Staying on the Trail

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:14

I don't know of anyone who likes boundaries or enjoys observing them. Boundaries started for us we were old enough to begin creeping and then crawling from one room to another. Most parents invested in something that restrained our movement. My Mother had a play pen for us girls and I had one I used with our three children. Today, they are called play scapes because it supposedly sounds better than “play pen.” If play scapes aren't used, parents often purchase gates that will keep little ones out of certain rooms. They may move a small piece of furniture such as a kitchen chair turned on it's side to keep a child safe. Even at very young ages, little ones hate having their activity curbed.

 

Teens don't like having their activities curbed either. They say they don't understand the reason for so many rules and regulations, but if truth be known, even though they don't like them, they feel a love and safety because of them. They don't realize that they are being equipped for adulthood whereby they will be able to discern, make good judgments, and know about appropriate choices. Boundaries above all provide safety during the growth process.

 

 

Boundaries are very important here in the mountains. We have no ambulance service right here in our small town. When there is an emergency in our town or on this side of the national park, it is disturbing to we locals if an ambulance has to go into the park area. That ambulance has had to come from the next town over. When we hear a ambulance siren, we know that something very serious has happened, especially if it goes on into the park. Since we have moved here, we've known of two drownings, two persons missing and some lesser events not so much tragic in nature.

It can be a very scarey thing getting lost in a mountainous national park. Tourists are provided with every kind of information to keep them safe along with informative signs found all over the place. There are maps of every kind for those interested in hiking, swimming, tubing and general observing. Invariably, there are those who start out on a hiking trail but feel they know enough that they can veer from the trail and do a little of their own exploring. Unsupervised children may run ahead of parents on a trail and end up falling or may leave the parents camp site to do some exploring. In time past, massive searches have had to be activated for lost children and even lost adults when a person, young or old has been reported missing. Most often they have walked away from boundaries and warnings to do their own thing.

There is usually a high price to pay when boundaries aren't observed by children and young people. The prices to pay can be very high when rules are ignored, parents wishes put to one side, or school rules thrown to the wind. Eventually, such young people often find themselves lost because they got off of the trail of right and there are no rangers to come to their rescue. 

 

It's easy to point a finger at the young but as an adult, whether we realize it or not, we are faced with God-given boundaries every day. God's concern for us is the very same as any concern for the very young. When we ignore God's limits, then we have left the area of His very personal care. When we go beyond God's boundaries, Satan waits, “licking his chops” ready to pounce on us. We can be led astray just as easily as young people and children. The sad thing is that we really do know better but choose to do our own thing anyway.

 

Where do we learn boundaries, because we have them from our youngest years whether we are aware of it or not. First boundaries are introduced from birth through our time with parents in our homes. During that time, we also learn boundaries in every school we attend. Society presents it's version of boundaries even though society is often confused regarding what boundaries really are. Government has laws that govern our activity, behavior and lives in general. In any of those areas, the ignoring of boundaries can be critical. The most important boundaries, though, are given to us from God Himself. His boundaries generally coincide with boundaries in life as we've come to know them.

 

So what can we do? Micah 6:8 gives us three things that give us a starting point. Note that at the very beginning of our opening verse that God has already taught us what is good and right to do. God isn't unfair to expect us to know the rules and expectations without His making them known to us. The three things given that are listed in this verse are excellent places to begin. We just have to decide to stay within the boundaries of them.

 

First, Micah says for us to do justice (right.) It doesn't take a brilliant person to understand that one phrase. I have spoken with women who have foolishly gone ahead with their own plans despite knowing that what they are about to do is wrong. That person, most often is lying to herself. If an adult has been a Christian any length of time, has been under the teaching and preaching of God's Word, she doesn't really need someone to draw pictures for her at the time of making decisions. Every born again Christian has the Holy Spirit residing within them and the Holy Spirit wonderfully prompts us with warnings or go-ahead nudges. Each of us must determine sometime, somewhere in life that we are bottom line going to do what is right. That's tough but won't happen without our determination.

 

Next, Micah says we are to love mercy (kindness). This has more to do with our treatment of others than God's treatment of us. When you and I show mercy and kindness to others, we are loving, forgiving, patient and caring. It is here we could list the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. God knows we know all of these things but the decision is ours as far as our obedience regarding each one.

 

Lastly, Micah tells us to walk humbly with your God. I tend to think that when we do this one thing, all the rest of the verse will fall into place. For children to do what parents ask of them takes humility, a yielding to authority. It takes the same humility for a married couple to yield to each other, an employee to an employer and a common ordinary woman to her Heavenly Father. Notice that this process is like taking a walk with someone else. When we walk with someone, it's because we enjoy being with the person. When we walk in harmony with our Heavenly Father in close communion, we will be encouraged with every step to do what is right, to be merciful in every way possible and to be a person of humility.

 

Let's determine to stay on the path or trail that has been put before us, not veering to the left or right. May we determine to walk in obedience, doing right, showering others with mercy and walking in humility with our Heavenly Father. Life won't ever be perfect on this earth but we can walk the spiritual trails set before us in the peace that only doing what is right brings.

Jesus is the best ranger we could ever want on this trail of life.

Dear Father, thank You for Your guidance in my life. Help me to be receptive to Your quiet voice and live a life of obedience. Keep me sensitive to the needs of others. I love You. Amen.

Beautiful Life of Prayer

                                           That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing, being fruitful in

every good work, and increasing in

the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:10

She walked right by my open office door that particular winter day. It wasn't unusual in a large downtown church to see something similar on a regular basis. She was a lady in her latter 60's and that's a guess on my part. She wore her gray hair pulled tightly to the back of her head combed into a very neat bun. She had on a full length winter coat that wasn't the most stylish. In her left hand was a well-worn purse and in her right hand was a relatively small suitcase. In a very sweet voice, I heard her ask our receptionist if she could see the pastor. “Lotsa luck,” I thought to myself. People waited long weeks for an appointment with him. Sometimes we staff members couldn't even see him with if we had work questions. However, there was something different about this situation, so the receptionist called the pastor's office. He agreed to see this lady (who by the way had the most radiant of smiles that broke out across her face, a face with hardly a wrinkle).

