“Space… the final frontier.”

And why that suddenly came to mind I have no idea. Too many old reruns of watching Star Trek as a kid I guess, “Captain Kirk, you’re needed immediately on the bridge,” and I’m sure I could think of other one liners if I gave myself a few more minutes, “Okay, beam me up Scotty.” Hilarious when you think about it, especially the outfits, but still, despite all the bad acting, Star Trek really was kind of a fun show. It was all about the adventure and exploring and, being the setting space, they never really ran out of new places to visit inhabited by all kinds of strange creatures.

But why all this talk about Star Trek you ask? Like I said, I sat down to write and for some reason that was the first thing that popped into my head. Actually, as of late I’ve had “space” on the brain. Not “spaced out” mind you, but literally “outer space” and just yesterday was reminded of how really, really BIG it is and I think we tend to forget this, living here on this little planet we call Earth, which really is a big place in and of itself, but what I mean is, I think it’s easy for us to get swept up in just our day to day activities; “what will I wear today? How am I gonna pay the bills? What should I make for dinner?” and who knows what else we need to add to the day’s never ending “to-do” list. Honestly, sometimes it’s exhausting, and sometimes, at the end of the day, we just need to let out a big sigh of relief when the sun finally does set. Hmm, where am I going with all of this?

The verse that comes to mind is this and I think it was Paul who said it, “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) And I urge you to read it again, “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And I wonder… how many of us really think like that? If we’re honest, probably less than one percent of our day is thought like this and instead looks more like, “got to do the laundry, go grocery shopping, work, how will I get the kids to and from…” you name it. And again, that list can go on and on.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be still? You’ve got to be kidding? Space. Hmm, take a moment and think about it. How can I go about making my life more about living for Christ unless… I can take a moment and think about it? Unless, I can take a moment and contemplate… my minuteness, impermanence, compared to Him who is infinite? Huh, and yet still, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4) Amazing. When I take a moment and really think about it I realize, that to have the mindset Paul is speaking of in Philippians 1:21 is to live in the temporal. “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the Earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Because even as Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Space. And why is that the topic? Because, when you really think about it, when you have a moment, look out into the night sky and go, ” wow, God, you really created something HUGE here.” But why?

“As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Hmm, and I get to thinking. I think of all the people, those doubters who would say, “why would I want to go to heaven anyway? I mean, what could we possibly do there for all of eternity?” Hmm. Looking out into the “heavens” I can think of lots of things filled with all kinds of possibilities. First and foremost, getting to hang out in the presence of one incredibly amazing God, and secondly, having all of eternity to explore His vast and seemingly never ending creation. Sounds like fun, does it not?

Look here digg.com/d1ofQT if you want to see what I’m talking about.

Early

It’s early and as I sit at my desk with the window open overlooking our community pond the sun is shining, and yet as I take a moment to perhaps daydream, I start to see more and more of those little white puffy clouds (like sheep) begin to proceed across that great blue backdrop we call sky.

It’s now that I hear the lawn mower service, their distraction like clockwork every Tuesday morning, the steady hum or buzz of their equipment encroaching on my serenity, only to find another distraction as I hear the voice of my neighbor Christy, down on the lawn below.  Christy, a single mom, like myself, along with her five year old son Cameron as they play with their dog.  I then hear Cameron ring my doorbell (for fun) and then, I hear Christy scold him.  Aw, to be young again.  Nothing better to do but chase your dog and ring the neighbor’s doorbells, because surely they must be sleeping (especially at 8:30 in the morning when they’re on vacation;). If I had a dog, which someday I hope life and Time will once  again afford me  (for now, I’ll have to settle for my crazy parakeet) I think it might be fun to chase him or her, though ringing doorbells of my unsuspecting neighbors? at my age,  probably not such a good idea (though still, the idea is tempting).

But… up early this morning I got to thinking about how at the beginning of our lives (and I think seeing and hearing Cameron out playing on the lawn below reinforced this) life is so much more carefree and easy. Our whole lives spread out before us and filled with possibility. And then? We have to grow up, don’t we? and perhaps at times life doesn’t always turn out to be the picnic in the park we thought it’d be.  Life and all it’s demands has a way of pressing in. Whether it’s family, work, finances, something. It’s always something. And for me I think most of all, it’s Time.  Time, that pesky culprit.  If only we had the ability to stop it. But Time will halt for no one.  Better yet, to grab some rope and attempt to lasso it, tame it, so that instead of Time getting a handle on us we can at least try, try, to get a handle on it.

