7 THINGS THAT REALLY SCARE ME

David and I have been blessed with 6 grandchildren.  The oldest is 10 and the baby is 6.  They are each as different as can be.  They make us laugh; cry and shake our heads sometimes at the things they say.  If a reporter were to line them up and put a microphone in front of them and ask them “How would you describe your Nonnie” (my grandmother name), they would all answer the exact same way.  Nonnie is a scardy cat.  They are right!  My favorite ride at the amusement park is the Carousel. They have explained to me any number of times that the Carousel is not a ride at all.  Don’t care, it’s my favorite! I don’t drive fast; don’t try new restaurants and close my eyes during the scary parts of the movie.  If I had my way, they wouldn’t do scary things either. 

For all the things that scare me, one tops the list-I never want to have God disappointed in me.  Don’t misunderstand, I have failed Him so many times, but it kills me every time when that still small voice within my heart makes me fall under conviction.  I want to love the things God loves and stay away from the things He detests.  There is a list in Proverbs 6 that line up the things God hates. 

^“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. “
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Let me break down these 6 no 7 things for you. 

1.       Proud attitude that looks down on others

2.       One who tells untruths

3.       Killing of the innocent

4.       A heart that thinks and commits evil toward another

5.       One who loves evil and helps it along its way

6.       A false witness

7.       One who causes division in the church or community.

One thing that always stands out to me about these Scriptures, is things we say and think are on the same list as those who murder. 

As I studied these Scriptures once again this week, I learned that God does not make a difference between the one who spreads the evil and one who does nothing to stop it!  I mean is that scary or what?  If we hear of a wrong, we must try to “right” it.  We cannot “help it along it’s way” by justifying that at least we didn’t start it.  If we “heard” it, we have a responsibility to intervene with the truth.

I have had the misfortune to know people who just love to create drama.  They are drawn to gossip and back-stabbing like a bee to honey.  I’ve had to learn to stay away from those because before I know it, my walk is affected, and I begin to a part of the problem rather that a part of the solution. 

What about you?  I think a crazy roller coaster would be a walk in the park next to disappointing the God who gave me life and secured my eternity.

DON'T MISS THE WONDER!

DON'T MISS THE WONDER!

David and I have had the blessing of traveling quite a bit this summer.  We began our journeys by traveling to New York and Canada to see Niagara Falls.  It had been on my “bucket list” for a long time.  Then a couple of weeks later, we headed off on an adventure at the top of David’s list: an Alaskan cruise.  The sights we beheld were really mostly beyond description.  The beauty and magnitude of God’s creation is so far beyond what we could design if we tried.  We truly saw things we had never seen before. It was all brand new to us.  If you know my husband, you will know that he is really a very sensitive kind of guy and many times during our journey, he was moved to tears over what he was witnessing.  Most of the pictures I took were of his back as he gazed out from the balcony of our cabin.  I was moved to tears watching him have a dream fulfilled.  We didn’t take a lot of pictures, choosing instead to just enjoy the sights. 

During the trips, I began to notice the strangest thing.   Most everyone was constantly using their cameras on their phones.  They would take a picture and then move on to find something else to fill their view finder.  They missed the magnitude of the wonder because they only saw what was featured in their camera lens.  Very few took the time to see the picture as a whole rather than just a snippet of the picture.  Every meal was recorded on their camera; every encounter qualified as a subject for a selfie. The most common interaction between parents and children were posing for pictures.

I am such a people watcher and these trips made for great entertainment for me.  I noticed that once the incident was recorded on their phones, they then spent the rest of their time on the phone.  I suppose they were uploading the pictures to social media and the like.  I do know that very few enjoyed the people, sounds and wonders around them because they were too busy staring at a small screen they held in their hand.  Most failed to engage with those that were just featured in their important selfie.

I think perhaps I’m guilty of the same thing in my spiritual life.  I’m so caught up with this small circumstance that seems so huge to me, that I miss the new thing and the big thing God is doing in my world.  I’m so distracted by the puddle in front of me that I fail to see the river he is parting for my next adventure.  I’m so fearful by nature that I must be drug kicking and screaming through the wilderness to get to the valley of blessing just around the corner!

