She Ain't Blind...

Open thou mine eyes, that I

may behold wondrous things

out of thy law.

Psalm 119:18

Our family looked forward to visits with Aunt Rosie and Uncle Sheridan. They lived so far out in the country that I doubt there was a road map anywhere that would lead one to their farm. They didn't live on a hard road but on one that was mostly a cow path with some gravel spread over it. Driving there in the winter or during April showers was almost an impossibility. They didn't have a driveway...we just pulled up onto the front yard of the house.

Aunt Rosie would come out onto the front porch and welcome us with all the warmth of a country farmer's wife. After general greetings, she would go into the house and prepare a “lunch” that would put any chef to shame, with most of the food having come from her garden and smoke house.

As a little girl in grade school I always found something rather odd when we went to Aunt Rosie's. Always sitting on one end of the porch in a rocking chair was Grandma Mac. (Mac was short for McPherson). She was always seated in her rocking chair napping at times or just looking around at all of the nothing that was usually going on around her. She wore a house dress to her ankles, a bib apron and one of the biggest sun bonnets you would ever see. The brim of the sun bonnet was so wide, one had to stand right in front of her to see her face that seemed to be tucked into the back of the bonnet. She was Aunt Rosie's mother and was treated with the greatest of respect and tenderest of care. When meal time came, Aunt Rosie or Uncle Sheridan would retrieve Grandma Mac to seat her at the table first. Grandma Mac was almost totally deaf and I felt as a little girl that I was being disrespectful by hollering at her just to make myself heard.

It was obvious that Grandma Mac didn't see very well. She had to hold onto someone when walking not just because she was feeble but because it appeared that she was almost blind. I wasn't real sure how blind she was. During one visit, I was in the kitchen with Aunt Rosie because I loved to watch her cook. She could turn what seemed an awful lot of nothing into the biggest bunch of something to be found in anyone's kitchen. I loved the smells of her kitchen with so many things cooking all at once. I loved watching her work quickly and efficiently and wanted some day to seemingly waltz around a kitchen like she did, almost making music as she worked.

On this particular day, I got brave enough to ask Aunt Rosie a question. I asked her, “Aunt Rosie, is Grandma Mac blind?” She paused for a moment as if thinking about just how to answer my question. Aunt Rosie then with a partial smile said something more profound to me than she could ever know and that even I wouldn't grasp a principle from it until later years. She said, “Why Glendarae, she ain't blind...she just cain't see.” I must admit that at the time, I didn't really understand what she was trying to tell me.

A little over a year ago, I had cataract surgery done on both of my eyes. I knew my vision was bad and had been for awhile. It had gotten to where I had become quite hindered in many ways sight-wise, but it had happened so gradually it was hardly noticeable until it got to where I just had to have something done. During the week after my last surgery, Grandma Mac came to my mind. Probably 65 years ago, people may have had cataracts but no one really knew much about those things. Folks just expected that poor vision would come with the aging process.

More than anything, it was Aunt Rosie's comment that really came to my mind, not so much with regard to physical sight but thinking in spiritual terms. I know there are people who have become Christians, who have living within them the Holy Spirit. In many Christians though, there seems to be a kind of blindness. They seem to struggle with things of faith that are relatively elementary, easily seen and discerned. One could ask them about their faith and they would attest to God's saving grace in their lives. I guess one could say that they “ain't blind...they just cain't see.”

You see, really seeing Jesus, minus spiritual cataracts takes effort on a Christians part. It takes time building a relationship with Jesus. There are no shortcuts...the cataracts of sin must be removed on a regular basis or the brightness of life with the Lord can dim, become clouded and even unfruitful. Jesus will remove those cataracts but those with them must be willing participants. When I had my surgery, the surgeon didn't come to my house begging to remove the cataracts from my eyes. I had to recognize the problem and seek the help of an expert. I had to first recognize there was a problem and that something had to be done about it. I also had to decide to have surgery to take care of the problem. No one else could do it for me.

