Words in the window

This is my view today as I chop veggies to go in the freezer. There’s a scent of gardenia wafting over the freshness of the zucchini, squash, and onions simmering on the stove and the house is quiet. I’m cleaning out the fridge and preparing for a delicious casserole one of these days when I’m pressed for time and still in need of sustenance.

My cat watches my every move from his pod on top of the washer in the laundry room. It’s peaceful here today.

I had to take my glasses off as I transferred the steaming concoction to a strainer, but it didn’t stop me from reading the words on the ornament left on the window sill since Christmas, “Be cheerful and pass it on!”

I’m as struck by these words as I was the first time I saw them. Such a simple message. I originally bought the ornament for someone who has trouble being cheerful. (Subtle as a hammer, I know. grin) When I got it home, however, I noticed the ornament had a crack running through it. That’s not exactly what you look for in a gift, is it? A broken reminder to do something that’s often difficult? It just didn’t seem like a good idea to pass it along…or to throw it away. The “obvious” alternative was to place it atop a small silver cup on the window sill as a reminder to myself.

I’m convinced that’s what God wanted all along. The makers of this ornament meant for it to be perfect and to hang on a tree for a few days or so once a year. In the midst of all the other decorations of the Christmas season, this message might have gone unnoticed. But placed as it is on my window sill? Each day I see these words reminding me to spread the cheer that comes as a result of His coming among us to bring us hope and salvation. Each day I am reminded that things don’t have to be perfect for me to be cheerful and that I can change the world in simple ways just by being willing to be used in whatever way and in whatever place He chooses to put me.

Sounds like the words in the window were meant for me…and maybe, you, too. What will you do today to be a person of influence right where you are?

BE CHEERFUL and pass it on.

Grace and Peace!

 

 

Waiting

Waiting rooms aren’t much fun. I know. I’m in one right now. There are few seats left in this one and yet more and more arrivals.

I hear the sounds of lots of cheerful conversation going on around me as I type.

A quick scanning of the faces tells me that not everyone is cheerful. Some of these faces are worried. Some are thoughtful or introspective in appearance. There are a lot of cell phones out for updates and games, emails, work…but mainly, they’re out for distraction.

No one likes to wait. Even when you’re used to it. No one.

My own odd entertainment comes as I type this and receive a text from a friend in another state–and another hospital!–to me know that they are prepped…and waiting. (Insert a very small wry grin here!) God is funny that way sometimes​.

We’re all waiting for something. Whether you’re in a hospital or not doesn’t make much of a difference in that. Answers to emails, phone calls, or prayers; waiting for the weekend, the vacation, or just for the coffee to make or the microwave ding, waiting happens to all of us.

So, what do we do with that? What can we learn and share? What can we accomplish while we wait? The answers are as varied as the individual.

I choose to pray and be reminded of this:

“But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

Grace and Peace while you wait today!

Saturday morning

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls…'” Jeremiah 6:16a

Rest for your souls…doesn’t​ that sound lovely? Make room for some soul rest this weekend. There’s room on the porch…

Grace and Peace!

This day…

Father God,

Thank you for THIS day:

• the one with the problems I don’t have solutions for,
• the one with the questions with no answers,
• the one with the wearied spirit I don’t always talk about,
• the one with the people-shaped problems,
• the one with the needs I can’t meet and the issues that are WAY over my head,
• the one with the hurts that haven’t healed and the frustrations that didn’t even make this list.

Thank You for THIS day–

• the one with all the beauty I might have seen, but not commented on because I was in a rush,
• the one with all the people I love, but haven’t told today,
• the one with all of the blessings I overlooked because I was too focused on the blessings I’m still asking for, and
• the one with the difficulties I might have allowed to loom larger than even You.

Help me to reset and refocus my vision on You, the Giver of all life and the Source of all strength. Help me to seek You first and walk in the way You have prepared for me and choose You and Your way even when it might seem strange or at odds with conventional wisdom and, perhaps, even against the advice of my most trusted ones. Give me the eyes  to see You even when I might feel overwhelmed by the doubt and darkness in the world around me. Help me to bless and not curse my own life by choosing to be less than You have called me to be. Give me courage to choose the God-thing over the good thing and give me the opportunity to speak Your name in praise as I do so. Soften my heart and sharpen my desire for Your Word. Grant me deeper understanding so I can share more of You as I move through Your world and help me to use the resources You’ve provided just as You have intended. Grant me peace, Father, and help me to rest in You and give You praise for all my questions because You are all my answers.

