Flurries

It is snowing! Finally! So far this year, the snow has fallen to the north and to the south, but has for the most part skirted our area. I am giddy with snow happiness! The best part of today's snow is beauty and quality of the flakes. Not all snow is created equal. I'm no snow expert, but I've come to realize that conditions need to be just right to produce good quality snowflakes. Today's snow is that kind of snow. A snowflake is actually an individual ice crystal that grows six arms as it flits from cloud to ground, growing as it spins and flutters. There is a lot more science surrounding the anatomy of a snowflake, but that's about as detailed an explanation as my mind can grasp.


As I stood outside this afternoon, catching flakes on my glove, I marveled at the complexity of the flakes. I've been known to stand outside for long periods of time, inspecting snowflakes. I do it in the middle of the day. I do it late at night. I inspect by natural light. I inspect with a flashlight. Each time, I am amazed by the beauty God creates. God is the ultimate creator. His art is on display every day if we only take time to admire it. His handiwork is visible in the expanse of a morning sunrise. His brush strokes the hues of an evening sunset. And he handcrafts the intricate details of a snowflake. Wow!




God delights in our delight. I'm blown away by the fact that he cares so much about the finery of an individual ice crystal. And if that is true, how much more must he care for us as his individual children?

Take time to enjoy God's everyday gifts. Open your eyes. His gifts are everywhere!



"What a wildly wonderful world, GOD!
You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."

Psalm 104:24 The Message

Scandalous

My neighbor's daughter is pregnant. She is young. Maybe thirteen or fourteen. Her family is disappointed. No, devastated is more like it. I would have thought my neighbor was kidding had she not shared the news through tears. Her daughter is such a sweetheart. She is quiet. She attends youth group. She's a great student. Yet now, from what I hear, her boyfriend is ready to ditch her. He swears he has never touched her like that. Really? He is a few years older than her and he wants us to believe that his hormones aren't raging? Whatever. Girls just don't suddenly become pregnant. This situation is, of course, the subject for gossip. The neighborhood is buzzing!

It gets more interesting. The poor girl has come up with quite a story. I don't believe it and neither do her friends. But she is adamant. Get this: she says she's never had sex. She says she's a virgin. Ha! Oh, it gets better. She says she is pregnant with God's son. Whatever. I think her parents should send her away. Maybe send her to see a shrink. It's still hard for me to believe. She's such a sweetheart. But, really? This just takes the cake. Oh, have I told her her name? No? I should tell you her name. The girl's name is Mary.

There you have it. Of course my neighbor's daughter is not pregnant. But I have a feeling this is the way I would react if Mary was my neighbor's daughter. I'm sure that neighbors, family and friends had a field day with the gossip surrounding Mary and Joseph. Jesus' earthly parents did not have it easy. Sometimes I think we gloss over the whole Christmas story because we think we know it too well, yet we really don't know it at all. We don't ponder the consequences that resulted from the responsibility Mary and Joseph accepted with humility. We don't reflect on the fact that before Jesus was even born, his life was filled with controversy.

This Christmas season, I've had the opportunity to reflect, not only on Mary and Joseph's circumstances, but also that of the Magi, the shepherds and Mary's family through a Bible study. Through "The Christmas Story," and its accompanying video, I have been touched by the reality of Jesus' birth. I've been convicted by the humility with which Mary accepted her call. I've learned new truths about God's love. I've rejoiced, along with the shepherds and the Magi, in following the call to worship. But best of all, I've been reminded that God uses his most ordinary people to carry out his most extraordinary purposes.

Reflect on his story. Rejoice in his love. And then, be restored by his sacrifice.

Merry Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born,
Unto us a son is given,
And the government will be on his shoulders,
And he shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Dearly Loved

The events of this past week leave us reeling. The mass killing of innocent first graders is horrific and unimaginable, yet true. As a parent, my heart aches for the Newtown moms and dads whose lives have been shattered by a senseless, unthinkable act. I would argue that a parent's love is the deepest and purest love.

As a mom, I go to great lengths to ensure my kids' happiness, well being and safety. I have made midnight meals. I have made early morning doughnut drop offs. I have had middle of the night heart to heart talks. As parents, we kiss boo boos, make meals, do laundry, drive to the ends of the earth and say bedtime prayers. We sit through sporting events, volunteer for school events and chaperone class field trips. Almost without exception, we put our children before ourselves. That's just the way it is with parents. We would do anything for our kids.

Reflect on this for a moment. If we feel this way about our kids, just think of what lengths God goes to in caring for us, his children. I don't think we have a clue. Psalm 36:5 puts it this way, "Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." What a great picture of the greatness of God's love. And then this verse from I John 3:1 drives home the truth. Here from The Message: "What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it-we're called children of God! That's who we really are."

If you are a parent, hug your child today. If you are a child, hug your parent today. If you are a child of God, embrace his love for you today. He would do anything for you. Remember that. Always.

