Quilts of Love

And the LORD said unto him (Moses),

“What is that in thine hand?” And he said, ” A rod.”

Exodus 4:2

 

Moses, after having been raised in the palace in Egypt, in adulthood found himself in trouble. He saw an Israelite being abused and murdered the offender. Out of fear for his own life, he fled into a wilderness area. He became a shepherd for the man who would become his father in law. That was quite a fall from prince to wilderness shepherd. One day, however, God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He had a special job for Moses to do that caused Moses great concern. God wanted Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses did what I think many of us have done with God on occasion. There have been a few times when I have felt God's call on my life to do something and suddenly I thought up 10 reasons as to why I wasn't equipt to do the job. Most of the time though, God has called me to things that involve abilities He's already put in me that maybe I didn't know I had.

Moses had leadership abilities, but God also saw in Moses a heart for spiritual things. Of all things, as Moses was questioning this call on his life, God asked Moses what was in his hand. It was just a crude rod, a tool that was commonly used by shepherds...nothing fancy, but practical and useable. That's what God wanted Moses to see about himself....nothing fancy, practical and hopefully, useable.

Her name was (and still is) Lois Lanoue. For her, it started several years ago, the wonderful ability of sewing. Not every seamstress can glance at a bolt of fabric and imagine a finished product from that bolt, but she could. I always found it interesting when I took her fabric shopping. I just stood back and watched as her beautiful hands (she had the most beautiful hands) touched and felt of various fabrics for quality, texture, and patterns. She generally kept several pieces of fabric on hand but sometimes, she just needed something different. After all, a call would have come saying that a new great grand baby was expected and she had to get busy.

When my Mother-in-Love's children learned they were to become grandparents, Mom was just about the first one notified. Mom had seven children. Really, she gave birth to eight but one baby girl was still born. From her seven children came 21 grandchildren. I can't really count how many great grandchildren Mom had but it is in the ball park of the mid fifties. Every great grandchild got a hand made baby quilt made by her accomplished hands. There was never a duplicate. Each quilt was made with each individual baby in mind. She never viewed this ministry of hers as being a chore.

At one time, her quilts had a lot of embroidery done on them, a lot of hand work. As she aged, Mom had to change her tactics as the sewing became more difficult with her eye sight not being what it was at one time. Still, each quilt's fabric was chosen by her, chosen with love. So many times, I saw the fabric and bunting on her twin bed as she worked to bring the precious quilt together

Mom's funeral was this last week. One of her son-in-law preachers was asked to speak at the funeral. In the process, he asked that baby quilts be brought to the funeral and, boy, did they come. Quilts were laid out on the back of pews at the front of the chapel. Not a one was like any other. Over the last several years, she had sewn all of those quilts.

When the funeral was over, we headed to the cemetery. It was a very cool and windy day so knew the service there would have to be short. When all of the cars arrived, car doors opened and from the cars came swarms of children. These great grandchildren, many now in grade school headed for the grave site. The thing that was amazing was seeing each great grandchild wrapped in his or her baby quilt as best as a child's body can be wrapped in a baby quilt. The children were just looking for a way of keeping warm. They didn't see the significance of standing at the grave side, wrapped in individual quilts. What a sight. Many of the quilts looked faded and the worse for wear, but that's the way she would have wanted it. It was a tribute in quilts for a Godly saint who had found a unique ministry in serving her family in a very special way.

Lois Lanoue was not a highly educated lady. She had given her life for her family and as best I can tell, each of her children knew they were dearly loved. She was a quiet person. My memory of her will always be that she was a true lady. She knew how to dress appropriately, sit with legs to one side with hands nicely folded on her lap. She wasn't a critical person but would speak up for right or wrong in her own way. She loved the Lord. I don't know how many times I passed the open door to her room when she lived with us and saw her with Bible, a devotional book or spiritual material on her lap. She loved attending church and Sunday school. She had wisdom that doesn't come from a university degree. Her wisdom was from the Lord with knowledge one earns from a life lived long and well pleasing to the Lord.

For Moses, a rod led to much greater things. Although Mom had been sewing garments for her children for years, when the great grandchildren started coming along, she couldn't afford elaborate gifts for each one, not that it was expected. She took a good look at what she could do that was going to be meaningful. It's almost as if God asked her, “Lois, what is that in your hand?” The answer for anyone who knew her well, knew the answer was: “A needle.” She used her ability that had been so much a part of her life. Today although she is in Heaven, she lives on here in many ways, but especially through a myriad of baby quilts.

I wonder what the rest of us would answer if God asked us what we have in hand that could be of service to Him? We all have those gifts God has instilled in us, gifts to be used for His kingdom and glory. Once we recognize those things God wants us to use for Him, we will know an unusual excitement, enthusiasm in serving God. Whatever that is in our hands that we choose to use for Him will be blessed in abundance.

Father, I thank you for the examples you have brought into my life that includes my mother-in-love. I want to be used of you and may I be your willing and obedient servant, no matter what you call me to be or do. May I be willing to use whatever it is You have place in my hands. I love You. Amen.

The Transparent Christian Woman

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where

the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass

the glory of the Lord, are changed into

the same image from glory to glory, even

as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:17,18

Over the last ten or so years, the word “transparent” has come to the forefront in our culture's vocabulary. It's an old word but maintains it's meaning. However, we're hearing it more and more. Politicians from the White House down to the mayors office of the smallest town in our country have all talked about being more transparent in their dealings with the public.

