Keeping the Sabbath Holy

 With the falling leaves comes the season of busyness.  School is well underway, sports banquets are planned, festivals and craft shows crowd the weekends and endless errands usher in the holidays.  Believe it or not, the end of the year is near and before we wrap our heads around the fact that 2023 will be history soon, 2024 will be here.  As I'm thinking of all this, I decided to re-read chapter 7 of the book Holy Hygge. Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow, by Jamie Erickson...the chapter on rest.

Who has time to rest when Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away?

Well...according to Our Maker...we better carve out time to rest, because it is not a suggestion.  It's a command!  A command that He modeled, Himself when He finished creating.  Like author Jamie Erickson reminds us, "for six whole days, God masterfully crafted a sanctuary that would reveal His glory.  For six whole days, he worked.  But by the seventh day, His work was finished.  It wasn't just done.  It was complete, lacking nothing.  In response, He rested.  With purpose, God set aside His work, and in turn, set apart the day.  The seventh was unlike the previous six; it was holy.  In the same way He had blessed the animals and humans, God blessed the day of rest." (p. 169)

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2: 2-3

The seventh day was, indeed, like no other during the creation process.  It was a blessed day...a holy day...the first holiday ever! The only day we can be certain that God actually rested. He is the God of order.  Everything He does is purposely done.  Nothing is random in the Hands of God.  He rested, perhaps not so much because He was tired, but because He wanted to show us what a balanced life looks like: working diligently and methodically for 6 days and setting aside a day to be restored in mind, spirit and body.  

How hard is it to achieve this balance?  VERY! Just ask a working outside-the-home Mom of young children...

But...how necessary is it?  VERY!  Just ask a working outside-the-home Mom of young children...or...anyone?

Like the author of Holy Hygge suggests, we live in a hurry-up/rush, rush society.  You drag your feet, you get replaced.  You don't hustle, you stay on the bench.  You don't get busy, you don't get promoted.  You don't move, you don't get noticed.  But there is an antidote to the madness: being intentional about setting aside a day to say no.  

Some of us cannot keep Sunday as our day of rest for different reasons.  However, we need to take a good, intentional look at our calendar and see which day would be our sabbath.  Then, work in creating a routine that allows us to accomplish the critical things that need to be done around that day we set apart, so when questions about commitments come up, we can say, "not on my sabbath." Easier said than done, I know.  But not impossible.  And we probably won't get it perfectly taken care of right away either.  But we need to strive for it.  It's God's commandment...and the reason this, seemingly curious idea made it to the law was because God knows us, He knows our limitations and He knows we need it in order to function properly.  Let's not forget about it.  Let's not skip it.

As we rake the last autumn leaves on our yard, and get ready to jump into the holidays, let's remember to keep the holy day, holy...even if the best we can do to start is to set aside part of it, until we figure out our routine, always under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, cooperating with Him, as He shows us the way.  

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I know I can't do this alone.  I need Your strength to help me figure out how to keep the Sabbath Holy.  I am often overwhelmed by all the responsibilities that seem to fall on my shoulders.  Help me open my eyes to realize the truth of what I really need to do and to discern what you have placed on my to-do list.  May my work be done unto You, Lord...not unto me.  Give me the understanding to know what You have designed for me to do as supposed to what my pride decided it was my lot.  Show me what I need to release, and what I need to receive in Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, so my life can reveal a glimpse of Your eternal desire to restore us.  Amen!

(prayer inspired by the prayer found on page 191 of the book Holy Hygge) 

The Right Clothes to Wear

 I've been thinking about clothing a lot, lately.  Perhaps it is because I've gained so much weight during the summer that nothing fits...maybe it is because I've been watching reels on social media about the latest fall styles, what's in and what's out for women over 50...or it might even be because I'm using retail-therapy to treat my discontent...

Between you and me, I think it is all of the above.

The thing is, I've been spending way too much time and money trying to figure out the right clothes to wear so I'd feel comfortable with myself and with who I am at this point in my life.  And I'm beginning to see that I might be on the wrong track.  

Recently, I read a devotional that spoke to me on this junction.  It talked about a concept called "slow fashion."  It explained how this "slow fashion" movement encourages people to slow down and take a different approach to the dictates of the fashion industry.  Instead of letting oneself be driven by the need to always have the latest look, slow fashion encourages us to select fewer, well-made and ethically sourced items that will last.  The writer of the devotional linked this idea to the truth presented in Colossians 3: 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  In other words, put on Christ!  Forget about the latest trends, and join the slow journey of sanctification that leads to a peace without understanding, knowing who we are and feeling confident and secured in our identity as children of the Most High.  

All of these ideas reminded me also about our beloved book, Holy Hygge. Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson, more specifically, about the chapter on contentment.  The author says that our lack of contentment usually comes from the enemy's attempt at distorting our perspective. (p. 155)  We fall for the devil's tricks and start believing that if I could only change my circumstances: get a better job, a nicer house, well-behaved kids, a good husband, friends, boss, body, clothes, health (etc.) life would be bearable.  The truth is, however, the proverbial grass will "never feel green enough or warm enough or fill-in-the-blank enough this side of the second Garden of Eden." (p. 155)  We are not in Heaven.  Life is not supposed to be perfect here on this earth.  But, it is supposed to be abundant!

Jesus holds our hearts, and our souls, and our bodies and who we are in His Hands.  Our identities are safely guarded in Him, and even though the enemy wants to steal our sense of security, and threaten our contentment, we need to remember what Jesus promised in John 10: 10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The thing is, the real definition of an abundant/full life is not what the world thinks it is.  We find out what it means as we walk with Jesus every day, on the path that God has laid out for each one of us.  As we walk on it, instead of allowing discontentment to bring us down, we need to remember what author Jamie Erickson says:  "find ways to be grateful for what IS instead of always looking ahead to WHAT IF...[and] let us change perspective.  Let's walk in truth, serve others, and live with gratitude.  Let's not waste another minute complaining about the weather [our health, our bodies, our clothes, our house, our jobs, our kids, our husbands or lack of thereof].  Let's just learn to put on better clothes." (p. 165)

I don't think I'm going to find the right clothes to wear by watching reels on Instagram, or by shopping on Amazon until I'm broke...slow or fast fashion aside, I pray the Lord awakens in me the desire to become who He has designed me to be, as I choose clothes from the wardrobe He has already so graciously given to us: His Word.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, the One Who Clothes us with His Righteousness and Love for His Honor and Glory.  Amen!

Refresh Others and You'll Be Refreshed, It's a Promise!

 Is it possible to say no to stress, and just live a relaxed life? A life without rush...without worry?

I have been exploring this question for a while now.  In my pursuit to freeing myself from stress, I've been contemplating the possibility of enacting in my life the idea that: "you can't always change your circumstances; but you can change your perspective."  But I have to admit, I'm still struggling to accomplish it fully.  Perhaps it is because my personality doesn't lend itself for a "just chill" attitude.  I'm a natural born overreactor, and my default is to panic.  The summer book chat, where we read Holy Hygge. Creating a place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson, allowed me to take a few small steps forward in the direction of changing the perspective from which I see things...and for that I am very grateful.

The book does not contain a magic formula, a secret recipe, a 5-easy-steps to a stress-free life or anything like that, but it helped me understand that maybe, a way to break the chain of worry and stress is by focusing on Jesus and on His people, rather than on myself.

The author points out how the concept of holy hygge derives from a desire to create community, invite closeness, build well-being, and celebrate the everyday (p. 15) as we open ourselves to the body of Christ so we can share our burdens, and encourage one another.  After all, Scripture commands us to do just that:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Philippians 2:3-4 — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Proverbs 27:17 - “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.