12-12-12

I like numbers. I like finding discrepancies. I like finding transposition errors. My love for numbers is a good thing, seeing how numbers is my job! Numbers are getting a lot of attention right now. This year, in particular, we've had a couple of fun dates. We had October 11, 2012. Or 10/11/12. Today, there's lots of hype around 12/12/12. It was fun dating documents today. I know. I find joy in some strange things.

Today, for fun, I searched on the number twelve in the Bible. Twelve is a really important number in the Bible. Jacob had twelve sons. Naturally, this directly correlates with the twelve tribes of Israel. Offerings in the Old Testament frequently consisted of groupings of twelves. Twelve each of bulls, rams, lambs and goats. Move to the New Testament and Jesus was twelve years old when he preached in the temple. When he began his ministry, he chose twelve disciples. After feeding five thousand, the disciples gathered up twelve basketfuls of broken bread. Read Revelations, and you'll find references to twelve all over the place: stars, gates, angels, pearls, foundations and crops.

Jump out of the Bible and into our daily life and twelve is important in the order of our lives. Think about it. We have two twelve hour sections in each day. Look on the clock dial and there are twelve five-minute sections in each hour. We have twelve months in a year. We have twelve inches in a foot. A search on the internet reminded me that twelve is a dozen and there are twelve days of Christmas.

While December 12, 2012 is really just another twenty four day in the many days of our lives, I can't help but marvel at the fun-ness of the day. For some strange reason, it helps me feel closer to God. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because he obviously has an affection for the number twelve. And today is about as twelve-ish as we can get.

"Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven." Job 25:1-3

Can you see it?

Christmas is fourteen days away. Focus in...can you see it? Once you see it, you'll wonder how you could have missed it!

In the midst of the presents, remember His presence.

May you experience pure joy this Christmas season!

Christmas Prequel

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Christmas is coming. It's December. Duh! The newspaper is chubby with big box and departments store flyers. Advent candles are lit during Sunday services. Cousin Eddie, George Bailey, Charlie Brown and Rudolph are nightly entertainment stars. And it's impossible to shop without encountering the infamous Salvation Army bell ringers.

For Christians, Christmas is a pivotal season in our faith calendar. Jesus, we know and believe, is the reason for the season. As I reflected on a Christmas blog post, I was struck by the realization that I needed to rewind. Really rewind. Rewind back to the reason we need Christmas. The plain, simple, yet totally heavy reason we need Christmas. Sin. My sin. Your sin. The world's sin. Now the following truth is not new, nor is it surprising, but I simple do not dwell on it. I AM A SINNER.

Four words with a need for emphasis. I am a sinner. I am a sinner. My actions are my responsibility alone. I cannot blame someone else for the things I do that I shouldn't, or the things that I don't do that I should. I am to blame. I am a sinner. As in present tense. However I choose to act today, I will sin. Period. I am a sinner. I guess this is where I have company. I'm just one in a world full of sinners. In fact, a world of ALL sinners. I am a sinner. There you have it. I am not perfect. Boy do I know it. Never was, never will be, at least not in this world.

There it is. The Christmas prequel. A world of sinners, in need of a Savior. God knew our need. God loved us so much that he gave us a solution. His only son. Jesus. God's gift to the world. Reflect on what that means in your life. And then understand this: if you believe that Jesus is your Savior and confess your sins, you'll be forgiven of all your sin. Once you've made that decision, don't live in the past, don't dwell on your sin, and don't wallow in self-pity. Dwell on his marvelous sacrifice. If that doesn't demand the ultimate happy dance, I don't know what does!

I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall  not perish but have eternal life."

Are you dancing yet?

Access denied

Passwords. Strong passwords. Pass codes. For my job alone, I use upwards of a dozen different user names and passwords to access systems. Add to that my personal bank, credit card, FaceBook, email and website passwords, and I could fill a small notebook with login instructions. Of course we all know that writing down passwords is a big no no, so it's no wonder that I frequently forget passwords.

Forgetting passwords is frustrating. "Access denied" or "password incorrect" messages drive me crazy. I just want to log in and take care of business. Thankfully, I've always able to access my accounts with a reset password or a security question answered correctly.

Tapping into spiritual joy demands a password as well. Unlike computer passwords, our spiritual password is simple. Too simple for some people to understand. For this reason, I've always wondered why some Christians have such a hard time being joyful and praising God. Upon reflection, I've realized that some folks have literally forgotten the password. While some Christians are logged in and connected to the ultimate praise line, others are struggling to reconnect because they are chained to their world of worry, doubt and self-imposed guilt.

Praise God that he sent Jesus to set us free from our bondage!  God reminds us of his promise in Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

The password is simple. REPENT and BELIEVE. Believe in Jesus as your personal Savior and you are right with God. Write it down on your heart. Etch it deep in your soul. It is truth. It is life. It is simple.

Psalm 89 from the Message:
"Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of GOD, delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do - they can't keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - you've been so good to us! We're walking on air! All we are and have we owe to GOD, Holy God of Israel, our King!"

Pure Gold

My heart ached this past week as I read a colleague's latest Care Page. In his update he shared a worry that his six year old son's cancer may have returned. His son has battled and conquered a years long cycle of cancer and remission, cancer and remission. Looming before them is the prospect of yet another round of chemotherapy. Too much pain for a precious child. So much heart wrenching grief for parents and siblings.

