did it go?

I realize that, according to the calendar, we are still in the summer season.  But, as I have mentioned before, this has been a very un-summer-like summer!  It has been unusually cool on this mountaintop for the entire season.  In fact, our temperature here has yet to reach the 90 degree mark.  It has, of course, been warmer at lower elevations.  And when we traveled to SC and to FL we certainly experienced much (!!!) warmer temperatures.  But summer up here on our mountaintop has been a rather cool one.

And it has been wet!  I've been hesitant to complain too much about the rain, since I well remember the severe drought years when we first moved to these mountains.  I have, of course, complained just a wee bit!!  I have really, really enjoyed those rare days when the sky has been blue and cloud-free.  We haven't had too many of those this year.  Very un-summer-like.

For the last week or two, the weather has been unseasonably cool.  It feels - and looks - more like fall than summer.  And even though I really love fall, I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of summer.  

But school has started again, at least in this part of the country.  (I realize that in many other parts of the country, school resumes after Labor Day, but that's not how we do it here!)  Our hummingbirds have left, except for one lone bird who keeps hanging around.  We're experiencing the foggy mornings that come as we move into fall.  (I'm told that there is a correlation between foggy mornings in August and snow in winter.  If that's true, we may be in for a snowy winter season, since we have had fog every morning this month!)  The leaves have started to turn.  Acorns and hickory nuts are falling from the trees at a furious pace.  And, since we live in a house with a tin roof, we are very aware of every one that falls!

Summer has come to an end.  Much too soon.  Time seems to be passing by very quickly!

Is this a sign that I'm getting old???


"O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.  So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come."  (Psalm 71:17-18 ESV)

Clutter. Or, What Are You Holding On To?

As I sat down yesterday afternoon with my coffee and my laptop to begin work on today's post, my mind turned to clutter. Well, it didn't go directly there immediately. Which is, I suppose fitting, since this is a post about clutter.

When I sat down to organize my thoughts, I began thinking about the end of summer and seasons changing and back-to-school, and I really thought that would be the direction my writing would take. But as I began to think back over the summer, and where the time had gone, and what we had done, my mind then arrived at today's destination: clutter.

We began the summer with some much-needed decluttering and clean-up in the basement. We had boxes and boxes of unused, un-needed "stuff", much of which we had been holding on to for years and years. We had moved it here from Florida. Some of it had been around since we lived in Minnesota. And some had been around even longer than that! It was just in the way. Unnecessary. Cluttering up the basement. And our lives.

As we're coming to the end of the summer, we have just finished up our kitchen countertop refinishing project. And let me say once again how much I love the end result! But the process was messy. And required a lot of clean-up. Even the insides of the kitchen cabinets had a layer of sawdust which needed cleaning away! And that gave opportunity to declutter and reorganize those spaces, and to get rid of lots of unused, unnecessary stuff.

In between, I have been going methodically through all the closets and drawers. Decluttering. Getting rid of stuff. We have made lots of trips to Goodwill this summer! I still have a couple of closets yet to be dealt with. And once they are done, I'm sure Goodwill will be seeing us again!

All of that makes we wonder why we hold on to all that stuff anyway! Is there some genetic predisposition to hoarding? Even as I ask that question, I find myself smiling when I think of Al's parents. They have been married for almost 70 years, more than 55 of those years living in the same small house. There's definitely some clutter there. They don't throw anything away!! Unless it's some insurance policy or other similar paper that needs to be saved. Then they will likely shred it!!

I took a little break in the middle of my writing yesterday to catch up with my blog-reading. I discovered that I'm not the only one with clutter on her mind! Here's one good example, from my friend Melanie:
http://pleasuresforevermoreps1611.blogspot.com/2013/08/clutter-at-center.html#!/2013/08/clutter-at-center.html

As I was thinking about clutter, this question continued to come to my mind: why? Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we hold on to so much stuff we don't need and don't use? Why do we allow ourselves to be so controlled by things? Why do we cling so tightly to our stuff? It clutters up our houses. And it clutters up our minds. Because we become so focused on our stuff and on where to put all our stuff and on taking care of the stuff and on getting more stuff, that we lose sight of what really matters in life. And what really matters isn't stuff!

How can we "fix our minds on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2 NASB) when we're so preoccupied with stuff? When our minds are already cluttered with all our thoughts about stuff? And that doesn't even take into account the clutter in our minds that comes from thoughts and attitudes that are about anything and everything but Jesus!

