Cap Hands!

While standing at a crosswalk with my son at Pier Park in Panama City Beach recently, I looked up at the Don't Walk sign - a glowing red hand - and remembered with a smile a story from when my daughter was about 2 or 3 years old. We were stopped at a city crosswalk in Tennessee. She looked up at the Don't Walk hand and exclaimed, "Cap hands, Mommy! Cap hands!" She immediately started clapping her hands and encouraged us to as well, believing that was what the red hand wanted us to do. So there we were, my husband, daughter and I all standing on this street corner -  and every other street corner that day - clapping our hands each time the red hand flashed. We continued clapping and clapping until the little white walking man came on permitting us to walk. People were most definitely staring. We looked ridiculous trying to clap inconspicuously, looking around and smiling sheepishly to the other people at the crosswalk. But how precious it was that our little girl thought everyone was supposed to clap their hands while stopped at a crosswalk. Now every time I see that red hand, I think of that sweet moment, wanting to exclaim with the same joy, "Cap hands, everyone! Cap hands!"

Yesterday during my Bible devotion time, I was reading Psalm 47. It begins jubilantly, "Clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with loud songs of joy. For the LORD, the Most High is awesome, a great king over all the earth." In verse 6 the psalm continues: "Sings praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm."

Wooo hooo! I love this psalm. It's a call to sing and clap your hands just because God is king and GOD IS AWESOME! Unlike the feeling of embarrassment we had while standing on those street corners, we need to be singing with great joy and excitement about our Awesome God.

https://youtu.be/IpVsF4W8V2Y

One of my favorite fan-made videos is by Andrew Bowser of the David Crowder Band song O Praise Him. In the video, a young man is walking through the busy streets of a city with headphones on listening to this song, mouthing the words. He begins to lift his hands in praise at one point in the song and some passersby begin to stare. Then at the chorus, he stops in the middle of the street on a median and raises his arms high. The music stops and you see and hear what the people on the street do as he sings loudly, "Alleluia! Alleluia! He is holy! He is holy!" Then he drops to his knees in prayer as the music continues. It gets me every time.

Now that is how you handle a crosswalk! How blessed we are to worship this loving, forgiving, almighty, merciful, Creator God! May we frequently and exuberantly clap our hands and sing praises, sing praises, sing praises with loud songs of joy every chance we get, especially when people are staring ... and certainly while stopped at a cross walk.

I See You

I used to watch three of the most precious little blond boys in the world. And oftentimes, I would take them for long walks through the neighborhood or to the park, just to get them out on adventures (especially during the COVID quarantine days). When we would walk along the road and a car was coming by, I would make them stop and wave to the people in the car. I did it for a couple reasons: 1) to make sure the driver was paying attention and saw them and 2) to teach them to be friendly and welcoming. It got to the point where I never had to tell them to stop and wave, they just did it. 

Now here in the South, this is not an unusual occurrence. People wave to each other all the time. If you are from the North, this can be unnerving at first. As I hail from Pittsburgh, the first time it happened I wondered, "Do I know you?" because typically only people who knew you would acknowledge you as you went by. But having lived in the South for the majority of my life now, not only am I used to it, but I prefer it. I will wave to everyone. A late friend once told me with a chuckle to wave to everyone, cause you never know when you'll need their help. Personally, I think he just enjoyed waving to everyone.

Now that we live near the coast, we are in an area with a mishmash of relocated or vacationing cultures. So while walking along the beach road, I will get all kinds of reactions. Sometimes it's just a nod of the head. Sometimes the pointer finger, two fingers or four fingers will come off the steering wheel. Sometimes just a smile. Sometimes a full-on wave. One guy even blew me a kiss. One time the person holding their breakfast burrito used it to wave hello. And then sometimes the person driving by me won't even acknowledge I'm there. Sometimes people are looking down (I assume at their phones) and can't see me. Sometimes it's just the driver that waves and other times just the passenger. Sometimes it's the whole crowd in a golf cart waving. It always makes me smile for the same two reasons above: 1) they see me, and on that beach road, that's important and 2) it's friendly and welcoming. For me, it's a little roadside evangelism without using words.

See, I want them to know I see them, too. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen a person's face that is maybe sad, grimacing or drawn and I will lift that person in prayer. Perhaps a smile will brighten their day just a bit, but certainly lifting them to the Most High will. Or if they are speeding, I'm praying for their safety or if they are looking down, that they will lift their heads and pay attention to their surroundings. And if they do wave and give me a smile, it lifts my spirits. Coming home from church Sunday, a young boy on his bicycle paused to wave to me ... perhaps to make sure I saw him or just to say hello. Either way, it brought me joy to wave back.

Sometimes I wonder how many times I have missed God walking by, hoping I will see Him and acknowledge Him. I know He is El Roi, the God Who Sees Me, just as Hagar named Him in Gen. 16:13 when she thought no one did. He is seeing me and waving, hoping I will smile and wave back. I try to do that with my devotion time each morning ... wave to the Creator of the universe, praise Him, and pray for Him to guide my steps throughout the day. It's the most important greeting of my day and I can think of no better way to start it. And if my eyes stay on Him, my choices and actions that day will be far wiser ones.

So when you see me in my sparkly visor, walking shorts, and T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, I will be waving. Even if five or more cars are going by one after the other, I will wave to every single one. And, of course, saying "hello" to those walking, running, skateboarding or biking by as well. If I'm waving at you, know you have been seen and prayed for ... and that I'm hoping those waves I see on the gulf shore won't be the only ones I see on that walk.

Stuck in the Fence

 I saved a goat today. Our neighbor has several goats that daily graze behind our back yard and to the east of us. Today while reading my Bible, I could hear some bleating (which is the sound a goat makes when it's crying; very different from the "baa" they greet me with when they want me to give them a leafy branch or bread). I looked outside, and at first thought they all looked okay, but I quickly realized one was struggling. This goat had gotten his head stuck in a wire square between two fences. The saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence," is true of these goats; they are always checking out what is in our yard. Reaching for a tall weed on our side, his horns had trapped him in that wire square. And he could not wiggle free. So I threw on some shoes and ran out there in my jammies to see if I could help. As soon as I got to him, he twisted more fiercely in fear, but nothing was working. I wondered how I would be able to guide his head back out, then I decided to just grab his horns and tilt his head inward toward his side of the fence so he could pull his head back. So I did just that and he was free in seconds. I clapped and shouted "Yay!" as he leapt away from the fence, then said, "I hope I didn't hurt you." He turned quickly and looked at me in surprise (as much surprise as a goat can express) almost as if to say, "I can't believe that worked. I hated that, but this is better."

My husband was walking at the time, and when he got back I told him the story. He instantly said, "That's a blog. Actually that could be a whole sermon." I blog, he preaches. It took me a second, but understood what he was thinking. Basically because we are that goat right now.