What is transparency? We might say that it's like glass in a physical sense. Glass in our windows are a necessity but just because they can be seen through, there can be problems even with glass. If windows are dirty, seeing clearly through a window may be skewed. In some of the old churches and cabins in the mountains near here, some of the glass in windows has been poured which causes a ripple effect in the window glass. You can still see through them but again, whatever is on the other side of the glass may appear to be warped.

Transparency as we are looking at we human beings, means that we are totally honest about who we are and who we want to be. It means that you and I strive in every way to be real in everyday life. These things are not the front we put up before others. These things are who we are even in the privacy of our lives when we are alone and no one else is around.

My husband and I have really had some smiles since talking with our daughter Beverly in recent days. She and a friend took their children to a special event. On the way home, our nearly five year old granddaughter Madelyn fell against the metal arm of a bench and got a pretty bad cut on her forehead. Of course it hurt and really bled but they got to a hospital and she bravely endured receiving six “string band aids” which is what the name is for stitches at that particular children's hospital emergency room.

While on the way to the hospital, Beverly prayed aloud for the situation they found themselves in. She prayed out loud with Madelyn for wisdom for the doctors, easing of pain and healing of the wound. Later when at the hospital, in their private room, Madelyn quietly said to her mom, “That prayer's not working.” Madelyn heard the sincere prayer of her mom but as far as she was concerned, the healing of the hurt just wasn't coming fast enough. I must hasten to add that Madelyn is one of the praying-est little girls I know of. She loves to pray and already at her young age, knows more about prayer than most adults. I believe God dearly loves the total honesty and yes, transparency of little children.

The thing is, I believe God dearly loves the total honesty of any of His children. We can do that without questioning God or being offensive. I know there have been times I have prayed about some things that I haven't gotten an answer for and I've felt like saying, “Lord, this just isn't working.” God wants us to be people of transparency and this is where real, genuine transparency begins...in our honest relationship with Him. Perhaps the main person we are the least transparent with is with God. We know He knows and sees everything about us but we are very often dishonest even with Him. I feel from the top of my head to the sole of my feet that the only people capable of true transparency are young children and Christians, Christians who are in right relationship with God. How can we expect a God- cursing, people-abusing, Jesus ignoring person to be transparent...just can't be done.

Let me suggest sometyhing that can help people in being more transparent. I suggest that one must step completely away from a life of pretense. When we live in a world of pretense, then we aren't being honest with ourselves, let alone others. We women are really good at this thing of pretense because of our growing up years. We grew up being pretenders. Do you ever talk to yourself when no one is around?...come on, honesty remember? As little girls we pretended and in our play, we talked to ourselves a lot. We played school, lining up our baby dolls to be our students. We cut out paper dolls, dressed them and pretended where they would go and what they would do as we moved them about. We played dress up with our mom's curtains or whatever we could get our hands on. We loved clopping along in our mom's high heels. We pretended...and by the way, we still do and it's not an insane thing to do, but it's not a good practice. During some bad, stressful days, pretending can ease the tension. However, that pretending can become hurtful when we seek to be someone before others we know we will never be. 

Casting down imaginations, and every high

thing that exalteth itself against the

knowledge of God, and bringing into

captivity every thought to the

obedience of Christ.

II Corinthians 10:5

 

Can we, with little Madelyn, be perfectly honest before God and even say, “It's not working.” We don't have to fear that people won't like the real us or that God will be mad at us. My first concern is to please my Heavenly Father and allow Him to take care of the rest. Honesty doesn't have to be offensive. In fact, honesty is meant to be a very meek and healthy way of life.

I've been reading in the four Gospels all of the red letters where Jesus did the speaking. I've shut out all of the circumstances and events (black letters) and am just reading what He has said. You will find no person more transparent than Jesus, even at the risk of losing friends, making enemies and even facing danger.

If we just let Jesus work in and through us, we'll never have to try to remember who we were yesterday or last week. We will walk in the freedom of true honesty and transparency. I hasten to add that our family and closest friends deserve our being consistent in our daily walk. When we meet new people, we won't have to think about impressing them with a fake front. We can walk in the freedom of just being “us” ...being who God created and wants us to be. This isn't really too difficult when we rely on our Heavenly Father to instruct and lead us as we walk with Him in close relationship which really is the key to it all.

Father...transparency is so much easier than putting on a front for others. I have my strengths that You've put in me but have my weaknesses that You know about as well. There are days when I have to say with Madelyn that “it's not working.” I want to be honest before You and others. Help it be so in my life. I love You. Amen

Stinkin' Thinkin'

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he....

Proverbs 23:7a

If you and I were to list every single sin we can think of, I wonder how long that list would be. The problem with sin is that it doesn't just happen. For either a short amount of time or an extended period of time, a sin in some form has occurred first in ones thoughts. Those thoughts are developed through things we experience over time.

 

Thoughts begin developing from the moment there is recognition of life on the part of a very young child. What happens from that time on stems from experiences in the home. When a child is school age, there begins a process of a child having to process events of life as they occur in different arenas other than in the home. At this time, there is more separation from parents and there begins to be input from other human beings. Some of this input comes from Sunday school teachers and other adults in the church setting. School begins too soon for many young children. It is in the school setting that a child's thinking can become confused. There can begin to be confusion between what has been learned at home and then teaching from teachers. It's not unusual for some teachers to even suggest to their students that they are to pay more attention them than their parents. Older children begin educating younger children regarding facts of life and often working on a child's moral thinking. I won't even go into the area of bullying that children may experience that can do real emotional damage.