We look to the right and see sickness. We look to the left and see pain. We look straight ahead and see broken relationships. Hardship seems to lurk around every corner. Yet somehow, God is always at work, strengthening those who endure these trials in amazing, miraculous ways. We watch close friends persevere through serious illness. We witness the rock solid strength God provides following a husband's death.

My devotions this past week brought me to these verses in I Peter, chapter One, here from the Message:

"What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven - and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put into the fire comes out of it proved pure, genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory."

My simple mind would never compare suffering to gold. But there it is. Written down in black and white. In God's Word. The simple truth of this Scripture paints a beautiful picture of suffering. Out of curiosity, I needed to know more, so naturally I researched gold's refining process. Here's what I learned.

Refining gold by flame is one of the earliest known methods, used back in Bible times. A craftsman would sit near an intense fire and tend to the molten gold, stirring and skimming off the impurities that rose to the top. Think of God as the craftsman, the fire as sufferings and trials, and the gold as our spiritual selves. Here's where the beautiful picture part comes in. If we realize that God is right there, sitting alongside the intense fire, carefully skimming the impurities from our molten gold, we might begin to understand the importance of trials in our lives. Follow along a little further.

We have to be careful not to fall for Pyrite, or Fool's Gold. Fool's Gold looks so much like real gold that it's easy to be duped. But there is a simple test to tell the difference between the two. Take a hammer to Pyrite and it shatters. Take a hammer to pure gold and it flattens or expands. So there you have it! Simply stated; if we trust only in ourselves and not in God, life shatters under the pressure of its trials and sufferings. But a life lived in proved faith only flattens or expands under the pounding pressure of sickness, devastation and loss.

You may be experiencing the hammering of life's circumstances right now. You may feel you've been handed the short stick. But know this: you will not shatter. You will not break. YOU are the real deal.

Intense heat will be painful. Refining will be necessary. Proved gold is priceless.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. Turkey Day. Food fest. November 22, 2012. The day before Black Friday. A day off from work. Just plain Thursday. Whatever you choose to call it, we celebrate a national holiday this week that causes us to reflect on thankfulness.

For a couple of years in a row, I kept a Thanksgiving journal. Paging through those journals was fun because I got a chance to see what I was thankful for in 2008 and 2009. Interestingly enough, I am thankful for many of those same things today. I hope you don't mind if I share a few of my journal entries with you.

11/5/08: 1- A GREAT God! 2-Cookie Dough 3- Reliable transportation

11/11/08: 1- Life! 2-Natalie's life!! Thanks be to God for sparing her life after carbon monoxide poisoning! 3-Carbon monoxide detectors.

11/21/08: 1-Morning hugs 2-The Bible 3-Hope basketball

11/23/09: "I am thankful for a warm November! 50s and sunny lots of days is a treat I don't take for granted."  Hmmmm sounds familiar this year!

11/24/09: "Oh, I'm so thankful for those good ole' thrift shops. Bibles for Mexico was great! Spending two hours nosing through clothes and 'junk' is a blast! Now I can make a Christmas trinket for all my Business Services friends for cheap. If that's not grand, I don't know what is. :)"

12/26/09: "I am thankful for JPs and coffee! What a great place to go with Randy. We can be together, people-watch, and stroll downtown together. It's one of my favorite things to do!"

As you can see, it doesn't take much to amuse me. I always want to be thankful and aware of the simple things in life. I want to cherish the most random things in life and never take them for granted. Thanksgiving helps me remember all the things, big and small, that make my life wonderful. From cookie dough to the Bible, God has given me incredible blessings.

During the rest of this month, I encourage you to reflect on those things for which you are thankful.  If you feel so moved, please share your thoughts and comments.

Psalm 136: 1-3:
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love endures forever."

Praise God for his forever love. Thanks be to God!

Gadgets, electrodes and cameras

I snore. I also have impressive tonsils. I learned the first to be true from my husband and the second from my otolaryngologist. Because I’d like to have a rested, happy hubby, and because I’d also like to be healthy, we decided it best for me to seek out a solution. The first step toward a solution is an appointment at the sleep clinic. This is not a “visit” to the sleep clinic. This is not a few hour nap at the sleep clinic. This is an ENTIRE night at the sleep clinic. My night occurred on Thursday of this week.

 I arrived at the clinic with a positive attitude...an “I can sleep anywhere” attitude. Well, here's how the night went. Arrived 8:30. Filled paperwork and then had about 45 minutes of electrode attachment. Legs. Chest. Head. Then a gadget was inserted into my nose with a stiff attachment that hung over my mouth. A microphone attached to my throat. After this procedure, the technician disappeared to test out the devices. Over the intercom he gave me commands to follow. “Close your eyes for 30 seconds.” “Blink five times.” “Look left. Look right. Look up. Look down.” Wiggle your right leg. Now your left.” Throughout the night, I was told I would be monitored. Cameras were focused on the bed to record my movements. The microphone recorded my every noise. The electrodes recorded my eye movement and brain activity. Even my pulse and breathing were monitored. If I needed anything during the night, I only had to speak and the technician would hear and accommodate my request.