The goat was in a challenging situation. And he was stuck but good. And the only way to get loose was for me to put the goat in an even more challenging, more uncomfortable, possibly painful situation in order to free him. And that is exactly where God has us right now. We are in a challenging situation. And it is hard. And to get out of this situation, we are being uncomfortably forced in a direction we did not expect. It is painful. It is not easy. It is not where we thought it would go. It honestly feels like God's got a hold of us and twisting us in an awkward way to force us in a different direction. And we can only hope that once free of it, we'll turn to look at our Father with the same surprised look of "Wow, I can't believe that worked. I hated that, but this is better ...and thank you." His Word confirms it:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Cor. 4:17

I heard a couple of parents in an interview recently respond to the question, "What would you wish for your children?" to which one responded, "That they would have challenges to make them better people." At first listen, I was thinking, "Yikes, challenges?" but quickly realized she was right. It's not our successes that make us better; it's our challenges. They are never fun when you're in the midst of them. Often times they are painful and hard to see a clear path through. But God has used His word and the encouragement of friends to guide us through it. Praise God for those who uplift us when we are incapable ourselves.

So I may have saved a goat today, but God in His divine wisdom through my husband's sweet metaphorical look at the situation gave us a lesson to encourage us both. So while the we're still in the horns-held, forced-twist right now, we know things are going to be better on the other side. Praising Him that He has us firmly in His grip.

The Big Picture

 I am working on my first cross stitch. I thought it would be a nice, calming thing to do while listening to music or watching TV. I was wrong. It's super stressful. The stitches are simple, but with my 50+-year-old eyes, the tiny stitches, the counting and making sure I'm stitching in the right place have not been calming in the slightest. The directions said to start in the middle and work your way out. So after determining the middle, I began to stitch. The first thread color is called pale gray, but it is actually white. So to make an already stressful craft project more stressful, I'm making half-cross stitches with white thread on white canvas. I have gotten frustrated a few times, pulled out stitches, recounted and pulled out my ocular to get a closer look. When you are right on top of this design, it is hard to believe these tiny "pale gray" stitches will make any difference in this project. But I will do this. I will get this done.

The story behind this cross stitch kit is important. My husband and I have been dealing with quite a bit since the beginning of the year. Recently we believed things were making an upward turn, only to have something else come along to beat the joy out of it. We felt our hearts sink and the darkness creeping back in. It was right at this time that we were leaving for our annual vacation to St. George Island. Each year, we are invited by dear friends to join them at a beach house on the Florida panhandle barrier island for a week in the spring. It is one of our favorite places of respite. You don't go there for the shopping, mini golf or night life. You go there for the beach and wildlife. It is a breathtaking place where we are rejuvenated and refilled spiritually. It has a beautiful white lighthouse, gorgeous beach, lots of seashells, gulls, pelicans, dolphins, sea turtles, herons, beautiful dunes, sweet breezes and a vast blue gulf. We love it there. But we were heading into it beaten and struck down emotionally. While sharing some of our story of the last few months with our hosts and guests, my friend Joanna said, "You need to read Isaiah 43." I have read the Bible through many times, and I am always so surprised when God takes what I have read before and brings new life and meaning to the Word. So I read it and was blown away, acknowledging its timeliness.

    "When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:2

    "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19

Later that day, we were introducing our friends to The Chosen, a fabulous series on the disciples and Jesus' relationship with them, His ministry and the part each disciple's story plays. We showed the first episode to them that night. At the beginning of the episode, a character begins to recite Scripture. Joanna looks at me and says, "Isaiah 43." I have watched these episodes five times now, but never recognized the Scripture prior to Joanna pointing it out to me. It grabbed my heart. "Thus says the Lord who created you ... I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43:1 I knew it was no coincidence and went back to reread Isaiah 43 again.

The Lord likes to work in threes for me, so while shopping after we returned from our vacation, I stumbled across this cross stitch kit called Peaceful Shores. It features a white lighthouse, the sea, beach, seashells, a gull and dunes, just like St. George Island. And quoted in the "pale gray" clouds ... Isaiah 43:2. "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." It was a perfect combination of our vacation and the spiritual rejuvenation we felt. I felt compelled to try to make it to give glory to God and as a reminder that He has us.

But I had no idea it would be so trying. Peaceful Shores? Something I'd hoped would bring me peace has only added to the stress. I stare at those tiny stitches and for the life of me cannot see the big picture.

It was then I realized how the cross stitch, and not just the verse, was so poignant to our lives right now. Those stitches are part of a beautiful, finished, complicated product. And while I cannot see it now, once combined with all the other stitches and colors, it will be a lovely, handmade, captured moment where God made Himself so clear to us. "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

We have had a hard time perceiving it. But behold, He is doing a new thing. And I am excited to be a part of that new thing. I am going to finish this cross stitch. I may end up with a few new gray hairs (as pale as those threads) after this, but like this trying season of our lives, the new thing will be worth it. 

In Isaiah 43:21 the Lord reminds the Israelites that He is providing for His chosen people, "the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise." God hasn't chosen us for our success and joy. He's chosen us so that we may declare His praise! Whether the world has dealt us a bad deck at this time or not, we are to praise His name, declare the great things He has done and keep worshiping on. And we are. This season, while I can't see the value of it completely now, is part of the big picture. God has a perfect plan. How blessed we are to be a part of it.

Ironically, I don't think my cross stitch will emulate the "perfect" plan. I'm already off by at least one stitch and hoping that doesn't make a huge difference in the end result. But I've been off by a few stitches quite a few times in my life, and God's made beauty from it. I can only hope for the same with Peaceful Shores.

Done Excellently

My maternal grandmother is on the far right.

"Why do moms have to be so judgy and shaming of one another?" my daughter asked me recently. "They need to just leave each other alone and let them raise their kids their way."

She's not wrong. Ayla has had a few friends recently who have had babies. As new moms, they are learning the ropes of feeding, sleep schedules, diaper changing, clothing, what certain cries mean and how to best protect their newborns. They are searching the internet, reading books, watching videos and asking their mom or friends who are moms what they do for all the above. Some nurse their children till they're 2 years old. Some only a few weeks. Some start their babies on solid foods at 6 months. Some at 4 months. Some have babies sleeping through the night. Others are feeding their children a few times a night. Some use disposable diapers and others cloth. Some let anyone hold their new baby, while others ask if you've washed your hands or - these days - if you've been vaccinated. I've yet to see the book or person that gets it perfect. Every mother is different, as is every child. I know with my first baby I was a bit more careful and particular than with the second baby. I was more comfortable in my mommy skin and knew a bit better what to expect.

My daughter & newborn son.

But Ayla is right in that people can be opinionated about how other people raise their children. I know for me, it was about discipline. If I heard a parent comment that they felt guilty about disciplining their child, my eyes would roll. "These children are not your friends. They are your children. They need to know their boundaries. For crying out loud, tell them "no." And while I still am big on discipline, I have realized over the years there are different ways of doing so. Some are quicker and more effective than others, but there are lots of adults walking around with defined boundaries whose parents had completely different approaches. Nonetheless, in those early years I had my opinions about what I thought was the best way.