After several minutes, the pastor asked a secretary to take this lady to the church's guest apartment where she could stay until an apartment could be found for her. She had no money...only a small pension and no means of transportation. She had arrived on a Greyhound bus and walked from the terminal that was a few blocks away from the church. For some of us who had gathered outside his door after she had gone to the guest apartment, we asked what was going on. He had a wondering look on his face and said...”She is moving here. She has no family left and she's come to our town to pray for the ministry and people of this church.”

Many of us came to know how very special Ruth Bartell was. In her younger years, she had done some modeling. She had an almost constant smile that was radiant. Her husband, a pastor had died and was buried I think in Michigan where she had a grave plot for when it would be necessary for her own internment. She had no children or family members left. For several days, Mrs. Bartell lived in the church apartment while some of us looked at apartments close to the church. They were either too expensive or too cruddy. The decision was made to let Mrs. Bartell live in the church apartment for the time being. As years went by, I wasn't there but I understand she lived there until about the time the Lord called her home.

We came to know how serious Mrs. Bartell was regarding her commitment to prayer. Keep in mind that this church ran in the thousands. She kept a series of cheap spiral notebooks. In those notebooks were names and prayer requests. She listed every staff member along with family member's names. She did the same with deacons (over 100) listing every family member along with any special requests. She had the choir listed as well and on and on it went. She went to bed every night (except a church night) at 8:00 because she wanted to be up by 4 or 5:00 am to begin her practice.

 

Every year, we had a huge pastor's conference. It fell my lot to do a major decorating job the Sunday night prior to Monday's registration of hundred's of pastors. I had no time to go home to even wash my face. Prior to the last time I performed this duty, Mrs. Bartell came to me on Sunday morning prior to the conference. She said: “When you are finished in the morning, I want you to come to the apartment, take a bath, eat some breakfast I'll fix for you ...no matter what time it is, I want you to come.” I knocked on her door at 5:30 on Monday morning. I don't know how she knew but she had run a bath for me with wonderful bath salts in it. She hoped I didn't mind if she had put the bath salts in the water. She had received a sample and wanted me to enjoy it. She told me to soak and take my time and when I came out, we would have breakfast.

She hoped I wouldn't mind if she went back to her devotional time while I bathed and I certainly didn't mind. While in that bathtub, I experienced something I never had before or since. Mrs. Bartell began to pray out loud. I felt like I was being ushered into God's throne room. She then began to read Scripture aloud. After that she sang a hymn (all 5 verses) and then she went to her notebooks, those precious and ragged spiral notebooks. I knew that praying for others was sacred and I would never tell a soul of what I heard. I soaked in that bathtub until my skin was beginning to look like prunes. I didn't want to get out of the tub and dry off. I wanted to linger but knew I couldn't.

She heard me empty the tub so when I left the bathroom, I smelled the aroma of hot toast. I sat down to hot tea, toast with orange marmalade. She prayed again, especially for me and my family, and the classes I would teach that week. I almost felt I had God's hand on me like I hadn't sensed in a long time. She told me she hoped she hadn't disturbed my bath time but that she liked to stay on schedule. By 10:00 am she usually stopped her routine to do any daily chores or errand running. Early afternoon, she would write letters for sometimes two hours and would then repeat her morning routine the rest of the afternoon.

Oh yes, letters....when you received one from Mrs. Bartell, it was a treasure. She wrote her greetings at the beginning of her letters much like Paul would in his epistles. She would then copy Scriptures she had been reading early that morning. On the back was always a hymn, copied word for word, all verses and chorus...a hymn she had sung that morning. You felt like you had received a letter straight from God. Every letter was written by hand.

I don't believe I have ever known anyone like Ruth Bartell in my lifetime. She probably had only a couple of dresses for church. People would try to take her to buy her a dress but she would smile and say, “I have plenty of clothes; thank you for thinking about me.” If people gave her money, most of the time she would put it in the offering plate. She hadn't come for money, dresses or anything other than she had come to our church to pray.

Can't help but wonder how many lives were changed, people saved, families strengthened because of a lovely widow who walked into our church office that cold, winter day. She didn't want anything but the privilege of spending out her days in hours of prayer and worship on behalf of our church. Mrs. Bartells tools for the task were simple...well worn Bible, hymn book, pen and paper and of course, those precious spiral notebooks. Most church members really didn't have any idea the God-given gift of Mrs. Bartell to us, a dear lady of God who turned a small church apartment into a cathedral.

Dear Father...Thank you for godly examples that have blessed my life. Forgive my waste of time when there are so many who could benefit from my prayers. Forgive me for thinking I have to have so many things when two or three spiral notebooks would do. Stir in me an urgency to be in my Bible more than I am and to be a woman of prayer like never before. I love You. Amen

Too Busy

Come unto me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden, and I will

give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

I told myself two years ago when we moved to Tennessee that I wouldn't fall into the trap...the trap of being too busy. I was reminded of this as I folded the church bulletins for a recent Sunday service. I prepared four different insert sheets that had to be folded and stuffed into the poor weakling bulletins that already looked too weary to bear the load. Believe it or not, I'm not bemoaning the task as it's for the Lord and no one else.

I thought when we arrived in Tennessee, our new home, that I would spend my hours soaking up the mountains through meditation, prayer and relaxed reading. I determined to breathe deeply and even break out in a song like Maria in The Sound of Music if I wanted to. So what happened? I began substituting on the piano for the services and that's not much really. I subbed for the pastor in typing some Wednesday evening prayer sheets which was nothing at all to do. My love of course is teaching...the door opened for me to teach a ladies class. The pastor agreed to a ladies Bible study...we talked...now I do a ladies Bible Study twice a year. It just seems that a ball started rolling down a mountain and I couldn't do anything to stop it. There went my opportunity to traipse on a hillside singing, “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music....”

We had come from the busy life of a city, and the busy activities in a pretty large church. In some form or another, I was doing here many of the same things I was doing there. I meant well even though the things I'm doing come almost as second nature to me...kind of a comfort zone thing.