Even if we aren't candidates for that TV show Hoarders, wouldn't you agree that most of us here in the United States are much too preoccupied with our stuff? And yes, I recognize that this is definitely a first-world problem!

The question is not just what is cluttering up your home (or your apartment, or your living space?). The question is also what are you allowing to clutter up your heart and mind? I fear that too many of us are like the rich young man in Matthew 19. He had kept all the religious rules, but was unwilling to let go of his possessions. He wanted to keep his stuff.

I'm not saying we should get rid of all our stuff. Or that it is wrong to have stuff, to have possessions. What I am saying is that we should be careful not to be possessed by the stuff. That we shouldn't allow the stuff to clutter our lives, either physically or mentally. That we need to be careful that our priorities are clear. That the stuff is not the most important thing. Steven Curtis Chapman said it well when he penned these words:

I will hold on to the hand of my Savior,
And I will hold on with all my might.
I will hold loosely to things that are fleeting,
And hold on to Jesus,
I will hold on to Jesus for life.

"But seek first the kindgom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Good Advice from a Wise Man

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” - Blaise Pascal

"He has put eternity into man's heart...." (Ecclesiastes 3:11b ESV)

From time to time it happens that what I'm reading as I follow my daily Bible reading plan and what we're studying in our Sunday morning Life Group are the same thing.  That has happened this week, as my Bible reading plan has me in Ecclesiastes, which is what we've been studying on Sundays for the past few weeks. 

Here in Ecclesiastes, Solomon seems to be trying to find meaning in life.  I read somewhere recently (and I can't remember where I read it - sorry!) that of all people who ever lived, because of his wealth and wisdom, Solomon was most qualified to find meaning in life apart from God.  Yet even he couldn't do it!  Because without God, life really has no meaning or purpose since, as Rick Warren put it, "it's not about you."

Solomon was wealthy and he was wise, but in spite of that he seemed to be running on empty.  Solomon's father, King David, was described as a "man after God's own heart."  But nowhere in Scripture do we find such a description of Solomon.  There's a lesson there.  God doesn't have spiritual grandchildren.  No matter who your parents were, no matter what your family circumstances or your financial situation or your geographical location, each of us must come to God individually.

Solomon was looking for meaning in life.  As he did, he gave us some good "wisdom nuggets" we would do well to remember.  For example:

• "He has made everything beautiful in its time."  (Eccl. 3:11a ESV)
• "A good name is better than precious ointment."  (Eccl. 7:1 ESV)
• "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might."  (Eccl. 9:10 ESV)
• "Let your words be few."  (Eccl. 5:2b ESV)

And each week as we go to our churches for worship, we should remember these words: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.  To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil."  (Eccl. 5:1 ESV)

Reading through Ecclesiastes leaves me with the impression that, in his search for meaning and purpose in life, Solomon was more than a little down in the dumps, that life seemed empty and meaningless to him.  Certainly on this side of the cross, we know that a relationship with God through Jesus is what's needed for life to have meaning and purpose.  Solomon, even with all his wisdom, didn't understand that in the same way that we do.  But we shouldn't be too hard on Solomon.  After all, there are many of us who have on occasion experienced times in life when we wondered if there was any purpose to it all.  We have had our "ecclesiastes moments" when life seemed empty and meaningless.  We have sometimes experienced a "crisis of belief." 

Reading through Ecclesiastes may not be the most uplifting or encouraging portion of Scripture.  You might prefer to be reading in the Gospels or one of Paul's letters.  Even so, it needs to be read.  If for no other reason than because it is there!  Because "all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable." (2 Timothy 3:16)

Whether or not it's your personal favorite, I think there's value in reading this book.  For one thing, it points us to the sovereignty of God ("for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." - Eccl. 3:1 ESV).  In reading about Solomon's struggles to find meaning and purpose, we realize we are not alone when we, too, struggle.  And Solomon gives us some good practical advice, as noted above.

Solomon closes this book with what is perhaps the best advice of all.  At the end of the day, no matter what the circumstances of life may be, no matter if we are in the depths of despair or on the mountaintop of joy, this is good advice to heed:

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments."  (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB)

Fan or Follower?

That was the title of Sunday morning's message from our Minister to Students, Seth Buckley.  As I have been reflecting back on that message, three of Seth's opening statements continue to reverberate through my mind.

• We think too highly of ourselves.
• We place too much emphasis on things that don't matter.
• Are you for real, or are you just like everybody else?

