What's on Your Feet?

I love shoes!  Well, except for flip-flops.  Which aren't really shoes anyway, are they??!!

I rarely wear flip-flops unless I'm at the beach or going to get a pedicure.  I really can't stand anything between my toes.

Since my ankle fusion surgery a few years ago, my footwear choices are somewhat limited.  No more cute little high-heeled sandals for me.  No more high-heeled anything, since my ankle doesn't bend.  That pretty much rules out anything with a high heel.  Or a medium heel.  Or any heel, for that matter.

Usually you will see me wearing shoes like this: 

 

Or this: 

 

 

Or maybe even like this:

 

 

 

 

 Not a flip-flop or high heel in the bunch!

 

No matter the footwear style, there's something each of us should have on our feet, if we're fully dressed.  If we're clothed in the "full armor of God".  (Ephesians 6:11,13). 

 

To be fully clothed, we should be wearing the shoes of the gospel of peace.     (Ephesians 6:15)

 

In his book Encouragement in His Presence, this is what my pastor, Dr. Don Wilton, has to say about those shoes:  "The shoes of the gospel of peace make up the third piece of the armor.  When you put on God's shoes of the gospel of peace, your feet are protected from the thorns of life, the rocks you encounter, the heat of the desert, and they will give you the traction to run in the battle.  A soldier is taught to NEVER take his shoes off."

 

What about you?    Are your feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace", as the KJV puts it?  Are you fully clothed in the armor of God?

 

I have been taught often over the years by a number of pastors and Bible teachers that we need to get up every day and intentionally clothe ourselves in the armor of God, naming each piece of the armor as we get dressed.  I think that's good advice.  So we're fully clothed, not omitting any of the essentials.  So we are able to stand firm against whatever comes our way. And so we remember that we are clothed in the armor of God, because we belong to Him.

 

What's on your feet today?

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.........Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace."  (Ephesians 6:10, 14-15 ESV)

 

You might want to read the entire passage if you need a refresher about the armor of God:  Ephesians 6:10-19.



Learning to Wait

"God has a time for everything, a perfect schedule. He is never too soon, never too late. The when of His will is as important as the what and the how." (Richard C. Halverson)

Timing is everything.  How often have you heard that phrase?

Timing is the difference between a perfectly thrown pass being caught, or not.

Timing can be the difference between perfectly baked cookies, or not.

Timing exactly when to flip those pancakes is the difference between yummy and gummy, or the difference between yummy and burned!

When it comes to more serious matters, like getting answers to our prayers, timing is everything as well.

God doesn't operate according to our timetables or our datebooks or our schedules.  We often wish He would, don't we?  I admit that I have often wanted to have a conversation with the Almighty (and actually have had such conversations on occasion) to explain why I thought His timing was a little off!  I mean no disrespect when I say that.  I do mean that it is often hard to wait.  Particularly when we are waiting a long time and when the thing we are waiting for, the answer we are seeking, seems never to come.

Learning to wait is hard.  Learning to accept God's timing is hard.  But nowhere in Scripture have I found any verse that tells me it will be easy!

I do, however, find lots of verses that talk about waiting.  In fact, the word wait is used more than 85 times in the Bible.  And that's not including other forms of the word, like waiting or waits or waited.

Waiting is hard.  Because in this era of fast cars and microwave everything, of instant coffee and instant oatmeal and all kinds of instant stuff, of twenty-four hour news cycles where we see everything almost the moment it happens, of internet and Facebook and Twitter........we aren't accustomed to having to wait for anything.

But I think that little word wait is used so often in Scripture for a reason. Because it's an important thing for us to do.  To wait on God.  To wait on His timing.  To trust that His way, His timing, His answer, is the right one.  Is perfect.

It's a hard lesson.  It's often frustrating.  I'm definitely a work in progress in this area.  But I'm learning.

"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?  My hope is in you."  (Psalm 39:7 ESV)

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope."  (Psalm 130:5 ESV)

A Quiet Heart

Yesterday I began reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot called Keep a Quiet Heart.  I haven't read very much of the book yet, but what I have read so far has me looking forward to the rest of the book.

The book opens with a quote from Annie Keary, a woman who lived in the 19th century.  This quote is probably what kept me from reading any further into the book than I did.  I kept coming back to the words of Annie Keary!

