We live in a busy, hustle-bustle, hurry-up kind of world. Because of that, we don't do a lot of pondering. We don't do a lot of just sitting and thinking.....pondering.
We sometimes spend time pondering as we make resolutions and set goals at the beginning of a new year. The beginning of a new year is a good time to ponder, but it isn't the only time. In fact, we probably should do a lot more pondering than we do.
What does it mean to ponder anyway? It means "to consider something deeply and thoroughly; to meditate; to weigh carefully in the mind; to consider thoughtfully." (definitions from dictionary.com)
Just what is it we need to be pondering? For starters, as the writer of the hymn Praise to the Lord, the Almighty wrote, we should ponder what the Almighty can do. We should think deeply and thoughtfully about Who He is and all that He can do, all that He is able to accomplish in and through us.
But at this season of the year, there is something else to be pondered - what He has already done. Here in the days leading up to our celebration of the Resurrection, it's time to ponder what He has done for us. To ponder the price paid for our salvation.
How many times have you gone to the grocery store with shopping list in hand, only to leave the store without purchasing some of the items on that list? You didn't make the purchase because the item cost too much.
You went to the mall and found a dress or pair of shoes you loved. But you didn't make the purchase. It cost too much.
Have you ever stopped to think about - to ponder - how different things would be if that's what Jesus had said? What if, when confronted with the price He would have to pay for our salvation, He had said "no, that costs too much. I won't pay that."
Have you ever stopped to think about - to ponder - exactly what it cost Him to purchase your salvation?
In these days leading up to our celebration of the resurrection, it's a good time for some pondering. Think about - really think about - ponder - the price that He paid. As you're making you preparations, and shopping for new clothes, and doing your grocery shopping and cooking and baking, and planning your table setting, don't miss the most important part of Easter. Don't forget the price He paid. And why He was willing to pay it.
Where would we be? What if He had said no? What if He had said it cost too much. What if?
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV)
"Then Jesus said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.......' and going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'" (Matthew 26:38-39 ESV)
Friday, March 25, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Therefore
It has happened again.
Another terrorist attack.
We have seen far too much of this in recent years.
I've written about this far too often.
This time it's Brussels.
We grieve for the people of Brussels. For the lives lost. And for those who are left behind, without their family members and friends.
We grieve.
We are angry that this has been allowed to happen again.
And we grow anxious.
This time it's Brussels.
Where will it happen next?
When will it happen next?
This time it's Brussels.
Next time it might be us.
And our anxiety grows.
But we must remember.
Therefore.
That's the word we must remember.
It's there in Psalm 46, right between verses 1 and 2.
Therefore is a word of conclusion.
It's a word that says because this is true.
Therefore is a word we need to hold on to.
When we grieve.
And when we are angry.
And especially when we are anxious.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2 NASB, emphasis mine)
Another terrorist attack.
We have seen far too much of this in recent years.
I've written about this far too often.
This time it's Brussels.
We grieve for the people of Brussels. For the lives lost. And for those who are left behind, without their family members and friends.
We grieve.
We are angry that this has been allowed to happen again.
And we grow anxious.
This time it's Brussels.
Where will it happen next?
When will it happen next?
This time it's Brussels.
Next time it might be us.
And our anxiety grows.
But we must remember.
Therefore.
That's the word we must remember.
It's there in Psalm 46, right between verses 1 and 2.
Therefore is a word of conclusion.
It's a word that says because this is true.
Therefore is a word we need to hold on to.
When we grieve.
And when we are angry.
And especially when we are anxious.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2 NASB, emphasis mine)
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Which Is Better?
We hear a lot these days about healthy eating, and everywhere we turn, there's someone or some company offering the "best" solution for our health or our weight or for the environment.....
Everybody seems to think their plan is best. The market is saturated with healthy shakes and smoothie mixes and low-fat this and gluten-free that.
But what about this? What if, instead of eating an imitation-carrot-flavored-veggie-stick, we just ate carrots? What if, instead of all these food-flavored products, we just ate real food?
Take that thought a step further. What if, instead of reading books about the Bible, or watching movies and TV shows about the Bible, we actually read the Bible? What if, instead of looking for easy-to-swallow substitutions, we just read the actual Book?
It's true for food. It's true of the Bible. It's also true of the way we think about the Savior. What if, instead of religion and religious activity, we just focused on Jesus Himself. What if, instead of religion, we had relationship.
Which is better? A carrot-flavored product or an actual carrot? (Or substitute some other fruit or vegetable if you don't like carrots!)
Which is better? A substitute, or the real thing?
Something to think about.
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Everybody seems to think their plan is best. The market is saturated with healthy shakes and smoothie mixes and low-fat this and gluten-free that.
But what about this? What if, instead of eating an imitation-carrot-flavored-veggie-stick, we just ate carrots? What if, instead of all these food-flavored products, we just ate real food?
Take that thought a step further. What if, instead of reading books about the Bible, or watching movies and TV shows about the Bible, we actually read the Bible? What if, instead of looking for easy-to-swallow substitutions, we just read the actual Book?
It's true for food. It's true of the Bible. It's also true of the way we think about the Savior. What if, instead of religion and religious activity, we just focused on Jesus Himself. What if, instead of religion, we had relationship.
Which is better? A carrot-flavored product or an actual carrot? (Or substitute some other fruit or vegetable if you don't like carrots!)
Which is better? A substitute, or the real thing?
Something to think about.
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Monday, March 21, 2016
An Important Word
This is going to be a busy week. The countdown to surgery has begun, and there are still a number of errands to run and a number of things to get done before that day. I've been making lots of lists so I don't forget anything. At least I'm hoping I won't forget anything.
I went out to an appointment last week thinking something was missing. That I had forgotten something. And sure enough, a quick glance in the mirror revealed that I had forgotten my earrings! But earrings are not the only things I'm having trouble remembering these days. As the surgery day gets closer, there are more things to remember. Doctor appointments. Getting the laundry done. Running the errands. Remembering the purchases that need to be made. Cleaning the house. Lots of details. Being sick last week put me a little behind on my very carefully planned schedule. It's all a bit overwhelming. So much to remember.