The process continues and the world continues to bombard us with how we should think and behave and all of us have absorbed more of the world's philosophies than we should. However, now, unlike that young child going into the world for the first time, we have had choices through the years as to how we're going to think and about what. I'm afraid we have sometimes almost harbored old hurts and former negative experiences with no attempt to allow God to help us clean it all out, get rid of it and enjoy the fresh air of forgiveness and clean thinking.

Brian and I just finished doing some redecorating in my Sunday school classroom. We knew we had to do a paint job on two walls but we had no idea what else would need done. We stripped off an old border. It was a thick, very old mess. We then noticed wallpaper on the lower part of the wall that would require removal. How could I have ever thought that the job would be to just paint and put on a new border. We came across the metal vent in a lower wall that let in cool air in the summer and warm in the winter. Brian being Brian pulled it out of the wall only to find crud galore that was already smelly. He scraped, caulked where needed, cleaned and painted the vent which made all the difference in the world.

We could have painted and bordered the room til the cows came home but that vent, left to itself would have created some serious odor and even allergy problems. We couldn't see all of it until it was pulled out of the wall, checked, cleaned and scraped.

A lot of times, we feel we do some pretty good personal housecleaning. We may go to great lengths to doll ourselves up, put on a good front, but without cleaning out the crud of the world's influence, those hidden thoughts that don't honor the Lord, we will continue to poison and hinder us spiritually with stinkin' thinkin'.

The Psalmist's prayer in the verse below is for three things. I wonder how many of us would be able to pray these three things without hesitation before God. He first asks God to search him (that's checking the overall spirit and attitude of the person). Searching isn't a casual “look/see” but a close scrutiny. He also asks for God to know his thoughts not that God doesn't already know everything about us. It's the thoughts that have come as a result of the attitude, experience and spirit of the person. This indicates to me that God knows our thoughts better than we do and we need His Holy Spirit to reveal openly to us where we need to repent and confess the sin of wrong thinking. He asks God to try and test him. I don't think many of us would even be ready for that part even though as a spiritual exercise, it is good for us.

Are we courageous enough to pray this prayer with the Psalmist that we might stand before God with clean thinking and purity of spirit.

Search me, O God, and know my

heart: try me, and know my thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

AMEN and AMEN!!

How Thirsty Are You?

O God, thou art my God;

early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty

land, where no water is;

Psalm 63:1

The church bulletin needed to be done, so along with the materials I had typed at home, I went to the church work room to get the job done. However, I also had another task in mind that needed done while our ancient copier coughed out the bulletin for Sunday. (I would venture to think that you probably didn't know that Noah had a xerox copier on the ark. I think we inherited it after it being passed down through the years.) Determined to clean out a cabinet, I went armed with my broom and dust pan ready for the task. It didn't take long but thanks to the dust flying, I thought I would die of thirst. That's always an exaggeration when someone says something like that, but I know what they mean.

 

Sometimes my physical thirst has been mandated. If the doctor orders I have lab work done, I'm usually told not to eat or drink anything after midnight. I ordinarily wouldn't drink or eat anything after midnight, but just knowing I'm not supposed to causes me to stir during the night with a desire for a drink of water. It's the same if one is going to have surgery. When I go hiking on a mountain trail, there have been times I left my bottle of water in the car and it's then I notice my strong thirst for a good drink of water.

There are folks or other creatures in the Bible who have gone through times of physical thirst.  God's people in the wilderness ran out of water and didn't see any prospect of finding any. God chose to provide water for them from a rock. In Psalms, we find a hart (deer) panting for the water brooks. In fact, David spoke of his personal thirst for God in the Psalms. Jesus is seen in Scripture on at least two occasions thirsting. He met a Samaritan woman by a well and asked for a drink of water from her. From the cross, Jesus cried, “I thirst,” that was a heart wrenching cry that just added to the agony of the hour.

I have been so blessed as I have looked at verses from Scripture that have to do with having a thirst for the spiritual. If we are honest, our thirst for God can ebb and flow but that's not what He intends. When Brian and I were engaged, I really wanted to see him more often during the week than I could, but because of distance, we saw each other only two or three times a week. I guess I could say that I really thirsted for time with him. God wants the same from us, a thirst for Him and He isn't satisfied with two or three times a week nor should we be.

“Soak” in some of the following verses with me as we evaluate where we are in our thirst for God and His Word. We are never meant to be “dry-as-dust” Christians so join me in a spiritual “look-see.”

John 7:37---In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

Matthew 5:6---Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psalm 42:1,2---As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

John 4:14---But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Isaiah 55:1a---Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters...

Revelation 7:16,17---They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

There are so many things in our day that can rob us of our thirst for God. Those things may not always be negative such as health problems, financial difficulties, family problems or psychological conditions. We can be just as distracted by positive things like social activities, hobbies, TV, travel, computer activities and any other such things that seem to demand our attention because they are necessary or fun. In it all, God can be so easily squeezed out.