Here's the quote:

"I think I find most help in trying to look on all the interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one's work.  Then one can feel that perhaps one's true work - one's work for God - consists in doing some trifling haphazard thing that has been thrown into one's day.  It is not a waste of time, as one is tempted to think, it is the most important part of the work of the day - the part one can best offer to God.  After such a hindrance, do not rush after the planned work; trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet heart about it."

How do you view the interruptions in your day?  As divine appointments or as irritations?  I confess that I more often see them as irritations rather than as "trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish"!

Three things Annie Keary said jumped out to me.  Three phrases from that paragraph stuck with me.  Three things to remember in the daily challenges of life.

Do not rush.

Trust.

Keep a quiet heart.

In the challenges and frustrations and irritations and interruptions of life, that's good advice.

That's my prayer today. No matter what comes my way. No matter what I have to deal with.

Lord, give me a quiet heart.  Amen.

How's Your Focus? Or, Why Comparisons Are Not Always a Good Idea

Comparisons are a part of our lives.  We go to the grocery store or the farmer's market and must determine, based on a comparison, which tomatoes or peaches or watermelons are the best for us to purchase.

We determine, based on a comparison, whether or not the blue shoes or the pink shoes look better with our outfit.

We decide, when we're shopping, which grocery store or discount store is going to give us the best value.

If we're buying a new house, we compare mortgage companies to see who will give us the best rate.  We compare houses to see which of the houses available will best meet the needs of our family.  We compare neighborhoods to see which will work best for us.

All of these are valid comparisons.  They make us good consumers and good stewards of our finances.

But what about those other comparisons that we make?

She's prettier than I am.  He's a better writer than I am.  She has a better voice than I do.  He plays the piano (or the trumpet or the guitar or whatever) better than I do. Why am I so fat and everybody else is so thin?  Why am I so short and everybody else is so tall?  Why do I have such big feet? Nobody else has a nose this big!  Everybody is smarter than I am.  Her children are better behaved than mine.  He's a better baseball player.  She never has any problems like I do.

And then we start to play the "if only" game.  If only I were thinner.  If only I had a better job.  If only  we had a bigger house.  If only we had a smaller house.  If only the kids behaved.  If only my kids were smarter or more talented or better athletes.  If only I were taller.  If only I were shorter.  If only we lived in a different city.  Or a different state.  If only.  Then things would be better.

These are not healthy comparisons.  One of the problems with these comparisons is that they make us feel inferior.  Unworthy.  Unloved.

But there's a bigger problem with these comparisons.  It's a matter of focus.  In each case, the focus is on "me".  On how "I" compare to whatever standard we are using for measurement, whatever basis we are using for comparison.  And as you may have heard, life is not about you.  Not about me.  In fact, Rick Warren began his book The Purpose Driven Life with that very point.  His first sentence is, "It's not about you."

You have probably heard the expression "bloom where you're planted."  And we usually use that to talk about being useful in whatever physical location we find ourselves.  But what if it means more than just physical location?  What if it means in whatever "state" or condition we find ourselves.

Think of it this way.  If you are a daisy, you will never bloom as a rose.  So, bloom as a daisy!  And be the best daisy you can be!  If you are a duck, you will never sound like a sparrow or a chickadee.  So, be the best duck you can be!  "Bloom" wherever you are planted.

If we truly believe that God is sovereign, and I do, then we must also believe that He has created us according to His divine design, that He has gifted and equipped us for the work He has for us, and that He has placed us in a sphere of influence where He desires us to do that work.  Certainly everything about our lives may not be according to His perfect plan for us.  The "fat or thin" part, for example, may be more due to the choices we have made or to our own lack of discipline than to any divine plan!

So, rather than comparing our situations or circumstances to others around us, and rather than complaining (often incessantly!) about our situations or circumstances, perhaps we should change our focus.

If it is our intent to follow hard after God, we should be examining our situations, our circumstances, our attitudes, our motivations in comparison to what God has to say rather than to the neighbor or to society or to celebrity culture or to any other standard.  We should be asking ourselves some questions.  Questions like:

Am I being faithful to the work God has given me to do?
Or am I complaining about His purpose in and for me, wishing I had someone else's gifts or talents or purpose?
Am I "seeking first His kingdom" (Matthew 6:33) or am I more interested in building my own?
Am I giving Him my best?
Am I determined to be, in the words of Oswald Chambers, "my utmost for His highest"?
Or is life all about me?
Am I following hard after God?

