For almost 15 years, this has been my mantra: up with the good, down with the bad. It's how my physical therapist taught me to approach stairs during the rehab following my broken ankle.
For all these post-broken-and-now-fused-ankle years, this mantra served me well.
Until it didn't .
In the three years since my knee replacement surgery, this mantra has become a source of confusion.
You see, I broke my left ankle, and I had my right knee replaced.
For these almost 15 years, the left side was the bad side. At least it was the bad side until the right knee became such a problem. Then there really wasn't a good side. And now, post-knee-replacement, the left side has become the good side - in theory at least - and the right side, which used to be the good side, is now the bad side.
You see my dilemma. It's all backwards.
Now I have to stop and think. What had become a habit of life is no longer quite the same. I can't function on auto-pilot anymore!
But thinking is really a good thing. And not just when it comes to remembering which is the good side. When I'm going out the front door, which foot goes first? I have to stop and think. Which side is working better today? When I come back home and have to go up the steps to the front door, which foot goes first? I have to stop and think.
Up with the good, down with the bad. Stop and think. Which one is the good?
It's a good way to remember how to approach stairs if you have orthopedic issues. But it's a good thing to remember for life in general.
Think about it that way for a minute. Up with the good. Down with the bad.
Apply that principle to the things you read. Whether books or magazines or social media.
Apply that principle to things you watch. Whether on television or at the movie theater or on social media.
Apply that principle to things you listen to. Whether radio or television or social media or even conversations.
Don't go through life on auto-pilot. Don't blindly follow the crowd. Stop and think.
Up with the good.
Down with the bad.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8 ESV, emphasis mine)
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Monday, April 8, 2019
Out of Tune
In the years since I first sat on a piano bench in our living room and learned to play the brand new spinet piano my parents had purchased for me, I have had opportunity to play many pianos. Large ones and smaller ones. Brand new ones and older ones. Concert grands and small spinets.
I have played in living rooms and practice rooms. In churches, large and small. In gardens and under tents. In grand concert halls and in much smaller venues. And even though I am no longer able to play as I once did, I am still aware that all these places and all these instruments have something in common. For a piano to sound its best, no matter who is playing it, it needs to be in tune.
When our younger son was about three years old, he began learning to play the violin. Although he has since abandoned the violin in favor of the guitar, I still have very vivid memories of those early days with his tiny violin. The first song he learned to play was Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, followed by five variations on that theme. From the beginning notes of Twinkle to the Bach minuets that came later, all of us within earshot of Brandon's violin learned early on the importance of an instrument that is in tune. In fact, I would venture to say that nothing sounds quite as bad as an out of tune violin!
Any musical instrument needs to be in tune to sound its best. The writer of the hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing used that analogy in this hymn line:
"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy praise."*
For us to live life the way God intends, for us to praise Him as we should, for us to be reflecting Jesus and letting our light shine for Him (see Matthew 5:16), we need to be in tune. I've written about this before, but I often find that I need to be reminded.
The reality of life is that sometimes we are out of sorts. Out of tune. It happens because life happens. We are tired or insecure or frustrated. Our feelings have been hurt. We've been offended. We're discouraged. We're angry. We're sad. We're jealous. There are any number of reasons or events or emotions that send us over the edge, and those differ from person to person. What sends me into an emotional puddle and puts my life out of tune is likely different from what would do the same to you.
During this almost two and a half since I had a stroke, I have occasionally found myself a bit out of sorts. Out of tune. Perhaps it's all part of the natural course of things following such a major trauma. Perhaps it's the fatigue that is part of stroke recovery. Perhaps it's the frustration when I can't remember things or when I get words jumbled up or when I can't do what I was once able to do. Whatever. The reality is that sometimes I'm out of tune.
Perhaps you may find yourself occasionally out of tune. The circumstances of my life are not the same as yours. You may be out of tune because of a personal relationship. Because of a different health concern. Or a financial difficulty. Maybe you lost your job or your spouse was laid off. Maybe there's an issue with one of your children or your grandchildren. Maybe you were falsely accused of something. Maybe someone you thought was your friend turned out not to be. Maybe your best friend is being anything but friendly. Whether finances or relationships or something entirely different, you may find yourself a bit out of sorts. Out of tune.