When we feel a nagging spiritual thirst, it means checking our spiritual routine and what's been missing that would create that spiritual thirst in us. What have we neglected in our spiritual routine....time in the Word, seasons of prayer, faithfulness in church attendance and service and being the witnesses we are supposed to be. Let me add here that an overabundance of church activity will not quench spiritual thirst. Too many of those activities can serve only to wear us down if doing too much or if not doing what we do in God's strength.

There are times when my spiritual routine may be what I want it to be, not that I can't improve. I may be having a time of sweet fellowship with the Lord, but I have a thirst for even more of Him in my life. He loves to fill me with that Living Water that is refreshing, soothing and strengthening.

May we never be found dehydrated when it comes to the things of God, especially when He stands ready to fill us up with that Living Water that is always available to a thirsty follower.

 

                                              Fill my cup, Lord...I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul,

Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

One Woman's Servant Spirit

Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:...

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant...

Philippians 2:5,7

I made up my mind prior to our move here to Tennessee almost two years ago, to make only two or three really close friends. I love everyone in our church and feel closer to some than others. I grew to dearly love our pastor's wife Brenda and then Jody came into my life. Diane and Lowell were two people I couldn't get away from, not that I wanted to. They took Brian and me under wing from our first day at church. Both of them had grown up in this area, and were married 47 years. A friend told me Diane was a cheerleader in high school here in Townsend and that came as no shock to me. Even now, she was always bubbly with an almost constant smile that could light up the church auditorium. Physically, she was short but stood head and shoulders above so many others when it came to heart.

When I write a blog, I don't like getting personal, spending time on one individual, but in this case, it's just different. Diane went to Heaven this last Saturday morning. It was so very sudden...an aneurism in the brain. For all I know, this ball of energy and enthusiasm had no major physical problems. It was so quick...so sudden...and from a human standpoint, so devastating. She and her hubby had gone to Georgia to finish up some work on a house there. Lowell returned home...alone.

We started our ladies Bible study last week. On the Sunday before, Diane told me to be sure to save her the materials from that first session so she could stay caught up and that she would probably be back for this weeks session. Diane dearly loved the Bible study group but that came as a result of her love for God's Word that she faithfully taught to children in Sunday school and the Wednesday evening children's program. When we finished one Bible study series, she would ask a day or two later, “When do we start the next study?” She loved the learning and teaching process that came because of her love for the Lord.

I don't believe we are to put people up on pedestals. It can be a very long fall from the top of one of those things. However, I do believe we are to learn from other seasoned Christians who have a testimony that is proven. The Bible tells us that younger women are to learn from older ones. In this case, the older woman (me) learned much from the younger (Diane) in this brief time we had together.

Proverbs 10:7a says: “The memory of the righteous is blessed...” If you were to look in my one Bible in particular, you would see a list in the margin next to that verse. There you would see listed 18 names, names of women who have gone on to Heaven, women I have loved, admired and learned from.

Grace encouraged me to write. She saw some small smearings of ability, I guess, in that area of my life.

Carolyn taught me what it was to be godly and a business professional all in one.

From Doris, I learned something about the sweetness of a meek and quiet spirit.

I could mention others on that list but won't; however....

today, I added Diane to that list.

I don't believe in living in the past. However, I don't mind revisiting this list. There should be a gratitude in all of us for those who have gone before us, who have taught us so much and who have contributed through their godly influence to whatever positive qualities there might be in us.

When thinking of Diane and her influence on me (and I'm sure others), one word popped into my mind right away....SERVANT. Many women in churches want to do the convenient and attractive things. A genuine servant doesn't mind cleaning the church bathrooms even when no one knows they are doing it. They are willing to jump in and do the unlovely that no one else wants to do. They are encouragers in the toughest of times.

When I had my bad fall in October into the church basement, I was taken right away to the emergency room. Pretty quickly I was taken to have an MRI done to check my head and neck. When wheeled back to my “cubicle” in the ER, there she stood...Diane. I was a bloody mess (pardon being graphic). She stood at my right side, holding my hand, helping the nurse clean me up, and patting my arm wherever she could find a place on it that wasn't torn up. Diane always had a smile, quick sense of humor and she was so loving and comforting that it can't be described. When I look back to that horrible day and evening, I think of Diane, one of God's servants willing to do the unlovely but it seemed to come as natural to her as breathing.  That evening, she was “Jesus with skin on.”

Every church dinner, of which we have many, found Diane in the kitchen. She could be found organizing the food tables, serving, doing the dishes and cleaning up the mess. Diane was my substitute pianist. It wasn't something she relished doing. She kept telling me that playing for a service wasn't her forte but she was willing to do that for me on the one Sunday I had to be away. With many emergencies that occurred in our church, Diane would be there or call to check on folks.

I love Philippians 2:5-8 as I view those verses as being about the clearest photograph in words about Jesus that we can find in Scripture. If we are to be like Jesus and having His mind, being a servant is going to be a part of that process. Among other things, the very Son of God came among us to serve. That has always been amazing to me...from Heaven to earth, to serve. Diane isn't the only servant I've come across in my lifetime. I am blessed to find myself in the presence of others right now. One of the highest honors we can receive is to bear the title of servant. Servants are servants because they love Jesus and because they want to be more like Him with every day. Diane never wanted attention for herself. Anything she did was for God's glory.

So, my thanks to Diane for the lessons she taught me when she didn't even know I was looking. There are women watching you and me all the time when we aren't aware of it.