Comparing ourselves to others......to their ministry, their talents, their life purpose, their expectations......is never a good idea.  It puts the focus in the wrong place.

If we are going to be making comparisons, we should be focusing our attention on God, on His plans and purposes, and on how we are fitted into His plan, rather than trying to fit Him into ours.  God's purpose is not to make me into the image of my neighbor or that lady at church or the Bible study teacher or the celebrity on TV.  His purpose is to mold me into the image of His Son.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD."  (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son."  (Romans 8:28-29 ESV)

Be Still

We're not very good at that, are we?  Being still, I mean.  We're too busy in our hustle-bustle lives to be still for very long. 

It's getting harder and harder these days to just be still.  To sit and listen to one another.  To engage in conversation.  To relax.  We're always busy, busy, busy.  And if we're not busy, we're looking for something to do so that we can be busy.

We're usually only still when we're forced into it.  By illness or surgery or some other circumstance.  And then we complain about being still because we would rather be busy!

It's sad really. I'm not at all sure that all this busy-ness is what God designed us for.  Because, especially here in 21st century America, we're so busy being busy, so busy trying to make a living, that we're often too busy for the most important thing. 

We're often too busy for God. 

Seriously.  How much time lately have you spent just thinking about Him?
I'm not talking about asking Him for something......those really quick prayers we rattle off when things aren't going well and we need a little help.

I'm talking about thinking about God Himself.  Thinking about Who He is.  Reflecting on His majesty.  His holiness.  His greatness.  Just thinking about Him.  Pondering.

Ponder.  What does that mean anyway?  Dictionary.com gives this definition for the word ponder:  to consider something deeply and thoroughly.  Isn't that the essence of following hard after God?  (Remember our subject yesterday?)  If we're following hard after God, then are we not deeply and thoroughly and often thinking about Him and His works and His ways. If we are  following hard after God, will we not be making an effort to be still?  To, in the words of the hymn writer, "ponder anew what the Almighty can do"?

By the way, my friend Rg Huff has a wonderful challenging post about this very thing over at his blog.  Check it out at www.hymnlines.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html.
You'll be glad you did.

In the meantime, why not take some time today to find a quiet place and just be still.  To ponder.  To think deeply.  To get to know God better.

"Be still, and know that I am God."  (Psalm 46:10  KJV)

Is Your God in a Box?

Do you keep God in a box?

Is He in your "Sunday box"?  The box you only use once a week - if it's convenient, or less often if it's not.  Is He the God you take out of the Sunday box so you can dust Him off and take Him to church with you?  If you bother to go.  Or if you bother to take Him with you.

Do you keep God in a "special occasion box"?  You only get that box out when you really need it.  You know, when your grandma is really sick or your best friend is in an accident or your husband loses his job.

Is your God in a box that defines Him by popular opinion or political correctness? Does your understanding of who God is depend on what culture says (or doesn't say!) about Him?

Or do you have Him in some other kind of box?  Some box of your own design and making.  Are you trying to make God fit into your box rather than you being fitted into Him?

I'm afraid that many of us have our God in a box.  We know so little about Him and His ways that we box Him into what we do know.  And sadly, much of what we know is either inaccurate or inadequate.

But if we really get to know Him in all His fulness, we can no longer keep Him boxed up!  It's easy to say "I want to know God".  It's a much greater challenge to actually live that out.  To be willing to submit our will, our desires, to His will and His purposes.

After all, what if He expects us to change our lifestyle?  To change our culture?  To move to some faraway place?  What if He sends us to Africa?  What if He expects us to give up things or people that are really important to us?  What if?

How much do you love God?  How much do you really want to know Him?  How much are you willing to do what He says?

Are you willing, as A. W. Tozer put it, to follow hard after God?

"Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed.  Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.  Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee......"  (A. W. Tozer, from The Pursuit of God, chapter 1, "Following Hard After God")

Or are you content to leave Him in your box?

"My soul followeth hard after thee:  thy right hand upholdeth me."  (Psalm 63:8 KJV)

A Few of My Favorite Things.....

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens......"
 
You likely have heard those lyrics from The Sound of Music at least once in your lifetime.  The entire song is actually a listing of favorite things.

Favorite things.  That's what's on my mind this morning.  Yesterday I experienced  some of my favorite things.