Perhaps I'm preaching to the choir in all of this because many of us run on overload most of the time. I don't have the added responsibility of having children in the home. Busy moms have car pools, soccer practices, youth activities, and on and on it goes. Even then, I fear parents have their children running on overload just like they are. Children like adults all need unwind time.

As I face a new year, I want things to be different and only I can do that. My husband might kindly suggest that I need to unload some things, but for the first time, we are together 24/7 and for the first time in our 43 years of marriage, he's seeing how all of this evolves with me.

I don't believe in New Year resolutions. I think they are a waste of thinking time and I only end up kidding myself. What I have chosen to do is set some goals that are reasonable. When we come up with some worthy resolutions and per chance mess up on one or two, we feel defeated and feel we can't pick up the resolution and continue on. The defeat is usually too great. When a goal is set, if I miss one somewhere along the line, I feel like I can pick up where I failed and go on. It's amazing the different two words make...resolution or goal...but there's a big difference for me. Someone once said to me, “Aim at nothin' and you'll hit it.” No matter our age, I believe we should always be stretching, learning and coming to know God better than ever before. There are always areas where we can improve just in the everyday things of life.

I'll share some things I'm praying about and contemplating.

• I want more time in God's Word and not just for studying to teach a Sunday school lesson or ladies Bible study. I need more meditation time...more soaking up the Word with Holy Spirit guidance.
• My prayer life needs lots of improving. I want to be more faithful in keeping a prayer list. All of us at one time or another assure people we will pray for them and it's so easy to forget. I just want more time of praise and worship. I want the Lord to know how much I love and appreciate Him.
• I believe I should continue writing my blog even though it takes a great deal of work. I so appreciate friends who read it, but I have been shocked at folks from other countries who are regular readers. I've come to feel a real responsibility to encourage friends from Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Columbia, England, Canada, Pakistan and others. In some of those countries, a reader could probably be in trouble if caught reading any Christian literature. In this process, I pray for their protection.
• Without a doubt, I will continue teaching. It's God's gift to me and in His power, I want to be faithful in doing it.
• I want to put into my regular schedule more alone time. I've been used to having it until Brian retired. We have no problem being with each other day in and day out, but I personally feel the need to have more alone time.
• I need to work more exercise into my life. We live in a perfect place for walking, whether in our neighborhood or taking off for the mountains. I need the exercise not just for my body but it's so good for the mind...airing out the cobwebs.

I could list more things that have to do with family and friends and those things I don't necessarily want to plan because then they become “have to's” instead of “want to's.”

None of the things I've listed are difficult. They will require discipline on my part that I really don't have built into me, but the Lord will enable me to do what I need to do.

What is your new year looking like? Are we stuck in neutral, expecting each new year to be a carbon copy of the last? Are we praying about something we need to drop from our schedules that have just become a comfortable place to park. Perhaps God has something new for us this year either in our own personal growth, improvement or service for Him? There have been times I've been afraid to pray about what I should add or subtract from my life because God might answer that prayer with something I don't care to do for Him. If I first give my days to Him (they are His anyway), He knows how to direct my activities and abilities to the fullest.

May God grant each of us a wonderful new year of life and love. May we clear our slates of any ill will, hurt feelings or negative events we've allowed to take over our thinking. Let's begin 2013 with a fresh breath of spiritual air, anticipating all the wonderful things God wants to do with us. What a wonderful opportunity for adventure in the life God has in store for each of us.

Dear Father, we don't know what the new year will bring our way. As is with life, there will be positives and negatives we will experience but in it all, You will shepherd us, leading us into a deeper walk with You. Thank you Father, for keeping Your hand on my life. I love You. Amen.

What's In A Name

                                                  And His name shall be called...

Isaiah 9:6a

Isn't it amazing how we can hear a name...it could be the name of someone we knew in high school, at a former place of employment, a historical person from our own generation, a relative we haven't seen in years...and the moment we hear a particular name, there is an instant thought about that person that crosses our mind. We might not even have a name attached to someone. It could be someone we really didn't know but had some experience with.

When I was four years old, my mother and grandmother wanted to go to the Wisconsin Dells. Of course my baby sister and I went along. During that trip my grandmother and I were both bitten by a dog. When we got home, the doctor said that both of us would have to have injections for about ten days in a row. A friend of my mother's was a nurse and probably a very nice lady. Back then I knew her first name but not now. The nurse agreed to come by our house on her way to work to give me my shot. After a couple of days, I caught on to the program. As clever as they tried to be with the nurse's approach, I knew what was happening cause I wasn't just another pretty face. This friend of my Mother's told her something my Mother just did not believe. The nurse told her, “No matter how long Glendarae lives, when she thinks of me or hears my name, she will hate my guts.” I must tell you that in the here and now, I don't hate the woman but I don't like her. When my mother and I talked about this shortly before she died, she felt my attitude wasn't what Jesus would approve of. Jokingly I told my mother that when Jesus was four years old, he didn't have some woman sneak up on him and stick a needle in his backside. Sorry for that, but that's what I said.

Names have great meaning. They are so important that almost the minute a baby is born, the hospital office wants to know the baby's name, friends and relatives ask the baby's name just about from the time a couple announces they are expecting. It is something that a little human being will bear for life and will appear on a grave marker at the time of death. When different folks who know or have known us, hear our name, there will be something about us whether positive or negative that registers with them. The only person I can think of whose name(s) should always ring a positive note with us is any name(s) we know Jesus by. His name should cause us to always think positively.

I have been in the habit the last several years of purchasing Christmas cards I give out that stress the names of Jesus. This year I found a beautiful card. The front is lime green, the printed names in various sizes and styles are printed in red, white or gold. The names printed on this card are: “I AM, Bread of Life, Anointed One, Jesus, Alpha and Omega, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Saviour, and Everlasting Light.” I have one of these cards on the table by my comfy chair. Jesus is every one of those things in my life but, He is so much more. So I have been looking up other names for Him that are found in Scripture, names that I can look at, remember and perhaps hide more Scripture in my heart, that helps me concentrate on Jesus more. 

