When you're weary; feeling small...

I often joke to Steve after having written a blog that I am surprised as he is as to what comes out of my fingers.  I plan for my writing to go one way and then, somehow, it goes another, as though my fingers have a mind of their own and just type whatever comes through them.

This just happened.  Again.  As I was pondering what title to use for what I thought I was about to write, this old line from Simon and Garfunkel’s classic hit “Bridge Over Troubled Water” popped into my mind.  Are you as curious as I am to see where it leads?  Let’s go then!

Yesterday I was taking pictures of my beautiful tree, Alice, in my front yard.  Her leaves are splendid this time of the year and--especially from the front bedroom window--they radiate a brilliance of color that just begs one to stare at the scene before her.  However, as I was outside snapping away, I noticed something:  the leaves weren’t red.  They were more brownish, slightly orange, but definitely not the radiant red that I saw from my window just a few minutes prior.  How could this be?  I mean, I know my eyes aren’t as clear as they used to be but surely I could tell the difference between colors, couldn’t I?  

As I’ve been pondering that, it came to me that there are two sides (or more) to every story.  While I thought I saw things one way, when I later looked at them from another viewpoint, my thoughts changed.  Hmn.  So, I asked myself, what was going on here?  Was this not the same tree?  Indeed it was.  Was it not still beautiful?  Definitely!  Did the color of her leaves really matter then, in the grand scheme of things?  Welllll...I guess not.  Was she still doing her part to use her glory to praise our great Lord?  Yes!

{What does this have to do with the song, Stef?  I know, I know!  I’m wondering that too.}

While I continued to take a few other pictures, my camera stopped.  Thinking it was the battery, I was surprised to see that it was the disk instead.  There was no more room on it.  It was full.

Huh!  Guess I should go change it and get a new one.  

Because I like to label my disks for future reference, I put it into my computer to download the latest photos, and to also check to see when the first ones were taken.  Surprisingly, it was almost a year ago to the very day!  Wow!  

As I held that tiny little piece of data in my hand, I was reminded of something:  God’s knowledge of me is so vast.  He has me in the palm of His hand.  Does He use memory sticks, too? I wondered.  Does He have all of His kids’ lives on a thumb drive to record the events that have transpired through all of their lives?  That must be how He keeps it all straight!  

Okay, are you still with me?  All of these jumbled thoughts are rolling around in my head (per usual) but they all lead to the same point.  Ready for it?  

God is in control.  Of all of it.  Of all of us.  Whether we are having a bad day and feeling small or perhaps because we are weary from all that life has thrown out at us.  Pictures of places and people that are no longer in our realm may bring back sad memories.  Or, maybe this presidential situation has us looking at things from a different angle than this time last week as the outcome for who won was still not quite decided.  The ongoing debate of republicans versus democrats has some even questioning whom their true friends are.  Even though we are Americans, some are wondering if coexistence is even possible now.  

Regardless of how we feel, what we think, or what appears to be one way but might possibly be another, God has it all in the palm of His hand.  ALL of it.  Like my tree, He looks at things from all sides and what appears one way to some can be quite different to others but...But the tree is the same.  Its roots are still firmly entrenched in the solid ground and its mission has not changed.  

So, my tree and my disk are the objects of this blog today.  Both have beauty in them and both have stood the test of time, recording the highs and lows of the past.  Change is evident as one studies their beginning to their present.  For one, the time is over and a replacement part is needed to keep the records going (as in our new president).  For the tree, her story hasn’t stopped.  Yeah, she’s going to take a break this winter and rest a bit from the long spring and summer.  In January, she too will start anew and who knows what types of growth she will experience?

Wow!  Did not see this turning into something about the presidential race at all.  But then again, it fits, does it not?  America the Beautiful.  And not just that race, but the human race, the race to the finish line as we consider our time and God’s plans for us.  He has us in His hand, in His thoughts, and is preparing a kingdom for us like none other.  Our lives matter to Him and He sees all sides to whatever is going on within and around us.  Our time is limited, as is the amount of space on a SanDisk.  While some see our true colors, others are exposed to sides of us that some may not see.  But it’s what is on the inside that will ultimately reveal to them Whose we are.  Are we using our time and our beauty to reflect Christ?  That’s what really matters, friends.  