Today, God's desire is that we have a clear view of Himself. We need to see Him clearly in His Word, in times of prayer and in receiving the Word through teaching and preaching. When physical cataracts are removed, it's amazing the change that takes place in ones sight...colors seem much clearer and the sunshine is so bright that sunglasses are necessary for a few weeks while the eyes adjust to the new brightness. 

There's nothing like walking in the freedom and brightness of the Light of the world. There is sin that can be a part of our lives that can take hold so gradually that at first we don't see spiritual light becoming more and more dim. Then one day, we literally wake up spiritually. We know we “ain't blind” but we do recognize that we “just cain't see.” May you and I stay alert to the things of God, keeping our spiritual eyes washed out so that we can have the spiritual insight necessary to walk with the Lord in the full light of His presence.

Come to the Light

Tis shining for thee

Sweetly the Light

Has dawned upon me

...once I was blind,

but now I can see.

The Light of the world

is Jesus.

Dear Father...I pray for a clarity of spiritual sight. I want any spiritual cataracts of sin removed that I might walk in the full light of Your Son. I always want to see You and Your will clearly in my life. Forgive me for allowing the things of this world to dim my vision. Thank You for loving and saving me...for shining Your light into my life. May I walk worthy of this wonderful relationship You have made possible in my life. In Jesus precious name....Amen

Lest We Forget

The memory of the just

is blessed....

Proverbs 10:7a

Our next door neighbor and another gentleman just down the road have peony bushes in their yards that bring back wonderful memories when I look at them. Some of the bushes have white blossoms and others have deep pink ones. I don't think I ever saw those in Texas so seeing them here has brought back the warmest of memories for me. These bushes remind me more of Memorial Day than any flowers I can remember. We had these bushes that lined the back of our yard during my growing up days.

My Mother began in March or April each year collecting tomato juice cans. They would be washed after use and carefully stored. They awaited the day when they would be lined up, peonies and perhaps some additional flowers put in them and then water would be added when we arrived at certain designated cemeteries. You see, it was Memorial Day weekend although that's not what we called it. My Mother always referred to that last Monday in May as Decoration Day. We would make our pilgrimages to three different cemeteries...two on Saturday and one on Monday.

Monday's trip to Hickory Hill Cemetery where my Dad's relatives were buried was our favorite place to go. When I was around 8 years old and my little sister was about 5, we loved Hickory Hill because Decoration Day was REALLY a day there. Everyone met at the cemetery by about 10:00 in the morning. People bustled around the grave stones placing flowers and wreathes of every sort beside at each grave. Even those stones that seemed to be ignored were given attention perhaps for the only time in a year. There were certain men though who had a special job. They were veterans from most branches of the service. Some were new arrivals back from the front while others were veterans of World War I. They were the only ones who placed flags at the graves of those buried there who were fallen soldiers. Things seemed to get quiet when those men went into that small country cemetery carrying those flags. Children asked to help but they were given quiet but polite refusals. 

With flowers in place and flags put at appropriate graves, it was time to EAT! Some men had been assigned to bring their saw horses from home with long boards to lay on them. Within minutes those men had put together the longest table you would ever want to see. The women would then take over and I do mean, take over. Clean white bed sheets were spread over the tables for tablecloths and then came the food. Never in my life since have I seen a spread of food like that. Each family brought baskets of food. No paper plates or cups could be found and no plastic dinnerware. No casseroles could be found on that long table. Casseroles were considered a product of lazy cooks. There was turkey, chicken & dumplins', sliced ham fresh out of the smoke house, fried chicken, and sliced roast beef. Then came the veggies...you name them and they were there, mostly fresh from the garden. Then if you were still able to walk after all of that, there were the desserts...every kind of pie (no frozen ones in those days), cakes of all sorts, fresh fruits...wow! Then to wash that down were gallons of sweet iced tea made from country well water. No iced tea in the world tastes like that. There were gallons of hot coffee for those who preferred it. Chairs and blankets had been brought from home. Ladies cleaned up, men sat around talking or playing washers and horse shoes. Babies & toddlers slept on blankets while we kids played hide and seek in the cemetery. 