So… why am writing all of this?  Honestly, I just felt the need to write something, hoping that practice will make perfect, right? But tomorrow, tomorrow I’m turning thirty-nine (and how this happened I have no idea. Again, I think Time had something to do with it) but at least I’ll be spending it at Disney World so maybe, just maybe, for a day, I’ll get to feel like a kid again.  Honestly though, most of the time (inside) I already do anyway.  I mean, didn’t Jesus say something to the affect of, “unless you all become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven?”  I could google it, but I’m pretty sure He did.

Yes, to be like Cameron, or rather, to have the mindset of a child. And what is that?  Trusting, believing, carefree, simplicity.  Faith.  How many of us as adults really live like that?  God says… but do we believe Him?  For a child it is so, so easy.  God says… but oh, how many of us worry.  God says… but oh, how we don’t want to let go of anything.  God says… what?  How many things? And yet, how much easier life might be if we did and really could live like that, “with the mindset of a child,” trusting, believing, and God as our Heavenly Father who always, always is looking out for us.  Who always, always has our best interest at heart.  Who always, always loves us and sees us just like that, perhaps as we truly are;  His little children.  At least I like to think that’s how God sees us and from what I’ve read in His Word I think that’s a pretty good assessment. In His eyes we can chase puppies, ring doorbells and who knows what else, and does not God expect it? Maybe like the loving parent, He can look past all our imperfections, and sees only the cuteness, the fondness, that feeling where love wells up in your heart and where it came from? Well, only God can answer that question and yes, even sometimes He has to discipline us, but God as loving Father and us as His children…  it’s a good thing to dwell on, is it not?

Time.  It makes me think of a favorite line from a maybe not so favorite movie of mine, but I loved the line anyway and it’s always stuck with me.  “Pretend we’re starting out in life, instead of ending up.”  And what do I take from that?  That no matter what or where you’re at in life, whether it’s something you always wanted to do, become, a relationship you’ve been wanting to mend or, even your relationship with God, no matter what it is…  “it’s never too late to be early.”  God bless!

He Is

There are so many ways one could complete that sentence, “He is…” fill in the blank.  Honestly I don’t think there are enough words one could even find to adequately describe Him. Maybe it’s just awe, and I guess that’s my one word of choice, at least for today anyway; awe.  Because as far as I’m concerned, that’s it.  Words would not suffice. If and when we find ourselves in His presence (face to face), and believe me, one day all of us will. I think, “what?” I think we will be speechless and in awe, all of us, all of us will fall on our faces before an indescribable God. Who is… “what?”  Who simply is and that is enough to describe Him.  But for now, though my words of praise for Him may be inadequate, still… let us praise Him for who He is, and let it be known… who He is to you!

Something

Sometimes how rainclouds start to form on a horizon and seeing them in the distance you know that, “rain’s a comin’,” sometimes that’s how it is when you start to feel the Holy Spirit move and your first inclination is to think, “He’s up to something.” You may not know what exactly, but for some reason He keeps impressing on your heart, what? “A thought, an impression, a feeling?” Something, and so the best place to always start out with “something” is just… to pray about it.

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. (Joel 2:23)

When God Gives You Ducks

Not swans, but ducks. And actually, I have always been quite fond of ducks for some reason. I think they’re funny little characters; the way they waddle, quack, turn their necks to watch you, and even wag their tails. In fact, a bird watcher at heart they really do amuse me; ducks, and I don’t know why. Maybe it has something to do with growing up in Oregon and the way the rain rolls off their backs. Or maybe it’s the way they seem to go about their business, not really bothered by anything but just completely happy and yet at the same time completely oblivious. Ya, ducks. When God gives you ducks.

It was just the other day when I came out of my apartment building that much to my surprise their were three ducks parked just outside my door, nestled around a tree adjacent to our community pond. I stopped, “ducks!” I exclaimed and of course all three of them turned to look at me.

I have always since moving here wished that our pond had some ducks that lived in it. We have fish, a family of turtles, and thankfully no alligators, well, at least not yet anyway, but ducks? We haven’t had any ducks until, well, just the other day and when I saw them I knew (for need of cheering up) that they were a gift and I said, “thank you, God,” because He knows just how much I love them. Ya, ducks.

Well, quickly I ran back inside, grabbed some pieces of bread and came back out to feed them. They seemed grateful too, like, “hey, maybe this won’t be such a bad place to hang.” And again I had to laugh, watching as they wagged there tails, fighting for who was going to get that last crumb and you know what? I think ever since then I’ve become their new “best” friend because now if they see me, they come waddling. Gee, imagine that! Ya, when God gives you ducks. Not swans, but ducks and what do you do when God gives you ducks?