 Motherhood is a tough job. It requires sacrifice, patience, persistence, grace, energy, creativity, routine, lots of love and rest any chance it can get. It is an unpaid position required to provide the emotional, spiritual and physical needs for offspring until they move out (and for some that can be later than preferred and for others, too soon). It's paid for in hugs-n-kisses and results. And personally, I think it's the greatest job there is. It was exhausting, and there were days I wished someone would come get them to give me a day off, but it was so rewarding and exhilarating at the same time. And I would not trade it for anything in the world.

They grew up too fast.

Moms are doing the best they can with what they know and learn. Can we gently offer ideas for moms to make their job a bit easier, sure. But to criticize how another mom does it is certainly not helping. We moms need to support and encourage one another. We need to observe how other moms do it to learn what works, what doesn't and how many different ways it can be done. You may shake your head at what other moms do, but don't knock it. It just may be the best way.

Best Mom Ever.

Courage, moms. I see you. I know you are tired. I know you are frustrated at times. I know you would love a break now and again. Hang in there. Those babies will grow up very soon. Very, very soon. And you will wish these days were back. Enjoy every second from the challenges to the milestones and the tears to the cuddles. This Sunday may you be embraced and heralded, showered with gifts, cards, flowers, feasts and family. May your children rise up and call you blessed (Prov. 31:28). 

And to my Mom - who did it perfectly - I love you so very much. What an example you are to me. What a beautiful friend you have been to me. How generous you have been with your prayers and love. How grateful I am that you asked God how to raise me, because you obviously listened. Have the Best, Happiest, Most Wonderful Mother's Day! Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. (Prov. 31:29)

Forest For The Trees

Have you heard that quirky little statement, "I can't see the forest for the trees?" It means that you are so embroiled in a situation you can't see it for what it really is. You know, as in, "Wow, there are so many trees!" "Well, hey, you're in a forest, so..."

Since the beginning of this year, I have felt that way. It seems as if there are so many trees, that I can't see the forest for it. We have had a number of trying situations of late: family health issues, broken hearts, death and job challenges among others all piled one on top of another. It got so bad that one day I started to forget which situation I was crying about. And I shed a lot of tears. I felt like there were so very many hardships filling up our life at every turn that I was being defeated. It got to the point where I couldn't even pray clearly. I was having trouble forming words to pray to our Father. I would simply say, "Father, you know what is going on. Help. Amen." And those were the good prayers. Tree after tree after tree. I became convinced every phone call would bring more bad news. It was a sad, defeatist mentality, but it was ever present. I was like one of those moles people whack at an arcade. When would the beating stop. At one point my husband even said, "Is this worth it?"

I caught my breath when he said that. The Lord did a little Holy Spirit reminding for me in the moment. I said to my husband, "When Christ hung on the cross, he looked at the faces below him and asked, 'Is this worth it?' And decided we were. What we are going through is nothing like that."

Thankfully during this time period (which is still going on), our family in Christ has picked up the slack. In the moments where we couldn't pray, they did. In the moments of true despair, we were being uplifted by hundreds of people to our Father. People reached out to us in ways that were so perfectly and divinely timed that we felt God's embrace. Because of that, we were able to face each moment, each day. Matter of fact, in the deepest, darkest times, there was peace, strength, encouragement and sweet moments of grace that blew us away. 

How do people without a church family do it? How to they face death without their brothers and sisters reminding them of heaven? How do they face major health issues without their church family offering words of comfort and prayers of healing? How do people without Jesus face challenges in the workplace or struggles with people around them without the saints reminding us to love the sinner and hate the sin? How grateful I am that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses in the faith to hold us up when we are broken. Oh, that I may be the one holding up another in similar circumstances.

Recently while hiking one of our favorite trails, I was reminded of the thickness of the forest around me. Even in the winter season, it was difficult to see past the trees. But last week when hiking through that same path, we saw wildflower after wildflower peeking between the increasingly greening trees: God's sweet reminder of hope, joy, and calm in the midst of it all.

We will have more trying times like these, maybe even worse. And I can't say while in the middle of it that I'm better for it. Not yet. But I know my Father has me. I know we are being lifted in fervent prayer by people who have loved us, cried with us, comforted us and spoke or wrote words of encouragement to us. And that one day - maybe not on this side of heaven - we will see the forest in all its glory and understand what this season was all about.

Till then, we hike on, taking one day at a time, finding joy in so many precious moments, relying on the sojourners with us and praising our Father God for holding us so closely in the midst of it. After all, He who created the forest is the One who will help us find the path through it.

 

All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high tree, and I make high the low tree: I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it." Ezek. 17:24

Sweet Land of Liberty

The Christian music community has a message for us. And it's a message I've heard repeated quite frequently in songs lately. And frankly, it's sad we need it at all.

On top of this being a political season which has put our country at odds, we've also been dealt blows with COVID-19 that just won't let go, racial issues, protests and riots and a few natural disasters like wild fires and hurricanes that are wreaking havoc. So while we struggle with various opinions on the latest issues of our time, we also are getting sucker-punched by the burdens of 2020. I've found myself saying, "Well, it's 2020," every time something else crazy happens ... and it seems there's been a lot of crazy.

The sad part is, in the midst of this, a lot of folks, a lot of Christians, are forgetting to love. And that's the message I've been hearing more and more frequently on Christian radio.

 In Josh Wilson's "Revolutionary:"

Why does kindness seem revolutionary
When did we let hate get so ordinary
Let's turn it around, flip the script
Judge slow, love quick
God help us get revolutionary

"Start Right Here" by Casting Crowns says:

We wanna see the heart set free and the tyrants kneel
The walls fall down and our land be healed
But church if we want to see a change in the world out there

It's got to start right here
It's got to start right now

 

And in Danny Gokey's "Love God Love People:"

 

We're living in a world that keeps breakin'

But if we want to find a way to change it

It all comes down to this

Love God and love people

 

I hear these songs and my heart breaks. Because as Christians we have two commandments Christ professed that encompass all, which Gokey summed up in just five words: "Love God and love people." But with all the bizarreness of 2020, we've forgotten it. People have got their heels dug in so deep that they won't listen to others. Even our presidential candidates displayed such behavior at the first debate with interruptions and name calling. 

I have friends who perpetually post political statements on their social media accounts, and frankly I am weary of it. Pretty sure everyone has already decided on who they are going to vote for, and honestly I've yet to see in the comment sections of those posts, "You have opened my eyes! I have changed my opinion." But it's not just political comments. It's statements on whatever the latest issue of the week is. Sometimes I feel these folks for not one moment will attempt to walk the shoes of others around them. And I bet there are a few folks reading this right now pointing at the other guy and saying, "I know, right, they don't get it," when it's likely you don't either.