Proverbs 11: 25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Look at the last verse again, Proverbs 11: 25b...whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  That is a promise, my dear! That refreshing we are so desperately seeking, is contained in the act of refreshing others along the way.  By giving of ourselves we find the abundant life, just as Jesus gave it all, to pay it all.

Like the author says, practicing hygge from a Christian perspective may help us set our gaze in the right direction, and offer practical application to what we learn in Scripture...a kind of companion for making a home where people can feel their way toward God and find Him...a physical tool that reflects our spiritual life and invites others into a relationship with Christ. (p. 18)

The concepts in the book Holy Hygge will not magically allow me to free myself from stress so I can live a chilled life.  But I'm sure that by helping me forget about me, and setting my gaze on others as I grow closer to Jesus, will, definitely allow me that change of perspective that I've been looking for all my life.

What practical changes and real steps might you make/take in your life to help you become an encourager who refreshes others?

Comforting the Hurting Part II

I open my eyes and it's pitch black. How is that possible? It's 6:00 a.m. Just a few days ago, 6:00 a.m. was still brightly shining with the morning sun in all its glory! What happened?

sigh...

Darkness always catches me by surprise this time of the year. I get so used to summer with its early mornings and long evenings...that when fall starts creeping in...I'm never prepared.

"Once, upon the last day of a golden summer..." there was a middle-aged woman and her melancholic view of the arrival of autumn...anyway...

As my process of saying goodbye to summer is underway, I'm back on chapter 5 in the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson. This chapter has several thought-provoking insights on the topic of suffering and comforting those who are going through the valleys of the shadows. The author relates going through hard times to experiencing winter in her place of residence.  She explains how winter in Minnesota is not her favorite season, especially being a transplant from the valley of the sun in Phoenix, Arizona. She went from a place that gets 200+ days of sunshine to an area that doesn't even get 100.  Winters are, therefore, her wilderness...her valley of hurt...the metaphor that she uses for times of struggle and difficulty.  And I can totally relate!

One of my favorite quotes says:

"Sometimes in God's love for us, He walks us through the bleakness of winters, not around it.  He knows that in our emotional poverty, we will lean harder, cling tighter, trust longer while sitting in pain than in pleasure.  our winters will make us desperate for Him and the comfort only He can provide." (p. 134)

WOW!

It is winter, not summer, that will create the best conditions for me to grow closer to Christ. It is in our winters when we truly appreciate how He wraps us in the comfy blanket of His presence. It is in our winters when we truly experience the deep gratitude for how He provides the sustenance that we are unable to get for ourselves.  It is in our winters when we truly have the deep awareness of how He walks with us, and often carries us in the warmth of His arms. It is in our winters when we realize our profound need for His angels, the people He has placed around us, to be by our side.

The second question in our little survey during our summer book chat asked:

When I was in need of comfort, I wish someone had______________  

So often, we just don't know what to do or say to offer a bit of comfort to those going through their own winters.  So often, when we ourselves are the ones in the middle of our winters, we don't even know what we need from those willing to help us out.  That's why we thought it would be a good idea to compile a list to keep handy for when we should communicate our own needs for comfort as well as for when we need to extend actions of comfort to those in their seasons of hurting. So, here's a brief summary of some specific actions of comfort that might get overlooked in the midst of the struggle:

First of all, it is important to mention that the majority of the respondents had nothing to add to this list of "I wish someone had..." mostly because "We have a loving church," as it was noted.  Personally, I have to absolutely agree with that statement.  In my own spiritual winters, the church has been present and active to provide for my well-being.  It is a magnificent blessing to be a part of such a loving and caring church family, so Amen to that!  However, we did get some very valuable insights that I believe will help the body of Christ represented in our beloved New Bedford Church, be the arms, hands, feet and heart of Christ in an even deeper way.

The comments we received all revolve around one word:  Remember.

Remember my beloved who is gone...allow me to remember them, and...remember me.

In our desire to help those hurting, sometimes we might try to have a posture of: "life goes on" or "it's time to move on," when we are in the presence of the one suffering the loss. However, as we experience loss, life does go on...but never in the same way.  Life is forever altered, and "moving on" will never mean, going back to the way things used to be.  That will never be the case.  Maybe superficially, but we will always walk with holes in our hearts that will only be filled when we are reunited with our beloved departed once again in a heavenly reunion. In the meantime, it is important to remember the person that is no longer with us.  Those needing comfort due to loss of a loved one want to keep them alive, if not physically, at least in our memories.  There isn't anything quite more comforting than to hear stories about those who have gone before us, who we loved so dearly, out of the mouths of those around us. Those stories are like looking at photographs or watching a home video where we "see" them again...and that feels just like a comfy blanket in the middle of a harsh winter.

As part of remembering those left behind after a loss, some of the suggestions were very practical.  For some, help with taking care of the daily chores could be an excellent way to offer comfort.  Helping with the laundry and the cleaning are small things we can do to help in the process of healing.  Bringing meals several weeks after the loss has occurred is a great idea too.  "In death sometimes so much arrives in the beginning." [But] "it is nice 6-8 weeks down the road when someone still 'remembers' and the dinner is so very appreciated."  

Another practical thing we can do is to invite the one in need of comfort to go out to have lunch or to do some kind of activity, even if just a walk at a nearby park.  The ability to get out of the house and be among others, sharing a meal, breathing fresh air, listening to the hustle and bustle of life could be very comforting when the time is right for it.  And it constitutes another way to create opportunities to remember.  And of course, pray.  Prayer is one of the most effective ways to extend comfort to others as we connect with the source of all comfort: 

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18: 20

I open the blinds and smile! 

There are blue skies and sunshine outside.  It's a bit chilly still, but I can predict the sun will warm up my skin if I step outdoors.  I know winter will come eventually, but I'm hanging on to summer for as long as I can.  I'll get my flip flops and go for a walk, confident in the fact that the Lord will hold me closer when there's nothing but snow and gray skies out my window...and so will my church family, as we walk through our seasons together.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Comforting The Hurting

 Someone you know faces a tragedy, a life-altering event, a profound loss, a catastrophic circumstance that to them feels as if the floor had been removed from under their feet, leaving them endlessly falling into a bottomless abyss...what do you do?  What do you say?

Regardless of how close the person going through the difficult situation is to you...regardless of the depth of the pain experienced...knowing exactly what to do or what to say is not easy.  BUT it is crucial.  It is crucial that we react with our utmost compassion and overflowing love, because the person going through the incident has a very specific set of needs, that if not met, they can cause lasting hurt that is not easily mended.  

I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a bereavement expert or anything close to an authority on matters of loss and grief.  But, one doesn't have to be to know that how we respond to those who are hurting is extremely important to help them along the process of grieving so they can finally begin to heal.  Again, I'm far from a specialist, and all I can do is speak from my own experiences with grief, but there is comfort in knowing that we do not walk alone.  Therefore, I believe sharing our experiences can be beneficial to all involved.  This is why, when we read chapter 5 in the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson, the facilitators thought it would be important to have a way of communicating our thoughts.  Chapter 5 is the chapter dedicated to comfort.  And if you are anything like me, that is probably one of your most heavily highlighted chapters, right?

As part of our group reflections on this very special chapter, the facilitators asked participants to answer 2 questions:

1. When I was in need of comfort, I really appreciated it when someone __________________

2. When I was in need of comfort, I wish someone had _______________________________

The questions yielded valuable insight that we would like to lay out here for all to gain more understanding and practical ideas that could help us have some guidance as to what to do or say when confronted with the reality of hurt whether in ourselves or among those around us, and have a clue of how to comfort them.  