I think most of us if we’re honest, we’re waiting for swans, but what happens when instead, God gives us ducks? Are we so set on swans that we miss the blessing? our eyes so focused on what we thought was due us? Or… do we see? that even in something that may not appear to be all we’d hoped for that God still has something good for us underneath? Ya, ducks. And I think for the most part God is more apt to give us ducks. Swans? Swans require of us nothing. But ducks? Ducks require that we change; asking God to change our line of vision so that we can then see His intended blessing. Hmmm. Maybe it’s when God gives us ducks that that’s exactly what He’s after in the first place; something in us He wants to change.

Just something to think about next time you find ducks on your doorstep with a note that reads, “I’m just trying to teach you something… Love, God.”

This is an old post I never got around to posting (I have a lot of those) and after reading through some of them this one really spoke to me. Yes, lessons from my own writing but still, a good reminder when things don’t always turn out the way we hoped they would.

No matter what, God is always working.

Unaware

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” Heb 13:2

And as of late this scripture keeps coming to mind, maybe because God keeps putting it there, I don’t know, but I woke this morning thinking of it. Perhaps too because I always do as the holidays approach. “Tis the Season!” and yet, I wonder, how many of us feeling the crunch of the economy this year will stop to ponder the true meaning of Christmas? Maybe no longer able to buy, buy, buy, or think, think, think, “what shall I get for so-n-so this year, they already have everything anyway,” instead we’ll stop to think of the gift God gave us that first Christmas morn; His one and only Son.

Yes, to us, the poor, the destitute, the uncomely and the the unseen. God’s Word says, “our righteousness compared to His is as filthy rags,” and truly, that must be what we look like compared to Him. Yet God, in all of His beauty can see what we don’t see; us, when clothed in His Righteousness, what we can be.

When you really think about it, what a beautifully redemptive story. His Son; a ransom to replace our filthy rags. “Here,” He says as he drapes us in the finest of white raiment. “Let me place a crown of righteousness upon your head, and the best sandals upon your feet,” but first, only after He has washed them. “Now, come,” He says, “I have prepared a feast and you are to dine with Me!”

In Him, there is everything we could ever need. Everything. No shortage of supply, for God is not debt-ridden. His house is full of the finest things and the only things that can truly fill and satisfy our earthly hearts. Yes, if only we could see… how He sees. How God has the power to transform that which we might completely disregard as worthless or ugly. How the rock we toss away as only ordinary, He then picks up and polishes into a diamond.

“For some have entertained angels unaware,” and every Christmas season God brings this verse to mind. “Why?” you ask. Because one Christmas season there was a story behind it I’d like to share.

I think it was nearly fifteen years ago now, at least. We had gathered in a church basement in a small town in Oregon, a distant relative the pastor, and every Christmas day the congregation would put on a Christmas day feast. Everyone eating, conversing, children playing, including mine. Nothing out of the ordinary, that is, until a man walked in. Not just any man mind you, but to be honest, probably one of the filthiest, dirtiest men I think I have ever seen in all my life.

There we were, all of us in our Christmas Best and He? Rags and dirt and filth. I kid you not, His skin almost blackened as if He had just crawled out of a ditch somewhere or a coal mine, though, of any coal mines in Oregon I do not know. But it was surreal, startling to see such a contrast, and I will never forget it. Why? Because of how we all reacted, including myself; not one of us spoke to Him. He walked in on all of our merryment and yet, we, perhaps so out of tune with who God really is, did not know what do with Him. Just to out of the blue, too out of place.

Quietly the man made his way over to the kitchen where they prepared a plate for Him and then? He came and sat down but just a few feet away from me. The same table, the pastor sitting directly across from me. Still, no one spoke to Him. I kept thinking, “well, maybe the pastor will speak up.” But no, and yet, neither did I. The man, quietly eating when all of a sudden he looked up and for a brief moment I saw His eyes and they were striking. Probably the bluest eyes I think I have ever seen set against the filthiest skin. Even my daughter, being all of three at the time, as children do, “mommy, why is that man so dirty?” “Shh,” I tried to quiet her, sitting there, waiting, for someone, anyone, at least “Merry Christmas Sir! Is there anything else we can do for you?” I will never forget this experience. The man must have been there all of 10-15 minutes, yet still, no one spoke to Him and when He had finished eating, He simply got up, and left.