There are as many reasons for being out of tune as there are people. Perhaps more. We all have different life circumstances. We all respond differently.
Whether we have a major meltdown or we are just a bit out of sorts, the reality of life is that from time to time each of us is a bit out of tune. When those times come, and they will, what are we to do?
1. Read and Remember.
I am a big advocate for writing things down. (I have always been a big believer in writing things down, but especially in this post-stroke season of my life when remembering is such a challenge.) Writing down your prayer list. Writing out your prayers. Keeping a gratitude journal and writing down all the reasons you have for being grateful. These out-of-tune-times prove the value of those lists. When you are out of tune, when you are discouraged, when you are frustrated, when you feel you've hit rock bottom.......these are the times you get your journal out, not so much for writing as for reading. In these out-of-tune-times you read back through your lists and you remember.
When you refresh your memory with all the good things about your life, with all the ways God has blessed you, and with all the good things that have happened to you, then you are encouraged. Reading the list helps you remember God's goodness to you. When you remember how good God has been and remember all the ways He has blessed you, your focus is turned away from your negative circumstances.
"This I recall to my mind, and therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." (Lamentation 3:21-22 NASB)
2. Change your focus.
Often we are out of tune because we are spending so much time thinking about everything that is wrong with life. This focus only causes us to be more out of tune. Turn your focus away from yourself and your circumstances, and toward God. This requires a deliberate act of your will. Choose to think differently. Choose to change your focus. Think about God, about His character and His ways. Think about the names by which He is called in Scripture. Make a deliberate effort to focus your attention toward Him and away from your circumstances.
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)
3. Talk about it.
I don't mean talk about it to your friend or your neighbor or to the entire social media community. Rather, I mean talk to the Lord about it. Tell Him exactly how you feel, and why. Pour out your heart to Him. In the words of the old hymn, "Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted? Tell it to Jesus."**
Spending time in prayer, being honest with God, is the best way I know to get your heart back in tune.
"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NASB)
4. Choose joy.
Make a deliberate choice, as an act of your will rather than your emotions, to choose to be joyful in spite of your circumstances. It may take a while for your circumstances to change. Just like a piano, the more out of tune your life is, the longer it will take to tune it. But no matter how long it takes for circumstances to change, and even if they never do, choose joy.
Make the choice. I've often heard Kay Arthur say we should "Philippians 4:8" everything. It's good advice.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8, NASB)
Remembering and refocusing and talking to the Lord always helps get me back in tune. If you're feeling a little out of tune today, I'm praying these suggestions will help get you back in tune, too.
"Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)
* Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: words, Robert Robinson; music, John Wyeth
**Tell It to Jesus: words and music, Edmund S. Lorenz
I have played in living rooms and practice rooms. In churches, large and small. In gardens and under tents. In grand concert halls and in much smaller venues. And even though I am no longer able to play as I once did, I am still aware that all these places and all these instruments have something in common. For a piano to sound its best, no matter who is playing it, it needs to be in tune.
When our younger son was about three years old, he began learning to play the violin. Although he has since abandoned the violin in favor of the guitar, I still have very vivid memories of those early days with his tiny violin. The first song he learned to play was Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, followed by five variations on that theme. From the beginning notes of Twinkle to the Bach minuets that came later, all of us within earshot of Brandon's violin learned early on the importance of an instrument that is in tune. In fact, I would venture to say that nothing sounds quite as bad as an out of tune violin!
Any musical instrument needs to be in tune to sound its best. The writer of the hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing used that analogy in this hymn line:
"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy praise."*
For us to live life the way God intends, for us to praise Him as we should, for us to be reflecting Jesus and letting our light shine for Him (see Matthew 5:16), we need to be in tune. I've written about this before, but I often find that I need to be reminded.
The reality of life is that sometimes we are out of sorts. Out of tune. It happens because life happens. We are tired or insecure or frustrated. Our feelings have been hurt. We've been offended. We're discouraged. We're angry. We're sad. We're jealous. There are any number of reasons or events or emotions that send us over the edge, and those differ from person to person. What sends me into an emotional puddle and puts my life out of tune is likely different from what would do the same to you.