Let me list a few more names for our blessed Jesus with a Scripture that can be looked up:

The way, the truth,and the life: John 14:6

Bread of Life: John 6:35

Alpha and Omega: Rev. 1:8

True Vine: John 15:1

Son of God: Heb.4:14

Hope of Glory: Col. 1:27

Good Shepherd: John 10: 11,14

I am reminded of the following song:

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

There's just something about that name.

Master, Savior, Jesus

Like the fragrance, after the rain.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Let all heaven and earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away

but there's something about that name.”

Thank You Father for the magnificent gift of Your Son. What a privilege it is celebrating His birth and His name. May there remain in me the joy of Christmas everyday. I want to celebrate You, Jesus and all You have done for me. I love you. Amen

Christmas Past

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do, forgetting those things

which are behind, and reaching forth unto those

things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the

high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3: 13,14

We've probably all watched “A Christmas Carol” on TV almost every year we have lived. Remakes have been done on the movie but I still prefer the original. To be honest, I never liked the idea of going to sleep on Christmas Eve and having three beings enter my bedroom during the night just to teach me a lesson. I think of the three though that I preferred was the ghost of Christmas past. Part of Scrooge’s past was okay but, I have news for him. I could take him back to some of my Christmas past experiences that would make his look like a Sunday school picnic.

I guess we've all done it at one time or another. When Sunday school people thought you and I were little and cute, they wanted us to say a Christmas “piece” for the children's program. Those teachers were smart. They not only approached us but they also worked on our moms because it was the moms who were going to faithfully drill us on those poems that we didn't understand.

My first performance without going into a very long saga was when I was five. It could be I was four...I forgot. No matter the age, it was the nearest thing to emotional abuse I ever went through. Everyone, friends and family were much more excited about my “piece” than I was. My grandmother knit me a long-sleeve, red, WOOL sweater. That was the physical torture part of the whole ordeal. That stuff was scratchy and close to unbearable. At our last rehearsal, I froze. A very nice lady by the name of Alma Lockman who was sitting on the first pew directing things, walked up to the platform where I was standing. She stayed on the main floor and looked really short from my perspective. She gently took hold of my two ankles and said everything she could to calm my nerves. Finally, she said, “Glendarae, you don't have to be afraid because Jesus is here.” I looked all around that place and didn't see Jesus anywhere but let me tell you, that definitely didn't calm my nerves. The thought of Jesus showing up to hear me say my “piece” was no comfort for me. I got through the program though, collected my little brown bag that contained an orange and some stuck together Christmas candy, and was happy to head for home.

Since that time, I said other “pieces” but eventually graduated to bigger and better things. I have been in Christmas plays and cantatas. I have sung from a choir loft, balcony, from behind Christmas trees and even up in a Christmas tree. I've gone Christmas caroling with youth groups, and believe me, we weren't anywhere near to being the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

In all of it, I must admit that with all of that in my Christmas past, there was very little of it that meant anything to me at all. When little, I was too scared to even know what I was reciting or the meaning of it. Many times since, I have just dutifully done what a choir director asked of me. When in high school, most of the time I played either the piano or organ to accompany what needed accompanying. You see, people who direct these things are usually up tight about sound systems, soloists running late, a flu bug circulating among choir members, lighting, etc. Very few times have we been encouraged to recite, sing or play with the real reason for Christmas and keeping our focus on Him. My last choir director was the only one who did things differently from the rest.

I guess all the frills and activities of the holiday are somewhat necessary. However, how much of Christmas do we really take time to think about? I personally feel that Christmas like Easter should be and everyday celebration. One time in the middle of July, some very sneaky friend left a gift on the hood of my car that was parked in the church parking lot. The gift was wrapped in Christmas paper with a beautiful red bow on it. Attached to the bottom of the box was...yep, you guessed it....a Christmas card. It was a card with Scripture celebrating the birth of Jesus. I don't know to this day who she was but whether she knew it or not, she taught me a great lesson that day.

Despite what our Christmas past experiences have been, we can have a wonderful Christmas present and I'm not referring to gifts when I use that word. I love Christmas cards that celebrate the various names for Jesus. Those can be given any time of year. If you're on a committee to help plan a banquet, (maybe a mother-daughter thing) why not a Christmas theme? The same could be done with an Easter theme. Jesus is Someone we can celebrate any day of the year even pulling out our Easter or Christmas decorations for a special event. He is worthy to be celebrated more than just a couple of times a year.

So, forget Christmas past...plan some Christmas “nows”, all the while anticipating our Christmas future with Him for Eternity.

Dear Jesus, I so rarely welcome You to my world. I love celebrating who the world would say You were at one time but You are just as real now. May I recognize You in a celebratory way most every day. I love You and am so grateful You came, coming to save me. I'm so grateful for the fellowship we can have on a daily basis. Because we're where we are this time of year, just let me say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus” Amen

Spiritual Forgetfulness

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all

that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and

forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103:1,2

No matter your age, do you sometimes have a problem remembering where you put something? My age has nothing to do with it so I can't blame the years I've racked up. I have learned if I can't find my car keys, to always check the refrigerator. Once, several years ago, I found an important file folder the the freezer of the refrigerator. What about forgetting where you parked your car? I left a hospital one night after being there on official business for the agency I worked for and thought I knew where I parked Brian's small, blue-green Ford Escort. There were some lights in the parking lot but even with them, I unfortunately came across 6 of the same car parked in different places on the lot. I couldn't believe it. All I could do was try my key in each of the car doors. Forgetfulness that night wasn't the problem.

I have a problem remembering names, especially last names but that's always been a problem for me. We have moved so many times that my acquaintances would go into the hundreds. I envy some of my high school friends who have lived in our hometown all their lives where they know everyone by name and have established a memory base that is enviable.

It was a blessing during the month of November reading on Face book all of the things folks listed that they were thankful for. The lists went from family members to friends, circumstances to materials things. I may not know many of the folks mentioned but I love the spirit with which this process was done.

I, like those folks, find that there are things I want to remember and never forget when it comes to life experiences and the wonderful people who have been such an influence on me. However, there are things that have to do with my faith that I don't ever want to forget, blessed things of God I always want to remember.