I remember watching Him as He left. Up the basement steps He went and then seeing through the tiny basement windows nothing more than His filthy boots as He trudged along the sidewalk, and then? He was gone. And to this day I remember the feeling that came over me then, and it was this, “I had failed,” and I knew that I had. I had waited for “someone else” but God, was waiting for me.

To do this day, as I recall the whole experience, I think, “funny, how the dirtiest, filthiest man I think I have ever seen in all my life, literally sitting but just a few feet away from me, did not even smell.” Yes, for some have entertained angels unaware.

This Holiday Season, may we all take full opportunity to not only be “Merry Christmas Wishers,” but also to be ,”Merry Christmas Do-gooders!” in reaching out to those less fortunate then ourselves.

Happy Holidays and God’s best!

A Bookstore, a Book, and Silver Crosses

So last week I went and stopped by our local Christian bookstore, not because I myself was necessarily looking for anything but mostly because, for the past month, my daughter has been wanting to find a cross necklace; “silver, not too big, and must be plain.” Obviously her tastes and mine are nothing alike because I’ve seen lots of cute silver cross necklaces that I would have been more than happy to hang around my neck while perusing through department stores. Personally I like filagree, dainty, and must be pretty. Ya, definitely not the same. But anyway, once again we’re on “the mission” and so “let’s look at the Christian bookstore,” she suggests. “Maybe they’ll have something.”

Sometimes when I go to the Christian bookstore I get overwhelmed. So many books, opinions, bibles, and stuff. Stuff to hang on our walls, or prop up on a nightstand, or… even hang around our necks. Sometimes it almost bothers me for some reason and I’m not really sure why. Maybe it reminds me too much of the world’s materialism. Like I said, I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I get when I enter through those pearly gates, oops, I mean pearly doors, and then aimlessly start to wander around. Maybe it’s a feeling like, “does anyone really need all this stuff?” And then I have to remind myself, “yes, there are times in all our lives that yes, we do.” We need the book that points us to God, or a message on a plaque to hang by our front door, or a cd and a song to remind us of… “remind us of what?” Of God, because the flesh all too easily can and will forget Him. Just read the story of Exodus and you’ll see what I mean.

But anyway, I quickly pass by the crosses, nothing that catches my eye or (trying to think like my daughter now) nothing that I think would appeal to her either. She’s then there by my side and points to one that’s silver, not too big, and yes, very very plain, “what about that one?” she says. I feign half enthusiastically, “it’s alright,” I shrug. Boy, that was a big mistake and I quickly try to patch it up with “I’m sorry. It’s just… not my style. But… it would look great on you.” Cheezy smile. Oh well. She’s moves on to look at other things and again I notice the plethora (isn’t that a cool word?) of stuff stuffed into this what seems, too tiny of a space.

I look around and I don’t even now where to begin, quickly reminding myself the whole reason for the visit was to find a cross for my daughter so, I don’t really need anything anyway. That is until a book down on a lower shelf for some reason grabs my attention. I pick it up, examining the cover and then it dawns on me, “OMG, I remember Michael English! I used to have his cd back in 19….” Well, never mind the year and for those of you who may not remember Michael English he was and still is a Christian Music Artist and apparently now too an author; the title of his book, “The Prodigal Comes Home.” I turn the book over, scanning the back cover and then for some reason, “I need to read this,” I tell myself and I pay the cashier.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love stories with happy endings? I do. I love stories about redemption and stories about how frogs turn into princes and about how the boy gets the girl, well, you get my drift, and I especially love stories about how God never gives up on us, no matter how far we may stray. If you like stories likes these too then Michael’s new book, “The Prodigal Comes Home” is the book for you because literally, his story has every element in it that I just listed above. His book made me cry and at the same realize how frail we are as human beings. How easy, even when someone appears to be at the top of their game it is to fall and how far a fall it is.

Anyway, all I can say is how glad I am that God brought this man through all that He did. Not only because his story had a happy ending but mostly because of how God is now using his story to point to Him. Michael English… God bless you!

Still looking for silver crosses even though I’ve already found the silver lining in every cloud.

It’s Been Awhile

And I’ve missed you. Coming back to blogging after an almost 2 month hiatus feels like coming back to home. But seriously though, it is time to put the ol’ fingertips back use and just the sound of my computer keys compressing is like music to my ears (sorry, I’m a writer so I can’t’ help myself). But anyway, I’ve missed writing and blogging. I think mostly too I’ve missed God. I’ve missed my times with Him. Listening for Him in the little things and then just getting to share that, write about it.

