Letters From Home (less)

A little while back--after feeling frustrated each time some homeless soul asked for our help and us not having anything handy to give--Steve and I prepared some “homeless bags” so that we’d be prepared for the next time.  We filled ziploc bags with goodies, cleaning things, one little Bible verse card, and thought we were ready.  However, the more we thought about it, the more things we would add:  a pair of socks, a little bit of cash and four quarters, band aids, and--one of my personal favorites--one of those little tea lights that are battery operated.  After all, the double entendre was too good to pass up:  light for dark nights and for us shining light on our fellow man.  Ooh, yes, go ahead and pat us on the backs the next time that you see us.  We are just such good Christian folks.

{Pardon me while I choke}

As the bags sat on our table, ready to be dispersed, I had one last idea to really make the bags complete.  “Let’s put a stamped post card and pen in there.  That way, should they so desire, they can send their loved ones a note letting them know how they are.”  Brilliant, if I do say so myself.  

Anyways, this blog could go lots of ways but I want to hear from you today.  I know a lot of my readers are also writers so I want to give you all the opportunity to let your creative juices flow today.  Here’s your assignment:  imagine you are the homeless soul.  You are sitting there as you chew on your raisins and wondering just what kind of person puts a postcard--a postcard of all things!!--in a bag like this.  As you wash away your food with the last drag of water, you continue to ponder this card.  It’s already stamped and nothing on it will give away your whereabouts except the postmark.  That is, if you even use it.  

You roll the pen between your fingers.  Your mind is already thinking whom you’d like to send a note to.  That soul’s address is imprinted on your brain.  Do you dare?  What would you say?  There’s only room for a few lines.  

Taking a deep breath, you sigh.  The decision has been made.  Consider your words carefully, for again, there’s only space for a few of them.  Breathe.

“Okay,” you decide, and pick up the pen.  "Here goes."

Now, Wandering Through The Bible readers, write.  You can send them privately if you like but I think it will be quite interesting to see what you all come up with.   Ready?  Put yourself in place of the homeless one.  Who would you write to?  How much information would you include?  What would you say?  I can’t wait to read you today!

On This Day

On This Day

I really love Facebook.  Don’t you?  I mean, seriously, where else can we go to keep up with one another, find the best recipes, see pictures of near and far-off places, peoples, and cartoons/memes of any subject under the sun?  Not to mention the groups we can join (no membership fee required), the chat rooms we can converse in, and we also have a place to record our life events for all the world to see--or for just a few select ones, should that be our desire.

One of Facebook’s perks is often a double-edged sword for me.  It’s the feature known as “On This Day.”  For those not familiar with it, what it does is capture the moments from today’s date and highlights them for each year that one was on Facebook.  Oh the walks down Memory Lane I take each morning!  Some cause me to smile and reminisce over past glories while others make me melancholy for hurts that haven’t quite healed.  Some leave me laughing while others have me scratching my head.  Often, as today’s reflections were, I get a little of both.

Apparently in 2014, I wrote a blog about mistaken identity.  It was good (even if I do say so myself) and I recollected the feelings evoked as I read over the words about making a name for one’s self.  How I wanted to be known as a child of God and have His characteristics flow unmistakably through me!  I still do.  For you see, whether we personally can see them or if instead someone has to point them out to us, we all have a certain something that reminds folks of another soul.  Often I have been confused with someone else and in my blog I joked about a few of those times and concluded with this paragraph:

Long story short, each of us is labeled and/or associated with some type of person. Artists, jocks, families, funny people, or what have you: we all leave a mark. We all can be confused with another, as my sister Mary and I often were because we favored in looks. But the group I most want to be associated with, the Person I most want to be known as being related to, and the attributes I most wish to emulate are those of the family of God. I want to be instantly recognizable as a child of God, as one who smiles and offers acceptance, as one whose qualities could come no other way except by inheritance, by being born with the traits and elements of Jesus Christ. If I am to be confused with someone else, may it be as a person of light so that when the truth comes out and my real identity is known, I will have found favor with those whom I come in contact with, and may I leave a sweet savor behind so that even though I was not whom they thought, I was still someone they were glad they just met.