I have opinions, too. Strong ones. But if you disagree with me, I am not going to hate you. Why? Because God told me to love you. He demands it. Loving people means loving the person who looks different from you, loving the sinners, loving the poor, loving the rich, loving the criminal, loving the unborn, loving the foreigner who lives among you, loving the other political party members, loving your church family ... loving your enemies. Why? Because GOD LOVES YOU. He loves you so much that His Son died for you. You who do not deserve it. And guess what ... His Son also died for the other guy, too.

It starts right here and starts right now. Love God and love people. Be kind. Stop the name calling. Stop the constant criticism. Stop assuming what you believe is 100% right. Stop assuming God is only on your side. And just love as God loves. Please, Christians, pause, reflect, reevaluate, repent, forgive and love. I'd really like to be living in the "sweet" land of liberty again.

Fair Warnings

During this stay-at-home sheltering time with the pandemic COVID-19, my husband and I will head out to Swayback Trail in Wetumpka to get a little outdoor exercise. We will hike 4 miles of the second half of the red trail because it, blessedly so, has two sections we just love from a nature standpoint: a beautiful gully where a small stream winds through woods and ferns and a part where it hugs the coast of Lake Jordan. As there are few hiking and folks are well spread out along the trails, it's easy to maintain good social distancing. It's been not only a wonderful respite from being indoors so much but also a time of worship for us as we delight in God's creation. Since we've walked this trail some in winter and now in spring, we've marveled at the change in seasons. We saw through the barren trees to all areas of the trail in winter, but now the spring green leaves and growing brush have filled in the many gaps.

When you are hiking, it's different than if you are just walking around your neighborhood because you spend most of your time looking down. You do this so you don't trip over the many roots or rocks along the path. Any occasional glance up can lead to a potential stumble, and we've both done it. Because you are focused so much on the trail in front of you, you can miss the beauty of the expanse around you. I stop often to admire everything that is around me. As my husband is typically behind me (he's 10 inches taller than me and can see over me), he has commented that he wished I had brake lights. I probably need one of those bumper stickers that says, "Makes frequent stops."

Recently we noticed that someone had come by with red paint and painted a number of the protruding roots and stones. It made seeing them much easier when hiking. However, making any changes or unauthorized improvements to the trail is prohibited unless working through the Trail of Legends Association. TOLA doesn't want the environment impacted negatively through possible changes no matter how well intentioned. But I couldn't help but notice the analogy of it all in today's times, with our proactive efforts (self-isolating, masks, hand washing) to protect us all from potential risks.

We live during a season where we are taking one step at a time of late. Wondering how long we will be stuck at home, will we get sick, when can some of us work away from home again or work at all, wondering when we can visit each other, shake hands and hug. Our eyes are on the immediate trail in front of us as we navigate the obstacles along the way, with the occasional stop to grasp what's going on in the world around us. In the midst of this season, we celebrate our greatest holiday ever: the resurrection of our Messiah, the one Whose blood covered all my sins in the most horrific of deaths so that I could enter eternity with Him and be with my Father, praise His Name.

No matter what trail in this life we're on, no matter what our obstacles to faith, the things we've tripped over on this journey of life, Our Savior has covered it all with His blood, His sacrifice. When I have asked for forgiveness for my sins, He has granted it. Because of that, we can see our way to God so much clearer. That doesn't mean the occasional root won't trip me up, but I have the capability now, thanks to Jesus Christ, to repent and be made clean. Glory to God for Him. And it is because of Him that I am more easily able to navigate those stumbling blocks as they come.

Unauthorized or not, I am thankful for the red painted roots and rocks. While maybe not aesthetically pleasing, I've been able to look up and around me a lot more frequently to enjoy the view and lose my footing less often. And in a time when we're not quite sure what the trail ahead holds, it's nice to at least know that where you are now, has fair warnings. And to know on this Easter Day, Christ has me covered regardless.

I Want To Go To Church

For the first time in my almost 55 years (my birthday is Sunday), I was told I couldn't go to church, and I wept. Last Sunday, my husband - a pastor at our church - told me the staff had decided based on the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control with this COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest health-wise of our congregation, that church within the building would be canceled. We would still have online church, but no one could come to church. And it broke my heart.

See, church is my family. I don't have to be there. I get to be there. I want to be there. It's where my fellow sinners, hypocrites and repenters get together to worship my Holy, Awesome, Mighty, Most High God. I'm excited to be at church. I can't wait to hear the message proclaimed, the Scripture read, the music sung and to hug on my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I can't wait to learn. I can't wait to teach. I want to know what is going on in our families' lives since I saw them last. How can I comfort them? How can I pray with them? What answers to prayer have they had this week? Give me even more reasons to praise my Lord and Savior!

My husband and I have moved many times and attended many churches in the process. Because we are so far from our children, immediate families and extended families, our church has always become family. When we had a need, our church came through for us, just as we would hope to come through for them. We all love Jesus, so I can think of nowhere else I'd rather be than surrounded by these God-fearers and faithful in worship of the one who gave His life for me. Glory, Hallelujah!

But this Sunday (and perhaps more) will be different. We can't go. For our safety, for our parishioners' safety, we are staying home. We will listen to the message, like everyone else, online. Frankly, we can listen to as many messages as we want online at home. Could be a perpetual sermon Sunday. But as all consistent worshipers know, worshiping corporately is Holy Spirit super-charging. When I feel like I'm alone in my sin or circumstances, I'm reminded by the faithful that they are struggling, too. When I want to lift my hands in euphoric worship of the One True God while stirred deep in my soul by voices lifted to Him in precious harmony, I look around me and see the many around me bursting with that same pure presence of our Creator. I get my energy and passion boosted each week (sometimes several times a week) by this fellowship. So to hear that I couldn't just tore me up.

A couple days ago I heard the song Church (Take Me Back) by Cochran & Company Worship on the radio. The chorus goes like this:

Take me back
To the place that feels like home
To the people I can depend on
To the faith that's in my bones
Take me back
To a preacher and a verse
Where they've seen me at my worst
To the love I had at first
Oh, I want to go to church

Yep, more tears. Then there's the bridge: 

Oh, more than an obligation
It's our foundation
The family of God
I know it's hard
But we need each other
We're sisters and brothers

https://youtu.be/3eTOcrWu8mQ
 

Oh, I want to go to church. I want to go to church. I want to go to church. These Sundays when I can't, my heart will be hurting. Church is not an obligation to me. I won't get to Paradise any faster because I'm there each Sunday. But I want to be there. For me, worship is a tiny taste of Heaven every single week. 

For those who have never been, when you get the chance, don't miss it. For those who left for some reason where their feelings were hurt because of some other sinner within the building, when you get the chance to go back, don't miss it. For those who come twice a year at Christmas and Easter to make appearances for family sake or meet some inner obligation, when you get the chance to go back regularly, don't miss it. For those who go once or twice a month and feel that's enough to get your worship on, when you get the chance to go back every single Sunday, don't miss it. Don't miss it!