Thank you for this day, Father God. Thank you for Your grace in THIS day.

Spring cleaning

It seems I’m finally getting around to doing some spring cleaning. As God and I have cleaned out my schedule a bit over the past few weeks, there is suddenly time now for activities that I–with my slightly OCD brain–have actually been looking forward to for months. I’ve been sorting and organizing and I actually have a book that I’m reading for pleasure/instruction! I may even pull out the paints or that sewing machine before long and do something creative around here! But first, there is a bit of work to be done. I was taught to work first and play later. It’s been a good rule for the most part, though I have struggled on those occasions where the work never seemed to end and the play seemed more and more unobtainable. In part, I guess that’s what has made me be able to focus so intently and be productive when needed. I’ve also come to realize that what I see as play…others may see as work. (smile) Whatever works, right? Best of both worlds.

Monday I grabbed the weed-eater, the riding lawnmower, and the blower and got busy uncovering my house and yard from the wildness and personal neglect of a mild winter. Believe it or not, there are people who live here and not just some derelicts who have abandoned this place! I’ve never been so happy to see a yard take shape before since…Well…last year about this time! (grin) I am fortunate that we live in a more rural area and our house sits back in the trees a bit so perhaps my yard work shortcomings take a little longer to become more obvious to the neighbors. (Maybe. I hope…) I’ve found that riding on the lawnmower is the perfect opportunity for prayer and reflection. It’s become one of my favorite things (yes, just call me Forrest… ) to do during the season when grass seems to grow whether God sends the rain or not. Yes, I uncovered more things for my “To Do” list and my forearms were a bit sore yesterday from the extra workout, but it was a beautiful day and a wonderful way to blow out the cobwebs of the mind and rejoice in the beauty being unveiled as I worked. Spring cleaning of the yard.

Satisfaction from physical labor and doing a job well are just some of the life lessons my brother and I talked about during an unexpected overnight visit from him last week. I’m grateful for those lessons and for the decision to just rest and enjoy the visit despite the state of the yard while he was here. That’s something that doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m way more Martha than Mary. It was good to switch that up for a day and enjoy the luxury of family in this place. Spring cleaning of the habit.

Yesterday was supposed to be quite different, but I found myself with a completely indoor day except for my walk to the mailbox when I deadheaded the iris on my way there and back. (18 blooms already come and gone with more in full beauty and even more on the way! I knew you’d want to know. ha!) As I did laundry, cleaned and sorted, rearranged, and culled out extras I gave thanks for the life I get to lead here. Exchanging the mantel arrangement of fading red nandina leaves for one with vibrant roses and lavender was a reward for the work of the past two days and a reminder of the all the grace that covers this life I’m called to lead. Spring cleaning of the spirit.

This morning I opened the Book to the writings of John and read this:

“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” 1 John 2:12

Those words broke me in a way totally unexpected as I teared up and gave thanks over and over at the love of God the Father in sending His Son and the sacrifice it took to cover my sins. The incredible deliberateness of God’s choice to make possible a relationship with one who has so often gone her own way and chosen poorly…It breaks me and I am glad of that today. I don’t ever want to lose the wonder of that! It ought to break me…And you, too, because He didn’t just come for one of us. He came to clean all of us. Spring cleaning of the heart.

Today I am tackling the back porch with all of things we’ve dropped there on our way in over the past few weeks along with that thick layer of yellow pine pollen. I’ll probably have the music turned up and have the company of a very satisfied cat who is happy to have me consider work as play…as long as it means I remain within sight and remember where I keep the treats.

Who knew spring cleaning could be such fun?

Grace and Peace!

Handled

It is easy to get busy and forget what we know to be true. Maybe we don’t really forget, but sometimes we lose sight of those things which form our basics or perhaps we build lives so high that our foundations can seem far away. (I’ve got to be honest: this started off better in my head! –grin)

This coming Sunday we will celebrate Easter. Even people who don’t practice regular religious observances will stop and acknowledge the day whether or not they acknowledge the reason for it.