Imagine then, to my chagrin, as I scrolled further down the On This Day page and saw a notification I had posted about funeral arrangements for a man that for the life of me I could not remember whom he was.  I was appalled!  He passed seven years ago and sure, my memories aren’t what they used to be but still...Still, how could he have mattered so much then and not be even a faint memory now?  I internally shuddered.

In conclusion, I was able to investigate and discover who this man was (a former colleague of mine that at the time made a great impression on me and so many others).  However, to not know him now?  To not automatically have his face and personality come to mind saddened me.  I wondered about my own legacy.  Who will remember me when I am gone?  Who will smile longingly at my picture and recall the good times or will I just be the one who folks puzzle over as they repeat my name over and over, trying to jog some link to it?  Thankfully, once we all reach Glory, we won’t have temporary amnesia and we will know--we will know each other fully.  We will rejoice in the creatures God turned us into as we perhaps laugh over past times and see how He worked in us even then.  Even now.  

On this day, friends, may we shine for Jesus, love as He loves, and glorify Him above all.  That’s our purpose and reasonable sacrifice.  And the best part is that it’s not even a hard task to complete.  Let’s finish well, shall we?

All the world is a stage

Mordecai sent word to Esther to tell her "...For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance... will arise from another place... And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" 

I have a few things to share with you all to ponder as Super Bowl 50 has been completed and the stage has been set for much of the world to see and hear who claimed victory and how the loser would handle defeat.  Stick with me a few moments?  Thanks!

Disappointed?  Mmn, a bit.  Disgruntled?  Nope; that's not quite the word I'm looking for.  Disheartened?  Yeah, but only because I had built him up to my pastor and a few others due to his comments on his faith that I recently read.  Disgusted?  No, that's not the word either, although my mind is a bit perturbed.  Disillusioned?  Maybe.  Maybe that's what I felt when I heard Peyton Manning last night as he told the millions of folks watching what he was going to do to celebrate the win over the Carolina Panthers:  

"I'll take some time to reflect," he said. "I have a couple of priorities first. I want to go kiss my wife and my kids. I want to go hug my family. I'm going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight, I promise you that. I'm going to take care of those things first, and say a little prayer to thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity."

And then there was Cam Newton.  No, that sure wasn't his greatest game but does one game define you?  Of course not!  Read here the text his mother sent to him before the game began:

 "I understand that hot and cold water comes out of different fountains. You are neither hot or cold. You have a big platform. Which fountain are you? Don't let the devil win over your words or speech that represents the dark world. But represent the awesome God you serve through your words. ... You win with your character and powerful words you speak.'' 

Sadly though, Cam's words were not powerful--or at least not in the way that they could have been.  They sent a message all right.  However, it was not the one I had hoped to hear.  Another example--like Peyton's--of a wasted opportunity to use the platform of his celebrity.  "I'm done," Cam said, as he walked out of the press conference, to the chagrin of many, myself included, as I waited for some praise for his teammates and fans.  Sadly, his emotions were too unsteady so he walked away instead of choosing to build up what the other team had taken down.

But wait a minute, Stef.  Peyton did acknowledge his thanks for God!

Did he now?  Really?  'Cause when I heard him mention "the man upstairs" I wasn't sure if he was referring to God or to George Jefferson.  I mean, seriously?  Seriously, after eighteen seasons in the NFL, after countless wins and healings from the various injuries, and after all of those prayers he said he prays, he refers to God as "the man upstairs" instead of the Savior of his life?  What a horrible waste!  Think of the beer he planned to drink.  He had no trouble specifying which brand that was.  Could he have not clued in some of the watching world which man it was that he was going to thank for this tremendous win?

Shame on Peyton Manning!  Shame on Cam Newton for walking out of the press conference after all he and his team had accomplished this season!  Two men from each end of the spectrum with one humongous opportunity to let the world know that win or lose, all glory goes to God.  And neither did.  What I would have given for a stage such as theirs to...

To what, Stef?  To show what God means to you?  To share the miracles He's worked on your behalf?  To proclaim that none of this would be possible except for His mercy and grace?  To tell that despite the outcome of the game, you were on the winning team?  To thank Him proudly and yet humbly before mankind for saving your soul?