Because when it's not there, you will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3hMWqYEAHg&feature=youtu.be 

Rest in the Shadow

One morning recently when out for a walk with one of the little boys I help sit for, I noticed the nearly 2-year-old, James, who walked along beside me, kept scurrying up to stay in my shadow. I don't mean that metaphorically, but literally. The temperature was in the 90s, so I am sure he was seeking a cool spot as we walked along. It soon became a game to keep him going. I would take a few steps and he'd giggle as he'd speed up to step on and in my shadow.

Today when I was reading Psalm 91 - one of my favorites - verse 1 made me catch my breath: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Then in reading Psalm 121:5 "The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." I thought of sweet James desperately trying to stay in my shadow and giggling as he quickened his steps to feel protected from the heat of the morning sun.

Oh that we could use that example as a true guide for our spiritual life. That we would keep pace with our Most High God to stay in His shadow. That we would excitedly and happily run to stay along with Him and rest in His protection from all that would seek to harm us. How do we ... metaphorically now ... keep pace with the Creator of the world? We do this by reading His Word, praying regularly, being obedient to His commands and loving His children. Psalm 91 gives us the information we need: "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent,. For he will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:9-11) and at the tail end of the Psalm in verses 14-16: "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My Salvation.'"

When James or his brother walk along with me they will toddle off to chase a butterfly, head into a neighbor's yard to examine their basketball hoops or porch decor, peer over the edge of a drain to look down a gully and run into the middle of the road to pick up some tiny acorn they see. I find that I am constantly saying, "Come back over here. Don't step too close to the edge. Don't touch that. Get out of the middle of the road." It's my desire to protect these little ones from whatever danger they might stumble into or from doing any harm in their natural curiosity.

It's the same with our Father. His desire is to protect and guide us. So we need to listen and obey. And we know from 1 John 5:3 that "His commands are not burdensome." The beginning of that verse says, "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands." Why? Verse 4 of that chapter tells us: "to overcome the world." Prov. 1:33 says, "Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

I told my 7th and 8th grade Sunday School kids last Sunday that "faith is obedience without reservation." It's trusting in our God and His commands that we can rest in His Shadow. That He has us completely.

When I asked a friend once what song I could use to create a customized ring tone on my cellphone for her, she thought for a moment and suggested The Beatles' song, "I'll Follow The Sun." The lyrics say, "Tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun." But I'd like to change those lyrics. 1 John 5:5 says, "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Who is the "My Salvation" from Psalm 91:16? Jesus!

So here's my plan ... "Tomorrow may rain, but I'll follow the Son" ... and stay the shadow of the Almighty. I feel safer already.

Slightly Off

I drilled the hole off by maybe an eighth of an inch, but it was enough. I was trying to install a towel bar that required me to use my left hand to drill because of the location. As I am a righty, somehow I misjudged and the hole was slightly off. When you've drilled into drywall, that can pose a problem as that eighth of an inch may make the stability of the bar less secure. I was growing increasingly frustrated with my ineptitude in completing what I thought would be a simple project. My husband saw me struggling and heard me say, "I don't know what to do," to which he sweetly replied, "Pray." I responded back, "I don't think God cares about my towel bar."

I can't believe that came out of my mouth, and my husband was quite taken aback. He replied: "That's not what my wife told me. She told me her God cares about everything."

With that statement, he was reminding me of a story early in our relationship. I was getting dressed for the day, couldn't decide what to wear and prayed out loud, "God, which shirt should I wear?" Brad then said, "You honestly think God cares which shirt you wear?" To which I responded, "My God cares about everything." I'd always believed that. A God who created the minuscule details of this beautiful world, cares about everything. My mother taught me that.

For me to respond about the towel bar as I did went against what I believed deep in my heart. So I clarified my statement to my husband immediately after that: "With all the more important things going on in people's lives, I hate to bother Him with a towel bar." But I went ahead anyways and quietly prayed, "Please help me, Lord." I had no idea how I would fix this, nor how to even pray for a solution. But then I immediately found a way to finagle some toothpicks into the hole to move the screw over just enough for make it work. I quietly said to my husband, "You were right. He did care about my towel bar."

Now I don't know that God was up in Heaven checking up on me wondering when I was going to ask for His help with this task, but I do know He cares when trials and unforeseen circumstances can irritate me to the point of anger and frustration. He says via Peter to cast those burdens (1 Peter 5:7). A God that knows the number of hairs on my head (Matt. 10:30) and names each and every one of the billions of stars in the heavens (Psalm 147:4), also cares about a crazy girl in Alabama installing a towel bar.

I hate that I let myself get to the point where I thought my frustrations were unworthy of a heavenly consultation. But I'm grateful for a husband who reminded me to Whom I belong and got me back in the mindset of giving God control. Glory to the Most High God for loving me enough to gently guide my tiny innovation and miraculously stabilize that which I could not. What an awesome, precious, loving Father we have.

One Bad Berry

I don't know why this happens to me so often, but it seems like every time a get a container of berries, after a day or so, I end up getting a batch of moldy ones. It starts with the one fuzzy, smooshy berry that is tightly packed in with all her ripe yummy berry friends only to spread her moldiness to everyone around her. Then a third of the berries end up in the trash. Doesn't matter the berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries ... happens every time. I try to catch the rotting berries early and separate from them the rest of the batch, but sometimes miss them until it's too late. Perhaps it's the conditions. I read that fruit needs to be a low-humidity bin in the refrigerator. But then again it could be that when packaged, that one berry was already infected.

How's the old song go? ♫ One bad apple can spoil whole bunch, girl. ♫ True. As the song alleges, it's not just with fruit. I bought a bag of ink pens the other day for my Sunday School class. When I opened up the package, one pen had blown ink all over all the other pens. I didn't notice it until I started passing out the pens to my 7th and 8th graders. In the process I got blue ink all over my hands and the kids' hands. A good hand sanitizer later and all the pens and our hands were ink free.

So, of course, this can be with people, too. When comparing Myers-Briggs personality types recently, our family read aloud the description of an ENFJ. We have quite a few ENFJs in our family, including myself, my daughter, daughter-in-law, mother and father-in-law, to name a few. ENFJs are Extrovert, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging types. When reading the description, we learned something very intriguing: ENFJs

 "can unconsciously over-identify with others and pick up their burdens as if they were their own. In the process, ENFJs may risk their own sense of identity. They have a natural ability to mimic because of this highly developed ability to empathize by introjection." [Please Understand Me by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates]

I have noticed this about myself throughout my life. If you're speaking in a Southern accent, I'll slip into it. If you're using sarcasm, I'm right there with you. If you break down in tears, look out, here come the waterworks. It's why I can't see horror movies - they truly scare me to death. So basically, I'm dangerously ripe next to the moldy strawberry.

But a person doesn't need to be an ENFJ to be influenced by people around them. I've seen all kinds of children and adults absorb the characteristics of the people they hang out with, whether kind or troublemakers. It's why we as parents carefully watch who our children befriend, knowing behaviors, opinions and personality traits can rub off on our kids. Or likewise carefully observe what they watch on television that they don't pick up on qualities we don't want them to imitate. Adults need to be careful themselves, however, as they are also susceptible to being influenced by those around them.