Remember.
It's an important word. But one we often overlook. Remember is a word we don't often remember!
Particularly in this Holy Week, as we are focusing our attention on the events of that first Easter Season so many years ago, it's an important word.
"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." (Luke 24:6-7 ESV)
"And they remembered His words." (Luke 24:8 ESV)
"When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:22 ESV)
Remember.
An important word. An important lesson for us, wouldn't you agree?
Remember.
It's easy to follow Jesus, to serve Him, to be joyful, when everything in life is good. When there's plenty of money in your checking account and all the bills are paid. When you're healthy. When there's no stress.
We tend to get forgetful when things are not going so well. When the bills are piling up. When there's too much month and not enough money. When there's sickness and stress and anxiety and worry. When relationships are strained. When we're worried about our job. When life happens.
But it's at those times that we most need to remember.
In the immediate context of the passage in Luke, the angel is telling the women not to be worried because the body of Jesus is no longer in the tomb where they expected to find it. Remember what He said. Remember that He told you He would rise from the grave. Remember.
There's a broader application for us as well. Here in the 21st century, just as back in the first century, we need to remember what He said.
He said He would rise again. And He did. He said He will come again. And He will. We need to remember that. We need to continually remind ourselves of His words. We need His words written on our hearts.
How do we do that? By taking time to be in the Word. The written Word of God is a great gift for us, and we need to treat it as the great gift that it is - the written revelation of God. We need to read it. To study it. To treasure it.
Knowing the Word, being able to call it to mind, remembering the Word, takes more than a few quick minutes here and there. It takes time. We must be intentional about spending time in the Word. Intentional about reading it. Intentional about studying it. Intentional about committing it to our memory.
Then, when life gets tough, as it inevitably will, we can remember.
Remember.
It's an important word. One that is far too often overlooked.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Psalm 103:1-2 ESV, emphasis mine)
I went out to an appointment last week thinking something was missing. That I had forgotten something. And sure enough, a quick glance in the mirror revealed that I had forgotten my earrings! But earrings are not the only things I'm having trouble remembering these days. As the surgery day gets closer, there are more things to remember. Doctor appointments. Getting the laundry done. Running the errands. Remembering the purchases that need to be made. Cleaning the house. Lots of details. Being sick last week put me a little behind on my very carefully planned schedule. It's all a bit overwhelming. So much to remember.
Remember.
It's an important word. But one we often overlook. Remember is a word we don't often remember!
Particularly in this Holy Week, as we are focusing our attention on the events of that first Easter Season so many years ago, it's an important word.
"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." (Luke 24:6-7 ESV)
"And they remembered His words." (Luke 24:8 ESV)
"When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:22 ESV)
Remember.
An important word. An important lesson for us, wouldn't you agree?
Remember.
It's easy to follow Jesus, to serve Him, to be joyful, when everything in life is good. When there's plenty of money in your checking account and all the bills are paid. When you're healthy. When there's no stress.
We tend to get forgetful when things are not going so well. When the bills are piling up. When there's too much month and not enough money. When there's sickness and stress and anxiety and worry. When relationships are strained. When we're worried about our job. When life happens.
But it's at those times that we most need to remember.
In the immediate context of the passage in Luke, the angel is telling the women not to be worried because the body of Jesus is no longer in the tomb where they expected to find it. Remember what He said. Remember that He told you He would rise from the grave. Remember.
There's a broader application for us as well. Here in the 21st century, just as back in the first century, we need to remember what He said.
He said He would rise again. And He did. He said He will come again. And He will. We need to remember that. We need to continually remind ourselves of His words. We need His words written on our hearts.
How do we do that? By taking time to be in the Word. The written Word of God is a great gift for us, and we need to treat it as the great gift that it is - the written revelation of God. We need to read it. To study it. To treasure it.
Knowing the Word, being able to call it to mind, remembering the Word, takes more than a few quick minutes here and there. It takes time. We must be intentional about spending time in the Word. Intentional about reading it. Intentional about studying it. Intentional about committing it to our memory.
Then, when life gets tough, as it inevitably will, we can remember.
Remember.
It's an important word. One that is far too often overlooked.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Psalm 103:1-2 ESV, emphasis mine)
Friday, March 18, 2016
Orange Juice and Chicken Soup
This has been a rough week. I've been a little "under the weather", as they say. Make that a lot under the weather! But I made it through, and on this sunny Friday morning, I'm happy to report that I am on the mend! I can breathe again, which is always a good thing, and am feeling almost back to normal.
My diet this week has consisted of a lot of orange juice and a lot chicken noodle soup, and not much else. That, in combination with the antibiotics the doctor prescribed earlier in the week, seems to have done the trick.
This time last week I had a pretty lengthy to-do list for this week, with lots of things I wanted to get accomplished prior to my upcoming surgery. What I have actually accomplished can be described in two words: not much. I've done a lot of sleeping and a little bit of reading, and that's it.
Sometimes we have to just set our plans aside and do what it takes to get well. In this case, orange juice plus chicken soup plus antibiotics plus a lot of sleep. That combination has left me feeling refreshed and energized, ready to (slowly) begin to tackle that to-do list.
Sometimes we have to slow down. (Although if I go any slower than I have this week, I'll be going backwards!)
It's probably a good idea not to wait until we get sick to allow ourselves some time for rest. Some time to refresh. Some time to be still.
We all need it.
My diet this week has consisted of a lot of orange juice and a lot chicken noodle soup, and not much else. That, in combination with the antibiotics the doctor prescribed earlier in the week, seems to have done the trick.
This time last week I had a pretty lengthy to-do list for this week, with lots of things I wanted to get accomplished prior to my upcoming surgery. What I have actually accomplished can be described in two words: not much. I've done a lot of sleeping and a little bit of reading, and that's it.
Sometimes we have to just set our plans aside and do what it takes to get well. In this case, orange juice plus chicken soup plus antibiotics plus a lot of sleep. That combination has left me feeling refreshed and energized, ready to (slowly) begin to tackle that to-do list.