Yeah, something like that.  And while I don't have a huge audience, I do have this podium and with as much as is in me, with as much ability and determination that I can muster, and with all grace coming from Christ Jesus, I purpose to use my Wandering Through The Bible page to do so.  May I not waste the stage before me is my heart's earnest desire.  Before the curtain falls on my final act, I pray that God will use me to spread His Word, His love, and His encouragement to all who read this blog.  

In closing, don’t be a Cam.  Don’t be a Peyton.  Don’t waste the moments you are given to share the good news of Christ Jesus.  William Shakespeare penned it well all those years ago when he declared that all of the world's a stage.  The audience is watching you, watching me.  Will we get a standing ovation at the end, be asked back for an encore, or will they throw tomatoes at us?  Will they demand their money back and rue the day they placed any faith in us?  Will our performances be those “once-in-a-lifetime” events that are never forgotten or will their heads bow in shame, the way mine is, because faith was placed in man rather than Jesus?

Let’s pray!

Dear Lord, what could have been done in Your Name versus what actually was causes my heart to hurt.  To rage.  To judge.  However, Lord, as I so often do when faced with such emotion, it also makes me reflect on my own actions and what is lacking in them.  Father, please forgive all the times I let You down by not giving You my first fruits.  I’m sorry for the neglected minutes that could have been spent giving acclaim to You when I instead took glory for myself and as an afterthought remembered that oh yeah, this wouldn’t have been possible without You?  What a wretched lot we are, Lord!  How do You put up with us?

Sigh.

Help us, Lord?  Again?  And again?  And again?  We need You so!  Remind us, Father, that in spite of our failings, when You see us, You see Your Son.  You aren’t disappointed in us when we fall.  Nope, instead You sweep us back into Your arms, kiss away our tears, brush off our dirt, and place us in upright positions so that we may stand for You and give it another try.  

Thank You for such mercy.  For such grace.  To say “I love You” is small but because of how You first loved, it’s enough.  I love You, Lord God.  I love You.  Amen.

Paying the Piper

I've been struggling lately with my blog writing.  Not that I don't have much to share but...but maybe I share too much?  I've been studying the Book of Ecclesiastes these past few days and like Solomon, I wonder if it all just isn't vanity.  Sigh.  I watch my "likes" increase each week but...but my "unlikes" have not allowed my page to grow in readership as high as my hopes for it to have risen. .  Like the old adage of taking two steps forward to only fall three steps further behind, I am not seeing the growth of my works, or at least not according to my Facebook statistics.  This troubles me and in some ways makes me feel defeated.

So I've been pondering.  Maybe it's time to stop writing?  Maybe my popularity (such as it is) has waned and it's time to move on to other venues?  Maybe I should keep my thoughts and wanderings to myself and only share when I feel like 'this one' is a really good one?  Maybe no one out there is as messed up as I am and the world doesn't need Wandering Through The Bible--or, if they do, maybe not now.  After all, how many times have I read something written Lord knows when and it's been effective or struck some chord within me?  Maybe I should just let my words sit and hope that one day some soul who needs to read them will happen across them?  I mean, seriously, do I not get notes from folks who found a certain blog I wrote helpful to them--even though it may have been written months or even years ago?

I know I shouldn't care, shouldn't be bothered by this indifference I perceive by the world.  The devil sure tries to get me to be in constant flux with it!  I tell myself and my husband tells me that God will lead to my blog whom He chooses to.  Am I writing it for Him or for the world?  Whom am I to try to assist anyways when I myself am in need of so much wisdom?

So, today I came up with three thoughts and if you are one of the ones who actually is still reading my blog, please respond.  Ready?

1. Are my blogs helping?  Are they useful in your spiritual walk?  Do they compel you to study further things you have believed all of your life but now find yourself needing more clarity about?
2. Are my blogs healing?  Does my sharing of my pains, my downfalls, my finally being able to forgive so many for the hurts that have been caused in my life encourage you to let go of your haunts as well?
3. Lastly, are my blogs hindering you?  The fact that I post so often:  does this cause you to just click on "unfollow" or "unlike" so that they don't appear in your newsfeed?  Is my honesty and continuous learning that I feel so compelled to share getting on your nerves?  