A favorite person.  A favorite place.  A favorite food.

I had lunch yesterday with one of my very dearest friends.  And we ate in one of my favorite local Cuban food restaurants.  We had delicious salads for lunch.  Then we ordered dessert.  Ah.......there's the favorite!!  Guava cheescake!  YUM!

I have no idea who conceived the recipe for guava cheesecake.  But I would like to offer them my heartiest thanks.  I love guava cheesecake!  Love it!

That's my subject today.  Guava cheesecake.

I have no spiritual insights to offer you about guava cheesecake.  I can only share with you that this is one of my favorite things.  And recommend that, if you haven't tried it, you should!

Who Am I? Part II

I asked that question last week.  Who am I?  Who are you?

Asked another way, the question would be "how would you describe yourself?"  And, depending on how you see yourself, your answer might be different from the answer given by those who know you.

I was painfully shy as a child, except perhaps around those who knew me best.  While I am no longer that painfully shy child, I still see myself as more introvert than extrovert.

Over the years, I have taken numerous "personality tests", both in connection with my career and during my seminary classes.  Most often those tests have used the DISC model.  If you're not familiar with that test, the D and I could be described as the "extrovert" categories, whereas S and C would be associated with "introverts".  That's oversimplifying, of course, but you get the idea.

Depending, I suppose, on my mood when I took the test, the tests would determine that I was an "introverted extrovert" or an "extroverted introvert".  My highest categories are always D and C, which would seem to be exact opposites.  Sometimes one and sometimes the other would score highest.  It seems a bit schizophrenic to me, but that's how it is!

Whether I describe myself as outgoing or shy, extroverted or introverted, or anything in between, there is one word I have never used to describe myself.  I have never described myself as bold.

I like bold colors.  I like bold flavors.  But bold is not a word I would ever use to describe either my personality or my behavior.

Certainly I am opinionated.  I hold strong opinions.  And I'm not hesitant to share them, at least with people I know or with whom I have some connection.  I am far more reticent to share my opinions or any aspect of my personality with people I don't know as well.  That is way, way, way out of my comfort zone.

I wish it weren't so.  I wish I were more bold.

When I was in college I spent a summer in Michigan, working under the auspices of what was then known as the Home Mission Board, mostly working in camp settings, doing Vacation Bible Schools, and taking surveys for local churches.  The surveys were the hardest.  I had to talk to strangers!! 

As my roommate and I were having our devotions one evening, we read from Acts 4.  "And now, Lord.......grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness."  (Acts 4:31 ESV)  Of course, we didn't have the ESV back then!  We were more likely reading from the KJV back in those days.

Marilyn referred to that as "holy boldness".  That's what we prayed for that night.  It's what I still pray for.

Boldness is still not part of my comfort zone.  But bold is what I want to be.  Bold in my faith.  Bold in my witness.  That I would speak the Word of God with "all boldness" (Acts 4:31 ESV).  That I would be bold in my prayer life.  Bold.

That is not my comfort zone.  It's not how I think of myself.  It's not how I answer the "who am I?" question.  But it's what I long for!

"That words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel."  (Ephesians 6:19 ESV)

A Change of Scenery

I'm enjoying some variation in my schedule this week.  As I've said before, I'm very much a creature of habit and routine.  This week all my routines are altered.  We're in Florida for a few days.  Al is working in Tampa this week and I tagged along.  Having a grandson here had nothing at all to do with it (see me smile)!

In fact, both of us have our routines significantly altered this week.  Al is here to give some of his co-workers some on the job training.  I dropped him off at the airport this morning to pick up a rental car large enough to transport the six of them to and from the job site.  I'll see him again when he returns at about 3:00 in the morning.  In the meantime, he's taking the co-workers to visit several of their distributors, giving them some training, and then they go to the job site where they will work from 6pm until 2am.  Tomorrow morning he takes this group to the airport to fly back to Atlanta and picks up the next group.  I'm not sure when he will be sleeping.  I am sure that by the time this is over, he will be exhausted!  I'm tired just thinking about it!

In the meantime, even though it's Monday, there's no laundry or grocery shopping or decluttering the house in my schedule.  Just some leisure time by the pool, maybe a little shopping, some coffee, and some Christopher time!  I think I could get used to this!