Among the things that were appreciated we found that receiving cards and frequent notes of encouragement and prayers were common among those who answered the questions.  The action of reaching out is the key here.  Reaching out to the hurting.  The message is: do not let them hurt alone.  Prayers are always the most effective responses when in need of comfort.  But, perhaps the action of prayer should be accompanied by the action of reaching out and praying with the person. Calling and texting and praying alongside with the one who is going through the difficult situation seemed to be critical responses that were much appreciated.  

On this same topic of reaching out, those who shared their answers with us communicated their deep appreciation for hugs.  Embracing someone who needs comfort is an act of solidarity that expresses our willingness to be vulnerable right by their side, and maybe a bit further...as we hold each other closely, we communicate our willingness to help carry the hurt.  So let's never underestimate the power of a hug.  

Listening was another important, highly appreciated element. Sometimes, when we are hurting, some of us prefer to keep it all inside.  Talking about our pain with others, however, is crucial to the healing process.  It is the escape valve that allows the toxicity of our hurt to exit our soul and our heart and our minds.  Therefore, finding that one person we can talk to is key...and if we are that person...knowing how to just be quiet and listen may represent the first step in helping the hurting to begin to heal.

Of course there is a time for everything under the sun, so there is a time to be quiet and listen as well as there is a time to speak.  And, among the responses that people appreciated we found that when the hurt involves losing a loved one, they love to hear others talk about their memories of that person with them.  From my own experiences with loss, when I hear others talk about my loved ones is like lighting a candle that allows me to see and remember that they were, indeed, real.  That it wasn't a dream.  My beloved departed really existed and was loved by others beside me.  That brings a touch of joy in the midst of my pain.

Visits and meals are high ranking among the responses too.  Again, I believe all these practical actions lead to the need to feel connected when we are going through something painful.  And for those of us who tend to withdraw...it becomes super valuable and urgent for those around us to reach out and show that they are there...ready to catch us, as the arms and legs of Jesus, Himself...angels among us, bringing us back to the land of the living.  And what best to show we are there than to visit and bring some comforting food?

This is a brief summary of the answers to the first question.  Let's leave it here today so we can meditate on the ideas that were so candidly shared.  In the next message, I will summarize the answers to the second question, to help us be prepared for when we need to be moved to action.

In the meantime, may we remember that our Divine Comforter makes all things new, even in the middle of our bitter seasons of life.  May we always remember we do not walk alone.  The sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit goes with us as well as those He has placed around us.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Rest = Release, Readjust and Receive

 The school year is about to start and with it, millions of teachers all around the United States are letting out a groan. We look back at the fleeting memories of our summer break and we wonder, where did the time go?  I love being in the classroom...but it is exhausting.  Regardless of what some may say, teachers DO need the break.  Otherwise, retirement age for educators would be 35 years old.  I know I would never make it to 60+ if I didn't have my summer break.  

The thing is that work never ends when school is in session.  It follows us wherever we go, 24/7.  Anyway, sorry for the whine...maybe I should just have some cheese and crackers too. 

At any rate, all this whimpering about the end of summer break and the beginning of the school year (boo hoo) brought me back to the second to last chapter in Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge.  This chapter is on the topic of rest.  And I love it!

I've always felt guilty whenever I rest.  There is so much to do...how can I pause and rest? (including during summer break). I agree with the author when she writes:  "as women, we live hurried lives.  Our days are long, and our to-do lists are even longer.  We often feel tossed into the deep end, and we never seem to have enough time or energy to come up for air.  Our physical and mental busyness has spiritual repercussions.  We're asphyxiating our souls." (p. 175)  WOW! Regardless of our occupations, teachers, business people, healthcare personnel, homemakers, entrepreneurs, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, single, married, divorced, in-between, women in general, all women I believe suffer from permanent exhaustion.  And I believe most of it is caused by us thinking we just can't rest.

There's a 2011 movie called I Don't Know How She Does It, with Sarah Jessica Parker which touches on this subject.  One of my favorite scenes is when she is lying in bed awake thinking about a study that found out that 60 some percent of women with young children don't sleep through the night, and that they are puzzled about what causes it.  She says something like, "well they could've asked me...it's the list."  Then she goes onto the endless litany of things that are in her list.  I don't think it is only women with young children who can't sleep through the night.  I think most women are plagued by this ailment.  

It is not only the to-do list.  In my case it is the combination of the "to-do" and the "to-worry-about" lists which keep me awake at night.  And...the thing is, my biggest source of fatigue and over-weariness is my lack of faith.  I discovered this truth when I read Erickson's words on pages 177-178, "just as the wandering Israelites had to trust God to keep the double portion of manna fresh on the Sabbath, you must have faith in God's ability to sustain you by obediently forfeiting your labor for a time.  When you intentionally set aside a portion of your week to ignore the urgent emails, let the dishes pile up in the sink, and disregard that time-consuming errand, you're not being lazy.  You're confidently placing the tasks of tomorrow into God's hands and confessing that His grace is sufficient for today...Sabbath rest is a tithe of time allowing you to release the burden of a completed to-do list to God and receive the gift of His favor for your obedience."

To rest doesn't mean we don't care.  We still care for our loved ones who need us, but with a trusting attitude, "releasing our congested schedule to Him." The act of faith involves "releasing and receiving." And I would add also, readjusting.  We release our calendars/agendas/lists/fears/worries and receive His peace as we readjust the way we live the other six days of the week...the way we say yes and no to new commitments...the way we carve out time for praise and worship every day...the way we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit...the way we trust that He is with us, and that we are not alone.

I could just keep quoting things from this chapter on rest.  It's all so good and so relevant, but that's not my intention here.  My goal is to actually remind myself that I need to keep the commandment and have a holy rest.  The enemy is the one making me think I cannot do it.  My lack of faith is causing me to believe his lies.  Pausing is not a sin.  It is part of the promise of an abundant life.  It is part of the promise of freedom.

The school year will begin, and the work will pile up, but I will keep this chapter handy whenever I feel myself being crushed under the stress of an all-consuming work, praying my faith will increase and I can release, readjust and receive for a more balanced state of mind...and less groaning and whining from my end. 

May the Holy Spirit help us to keep the Sabbath Holy with the realization that it is for freedom that Christ has made us free.  Amen.

Let Us Light Our World Together

Go Light Your World

Lyrics by Christopher M. Rice

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

This was the song we used to wrap up this summer's book chat on Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge. We gathered around a "fake" firepit, held candles and listened/sang this poignant song.  The words floated around our church's fellowship hall, resonating in our minds as a call to action...a much needed call to action.  Our world needs our light...the Light...and if we don't carry it into the darkness...who will?

The song starts by reminding us that there is a candle in every soul.  And indeed, there is.  Jesus Himself talks to us about it.  He is the Light of the World (John 8:12) and since He is in us, we have His Light too, and we are supposed to let it shine!  He told us so in His Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

However, the question is: what's the state of our candle? Is it brightly burning? Is it dark and cold? Is it somewhere in the middle? Is it high upon a stand? Or is it hidden under a bowl?  Honestly, at this time, I don't know what the state of my candle is...

I know darkness has not and will never overcome Light (John 1: 5) No matter how much the world rejects the Light because they love darkness, Light wins!  But in the meantime...what am I doing with my Light? I worry it might be too dim or too hidden.  I worry it is not powerful or even visible enough for others to see it.  I think of my surroundings at work, for example and I think, what can my little light do here, all alone? And I get even more discouraged. I feel so helpless.

The other day, however, I read a brief devotional in Our Daily Bread that addressed this in a very encouraging way.  It reminded the readers that being "the light of the world" is not a solo act.  And it pointed to Ephesians 5:8 where Paul calls believers "children of light" and how we should live as such.  Then it went on to explain that, "being light in the world is a collective effort, the work of the body of Christ, the work of the church." And that when we get discouraged, "thinking our life testimony is just one little dot in a midnight culture of pitch black, we might take assurance from the Bible that we are not alone.  Together, as God guides us, we make a difference and glow a brilliant light." Like Paul continues to say, we must take advantage of every opportunity and "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Together as one church, one body.