I'm just one person who has learned and benefited from this dear servant of God. May her influence be multiplied many times over in those of us who remain.

Thank you Father for the influence of godly people in our lives. Thank you that they were teachable and that through their learning, I have benefited. I keep my eyes fixed on You knowing You are the ultimate Teacher. Thank you for Jesus...the ultimate Servant. Help me to have His mind. Amen.

The Blessing of Distractions

But Jesus called them unto him, and

said, Suffer little children to come unto

me, and forbid them not: for of such

is the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:16

Most people don't like distractions, but they are all around us and take a variety of shapes and sizes. Most distractions that come our way look like people...that's because they are people. These people don't mean to cause any confusion and may not mean to distract. They just want our undivided attention no matter what they see us doing.

There are several distractions that really bother me a great deal, such as...

• Phone rings while I'm trying to complete a project.
• Someone wants to talk when I'm watching a really good TV program.
• When someone sees me reading a book, they may want to tell me the how the story ends.
• Someone interrupts me when I'm teaching a Sunday school lesson.
• Out with hubby, driving in the mountains and we have car trouble.
• An animal runs out in front of my moving car. Fortunately I've never hit an animal.
  

 

We all know there are distractions but what is a distraction. A distraction is something that draws ones attention from an object of focus. A distraction is a bump in the road or a burp in the course of life but always untimely.

We read of any number of distractions in Scripture. People we read about there were not immune from them. Since the beginning of Genesis all the way through Revelation, there have been distractions.

• Eve had what turned out to be an unwelcome visitor in the Garden of Eden.
• Moses was tending sheep and suddenly a bush caught on fire.
• David went out on his balcony to catch a breath of fresh air and came across a real distraction on a nearby balcony in the form of a beautiful woman bathing.
• Daniel was praying at a window and was arrested.
• Saul was headed to Damascus where he hoped to round up a bunch of Christians to persecute when a bright light distracted him and he was never again the same. On that day, he even underwent a name change and became known as Paul.
• Peter was up on a roof and a dream distracted him...a dream of a huge sheet with all types of animals on it. 
  

 

Think of all the distractions Jesus faced:

• Little children ran to him, climbing on Him because they were drawn to Him.
• He was asleep in a boat that was tossing and turning in a horrible storm and the frightened disciples woke Him up.
• Four friends lowered a disabled friend down through a hole in the ceiling of a house where Jesus was teaching, hoping their friend could be healed. (When was the last time someone made a hole in your roof and lowered a stretcher down through it?)
• When a 12 year old boy, Jesus remained behind with the priests in the temple talking with them when His parents interrupted the learning time.
• The Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were always interrupting Jesus' teaching.
  

 

We've all been there and I'm afraid I have usually regarded distractions as negative events. Distractions for the most part aren't intentional. People just feel they need an answer or just need the attention of someone. We all tried to teach our children to not talk when grownups are talking. We've asked them to not talk to us while we were on the telephone. So, we've concluded that distractions are necessary evils in the course of life but what do we do with them.

 

Several years ago, a dear friend taught me about a spiritual practice of hers. She said that when she first wakes up in the morning, one of her first prayers is asking the Lord to allow only those people He chooses to cross her path that day. She includes in that, any event...the usual or the unusual. She said that as a result, when something negative in nature comes her way, she automatically regards it as something from the Lord. She views people in the same light.

 

Distractions in the form of people probably reveal a need of some sort. That person may need ministered to in some way, so God may interrupt our day with an opportunity to serve Him and help another person. We would probably be less irritated if we could view distractions as opportunities in disguise, as opportunities for service or to get our minds refocused where they should be.

 

Interruptions are distractions, but whether we speak of interruptions or distractions, I have to wonder how many of them have been Divine Appointments that I have missed, but that God intended me to handle in those moments. Sometimes it would be hard to tell the difference. If my day has been dedicated to God, I feel I should think in positive ways more than negative ones with regard to the various people or things that appear in my life in the course of my day. 

 

I wish we could realize that we are on this earth to be servants and ministers...God's representatives...Jesus with skin on. Whether saved or unsaved, there are people who need us. They need our encouragement, advice, help in any number of ways and yes, definitely need our prayers and at times, even our tears. I'm not saying that we should ignore our daily responsibilities. That would not honor Him. There have been times when I've taken on too much that in many cases, I wasn't meant to get involved in. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct what He wants us to do and when He wants us to do it. I get on overload when I haven't asked the Lord to direct my day. God knows what you and I can reasonably handle and be effective. Bathing our day in prayer will always be helpful and meaningful. When viewed from God's perspective, no distraction or interruption should be considered a “whoops” in our day. God NEVER says “Whoops” nor should we as we walk through our day, whether we be interrupted or distracted.

Dear Father...I give this day to you. Whatever it is...a phone call, someone dropping by the house, an accident or the electricity going off...may I regard the events of my day to be under your control. Holy Spirit, guide me...I give my day to you knowing that under Your leadership, I will consider any person or event a Divine Appointment. May I stay in close communication with You. I love you.....Amen

You're Invited to a Party

Woe is me, for I am undone....

Isaiah 6:5

Join me. I don't give or attend these parties very often but they come my way, usually because of my own doing. Many times, this kind of party becomes a very private one, with me the only one in attendance. Here's a sample invitation:

You Are Invited

to a

Pity Party

Where: Anywhere you happen to be.

