Puzzling

Ever notice how when you do a puzzle, you have to touch every piece? You sort, you turn, you look carefully at size and shape and color, you try one then the other.

It's the same with other problems, too. To really solve it, you must touch everyone involved. You must sort out ideas and opinions. You must look from all sides at the problem and consider how each solution will affect each person. You may even have to try several solutions before it all comes together.

What a wonderful world we can look forward to when God has touched each of us. He will look closely into our lives and turn us in many directions, but in the end the "pieces" will come together!

Take a breath

This is a combined idea from my daughter, Beth Moore, and Rob Bell.

What do you know of the breath of God? It was breathed into Adam. From His breath the world was created. A current Christmas tune depicts Mary imploring the Breath of Heaven to hold her together. Remember Abram and Sarai of the Bible's Old Testament? Beth Moore explains that once they were in close relationship with God, He breathed new life into their very names by adding the sound of a breath-represented in Hebrew by our consonant H, in English AH. Thus they became AbrAHam and SarAH. In fact, Go's old testament name, Jehovah, is simply 4 Hebrew letters that make the sound of breathing in and out. God truly is our breath, our very life-to know God is to have true life.

The Best Toys

Have you ever watched a 5-year-old playing? They can make characters out of anything. I onced watched a 5-year-old turning pen caps into superheros. And when I tried to take them away and give him some real toys, he would have none of it. You would have thought I was stealing priceless gems from him. He loved those characters and protected them and truly enjoyed them.

Some days I feel like a pen cap, and everyone else looks like superheros! But the good news is---God loves me just as much as them. And not only that--He protects me and truly enjoys me! And that goes for you, too!!

Stay rooted

The other day, there was a lot of rain--I mean, ALOT of rain. And we had alot of trees fall in the area. It seems the soil around the roots gets loose and the tree often falls in the wind especially if the tree is sick or the roots are shallow. It's a little like God was "cleaning house" with the rain or the wind.

On the other hand, a healthy plant that is watered deeply and frequently can send roots down deep where the water sinks through the damp dirt and reaches low levels. Consider the desert, though, where rains are infrequent. The desert plants have roots that spread out just below the surface to catch as much rainfall as possible before it evaporates. Because it doesn't rain often, the water never sinks down into the soil.

So, how deep are our roots? Are our roots of friendship new? or old, having been through many "rains" together? Do we skip from friend to friend or stick with a few through thick or thin? Do we depend on basic strangers in times of need? or those friends that have been there for us before? Have we helped others in times of need? or moved on to someone else less needy?

And how about our faith roots? Have we spent lots of time "digging deep" spiritually? or just "dabbled" in spiritual things? Are our "roots" watered daily? or weekly? or monthly? Are our spiritual roots deep? or just below the surface?

A tree takes years and years to grow. It is a slow, quiet process. Perhaps, growing security for ourselves and our families is the same. When God decides to clean house in our lives, will we fall or stand "like cedars of Lebanon" (Isaiah 14:8)

It's Raining

I was feeling guilty for not being happier. Sitting in church we spoke in choral reading, make a joyful noise of thanksgiving. The minister asked for announcements of celebrations; I could think of none. We read in Psalm 118: 23 "rejoice and be glad in it." And yet, I don't feel it. For now, I am not happy. And my word of the year is "in joy"--serve in joy! live in joy!

And then during prayer, I heard a bird singing. I realized that I hadn't heard that sound for several days because of the passing storms. And I realized that the bird doesn't sing while it is raining but as soon as it stops, songs break forth. I am reminded of some scriptures: John 16:20 "But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy..." and Psalm 30:5 "Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the dawn." I am assured that this is just a passing rain shower! No guilt needed.

Is it raining on you today? The sun will be out soon! Ding, Dang, Dawn

Footsteps in the Sand

It sure is nice having 3 sisters.  Especially when you hear news like “The cancer’s back.”  That’s what we heard yesterday.

It’s nice to be living close to God and focused on “His will not mine” when you hear news like “It has spread.”

It’s nice to see God’s hand in your life when news like this puts your day on a new schedule than the one you had thought you would have.