In conclusion, (thankfully because I think I am more muddled than when I first started writing), as Americans we are being watched.  As Christians, we are being studied, examined.  As our time continues, my hope is that we allow Christ Jesus to be our Bridge between our present situation with soon-to-be-President Trump and our future with our unchanging and powerful God.  It’s all about Him, friends, and it’s time to let our true colors show!

Every Breath You Take

Yesterday while watching Steve and the kids play on the beach, my eyes were drawn to the left of them.  While my intention was not to spy or stalk on anyone, this woman in the picture kept my attention wandering back to her instead of on the scene I was adoring.  

I watched her for several moments to be sure and yes, I was right (I love it when that happens!):  this woman was praising the Lord.  I won’t say I was mesmerized but there was definitely a pull felt as I kept gazing at her, seeing her lifting her hands, over and over again.  I couldn’t hear her but did see her lips moving and I wondered if she was singing, praying, rejoicing, praising, or all of the above.  

Although my eyes kept going back to the world, my little world, this gesture of love and worship reminded me that it doesn’t matter who is around, where one is located, or what the situation is, we are commanded to praise the Lord if we have breath.  Well, this woman surely did!  I don’t feel like she was doing it for show nor did I think she had any clue the impression she was making on me--and possibly others who were watching.  {Sidebar:  later in the day when I asked Steve if he had noticed her, he was askance to realize he had not.  Made me wonder:  why can we often not see what is right in front of our eyes, or at least a little to the right of them?  Hmn.  Maybe our focus is too much on self instead of what’s going on around us? Hmn hmn hmn.}

I know there have been times for various reasons (such as a cold, bronchitis, old age, or too much on my belly) that I could barely muster enough air to blow up a balloon.  I’ve seen people with COPD, asthma, and even some on death’s door who were still breathing, that chest slowly moving up and down to indicate life was still inside of them.  I’ve seen others who have laughed so hard that their breath was taken as the enjoyment of the moment overwhelmed them.  I’ve seen folks who had to be slapped (often quite hard) on the back to bring the air back into them so that whatever object that may have been preventing them from breathing was displaced.  These all had the opportunity to praise God with their breaths--even those that were inhaling their last.  

In conclusion, take a moment today and breathe.  In.  And out.  In.  And out.  Repeat as many times as you need to but while doing so, keep this in mind:  you have 86,400 seconds in a day.  Spare a couple of them, won’t you, to praise our Lord?  He’s worthy!  Lift those hands as an added bonus and those of you who can sing (even if some don’t appreciate your dulcet tones), sing!  “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.  Praise ye the Lord!”

What Is That To You? November 10, 2016

What Is That To You?

Last night as Steve and I continued our studies, we came across this portion of a verse:  that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:2).  It stood out to the both of us--even though it wasn’t what we were focusing our lesson on.  

Now, I don’t really like adjectives that are quantitative, such as “all” is because...well, because it just isn’t fair.  I mean seriously, can someone do something ALL the time?  What about those incidences where you miss the mark--either just barely or by a full mile?  We strive to do our best but you and I both know that there are going to be areas where we fall short.  

When this verse says “in all godliness and honesty” it just isn’t attainable! But enough with semantics.  What the gist of it means to me is that when one abides by God’s laws, He promises us many French benefits.  Living a quiet and peaceable life is one of the many blessings He provides and as this month of November is one where folks declare their thankfulness for the good things in their lives, I want to take this opportunity to thank God for my quiet life.  Oh sure, the noises in my head would argue that it’s awfully loud in there but for the most part, my life is still.  Settled.  Comfortable.  Peaceable?  Yes!  The battles I fought for so long have been won and my heart is at peace with most of the things in it.  Not ALL of them but definitely most of them.  What more could a girl ask for?

Let’s pray!

Dear Father God, as I ponder on the wonderful things You have wrought, I am thankful.  As a middle-aged-wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to some, You have supplied me with more than I deserve.  I do try to live my life to honor You and this is my just reward--not because of my works, oh no, Lord.  We know better than that!  But because You promised good things to Your kids if we’d abide by Your rules.  And these rules You set before us are good ones, Father.  We need directions, boundaries, and limits.  We need guidance and we need help in discerning truth by Your standards, not those of the world.

Thank You for my life.  Thank You for my peace and for my quiet.  When I rest, rely, and remember You, Lord God, the results are good ones.  And though troubles may be on my horizon, for today, for this moment, I am praising You with a thankful heart for Your blessings on me.  

I love You!  Thanks for loving me too:  for loving me first.  You complete me!  

Amen.