I don't want to be a hindrance.  I don't want to be annoying you and the truth of the matter is that no one is making you read these antics of mine.  No one is standing with a weapon over your heads forcing you to see what mess ol' Stef has gotten herself into this time and read of how even though the Lord has delivered her from it before, she still needs a refresher course.  

All in all, I cannot stop writing.  It's in my blood and it must be purged often or I will just implode.  Nobody wants to see that happen.  So, I leave my writings in your hands.  If you like them, great.  If you don't or can only take me in small doses, that's cool too.  I'm really trying to be useful but I am not the teacher.  Jesus is and He is Whom I am continually learning from.  Sometimes the stuff He teaches me is just too good to keep to myself so...when that happens, Wandering Through The Bible will be here for you.  Most importantly though, God is here in you, the hope of glory, the only One Who can make your wrongs right.  Unfollow me if you must, but please stay on track with Christ.

Presents

 I just received some promotional items that I ordered from Staples to help me get the word out about Wandering Through The Bible.  I've been pondering for months as to whether or not to do this because I've been struggling with just letting others tell their friends, letting God reach whomever He pleases, and with helping Him out to do so.  Sigh.

It really has been a struggle because I don't want to sound vain or pompous but on the other hand, I do feel that this ministry He has given me is a blessing and that God has provided me with the talent to write.  Again, I don't want to sound vain, but it is a gift from Him and--just like my pretty blue eyes--I didn't ask for it.  Didn't seek it out.  He just thought I would do well with it.

There's this girl I know who can sing.  She can play a variety of instruments.  And she may even write songs as well.  I see her videos on Facebook and You Tube and am so happy that she is sharing her gift of music with the world.  I know she works hard at improving and making this gift be used for furthering the gospel of Christ.  She puts herself out there, at the mercy of those whom she will be in front of, risking it all by baring her heart, soul, and talent.  Will she be welcomed?  Will she be understood?  Will they like her and want to hear more?  The fears and the questions rage but, like a trooper, she pushes them down, faithfully serving, and trusting that her God will shine through her.

So, what about you?  What is your spiritual gift--and, are you using it?  Doesn't do any good to hide it under a bushel, you know.  Remember the Bible verse that talks about it being more blessed to give than to receive?  If you have a skill and are being selfish with it, shame on you!  Can you sing?  Then sing!  Can you encourage?  Then make someone's day!  Can you teach, lead, or use your administrative skills to help your church out?  By golly, get in there then!  Maybe you are more the type who is a servant and does better behind the scenes.  We need you too!  Those light fixtures aren't going to hang themselves.  That grass is going to need to be trimmed soon.  Those bathrooms need to sparkle.  Those vans and buses need someone to drive them and pick up those kiddos.

Whatever talent you have--and we all have at least one--use it for the glory of God.  Don't be ashamed of it and don't be selfish with it.  When faced with doubts about sharing, I want you to think who really benefits from you keeping it to yourself.  Mmn hmm.  Ol' slew foot.  Not much makes him happier than God's children doing nothing with the gifts He has provided to them.  That way, the good news is kept quiet and he can roam about, filling people's ears with music that is unfit.  He can fill their eyes with visions of porn rather than those photographs you have taken and painted that display the glory of God.  He can let old stuffy teachers keep boring your young ones instead of letting someone with some life in him/her to reach them.  And he can let you keep reading Facebook statuses and novels and blogs about DIY and celebrities instead of reading my blog.  ;)  Kidding.  Sort of.

Join with me in prayer as I ask God to show us our gifts and how to best use them for His honor and glory?  Thanks!

Dear Lord,

What a marvelous Giver You are!  You have blessed Your children with so many wonderful talents and skills.  Help us all Lord to let them shine for You.  May our voices ring with Your praises.  May our abilities as leaders be such that folks will marvel that we are in such harmony.  May our actions that we do behind closed doors bring forth more glory as we seek to further Your kingdom and to let others know that we serve one another as though serving You.

For those who are a bit shy and insecure, I ask that You give them boldness.  Not cockiness, Lord, but assurance that they are gifted and have a story to tell in whatever manner You have deigned for them.  Confident and prepared, may we all honor You with the gifts You provided to us is my prayer, asked in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.