Let’s all agree to stop focusing on our small stuff and not miss the wonder of what He is doing in our life.  

j

WHAT AM I SHOUTING

This morning the preschool children at my church sang for the church and waved small palm branches shouting "Hosanna".  This year, just like those past, I sat and wondered what I would have been doing, if I had been in Jerusalem on that Passover week so long ago.  There is no doubt, my Savior knew exactly what He would be facing at the end of the week.  I wonder if He even heard the voices in the crowd shouting "Hosanna?" I wonder if He looked past the praises the people were raising to see their hearts capable of unspeakable things? I wonder if in the midst of the cheers He already heard the jeers of "Crucify Him"?

The contrast of these cries highlight the fickle nature of public opinion.  If social media has done nothing else, it has shown us how quickly people can turn on one another. But yet, most of us spend endless hours trying to fit in and be a part of a particular perceived popular group.   There have been times in my life when I have worked so hard for the applause of men, never considering the applause of the man with the nail scarred hands that purchased my life.

People change their minds and try to change the definition of truth.  What was once considered shameful is now celebrated during prime time.  Words once bleeped out are now considered necessary to complete a sentence.  Where is my truth supposed to be found in days such as these?I supposed it is found in the same place it was on that Passover Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem.  It is found in the heart and teaching of Jesus, in the scrutiny of Scripture and in the leading of the Holy Spirit.

As I walk through this Holy Week, I'm going to slow down and listen for His applause.  I'm going to seek out His Truth in the Bible.  I want to do more than just make noise in my Savior's ears.  I want to truly praise Him from the depths of my heart and soul that He purchased on Calvary.

IT’S ANOTHER NEW THING!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

I don’t know about you, but change is a bit difficult for me.  I like things the same.  Right now, there are very few things in my life that are the same as they have been.  We have a new address, I’m having to make new friends, the geography is different, and I seem to have a new wrinkle or gray hair every time I look in the mirror! 

This weekend I thought a great deal about “new” things.  I realized that if we are walking correctly in our Christian journey, God is always going to be doing something new. I believe if we are to do things right, we will constantly be challenged to expand our mission fields and be open to opportunities to serve. 

The word for new in the verse from Isaiah is chadash.  It means new or fresh.  While I might not love to change, I do like the idea of a fresh work from God.  I believe for the new or fresh work to begin, we must let go of the old.  There is just no time or place for a tug of war between the past and the present, if we are going to go places with God. 

In this “new” season, I ran across something I had written years ago in another “new” season.  It encouraged me again today and I hope it does you.

LIVING IN THE LAND OF PROMISE

I’m looking out my window, Lord, on a place I don’t recognize

It’s hard to see the Promise around the tears falling from my eyes.

You’ve got a mighty plan, Lord, even I know that it’s true,

But the task I’m facing now seems far too difficult for me to do.

I am way out of my comfort zone and feeling out of place

Are you positive about the Promised Land being located in this space?

Just like your other children, I am thinking I loved the place of bondage more,

But no doubt about it, Lord, you definitely shut that door!

The manna you fed me on my journey was a fine way to eat,

The clouds that gave me directions made me sure upon my feet.

Moving to the Land of Promise seemed easier somehow…

Than living in the Promised Land you have given me for now.

Help me unpack my heart Lord, and really settle in

Help me to accept where I am and not long so much for where I’ve been

You have told me over and over about the plans of Your heart,

Thanks for reminding me that my Promised Land is any place where You are.

WELCOME 2014

Everyone has their own way of welcoming the new year. Some dress up and party like crazy. Some in our neighborhood shot off 100's of dollars of fireworks until WAY after midnight. David and I usually spend it at home glued to one football game after another.

This year we have been very low key. The last couple of months of 2013 brought an illness of some sort my way. I spent most of November and December laying low and trying to breathe. I am not usually a "low key" "be still" kind of girl so it has been a challenge.

 I do love to spend New Year's Eve reflecting back on the previous year by going through my prayer journal. It does my faith good to remember my Savior's faithfulness. It gives me great hope to go forward into 2014 knowing my God is absolutely able! Matt Redman wrote a wonderful song that minister to me every time I hear it. It's a perfect message for each of us for the new year that is upon us. I encourage you this year to embrace your mountaintops and endure your battle grounds. You will be more beautiful with those scars etched on your heart reminding you of lessons learned and ground gained. God will surely be faithful to be with you and to teach you great and might things.