   When:  Anytime....anywhere

                                      Date: Most any day, week or month of the year

                                                 Bring: Large box of Kleenex

                  No RSVP necessary...in fact, you can have your very own pity party!

What is pity? It is usually a sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another person. That can be a healthy thing to feel for others. However when that pity turns inward becoming self pity, it can be toxic. Self pity is a horrible thing to endure even for a moment. It is the highest form of pride because one's mind rests only on self and what that inner self is feeling and suffering. When not put in check, one can take on the mentality of a victim and when at that point, is very difficult to work through, although with God, nothing is impossible.
 

What are some things that may cause this negative introspection in us. Causes can run the gamut from A to Z. And those things won't necessarily be the same for every person. Some of those things can usually fall into one category....loss (job, loved one, romantic relationship, etc.). Other things may involve financial difficulties, disappointment of some kind (and this can be a biggie) and even misunderstandings. I know the negative things that push buttons in my life so I try to be aware of the onset of those things so I can get a grip on them before they get a grip on me.
 

Job had a good life. He was a wealthy man and well respected. He had a wonderful family. Job was so dedicated, he arose every morning presenting sacrifices for his children just in case they had cursed God. This put him in the position of being the priest of his family. His life was very blessed with money and livestock...life was good. Satan didn't have any admiration for Job and with God's permission, put Job through the testing of a lifetime. For the most part, Job ended up losing everything. His children were killed, but his wife lived. After he lost his health, even his wife suggested that he curse God and die...talk about support.
 

We read through the book of Job and see with no thanks to his friends, he ended up in the pit of despair. He got to the point of even regretting that he had been born. Been there? I have known women who have been there. Some have rebounded from their feelings but some seem to wallow in the despair for months and perhaps years. 
 

What is the opposite of self pity?.....gratefulness. Sounds odd doesn't it. When in the pit of despair, it doesn't seem the time to be grateful. Gratitude takes ones mind off of self and onto others or focuses us on the good things that God has done for us. It takes practice but it works.
 

Even when we don't feel like it, we can force ourselves to think on the things God has given us. Keep counting and perhaps even list those things on a piece of paper...keep going...think. This will be a very difficult thing to do but it's the best shovel we can find that digs us out of that abyss of self pity. Listed are some things for a start:
 

Personal salvation

Life itself

Good health

God's grace

Family

Income

Food to eat

Holy Spirit

Own copy of God's word

Freedom to worship

Living in a free country

God's provision

Transportation to take you where you want to go

Nice weather

Clothes to wear

God's love
 

Feel better yet? Well there are more things to add to that list. Even some of those things listed above may not be the most ideal in your life, but there are those that do. Staying in Scripture is a huge help for me. I have those Scriptures marked that I can go to immediately when those tough times begin to set in. We can cry on every shoulder we can find in these times of self-pity but the only shoulder we should run to is our Lords. He tells us, “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” That's an open ended offer from the One who is the only One who can give us a complete, long-lasting time of rest. Forget the pity party...His offer is the best thing we could ever take advantage of.

For pity sakes, cancel that party, put that Kleenex box back on the shelf and walk in a spirit of gratitude.

Dear Father...Times of pity seem to sneak up on us so quickly but can hang around for the longest time. Help me to run to Jesus first thing and to trust you in my every circumstance. I

Feel-Good Medicine

A merry heart doeth good like

a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

I remember the first time I took medicine that our doctor gave to my mother. I was really a little kid at the time. I had a sore throat and he put the small pills in a little white envelope. Dr. Harsha had a huge glass front cabinet with all sorts of bottles in it. Some bottles had pills in them and some had liquid in them. He told me to take the pills one at a time when my mother knew to give them to me. I had never swallowed a pill before. I think we ruined one in the teaching/learning process. My grandmother finally suggested to my mother to put the small white tablet in a spoon full of jelly. I ate most of the jelly and was left with a pill in my mouth, but the jelly thing finally worked.

Through the years, we've all taken medications at one time or another and we know the importance medications are to physical health. The verse above gives us a different kind of medicine though that we might never have heard of... that's the medicine of a merry heart. It isn't clear in this verse, but I believe a merry heart can have two sources. The first source would be someone we come in contact with who has a merry heart and their merriment is contagious. This is the person who can quickly cheer one up who is not well. She has a good heart which aids in her being an encourager. Whether physically ill or just down in the dumps, this is a person who can seem to make you feel better just by being around her.

I have also been around ladies who have gone through the toughest of situations. I'm thinking of a couple of friends with terminal cancer who had the merriest of hearts. Just being around them even in their final days, I saw them with a sincere smile and were still quick with little humorous quips that could cheer a visitor. I've had friends who have gone through some of the toughest situations life has to offer but who keep a cheerful and merry spirit. For them, it isn't pretense or acting...it's just who they are. These Christian friends of mine have found their joy not in the prognosis of a doctor, in medications or in the support of caregivers. They have found their merriment in their faith in Jesus Christ.

The other source of a merry heart is that heart that is within us. Jesus is the source of our personal joy and merriment. We should remember that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” We won't always have encouraging people around us. The greatest encouragement is from our Lord.

Please note that the verse says that a merry heart is LIKE a medicine. It doesn't say that a merry heart is THE medicine but that it can have a similar effect as a dose of medication given by a doctor.