To help me with this process, several years ago, I began journaling. It wasn't an unusual thing for me to do. My mother used to purchase small purse size date books. Everyday in each square, she made note of the weather for a given day. If she had cleaned someone's house, she would put the persons name and what she was paid. She, on rare occasions wrote poetry, much of which she gave to me when I was in college. Most people wouldn't know anything about the writer in my Mother, but I believe she would have loved to do more with it than she did. I believe even now, she has a part in everything I write as she inspired me to write. I don't want to forget that.

All of us have people...neighbors, folks at church, school teachers...who had strong influences on us. Those people won't know until Heaven how they helped launch us into the interests, careers or spiritual endeavors we enjoy today. Many of their names I have listed in a journal as they have come to my mind...Mrs. Crowell, my piano teacher, Ruth Young who first recruited me into teaching in Bible School. I said I couldn't do it but she told me I could and I did. I guess I've been teaching ever since. I think of the many pastors who faithfully preached the Word of God week after week to me and others. I can't remember a single sermon title right off hand but I know that through their preaching and teaching, my life was consistently being changed and renewed...I learned and I grew.

I could list more and so could you. It doesn't hurt us to walk down yesterday's road with grateful hearts for those who have meant so much, who in some cases labored at great personal expense to help us get where we are. However, none of it would have been possible unless it had been made possible by the deep and abiding love of God for each of us.

We may forget the goodness of others in our lives, careers, even family events but I never want to forget all that God, my Heavenly Father has poured into my life. I wonder how often any of us take moments to remember not just the big things He's done, but so many of the small, seemingly miniscule things He orchestrated in our lives. If we were to be robbed of any access to God's Word, how much of Scripture could you and I recite to ourselves. We've all had wonderful answers to prayer through life. How many of those have we jotted down or can bring to recall.

The Scripture verses I have noted above are not friendly suggestions. Both verses are commands. With everything in us, we are to bless God's holy name, but it's the second verse that really convicts me. I'm commanded to NOT forget all the benefits God has brought into my life. I would have to spend a lifetime in listing all of the ways God has provided for and protected me. The times He has led me where He wanted me to go are countless. Answers to prayer?...too many to count. What about the times I've spent in His Word and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and taught me things I could never have understood on my own? There have been those times when God was especially near during those times of real duress and concern....what would I have done without Him.

We dare not forget His benefits, not because of any threat, but because in remembering God's goodness in our lives, we are blessed and encouraged. When offended...remember His benefits. When depressed...remember His benefits. I would dare say that anyone working for an employer in this day could tell you in a matter of a few short minutes, the benefits that are his/hers that came with the job. There would be insurance coverage, retirement, sick days, etc. Think of God's benefits in our lives that we don't bother to even think of, those general ones for all of us to enjoy and yes, benefit from:

• We own a personal copy of God's Word
• We have the opportunity of worshiping in the church of our choice
• We can pray and be heard by the very God of the universe
• If a born again Christian, we have the Holy Spirit residing in us
• At this point, we have freedom of religion in our country
• Through our Father, we have Christian friends with whom we share kindred spirits
• God provides for our every need
• An eternal home in Heaven awaits us

I dare not list more or I'll end up having a happy spell. It is mind boggling how God has loaded us down with benefits. May we never lapse into spiritual forgetfulness. Our Heavenly Father doesn't forget us for one single second.

Since a young girl, I have seen so often, sitting in front of our local VFW a sculpture of a fallen soldier in sitting position. Just under the soldier on the base, I believe it says “Lest we forget.” May you and I never forget all God has done for us from sacrificing His Son Jesus to sending His Holy Spirit to abide in us for a lifetime....”forget not all His benefits.”

Thank You Father, for Your love, care and every other benefit in my life. I love being loved by You, a love that is unconditional and consistent. I praise Your name today and never want to forget Your goodness in my life that I just don't deserve. I know I'm just a sinner saved by Your wonderful grace. I love You. Amen.

Controlling Holiday Depression

This is the day which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

A few years ago, I spoke with a friend who has been involved in the funeral industry for several years. In the course of conversation, I asked this person if there is one particular time of the year that seems to be consistently the busiest week or month in their funeral business.  My friend told me that January was the month that for their business ranked #1 by far according to office records. When I asked the reasons, as if I didn't have some idea already, I was told that in our day, a strong emphasis on holiday's begins the first of October and lasts through New Years Day. It's on New Years day that some people wake up in the pit of depression...no more parties, no more elaborate food, no gifts to unwrap, Santa isn't present in stores for children to sit on his lap, decorations look old, stale and tacky, Christmas cards lose meaning, school programs are done and over with and the mall no longer seems the place to be. There are folks who struggle with the loss of loved ones through death or alienation of some sort. Some who already have serious emotional problems, find everything compounded and they seek an easy way out...suicide. There are also house fires, car accidents, crime victims in goodly number in January along with natural death events.

All of us have felt some of those things at one time or another and would never consider suicide, but for some people, it's been a reality. We look back to November 1 and wonder where time went. We soon find we are waking up and it's a new year. We glance back at recent, happy days of smiles, singing, giving and now, it's like we are left with an empty bag, the victim of a pretty lousy joke. The why's of all of this I think are two fold but in both cases, we are very much in control whether we believe it or not.

I have a favorite craft store I love that would be very familiar in name to most. When Halloween décor was out in full bloom, Thanksgiving things were almost mixed in with all of the orange, black and pumpkins. Pumpkins do overlap into both holidays. Then bumping up against those shelves and into a corner, there began the Christmas tree décor, not yet in full display but the beginnings. Have you noticed the big emphasis on Halloween these days? Even adult costumes are a huge business. So lets say that from October 1 through January 1, we are taken on a wild ride of holiday madness because of what various industries put us through. We are bombarded with TV ads, fliers in our mailboxes, adds on our computers, etc. So through the industry, we are exposed to all of the latest of everything from costumes to hand held electronic devices. It's all paraded before us doing all that can be done to make us feel guilty that we are depriving loved ones of joy and happiness if we don't indulge in the purchase of each advertisers wares. There's nothing we can do about the industry. It's their job to sell things, to make every item look its best and its most inviting

There are parties and programs to attend and for about three months, people are in a holiday frenzy that won't quit. It's almost a kind of narcotic high...a high that can take us where we don't want to go or causes us to be who we don't want to be. Soon, we are sitting almost in a daze the first week in January. There's nothing left in the way of activity, parties, spending and there are people who go into the deepest of depression at that time. Nothing will tell us who we are like sitting alone, after the activity is gone and all the lights have been turned out.