When I went to the bathroom before bedtime, I looked like a person on life support! Anyway, I decided I was tired at 10:30, so the technician plugged me in and turned the lights out. Amazingly, it took only about 15 minutes to fall sleep. And then...ZINGA...at 11:45 I woke up like a lightning bolt had jolted me awake. And so it was for 3 hours. Wide awake! Mr. Sandman was in my eyes, but could I find a way to fall back asleep? Not a chance. When I did finally fall asleep somewhere near 3 a.m. it felt like a really light sleep.

During that entire three hours I did not ask for assistance. I did not speak out other than to mutter an expletive in frustration at about 2:30 a.m. Even though I knew I was in good hands, with someone watching over me for the duration, I chose to work it out on my own. Those were three mighty long hours. Looking back, I wonder how things might have gone if I’d only asked for help. Had I asked for lights, I might have been able to get sleepy by reading. Had I asked for the tv, maybe I would have fallen asleep to a boring program. Did I ask the expert who could have offered assistance? No. I had to do it my way. And so it was that I chose to suffer alone, in silence.

You and I share a great technician. Sometimes it’s hard for us to remember that we  have someone who is totally plugged into our lives. Someone who knows about our movements and our brain activities. Someone who cares about our struggles and our sufferings. Someone who is waiting for us to whisper his name and ask for assistance. He does not want us to suffer alone. In fact, God waits for us to seek him out. He tells us if we seek him, we will find him. In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

In one of the most beautiful Psalms, David tells of God’s constant presence, everywhere! I encourage you to read the whole of Psalm 139, but I’ve shared selected verses below.

1 O Lord, you have searched me
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

Comfort. Assistance. Love. All it takes is a whisper. He is waiting.

Who was voted in?

Yesterday I worked the General Election. I spent fifteen plus hours working at our township's Precinct #1. Call me twisted, but I thoroughly enjoy being an election worker! There's something truly patriotic about learning the intricacies of the voting process and following the strict rules set in place before, during and after an election.

As my fellow workers and I went through pre-opening procedures, a growing crowd gathered outside in the chilly darkness. Following the, "Hear ye, hear ye, the polls are now open" command, it was exciting to see folks pour through the doors at the early hour of 7:00 a.m. A static energy filled the air. I felt proud to be an American. The steady stream of humanity continued all day and made it apparent that voters were passionate about their candidates.

By the time I arrived home just before ten, it was apparent that a victor was ready to be announced. The media simply waited for Pacific coast polls to close before "calling" the presidential race. With the country equally divided between the candidates, I realized that a full one-half of Americans would wake to disappointment in the morning. The passion of Election Day would be followed by either celebration or disbelief.

Regardless of how you cast your vote, I'm positive you chose the candidate you felt was right to lead our country. You may have done some research. You may have sought advice from your family. You may have chatted with your friends. In the end, you selected your candidate based on his words, his actions, his convictions, his platform, or maybe even his appearance. But in spite of our best efforts, we really don't know the true state of our candidate's heart.

The opposite is true of our Elector. In case you need clarification, our Elector is God! Now I know with certainty that I am not a candidate worthy to be listed on God's ballot! My words, my actions and my thoughts do not warrant a selection on his slate. But I am blessed! You are blessed. WE are blessed. For God does not choose us based on our merit, but rather through his mercy, his grace and his love. He checks our name and records it in his Book of Life. The polls are closed and we have been chosen as God's elect!

Skeptical? Don't take my word for it. Read it here from the Scriptures:

2 Thessalonians 2:13-16

"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

1 Peter 2:9-12

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Fall back...

Tonight we change our clocks back an hour to mark the end of Daylight Savings time. I don't know about you, but I LOVE this night of the year. I appreciate the extra hour of sleep and I almost always go to bed my normal time so that I really do get the benefit from the extra hour. I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it!  ;)

You would think we have a time addiction at our house, given the number of clocks we own. We have wall clocks, a mantel clock, alarm clocks, an oven clock, a microwave clock and even a cuckoo clock. Add to that our cell phones and my handy Indiglo Timex watch and we definitely should have no problem being on time. Yet for some reason we seldom are.

Time matters in our society. Employees punch time clocks. Business men set meeting times. Athletes strive for record times. Parents set nap times for their babies, bedtimes for their toddlers, and curfew times for their teenagers. We frown on being tardy for school. We are glared at for being late to church, to weddings and for funerals.

And then comes the question of spare time. How do I, how do we, fill our spare time? Housework? T.V.? Facebook? XBox? With Friends? With Family? Alone? With God? Quiet time with God is important for seeking and understanding his will. If I fill every moment of every day with activity,  I have a good chance of missing God's voice in my life. Why would I risk losing his extraordinary presence in my seemingly very ordinary life?

The answer is simple. For the most part, I choose my plans over God's plans. My God eyes get blurry because I'm focused solely on my earthly needs and wants. I need to remind myself that he desires to meet with me every day. I just need to choose him. I simply need to leave my housework and listen to Jesus.

