Sands through the Hour Glass, A Crown of Glory

Ahh, the sensitive subject of aging...  This subject has been on my mind quite a bit during the past year as I swiftly approach my half-a-century mark. 

Just yesterday, a treasured, long-time friend asked me  "So how do you feel about turning 50?"  I drew a very deep breath in response to the very loaded question as my mind raced to scan my history--the mistakes, the trials, the successes, the challenges, the growth--wanting to answer the question with truth and godly perspective. "The physical challenges are the most difficult", I said, "but I treasure the spiritual wisdom and growth that comes with the years."

A tough question especially during this era as our culture places so much value on youth which is counter to the Word of God.  As I thought more deeply later on, these things came to mind:
  

• I am embracing the wisdom and knowledge (especially the Godly) that comes with each passing year and the blessings in the children to whom I can pass that gift.
• I am embracing spiritual growth, milestones and standing stones for Him! I am embracing a body that has a life's story to tell of accidents and babies, misguided idol worship lessons, divine rescues and amazing miracles! 
• I am embracing the increasing physical 'weakness' by rejoicing that He is made stronger and glorified in them. I wait with great anticipation as to how I will see Him working this day and revealing Himself to me. 
• I am celebrating His perspective on who I am rather than always looking in the mirror and relying on what I see and what 'the world' sees. 
• I long for freedom from the fight of the flesh, to be with Him more, be like Him more with each passing day, to be 100 percent guided by His Spirit.
• I increasingly long for the complete peace and rest the comes with His love, His grace and His deliverance and seeing Him face to face.
• And, as the days behind grow longer than the days ahead, I truly give heartfelt thanksgiving each morning of waking as I rejoice in the day, be glad in it, and live His gift of life and mercy, one more day.....

Thirty-five days and counting. I will enter, God willing, my fifty-first year.  Wow...  I must not neglect to mention that my sweet friend followed her initial question by adding "You certainly don't look 50!" A girl always needs to hear that kind of love!

Celebrating the gift of life, the true meaning of life, that only our Wonderful Maker can give!

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

 

To Focus on Things Eternal

Where do you focus your heart, your eyes, your time, your resources, your energy.....?

Come now, ye that say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain”;  whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  Instead ye ought to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

I've been asking myself these hard questions over the past few years.  Motivational questions, soul searching, introspective, life altering questions.  Why am I here really, what is His purpose for me in this life, where am I storing up my treasures and what are those treasures?  Where is my true center of gravity, the things that keeps me anchored to what is true, what is pure, what is everlasting? What do my treasures, my offerings of this earthly existence mean to the One who matters most?! What am I doing in this moment, in this day, in this life that reaches far beyond today? How do I, how can I truly make a difference?

These questions and the answers to them defy gravity, go beyond the scope of time and reach to places we do not comprehend. They are questions that have answers found in eternity and nowhere else. Nowhere else that is of any significance anyway. Far reaching, time expanding, and focusing on the eternal.

In living this existence, we must simultaneously embrace the future and our own eternal purpose. Our hearts must be searching for these answers, this purpose every day.  We must live out eternity as we walk along side Him now knowing we haven't begun to understand what He has in store and let Him lead.  Our hearts must embrace this truth with a yearning that is only satisfied with fulling His will. Nothing else will do. 

A sweet friend recently posed the question: What does eternity look like in your heart?  In living today for the bright hope of eternity's tomorrow, my eternity looks something like this:  

• An infinite longing to be there, live it, breathe it, see and embrace Him even as I walk day-to-day through this fleshly journey, to bask in His light 24/7, where love and justice reign supreme. 
• A aching passion to live this life for Him, with Him, through Him, with Him living in me, with nothing ordinary in seeing through His eyes a divine purpose in all things. 
• An unending thirst to dedicate my life, my time, my resources to His service and for His glory, not just some of it but all of it, to spread His goodness and His name rather than my own, to step out of my comfort zone to follow His call knowing and trusting, to help others, to be His hands and feet, and fulfill His perfect will rather than my own fleshy desires. 
• A overwhelming desire for others to know Him, seek Him, with hearts and lives dedicated to His glory and for others to see Him in me, my life a reflection of Him. 
• A soothing comfort and unexplainable peace in knowing there is something so much better, Someone so much bigger, knowing that this is not the end and that there is something more beyond this life that is unexplainable in mere human terms, infinitely perfect, everlasting and beautiful.....