All of this for what?...three words...”Lest We Forget.” As a little girl, during those post World War II days, I would see those three words frequently emblazoned on stone markers and statues. You see, Memorial Day wasn't designated a holiday for folks to put flowers at their grandparents grave even though Decoration Day came to include everyone who had passed away and the opportunity of remembering them on a special day. Decoration Day, as it was called originally, really started toward the end of the Civil War and it wasn't a federal holiday at the time. Different states honored their fallen dead at various times and places but most seemed to settle on doing this in the month of May.

By the 20^th century, Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who died in all wars, not just the Civil War. Decoration Day became Memorial Day, the official name by Federal law in 1967. The following year, it joined three other holidays in becoming Monday holidays so as to accommodate a three day weekend. Many protested this move as Memorial Day could become a day of misuse and it did. For most, it just became another holiday weekend.

Lest we forget...those service men and women who have paid the ultimate price that you and I might be free. You see, we really have known nothing but freedom in this great country of ours since it's breaking away from England in it's early days. That freedom has been costly and yes necessary for the sake of those who view war as senseless and unnecessary. I remember my Mother and Daddy sobbing when they learned that my Dad's best man and best friend had been killed in Europe during World War II. They grieved but were so proud of him. There was never a grave in our town for Charlie as he was buried somewhere in Europe. 

We have all known those who gave the ultimate...lest we forget. There are still those who are faithfully fulfilling service for our country who are alive and functioning somewhere in the world...lest we forget. There are those who have returned from service, some broken in body and some in spirit...lest we forget.

I realize that Memorial Day is a week away. I write at this time so that we might have a few days to ponder and remember. Perhaps we will take some time to place flowers on the graves of loved ones but in that same cemetery, when we see a military marker, we might just pause and say a quiet, “Thank you.”

There is One I like to remember on Memorial Day as well. He didn't die for a certain country and its citizens. He died for every citizen of every country. He did battle for us all against the greatest enemy there could ever be. The one I speak of gave His life on a cross that I might live and breathe the air of spiritual freedom. His name is Jesus...lest I forget.

Thank You Father, for allowing me to be born in this great country. I know it's not a perfect country but I'll put it up against any other. Thank You for the freedoms of America that I tend to take for granted. Mostly, I thank You for the free spiritual air You have given me to breathe and enjoy. Thank You for Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen

How Great Things

Only fear the Lord, and serve

him in truth with all your heart:

for consider how great things

he hath done for you.

I Samuel 12:24

Because of a Sunday school lesson, I was brought to this Scripture. This and the two verses that precede this verse are wonderful nuggets that should not only be underlined in our Bibles but should be visited by us from time to time. 

Samuel at the time of his speaking to the children of Israel was the high priest. He hadn't been all he should have been as a high priest. Taken to the temple at the young age of weaning to be under the influence of Eli, the then high priest, Samuel hadn't been in the best of situations. Eli had two sons who were as evil as could be and Samuel had done little if anything to restrain those sons. When Samuel came to the high priesthood in his mature years, he followed in Eli's footsteps in the rearing of his children. Many would have considered that Samuel didn't have much credibility in speaking as he did but Samuel was a godly man that God had allowed to be in that position. Samuel knew enough to know in looking back that God had been wonderfully good to the children of Israel.