The broken spirit spoken of is another thing. One thing we don't consider when ill whether physical or emotional is that our bones can be drastically affected. When anyone goes a long period of time with a broken spirit there are at least three things that can be affected:

• nerves in the body are weakened
• bone marrow tends to dry, and
• the human skeleton can be weakened
  

The adult body has 206 bones. They form the frame of the body as well as protecting the organs of the body. One of the most important jobs of the bones is to make blood...our red and white blood cells that are created in the marrow of our bones. White blood cells fight infections. White cells is where platelets are made that causes our blood to clot...a most important function. Red ones are made mostly in the flat bones of the body. The red cells carry oxygen through blood vessels and removes waste.

There's more that could be said about the bones but they don't just hold us up. They play a vital role in the chemical functions of the body.

Now, back to our verse. It states that a broken spirit dries the bones. When we are depressed, in the “pit” of life, hurt and all of those other things that cause us great distress, a broken spirit can result and the overall health of our bodies is being affected.

“But you don't know how bad my situation is,” you might say. No I don't, but God does and He is the only One who can mend a broken spirit. Anything we try to do to mend a broken spirit in ourselves is only a temporary fix, a band-aid on the wound. The answer lies in our reliance on our Lord, the healer of broken spirits and broken hearts.

There are two things at play in our verse that keep us healthy in mind and body...a merry, rejoicing, happy spirit that could cancel out the broken spirit. I know this all sounds too simple and I don't mean for it to sound like that. This is a heavy thing to tackle in our own spirits and body but God Himself knows us well. “For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 He can empower us to be over comers and victorious in the worst of our days. He has provided for our being healthy in every way. He knows the importance of our being spiritually healthy that will contribute to our physical health as well.

Know ye that the LORD, He is God: it is He

that hath made us, and not we ourselves...

Psalm 100: 3

Have you noticed as I have how much we are reliant on our God for absolutely everything that even includes every breath we breathe, tear we shed, or beat of our hearts; and He is interested in it all. He is to be praised for all He does for and in us. Come to think of it, that process of praise will do much in bringing about more of a merry heart within us than we can imagine. May it be so.

Dear Father, You are so wise and all-knowing. If we would follow the principles of Your Word, we would be so much better off, and thus be happier and merrier of spirit. Heal our brokenness as only You can. We love you......Amen.

Don't Fence Me In

Oh, give me land lots of land under starry skies above.

Don't fence me in.

Let me ride thru the wide-open country that I love.

Don't fence me in.

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze,

Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees

Send me off forever, but I ask you please,

Don't fence me in.

...Cole Porter

I used to hear Roy Rogers sing this song when I went to the Saturday afternoon cowboy movies at the State Theater in our town. I dearly loved this song. After all, I wanted to be a cowgirl when I grew up...along with being an Indian princess or a missionary to Africa. One reason I liked the song was that it was so picturesque. I could just see myself riding along on my horse (that I didn't have and would never have), riding over my imaginary prairie. The biggest hill on my imaginary prairie was in Mrs. Britton's back yard and it was only a hump of dirt.

Fast forward several years when my husband, children and I were going to be moving to the state of Texas. We moved from the northern part of the country to the Dallas, TX area. Garland, Texas beckoned to us and we were all excited about the move. Brian had a new job that was exciting and challenging, the children would be in a new Christian school, I would have the fun of settling the family in to a new area and really what seemed to be a very new culture.

We had a small, but new house built that put us in close proximity to the church we attended. I picked wall paper, tile, carpet color and the other things that have to be selected for a new house. Then I was asked a strange question and I believe Brian was there at the time. The contractor asked, “Do you want a fence?” Brian and I looked at each other before answering. Up north some people had fences but in most cases they were short, chain link fences mostly for the purpose of keeping pets in check. We had noticed in Garland that most houses had 6-8 foot wooden plank fences. I asked the contractor why we needed a fence. He was puzzled as if he had never given my question a thought. He then said that a fence would keep neighbors out of our swimming pool. Well, we didn't have a pool. He said it would provide privacy for us and a fence would keep out undesirables. I could understand the pool thing if we had a pool but to me a fence could protect thieves who might try to break in our back door and a fence would keep others from detecting what was going on. Well, in the end, we said no to the fence.

A few years later, we built another house out of need for more room. We went through the fence thing again. By now, my mind had gone back to my Roy Rogers song. Here we were in Texas with lots of land (not ours personally but Texas was BIG) and starry skies above and every contractor was wanting to fence me in. Our two houses had no fences. We refused to have them. One of the big things that became noticeable was that our backyards became the gathering places for neighborhood children. We had everything going....kick ball, soccer, cheerleader activity and general children fun play. They couldn't have all of that fun activity in anyone elses yard because of fences, pieces of wood, joined together that said, “Stay out.”

Fences serve two purposes as I see them. They keep out what you don't want in and they keep in what you don't want out. I'm not saying people shouldn't have fences. We had another house with one, but it was just our personal choice for appropriate reasons at the time.

I'm not as concerned about wooden fences that we might have constructed for whatever reasons. I'm thinking about the fences I have put up in time past to keep people out of my life. The slats on those fences to keep people out were made up of indifference, prejudice, apathy, laziness, pride, and the list could go on and on. When that fence is up, I don't have to be friendly or helpful and can just live life all unto myself. From a spiritual standpoint, that's a fence that needs torn down. You see, when we create our own fences, it is impossible for us to be the witnesses for Christ we are supposed to be.