 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:17-18

For we know that if our earthly house, this tabernacle, were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor 5:1

  

Some hard questions to ask. Their answers make a difference now and for all eternity. For you, for others. Are you living your eternity here, now....?

AT THE ALTAR

In a moment alone, I sat on the couch in our vacation condo meditating with uncertainty on God’s direction for me and the war  waging within.  The rain poured down outside my window and in my soul. My mind was clouded and uncertain, my heart was hurting and my spirit was depressed. 
After all, I had spent the better part of the year being offended and demeaned, publicly and privately insulted, and ignored. I had been the subject of subtle ridicule. I had been misunderstood and offered no opportunity to clarify myself but rather subjected to criticism and false accusation. Judged and rejected.
 

My heart said “It hurts so much. Make it stop.”  God said, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Proverbs 20:30
My mind said “I don’t understand why this is happening?! What have I done?”  God said, "I have determined your path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking? Proverbs 20:24
My fleshly spirit said “I’m tired of waiting.” God said, "Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and he will make it right. Proverbs 20:22
My pride said “I’ve been wronged! I want justice.”  God said “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

How I truly struggled! How hard it was not to seek justice! I pondered, I prayed, I asked for forgiveness, and prayed for my enemies! Finally the Almighty reminded me:  "These six things does the LORD hate, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,  a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19

I often thought this passage was referring to those who fell into temptation, and acted in selfishness or malice; however, this time God brought a new angle to light.  The next day, I came across Matthew 10:38 where He says, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Wow, NOT WORTHY. NOT WORTHY. This time, these two words spoke volumes to me.

Groping in the dark, I think I was beginning to understand the cross more completely..... For me to want to ask that these life experiences would be changed or taken away, that He would take the pain and suffering away, my spiritual growing pains, just because I was being a good girl, makes me totally unworthy of Him.  I need to live it even when I had done no wrong, had turned the other cheek and my heart was breaking. I had humility in relation to others but not before my God. I hadn’t really approached the cross from this perspective before. Boy, did I need to eat a huge portion of ‘humble pie’. I truly must give thanks in all things.

I, albeit reluctantly, began the daily sacrifice of letting go. He showed me that I must.....

.....rid myself of the desires of self appeasement, pride, and to be in control of my circumstance no matter how good my intent......... to rid myself of the hope of retribution, justice, or any attempt at maintaining my reputation no matter how justified I might be.....riding myself of any desire of receiving acknowledgement or affirmation from someone other than God though I knew others would agree......to always esteem others better than myself even when they are unkind and...

He helped me to realize, in more fullness, that the symbolism of the cross is not just about a sacrifice I make in my life in giving up something for Him, not just about service or sharing burdens. It’s about the sacrifice of self no matter what the case without compromising. I cannot be divided in my offering in sacrifice. I cannot hold on to ‘self’ in part by projecting my will onto His, no matter how well I’ve behaved or how good my intentions are; I need to construct an altar in my heart that is wholly devoted to Him rather than any self aggrandizement no matter how Christ-like my actions may be. 

I need to ask myself what is the sacrifice that He requires of me?  Am I willing to suffer so that He can do a work in me or do I just want Him to work through me?  Am I sacrificing to feel good about my Christian walk or to fully surrender and completely change for Him? It is truly about His Spirit sending me to that extremely uncomfortable place where I struggle and am confronted head on with my human weakness in not letting Him reign supreme. In the flesh, I’m desperate in wanting to hide it under the grace of the cross, to ask for forgiveness and then forget about it. But I can’t. I must die a slow death on that cross. Otherwise I run in endless circles around it.  I am not worthy.

So, there I was at the altar.  I was ‘dying to self’ firsthand.  Would I choose to get on the on that altar? I knew it was the only way to close the door on the darkness and to once again embrace the light. To be fully worthy of Him I must confront my sin--pride, selfishness, vengeance, self esteem, my own will--in repentance.  Not just when I am bad but when I’m good. Not just when I am wrong in my actions but when I am totally justified. Only then is the power of His Spirit free to make me a new creation.