During this almost two and a half since I had a stroke, I have occasionally found myself a bit out of sorts. Out of tune. Perhaps it's all part of the natural course of things following such a major trauma. Perhaps it's the fatigue that is part of stroke recovery. Perhaps it's the frustration when I can't remember things or when I get words jumbled up or when I can't do what I was once able to do. Whatever. The reality is that sometimes I'm out of tune.
Perhaps you may find yourself occasionally out of tune. The circumstances of my life are not the same as yours. You may be out of tune because of a personal relationship. Because of a different health concern. Or a financial difficulty. Maybe you lost your job or your spouse was laid off. Maybe there's an issue with one of your children or your grandchildren. Maybe you were falsely accused of something. Maybe someone you thought was your friend turned out not to be. Maybe your best friend is being anything but friendly. Whether finances or relationships or something entirely different, you may find yourself a bit out of sorts. Out of tune.
There are as many reasons for being out of tune as there are people. Perhaps more. We all have different life circumstances. We all respond differently.
Whether we have a major meltdown or we are just a bit out of sorts, the reality of life is that from time to time each of us is a bit out of tune. When those times come, and they will, what are we to do?
1. Read and Remember.
I am a big advocate for writing things down. (I have always been a big believer in writing things down, but especially in this post-stroke season of my life when remembering is such a challenge.) Writing down your prayer list. Writing out your prayers. Keeping a gratitude journal and writing down all the reasons you have for being grateful. These out-of-tune-times prove the value of those lists. When you are out of tune, when you are discouraged, when you are frustrated, when you feel you've hit rock bottom.......these are the times you get your journal out, not so much for writing as for reading. In these out-of-tune-times you read back through your lists and you remember.
When you refresh your memory with all the good things about your life, with all the ways God has blessed you, and with all the good things that have happened to you, then you are encouraged. Reading the list helps you remember God's goodness to you. When you remember how good God has been and remember all the ways He has blessed you, your focus is turned away from your negative circumstances.
"This I recall to my mind, and therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." (Lamentation 3:21-22 NASB)
2. Change your focus.
Often we are out of tune because we are spending so much time thinking about everything that is wrong with life. This focus only causes us to be more out of tune. Turn your focus away from yourself and your circumstances, and toward God. This requires a deliberate act of your will. Choose to think differently. Choose to change your focus. Think about God, about His character and His ways. Think about the names by which He is called in Scripture. Make a deliberate effort to focus your attention toward Him and away from your circumstances.
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)
3. Talk about it.
I don't mean talk about it to your friend or your neighbor or to the entire social media community. Rather, I mean talk to the Lord about it. Tell Him exactly how you feel, and why. Pour out your heart to Him. In the words of the old hymn, "Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted? Tell it to Jesus."**
Spending time in prayer, being honest with God, is the best way I know to get your heart back in tune.
"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NASB)
4. Choose joy.
Make a deliberate choice, as an act of your will rather than your emotions, to choose to be joyful in spite of your circumstances. It may take a while for your circumstances to change. Just like a piano, the more out of tune your life is, the longer it will take to tune it. But no matter how long it takes for circumstances to change, and even if they never do, choose joy.
Make the choice. I've often heard Kay Arthur say we should "Philippians 4:8" everything. It's good advice.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8, NASB)
Remembering and refocusing and talking to the Lord always helps get me back in tune. If you're feeling a little out of tune today, I'm praying these suggestions will help get you back in tune, too.
"Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)
* Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: words, Robert Robinson; music, John Wyeth
**Tell It to Jesus: words and music, Edmund S. Lorenz
Thursday, April 4, 2019
In Everything
"In everything give thanks." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)
In everything. In all things. However, you want to phrase it...
No exceptions. There are none of those phrases we want to add to the end of the verse.
It doesn't say in everything except.......
Except cancer.
Except when I lose my job.
Except when I run out of money.
Except politicians. Or government-run health care. Or when I don't like election results.