Today, as I remember our big circle of about 30+ women gathered together around the glowing, fake firepit, each one carrying a candle and singing "songs from the Spirit" I see this coming to life.  I see the power of our individual lights when they are not one single dot in the dark, but many dots coming together to form something bright and beautiful.  I see how it is impossible for darkness to overcome the Light.  

We are not one single dot on the vastness of the night sky.  We are, "an easily recognized group of stars that appears to be located close together," a constellation.  And there is a brilliance in a constellation that is impossible to deny.

If we each carry our candle, together, we can certainly light the world.

May the One Who Is The Light help us carry His candle that is in our souls alongside other believers so we can let it shine brightly in the darkness of the moment that we live in.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

Comfort in Suffering

 Once again Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge has deeply moved me.  This time it was chapter 5, dedicated to Comfort the one that touched my heart.  It is not comfort as in being physically at ease in your favorite chair or having enough money in your bank account to not have to worry about expenses.  It is comfort as in easing/soothing one's feelings of distress, pain and grief.  Needless to say, it was a profoundly challenging chapter to read and digest.

If you have never lost anyone close to you yet, please make sure you go and give all your beloved a big hug and a kiss, and tell them you love them.  At least, send them a text or give them a call...because we never know when the crushing claws of grief may grab us, threatening to rip our hearts and souls to pieces.

Topics about loss, suffering, pain and grief are way too gut-wrenching and often make us very uncomfortable given the raw vulnerability that such hurt typically leaves in our core.  Depending on our personalities and on our individualities, bringing up this topic can be just plainly difficult.  Many of us avoid it because it is too much.  Many of us don't want to expose our wounds.  We try to move on, but in reality, the wound is not healed regardless of how many years have passed.  My Dad died almost 11 years ago and I still have a hard time talking about it.  Fifty years is not long enough to soothe the heart of a mother who lost a child.  Twenty two years is but a vapor for someone who left things unsaid to her Mom before she passed.  Thirty years carrying the regret of not saying one last "I love you," to the spouse who left this world in a hurry is not sufficient to appease the mind.  It's just not an easy thing to talk about openly.  It's too heavy...

I believe, however, that healing is possible on this side of Heaven.  It might not be complete and full, but enough to allow us to live the rest of our lives with our eyes on eternity and our feet on the ground.  But, how? I think the way to healing is Hope.  Like I read in the devotional, Our Daily Bread, "Biblical hope is much more than mere optimism; it's an absolute certainty based on God's promise, which He will never break." 

We go back to Scripture and we find comfort in the confidence that Jesus' words are true!

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? John 14: 1-2

We read about His promises in Paul's words,

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14

And again, we read what Jesus says:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16

And we realize that "hope is a golden cord connecting us to heaven. This cord helps us hold our head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting us." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) We find His promises in the Bible and we cling to them with the confidence of someone who trusts that His word is true, and that His love is real.  That is Hope...that is the Hope that heals the wounds caused by loss.  We surround ourselves with the Word and with those who believe in His promises, our brothers and sisters in Christ and together, holding each other, walking shoulder to shoulder, leaning on each other, carrying each other, we discover joy again...the joy that Hope brings.  Hope helps us remember that the "road we're traveling together is ultimately the highway to heaven." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) And we don't walk that road alone.

May God's word penetrate our mind, body and soul so we can cling to the Hope that is the Person of Our Lord regardless of our circumstances, our loss, our pain, our grief or any of the bumps on the road.  Amen!

Contentment

 "An ocean-front beach condo!"  That's pretty much my standard answer every time I'm asked one of those icebreaker questions such as: name your favorite vacation spot...or...what would you buy if you'd win the Powerball...or where would you want to retire...or if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live...etc.  

Owning a beach-front condo or visiting for a long stay or a short stay or just longingly looking at one on my TV screen is one of those long-standing dreams I've had for the last 30 years. Actually, it doesn't even have to be at the ocean...it could be by a lake...not even a great lake...some nice pond would do...well...maybe not, but a nice body of water that I can just sit and stare at would be OK.  The way the prices on water-front properties are lately, though, make me think that dream will stay a dream forever.  And the thought of not being able to enjoy the breathtaking beach views brings a lot of disappointment to my heart.  Therefore, to compensate for my shattered dream of owning a beach place or living near one, I spend considerable amounts of time and money planning our next vacation by the water.  This summer, since Dan has been blessed with summers off, I really went a bit overboard.  I'm loving it, but our budget has been stretched so thin, I'm afraid rice and beans will be in our menu for the rest of the year.

The truth is, I have a restless spirit that is constantly longing for what's next...for a place to escape...for the elusive wave that will shake off my inability to just sit still and settle comfortably in one place.  After reading chapter 6 of Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge I believe my issue is that I have a sort of discontentment that is deeply rooted in my heart, and it is time I surrender it to the Cross. 

I believe I have to accept the fact that the hole in my heart will never be filled with a beach condo or a lake house or a deck overlooking an infinity pool.  That emptiness is not about disliking the place where God has placed me or thinking He made a mistake when bringing me here.  I have not been missed matched.  I'm just longing for home, and my true home is not on this side of Heaven. My longing is not of this world and its material things.  The hole in my heart is God-shaped and only He can patch it up.  

I've known this for a long time, but reading this chapter has made it so clear, I just want to cry.

Like the author of the book says:

"I could move to Timbuktu.  It wouldn't really matter.  Despite the location of the patch of grass I call my own, it will never feel green enough or warm enough or fill-in-the-blank enough this side of the second Garden of heaven.  That longing for something better or best is a remnant of Eden - a chronic case of heart-burn that's been plaguing humanity since the first forbidden bite. Because you see, the enemy knew even then that if he couldn't steal our faith, he could at least try to distort our perspective."

And, it is all a matter of perspective: how we see things. Like when we go to the eye doctor and get a new prescription for glasses, our perspective needs adjusted on a regular basis as well.  Discontentment can dig up a rut so deep that it swallows us once we fall into it, keeping us from seeing, making us believe this is it.  In reality, we can step out of that ditch and discover the blessings that have been hidden due to our distorted view of our surroundings.  Not owning the dreamed ocean front condo means I'm free!  I'm free to plan visits to a wide variety of different ocean front properties around the world! If I had my own, I would be stuck having to go to that same one every vacation I take.  My finances are free since I am not enslaved by a lender that shackles my wallet with monthly mortgage payments. My mind is free since I don't have to constantly worry about maintenance, home owners association payments, repairs, renters, and the myriad of complications that come up with homeownership.  I'm free to keep planning trips that become lifetime memories of exciting adventures otherwise not possible.  

I know this is just a silly example, but contemplating the lessons in chapter 5 of this little book has reminded me that there is always a blessing behind every unrealized dream.  We just have to wake up, open our eyes, put on our new glasses, see it and give thanks for it. 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 12-13

Mistakes

 Last Wednesday, we had another really exciting book chat meeting for Jamie Erickson's Holy Hygge book, and I have to say, I enjoyed it thoroughly!  I pray everyone in attendance was able to hear the Holy Spirit speak and received blessings from the two chapters we studied.

It's really interesting how this little book can be both light but also insightful.  

One of my favorite parts of the evening was when the question was asked about purchases that might have been mistakes.  I shared one of mine in great detail...but I have many others that popped into my mind as I was thinking about this topic.  What can I say, I like to shop. And among my favorite shopping experiences are those that involve something for the house.  I get these ideas in my head about how a certain corner or wall in our house would look so much better if only I could get X thing to make it perfect.  I hardly ever have money, so often, I end up just buying a very cheap version of what I had in mind, just so my vision would come into reality.  And many times, I end up regretting the purchase and having to either return it or donate it.  