Sometimes we have to slow down. (Although if I go any slower than I have this week, I'll be going backwards!)
It's probably a good idea not to wait until we get sick to allow ourselves some time for rest. Some time to refresh. Some time to be still.
We all need it.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Precious Memories. A Throwback Thursday Post.
I had the great blessing of growing up next door to my grandmother. Some children go over the river and through the woods to visit their grandmother; I went past the swing set and the clothesline! Grandmother Neil, my mother's mother, was one of the women I loved and admired most in this life. Even now, more than forty years after her passing from this life to the next, it's still true. I have often been told that I'm a lot like her, and I consider that a great compliment. She was strong-willed. Determined. A woman of great faith. A woman who loved her family. Who loved her Lord. And who loved to laugh!
Grandmother Neil worked in the local dry cleaners after my granddaddy died. Every morning on her way to work, without fail, she stopped by our house and stuck her head in the back door just to say "good morning". I can almost hear her voice even as I remember that!
Grandmother Neil made the best fried chicken and the best chicken & dumplings and the best banana pudding ever. Ever! And she made the strongest coffee, which she laced with cream and then poured out into a saucer to cool. Did your grandmother do that?
This is a picture of Grandmother Neil, taken many years ago, holding my cousin Patricia.
I never knew my other grandmother. Grandmother Austin, my daddy's mother, died just a few weeks before I was born, so my memories of her are all second-hand, based on what others have told me about her. Those memories all paint a picture of someone I would have really liked to know. Even though I never knew Grandmother Austin, I had an "almost like a Grandmother" in my life.
My second cousin Anne Sevier was in many ways like a Grandmother to me. Anne was the daughter of Nettie Daniel Sevier, the sister of my Grandmother, Eudora Daniel Austin. Nettie had died after giving birth to Anne's brother, Richard, so Anne and Richard were raised by my grandparents. Anne was older than my dad and his siblings, so even though I knew we were cousins, in many ways she filled the grandparent role for me.
Like Grandmother Neil, Anne was a woman I loved and admired very much. She was independent and feisty, a woman of strong opinions and great determination. Anne taught English and Literature at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University), and I would often visit her there during the summers when she typically taught one session of summer school. While she was in class, she often made certain I was properly settled in the college library under the watchful eye of Miss Schinn, the college librarian at the time, where I sat on the floor in the children's section, blissfully surrounded by more books than were contained in our town's library! When I wasn't in the library, she arranged swimming lessons for me in the college pool. I much preferred the library to the pool, and am still a terrible swimmer!
As I grew older, Anne would sometimes leave me alone in her apartment, where I enjoyed the company of her collection of porcelain figurines of characters from Dickens' novels. I'm sure she would have been horrified to know that I played with them as though they were my dolls! Of course, she was likely astute enough to know they had been moved about on the shelf!
Those "Dickens people", as we now affectionately refer to them, are among my treasured possessions. They were a gift from Anne when she moved into assisted living many years ago.
All these memories have been triggered by a look at the calendar and realizing that yesterday was Anne's birthday. If she were still with us, she would now be 109 years old. She didn't make it quite that far, but she did live to be 106! Here we are on the occasion of her 106th birthday:
Anne lived just a few months beyond her 106th birthday. Although she had lost her sight and most of her hearing, her mind was still sharp. On that day back in 2013, she quoted her favorite poet, Robert Browning. Spending time with her that day and hearing her quote Browning one more time......that's a precious memory indeed!
Grandmother Neil worked in the local dry cleaners after my granddaddy died. Every morning on her way to work, without fail, she stopped by our house and stuck her head in the back door just to say "good morning". I can almost hear her voice even as I remember that!Grandmother Neil made the best fried chicken and the best chicken & dumplings and the best banana pudding ever. Ever! And she made the strongest coffee, which she laced with cream and then poured out into a saucer to cool. Did your grandmother do that?
This is a picture of Grandmother Neil, taken many years ago, holding my cousin Patricia.
I never knew my other grandmother. Grandmother Austin, my daddy's mother, died just a few weeks before I was born, so my memories of her are all second-hand, based on what others have told me about her. Those memories all paint a picture of someone I would have really liked to know. Even though I never knew Grandmother Austin, I had an "almost like a Grandmother" in my life.
My second cousin Anne Sevier was in many ways like a Grandmother to me. Anne was the daughter of Nettie Daniel Sevier, the sister of my Grandmother, Eudora Daniel Austin. Nettie had died after giving birth to Anne's brother, Richard, so Anne and Richard were raised by my grandparents. Anne was older than my dad and his siblings, so even though I knew we were cousins, in many ways she filled the grandparent role for me.
Like Grandmother Neil, Anne was a woman I loved and admired very much. She was independent and feisty, a woman of strong opinions and great determination. Anne taught English and Literature at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University), and I would often visit her there during the summers when she typically taught one session of summer school. While she was in class, she often made certain I was properly settled in the college library under the watchful eye of Miss Schinn, the college librarian at the time, where I sat on the floor in the children's section, blissfully surrounded by more books than were contained in our town's library! When I wasn't in the library, she arranged swimming lessons for me in the college pool. I much preferred the library to the pool, and am still a terrible swimmer!
As I grew older, Anne would sometimes leave me alone in her apartment, where I enjoyed the company of her collection of porcelain figurines of characters from Dickens' novels. I'm sure she would have been horrified to know that I played with them as though they were my dolls! Of course, she was likely astute enough to know they had been moved about on the shelf!Those "Dickens people", as we now affectionately refer to them, are among my treasured possessions. They were a gift from Anne when she moved into assisted living many years ago.
All these memories have been triggered by a look at the calendar and realizing that yesterday was Anne's birthday. If she were still with us, she would now be 109 years old. She didn't make it quite that far, but she did live to be 106! Here we are on the occasion of her 106th birthday:
Anne lived just a few months beyond her 106th birthday. Although she had lost her sight and most of her hearing, her mind was still sharp. On that day back in 2013, she quoted her favorite poet, Robert Browning. Spending time with her that day and hearing her quote Browning one more time......that's a precious memory indeed!