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV):

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feetlistening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed.^[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

What will you do with your time today? I choose to be a Mary. Will you join me?

Repellent

Everyone is focused on “Perfect Storm,” Hurricane Sandy. I’m not sure what is perfect about a storm that wreaks havoc on one-third of our nation’s population, but I'm praying for those left in its wake. Even here in West Michigan, it’s been a Mary Poppins kind of day with whipping winds and spitting rain. Driving home today, I had my windshield wipers on delay mode. Watching the rain dance off my windshield reminded me of an action I took last time I hand washed my car.

I’m a person that loves to wash my car in the driveway. I get huge satisfaction squirting, soaping, scrubbing and buffing. There’s nothing like seeing a car go from dusty dirty to gleaming shiny. Occasionally, part of my routine includes the additional task of treating my windshield with rain repellent. If you have never done this, or had it done at your local car wash, you really need to try it. It’s amazing! One application of rain repellent lasts for weeks. Instead of rain splashing and smearing on your windshield, rain drops dance and race off your windshield like track stars!

Repellents keep rain off our windshields, mosquitoes off our bodies and bugs out of our homes. If we are wise, we use repellent for our safety, for our health and for our sanity. Paul writes about the ultimate repellent for a believer in his letter to the Ephesians. I’m sure you have heard about this repellent. It’s better known as The Armor of God. Read it here, from the NIV, in Ephesians 6:

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

To repel rain, use a glass treatment. For mosquitoes, use bug spray. For spiritual protection, don the armor of God. Be wise. Wear it every day.

Going Bananas

I get joy from the simple things in life. Little things. Normally unnoticed things. Today, my joy was my banana. Now, not all bananas are created equal. Far from it! For me, Chiquita bananas beat Dole or DelMonte bananas, hands down. Besides the texture and flavor, I like the little stickers that Chiquita puts on their bananas. This morning's banana sported a sticker that announced, "Raised with Tender Loving Care." Today, it showed.

Normally a banana is my mid-morning snack of choice during the work week. Usually, I peel my banana, hold it in my left hand and eat it while keying data into my computer with my right hand. Not today! Today, after I peeled my banana, I instantly noticed its perfection. It was beautiful. Not a blemish, not a mark, not a meely area existed on this amazing piece of fruit! I commented such to my coworker, who, while thinking me totally crazy, did indeed agree!

Take a look-see for yourself:




















Now, I had no idea that I was in for this treat. Before I peeled this banana, it appeared to be an ordinary banana. Sure, it looked about the right yellow to be ripe and not hard and bitter tasting. The peel had a few blemishes and dark spots that accompany your typical banana.

Take a look-see:

You just know it, don't you? You're right! I spotted God in
my morning banana. Transfer the peel to our human flesh. Most people are pretty ordinary. Looking, I mean. I know I am. When we look at people on the outside, we see blemishes. A few wrinkles. A sprinkling of gray hair. A crooked nose. Cracked teeth. We think what we see is what we get. Far from it! God created us, you and me, to perfection.

In the midst of praising God for his greatness and holiness and hugeness, David speaks of human creation in Psalm 139:13-16 (here, from The Message):

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out, you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body. You know exactly how I was made; bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."

Don't ever believe that you are ordinary. God created you to be extraordinary! Perfect in every way! God placed a sticker on you that announces, "Made with Loving Care!"

A Vacant House

Today I helped my husband. He owns his own sprinkling business and October is a big month for system winterizations. I think it's fun to watch the sprinklers pop up and spit out their last water for the season. The stream of water eventually turns to a ghostly mist that dances in circles and signals a clear line. My job is to watch zone after zone complete this process and ensure that all heads retract back into their homes in the ground.

Our customers this afternoon were a pair of condominium complexes. We were on the second complex and I was being a good worker, staying diligent to my task. But as I waited for a zone to clear, I spotted a nest on the ground. It was a wasp nest. An empty nest.


Well, of course, once something in nature captures my attention, I need to learn more about it. It seems that wasps build their nests just like we build our houses. It's the place to raise a family. Makes sense to me. After a summer of life, all the wasps die, with the exception of the Queen wasp. Their houses are left vacant. Empty.





Unfortunately for wasps, that is the end of life. I'm glad I'm not a wasp!

The Bible tells us that our bodies are houses, or temples even! At the end of our earthly lives, we will vacate our houses, but unlike wasps, we will be given new homes, heavenly ones. Imagine that! In Corinthians 5:1 (NLV) we read, "Our body is like a house we live in here on earth. When it is destroyed, we know that God has another body for us in heaven. The new one will not be made with human hands as a house is made. This body will last forever."

What a comfort to know that when we wear out our earthly bodies, God is ready with new, improved, eternal bodies! Eternal, as in FOREVER! I may not be ready to vacate this "home" just yet, but when the time comes, what a deal I'll be getting on my trade-in!

Did you hear the one about...?