I could share many examples.  This practice frustrates my dear husband very much...especially, because, usually, I buy the items without telling him.  He is too nice to fight me on them.  But, recently, he did tell me that he is tired of me buying things that later end up in the Goodwill box.  He said I have to learn the art of waiting:  waiting until we save up the money to buy a quality item (or until I forget my idea and desist...which I know would be his prefered option).  

Sometimes, the purchase is too big, and I have to live with the mistake for a long time... Sometimes, it's worse: others have to live with it for a long time.  The particular example I'm thinking about was Dylan's bed.  It was shortly after we moved to Slippery Rock.  He was going to get his own room, and I wanted to make it special by getting him a new bed.  My vision involved one of those beds that were kind of like a loft, sitting up high so we could put a desk underneath or a reading nook or something really cool.  I've seen an IKEA room decorated just the way I wanted it, and if I could just have bought that showroom right the way it was, I ... I mean...Dylan would have been the happiest kid alive!

Of course, we didn't have money for buying a full IKEA bedroom set, completed with cool storage and wall art.  So, I went to the Walmart website instead.  In there, I found what looked like a good compromise.  It wasn't a loft bed, though.  It was more like a bunk bed.  The top was a twin size and the bottom was a full size bed that turned into a couch.  How cool is that! right? Well, the nightmare began when the box arrived.  It weighted a TON.  Poor Dan.  He wanted to put it together right away so Dylan could have a bed.  When we finally got the extremely heavy boxes upstairs, Dan opened them only to realize that there were about 10,000 pieces.  OK, I am exaggerating.  It was more like 2,000.  I couldn't believe it!  Then, of course, it took several nights of Dan working on the stupid bed after work, and several mistakes, before the bed was ready to be used.  By then, Dylan had been sleeping on the floor in Grant's room for maybe 2 weeks.  

Finally, there it was, the bed was up, the kids tried it, and were excited for about a minute.  It was so uncomfortable...it was like sleeping on a bed of nails.  I tried adding more padding to the mattress, and fluffy pillows and comforters...but nothing worked.  The good thing is that Dylan was still young...but the bad thing was that Dylan was still young.  There was NO WAY on this side of Heaven that Dan would even let me talk about getting rid of the bed.  That bed was in that room to stay.  Dylan actually slept in the guest room for a couple of years, until he decided to brave his bed again.  

9 years later, Dylan figured enough time had passed, so he ask for a new bed for Christmas, and this past year Dan said yes.  But then, the terrible realization of having to put the monster apart came over him...but...the good news was, we listed it for sale on the Facebook Marketplace and the stupid bed sold in a couple of hours!  That was enough motivation for Dan to get his screwdriver and disassemble the 2,000 parts.  He was nice enough to take pictures and organize all the parts very neatly so the new owners would be able to put it back together again without much trouble. 

Dylan got his IKEA bed (not a loft, but a cool one, nonetheless) and I began to learn my lesson: stop being restless and wait in the Lord.

It's funny how today at church, Pastor Dan gave an amazing sermon that touched on certain aspects that apply to this situation.  He was preaching on Psalm 84 and on how we have a home like no other.  I can stop striving for something better.  There is no need.  I already have my perfect home in Him.  Creating an atmosphere of peace where there is enough space for Jesus and where there is room for the gospel to be shared is what I need.  Other than that, it becomes superfluous and actually dangerous.  I don't need to keep up with the latest trends on HGTV.  All I need is to remember that,

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84: 10a

May He who has given a home to the sparrow, show us that He has made a home for us as well.

Seasons

 I love to read, but I don't really have much time for it during the semester.  I bundle all my reading for the summer.  This is another reason why I look forward to summer SO MUCH! It is my absolute, most favorite season.  Listing the reasons that I love summer with such intensity would take volumes...so I won't...I'll just say one: summer reminds me of home.  On the other hand, winter...I couldn't even begin to mention the reasons I dislike winter...just the thought of it makes me want to vomit (I hope I haven't offended my winter-fan-friends).  Fall makes me way too melancholic and spring is riddled with allergens that make my life miserable.  So summer is not only my favorite season, but the only one I truly like.

The reason I'm thinking about this is because, as I was reading chapter 3 of the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson, which is on the subject of well-being, I read something that really spoke to me.  As the author discusses the importance of self-care, and how it is not selfish to carve out time to "plan for you," in order to be able to care well for others, she talked about how her Mother in Law told her to reserve a hobby that she enjoys, for the winter months in order to help her cope better with the awful Minnesota cold season.

The author relates what her Mother in Law told her in this quote:  "A hyggelig hobby, she said, would not only help me survive the winter, but it would also help reshape my feelings about the season even before it arrives.  I'd be able to look forward to that time instead of confronting it with a sense of dread." (p. 94) 

Wouldn't that be nice?  To anticipate the arrival of winter (or fill-in-the-blank-season) without dread...sigh...maybe, I should take her advice and save some of my reading for the cold months?  That could be a step in the right direction, I think.

Seasons, however, are not just limited to the spinning of the Earth around the sun.  Nature often works as the perfect analogy for what we go through in life.  As we all have experienced, our lives go through different seasons too.  Some are cheerful and bright.  Some are not.  What a blessing it would be to look forward to all of our seasons regardless of how awful they may seem, wouldn't it? As with the idea of reserving an enjoyable hobby for the season of the year that we already know we don't like/appreciate/love/look forward to in order for us to actually stop dreading it, how marvelous it would be to discover a way to survive the difficult seasons in our lives without fear/disappointment/hurt/heartache...sigh...

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3: 1

I believe the point of this most beloved passage of Scripture is to demonstrate that there is purpose in everything we experience.  Nothing is wasted in God's economy.  He designs every single part and detail of His plans for each of His children and for the whole universe for a reason and with a point.  Nothing is left to chance or caprice, including the seasons in which our heart is pierced with pain. 

Like the author says about the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3: 1, "it indicates an ordained purpose; something, or more specifically Someone, outside of yourself who determines the time and eternal reason of this moment.  You and I can keep wasting time watching the clock, hoping a particular season will pass quickly, or we can embrace every moment, knowing God has an eternal purpose for them all." (p. 95)

I know I cannot anticipate all the rough seasons I will experience in my life, so it is not easy to prepare for them.  But one thing I can do is to stay close to the One Who Knows and Determines every spin of my world.  Therefore, something that can help us keep our eyes upon Jesus is to stay in the Word and in fellowship with His body.  Together we can survive our less-than-ideal seasons as we remind each other that God has a purpose for everything.- praying boldly and without ceasing, holding each other's hands and seeking His face -.  

May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and allow us to see the point of what we are going through...the lessons...the grounds...the reasons, as much as we are supposed to figure them out.  May He give us awareness that we are not alone as we walk through the fires and high waters, for He is right there with us, leading us and showing us the way. 

Question: What's your least favorite season? What hobby or activity can you reserve for that season to help you enjoy it more? What additional ideas could help us cope when we go through difficult "seasons" in our lives?

Love it or List it

 I enjoy watching home improvement shows...I know...what can I say.  One that I used to watch a lot was called Love it or List it.  That show frustrated me, though, because in most of the episodes I watched, the owners ended up "loving" the house...ugh...that drove me crazy.  Even the spouse who wanted to move initially, would end up "loving" the remodeling so much that they would also be convinced to stay.

I couldn't stand it! so I had to stop watching it.

Strange, right? I know.  I just get anxious when it comes to the thought of getting too attached to a house.  If you ask Dan, he'll tell you that the phrase:  "let's sell the house," comes out of my mouth at least once a day...every single day. I have issues...I know...