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!''
(from "Rabbi Ben Ezra" by Robert Browning)
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The Quality of Silence. A Book Review.
The book's jacket describes the book as "thrillingly suspenseful and atmospheric". I think that may be a bit of marketing hype. The book is listed as a psychological thriller, which I think is inaccurate. There is mystery, to be sure, but I don't think it rises to the level of "thriller", and I think it is political more than psychological in nature.
This is the story of Yasmin, an astrophysicist from London, and her pre-teen daughter Ruby, who is deaf. They have arrived in Alaska to visit Matt, their husband/father, who is a wildlife photographer and who has been on location in Alaska for several months. When they arrive, they learn that Matt has been in a catastrophic accident where an entire village had been inexplicably burned to the ground. Unable to accept his death as fact, and unable to convince any of the authorities that Matt is alive, Yasmin and Ruby set out on their own to find him.
This was a frustrating book for me. The descriptions of Alaska in winter were wonderfully written, but the pacing of the book was all wrong. It seemed to drag on and on until finally we got to the point of the whole thing in the last fifty pages. This was not one of those books you begin and can't put down until it's finished. It was more a book you have to force yourself to continue reading in hopes it will get better.
I love a good mystery, and there was certainly a mystery to be solved here. Was Matt really dead, or was he somehow still alive? Where was he? What caused the fire? Eventually those questions were answered, but it took a long time to get to that point with no hints along the way.
The Quality of Silence gives a realistic picture of what life in northern Alaska is like in winter, especially for truckers hauling oil between the North Slope and Fairbanks. On the other hand, the book stretched the bounds of reality when Yasmin and Ruby take off on their own to find Matt. Yasmin convinced a trucker to give them a ride to Deadhorse. When that trucker has to be returned to Fairbanks for medical reasons, Yasmin and Ruby set out on their own. That Yasmin, the astrophysicist from London, can drive a big rig in Alaska in a blizzard with no problems at all seems preposterous, yet that's exactly what happens.
Overall, in spite of its flaws, I liked this book. But I didn't love it.
A copy of The Quality of Silence was provided to me free of charge by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Thankful Tuesday: What a Difference a Year Makes
Just over a year ago, on Friday, March 13, of last year, I wrote a blog post about frustrations. On that same morning I had posted this quote from A. W. Tozer to my Facebook page:
"God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves."
Just a few days after the post about frustration, I wrote another post, this one about God's timing. Here's part of what I wrote then:
On Saturday, just 17 days short of one year since we signed the listing agreement, we signed an agreement to sell our house.
The house was shown on Friday, and on Friday afternoon we received and accepted a verbal offer. On Saturday it became "official". And "real".
It's overwhelming! And we're still a little numb. After months of praying and waiting, we have our answer. And in many ways, it's hard to believe it's real.
But it is!
And our God, who is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:18), has done exactly that, and we are set to close in just 45 short days.
What a difference a year makes! A lot has happened since that Friday afternoon showing just over a year ago. We signed the contract to sell our house. We spent hours looking for the right house here in Spartanburg. And just when it seemed this one was no longer available, suddenly it was back on the market again! That made our decision very easy, since this house was our favorite of the ones we had looked at.
We packed. We unpacked. Then we went on that whirlwind trip around the country. We returned home, feeling like we were moving in all over again.
This has been a year of transition. Of settling in. Of time with friends. Of making new friends. Of treasured memories.
Above all it has been a year of gratitude! Even though it's true that we are still in the "settling in" process, and every little thing may not be exactly where we would like it to be, in many ways it feels like much more than a year since that Friday afternoon last March. Because this feels like home. And we are so grateful!
Grateful that God's timing is perfect. Grateful that even through our frustrations and our impatience, He knew what we needed and when we needed it. Grateful for the way He has provided all our needs.
Just so grateful.
"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:1,3 NASB)
"God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves."
Just a few days after the post about frustration, I wrote another post, this one about God's timing. Here's part of what I wrote then:
On Saturday, just 17 days short of one year since we signed the listing agreement, we signed an agreement to sell our house.
The house was shown on Friday, and on Friday afternoon we received and accepted a verbal offer. On Saturday it became "official". And "real".
It's overwhelming! And we're still a little numb. After months of praying and waiting, we have our answer. And in many ways, it's hard to believe it's real.
But it is!
And our God, who is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:18), has done exactly that, and we are set to close in just 45 short days.
What a difference a year makes! A lot has happened since that Friday afternoon showing just over a year ago. We signed the contract to sell our house. We spent hours looking for the right house here in Spartanburg. And just when it seemed this one was no longer available, suddenly it was back on the market again! That made our decision very easy, since this house was our favorite of the ones we had looked at.
We packed. We unpacked. Then we went on that whirlwind trip around the country. We returned home, feeling like we were moving in all over again.
This has been a year of transition. Of settling in. Of time with friends. Of making new friends. Of treasured memories.
Above all it has been a year of gratitude! Even though it's true that we are still in the "settling in" process, and every little thing may not be exactly where we would like it to be, in many ways it feels like much more than a year since that Friday afternoon last March. Because this feels like home. And we are so grateful!
Grateful that God's timing is perfect. Grateful that even through our frustrations and our impatience, He knew what we needed and when we needed it. Grateful for the way He has provided all our needs.
Just so grateful.
"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:1,3 NASB)
Monday, March 14, 2016
Old Age and Gray Hair
Let's start with a disclaimer. This is not a post about beauty treatments to deal with the effects of aging! This is a post related to a couple of verses from Psalm 71.
"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)
I can still remember when I first became acutely aware of this Psalm. Of course, I had been aware of it for most of my life. I knew there were 150 Psalms, so naturally there would be a Psalm 71. I had read through the Psalms countless times over the course of my life. But in much the same way you ride up and down the same road day after day, and suddenly wonder where did that house come from?, even though it has quite obviously been there for years, I had read this particular Psalm many times, but it had never quite sunk into my consciousness.
A few years before my daddy passed away, he must have had a similar experience. He called one day, so very excited, because he had "discovered" this Psalm. And he said he had found his purpose. That this Psalm would be his theme song for however many years he had left on this earth.