So what are some practical things to do:

Keep Jesus in the season. He should be a part of Thanksgiving as well as Christmas. This takes some planning. When planning holiday activities, don't shove church events to the bottom of the list. The things that go on at church should take priority.

We should turn a lot of things off in our thinking and have a determination to maintain a sanity with our family in mind. In it all, children are watching and learning from we parents what is really important about the holidays. Few families even discuss in days leading up to and during Thanksgiving Day those things we should be grateful for. Few families concentrate on those less fortunate at Christmas. Some feel they've done their fair share if they drop a dollar into a Salvation Army bucket.

There are many opportunities over the holidays for children to do things for others. Nothing will kill depression like jumping in with both feet to do for others. On Thanksgiving Day a little over a week ago, I wanted to take a dinner to a lady in our church I knew would be alone. I asked my two oldest grandboys (ages 5 & 3) who were here if they wanted to go with me to deliver dinner to a lady. They busied themselves making a nice card for her. When we got to her very small, humble residence, each boy carried some of the food into the house. They gave this lady hugs and before we left, we held hands with her and I prayed for her. The boys were somewhat quiet on the way home but asked several questions about the lady. I think the trip left an impression on them. I believe it was their mom who said that she didn't think the boys had done anything like that before. Come up with something children in the family can do for others during the Christmas holiday time. It will leave more of an impression on them than one can believe.

Maintain as much of a normal schedule as possible during holiday times, especially with children in the home. Children don't do well when everything is in an up-heaval for extended periods of time. They still need regular meals and consistent bedtimes as much as possible.

Don't fall for all the holiday and commercial hype. It's our fault for being holiday dupes. We can say “no” to many of the requests that come our way. We need a plan if we are going to maintain some kind of sanity in all of these days of glitz and glitter. This is only the first of December. This is the time to sit down and decide how much we will be involved in holiday festivities...what parties will we attend, what our Christmas budget will be, what useful and practical gifts will we purchase, etc. Without a plan, we can fall into a holiday and financial abyss that we can't crawl out of.

After a huge holiday, have something else planned a day or two afterward for the family to enjoy. Having something to look forward to after a big Christmas day can take the edge off of the holiday let down.

Let's remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Never thought I would type that sentence as I really don't care for it because it's become glib, trite and really doesn't mean much to people. The statement is true but our actions that back the statement are often weak at best. If you have a pin with that saying, wear it. It is a witness and testimony.

In Psalm 118, we are shown the importance of one day and that is the present day we are living in. It doesn't speak of yesterday or tomorrow but stresses THIS day. God doesn't play favorites with days. Every day is important to Him. He wants the best from us on THIS day. With Jesus at the center of our lives EVERYDAY, we can handle the big and small events of life whether they be joyous or troubled. God is the creator and controller of our days. He wants everyday to be of major importance to us because THIS is the day He's ordained for you and me. I can give a gift to someone TODAY...I can send someone a card TODAY...I can even eat turkey and dressing TODAY if I want to...I can sing “Joy to the World” TODAY and can offer my praise, thanksgiving and appreciation to God and others TODAY. Holidays will come and go but our Father is interested in what we do with every TODAY, no matter the date.

Father, thank You for sending Jesus, Your Son in human form. I'm not thankful for that just at this time of year. I'm grateful everyday for the salvation He made possible for me. Help me to make the very best of every day here on earth. Help me also to be generous with my time and effort in serving You and others. I love You....Amen.

Peace in the Smoke

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities;

for we know not what we should pray

for as we ought; but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us with

groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:26

I have come to love the above verse. There have been times in my life when I was so burdened and tried to pray. I either felt like my prayers weren't going beyond the ceiling or that I just didn't know what to pray because of problems or a heavy heart. This verse assures me that when I'm so burdened down, the Holy Spirit knows me so well that He can intercede with the Father for me. The last day or so has been one of those times although I'm praying “on my own” now. For now, many in our small town are going through a time of suffering that as one deacon's wife said, “It's just too sad to even talk about.”

I received the phone call about the fire just before Brian and I had to leave for his doctor's appointment on Monday morning. A friend was dead in a house fire and her three children wonderfully spared, but now left without a mother. As we got into the car, the atmosphere outside was eery. There was a thick white smoke hanging relentlessly over our little community. We live right here in the Smoky Mountains but it wasn't the usual mountain mist we usually see. It was real, live smoke almost as thick as a heavy fog. The burning house was probably a little more than a mile from our house, if that, but the heavy smoke seemed all-consuming.

When a small church is without a pastor like ours is right now, a lot of responsibility falls on the shoulders of the chairman of the board of deacons. We are blessed to have a dedicated chairman in our days of transition. This last Sunday morning while making announcements at the beginning of the service, Donnie told us that because of Thanksgiving day on Thursday, we wouldn't have church on Wednesday night but would have the service on Tuesday evening. Little did we know that in about 15 hours, our deacon chairman would be switching roles, changing hats so to speak, because at 3:00 Monday morning, he would put on his fire chief helmet and would race to a burning house that was already engulfed in flames. There he saw to the rescue of three children, children he knew in our church.

Three young children are now orphaned. That word (orphaned) seems an odd word to use in our day...it seems so outdated. It is, however, a very real state of being for those children. They have hardly adjusted to the death of their father who died of a heart attack at the end of this last July. This was to be their first Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas without their dad but now also without their mom. I can't even fathom what these children ages 5, 8,and 12 are feeling these days even though so many have come near them to express love, concern and to see to their physical needs at the moment. More heavy hearts...more heavy loads.

A community grieves even though this family may not have been well known. The local grade school principal jumped into action. Smoke hung over our little community most of the day Monday...a thick, white, daunting smoke coming from the house that was still burning. The house probably wasn't a half mile across the highway from the school. The principal kept children in the school building all day Monday for all sorts of reasons but done out of respect for all involved. He knew those three children, had been their principal and was now a heavy-hearted principal.