Anyway...as I read chapter 4 in the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson, I started to think about this thing...and something in the book made me pause and consider my particularity when it comes to my aversion to the thought of getting attached to a house.  The author says:

"We've forgotten what it feels like to be at home in our homes." (p. 113)

Is that what has happened to me?

It's not about the house, how big, beautiful, stylish, organized, cleaned, etc. etc. it is.  Like Erickson reminds us, for the most part of His life, Jesus was basically homeless...but He knew how to make a home, because He is home.  The life of Christ shows us that a home should provide "an atmosphere where heavy-hearted people can unleash their burdens, find refuge, and be fully fueled and supported so they can go back out into the fray and do God's work in the world." (p. 113)  Home is where the Light of the World shines to make darkness retreat and where God is revealed to all who come in.

I don't know if I have ever made a home...

My focus has always been on the building, the house, the material things inside of it.  I don't know if I have ever, truly placed my energy into shaping the spiritual aspects of home.  I lost my childhood home in my early forties and that has caused me to reject the thought of getting attached to a house...but...has that heartbreaking incident also caused me to ignore the fact that home is where the heart is?  Have I neglected the cultivation and nurturing of an atmosphere that promotes well-being? Have I forgotten to invite Jesus to dwell in my house?

Perhaps, it is time for me to "love it." Maybe it is time for me to stop being afraid of losing the house, and just direct my efforts to creating an atmosphere that reflects the holiness of the Spirit who dwells in it as I honor Him with everything that goes on inside my home.  Like the book author says: "from the movies we watch to the songs we listen to, from the money we spend to the activities that command our best attention - every yes and no we give with our time, talent, and budget should declare that Christ is an unseen but ever-present participant in the culture of our home." (p. 121)

It is time to remember that a house is nothing without Jesus.  Therefore, I should take the author's advice and "be in the Word, and make the Lord my focal point."  

Question to ponder: Besides being in the Word on a daily basis, what other things can we do to "love" our homes and make them show that Jesus is the center, the focal point?

Hospitality and Relationships

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13: 2

I have not had much experience in the area of hospitality.  Even though I do enjoy the idea of opening my home to be the house of gatherings, for some reason the opportunities just don't seem to present themselves more than on rare occasions...or so I've thought...the thing is...I need to pause and think about this a minute: what is the proper approach? Am I supposed to passively wait for opportunities to show up...knocking at my door, pun intended...or...am I to actively seek out opportunities to open my door without waiting for people to come knocking?

While reading the first couple of chapters of the book Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson at our church's summer book chat, my mind has been filled with endless thoughts and questions about how my own insecurities and self-consciousness might have kept me from carrying out the command to hospitality which we have been given since God first welcomed Adam and Eve to that very first home He so lovingly made for us.

Chief among all these ponderings, is the question: "what is my definition of a stranger?"  Is a stranger just the random person off the street with whom we have no connection or have ever met? Or could it also be the high school classmate whom we haven't seen in thirty or forty years? Could it be our children's childhood acquaintance whom we have never had a chance to meet as an adult? Maybe it is our next-door neighbor, with whom we have hardly exchanged a few distant hellos. 

I’m thinking more and more that the definition of “stranger” should probably extend all the way to passing acquaintances, people with whom we are loosely connected, but are not part of our inner circle.  The author of the book reminds us how Jesus had concentric circles of connections (p. 64-65).  Jesus was and is intimately connected forever in that example of perfect fellowship that is the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In the human realm, though, while Jesus walked on this earth, He had a tight band of brothers: Peter, James and John.  Immediately next to that close circle, was the next loop: the rest of His disciples, partners in ministry.  Then, there was the outer loop, the multitudes…the strangers.  Were they really strangers, though?  Can Our Emmanuel, Our God With Us really have strangers among Him? Can we?

Jamie Erickson suggests that, based on the life of Jesus and on how He related to people around Him, “our social connections should fall into one of three categories: encouragement, discipleship and evangelism.” (p. 65)  In this scenario, nobody is truly a stranger since each person God puts along and around our path belongs to at least one of these three rings of social connectedness. 

In the circle of encouragement, I need to have those close friends, my Peters, Johns, and James.  In the ring of discipleship will be what the author refers to as my “mother-sister-daughter relationships.” (p. 67) These connections are not literally demarcated by blood lines, not at all.  I would be really losing on this one if that were the case.  I never had daughters and my mother has been gone for 23 years.  But I do have spiritual mother-figures and I know I can find daughters in every corner, if I keep my eyes open.  Then, there’s the evangelism ring, and that’s the multitudes.  That’s where all the “strangers” among me fit.

It's hard, though…opening my “home,” whereas it is my literal house or the home of my heart, soul, mind, time and wallet to “strangers,” especially those with whom I do not agree or find difficult to love.  That is very hard.  I’m goo guarded.  I don’t want to reveal my vulnerabilities and insecurities to anyone, let along “strangers.”  But, if I want to get better at loving Jesus, I have to love those He has placed around me as I make my feeble attempts at encouraging, discipling and evangelizing. (Erickson, p. 74)  After all…I don’t want to miss the chance of entertaining angels, right?

 

What could be some practical ways in which we can fulfill the command of hospitality to all our circles of social connections in order to encourage, disciple and evangelize?

Fond Memories

 Yesterday, I read a short devotional that at the end asked a couple of questions which were very relevant to this moment in my life.  The first question was:

1. What place holds fond memories for you?

Even though I have several places that hold fond memories for me...there is one that stands out as the first one that pops into my head when a question like this comes up:  the country of my birth...Panama.  As it happens, I'm at a point in my life where I have lived longer in the United States than I lived in Panama.  But...the years I lived there were formative and there is no way I can forget them.  No matter what, I will always carry Panama in my heart as my first love.  I try to go every year.  This year, I've been blessed to have gone twice.  As a matter of fact I just came back the day before I read this question, and of course, that was my answer.  

God destined it for me to be born and raised in this tiny Central American country, even though He had also designed it for me to leave it in my mid twenties.  But He knew I would always hold it in a special place in my heart.  My memories of this special place involve childhood playtime, teen-dreams and young adulthood plans colored by blue skies with the sound of the ocean always in the background, bright sunshine and never ending warmth...the smiles and the voices of my loved ones who have already finished their journey on this earth plus those who still remain...the smells of greasy foods and spicy rice...and the taste of cold Coca Cola and sweet lemonade.  The memories of my Mother's perfume and my Dad's after-shave, and the tight embrace of those who hate to see me leave one more time saturate my mind day and night...

Am I sad God's plan involved for me to make a life somewhere else, far, far away? Sometimes.  But the core of the answer to the next question is what makes life bearable:  

2. How might you make new memories today?

The beautiful truth is that the Lord allows us to make new and precious memories every time and in every place for as long as we are willing and keep an open mind.  Becoming a visitor in my home country has been a hard pill to swallow (and I can't even swallow pills)...but the new memories I have been able to make for the last, almost thirty years are what have shaped who I am.  The voices and laughter of my sons playing in the background when they were little boys...their hugs and presence now that they are almost all grown up...the very fact they exist...the steady hand of my faithful companion, walking alongside, the beauty of summer, the allergies in the spring, the melancholy of fall and even the quiet serenity of a snowy evening inside a warm home...the friendships...the church...the job...the hope...are all around new, deeply fond memories that this not-so-new place now hold.

Is it hard to make a life in a new place? Yes.  Is it impossible? Not, it is not.  The Lord's plan is perfect and in His wisdom, He knows exactly what we need in order to become who He designed us to be.  After all, earth is not our forever home.  And I'm grateful, He has promised we will one day have that...no more goodbyes...when He calls us to our last move.