To some, the idea that a man in his mid-80s would suddenly have found a life purpose may seem incongruous. Allow me to explain. For most of his adult life, following his years in the Navy in World War II, my daddy had worked in the post office in our town. That was his career. And in that career, he dealt with people every day......helping them with their mail, but also offering a kind word or a helping hand. In addition, he was very involved in our church, as a deacon and in many other capacities as well. And he was busy being a very good husband and daddy. Then the children were grown up, along came retirement, and life changed a bit.
I can relate. Perhaps you can as well. Life changes once we reach the season where the children are grown but we are not yet "old". Certainly I'm older than I once was, but I'm not yet old enough to be considered "old". I have some gray hair, although not a lot, and what I do have is covered up! Even so, I find myself in a season of transition. Those earlier seasons of life spent as a piano teacher and in music ministry are past. Those earlier years of leading a weekly Bible study class now find me in a different ministry, as part of a rotation of teachers leading our Sunday morning Bible class. My years of parenting young children into their teenage years and on into adulthood are finished. It's a different season. A season which, even though it has its joys, also brings some frustration in wondering what to do now. What is my purpose for these years? How can I continue to be useful?
Many of you who are reading this post may be able to relate. As we get older, life changes. Children grow up. The role as parent shifts, perhaps to the role of grandparent. The career that defined you in your younger years no longer defines you, whether due to retirement or to some other circumstance. Life changes. And sometimes those changes are challenging. Often when we reach this season of life, we're wondering where we fit in. What our purpose is now. What we're supposed to be doing. How we can still be useful.
My parents enjoyed daddy's retirement for a few years, until my mother's health declined. Then daddy had a new purpose, as caregiver. He filled that role lovingly and well for nearly ten years, until my mother passed away. After that, in addition to the loneliness he felt without his beloved "Bitsy", he was dealing with another change as well. Wondering what to do now. Where he fit in. What was his purpose.
Eventually daddy's health began to decline. Even so, he was still looking for a purpose. And he found it on the day this Psalm came alive to him.
"I've found my purpose," he said to me with great excitement. "This will be my focus for as long as I have left in this life."
And it was. For the remaining years of his life, with a renewed vigor, he praised God and shared Jesus with anyone who would listen.
May I be as faithful in that endeavor as he was!
"For you, O Lord, are my hope; my trust, O LORD, from my youth.......My praise is continually of you.....You are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.......I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day.......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: 5,6b,7-9, 14-15, 17-18 ESV)
"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)
I can still remember when I first became acutely aware of this Psalm. Of course, I had been aware of it for most of my life. I knew there were 150 Psalms, so naturally there would be a Psalm 71. I had read through the Psalms countless times over the course of my life. But in much the same way you ride up and down the same road day after day, and suddenly wonder where did that house come from?, even though it has quite obviously been there for years, I had read this particular Psalm many times, but it had never quite sunk into my consciousness.
A few years before my daddy passed away, he must have had a similar experience. He called one day, so very excited, because he had "discovered" this Psalm. And he said he had found his purpose. That this Psalm would be his theme song for however many years he had left on this earth.
To some, the idea that a man in his mid-80s would suddenly have found a life purpose may seem incongruous. Allow me to explain. For most of his adult life, following his years in the Navy in World War II, my daddy had worked in the post office in our town. That was his career. And in that career, he dealt with people every day......helping them with their mail, but also offering a kind word or a helping hand. In addition, he was very involved in our church, as a deacon and in many other capacities as well. And he was busy being a very good husband and daddy. Then the children were grown up, along came retirement, and life changed a bit.
I can relate. Perhaps you can as well. Life changes once we reach the season where the children are grown but we are not yet "old". Certainly I'm older than I once was, but I'm not yet old enough to be considered "old". I have some gray hair, although not a lot, and what I do have is covered up! Even so, I find myself in a season of transition. Those earlier seasons of life spent as a piano teacher and in music ministry are past. Those earlier years of leading a weekly Bible study class now find me in a different ministry, as part of a rotation of teachers leading our Sunday morning Bible class. My years of parenting young children into their teenage years and on into adulthood are finished. It's a different season. A season which, even though it has its joys, also brings some frustration in wondering what to do now. What is my purpose for these years? How can I continue to be useful?
Many of you who are reading this post may be able to relate. As we get older, life changes. Children grow up. The role as parent shifts, perhaps to the role of grandparent. The career that defined you in your younger years no longer defines you, whether due to retirement or to some other circumstance. Life changes. And sometimes those changes are challenging. Often when we reach this season of life, we're wondering where we fit in. What our purpose is now. What we're supposed to be doing. How we can still be useful.
My parents enjoyed daddy's retirement for a few years, until my mother's health declined. Then daddy had a new purpose, as caregiver. He filled that role lovingly and well for nearly ten years, until my mother passed away. After that, in addition to the loneliness he felt without his beloved "Bitsy", he was dealing with another change as well. Wondering what to do now. Where he fit in. What was his purpose.
Eventually daddy's health began to decline. Even so, he was still looking for a purpose. And he found it on the day this Psalm came alive to him.
"I've found my purpose," he said to me with great excitement. "This will be my focus for as long as I have left in this life."
And it was. For the remaining years of his life, with a renewed vigor, he praised God and shared Jesus with anyone who would listen.
May I be as faithful in that endeavor as he was!
"For you, O Lord, are my hope; my trust, O LORD, from my youth.......My praise is continually of you.....You are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.......I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day.......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: 5,6b,7-9, 14-15, 17-18 ESV)
Thursday, March 10, 2016
A Hard Question
Job said, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12b NASB)
What about you? What about me? Can we say the same thing?
What are we treasuring most?
Do we treasure God's words more than our necessary food?
It's a hard question. But one we need to be asking.
What do I treasure most? What do you treasure most?
Something to think about.
What about you? What about me? Can we say the same thing?
What are we treasuring most?
Do we treasure God's words more than our necessary food?
It's a hard question. But one we need to be asking.
What do I treasure most? What do you treasure most?