One of my work friends sent me a joke today. It was a good, clean joke. One I would call a "groaner" joke. With the ease of email and the internet, jokes can be shared with just a few keystrokes. At my previous job, we loved circulating blonde jokes. Our target was one of our coworkers who happened to be a blonde. She took no offense at the jokes; in fact, she shared some of her own because she was nothing like the subjects in the blonde jokes. She was intelligent, sweet and reserved. 

We learn jokes early. Even preschoolers thrive on a memorized "knock, knock" joke they love to recite to anyone within earshot. Unfortunately, for most teens and adults, the jokes we share take on a malicious tone. These jokes make fun of ethnicity, occupation and intelligence. I'm ashamed to admit that I've told or listened to these jokes far too often.

Scripture talks a great deal about the tongue and our speech.

Proverbs 11:12 - "Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue."

Proverbs 12:18 - "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Proverbs 15:4 - "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."

James 3:9 - "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness."

Lately, I've become more aware of the power of the spoken word. I am renewing my commitment to follow Jesus' example. Jesus embraced and spoke up for the outcast, the outsider, and the down and out. So I am trying hard to think before I speak. For me, this is nearly impossible! BUT, so far, I've learned the joy in sharing a word of encouragement. I've seen the smile in response to a compliment. I've experienced the blessing from an act of selflessness. I have a long journey in front of me, but what a companion I have alongside me!

Psalm 15:

Who can live in your tent, LORD? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?
The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely; who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn't insult a neighbor; someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the LORD; someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts; someone who doesn't lend money with interest, who won't accept a bribe against an innocent person. Whoever does these things will never stumble."

The leaves are talking

Fall reminds me of how much God loves us. Think about it. He could have created trees to bear green leaves all year long. He could have made trees bear green leaves and then drop those same green leaves in the fall. He could have simply made evergreens with no leaves at all. But no; God, our amazing Creator, gifted us with an annual fall feast for our eyes. I am looking at that feast as I sit in my cozy family room gazing out our front wall of windows. Even though the day is dreary, rainy and downright nasty, I can’t keep my eyes from soaking in the colored burst of brightness.

Leaves get me thinking about how human life parallels the life cycle of a leaf. Really. No kidding. Allow me some leeway here.  Let’s go back to spring. Spring brings about new life. We wait in anticipation for the buds covering those bare trees to bust out into full foliage. We watch those buds for what seems like weeks until suddenly, almost overnight, the world is green.  Those buds transform into fully developed, mature leaves. Over the summer, we seem to take the leaves for granted. We really don’t notice them until we seek refuge in their shade from the heat of the sun. Then we wait. And wait.  Sometimes we dread the coming change of seasons. Sometimes it just plain sneaks up on us and catches us unaware. Either way, fall is upon us, and with it the beauty of the trees. Some trees display golden leaves. Some show orange. Some carry red. Others simply burn brown. But there is no doubt about it. They are all beautiful. At the end of their stunning display, they shed their leaves to end this cycle of life.

And so it is with humans. Think of a single tree as a couple, man and wife. Yes, God told man to “leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24). One tree, if you will. After some time, in pregnant anticipation, the couples awaits the birth of children. Babies. The buds. Those babies, in the blink of an eye, almost overnight, grow into adults. Full, mature leaves. For a season, life moves on, seemingly with a sameness, but all the while with a purpose that may go unnoticed. As we age, we bring the world a variety of color in our talent, in our occupation, in our service. The fall season has arrived. If the world pays attention to the wisdom of the aged, they are blessed with an abundance of knowledge. Knowledge of love. Knowledge of life. Knowledge of Jesus. Knowledge of our Savior. One by one, the aged pass into glory. My hope is that you have taken the time to relish in their beauty, in their wisdom and in their love.

The leaves are swept away, but the promise of new life is on the horizon.

Young or old, God tells us we are to listen, to learn and to educate.  From Titus, chapter 2:

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

The leaves are talking. Are you listening?

Getting fit...

It was my birthday recently. I have an early October birthday, for which I am grateful. I totally love the fall and the changing of the seasons. I'm not a stickler for gifts, and in my family we don't make a huge deal out of birthdays, but my dear, sweet aunt knows a gift I love. Although she knows that I know that she knows, she wrapped my gift anyway. And so I received this gift that I love...double dipped chocolate covered malted milk balls. From the Holland Peanut Store. Actually, I'm not fussy. I will take either kind. Milk chocolate. Dark chocolate. Doesn't matter. Even a mixture of both. And so it was with the gift from my aunt. Two plus pounds of double dipped chocolate covered malted milk balls. I actually have one stuffed in my cheek as I write! Oh, how I love sweets and oh, how I love to eat!

Unfortunately for me, when the calendar turns to October, there is this other event that also occurs. It's an event I dread. It's this thing that we do at work. It happens every year. Or at least that's how I choose to remember it. This thing is called "Walktober." It is what its name implies. It's a month where we are encouraged to walk, as individuals, or as a team. The minimum log amount is thirty minutes a day, the maximum sixty. This event is part of the Wellness program that encourages healthy lifestyle choices. Don't get me wrong; I understand the concept. But for me, I want to sit and eat double dipped chocolate covered malted milk balls. I do not want to walk. I know that sounds pathetic, but it's the truth.