        "Never Once"

Standing on this mountaintop Looking just how far we’ve come

Knowing that for every step You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground Seeing just how much You’ve done

Knowing every victory Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

          You are faithful, God, You are faithful

         Carried by Your constant grace Held within Your perfect peace

         Never once, no, we never walk alone Never once did we ever walk alone

         Never once did You leave us on our own You are faithful, God, You are faithful

         Every step we are breathing in Your grace

         Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise

         You are faithful, God, You are faithful You are faithful

AN AMAZING WOMAN

This morning a truly amazing woman entered heaven. She was 100 years old and she lived her life investing in other people. One of those people was me. Aunt Mildred (not really my Aunt) was the Mom of my first best friend. I met Linda when I was in the 1st grade. I don’t know what made us friends. Maybe at that age, it was because we both liked the same color or maybe she sat at my table and we thought that meant you had to be friends. At any rate, God planted a forever friendship in our life that still exists today.

I grew up in a difficult home. Linda’s house was very different. She was an only child born when her Mom was almost 45 and when her Dad was in his 50’s. Aunt Mildred, always wanted Linda’s friends to be around. She cooked for us, took us places, hugged us, encouraged us. Linda’s Dad died when we were in Junior High. Now as I look back, it is really amazing to me that Aunt Mildred did all she did with us and for us. She was 50-something widow and it would have been easier to just invest in her own daughter. But she didn’t. She took us to Charm School (might have been a waste of money there!) She let us cook elaborate dinners for our friends and never fussed about the messes we surely made. She took us to concerts and youth camps. As we got older, she had fancy dinner parties for us with china and crystal. She even let us throw a couple parties of our own! She listened to us as we cried over one boy or another and always told us we were too good for that boy anyway. As I grew up, it was Linda and Aunt Mildred who threw my wedding and baby showers. Linda was my first best friend. Linda’s Mom taught me how to be a wife and Mom. I had the opportunity in July to go to Corpus to Aunt Mildred’s 100 birthday party, I had the privilege to kneel at her feet and say thank you. I also was able to say thank you to Linda for sharing her Mom with all of us girls. Though we were all grown up, most of us with grandchildren, as we gathered around this wonderful women, she saw us once again as little girls she had invested in. We were all there that night celebrating with her, but she ended up celebrating all God had done in each of our lives.

She lived her life with such grace and dignity. She died in the same manner. I am a different person and my children had a better Mom, because of the way Aunt Mildred invested in my young life. I am forever grateful.

Is there a someone special from your childhood that you are thankful for?

MY FATHER IN LAW

Unless God intervenes, David's Dad will soon experience heaven first hand. His gain will leave us all with a huge gaping hole in our hearts. In every way, he has been the undisputed Patriarch of us all. Jack Haines served our country valiantly during WW II. He worked hard all of his life, supporting his wife and five children. He was an expert at gas measurement during the boom years of the oil industry. He worked 42 years, his entire career with one company. Almost 30 years ago, he had the opportunity to retire early, and to all of our surprise, he did. Mr. and Mrs. Haines spent those years traveling, cheering on their grandchildren and bouncing some great grandchildren on their knee. He has greatly loved his family.

One of my favorite things about him, is his voice. He has this incredible booming base voice. He spoke with it; sang with it and could correct an errant grandchild by just calling their name. I never heard him raise that voice and I never heard him say an unkind thing about anyone. He was kind and gracious to everyone.

He turned 89 last year. He and my mother-in-law celebrated 70 years of marriage about the same time. It was a quiet celebration because my mother-in-law has been robbed of her memories and most days cannot recall his name or those of her children. Yet, not a day passes without him telling her how much he loves her. I have learned so much about love and commitment watching him care for her. Neither of them is complete without the other.

I know he is going to love heaven. I know there will be great reward for him, for how he has served his Savior during his life. He will be healthy, whole and complete. I'm grateful for his life and legacy. I just don't know what we will do without him.