Something to think about.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s elusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Naught of this world’s elusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
(words and music by Charles Albert Tindley)
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Even on "Those" Days
Yesterday started out well, but it didn't take long for it to become one of those days.
I was looking forward to a pedicure yesterday, but shortly before time to head out to the appointment, I received a phone call that the appointment needed to be rescheduled because my nail tech's little boy was sick and she wouldn't be in to work yesterday. The appointment was rescheduled, and I moved on to the next thing on my list - running errands.
My first stop was Wal-Mart (to get it over with!), and of course, there were only two registers open in the whole place. As I waited (semi-patiently) in line, I realized that I had left my phone at home, so once I was checked out at Wal-Mart, I headed back home for the phone.
That turned out to be a good thing as I realized I needed to change my shirt because it had a big dirty spot in the front of it. Not sure how I missed that before, or why I had hung a dirty shirt back in the closet. But, I changed my clothes and headed out again.
I called my friend Cathy to see if she wanted to meet me for lunch. We had a nice lunch together, and then I was off to finish the errands. When I got in my car, I realized I had left my glasses on the table in the restaurant, so back inside I went. Glasses retrieved, I headed to my next stop. Along the way, I discovered I had spilled some lunch on my shirt, so once again I'm wearing dirty clothes!
When I had gotten as far down my to-do list as my knee would allow, I headed back home. I expected to enter a house filled with the smells of pot roast cooking in the crock pot. But......
It seems that when I put the roast and all the seasonings and trimmings in the pot yesterday morning, I remembered to turn it on, but I did not remember to plug it in!
Once again, I am living proof of the words of my favorite, oft-quoted, Scottish poet Robert Burns: the best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.
Even so, it was a good day. I enjoyed a good lunch with lots of good conversation and laughter with a good friend. I accomplished much on my pre-surgery to-do list. I enjoyed a nice dinner out with my husband. There was leftover ham from that dinner that we had for breakfast this morning.
And that also proves a point. Even on those days, there is always something to be thankful for!
"From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." (John 1:16 NLT)
I was looking forward to a pedicure yesterday, but shortly before time to head out to the appointment, I received a phone call that the appointment needed to be rescheduled because my nail tech's little boy was sick and she wouldn't be in to work yesterday. The appointment was rescheduled, and I moved on to the next thing on my list - running errands.
My first stop was Wal-Mart (to get it over with!), and of course, there were only two registers open in the whole place. As I waited (semi-patiently) in line, I realized that I had left my phone at home, so once I was checked out at Wal-Mart, I headed back home for the phone.
That turned out to be a good thing as I realized I needed to change my shirt because it had a big dirty spot in the front of it. Not sure how I missed that before, or why I had hung a dirty shirt back in the closet. But, I changed my clothes and headed out again.
I called my friend Cathy to see if she wanted to meet me for lunch. We had a nice lunch together, and then I was off to finish the errands. When I got in my car, I realized I had left my glasses on the table in the restaurant, so back inside I went. Glasses retrieved, I headed to my next stop. Along the way, I discovered I had spilled some lunch on my shirt, so once again I'm wearing dirty clothes!
When I had gotten as far down my to-do list as my knee would allow, I headed back home. I expected to enter a house filled with the smells of pot roast cooking in the crock pot. But......
It seems that when I put the roast and all the seasonings and trimmings in the pot yesterday morning, I remembered to turn it on, but I did not remember to plug it in!
Once again, I am living proof of the words of my favorite, oft-quoted, Scottish poet Robert Burns: the best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.
Even so, it was a good day. I enjoyed a good lunch with lots of good conversation and laughter with a good friend. I accomplished much on my pre-surgery to-do list. I enjoyed a nice dinner out with my husband. There was leftover ham from that dinner that we had for breakfast this morning.
And that also proves a point. Even on those days, there is always something to be thankful for!
"From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." (John 1:16 NLT)
Monday, March 7, 2016
Decluttering
Monday mornings are usually pretty busy around here. Monday means laundry. And putting out the garbage for pickup. And decluttering.
Somehow, no matter how clean and tidy things are at the beginning of a weekend, by Monday morning, that's only a faint memory! There's the accumulation of newspapers. The afghans we used to cover ourselves for the brief Sunday afternoon nap. Bits of this and that which somehow didn't make it back to their right places over the weekend. Then there's stripping the linens off the bed, sorting the mountain of dirty clothes, and getting it all washed. Busy, busy, busy! That's how I usually spend my Mondays.
On the previous weekend, Al finally got his tools moved from storage to his new workshop in the back yard. On Saturday he spent a lot of time organizing and settling in to his new space. There's still much to be done, but the good news (at least from my perspective!) is that soon all the things in the garage that belong in the workshop will find their way to their new home, and then the clutter that has accumulated in the garage over these last months can be dealt with.
There's clutter everywhere, isn't there? Clutter in our homes and our garages. And our hearts and minds are bombarded with clutter on a daily basis by what we see and hear, by the incessant "chatter" of the world we live in. Television, radio, social media, politicians, billboards along the road. Our senses are overloaded!
Just as we need to deal with the clutter in our homes and in our cars and in our garages, so too do we need to deal with the clutter that fills our minds. If we are going to be all that God desires us to be in this life, we need to keep our hearts and minds free of anything that interferes with that goal.
That's why it's so important to have that daily quiet time alone with God. To begin each day fresh and clean. To get rid of the clutter.
Have you decluttered today?
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
(Psalm 51:10)
Somehow, no matter how clean and tidy things are at the beginning of a weekend, by Monday morning, that's only a faint memory! There's the accumulation of newspapers. The afghans we used to cover ourselves for the brief Sunday afternoon nap. Bits of this and that which somehow didn't make it back to their right places over the weekend. Then there's stripping the linens off the bed, sorting the mountain of dirty clothes, and getting it all washed. Busy, busy, busy! That's how I usually spend my Mondays.