Yesterday we missed being with our church family at First Baptist Spartanburg.  But it was a joy to worship with family and friends here at our "second" home church, First Baptist Brandon.  And it was so good to see so many friends we so seldom see, except on Facebook!

A change in routine is good from time to time.  I'm thankful for this week to reconnect with family and friends.  I'm especially thankful for some family time with Brian, Emily, and Christopher.  It's hard to live so far away.  So I'm getting all the hugs I can while I'm here.

I'm enjoying the sunshine.  At least when the sun shines!  It seems that daily rain is a fixture here just as it has been at home all summer.

I'm enjoying this week away.  To relax.  To refresh.  To catch up with family and friends.  I'll be ready by week's end to get back home and back to my normal routines.  I'm a creature of habit, after all.

The view is different here.  Not a mountain in sight!  Hardly even a small hill.  But I'm enjoying every minute of different scenery and different routines and fun with family.

Sometimes a change of scenery and a change of routine is exactly what a person needs!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV)

A Little Off

I just noticed that the datelines for some of my posts are off. What was posted on Wednesday showed no dateline at all. What was posted on Thursday showed that it was posted on Wednesday.

In the grand scheme of things, does this really matter? Only to OCD types like me! Ten years from now, or even a week from now, who will even remember. Except me. I'll probably obsess over it for a while. Which is, of course, ridiculous.

There are a lot of things in our world that are a little off. A lot.

Politicians are making a big deal about immigration reform. I wonder why we need another immigration bill when we don't enforce the laws already on the books. What makes anybody think another law will be any different?

It's been raining off and on (mostly on!) for days. And it's pretty cool up on this mountaintop most of the time. That's not at all typical for July.  The weather is a little off.

Even the way I walk is a little off.  Ever since my ankle fusion surgery a few years ago, one leg is ever so slightly shorter than the other. Which means the way I walk is just a wee bit off.

When you get right down to it, the whole world seems a little out of kilter. We are overrun by selfishness and political correctness and greed ........the list could go on and on. Our focus is on the wrong things. On the wrong people. And because our focus is skewed, our world is just a little off.

If only. If only Blogger would get the dates right on my posts. If only the weather was what I would like it to be. If only I hadn't had my ankle fused. Or hadn't broken it so badly in the first place. If only politicians wouldn't act like.....well, like politicians.

If only we had our focus in the right place. If only we weren't a little off.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33a)

Anniversaries, Parenting, and Empty Nests

This is a month of anniversaries in our family.

Yesterday, Brian and Emily celebrated 9 years of marriage.

 

In a couple of weeks, Brandon and Stephanie will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary.

Where has the time gone??!!

Anniversaries are wonderful times of celebration.  They are also time to reflect.  To remember.  To remember why you loved each other in the first place.  To remember why you wanted to marry that person.  To remember what's really important in your relationship.  In the busyness and stress that is life, it's important to take time to remember those things.  To reconnect. 

In part, that's what our years of parenting were about.......modeling for these now-adult, now-married children what marriage and love and commitment are all about.

Several years ago one of our boys (and I forget which one!) said to Al, "You and mom seem to have more fun now that we're married."  Al's response was something like this:  "Well, of course we do.  The pressure's off."

That was a light-hearted response, but a true one.  The pressure is off!  Our job as their parents was to get them ready for life in the real world.  To prepare them to leave the nest, to "fly" on their own.  And whether any of us wants to admit it or not, there's some pressure there!

Our boys have left the nest.  They have nests of their own where they are doing quite well.  Now the responsibility, the pressure that comes with parenting, is on their shoulders, theirs and their wives'.

As parents, we did the best we knew how to do.  To love them unconditionally.  To teach them responsibility.  To teach them about Jesus.  To teach them to love God, His Word and His ways.  To prepare them for life.  Did we always get everything right?  Of course not.  But we did our best.

And now our job is done.  Or is it?  We are no longer responsibile for them in the same way we were when they were younger.  As adults, they are each now responsible for the choices they make and must live with the consequences of those choices, whatever they may be.  But.......our job is really never done.  Even now that they are adults, now that they are the parents, we still have the responsibility, the privilege, of praying for them, encouraging them, being available to them.  Parenting really never stops!

I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the term "empty nest".  In the words of my friend Melanie, it sounds so empty.  (Read more of what she has to say about the empty nest at her blog.  (http://pleasuresforevermoreps1611.blogspot.com/2013/07/empty-nesters-never.html#!/2013/07/empty-nesters-never.html)        

But, like the term or not, our nest is empty.  Just us old folks here.  And a dog, but she's getting old too! 