I think it was Robert Frost who wrote in The Mending Wall that “Good fences make good neighbors.” Perhaps that is so for some folks where well defined boundaries are needed. Those fences signify ownership which can be necessary at times. We live in hostile days. I believe a good majority of people in our country are angry, especially when looking at the political and economical conditions we are dealing with. As frustrated as we feel, we can't take those feelings out on others, others who might desperately need a smile or even a helping hand. Building fences for the wrong reasons will never solve a problem. We need a sense of community in our lives. Our self made invisible fences must come down piece by piece if we are to be a Godly influence. It's hard to reach out over an 8 foot fence, a 6 foot fence...or any fence. No one else can tear down the fence I might be hiding behind. Tearing that fence down must come in cooperation between me and the Lord. When that fence comes down, there will be more “land lots of land” for me to walk in freedom.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ

hath made us free, and be not entangled again

with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

Father, I want to walk in spiritual freedom. I don't want there to be any barriers between You and me that I may have unknowingly built around myself. Help me to tear down any fences I have erected that would keep me away from knowing and serving others. I love you. Amen

Let It Snow!

Purge me with hyssop, and  I

shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:6

I'm not sure, but for the many who have grown up in areas accustomed to snow, I can't help but wonder if a good snow doesn't take us back to those bygone days of childhood. I think I was about six years old and received the biggest shock in my life up to that point. Overnight, we had a huge snowfall. We lived in a house with a nice front porch but at the time, there were about 10 steps leading up to the porch. My mother had bundled me up with the galoshes, heavy coat with matching leggings, gloves and warm hat. She said she was getting my sled out of the garage to take me on a ride. I waited fairly near the bottom step, anticipating my ride on my sled. Suddenly, my mother stepped out on the porch, bundled up as well with sled in hand. Suddenly, in a funny, but loud voice, she called, “Look out below.” Much to my amazement as I looked toward the porch, there was my mother laying on her stomach on MY sled and down she came on those ice-covered steps. After a safe landing, she rolled off the sled, sat up and just began to throw snow all around her like she was a young girl again. I was one shocked little girl and even at that age, I must admit that I looked around to make sure no neighbors witnessed this spectacle.

Snow can be such a hazard but it can also be a lot of fun. As I got older, we had a certain hill near our house that all of the kids in the neighborhood gathered at on those days when snow was packed several inches on that street. We rode down Kolesar hill like there was no tomorrow. Sometimes my Dad would pull my sister and me on our sleds behind his car. He would drive very slow around a couple of nearby blocks. If anyone saw a parent doing that today, he would be reported to Child Protective Services but it sure was fun.

Psalm 51 is such a classic Psalm written by David. Talk about someone who had everything going for him...God's chosen servant, king, wealth, anything he wanted at his finger tips. In a moment of weakness, all he had amassed just wasn't enough and he fell into sin with a neighbor woman. He should have been with his army that had already gone to battle but he chose to stay home. He was in the wrong place...wrong time...and it got him into trouble. We all know the story of David's fall into deep sin but God didn't give up on David.

This is a psalm of repentance. There is hardly a piece of literature like it anywhere. In, day, it is rare to see a person who in such a public way, repents of sin and as king, David's repentance was obvious not only to God but also to his people as well.

Have you ever thought how white snow is? For a long time, I didn't realize that there are so many shades of white. Walk into a bridal salon and walk through the racks where so many beautiful dresses are hanging. It's easy to notice all the shades of white that are available to a bride. I would like to suggest, however, that I don't believe there is a white color whiter than snow. Wake up in the morning to a fresh, fallen snow where no one has walked on it and there hasn't been time for anything to mar the surface. Then, let the sunshine peek through for a few minutes, sunbeams that dance on that perfect surface and it is totally blinding. With bright sun on that brilliant, white surface, the human eye can't tolerate to look at it.

I think to the transfiguration with Jesus on that mount where Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, the white light almost blinding. Remember Paul on the road to Damascus, blinded by the bright light of Jesus' presence. Sun on snow must be something like that.

Look at some of the phrases David wrote in Psalm 51 and I wonder if you and I have ever experienced a repentance as deep and sincere as Davids:

Have mercy upon me, O God v1

Wash me v2

Create in me a clean heart v10

Renew a right spirit within me v10

Cast me not away from Thy presence v11

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation v12

There are times we are so busy keeping track of the sins of others, that we don't do anything about our own sin. I had to ask myself when the last time was that I went before the Lord seeking forgiveness for my sin and renewal of my spirit. Sometimes when I seek God's forgiveness, I don't take total, personal responsibility for my offenses toward Him. After all, aren't there people who cause us to sin....or....the devil made me do it? David knew his sin was his own with no one to blame but self.

The verse I love in this chapter though is where David pleads for God's cleansing. Verse 7 says: “ ...wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”    Only God can wash us so that we are whiter than snow and David knew that.  I just can't remember anything whiter than a sun drenched yard covered with new fallen snow......that's WHITE. God wants me to be just that clean and free of sin.  This thing of confession and repentance I'm afraid isn't as much a part of my spiritual practice as it ought to be. My personal prayer for this day is:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole,

I want Thee forever to ransom my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.