On the previous weekend, Al finally got his tools moved from storage to his new workshop in the back yard. On Saturday he spent a lot of time organizing and settling in to his new space. There's still much to be done, but the good news (at least from my perspective!) is that soon all the things in the garage that belong in the workshop will find their way to their new home, and then the clutter that has accumulated in the garage over these last months can be dealt with.
There's clutter everywhere, isn't there? Clutter in our homes and our garages. And our hearts and minds are bombarded with clutter on a daily basis by what we see and hear, by the incessant "chatter" of the world we live in. Television, radio, social media, politicians, billboards along the road. Our senses are overloaded!
Just as we need to deal with the clutter in our homes and in our cars and in our garages, so too do we need to deal with the clutter that fills our minds. If we are going to be all that God desires us to be in this life, we need to keep our hearts and minds free of anything that interferes with that goal.
That's why it's so important to have that daily quiet time alone with God. To begin each day fresh and clean. To get rid of the clutter.
Have you decluttered today?
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
(Psalm 51:10)
Thursday, March 3, 2016
It's a Process
I'm beginning to discover that knee replacement surgery is a process. For me, it began with physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in my legs. That had both immediate and long-term benefit, as it improved my ability to walk, but also has my muscles stronger to handle what's coming. I'm no longer going to physical therapy, but am continuing the exercises on my own at home, in order not to use up all the insurance-approved therapy appointments before I really need them after surgery.
On Monday I took the next step in the process, which was an appointment with my primary care physician to be cleared for surgery. That involved an EKG and some blood work, and answering a lot of questions.
Yesterday the process continued, and I went to Joint Camp at the hospital where I will be having the surgery, Pelham Medical Center. I wasn't sure what to expect from Joint Camp. One of my sons asked me if I needed to pack a lunch! There was actually no "camping" involved (and no lunch either!), but it was very informative. We had a short tour of some of the facilities, met some of the staff from various departments we will be dealing with (respiratory therapy, physical therapy, etc.), were given a lot of information about what and when and where and why, and had opportunity to ask questions. It was two hours well spent, but since we spent most of our time sitting in a conference room as the various people came in and out, I was really ready to get out of that chair!
Next on the agenda will be a pre-op visit with the orthopedic surgeon and pre-admission testing at the hospital. In addition, I'll have another appointment with my rheumatologist, and then everything should be in place for the big day.
March 28 is the big day. Out with the old and in with the new! As strange as it may sound, I'm actually looking forward to it. This old knee and I are ready to part company!
I'm about halfway through the process of getting this done. Just a few more weeks of exercises and appointments, and then it will be time to get 'er done! Then the process of recovery will begin, and that will take some time.
Much like life in general, things don't just happen overnight or immediately. That's true of life and it's true of knee surgery. The healing will not be immediate. It will take time. It will hurt. It will get worse before it gets better. But the end result will be worth it!
You may not be facing knee surgery today. You may be dealing with something else entirely, whether a health issue or a financial issue or a relationship issue. And if you aren't now, you probably just came through it or you will soon be going through it. That's part of the fabric of life.
And in all these things, it's helpful to remember that life is a process. In many ways, it's like a puzzle. You don't just dump all the pieces out of the box and immediately have a beautiful, put-together picture. It's a process. Sometimes there's some trial and error involved. But through it all, God is at work in our processes, to accomplish His will and His purposes for our lives.
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
(Philippians 2:13 NLT)
On Monday I took the next step in the process, which was an appointment with my primary care physician to be cleared for surgery. That involved an EKG and some blood work, and answering a lot of questions.
Yesterday the process continued, and I went to Joint Camp at the hospital where I will be having the surgery, Pelham Medical Center. I wasn't sure what to expect from Joint Camp. One of my sons asked me if I needed to pack a lunch! There was actually no "camping" involved (and no lunch either!), but it was very informative. We had a short tour of some of the facilities, met some of the staff from various departments we will be dealing with (respiratory therapy, physical therapy, etc.), were given a lot of information about what and when and where and why, and had opportunity to ask questions. It was two hours well spent, but since we spent most of our time sitting in a conference room as the various people came in and out, I was really ready to get out of that chair!
Next on the agenda will be a pre-op visit with the orthopedic surgeon and pre-admission testing at the hospital. In addition, I'll have another appointment with my rheumatologist, and then everything should be in place for the big day.
March 28 is the big day. Out with the old and in with the new! As strange as it may sound, I'm actually looking forward to it. This old knee and I are ready to part company!
I'm about halfway through the process of getting this done. Just a few more weeks of exercises and appointments, and then it will be time to get 'er done! Then the process of recovery will begin, and that will take some time.
Much like life in general, things don't just happen overnight or immediately. That's true of life and it's true of knee surgery. The healing will not be immediate. It will take time. It will hurt. It will get worse before it gets better. But the end result will be worth it!
You may not be facing knee surgery today. You may be dealing with something else entirely, whether a health issue or a financial issue or a relationship issue. And if you aren't now, you probably just came through it or you will soon be going through it. That's part of the fabric of life.
And in all these things, it's helpful to remember that life is a process. In many ways, it's like a puzzle. You don't just dump all the pieces out of the box and immediately have a beautiful, put-together picture. It's a process. Sometimes there's some trial and error involved. But through it all, God is at work in our processes, to accomplish His will and His purposes for our lives.
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
(Philippians 2:13 NLT)
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Strong and Courageous
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 ESV)
This verse was part of my Scripture-writing plan this morning. (For more about a monthly Scripture writing plan, see the blog at www.swtblessings.com.) I've been thinking about that passage of Scripture ever since I copied it into my journal this morning. This passage, the first chapter of Joshua and the chapters that follow, covers the point in the history of the Hebrew people where they were crossing into the Promised Land. As they were moving forward to claim the land, it was important for them to remember to "be strong and courageous".
We can learn a lot from this passage of Scripture for our own lives. We may not have been wandering in the wilderness for forty years; even so, the challenges we face in our daily living can also be faced with strength and courage. Whether our challenges are financial or relational or health, or they have to do with the work place or with politics or some other circumstance, there are principles in this passage to guide us.