He reminded me that Christ carried that cross, not only because of the symbolism of burden and sin but more importantly because it was the instrument of ultimate sacrifice. Certainly, there was no one more justified than He. The cross was His altar. My purpose here is to become more like Him.

So, this circumstance was another opportunity to build a memorial to Him and give Him all the glory. As I sat there in this home away from home with tears streaming just as the rain poured outside, the lyrics of a popular Christian song came to mind....”Scattered words and empty thoughts seem to pour from my heart I've never felt so torn before seems I don't know where to start.....”

Amazingly enough, the cloud just outside my window was low in the sky and seemed to have fingers at the end...”but it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain from every fingertip, washing away my pain....”

And, my heart and spirit cried out, “I still believe in Your faithfulness; I still believe in your truth. Even when I don’t see, I still believe.”

At that moment, I asked Him to give me a sign of hope that I wouldn’t be this way forever and there will be brighter days ahead. I told Him that I would love to see a rainbow. I turned my head and, out the other window in the room, low in the sky, was a beautifully arched bouquet of colors. Another coincidence? Again, I think not!

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21

HIS VICTORY FOR HIS GLORY

It began in June. I awoke unreasonably early to a stinging sensation on my upper eyelids. So strange. Couldn't go back to sleep for the discomfort so I pulled myself up and out to see what this pain was all about….

Hmmm…. Slight redness on my eyelids. I rinsed my face with cold water. It cooled the discomfort. Didn't think anything more of it.

A few days passed. The redness was persistent. It seemed to be creeping into the outer corners of my eye. The stinging sensation had intensified a bit. Hmmmm…..

A few more days passed by. Then I had a good cry about something I can't even remember. I woke up the next morning to extremely red, swollen eyelids that seemed to be on fire. The morning after that, the eyelids were less swollen but with deep lines in the crevices.  A few days later the crevices cracked open in a couple of places and I was bleeding slightly. It was as if someone had taken an Xacto knife to my lids.

Never had this happen before. I was baffled.  And, no matter what I did, this state did not go away. In fact, as the weeks passed on, it grew progressively worse. It spread to other parts of my eyes and face. And, it was accompanied by flakey skin and itching!  Sometimes the itching was so intense that it kept me awake at night.

Luke 9:11


And the people, when they knew it, followed Him: and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

I struggled with this condition for weeks. Over four months had gone by since it all began. I was beside myself.  Praying constantly, asking for others to pray.  Doing research to find out exactly what this mystery was that was creeping and spreading around upon my face. Then I found out: eczema. Never had it before! What do I do?!  No topical remedy would work. It provided merely temporary relief; the eczema returned after a day or two.  I dare not cry or have watery eyes for fear of it stinging and spreading. Then I found out more: detox.  It was coming from the inside out. Going to a medical 'expert' was, in my experience, not a viable option. A doctor would treat it topically and/or give medication that would further tax my system and fill me with more toxins. I needed to cleanse, cleanse, cleanse and detoxify myself. 

Matthew 9:35

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

So I cleansed. A juice detox.  And, I prayed. This time I pleaded that He truly, once and for all, would deliver me from this affliction. Just as the Israelites did in the days of Joshua and the judges pleading for Him to deliver them from oppression; however, unlike the Israelites, I reminded Him of my faithfulness to Him over the years especially during times of trial and temptation. Never, even during my darkest times or difficult tests, did I turn away from Him or question His purpose for me.

After this most heartfelt prayer, the eczema seemed to get better. For three days, it was slowly dissipating. It seemed that I was finally experiencing some relief.  Ahhh!  I was tentatively excited! On the fourth day, it returned with a vengeance! I was distraught. Almost six months had passed. Was I going to have to live in this condition forever!  It certainly was a possibility. I resigned myself to the reality that God may not want to clear me of this infection for a purpose I could not yet comprehend. I resigned myself to my Lord and handed my desires to Him.

James 5:14


Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

That week at church services, my husband asked our pastor to anoint me. I had been anointed for a couple of things in past years but not for this current malady.  Yes, during this time, I'd always had complete faith that He could heal me if it was His will. So I was anointed. Within three days, the eczema was COMPLETELY GONE!  The scaly skin, the itchiness, the redness and soreness--GONE! Coincidence?  I think not!  It was truly a miracle. I had my face back! Praise Him from Whom all blessings flow!