These are the thoughts that came to me this morning as I look back on my day yesterday.  The day really began with texts and phone calls between my sisters and I as we began getting results back from the CT to see what was causing the pain.  It soon became apparent that the cancer was probably back and that someone needed to be there when the doctor relayed this information to Mom.

Let me give you some background.  I have 3 wonderfully, different sisters.  We all have our own God-given personalities, lives, talents, and strengths.  And these have served us well during past illnesses and trials, as we have supported each other.  During Mom’s current illnesses, our separate personalities have really come in to play-sometimes with a vengence.  Some of us are good at doctor’s information (collecting it, relaying it).  Some of us are good at facility research. Some of us have been called on to coordinate insurance and physical treatment and care.  Some of us have been good at communication with a large family.  Some are good at pushing Mom to work hard (you know—being bossy!).  Some are good at cheerleading (you know—come on, one more time, you can do it!)  Some know what to say, some know what to bring.  None of us are good at all of it!  For us it takes a village!

I’m amazed at those who are only children.  We watched my Mom have to fill all of these roles for her Mom (my grandmother) when the time came to be caregiver and supporter.  I have watched friends do it gracefully on a daily basis.  And it just makes me appreciate the stepping stones that God planted half a decade ago, when my Mom and Dad began having children.  He knew already what this journey would take. 

And He continues to plant those stones right up to yesterday’s needs.  Let me continue to fill you in….

Consider that I was scheduled to keep a friend’s child this weekend while she went to a conference.  Consider “said conference” was cancelled. (I was totally disappointed to not get my weekend with one of my favorite 3 year olds!), but it freed my weekend and made sure my friend was here as well for my support.

Consider that a dear friend and her husband had recently felt the Holy Spirit put me and my family upon her heart and had felt called to give me a gas card to lighten the burden of rising gas prices and driving over an hour to visit. I had shared with some that I was mostly phone visiting with my mom and she had picked-up on the need for a physical visit.  Consider my feeling of elation and praise when I used it yesterday and realized first, that gas prices had dropped a few cents and second, that this gas card was substantial and would cover more than one visit, which yesterday’s news was calling me to visit as much as possible!!

Consider my younger sister’s frustration as she was relaying the news to us all and considering how to get someone there to be with Mom when the doctor could be there.  It looked like this needed to be yesterday.  Schedules seemed to be totally full….until she called me, third in line.  Consider her relief as I told her that I had a teacher’s workday—no students, no sub to arrange for, and an early faculty meeting along with a great administration that would support me working from home.

Consider that when I got the call yesterday morning, confirming that the meeting was set and the diagnosis was recurring and spreading cancer, and I was just trying to hold it together and continue to work by printing some labels, my friends (no—my sisters in Christ) began to appear around the printer.  It was obvious which ones God intended to be there as I broke down and poured out my heart and they stood around me and picked up the pieces and held them for me in their dear hands as we cried, talked and ultimately (and I mean ULTIMATELY) prayed.

Consider the clarity I had in looking over these stepping stones and in knowing that it was my turn with Mom-that my personality, talents, and strengths were what was needed this time.  Consider the honor that I felt that He had once again called me and trusted me in doing something difficult and important and that He would was again provide me with the support and strength to do it.

My God is an awesome God.  He provides.  He goes before me and makes a path before me.  He is my strength.  I dare anyone to try to convince me otherwise.

God and I had a great laugh this morning, as I thought through all these events.  I hope you know the poem Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson.  It has always been a comfort to me in times like I’m going through right now.  If you are not familiar with it, please read it first to understand the following image---

This morning I looked back to see yesterday’s footprints,

And I saw not two sets---

BUT MANY, MANY, MANY SETS!!!!!

Of those who carried me because of the call in their hearts that was put there by the Holy One!!!

If you were one of those, I thank you from the bottom of my hollow heart for answering God’s call (even if you did not realize you were doing that!)  I’ve noticed that those who live close to God seem to be in the right place at the right time, and you were just where God needed you to be to put His plan in motion yesterday. 

To God be the glory!!!