A wonderful, godly, young woman, Jaena, who serves with the youth of our church, and who is also a teacher's assistant at the grade school, took the three children into her care. These children had nothing but the pajamas on their backs when she retrieved them from the site of their burning home. Jaena was so perfect to be ministering to these children until their relatives arrived. The children had tears and probably lots of questions. The young teacher's assistant's heart was heavy anyway as she's such a tender person, but in it all, needed wisdom beyond her years. Folks from our church also came to be of help as well.

I've never lived in a community this small, a community where many are grieving in their own ways. There aren't very many you can talk to who are feeling real upbeat in the face of the holidays. Tragedy has struck, something totally out of everyone's control...a tragedy that seems too hard to comprehend or bear. Maybe if we had more answers, more understanding, we would feel better, but it wouldn't change what the outcome is. We have come to know in this life that these are things that happen in the course of life. This specific thing may not be that frequent but we've all faced incidents in our lives that make no sense. As Christians, we have come to learn, however, that our God can be trusted. He doesn't give us lists of explanations...He's God and always functions in our best interest, even when it doesn't seem like it.

Despite the heaviness of our hearts under any distressing circumstances, our place to run is into the refuge of God's presence. No one else can calm our hurting hearts. Even in the thick smoke of destruction, discouragement or distress, Jesus remains the Best Friend we will ever have. He is the only one that can calm our anxious cares and fears, and we receive that peace in Jesus' presence as we go to Him in prayer. He is our only hope for comfort. He is our peace in the smoke.

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My dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being You. No one in history has suffered as You suffered and You did it for us all. I have friends who are hurting, children suffering so much loss. Many of us at different levels desperately need Your peace and strength in these days. Grant Your wisdom to all involved in this tragedy by giving us Your peace and grace. Help us to find Your peace in the fact that this sweet mother is with You. Amen.

PS:

I thank those of you who have been praying about this situation. When things like this happen, I'm so grateful for the extended family of God that can feel deeply for Christians at a distance they don't know, nor will they know until Heaven. For now, relatives have arrived and taken charge of the children. The court has awarded the children to Kristina's brother and sister-in-law and the children are happy about that from what I've heard. A special fund has been set up at the US Bank that our deacons will supervise. This was done through another godly man from our church, Will, who happens to be the Lt. in the fire department and works at US Bank. The children were left with absolutely nothing, but at this point have many of their needs met along with having the security of the presence of relatives. They have all returned to Georgia for Thanksgiving and will return soon afterward for a funeral service. Kristina will probably be cremated as was her husband and will be buried beside her husband, whose cremains she gently placed in the ground last July. The coroner reported that Kristina's cause of death was smoke inhalation which is a blessing if that is appropriate to say. She was the only alto in our little choir, but will be missed for many reasons. So many of you have written of your prayers and thoughts for the children, our church family, and for our community and I thank you for that. Blessings on you all.

Clotheslines and the Spiritual Life

But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only...

James 1:22

Clotheslines are all but extinct from Americana as we knew them. Everyone had clotheslines in their back yards many years ago. We even had special hooks inside our house where we could string plastic clotheslines through them. They facilitated being able to dry clothes inside on rainy days. I really loved clotheslines in the backyard of the first house that I remember living in.

The clothesline supports on both sides of our backyard that held the clotheslines themselves became pretty rickety. I guess I was about four or five years old when my dad decided to take down the old and put up totally new ones. He bought heavy metal pipes that a friend cut for him. Both supports ended up being a “capital T” shape after being welded together. Daddy sunk them into the ground with a good amount of concrete, drilled four holes through each of the two supports and then ran some non-rust line back and forth between the supports. I believe we had the finest clotheslines in the neighborhood. My Mother took great pride in the washing she did EVERY Monday...that was wash day religiously. (It still is for me to this day.)

This is where I must confess that one of those clothes lines wasn't just for clothes. Attached to one of those lines that was kept at the far end of the line was a long rope. You see, I was a wanderer. I knew everyone who lived on our block, front and back. I loved getting on my tricycle, cruising from one place to another just visiting. When Mother finally caught up with me. Kids today don't know what a time out is because when my Mother got me home, she often clipped that rope to a small harness I had to put on. The rope was long enough that I could go to the outhouse or to my playhouse or even to the back porch of our house. It is said that confession is good for the soul so there you have it. My husband claims that I am still a wanderer but so far he hasn't taken any drastic actions.

You don't see clotheslines anymore. In fact, where we lived prior to this small town where we are now, it was illegal by town ordinance to have clotheslines in ones backyard. They were declared a hazard. How on earth did many of us make it to the age we are without the government keeping us safe?

As I was thinking of clotheslines this week, I was comparing them in my mind to my spiritual walk. It's okay for my Dad going to all the trouble he did in putting up the finest clotheslines in the neighborhood, but what, if after all that work, my Mother never hung anything on those lines? The purpose of my Dad's work wasn't just to build clothesline supports with line. It all was meant to serve one primary purpose...dry clothes.

I've thought of my own spiritual walk and what I have or haven't contributed to God's Kingdom in these years since my salvation at the ripe old age of ten. One of those clothesline supports reminds me of my salvation...the one on the other side of the yard, my entry into Heaven. Meantime, there's a lot of line there that I'm supposed to be using, making my contribution to God's Kingdom, using my gifts, talents and abilities for Him. Is there much of anything hanging on the lines of my life that is meaningful, counting for God?

In my neighborhood at the time, most women did their washing on Mondays. In my wanderings, although young, it was easy to see that not all the things hanging on various lines looked the same. Some women just went and hung anything, anywhere. Not my Mother...sheets and pillow cases were hung first, then white or light clothing, color things, towels and then my Daddy's work clothes. Everything was very organized.

The same is true for each of us as we look at our individual clotheslines of Christian service. None of our lines will look the same because we are all so different. We will serve God's purpose in different ways but we are expected to serve God as best we can within His will for us.

I understand that at our various stages of life, our service will change from time to time. Our service at various stages will look different but we should always have things of service hanging from our own personal “clotheslines.”