I take no credit for this miraculous occurrence nor does my pastor. As I write this memorial to His grace and wonders, my face tingles with remembrance of the discomfort and healing! COMPLETELY GONE!   Yes, I've 'cleaned up my act' somewhat and continue to detox periodically and try not to stress out the adrenal and other filtration systems in my body. The credit and praise, however, all go to our Great Healer…..

He did it not necessarily for me but for HIS GLORY, for His good pleasure, and because He is love. It is HIS VICTORY.  I felt compelled to share it with you!  I did pray over the course of six months and He chose to answer with a resounding 'No, not now....'.  He has His reasons for answering me this way at that time. But, YES, He does care. YES, He does hear you. YES, He can perform miracles--in alignment with His will and in His perfect timing--for those who trust and diligent seek Him.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I do want to share, as well, that I also suffer from a more significant physical disability that I have had since birth. I have prayed continually, since coming to know Him, that He would heal me and remove this thorn from my side. I have also been anointed for it. Our Great God has chosen not to take this affliction from me. I know and am confident that He is able. And, I have not ceased, in fifteen years, in asking Him to do so. Maybe one day His answer will be "Yes"! Until then, I pray I can use it as well for His glory.....

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?

The world shouts at you from all angles! "You're not smart enough, tall enough, skinny enough, strong enough, beautiful enough, rich enough." The list goes on and on and on....The advertisements and magazine covers are filled with image boosting suggestions.  So how DO you measure up? Do you find yourself questioning your value and self worth?  Do you find yourself in 'competition' with others trying to do what they do, be who they are, look like they look, or have what they have?

I found myself pondering some of these questions about myself as my family and I went on a cruise vacation recently. There I sat poolside watching as people frolicked about the ship's deck in their various styles of bathing attire. I found my eye settling on one particularly attractive young woman who did not appear to possess a single flaw in her outward appearance. She was petite with perfect proportions and had flawless skin.  Not a dimple of cellulite nor a wrinkle or pimple to be seen. Her skin seemed as silk. Her thick dark hair framed her attractive face with almond-shaped eyes and puckering lips just beautifully. No freckles, no veins, no sunburn. And her swimsuit seemed as though it were tailor-made for her. A "Wow" moment!

-

Then my mind wandered reluctantly to my aging frame. Yes, time is slowly leaving its mark in one way or another.  I started to feel depressed, to feel sad for the youth I had squandered and the beauty I had taken for granted.  Then I truly heard a still, small voice amongst the swimmers' hoopla whispering to me....  "Your body tells a story. You have truly lived and experienced life while learning along the way. Your history shows in lessons learned in many ways. After all, I measure your worth from your inward beauty and how that beauty manifests itself to others for My glory."  Another "Wow" moment!


We've all heard that beauty is fading and fleeting. Physical, outward beauty, that is. And, the statement is so very true. We are on the fast track when it comes to aging as our time here is so very short. So how do we evaluate beauty?  Our pop culture has defined beauty as being young and thin with flawless skin. Fashion models have become role models and extreme dieting and exercise has taken the place of overall health and fitness.

Matthew 6:19-22
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

It really comes down to whether or not we are focused on the outward self vs. the inward self and two things: fruit or fear.  Are you bearing good fruit for Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of your life and surrendering to His perfect will for you or are you seeking approval and acceptance from a world with a warped view of what you should look like, who you should be and how you should spend your time?  It's about measuring your worth in terms of:

• my figure in Inches v. my moral Integrity;
• the amount of Creases I possess v. the godly Character I am cultivating;
• the number of Wrinkles I can count v. my daily Walk with Christ;
• how much time I need to spend upon Toning v. the amount of Time spent with MY Creator, my reason for existence;
• how Smooth my skin appears v. the Sacrifices I am making daily for His glory;
• how Firm my thighs are and how Flat my stomach is v. how much has my Faith increased this month; and
• the spider Veins from carrying children or experiencing injury v. the Victory that I have in Christ that will last through all eternity.