We do that, too, those of us who will celebrate the Reason for the season. We will alter our normal Sunday observances and, for a time, we will focus on this powerful event which changes all of our destinies…and our destinations…and we will sing and pray and celebrate with new dresses and crosses draped in white, and lilies that bloom, chickens and bunnies, eggs filled with candy and baskets made of straw…

and on Monday we will forget…again. We will return to our regularly scheduled program of programs and we will simply observe our religious practices once more. Or…

We could choose to do it differently this time.

We could remember that God didn’t send His Son just for Christmas and Easter celebrations. We could remember that Jesus is more than a reason for a present or a cross around our necks or a pet given in the mood of the holiday to be inevitably set aside as we return to our other commitments or feel the need to change our appearances so that we can blend in again among those who may be powerful in this world and have no interest in the next one. (ouch)

Oh, the Son of God is so much more than that! He’s rough and tough and kind and gentle. He’s durable! That seems like such an unlikely word, but it is accurate nonetheless. He’s not something to be taken out and gently passed around on public holidays and then placed back on the shelf until it is convenient for us.

One of His closest friends put it this way:

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”  1 John 1:1-4 (NKJV)

Did you catch that? Jesus the Christ is eternal. He was really here on earth in bodily form and He wasn’t some distant, untouchable icon. He was handled! I love that! He’s still like that. This eternal Being came down so we could touch Him–and be touched by Him! He isn’t just some fragile esoteric idea. He is REAL and He came for all of us!

Let’s make THAT the focus of our Easter…and beyond! He came to be handled. He came to be touched and grabbed onto, to be held closely and embraced fully. He came to be intimate with us and have fellowship with us on our good days and our hard ones. He is no fair-weather friend. Jesus the Eternal Son of God came to make sure that we could have the opportunity–not a predetermined enforced coercion!–but the opportunity to alter our eternity and spend it with Him. He came out of love so that we could be certain not to miss the Message that God wants to be part of our mundane as much as He wants to be part of our extraordinary. He came so that our mundane could BE extraordinary.

Let’s not lose sight of that on Monday…or today, either, for that matter.

Grace and Peace–and Happy Easter!

He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

More God, anyone?

“Mark 9:23-24 has been a prevailing favorite of mine for the last year or so. I’ve always had such a strong and unwavering faith that God COULD do whatever He chose. My question over the past year was WOULD He choose to do what I was asking. I’ve found that as I ask for Him to show up in me and make my prayers be in agreement with His will and always for His glory that my faith has become even stronger. As I pray this, “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief!”-prayer I am asking God to come into those places where there may be a gap of faith that I’m not really cognizant of right then. This prayer strengthens me and it forces me to reconcile my human imperfections with His perfect expectations and abilities. I’m praying it for the two of you this week and I can’t wait to see how He shows up and strengthens you, as well. You are SO loved!”

I just texted this to friends in the midst of trials this week. As I hit the Send-button I immediately thought of several others for whom this prayer also feels appropriate right now…Including me.

We all have these days when we’re asking God to show up and show out FOR us–and we REALLY do need that!–but what we also need, perhaps even more, is for Him to show up and show out IN us!

If that feels like where you are today, know that God is not only able and willing, but He is just waiting for the invitation to show up and make you more like His Son. This prayer for increased belief is ALL about that. It is ALL about increasing our dependence and seeing His perfection. It is about so much more than just getting what we want…It is about getting more of WHO we need into those places we might not even see in ourselves right now. It is about strength for the journey we’re on and giving God the opportunity to shine through all of those cracks we have so that the world will see and wonder…And ask…

…so that we can tell them about a God who wants them to know Him personally.

… about a God Who lives and loves us unconditionally…Even when we doubt.

When you get right down to it, this is a prayer for an increased Presence and an increased witness. It’s an invitation for a front row seat to a blessing that He’s been waiting to share all along:  More God.

And who doesn’t need more God?!

“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”  Mark 9:23-24 (NKJV)

Grace and Peace!