Our nest is empty.  Our boys and their families live pretty far away, so we are very seldom all in the same place at the same time.  On those rare occasions when that does happen, what joy it is to this mother's heart!  How I look forward to those occasions!

The nest may be empty in a physical sense, yet at the same time it's still full.  It's full of love for those sons, for the daughters they brought into our lives, and for those precious grandsons who light up our world.  It's full of joy and memories. 

And there's always room in the nest for them to come home.  To visit.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord."  (Psalm 127:3 ESV)

Who Am I?

I was recently asked to write a one or two sentence bio to accompany a magazine article I had submitted for publication.  And I confess, those were two of the hardest sentences I have ever written!  How do I sum up who I am in just two sentences?  And who am I anyway?

You try it.  Write a two-sentence bio about yourself.  What would you say?  What would you consider most important?  What do you include and what do you leave out?

As I am typing these words, there's music running through my head.  "Who am I that you are thinking of me, that you hear me when I call.......I am a friend of God......."

So that answers the question.  That's who I am.  I am a friend of God.  I don't think I included that in the bio.  Maybe because it seemed pretty obvious from the piece I had written, the article that the bio would accompany.  But really, that's pretty much the core of who I am.  A friend of God, a follower of Jesus.  Saved by His grace.  That's me.

How do we answer the question?  Is who we are defined by what we do?  Is it defined by our relationships?  Is it defined by our hopes and dreams?  Is it defined by our education and degrees earned?

I have spent much of my life as a teacher.  In a public school classroom.  Beside a child at the piano.  As a homeschooling mom.  In a church setting.  I'm not now teaching in those arenas, yet I would still consider myself a teacher.  It's not so much what I do as it is who I am.  It's my gifting.  And, as I have heard said so often: once a teacher....always a teacher!

More specifically, I have spent many years as a Bible teacher.  I'm not currently standing each week in front of a classroom of students.  But it's still who I am.  There's a sense in which you could say that this blog has become my classroom.  Again, as in the teaching of English or the teaching of music, it's not so much what I do.  It's who I am.  It's at the center of what's important to me. 

So, to repeat myself.......I am a friend of God.  I am a follower of Jesus.  I am a student of and a teacher of His Word. 

"Oh, how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day."  (Psalm 119:97 ESV)

Who am I?  A friend of God, a follower of Jesus, a student, a teacher.  I'm a wife, a mom, a Nana.  I'm a sister, I'm an aunt, I'm a friend.  I'm a writer.  I'm a musician.  I'm a coffee drinker.  (A coffee snob, truth be told!)  I'm a reader, a lifelong learner.  I'm a woman.  An opinionated, not always patient, occasionally ill-tempered woman.  I was once a young woman, but now not so young and hopefully more mature. (See me smile!)

I love the mountains.  I love books.  I love pink and purple and blue.  Especially bright, jewel toned hues of those colors. Pastels, not as much.  I love Bach and Beethoven and Mozart and Chopin.  And I love the Gaither Vocal Band and David Phelps and Steve Green and Chris Tomlin.

I love my family.  I love my friends.  I love my dog.

I love people.  And I love solitude.  I'm a myriad of contradictions.

That's who I am. 

How, I ask you, can all that be condensed into 1 or 2 sentences!!!!

But it's who I am!  Who are you?

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  (Psalm 139:13 ESV)

Hungry Hummingbirds

Maybe it was because the sun was shining (for a change!).  Maybe it was because it was Monday.  Whatever the reason, the hummingbirds seemed to be very hungry yesterday.  The feeders were covered in hummingbirds for most of the day.

I tried to get a good photo, but they were just too fast for me!  Those little birds can really move!

So, here's a photo from a previous summer, just so you get the idea.  Double the number of birds at the feeder and you'll have a good idea what yesterday was like.

As I watched those little birds with their ravnous appetites, I couldn't help wondering......

What if we fed our souls with the same energy and enthusiasm those little birds display in feeding their bodies?

What if we let nothing get in they way of our feast?  Those little birds are relentless in the efforts to get to the feeders.  Nothing gets in the way.  Nothing stops them.  Not the weather.  Not another bird.  Nothing!