The interesting part of the month of October is how this walking program pans out. Thinking about walking and setting aside the time for walking is what I actually dread. Once I'm on my way, walking through Window on the Waterfront or walking the wooded path on our property, I am actually enjoying myself. It fits with my love of fall and the beauty of nature. So while I'm walking, I ask myself, "What's your issue? You actually enjoy this!" And so continues the cycle throughout the month. The dread. The love.

Now I must confess, I often do the same thing when it comes to my personal devotion time. Don't misunderstand; I don't dread devotions, it's just that Bible time seems to take a backseat in my life if I'm not intentional about my time. It's hard for me to think about and plan devotions into my daily schedule.  Over time, I've learned that, just as in my quiet walking time, once I relax, open my Bible and immerse myself in The Word, my love for God and his truth amazes and delights me.

I realize that I need to incorporate a spiritual wellness program in my life to stay fit for life. Fit for God. Fit for service. Fit for eternity. Paul in his letter to Timothy, encourages him to do the same in 1 Timothy 4:7-10 from The Message:

"Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers,"  

Will you join me in God's fitness plan?

Footprints

I confess. I love the sun. I love the beach. I will rearrange my schedule to soak up a few rays. In these ever shrinking days, I am trying to squeeze out all the beachy-ness I can. Last Saturday, Lake Michigan called. I answered. I rolled up my jeans, kicked off my sandals, climbed the dune and joined the crowd. Of seagulls, that is. They were my sole companions. The sight that greeted me was breathtaking. Crisp, blue sky. Whitecaps. Driftwood. Footprints.

In the soft, dry, sandy area, footprints were a mass of chaos. Here. There. Everywhere. Leading nowhere in particular, like a throng of humanity lost with no sense of direction.

And then, along the shoreline, a single set of footprints were visible. They made a path with a straight and steady gait, clearly a walk with a purpose.

Such it is with our world. The mass of humanity searches for meaning and direction in life. The lost follow the lost. The noise of our world tries unceasingly to block out the message. Thankfully, there is a voice that rises above the static if we are willing to listen. We can follow the path of life with a straight and steady purpose, dancing along the way.

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 17:5 “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.”

Set your compass. Kick off your shoes. Place your feet in the footprints. Feel the wonder of the sand between your toes and follow the path of life.

Extravagance!

Buddy? Pal? Friend? How do you describe your relationship with God? Is he just one of the "guys" that you can talk to about anything; you just can't see him? Or is he Father, Lord, Jehovah? You view him as a very distant, very stern figure that you keep at arm's length. How about Creator, Holy One, God Almighty? He's a fall-on-your-knees, shiver-in-your-boots, tremble-at-his-name power source.

My relationship with God spans all three. To me, the Trinity makes perfect sense because I view God in three separate, but equally amazing ways. Jesus (God the Son) is my go-to guy. He knows what it's like to be human. He did it for over thirty years, so I can talk to him about anything. And in the end, he laid down his life for me! An undeserved, unbelievable sacrifice. God the Father commands my reverence. He gets angry. He shakes mountains. Yet he gives unconditional love. And the Holy Spirit? He's given me goose bumps, dropped me to my knees and brought tears to my eyes more times than I can count.

I wonder why it is then, that I tend to limit God. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I don't think I'm deserving of his attention. Maybe I don't trust him. Maybe I think he's too busy to deal with my petty problems. I can't put my finger on it. Sometimes, I think I expect God to be stingy. Sometimes, I think this is what I expect from God:

Plain and simple, I expect something I can handle. Small. A nice gift. Maybe just what I ask for. Certainly nothing extravagant. 

But God, I've found, has other plans. He loves to bestow blessings. He is generous. Extravagant. I love that word...extravagant. Something that I don't believe I deserve, but something that God loves to surprise me with. Extravagance. Time and time again, he reminds me. It's nothing I do to deserve it. It is his gift. I just need to accept it. Incredibly, this is what God gives me:

Something amazing. Something so big, I can't wrap my arms around it!

Ephesians 3:20-21:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Be amazed. Be astounded. Accept his extravagance! To God be the glory! AMEN!

Metamorphosis

I recently watched a You Tube video showing the life cycle of a butterfly. It was fascinating. In fact, I had to watch it several times. It made me realize that humans are a lot like caterpillars. Think about it. Some are hard and wrinkly. Others are soft and cuddly. Some you’d like to hold close, while others you’d like to keep at a distance. I feel kinda sorry for caterpillars. They spend their days on their bellies, crawling through the dirt and filth of the earth.  The life of a caterpillar doesn’t sound very attractive, but then I’m reminded of what is in store for them. They are about to undergo an amazing transformation. A true metamorphosis.

A caterpillar will find a leaf or branch, attach herself and begin the process of shedding her skin. Literally. After shedding her skin, she will bide her time in her chrysalis, or cocoon if you like, waiting until the transformation is complete. When she emerges, she will be changed, from the inside out. To think that a butterfly began life as caterpillar is nearly unfathomable. The change is incredible.