You see, the main point is this:  nothing matters outside of Jesus!  And the main question is this:  are you a "fan" of Jesus, or are you a "follower"?  Are you really following Jesus?  Is there any difference between you and the rest of the world?  Can the world see that you are a follower of Jesus?  And what does it really mean to be a follower?  What's the difference between a fan and a follower? 

This is what Jesus had to say about that:

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  (Luke 9:23 ESV)

Breaking that verse down phrase by phrase, as Seth did for us on Sunday, helps us to clarify exactly what it means to be a follower.  As we approach football season, we understand what a fan is.......one who shows up once a week but has put no effort into the outcome of the game other than to cheer when they like what happens on the field and criticize when they don't like it.  Using that definition, there are a lot of fans in our churches today.  But how many of us are really living like followers?

How many of us, and I include myself as I ask these questions, are truly coming after Jesus?  How many are truly denying self?  That's the very antithesis of what our culture teaches!  How many of us are truly taking up the cross?  Publicly identifying with Jesus?  Or are we too busy trying to "fit in", trying to go along with the crowd and not rock anybody's boat?

Are we really following?  The Amplified Bible expands that verse this way:

"If any person wills to come after Me, Let him deny himself (disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself) and take up his cross daily and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also.)
(Luke 9:23 AMP)

Conforming wholly to His example.  Losing sight of our own interests and instead choosing His interests.  That's what a follower of Jesus does.  Laying down our personal agendas and picking up His.  That's what a follower of Jesus does.  Giving up self-interest and following Jesus wholly and only.  That's what a follower of Jesus does.

Unfortunately I'm afraid there are a lot more Jesus-fans in our society than there are Jesus-followers.  Our world would be a lot different if those of us who call ourselves Christians lived more like followers than fans.  If the world could really tell the difference.  That's a sobering, convicting thought.  Because sadly, in far too many cases, you really can't tell the difference.

I'm so grateful to Seth for drawing our attention to this topic on Sunday.  I'm grateful for the way God is continuing to draw these thoughts to my mind since Sunday morning, for how He is teaching me more and more what it means to be a follower.  I'm grateful for a new and clarified understanding of how a follower is different from a fan.  And how I pray that others will be able to see the difference in me!

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory
In the power of the cross.
In every victory
Let it be said of me,
My source of strength,
My source of hope,
Is Christ alone.

 

-from "In Christ Alone" (Koch/Craig)

Monday Morning Reflections.....

In my last post I mentioned the blue sky.  I think that was the last day we actually saw any blue sky around here!  And it was the same in SC where we spent the weekend.  Dreary, dreary, dreary!

Before we headed down to SC, I finally had the long-awaited appointment with the rheumatologist.  I think I waited more than four months for that appointment!  In any event, the good news is that he has prescribed a different medication for my arthritis that will not cause any further damage to my kidneys.  The bad news is it may be up to a month before I begin to notice the effect of the medication!  At least that's what the doctor said, and everything I read about the medication confirms that.  But, I did feel better yesterday than I have felt in a long time, so maybe it's working already!

To those of you who have been following my journey of kidney disease and arthritis, thank you so much for your prayers and all your expressions of love and support.  You truly are a blessing in my life!

Speaking of blessings, we went to SC to celebrate my mother-in-law's 90th birthday.  We had planned a small gathering of family and close friends, not wanting anything to be too overwhelming.  All this, of course, was carefully planned and discussed multiple times with Al's mom, and she had told us who she wanted to invite.  Even so, there was a little underlying concern, due to her Alzheimer's disease.  We were hoping and praying that this would be a happy experience for her, and that it wouldn't cause too much stress.  But, Alheimer's being what it is, we didn't really know what to expect or how she might react when party day actually arrived.

Although she seemed a little stressed about the whole thing on Saturday morning, by the time Saturday afternoon came and guests began dropping by, she seemed very relaxed and content.  I am happy to report that she had a wonderful time!  What a blessing!  What an answer to prayer!

Now another week begins.  Actually, it began yesterday with a wonderful day of worship.  Our pastor is away on a much-deserved vacation, so our Minister to Students brought the morning message.  And a powerful message it was!  Another blessing!  More about that another day.

And here we are at Monday morning.  Another week. Another opportunity to be blessed by God.  To see Him at work.   I'm looking forward to what this week will bring!

"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13b-14 ESV)

A Quiet Morning

It's a quiet morning.  Al and Molly have gone to town, and I'm home alone for a little while.