Wouldn't it be something if every Christian feasted on the Word of God with that kind of energy!  With that kind of focus and determination!  What a different place this world would be!

"I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."  (Job 23:12 NASB)

Let Freedom Ring

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof."        

Those words from Leviticus 25 are inscribed on a bell we have come to know as the Liberty Bell, originally cast in the Whitechapel Foundry in East London, England, and now housed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Just a few days ago we celebrated our nation's independence.  July 4, 1776 was the date of the signing of our Declaration of Independence and we celebrate that day every year.

But our independence, our freedom, is about more than a one-day-a-year celebration.  It's about more than picnics and parades.  It's about more than fireworks and flag-waving and funnel cakes.

Our freedom as Americans is something to celebrate every day of the year, not just on one day in the middle of summer.  It's something to be cherished and protected.  It's something we must never take for granted, but continually be thankful for. 

Our freedom as Americans is a precious thing that must be guarded and defended.  And just as the verse from Leviticus that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell reminds us, we must "proclaim liberty throughout the land"!

If that is true of our freedom as Americans, how much more is all that true of our freedom in Christ!

That isn't something just to be celebrated once a week on Sundays, but to be celebrated and cherished and treasured and proclaimed every day!  Because "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"  (John 8:36 ESV)

"For freedom Christ has set us free."  (Galatians 5:1 ESV)

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:2 ESV)

[Jesus said] "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  (John 8:32 ESV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 6:23 ESV)

Free indeed!  Free in Christ Jesus!  Our freedom in Christ is not dependent on political parties or political correctness or political whim.  That freedom is all and only in and through Christ Jesus!  Free indeed!

Proclaim that freedom "throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof"!

What will you do today to proclaim liberty?  To let freedom ring?

"Let Freedom Ring" - The Gaither Vocal Band:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVbSXz7jaU

When Hearts Are Heavy

You may be an early riser, whether by choice  just because you enjoy the early morning hours or because you're forced into it by your job.  I'm not usually one of those people.  But this morning I was awake quite early.  About 3 AM, to be precise.  And I was awake for quite a while before I was able to get back to sleep.

There are some things to be learned during those early morning hours.  This morning I learned that birds are singing long before the sun comes up.  Who knew?  Well, if you're one of those really early morning people, you might have already known that.  I had no idea.

During my early morning wakefulness I had a wonderful time talking to the Lord.  I have some things really weighing on me and my heart is heavy, burdened for some people I care for deeply.  Perhaps that's what woke me up.

I have a sense that I'm not the only one who is burdened.  I've read a number of posts from other bloggers on a similar topic.  Heavy hearts.  Because people we care about are in a bad place.  Health issues.  Bad decisions.  Drifting away from God.  Relationships.

Because we care so much, the hurt runs deep indeed.  Sometimes, as was the case for me in the wee hours, it keeps us awake.  We don't know what to say or what to think or how to respond.  We're sometimes not even sure what we should be praying for.

In those times, when our hearts are heavy, we "cast all our anxiety on him, because he cares for [us]." (1 Peter 5:7 ESV).

In those times, we "cease striving, and know that I am God."  (Psalm 46:10 NASB)

In those times, we trust.  "Trust in him at all times, O people." (Psalm 62:8 ESV)

In those times, we turn to God in prayer.  "Pour out your heart before him."  (Psalm 62:8 ESV)

Where else could we turn?  "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God."  (John 6:68 ESV)

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."  (Psalm 62:1-2 ESV)

What's Your Favorite?

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head?  Maybe it's something you heard on the radio or TV, or it's just one stuck in your memory.  I'm having that experience this morning.  My mind is replaying over and over again one of the worship songs we sang on Sunday morning......"Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy name.  Sing like never before, O my soul, I worship Your holy name......"  I love that song!  Thanks to Matt Redman for giving us that tune and those wonderful lyrics.  It's one of my favorites!  One of many, I might add.

Has anybody ever asked you what your favorite hymn or worship song is?  That's a hard question to answer.  At least it is for me.  It's sort of like being asked to pick your favorite child.  Impossible.

I have lots of favorites.  LOTS!

On my list would be some of the titles you might expect to see.  Great Is Thy Faithfulness.  Amazing Grace.  How Great Thou Art.  Holy, Holy, Holy. I Stand Amazed in the Presence.

And there might be some titles you might not expect to see.