Photos from Our Last Trip to Panama

The Divine Gardener Knows

 I am NOT a gardener.  But I do appreciate the countless life-lessons that derive from gardening.  God's creation is a hands-on classroom, indeed. So, every summer I make, rather pathetic attempts at planting stuff.  Most of my efforts yield disappointing results...probably due to the fact that I have no clue what I'm doing.  This year, though, I did a bit of research before I decided what to plant.  In doing so, however, I found out information that helped me with an earlier effort that had also ended up in catastrophe. 

A year ago, I decided to be brave and resolved to make a friend who needed cheering up, a planter with succulents.  Rather than just doing what I usually do, which is buy an arrangement made by expert hands, I figured I wanted it to be special, so I made it myself.  I found this really colorful and pretty clay planter which I thought would be perfect! Then, I bought a couple of species of succulents and planted them.  How hard could it be, right? After all, some of them are cacti.  If the desert doesn't kill them, how could I, right? WRONG! 

I thought I was so smart.  It turns out I wasn't.  Soon after I planted them, they started to rot and die.  Soon, the whole thing was a miserable mess and I didn't know what I was doing wrong.  I put them outside...that didn't work.  I kept them inside, that seemed to be a bit better, but no real improvement.  I water them.  Gave them light...even talked to them.  I asked them, "whatup"?  But they didn't answer...so I gave up.  Fast forward to this year, as I was researching about my current endeavors, I saw the beautiful planter, sad reminder of my previous failures, and almost without thinking, I googled "how to grow succulents." Well, the first thing I read was:  "DO NOT OVER WATER or they will ROT!  Only water when the soil is bone-dry."

Well, needless to say, I felt so dumb.  Of course they can't be over-watered...they are desert creatures.  So I went and got a couple more which looked just exquisite.  Pulled out the sorry-looking skeletons of what once was something beautiful, and planted the new ones.  I'm happy to say that my diligence has paid off.  It's been over a month and they are looking radiant! I found a perfect spot where they get plenty of sunlight and I wait until the soil is dry before I water.  I keep moving them so they grow straight as they turn toward the sun, and I tell them how gorgeous they are.  I believe I might even be able to actually present them to my friend as a worthy gift after all.

All I needed to do was to familiarized myself with the plants.  I needed to know them, find out about their needs, so I could provide for them in a manner that would make them grow and thrive.  It is very difficult to nurture that which we don't know.  What seems right for some, is completely wrong for others, and if we don't care enough to know...we end up doing more damage than good.  No water? What do you mean, a plant doesn't need much water?! In my amateur gardening skills, that was completely counter-intuitive.  But I didn't know what the right conditions needed to be for these plants to prosper...

Good thing God knows us inside and out.  He knows what we need and what we don't need way better than we know ourselves.  We complain and reject our circumstances, but God is a Divine Gardener who is fully knowledgeable on the subject of us...and what seems wrong to us, is exactly what we need so we can eventually grow and bloom.  He plants us where He wants us, because He knows that's where we need to be.  It's just that simple.  

I pray that next time we feel unseen, unknown, un-cared for, unloved, we remember that we are in the hands of the Gardener Who not only planted us, but designed us, and that He knows exactly what He is doing in our lives for our benefit and prosperity.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

 

Bible Verses on Being Known By God*

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. Psalm 139:1

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:3

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. Psalm 139:4

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

(*From https://www.estherdorotik.net/blog/31-bible-verses-about-god-knowing-us-and-unconditional-love/)

I Love You Because...

 It has become a silly little tradition of ours to watch the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days on the last day of school every year.  We started the tradition since the movie came out in 2012. Dylan and I continue to watch it after Grant graduated, and we truly enjoy it.  It's the official start of summer break for us.  

At any rate, in that movie, there is a scene where they are playing a game called "I love you because..." It is a really funny scene which is now imprinted in our interactions as a family.  We laugh and make fun of it every time we watch that part.  

Today, I was listening to one of the short devotional podcasts that I try to listen to every day, and the minister said something that I thought was really simple, but profound.  He said: "we don't obey God so God would love us.  We obey Him because He loves us."

Our acts of obedience and of service to the Kingdom should not be meant to gain the proverbial "step" to heaven.  We can't do that.  If we could, Jesus' work on the cross would have been for nothing.  His love for us is not based on our performance, and Praise the Lord for that!  Otherwise, we would be lost without any hope of redemption.  As Paul reminds us:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.” Romans 3: 10-12

Therefore, doing "good deeds" to earn God's love is futile.  It's all the way around.  We do our "good deeds" because He loves us and that is what a beloved child of God does.  Our acts of righteousness and obedience are all based on Love...on God who is Love!

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

Our motivation should always be love, but not so much to gain it, but to demonstrate it and share it...for we already have it.

The silly game in the movie we watch is all about performance.  It goes something like:  "I love you because...you cook for me/buy me nice things/help me keep my body clean..."  It is conditional love, based on what the other does for us or what we do for others.  God's love...real love...is unconditional...solely based on the One Who Is Love...it is based on His sacrifice...it is based on the cross.  We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4: 19).  There is no way we would know what love is without Him. May we always remember that.  In Jesus' Precious Name.  Amen!

Thank You, Lord!

 As I'm wrapping up the semester, I feel infinitively grateful to Our Lord for holding me, helping me, guiding me, sustaining me and giving me wisdom during the last 3 years I served as Chair of our department.  I can say without a doubt, that there is NO WAY I could have done this without Him going before me every step of the way.  I want to give Him ALL Praise and ALL Glory for accomplishing this duty, which I deeply doubted I could have performed at any level of acceptable quality without Him.

He knows me and He knows how inadequate I am for a job like this one, but He put me in it because He wanted me to experience His guiding hand along every turn, twist and hurdle on the road.  He wanted me to experience how total dependence in Him makes the impossible possible.  He wanted me to taste the richness of His sustaining love when I felt all alone.  He wanted me to stand by His strength when I could not go any further.  And so He did!

Three years ago at this time I was in agony, dreading what was ahead...immersed in the middle of a horrible battle with co-workers which didn't seem to have a resolution in sight...feeling the weight of a crumbling organization being placed on my shoulders to carry on my own...praying without ceasing for wisdom and guidance.  Today, I'm beginning to breathe again...and it is all because of God's Grace!

So, I just want to say, thank You, Lord for walking with me always, not just these last 3 years, but every day. Thank You for the gift of Your Presence, the Only source of true comfort and strength. I offer what is left of my life to You.  May I continue to find evidence of the reality of Your indwelling in my soul and in my heart for the rest of my days.  Amen!

The Abundant Life of Christ in Us

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10: 10

I usually do not feel led to the King James translation of Scripture, but for this verse, I prefer it because of the word "abundantly."  The NIV version uses the word "full" instead, and whereas the connotations of this term are great, indeed, the "richness" of the word "abundantly" seems more fitting to Jesus, at least in my humble opinion.  

I might be entirely wrong, but "full" gives me the sense of something very practical and material.  Full makes me think of having no room left (as in my stomach after dinner) or of something that is comprehensive and thorough.  It has a very spatial sense to me, like I can almost see it.  It is as if it is full to the measure of the space that it is filling.  "Abundant" on the other hand, seems more ethereal, more abstract.  It does not have a measure.  It transcends.  It's ample, profuse.  It is plentiful and lavish...like Jesus' love.

This life that Jesus comes to give to us is a life without limits because it is the life that we live with Him and it goes beyond the container.  And, again, in my humble opinion, Jesus is not referring here to the material aspects of life.  I believe, Jesus is pointing to the life we live when He is in us.  That is the miracle of such inexhaustible abundance: Christ in me.  That is the hope of glory like Paul tells us in Colossians 1: 27.  And glory cannot be contained in spatial parameters.  Just like Jesus whom the grave could not keep, the life lived with Him in us surpasses even us.