In this verse I'm emphasizing, Samuel spoke sage words that contained not only words of instruction, but words of blessing as well. This is a verse that trickles down to us even today, so I'm taking it apart for our easier mental consumption:

• God's people are to only fear the Lord.
  The people were back home in Israel. Their country had been settled by the most ungodly of people who worshiped various idols and committed dastardly deeds in the name of those idols. All of this had happened while they were in Egypt. The eyes of Israel were to be focused on the one true God...no wandering eyes into the other camp. That fear is not the scared-to-death kind of fear even today, but an awesome, wonderment view of God....a healthy view of God, His might, power and ability to function on their behalf and ours today as well. We are to be honed in on our own God, refusing to be distracted by the gods of this world that would draw us apart.
• Serve Him in truth with all your heart.
  What is it to serve God in truth? I believe it has to do with that “want-to” that comes with serving the Lord. Many people are serving the Lord but how many really want to do what they are doing for Him or do they serve with dread and a feeling of being burdened. No matter the task I'm called to serve in, can I honestly before God say how happy I am doing what I'm doing without some kind of pretense before or because of others? This phrase goes further suggesting that whatever we do, we are to do it with ALL our hearts. I am thinking about a second grade Sunday school teacher at my former church who has served in that department I think for close to 40 years. I can't imagine her being more enthused when she started than she is right now working with those children. She has an ongoing enthusiasm for that work and no one can doubt that she serves with her whole heart.
• For consider how great things He hath done for you.
  We don't take a lot of time to consider much of anything anymore with our busy lives and schedules. It does well for us though to stop frequently and think about, ponder and consider the things of God and His blessings on our behalf. Samuel wanted the people to consider the great things God had done for them. When we think of great things that happen in our lives, we think of the biggie events but every single thing God does for us is a great thing. What might be great to me, might be a tiny thing to you but any of God's works in our lives is precious and should often thought be upon with gratitude at every opportunity. This should also cause us to be alert to things that occur moment by moment in recognizing His present and ongoing work in our lives. We are such a blessed people, thus we should also be a grateful and considerate people.
  
  Samuel in this portion of Scripture reviewed much of Israel's history and all of the ways God had led, blessed and in many instances, rescued and protected His own. Samuel was doing all he could to pull the people back to reality as to who they were in the sight of God. I love the promise Samuel relates to the people in verse 22 of this chapter:

For the Lord will not forsake

his people for his great name's

sake: because it hath

pleased the Lord to make

you his people.

I love this verse as I think of our own country and it's heritage. God hasn't forsaken our country and has protected us unlimited times. He's provided for us even in times we haven't deserved it. Our country was founded on godly principles by men who were as human as the rest of us. Our country has prospered as we have kept God in our sights. I believe from Scripture that one thing, perhaps the main thing that could bring us down at this point is going to be with our support of Israel or lack thereof. God's promise to bless those who bless His people is still in effect as are opposite dealings. We can claim this promise of His presence on a very personal level. God hasn't forsaken us and has done that based on His own personal honor and reputation....his great name's sake. 

I love that it has pleased, or made Him happy to make us His people. He delights in you and me and has never been sorry that He brought us Himself. I know there are a lot of times God hasn't liked some of the things I've done, many of the attitudes I've had but despite it all, He is pleased having me in His family. Those of us who are parents know the joy of bringing children into our families, so we can get an idea how God feels about His parenthood of us. Thank goodness, His parenthood is totally loving and unconditional despite those things we might do that disappoint Him. You and I have every reason to feel totally accepted by God as we are His very own. That is mind blowing to have that kind of acceptance and for God our Father to be so happy about it.

Thank you Samuel for your words of wisdom not only to your own people but to us as well as the Word of God continues to reach down to where we are right now. We are blessed people and may our days be filled with serving sincerely and recognizing regularly all of God's goodness. In it all, God is so pleased that I am His and I have to say that I'm just as happy with that as He is.

****************************************

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for accepting me unto Yourself and for being so happy to have me as Your own. I pray I will not disappoint you. I want to always be grateful for Your goodness in my life. I want to serve You faithfully and lovingly. You are so deserving of my praise and worship and I love you at this moment more than I ever have. Amen!