I think that's why I love daily reading my Bible and going to church. In worship, I'm surrounded by a bunch of people who are all there for a good "sanitation" process. We all know what the world surrounds us with, so we congregate in church to be filled with the written and spoken Word to clean off the smearing ink and remove the moldy from our lives. And it's not something we can do once a week, hence the daily Bible reading. I need regular introspection to be sure I'm imitating Christ. 1 John 2:6 says we need to "walk as He walked." 2 Cor. 3:18 says we need to be "transformed into the same image from glory to glory." Phil. 2:5 tells us to have the "mind of Christ." And Eph. 5:1 tells us to be "imitators of God." I don't always watch entirely appropriate things on TV or hang out with trustworthy, moral people, so the reminder of what is Godly is constantly necessary.

The flip side of this is that God doesn't necessarily want us to remove the sinners from our lives. Let's face it, Jesus hung out with them regularly. We do, too, when in worship. The church is pew-packed with sinners, praise His name, so I fit right in. And when sharing the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13, Jesus recommended leaving the weeds among the wheat, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them." Plus, I think Christ hopes the wheat stalks will have an influence on the weeds. I know there have been plenty of wheat stalks in my life that have certainly made a difference on this weed.

Now if only the ripe berries would have an influence on the fuzzy ones ... then maybe the whole batch could be saved.

The Missing Piece

 A family friend got us a puzzle to work on when they were visiting last week: a colorful seashell puzzle that featured a huge, prominent yellow starfish near the center. It was a gorgeous puzzle, but that starfish was a beast. We decided to save it for the end since every piece looked just like the next one. But at some point during the assembly of this 500-piece jigsaw beauty, we lost a piece. Not of the starfish, but rather of a bright pink shell. We looked everywhere for it, under the cushions, under the furniture. It was nowhere to be found. We just came to the conclusion is was gone and decided to finish the rest of the puzzle regardless. When it was completed, I texted a picture of it to everyone who helped us work on it. My daughter then commented, "Still missing that one piece." Even though that beast of a starfish was completed, the puzzle wasn't complete without the missing piece.

It got me thinking about our unique value to God's plan. Each created by God for a specific part in growing His Kingdom, we are all different, quirky, special, one-of-a-kind masterpieces designed for God's purposes. That gives a new perspective on our value as children of God. One can't be missing. I suppose that's reason Christ said he'd leave the 99 to find the one, "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." Matt. 18:12-14

This became more evident to me when searching for particular pieces in completion of the puzzle. Looking for that piece that had a little bit of this or that color with just the right shape, I'd come across one that surprised me when it actually fit. The piece by itself didn't look like anything in particular, but put into the puzzle suddenly made a gorgeous picture. When we look in the mirror and wonder why we look a certain way, act a certain way, have specific talents or interests, it may seem we don't necessarily fit in, when in reality, we are a necessity. We help complete the plan ... and in the process become complete ourselves.

In the sermon Sunday, our pastor referenced Mark 1:11 - "And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."  He encouraged us to remember that our Father feels the same way about us as He does about His Son, Jesus. You are a child that He loves. With you He is well pleased. It's a message we all need to hear. In your unique, distinctive, particular, extraordinary way, you are a key part of God's plan to grow His Kingdom, and more importantly, He loves, loves, loves us, enough to chase us so that none go missing.

By the way, my daughter asked me to look under the couch to see if the missing pink piece was there. I thought we'd looked everywhere, but low and behold, there the missing piece was. We spent a lot of time searching for that tiny piece. It was worth the hunt, as the puzzle was finally complete.

And we're worth it, too. We may not know just yet where we fit in the completed picture, but God's got it, He adores us and creates us to be the rare, original soul that we are. Oh, that we would always remember our value ... and not just to Him, but to the other pieces interlinked around us.

Versions of the Same Thing

I have three kinds of toothpaste. Not even kidding. One for sensitive teeth, one for whitening and one that doesn't let plaque stand a chance. I have three sets of markers: my Tombow blendables, a Sharpie permanent set and regular markers. I have three kinds of eyeshadow palettes: nudes, goldens and brights, for whatever strikes the mood. You may see a pattern of threes here, but that doesn't come close in the Bibles. I have a King James Version, New International Version, The Message, Serendipity, New Revised Standard Version, Life Application Bible, Parallel Bible, Cultural Studies Bible, Journaling Bible and Chronological Bible. And that's not all of them. Nor does it include the app Bible Gateway which has zillions of versions to read or listen to.

I love them all and use all of them. When I'm not getting the gist of a passage, I break out The Message for a simpler, clearer understanding. When I want to know what the actual word-for-word translation is (and since I don't know Greek or Hebrew), I'll go to Young's Literal Translation on Bible Gateway. To compare various translations, I'll go to the Parallel Bible. To try to comprehend unfamiliar traditions or practices I read about in one version, I'll read the same passage in the Cultural Studies Bible. When I'm feeling more creative, I break out the Journaling Bible. The Bible I use most often is a S U P E R  G I A N T  P R I N T NIV. I once got a comment from someone who saw my Bible: "Geez, I can read your Bible's print two pews back!" Thankfully, with my poor close up vision, so can I! Love that super giant print. My favorite version is the New Revised Standard. I love the way it reads and am happy with the accuracy of the translation.

Here's the thing, all three of my toothpastes all do the same thing. They clean my teeth. All three markers have ink. All three eyeshadow palettes highlight what the Lord already gave me. And likewise, all these Bibles say the same thing. Truly. They may vary in the way they say things, but honestly it's all the same. When I used to sell Bibles at a Christian store and people would ask me what the best kind of Bible was, my comment was and always is the same: "A well-read one." I would tell them what each version had in it, but would always tell them they couldn't go wrong with any of the versions. It's all the Word of God. Just be sure when you get one (or in my case, several), you read it! Read it, read it, read it. We live a in a topsy-turvy world that is switching up the moral compass more and more each day, so if there was ever a time to be in the Word of God, now's the time.

Sunday, a 5-year-old friend of mine was presented with a Bible. He clutched it to his chest throughout the worship service and every once and awhile flipped through the pages. After worship, he ran up to my pastor husband who had handed it to him to thank him for it. His mother told me later he carried it with him everywhere that day and told everyone about his new Bible. That evening he slept with the Bible and asked his Mom to read a chapter to him in the morning. Then asked if she would read him a second chapter later. Oh that we would all be as excited to have the Word in our possession and read it. Glory to the Lord above!

I have a friend who recently asked about an old Bible she had. She's worn the pages out, some are even falling out, and the binding has broken. She asked what she should do with it cause she didn't feel right throwing out the Word of God. We texted back and forth about it, but you know what the best part of that is? It was worn out! She had gotten a new one to begin to wear it out.