This abundant life is not about a richness that can be touched or even about a sense of happiness or satisfaction or stability as the world understand such concepts.  This abundant life is the one that showers us with the assurance of His Presence...because it is His Presence the element that produces the abundance that Jesus is telling us about.  No endless amount of the stuff of this world could ever give us this abundant life.  Only His Presence in us can.  

Today, as I look out the window, complaining about yet another dreary day in May...I pray that I'm reminded that even in the darkest and most depressing of times, we can hang on to Jesus' promise of abundance, because His love and His presence have no limits, and as long as we can count on Him, we can get through everything.  May the Holy Spirit give us a keen awareness of Jesus in us, the only hope of glory.  Amen!

Eye-Roll Code

 "Your eyes are going to get stuck like that!"  This was a warning I used to hear from Rosa all throughout my childhood.  Actually, she would say it to my sister way more than to me...but I can't pretend the admonition wasn't meant for me too.  

The thing is that my sister and I are major eye-rollers.  It's like our second language.  We have it coded:  One eye-roll=UGH.  Two eye-rolls + one sigh="you idiot."  Two eye-rolls + shaking the head = "your stupidity has no limits." Two eye-rolls + shaking the head + a deep sigh = "you're not dead because God is Good."  One eye-roll followed by a long, long blink + a sigh = "you've better be gone when I open my eyes or not even the Power of the Blood could save you."

Yep...patience has not been a fruit easily grown neither cultivated in abundance in the garden of my soul.  It's one of those things I really struggle with.  My sinful nature and the old me conspire to keep me trapped in this stronghold, causing me to stumble over and over again.

I read Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 3, and I can't help but wonder: how in the world am I going to "put to death, ..., whatever belongs to my earthly nature"? (Colossians 3: 5a)

I know Paul lists things such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, and things that lead to idolatry.  But he also mentions, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language...and my behavior is bordering this territory.  My eye-rolling is a sign of my impatience, which in turn is derived from my pride, and when this one is wounded, it quickly flows into anger, rage and even malice, and all the other stuff that keep my earthly nature alive and well, rather than dead and in the grave.

The remedy is to "put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Colossians 3: 10)  My problem is: I don't think I know how to do that?

When I don't know how to do something, I need to read the instructions over and over again, until a single sentence is broken down in my head into smaller portions or single steps.  In this sentence, we have that the first fragment says: put on the new self.  OK, what's that? Well, that's my earthly sinful nature which I'm supposed to have killed.  But, did I really kill it? The truth is, I would not know the first thing about killing my earthly and sinful nature.  Jesus had to do that for me.  Only by His death and resurrection this could be accomplished! So, by His wounds I have been healed! PTL, AMEN! But then, what?

Well, Jesus' also imputed His righteousness in me as a result of His sacrifice on the cross.  He took my sin and gave me His righteousness.  He put a new self in me.  Alleluia!!  So by His work and sacrifice, and by dwelling in me, He has taken care of this part because there's no way I could do it on my own.  I believe Him and I receive His grace and He cleanses me and gives me a new me.

"Which is being renewed," and here we see an action that is progressive, meaning, it is still on going.  I'm being renewed.  So, there's no need to panic, for I believe this is the work of sanctification which takes place for as long as we are still walking on this earth.

And how does that sanctification happen? I believe Paul is saying that it is accomplished by the constant seeking of the knowledge of Jesus so we can become closer and closer to being what we were meant to be since the beginning: the image of our Creator.

I don't know if I'm even close to being right, but I have to keep the hope that God's mercy includes covering me with the providence of His patience.  For when I am weak, He is strong, and when I am prideful and impatient, He is loving and compassionate...and I put my hope on that...praying that I can stop the eye-roll as a sign of obedience and that I'm am still on the road to sanctification.  In the Precious Name of Jesus, My Redeemer and Friend.  Amen!

Retail Therapy, I Think Not

I like shopping.  I can't deny it.  I enjoy all those memes about Amazon because I can relate. It's not just online shopping, though.  I don't discriminate.  Old-fashioned shopping trips/sprees give me butterflies in my tummy too.  It's terrible.  I know.  Dan keeps reminding me of this character flaw ALL.THE.TIME.

sigh...

And he is right, in a way.  If it weren't for his ability to hit the breaks on my purchasing train, we'd probably be homeless.  But boy, is it hard to pass up a sale, or what?

I mean, I have gotten way better over time.  I have become more controlled and smarter too. But still...sigh.

The big issue here, though, is that I use shopping as an escape.  When I'm stressed out and need a break, shopping is always there to lift me up. There are many things wrong with this scenario.  Worst of all is the fact that my default involves diving into the material world for comfort, when answers and true respite can only come from the spiritual realm.  My ties to this world are too tight.  I forget that I don't belong to this place.  I forget Paul's words when he tells us:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3: 1-2

It is not just Jesus who rose from the grave.  He raised me too!  He raised all of us.  He descended to the pit of filth where we were, grabbed hold of us and brought us to life! He lifted us.  He gave us a new birth.  This new life, this new us comes together with a new view of things.  We are not immersed in the darkness of a life void of righteousness anymore.  Jesus gave us His righteousness, and with that comes a perspective that looks up at things above, instead of down to what we left behind.  This new life is the life in the Spirit, the Spirit of God who guides us and leads us and comforts us and helps us find our way to Him...to Christ seating at the right hand of God.  Therefore, our minds are set on Him, not on earthly things.  But we forget...I forget...and that is why Scripture is such a divine gift, because it is through Scripture that the Holy Spirit helps us remember and leads us back.  

I know I won't be canceling my subscription to Amazon Prime anytime soon.  But I know I'm not a slave to its lure.  I know where my help and my light comes from, and it is not from retail therapy.  It is from Him:

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 2

 

Extending Mercy

 "Please, Mom...have mercy on me.  Remember.  Jesus says to have mercy..."

Insert big eye-roll and deep sigh...

Kids are really good at manipulation.  I don't know how many times Dylan has pulled this one on me.  My students do this all the time as well. Of course they don't invoke Jesus, but they do play on the sob stories to get away with missing due dates.  I get really tired of it.  When they do this, they want to take advantage of me, and it infuriates me.  I don't give in easily.  I mean, really...the least they can do is grovel, right?

However, Dylan is right.  Jesus did say: Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6: 36)

I have to admit, though, I struggle with that.  I'm so full of pride that when I sense someone is taking advantage of me or when I feel like people think I'm an idiot, I react rather harshly.  I tend to not give others the benefit of the doubt or so I've been told...mostly by Dan.  He tells me things like: "You always assume the worst!" or "We need to extend a little bit of grace to others." He reminds me about it...constantly...ugh...

And...he is right...sigh...

We are called to extend grace and mercy to others...just as we have received it from Our Heavenly Father in abundance.  Colossians 3: 1-17 is a comprehensive explanation of how as Christians, we have been made new by Jesus, and as such, we ought to live lives that reflect the mercy of Our Lord.  We are supposed to do everything, "in word or deed" in the name of Jesus.  As His ambassadors, we need to reflect who He is, and He is Mercy!

Today has brought plenty of opportunities for me to extend grace to students...just as I was extended grace and mercy in the speedy delivery of good medical test results.  As I examine my responses to students...I am ashamed to say I haven't been as merciful and prompt in my responses as the Lord was to deliver me from my anguished wait.  Now that I look back...I better take another good look at Colossians 3: 1-17 so I allow the Holy Spirit to work these words in me all the way to the core of my soul.

May we receive the mercy of understanding so we can learn how to walk on the way of Jesus.  In His Precious Name.  Amen!