God's Handiwork

For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good

works, which God hath before

ordained that we should

walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

My grandmother on my Mother's side was Mima Marshall.  She and her husband immigrated from Scotland when they were young marrieds.  She never wanted to be called Grandma, or Grand-anything for that fact.  We were to call her Mom but it had to be spelled "M-a-m."  She was reserved in personality until she got acquainted and then could be very outgoing.  When I think of Mom, I think of several things and each left a distinct impression me, especially in one area.

I've been reading in Ephesians and often use more than one translation in such a process.  I came to the verse above and saw the word "workmanship."  However, I noticed elsewhere that "workmanship" can be translated "handiwork."  The minute I saw that word "handiwork" I thought immediately of Mam.  When I was young, if a woman did any crocheting, knitting, embroidery, etc., that was referred to as handiwork.  I watched through the years as my grandmother made countless sweaters, embroidered dishtowels (some I still have), crochet edgings on pillow cases, crocheted doilies and knit socks...and on and on.  I never lacked for warm mittens or gloves in the wintertime.  I don't think there was any handiwork she couldn't do.  To this day, I am so grateful for her teaching me how to crochet and embroider.  I have her crochet hooks that I still use.

I recall her crocheting a set of doilies that a friend had asked her to make.  One doily was finished and she had it spread out on her bed.  She was well into getting the other one finished.  It always looked like her crocket hook was going at full speed.  She never liked to be interrupted when doing handiwork.  She always said that she would lose her count.  However, on this particular day, I did interrupt her and she must have been at a good place to stop.  I asked her if the two doilies would be completely alike and she said, "Never...even though I use the same pattern, thread and crochet hook, the two doilies will not be identical.  They may look alike but there will always be slight differences that won't be easily seen by anyone but me."  I never understood that until I got into crocheting doilies because I usually make them in sets.  When finished, I lay out both doilies side by side and they sure look identical but I know they aren't.  You see, the maker or creator can look at a glance and see some of the differences right away even though there are many similarities.

Scripture says we are God's workmanship or handiwork.  In many ways, we human beings look very much alike with similar body parts except for being made male and female.  When God created man, He had a pattern in mind and in His wonderful creativity, came up with you and me.  Although we are all very similar physically, we know there are very obvious differences.  A very dear friend of mine is an identical twin.  It was terribly confusing when I first met Brenda and her sister Linda.  Talk about identical...they ARE identical, but even they would tell you that there are differences.  They are a unique example of God's handiwork.

Our Scripture tells us we are made for good works that will honor Jesus.  As Christians, it still happens that we fail to honor our differences.  God has never created any two people alike.  Although similar in many ways, God's intent is for us to be different and those differences are meant to be of great benefit to the Kingdom.  Churches are full of Christians who are climbing on top of each other to be the most popular, most recognized, and perhaps most talented.  God never intended for us to serve Him in the same, identical ways.  We may have the same physical image as human beings and as Christians share a spiritual DNA with other members of God's family, but there is no need to take part in competing against each other in our service.

God wants us individually to use our own spiritual gifts as best we can in working for Him.  Our work will never be like someone elses...two doilies from the same pattern, thread, and hook will still never be exactly.  A church choir is made up of several voices.  Some of those people have excellent solo voices while I have always been just a "honker alto."  I have enough sense to know I'm not a soloist, but at the same time know there is a need in the choir for those of us who may not be soloists but we sound pretty good working together to make those soloists sound even better.  There is a need to know individually what our abilities are and to use those for the cause of Christ.  We need to realize our uniqueness and serve wherever we can with those talents and abilities.  God hand-crafted us to fill slots in His work that no one else is meant to fill.

We are His handiwork!  Relax...serve as God has planned.  We are each unique in Him...His workmanship...His handiwork.

Dear Father, I feel so honored that You would create me to serve You in my own unique way.  I must admit there are times I'd like to do some things others are doing that might look more exciting.  Empower me to do the very best I can with those unique abilities and gifts You have given me.  I embrace my uniqueness...Your handiwork.  I love you...Amen!