When younger, some women may be more mobile, have more energy for various forms of activity. The ladies I work with right now are fairly immobile but God always gives us opportunities to serve Him no matter the stage of life we are at. We don't have to get real complicated...there are simple things we can do to serve God that doesn't take a lot of time or energy but can be so meaningful. Some things we can all do:

• Be a prayer warrior. Most churches publish a prayer list or we can establish our own.
• Write a note of encouragement to someone going through a tough time.
• Send cards to shut-ins or someone in or just out of the hospital
• Make a “just thinkin' of you” phone call
• Be ready with a kind, spiritual word to folks out in public you may not even know.
• Be a woman who is daily in the Word of God...learning and growing.

Brian and I were shopping recently. I was exhausted because I'm still not back to full strength after my fall a month ago. It came our turn at a check out counter, and the most delightful lady was our check out person. Many check out people aren't the most congenial especially when they are working very busy weekend days. She was a delight, maybe in her 60's. As we walked away, she said with a big smile, “You two have a blest day now.” I can't tell you in that moment how my spirit was lifted...”A sister in Christ” I said to myself. My spirit was not only lifted, but I was encouraged. As far as I'm concerned, that was as good as a king-size sheet hanging from one of her clotheslines.

We don't just accept Jesus as Savior and wait for Heaven. We are born to serve, to be a blessing between the time of our salvation and when God calls us home. Our service will all be different from each other simply because we ARE different...that's what makes our working and serving together so interesting.

Things hanging on the line aren't to bolster our pride or to keep some kind of ridiculous score. When sincerely serving our Lord, we get to where we don't even know most of what we are accomplishing for Him. Soooo...let's get our personal washing done...let Jesus clean us up and then as clean vessels, let's be the kind of influence our sick ole world needs. It will get to be so natural that serving the Lord will just happen and can be very enjoyable. In the end, it will be the Lord who takes things off of our lines and hopefully says, “Well done.”

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Help me Father, to not only serve You but to love doing it. Give me a heart for others and their needs. I don't want to be a spiritual show off but Your faithful servant. May it be so in Your power and Your power alone. I love you. Amen

Sweet Words From God

We love Him, because He first loved us.

I John 4:19

For years, I have been so grateful for people God has sent my way...people who seem to know what to say, in their own calm, sweet way just when I need it. They don't always know of my need, but that is one of the wonderful ways God works on our behalf. Sometimes these people have spoken words of Scripture to me or have spoken Bible truths so me in their own words that have encouraged and instructed me just when I needed it.

We live in a day when this ministry is so badly needed. We live in a world of cruelty. People take pride in “being up front” with their opinions, will express opinions they know will hurt the feelings of another, speak things that go against one's faith and not always in a loud tone of voice.

There are places in Scripture where I almost feel like I'm curled up in God's lap and He is speaking personally to me, just as I look at His Word.

Most important to me is the old favorite of John 3:16 as He speaks to me of His love so deep for me that He would send His only begotten Son to die for me. Let me tell you...that's love in the truest sense. Not only did God send His son, but His Son Jesus was willing to go to that cross for me.

Some of the sweetest words I have heard from others have been when in my presence they have prayed out loud for me. Such are precious times. I feel loved and uplifted when I hear those sweet, personal words meant to call down God's grace and blessing in my life. In John 17:15, Jesus prayed for me (and you as well) when he said : “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Now that's a prayer I appreciate. Evil is all around and Satan delights in tripping me up. My desire is to be kept from evil.

Psalm 32:8 is a precious whisper from God to me when He says: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Wow, the very God of the universe is so personally involved in my life that He wants to teach and instruct me in His way and not only that, He promises to guide me with His eye honed right on me. Very often my problem is that I don't choose to even consult Him regarding His desired direction for me. So glad He doesn't give up on me.

As I write these verses and hear Him personally speak to me, I am convicted of the fact that I don't pause long enough to listen to that still, small voice of His. At the end of Hebrews 13:5 He reminds me that He will never leave me, nor forsake me. There are times I feel pretty lonely. It's not the kind of loneliness another person can cure for me. It's a longing to have a void filled in my life that down deep in my spirit, I know is a need for God and God alone. Along with this in John 14:27, Jesus is so assuring when He says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The world is pulling and tugging at me and you as well. We have probably learned by now that it cannot give us peace no matter how much we seek it. Any peace the world offers you and me is very temporary at best and often very disappointing.

Lastly, Jesus promised me via His Father to supply me with Someone who would come to be very special in my life. In John 14:26 Jesus assured me “the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” When God said He would never leave me or forsake me, He wasn't kidding. At the very moment I accepted Jesus as my Savior, that wonderful Comforter, that third part of God was sent to come into me and take up residence. God knew I could never fully understand His Word but the Holy Spirit could be my teacher. While in me, He can also help me remember the things of God, the teachings of Jesus. With all the work the Holy Spirit has to do in me, one of the most important things He does is serve as my Comforter.

I remember at the end of the days of fall when a young girl that my Mother would get out the flannel sheets and put them on our beds. Those were the warmest, coziest things in the world when you climbed into bed on a cold night. I hated crawling out of them in the morning when the house was cold because the coal stove hadn't kicked in yet. Along with those sheets though, came out the heavier blankets that Mother referred to as comforters. I think of those comforters when I read in John that the Holy Spirit is my Comforter. I could snuggled in those sheets and under a comforter and feel warm, secure and at rest. He has been exactly that in my life.

I think too often, we compare God to earthly relationships when there is no comparison. The fact is that God loves you and me dearly. There is nothing we can do to cause Him to love us less than He does. There is no good thing we can do that can make Him love us more. His love is steady, consistent unlike love we have experienced with human relationships. In fact, Romans 8:39b tells us that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I curl up with my Heavenly Father, He whispers through His Spirit of His love, sacrifice, peace, leadership, protection and so much more if I will only listen and accept it into my own spirit. We are blessed people to have such a caring, loving Father Who has provided for our every need. In it all, He whispers His love for us, a love beyond comprehension and a love certainly undeserved.

 

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Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Thank You Father for every precious word You whisper to my heart. I love You. Amen