As I sit here enjoying the quiet (and another cup of coffee!), it's a good time for reflection.  For being still and getting refocused.  There's not a lot of time in our busy lives for being still, is there?  There's not a lot of quiet in our lives either, is there? 

So, here on this peaceful mountaintop this morning, I'm enjoying the quiet.  Watching the birds.  The blue sky.  The beautiful view.

There's a bit of a nip in the air this morning.  There's a cool breeze blowing. A hint that fall is not too far away. 

Students are getting ready to go back to school.  Another sign that the seasons are changing. 

As all that is going on in the world, I'm just sitting here enjoying the quiet.  Feeling grateful.  Reflecting on all the ways my life is so blessed.

Giving thanks to the One who created the beauty in the world around me. 

Thinking about God.  About all He has done.  About who He is.  Thinking about His character and His ways.  Being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Worshiping.

"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised."  (Psalm 48:1 ESV)

Birthdays

This is birthday week in our family.  Yesterday would have been my mother's 91st birthday.  On Thursday my mother-in-law will turn 90.  And today is my day. 

Birthdays mean something a little different as we get older.  For children, birthdays mean parties and presents.  For those of us in a different season of life, birthdays are a time for looking back and for looking forward.  Birthdays are a time to reflect on God's goodness to us thus far, and to look forward with great anticipation to what He might do next!

As I look back on my life, the word amazed comes to mind over and over.

I'm amazed at all the places we have lived, and all the many other places around the world where we have traveled.  That a shy little girl from small town South Carolina has been to all these places, met all these people, experienced all these locations and cultures and food......it amazes me!

I'm amazed at all the ways God has blessed me.  At all the ways I have seen Him at work in my life.  His goodnesses to me are too numerous to mention here.  I can only say that I stand amazed!

I look back and realize anew how truly I am blessed.  And I look forward with great anticipation to see how God will continue to work in my life.  I look forward with a renewed sense of determination to follow where He leads, to be all that He desires me to be, to be my utmost for His highest.

Some people seem bothered by birthdays and by getting older.  I'm not really one of those people.  I feel blessed and grateful to have lived this long.  Longer than two of my grandparents lived.  Longer than many of my ancestors lived.  Although these days 63 doesn't really seem all that old, not so very long ago it would have been the outer limit of a person's expected life span.

My grandmother always said that age is a state of mind, that you are as old as you feel.  With that criteria, some days I am really, really old!!  But truthfully, most of the time I don't feel old at all.  In fact, I don't think of being in my 60s as being old.  I'm not sure what this is supposed to feel like, anyway!!  I just know that I am grateful for every day of life!

And so today, as I celebrate my 63rd birthday, I'm grateful.  And I'm amazed.  Amazed at God's goodness.  Amazed at His grace.  Just amazed.
After all these years.......amazed!

"I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My sould makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together."  (Psalm 34:1-3 ESV)

Grumpy, Grumpy, Grumpy

I was catching up on my blog-reading this morning, and as so often happens, one blog led me to another and then to another.  Which led me to read a post titled "When My Happy Gets Bumped." (You can find that post here:  http://www.incourage.me/2013/07/when-my-happy-gets-bumped.html)

That post really struck a chord with me.  Although I can't say I have ever described my grumpiness quite that way, I like the sound of that.  It sounds much nicer to say that my happy just got bumped that to admit that I'm a grouch!

But lately it seems that my grumpy self has shown up much too frequently.  This morning as I was writing in my prayer journal,  as I looked back a few pages to notice how God had answered my prayers, I found an entry that went something like this:  Lord, my irritable self has shown up again today and I need help.

I really don't like my grumpy self very much.  I could probably rationalize all day about how I have earned the right to be a little grumpy.  Chronic pain can do that to a person, and until I finally get that rheumatology appointment next week and hopefully finally get some new meds that will give some relief, chronic pain is a fact of life.  But that's no excuse for making everybody around me miserable with my grumpiness.

I could blame it on the weather.  I could blame it on politicians.  I could say I didn't get enough sleep. I could complain for all sorts of reasons.  But what's the point of that?  The pain persists.  And I just get grumpier. 

It's really all a matter of focus, isn't it?  Focusing on problems and pain, on weather, on political correctness, only leads to more grumpiness.

So, with sincere apologies to all who have been victims of my grumpiness, I'm making a diligent, conscious, intentional effort today to refocus.  To think about something else.  Maybe you need to do that, too.  We all have "issues" in our lives that can drag us down, that can make us a bit (or a lot!) grumpy.  We can't wish those things away, or make them disappear or change just by the power of our positive thinking. 