Except when my friend or my spouse or my son or my daughter or my best friend hurts my feelings.
Except any of the other things you might be able to think of. There are no clarifying phrases at the end of that sentence.
I originally wrote this post in 2013. Today I would add "except strokes". I originally wrote this post before having a stroke had ever entered my mind. Today I would say "even when you have a stroke", because this verse is one of the verses that got me through stroke recover.
In everything.
Everything means everything.
It's pretty clear.
Note that the verse doesn't say anything about feeling thankful. This is not about an emotional response to circumstances. The verse says to give thanks. That involves the will. A deliberate choice to give thanks, not because I feel like it but in spite of the fact that sometimes I don't.
Give thanks. In everything.
Today might be a good day to start.
"If we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes." (from the movie "Facing the Giants")
"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)
Friday, March 29, 2019
Happy Birthday, AJ!
Yesterday my first-born grandson celebrated his 13th birthday! Where has the time gone?
I can still so vividly remember that day I waited for the news that he had made his appearance in this world. What an exciting day that was!
And then, just a few days later, we met for the first time.
I can still so vividly remember that day I waited for the news that he had made his appearance in this world. What an exciting day that was!
And then, just a few days later, we met for the first time.
We spent some time together.
He was dedicated to the Lord.
Since then, time has just flown by!
There have been lots of adventures.
It's really hard to believe it's been 13 years since we welcomed this little guy into the world!
Happy Birthday, AJ! Nana and Opa love you so very much and are so proud of the young man you are becoming!
"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged." (Proverbs 17:6 NLT)
Friday, March 22, 2019
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)
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
So Many Reasons
It seemed like such a simple thing. A few days ago 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, I also prayed for them. That God would meet their needs. That God would be very real and present in their lives.
These friends and acquaintances are just a few of the ways God has blessed me. Today, 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, I also prayed for them. That God would meet their needs. That God would be very real and present in their lives.
These friends and acquaintances are just a few of the ways God has blessed me. Today, 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)
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Prone to Complain
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
(words-Robert Richardson, music- Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music)
This is one of my favorite hymns. Perhaps it's one of your favorites as well. I was thinking about this hymn this morning, particularly a line in the third verse. That line says, "prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love."
The "prone to wander" line leads me to recall the time the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness, after they had left Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land. We're often "prone to criticize" the Israelites for their wanderings, yet we often "wander" as well, don't we? We're not always prompt in our obedience to what the Lord tells us to do, which can leave us wandering pretty aimlessly through life.
But today as I have been thinking about that line from the hymn, I've been thinking we could rewrite the line as "prone to complain". The Israelites complained a lot on their journey through the wilderness. They complained about the food. Or more accurately, the lack of all the good food they had enjoyed in Egypt. (I guess they forgot the part about being slaves!) They complained about the dust. And about having no water. Complain, complain, complain.
It's the American way, isn't it? Complain about everything! We are a complaining people. We complain about the weather. And the traffic. About politicians. About everything
But it isn't just "those people" who are complainers. I know I find myself often doing the same thing. Particularly recently as I have been having some challenges with medications and insurance. But if it weren't that, it would probably be something else. Complaining instead of being grateful. Shame on me. Shame on us. We Americans are such whiners! Why is that? Why are we such complainers? Why are we never content, but always finding something else to complain about? It's too hot. It's too cold. It rains too much. It never rains. And on and on we go.
We aren't born with a "contentment gene". Contentment is a learned behavior. Paul didn't say "I am content." He said, " I have learned to be content." (Philippians 4:11 NASB)
How do we learn that kind of contentment? In the same way as we learn anything else. By practice. By repetition. By focus. Focusing on the reasons we have to be grateful, rather than on the reasons we have for complaining.
This morning my Bible reading led me to this verse: "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." (John 1:16). Today would be a very good day to stop our (my) whining and complaining, and to begin focusing on the grace we have received. Today would be a very good day to stop complaining and start being thankful. Today would be a good day to start learning to be content.
It's a good way to "tune our hearts to sing His grace". A good way to change focus away from complaining and toward contentment.
Why not begin learning today?
"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content......In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)
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