My toothpastes will be carefully squeezed from the bottom until they're empty. My markers will be used till they dry out. My eyeshadow pallettes will eventually be brush-swiped clean. And my Bibles, God-willing, will get to the point where will pages will fall out and binding will crack. The Good news about the Good News is, I can always pick up another Bible (God bless America for that! In some countries that is not the case). But I plan on reading  and rereading and rereading the Living Word of God over and over again till I die in our Precious Father's efforts to clean me up, straighten me out and bring me ever closer to Him. And work on being ... you know ... less-sensitive, white as snow and cavity-free.

Creatures of Habit

It's said that old habits die hard, but frankly new habits die hard, too. This was never made more obvious to Brad and I then when I recently moved a garbage can to a different location in our new home. We've not lived in this house a month yet, so we're still figuring out where we want to put things. Originally I had put our 13-gallon garbage can in our breakfast nook around the counter from the kitchen. Then a few days ago, I got the idea to put a smaller can closer and handier underneath the kitchen sink. I moved the bigger can in the breakfast nook to a far corner, to still have it available if needed. However, since we'd been throwing away garbage to the original location, Brad and I found ourselves going back to that area over and over again ... after it had only been there two weeks. It was a similar situation with our refrigerator. While waiting for a new fridge to arrive, we were using the old fridge which had been relocated to the laundry room. Even after the new refrigerator was in place, we found ourselves still walking the gallon of milk back to the laundry room fridge a good five days later. We are definitely creatures of habit. And how quickly we can instill those habits.

That being said, I found myself quite easily breaking a habit I had prior to the move: my devotion time. I like to spend the first part of my morning in Bible reading and prayer whether silently or through journaling. When we moved last month, with all the different things that needed done - unpacking, rearranging, cleaning, etc. - I found that I neglected my devotion time. I went right to the jobs and ignored that time with my Lord. I might say, "I'll get to it," but then never did. The Lord doesn't like it when I neglect that time, so he started waking me at 2 or 3 a.m. If I won't set aside time for Him, then He'll make so I have to. So in the middle of the night I was reading Scripture and praying. That's not a bad thing. I cherish those times with God (some great learning was done), but I still wasn't making room for Him myself. Then I started getting sick every morning. Allergies. They would wipe me out, not just in the morning, but all day. This morning I woke up and started to go about the day's work and began my usual early repetitive sneezing, In exasperation, I said to myself, "Everything can wait." I stopped what I was doing, grabbed my Bible and journal and found a cozy quiet place to sit.

I'm in the middle of the book of Daniel, so was reading Daniel 4 about Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar's crazy dream about a mighty tree, cut to the ground, stripped of its leaves and fruit scattered. Daniel interprets the dream for the king telling him it's actually about Lord driving Nebuchadnezzar from his throne for a bit, even to the point of madness, until he acknowledges that God is the Most High. Daniel gives the king this advice: "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue." (Daniel 4:27) Rather than heed the advice, the king, just 12 months later, heralds his own mighty power and glory. Oops! So of course the dream comes true. The king becomes animalistic, eating grass like cattle, his hair thinning like feathers and his nails growing like claws. Creepy. Seven years later, he acknowledges and praises the Most High God and his kingdom is restored.

What a wake up call for me! I'm not a king, nor have a built a great city. I'm not eating grass, losing hair or growing scary claws. But the Lord was certainly getting my attention. I think the Lord gave me a little leeway with the busyness of the move, but that time is over. GOD COMES FIRST. He always does. I had created a new habit of ignoring my Father, and was suffering for it. The suffering can manifest itself in different ways, from loss of direction, loss of time and stumbling over road blocks during the day to even more grave issues, especially if making wrong decisions when not focused on the Father.

And when I do set that time aside for Him, it's so glorious! I delight in who He is! I confess and rid myself of sins! I learn something! I lift many others to Him for interaction and healing! I thank Him for the many blessings and challenges in His fine-tuning and pruning. Gosh, I missed that.

I've read it takes just 14 days to create a new habit, so I will be making a conscious effort to sit down with my Lord every morning. And soon hope that instead of looking at my unused Bible and saying, "I'll get to it," will instead say, "Everything can wait. It's time for my Jesus."

We're still not quite used to where the new garbage can is - Brad will walk over there and let out an "arrrrggg" when we realizes he's walked to the other place - but we'll get there. The new location is more efficient and smarter ... just like the devotion time habit I'm working on.

Unseen Enemy

I am tired. Of sneezing that is. I have been having allergy reaction after allergy reaction since we moved into our new home. As I am allergic to dust, pollen, grass, pine, etc, it can be hard to narrow down what the culprit could be, but more than likely it's cat dander. These reactions have all the usual cat-dander symptoms. The former resident had a cat, and once those microscopic skin cells hit the air, it's hard to rid a location of them. Rip out the carpet, paint the walls, wipe down all surfaces, vacuum under appliances, change filters and clean out air ducts ... these are all recommended. And it still could take six months to get it all out. I'm in for a long road. Some days are worse then others. And you know it's bad when I will go outside to cut the grass in a effort to get out of the cat-dander house.

It's an unfair battle. I can't see the enemy. I can only feel the consequences. It's a daily struggle. It's exhausts me. As a very last resort, I'll take some kind of allergy medication, which typically knocks me out for the rest of the day. No matter what I seem to do, I can't get the upper hand. I shout "Unfair!" into the air and plow through boxes of tissues.

I have friends and family who are dealing with far worse unseen enemies in the form of diseases like cancer. And I am sure they have shouted, "Unfair!" many times.

But even that is not the most evil unseen enemy. There is one far worse. One that prowls the earth like a roaring lion waiting to devour us, the disciple Peter tells us in his first letter, chapter 5, verse 8. He calls the enemy, "Your adversary, the devil." He is one that hopes to derail our faith and make us want to give up. And this enemy actually uses some of the previously mentioned unseen enemies to aid in his derailing. What is Peter's advice to combat this enemy? "Stay alert, be sober, stay viligant, watch out." He also says, "resist him and be steadfast in your faith" in the next verse. So more preventative than combative, just like all the preventative things recommended to remove the cat-dander from this house.

Does this mean you'll avoid all entanglements with the adversary? Probably not, but it will certainly help reduce the confrontations. Other great preventative measures? Prayer, reading Scripture, and submitting ourselves to God. And if Christ's example in Matthew 4:10 is one to follow, then saying, "Be gone, Satan," doesn't hurt either.

Day after day of struggling against an unseen enemy can make a person want to give up, but those who are successful aren't quitters. Plus we have an Advocate who can fight for us who is far more powerful, and it's to Him I turn daily. Prior to 1 Peter 5:8, the disciple tells us,"cast your burdens on Jesus because He cares for you." So it's to Him I turn to for help with an adversary that refuses to back down ... and allergies that just won't let go. These battles are temporary. Christ has the final victory. So armor up ...while I grab another tissue.