What we can change is our attitude!  And that can change just by what we choose to focus our attention on.

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  (Philippians 4:8 ESV, emphasis mine)

It's a Process

Just about a week ago we completed our kitchen countertop transformation.  Or did we?

Last Wednesday the clear top coat was applied and left to dry.  So the work was finished.  Or was it?

Not exactly!  Once the finish on the countertop was dry, the work continued.  The clean-up began.  And that has been quite a process!  As a result of sanding off the old countertops in preparation for the "transformation", everything - and I do mean everything!! - in this house is coated in a layer of sawdust.  And the closer to the kitchen, the more layers of sawdust there are.  Which means a lot of cleaning.  A lot!

I began that process on Monday.  And continued yesterday.  And will continue today.  And will continue after that until the work is done.  However long it takes.

Transformation is quite a process.  But the end result is worth it.  I'm already so happy with how the kitchen looks.  Even though everything isn't back in place yet.  Even though I still don't have a kitchen sink.  It's worth all the effort.

Transformation in the spiritual sense is also a process.  Certainly once we have committed our lives to Christ, have "decided to follow Jesus", we are instantly part of the family of God.  But the transformation, in daily living, is a process.  It's that big theological word sanctification.  We are daily in process of becoming more and more like Christ.  We are daily being transformed.

Like my kitchen project, it takes time. We must be intentional about our transformation.  Intentional about prayer and Bible reading and Bible study and fellowship with other believers.  It's all part of the process.

Sometimes, as in the case of my kitchen, it's messy.  There's some cleaning up to do.  We may have habits and attitudes that need changing.  We may need to make different choices.  We may need to clean up some relationships.  It's all part of the process.

Transformation.  Sanctification.  Whatever term you use, it's a process.  And the end result is so worth it!

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."  (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

A Little Out Of The Ordinary

Last week was a little out of the ordinary for us.  We spent the first part of the week "transforming" our kitchen countertops.  Actually, not so much "we", since Al did most of the work, although I did assist when called on.  As usual, when that kind of project is underway, the best help I can offer is to stay out of the way!

On Wednesday the project was completed.  The last of the clear top coat was applied.  Nothing to do but to wait for it to dry.

So, we decided - rather spontaneously - to head over to Pigeon Forge for a few days.  Going to Pigeon Forge is not out of the ordinary for us.  Not at all.  It's the spontaneous part that's so out of the ordinary.  We really aren't very spontaneous at all!

But with nothing to do but wait for the kitchen countertops to dry, and with no kitchen sink, we decided a few days away was a good idea.  And it was!  A few days with no computer, no cooking, no cleaning, no Facebook.  A few days to just relax.  With several thousand of our closest friends!

You see, when we made this spontaneous decision to go to Pigeon Forge, we didn't realize it was Tax Free Weekend!  There were no parking spots to be had at the outlet mall.  There were long lines in shops and restaurants.  There was lots of traffic.

In spite of that, it was good to get away for a few days.  To relax.  To unplug.  To be out of our ordinary routines.  It was a very refreshing weekend, in spite of the crowds and the traffic.

Today is back to ordinary.  Back to routine.  Back to laundry.  And grocery shopping.  And all the other Monday chores.  Time to begin cleaning up after last week's transformation, since everything in the house is covered with sawdust!

Even so, it isn't an ordinary Monday.  I still don't have a kitchen sink!

"This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."  (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

Every Word

"Every promise in the Book is mine;

Every chapter, every verse, every line."

 

 

Did you sing that little song when you were a child?  I don't think I did; at least, I don't remember it.

 

I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah recount how he had often sung that song when he was young.  Then, as he became older and began to study the Scriptures more deeply, he was a little shocked and disappointed to realize that every promise was not his!  

It isn't yours or mine either!

You see, many of the promises in Scripture apply to all mankind, but that's not true of all of them.  Many of the promises of Scripture apply, for example, specifically to the nation of Israel.

So, we need to be careful as we read Scripture and "grab" a verse here and there, don't we?  That's why context is so important.  Consider the context - historical, geographical, literary - next time you read.  It makes a difference!

But even though every promise in the Book may not specifically apply to you and me, we can still be confident that every word of the Scripture is true and profitable.  Every chapter, every verse, every line.  Every word!  It's all the Word of God!

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."  (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)

"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."  (Proverbs 30:5 ESV)