Like Worthy of Worship (York/Blankenship).  That's a hymn written way back in the 1990s!  "Worthy of worship, worthy of praise, worthy of honor and glory; worthy of all the glad songs we can sing, worthy of all of the offerings we bring, You are worthy......."   And on it goes.  Our Lord is worthy of our honor and our praise, and I love how this hymn expresses that.  How it puts to music what the Psalmist expressed in Psalm 145. "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised."  (Psalm 145:3 KJV)

Another of the "modern" hymns that would make the list is also from the 1990s:  Knowing You by Graham Kendrick.  I love the words of this hymn......."Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You.  There is no greater thing.  You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, and I love You, Lord, love You, Lord."

There's an even newer hymn that would make my list, The Power of the Cross (Getty/Townend). I love the music, and I especially love the text.  "This the power of the cross:  Christ became sin for us.  Took the blame, bore the wrath; we stand forgiven at the cross."

Some hymns are my favorites because of the text.  And some are favorites because of the music.  And there are the glorious times when words and text come together in a way that causes my spirit to soar!

Like When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (Words by Lowell Mason, music by Isaac Watts). Especially the last verse.  "Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;  Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!"

And Man of Sorrows, What a Name!  (words and music by Philip P. Bliss).  Again, it's the last verse that really grabs me.  "When He comes, our glorious King, All His ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we'll sing:  Hallelujah, what a Savior!"

If you were to ask me what is by absolute all-time favorite hymn, you would almost always get the same answer.  Crown Him with Many Crowms (Bridges/Elvey).  The text.  The music.  They thrill my soul!

"Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne;

Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

 

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,

And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save;

His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

 

Crown Him the Lord of love; behold His hands and side.

Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me.

Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity."

 

 

There you have it. There are lots of songs I love.  Lots.  But this is my favorite. My all-time absolute favorite of favorites!  The song of my heart.  The reason I sing.  Because Jesus died for me.  Because He triumphed over the grave.  Because He lives.  Because His praise and His glory "shall not fail throughout eternity"!

 

What's your favorite?


"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."  (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"  (Psalm 150:6 ESV)

What a Weekend! Some Reflections......

It was quite a full weekend for us, which is a bit unusual.  We're at a season of life where the pace is a little slower than it once was.  But this was a weekend filled to the brim.  And it was a bittersweet time.

On Saturday we went down to Landrum, my hometown, where we gathered with my cousins to say our final farewells and celebrate the homegoing of our second cousin Anne Sevier.  Anne, who had left this world last Tuesday at the age of 106, was certainly ready to go to her heavenly Home, but it was still hard to realize she was actually gone.

Prior to the funeral service, we had a wonderful time reminiscing and just enjoying being together as a family.  It was wonderful to spend time with those cousins I so seldom see.  It's always sad to think that it takes a funeral to get us all together!

We realized that, with Anne gone, now we are the "old folks".  Although I hastened to point out that, with five cousins older and seven cousins younger, I'm pretty much in the middle of the pack and therefore don't qualify for that distinction!

When the service began, the minister began his remarks by telling us that, several years ago when he and Anne had discussed preparations for this day, she had instructed him to be brief!  He wasn't, but otherwise I think she would have been pleased with the service and pleased that her instructions had been followed!  She was like that.

Anne had lived a very long, very full life.  She had a profound influence on many people, on her students and on those of us blessed to call her part of our family.  She was ready to "move on".  We will miss her, but we'll see her again.  Truly it is said of her as of the Apostle Paul, "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth is laid up for the me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those who love His appearing."  (2 Tim. 4:7-8)

Sunday was another day for celebration.  At our church we were celebrating our pastor's 60th birthday and his 20th anniversary as pastor at First Baptist, Spartanburg.  And what a joyous time of celebration it was!  Video clips of earlier days of his ministry, greetings from other pastors and friends, special music, and a special guest speaker - Dennis Swanberg.

"The Swan" had us laughing so hard that many of us had tears rolling down our cheeks!  But he also talked to us about the blessing, the treasure, of friendship, using the special relationship between Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus as a model.

What a special day yesterday was!  How blessed I am to call Dr. Don Wilton my pastor, my encourager, and my friend!  Happy Anniversary to you both, Dr. Don and Karyn.  What a treasure you are, what a blessing to my life and to the lives of so many others! 

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."  (Numbers 6:24-26 ESV)