Wandering

I love to people watch, and a recent visit to Disney World gave me ample time for it. One morning after walking to Disney Springs from our hotel, as I waited for the World of Disney store to open, I sat on a brick wall and watched the many people go by. I giggled as I watched a young couple with their toddler son. He had been let out of the stroller and was exploring the world around him, his daddy just a few paces behind. I noticed this little fellow repeatedly going in completely the opposite direction that his daddy was encouraging him to go. He would look over his shoulder to see if his dad was watching and purposely ignore his pleas taking off on yet another adventure, his dad frantically chasing him yet again. I was giggling and giggling. At one point the little guy ran full on down to a fence between him and Lake Buena Vista. He again looked behind to see if dad was following. I think dad was as his wits end at this point, so he bent down, grabbed the little fellow by the back of his overalls and swung him into his arms, carrying him back to mom who waited patiently by the stroller. Dad just continued to carry him at that point.

I couldn't help think of our Heavenly Father through all of that. We, ridiculous and adventurous, running completely opposite of our Father's guidance on the correct path, and Him graciously and patiently shepherding us back on the right track. And I can think of a few times when I'm pretty sure He grabbed me by the back of my overalls, picked me up and carried me a bit so I would be protected and refocused on where I was supposed to be.

I'm sure every once and awhile God throws up His hands as we venture far of the path to leave us to our own devices and learn from the wrong choices. I wondered, if that ever present daddy at Disney would have just let his son go off and not watched, protected, redirected and carried his boy, what would have happened to him? Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh. Likewise, the same could happen to those who wander away from God's Word, law and direction. Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh.

I'm impressed by the Disney dad's persistence in caring for his son. Those days are far from over and I pray he is as resilient as the years go on. And I more so pray for the son, that he listens to his father, obeys and stays on the right track.

We have those same opportunities and choices. God in His great love, has given His creation free will. Praying that we have the integrity, fortitude, awe, courage, strength and perseverance to stick with Him. The journey will be far less risky, far more abundant and certainly more beneficial to our growth. I mean, seriously, we aren't toddlers anymore. Or children or teens for that matter. We know better. Praying we behave as such.

Ready for the Steeplechase

Couple days ago I was reading Jeremiah 12 when I was struck in my heart by verse 5. It says, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?" The gist of the verse is that if you can't handle the challenges in your life right now, how will you handle what's coming in the future which could be far difficult?

I think people assume life will get better. It has to get better, I hear often. It can't get any worse. But the honest truth is, it can. God never promised us a life free of challenges, hardship and suffering. He did promise us an abundantly full life. But our life isn't about achieving happiness. It's about glorifying the One True God. In everything we do and say, in every circumstance, we're to glorify Him. Job was a perfect archetype of this. After losing his children, livelihood and servants in one day, he said (Job 1:21b): "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

We are starting a new year. And when a new year starts, the tradition is to make bold resolutions to be better, make better choices, do better things, etc. But the reality is, it may not go that way. Not to be a Debbie-downer, but I believe God has us go through certain experiences in our lives so we are stronger and more able to handle what's next, no matter what it is. And it may be just to give us empathy, grace and a servant's heart for others going through similar circumstances.

I've played the video game Candy Crush for about five years. I'm on level 2384. And every single level is harder than the one before. I cannot tell you how many times I've said, "This is impossible," and then later defeat it. And I often wonder how easy those first hundreds of levels would be if I went back to play them. But the reality is with each difficult level, I get better. And it doesn't hurt that I have a few friends who play the game who are far ahead of me, thus I'm encouraged that I can beat each new level I tackle. Likewise I am encouraged by the cloud of witnesses who have gone before me in this journey called life.

A steeplechase is a horse race over obstacles like fences and bushes. Do you know why it's called a steeplechase? It's because the races, which originated in England, were between towns, over streams, stone walls, etc, running from church steeple to church steeple. The steeples were easy markers to see in each town through the countryside as the finish came closer. What a beautiful metaphor in this race track of life! Lots of obstacles in the way, but achievable when keeping our eyes focused on God!

I have no idea what 2019 holds. I pray it will be a blessed one filled with new adventures and joys. And I also pray, no matter what potential trials, changes and heart-breaking events come, that I will glorify the Father in them, and end up stronger, more determined, more forgiving and more compassionate than I was in 2018. I'm ready for the race.

One Difference

While having my devotion time the other 29° morning, I made sure to position myself right in the sunlight. My office is the coldest room in the winter and hottest room in the summer at our house. So on this chilly morning, I wanted to be squarely in the sun.

I was reading Jeremiah 5 at the time ... a sad little chapter where God tells the prophet to try to find just one honest person in Jerusalem, and He will forgive the entire city. You know the Genesis 18 Sodom and Gomorrah story where Abraham begs God to save the cities for 10 righteous people, then He can't find 10 and destroys them? Well, in this instance, God will save the city for one. And Jeremiah can't find one. The people refuse correction, refuse to repent. God calls them "foolish" and "senseless" and promises recompense. God says they are about to be conquered by a nation of mighty warriors that will go on a destruction rampage. And, boy, do they ever. The Persians destroy the city, burn the temple and take captives back to Babylon. It's a devastating blow for the Chosen People, and God says they will ask why it happened, to which He replies: "As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own." And  they do ... for 70 God-ordained years. But notice that God does not destroy the nation. In the midst of God's prediction of punishment for the Jews, he says he will not destroy them completely. He brings them back to their lands and the temple is rebuilt.

You can hear the anguish of the Father in this chapter. He's frustrated with His children whom He has asked time and time again, through the prophets, to repent and do good, worship Him alone, and care for orphans, the poor and the oppressed. But they don't. "Should I not punish them for this?" declares the Lord. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?" He asks in verse 29. Back in verse 22 He asks them why they don't fear Him when He is the Almighty One who set the boundary for the sea at the sand, that that "waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it." This is the God we serve. He may have patience, unbelievable patience, but even God eventually says, "Enough."

While I sat in the sun reading, the sky darkened slightly. Noticing a shadow and sudden drop in temperature for those seconds, I looked up to see a tiny ... and I mean tiny ... cloud covering the sun. We had perfectly clear skies except for that blip of a vapor. But wow, what a difference in temperature it made for the brief time the cloud had possession of the sun. I anxiously awaited for that thing to move on. And it did quickly. But I couldn't help but notice what a difference one small cloud could make. And it made me aware of the power of just one wee thing. The whole neighborhood was darkened by that one cloud. Scary how something so little can easily shadow the light.

But Scripture tells us one can easily make a difference, too. Just imagine if Jeremiah would have found just one honest person in Jerusalem. What a difference it would have made in Jewish history.

It did take One later to make a true, complete and perfect difference. A little less than 600 years later, God sent One to make all the difference in the world and save us all. He brought an inextinguishable light. A gift of atonement and forgiveness to forever cover the multitude of "foolish" and "senseless" sins that we have committed in the 2,000 years since, if we only ask. Glory to the Most High God for His love and precious Son Jesus.

Praying that in the midst of our generation, where there seems to be more than one cloud darkening the nation, we can be the difference that stands on the Word in worship, obedience and love. We sure need it.