And so it is with mankind. We spend our lives, crawling through the world of unbelief. We desire, we lust, we crave after the things of this world, hoping to satisfy our hunger. Like the caterpillar, we need to shed our skin. Like the caterpillar, we need to attach ourselves. We need to attach ourselves to a vine. The true vine. We need to shed our skin through repentance. And then as we bide our time in our chrysalis, we find belief. This belief is in Jesus, as our Savior and Lord. And when we emerge, we will be changed, from the inside out.

Once the transformation is complete, we no longer crawl on our bellies. We soar on wings. Oh, the joy and the freedom. We are no longer slaves to sin, but heirs to an eternal kingdom.

Colossians 3:1-17 (The Message)

3 ^1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

^3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

^5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

^9-11 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

^12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

^15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

If you haven't changed your wardrobe, don't you think it's about time?

Polluted

Kayaking is one of my favorite leisure activities. The quiet, peaceful beauty of nature is one of the reasons I love kayaking. On our paddling adventures, we've enjoyed seeing sunning turtles, hunting herons, bathing ducks and a whole host of other wildlife. A few summers ago, we even startled a couple of wading deer. We've paddled rivers. We've paddled lakes. We've paddled close to home. We've paddled hundreds of miles from home.

There's one thing we occasionally see that drives me absolutely crazy. It makes me downright angry. The "it" is trash. Cans. Bottles. Tires. Oh yes, even an occasional appliance. They are the  result of careless, thoughtless, selfish behavior of humans polluting the otherwise unspoiled landscape. We can be miles downstream in a river, in an extremely remote location and suddenly we spot trash. Garbage. People's throwaway crap. Cluttering a pure, otherwise crystal clear stream.

I've been pondering pollution lately. A different kind of pollution. I call it Christian pollution, or maybe better yet, religious pollution. Mine is a simple faith. You see, Jesus told us we need to repent, believe and follow him. He is the way, the truth, the LIFE. He is the reason I live and move and have my being. Seems pretty simple, right? Well, it should be. Unfortunately, we tend to get hung up in traditions, sacraments, and rituals. We have rules regarding worship. Some Christians like to give big, flowery, intellectual speeches regarding being, or becoming followers of Jesus. I want to scream out, "It's NOT that difficult!"

This pollution is nothing new. Goodness, it has happened since Bible times. In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he wrote extensively about the subject.  I love his words in Chapter One out of The Message, from selected verses:

"Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. ...You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve...but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. ...God brought you alive-right along with Christ! Think about it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's Cross."

So that's it. Repent. Believe. Follow. Don't question the simplicity. Keep the river of life pure. Don't let the world's words and ways pollute the water of life. Keep it simple.

Glorious!

I couldn't let the opportunity slip by, so today's is a short little post. This morning as I turned off our drive onto the road, I literally gasped by the beauty to the east. God created a golden sunrise that screamed, "Glorious!" This was one of those days where I kick myself for not keeping my camera in the car, so unfortunately, if you didn't witness it yourself, you get the second-hand version from my cellphone camera. This picture does not do it justice, because Scripture literally came alive the moment I feasted my eyes on the morning sky.

From Psalm 19:1-4:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

Yes, the heavens and skies speak to us. Are you listening?

Rainbows

We just returned from a wonderful, relaxing kayaking trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Now if you've never been there, believe me, it is one of the most peaceful places in the entire country. On the northbound, downward slope of the Mackinac Bridge, you begin to feel the change. After the toll booth, you know you've entered an entirely different land. It's as if the pages of time have been turned back many years. Quiet. Serene. Wonderful.

We stayed in a comfortable cabin on an inland lake. We settled into a routine each day. Mornings found me sleeping well past my usual workday wake up time. For my husband, Randy, those same mornings were best enjoyed fishing solo in a little rowboat on the quiet, glassy waters of Millecoquins Lake. Wednesday morning was overcast and spitting rain, but Randy was still out fishing, relishing the lake's solitude. Luckily for me, he happened to take his cell phone with him that morning, and called me to share the news of a double rainbow stretching across the lake.

Now I've seen my share of rainbows. Partial rainbows. Full rainbows. Bright rainbows. Muted rainbows. But to the best of my recollection, I've never seen a rainbow where I could see the actual place where the rainbow touches the ground. And in this case, I could see this place at both ends. It was REALLY cool. The ground was bathed in a muted light that seemed surreal. As with most rainbows, the treat was rare and fleeting. A rainbow's life expectancy is minutes at most. That is what makes rainbows special.

While a rainbow's life span is brief and fleeting, the promise, or covenant behind it is lasting and forever. The story of Noah is a sad one. In it, we read that God grieved that he had made man. Man was so awful that God was sorry for creating him and "his heart was filled with pain." (Genesis 6:6b) Thankfully, Noah was the one righteous man who walked with God. Because of him, we have the assurance of God's covenant. Praise God that his promise is everlasting!

Refresh your memory with the words we find in Genesis 9:12-16: ¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

God's promises are everlasting. Believe it! You are witness to it each time you see his rainbow covenant!