If there’s been anything God has shown me over these last few weeks then I think it would be this; that the talents He gives us are yes, to be used for His glory but not only that but I think too they are the very thing that God uses to draw us into a closer relationship with Himself. When we don’t use them then perhaps it is then we do start to lose sight of Him.

What I discovered over the last few weeks is how easy it is for me to drift away from Him when I am not actively using what He has given me to point to Him. Even if no one else is listening, I am, and God knows that the gifts He has given me are even for my own benefit. They keep me close to Him. When we use our talents for Him then perhaps the clearer and clearer we shall see Him.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24).

Glad to be back to writing!

Purpose

Over these last few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about purpose and pupose is a hot topic, obvious by Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life”. People want to know, “what’s my purpose in life?” and, “why was I created and what was I created to do?” Heck, even I want the answer to these questions and have often found myself asking them of God, “God, what am I supposed to be doing?” Yes, doing. And lately I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and every time I find myself in an internal dialogue with God about it, every time it seems I hear Him in my spirit simply say, “glorify Me.” And that’s it, “glorify Me.” And that’s it? The answer to all of life’s questions and perhaps even the answer to living? in everything, glorify Him? “Yes, in everything, glorify Me.”

Imagine, the newest, hottest book on the Christian bookshelf that’s going to give you all the answers, that’s going to tell you what your purpose is, the meaning to life, your reason for living. You buy it, can hardly wait to dig in to it’s pages, and when you get home and open it up, two words, “glorify Me.” And I can’t help but wonder if and when we hear those two words, do we find them… disappointing?

So simple, but so easy? Nothing is ever that easy. “Glorify Me.” Just two words, and when I really think about what God is saying here, what I really believe He means is “in everything.” Not just part of my life, “oh, here I’ll praise you, Lord, or this area of my life I’ll point to You, or this day I’ll set aside to worship you, God,” but literally, in everything. God never said, “give me part of your life.” But He required that we give Him our all, our everything, even as He gave His all and everything for us.

“Glorify Me.” And what’s that mean to me? It means that my purpose in life, in everything I do, is to be used for His glory. In every situation I find myself. Whether at work, church, or waiting in line at the post office. Every encounter I have with another, everything I set my hand to, everything. In everything I do I have to ask it of God, “God, will this glorify You?” And if not, “how will others ever see Jesus in any of us unless this is our purpose; to glorify You?”

“Yes, glorify Me.”

“Playing House”

There are rare moments in life when perhaps we get to catch a glimpse of something special, something we may not always get to see, and when it happens it is, for lack of a better word, astounding.

And this is what happened to me today while sitting at the entrance to the ladies fitting room of an upscale department store. My daughter trying on dresses, and as I sat there wondering why the old brown leather couch I sat upon was even there in the first place (as if I had just entered “The Matrix”), I couldn’t help but overhear, notice, and perhaps even appreciate the cutest couple I think I have ever seen.

She was looking for something new to wear, and he? he was helping her. Yes, believe it or not; helping her. Giving his opinion, fetching her a different color, size, or even something that might make her “look younger” as I did over hear him say concerning one of the outfits she had picked out (as they were both in the dressing room together) that, “that one just looks too old lady like.” In which I couldn’t help but chuckle.

You see, nevermind that she and he must have at least been nearly 80, yes 80! And yet, still both of them talking to one another so politely, so sweetly, that I don’t think in all my life have I ever heard anything so endearing (except maybe in sappy love stories).

He exits her dressing room, I smile. He goes to fetch her another dress and when he returns he stops, “You know, we’ve been married for 49 years,” he says, “and we’ve been doing this ever since; we always go shopping together.” And I smile back because obviously this couple has something that most people never have. “Oh, that’s great,” I say and then I blurt out, “I’ve actually just been sitting here enjoying listening to your conversation. It’s so sweet the way you talk to one another.” And then he says, “well, it’s always been like that. It’s always felt like we’ve just been “playing house” and I love it!” and it’s obvious he’s happy and he means it. “I really do; I love to go shopping with her and help her pick things out.” And at this… I think I’m speechless. Have I or have I not just encountered every woman’s idea of the perfect helpmate? “Playing house.” Ya, Nicholas Sparks, eat your heart out!

Anyway, moral of the story; when entering “The Matrix” you can learn a lot about a person’s personality just by the way they still treat their spouse… even at the age of 80. Amazing!

P.S. My daughter and I think they used to be Missionaries. Hmmmm.