We need to be people of the Word. The Lord said to Joshua, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." (Joshua 1:8 ESV) We need to take that instruction to heart. If we're going to live as God's people in a world that increasingly is turning its back on Him, we need to know the Word. We need to spend time in the Word. We need to obey the Word. We need to be people of the Word.
We need to be people of prayer. There's an episode in Joshua chapter 9 where Joshua made an alliance with the Gibeonites. This turned out to be a bad alliance; the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelites. How did that happen? Because, according to verse 14 of that chapter, "they did not ask counsel from the LORD." Just like Joshua, we can get ourselves into some trouble when we fail to pray.
We need to be identified with God. For the Hebrew people, that mark of identification was circumcision. For us today, we identify with God through baptism, through church membership, through the relationships and associations we cultivate, through the choices we make.
We need to be strong and courageous. That was God's instruction to Joshua and the Hebrew people. It's an instruction repeated throughout the book of Joshua. And, in various forms, it's an instruction repeated throughout the Bible......."fear not"!
How do we live this way? How do we live strong and courageous lives? By remembering! Remembering who God is. Remembering what He has done. Remembering His promises.
When the Hebrew people had crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land, they erected 12 memorial stones. These stones served as reminders to the people and to generations to come of what God had done for them.
As we face our challenges in life, whatever they may be - whether illness or job loss or financial strain or some other challenge - we need to remember. We may not have erected stones as reminders, but as life's challenges come - and they will - we can look back and remember. Remember God's promises. Remember His provision. Remember all the times and all the ways He has provided. Has there ever been even one time when God didn't provide for you? Has there ever been even one time when He didn't care? Has there ever been even one time that He forgot about you? No! Then trust Him!
If we are willing to trust Him with our eternity, can we not also trust Him with our today?
"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, what do these stones mean, you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever." (Joshua 4:21-24 ESV)
This verse was part of my Scripture-writing plan this morning. (For more about a monthly Scripture writing plan, see the blog at www.swtblessings.com.) I've been thinking about that passage of Scripture ever since I copied it into my journal this morning. This passage, the first chapter of Joshua and the chapters that follow, covers the point in the history of the Hebrew people where they were crossing into the Promised Land. As they were moving forward to claim the land, it was important for them to remember to "be strong and courageous".
We can learn a lot from this passage of Scripture for our own lives. We may not have been wandering in the wilderness for forty years; even so, the challenges we face in our daily living can also be faced with strength and courage. Whether our challenges are financial or relational or health, or they have to do with the work place or with politics or some other circumstance, there are principles in this passage to guide us.
We need to be people of the Word. The Lord said to Joshua, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it." (Joshua 1:8 ESV) We need to take that instruction to heart. If we're going to live as God's people in a world that increasingly is turning its back on Him, we need to know the Word. We need to spend time in the Word. We need to obey the Word. We need to be people of the Word.
We need to be people of prayer. There's an episode in Joshua chapter 9 where Joshua made an alliance with the Gibeonites. This turned out to be a bad alliance; the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelites. How did that happen? Because, according to verse 14 of that chapter, "they did not ask counsel from the LORD." Just like Joshua, we can get ourselves into some trouble when we fail to pray.
We need to be identified with God. For the Hebrew people, that mark of identification was circumcision. For us today, we identify with God through baptism, through church membership, through the relationships and associations we cultivate, through the choices we make.
We need to be strong and courageous. That was God's instruction to Joshua and the Hebrew people. It's an instruction repeated throughout the book of Joshua. And, in various forms, it's an instruction repeated throughout the Bible......."fear not"!
How do we live this way? How do we live strong and courageous lives? By remembering! Remembering who God is. Remembering what He has done. Remembering His promises.
When the Hebrew people had crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land, they erected 12 memorial stones. These stones served as reminders to the people and to generations to come of what God had done for them.
As we face our challenges in life, whatever they may be - whether illness or job loss or financial strain or some other challenge - we need to remember. We may not have erected stones as reminders, but as life's challenges come - and they will - we can look back and remember. Remember God's promises. Remember His provision. Remember all the times and all the ways He has provided. Has there ever been even one time when God didn't provide for you? Has there ever been even one time when He didn't care? Has there ever been even one time that He forgot about you? No! Then trust Him!
If we are willing to trust Him with our eternity, can we not also trust Him with our today?
"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, what do these stones mean, you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever." (Joshua 4:21-24 ESV)
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Thankful Tuesday: So Many Reasons
It was such a simple thing. Yesterday I decided to update my profile picture on Facebook. Even though it was such a simple thing, I was overwhelmed by the response. So many comments and "likes"......it took my breath away.
As I looked at the names of those who had "liked" or commented, I began to think about each of those people and how our lives are connected. Some of those people have been part of my life for a very long time, and some for less time. Either way, as I began to think about how I knew this person or when I met that person, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to our gracious Heavenly Father for bringing us together.
I thank God for each of these people. And as I thanked God for them yesterday, I also prayed for them. That God would meet their needs. That God would be very real and present in their lives. That God would have His hand on them.
These friends and acquaintances are just a few of the ways God has blessed me. On this Thankful Tuesday, I am giving thanks for my friends. For my family. And I am overwhelmed as I think of all God's blessings in my life.
We all have so many reasons to be thankful. Why not take some time to think about that today, and then spend some time with the Lord, just saying thank you.
"O give thanks to the LORD." (Psalm 106:1)
As I looked at the names of those who had "liked" or commented, I began to think about each of those people and how our lives are connected. Some of those people have been part of my life for a very long time, and some for less time. Either way, as I began to think about how I knew this person or when I met that person, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to our gracious Heavenly Father for bringing us together.
I thank God for each of these people. And as I thanked God for them yesterday, I also prayed for them. That God would meet their needs. That God would be very real and present in their lives. That God would have His hand on them.
These friends and acquaintances are just a few of the ways God has blessed me. On this Thankful Tuesday, I am giving thanks for my friends. For my family. And I am overwhelmed as I think of all God's blessings in my life.
We all have so many reasons to be thankful. Why not take some time to think about that today, and then spend some time with the Lord, just saying thank you.
"O give thanks to the LORD." (Psalm 106:1)
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