You could make a list such as the above for any scenario whether it be time, money, social status, possessions or career.

So those creeping crows' feet around my eyes tell a story about emotions--happiness, sadness, stress--with smiles, laughter, frowns, grimaces, and winks in times of joy and sorrow.  Those slowly appearing sun spots  and wrinkles remind me of the idol I spent too much of my teenage years worshiping--the sun--and how overindulgence (sometimes in the pursuit of outward beauty) has its consequences. Those tiny, broken veins and new figure remind me of the joy I experienced in conceiving and carrying my children, and bringing them into this world. Truly the most precious gifts ever received. The scars on my knee remind of God's deliverance in an accident where the car could have just as easily run me over but instead hit my bike and sent me flying through the air to a soft landing with a few scrapes and one tiny broken bone. My slowly greying hair is a reflection of wisdom from a life lived and a crown of glory in living for Him. You get the picture. Outwardly, my body tells a story and it is His story as He has been with me every step of the way.  The outward story is a reflection of the work that He is doing inwardly in me to make me His in every way.

 Romans 8:10  
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Romans 8:23
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption


Should you take care of your fleshly body? Absolutely!  As it is the temple of His Holy Spirit, we are instructed to guard it watching what we put in and do with this temporary tabernacle of God.  But, how far do we go?  What is your personal definition of beauty?  What is God's definition of beauty? Beauty, too, can become an idol.

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 

This skin I'm wearing now is only temporary. My spirit, in Christ, will last for all time. I take true comfort in that fact. I do eagerly await my spiritual body that will be incorruptible and accompany me through eternity and free me from these fleshly chains.  However, until the return of Jesus Christ our King, I will find joy in the reassurance that He loves and sees beauty in the person I'm becoming while abiding in Him. The inward person. I will find approval and acceptance in the arms of a loving God whose unconditional love abounds despite my physical, emotional and spiritual flaws.  He is making me truly, eternally beautiful through His wisdom and guidance using life's experiences along the way.  A pure beauty.  An eternal beauty.  He is telling a story through me.  What more could I possibly ask for....?!

DESSERT OR DECEPTION?

I'm on my way to a gathering of moms who are having a rare night away from their families to relax and encourage one another. I'm hosting the gathering at another mom's home. I'm late. I am very, very tired and a bit cranky. (And, I can admit I do have a tendency to say 'yes' more than 'no' when it comes to service and volunteering. I've been known to be a 'Martha'. So much for relaxing.)

While driving along, I can sense myself starting to inwardly hyperventilate as I mull over the calendar before me in my mind. 'Why do I let myself get into these predicaments?!" I shout to myself.  After all, I am a planner by nature and consider myself to be a fairly organized individual overall. I organize and plan menus and meals, schooling schedules and lesson plans, extracurricular activities, family outings and vacations, chore charts, church activities, birthday parties and so on.  And, most events go off without a hitch as planned. Yet here I sit feeling somewhat out of control and overwhelmed by the events on my plate. I'm wondering how I am going to make it through the next month without becoming stressed out!


I plead for assistance from His Spirit as I know I CANNOT make it through this evening relying on my own strength. Resentment is seeping in. Fatigue is creeping in. I will be a grump and a grumbler.  Crying out to Him in repentance for my inability to adjust, for the poor attitude of my heart, for my whining and complaining, I asked for His strength to sustain me in my weakness, His Spirit to set me heart in a place that glorifies Him......

Did He hear? Yes.  Did He answer? Yes!  It was if He gave me a beautiful scoop of delicious ice cream for dessert to finish of the evening (and it was the kind that didn't stick to my hips)!  As I drove home, I thanked Him for pulling me through yet another anxious situation. In His love and grace, He accommodated me. He answered all my prayers: a heart of love, physical stamina and spiritual strength in mind and spirit. And, it got me thinking....

'Busy' truly seems to be the 'buzz' word of the 21st century. You ask someone you haven't seen in a while "So, how are you?" And, they always reply "Good. Busy!" Modern technology has seemingly made life 'easier' and allowed us to cram more items on our 'to do' lists each day. Supposedly, all this busyness will make us more accomplished, productive, and successful.


Hmmm.....  I think I beginning to catch on fully to this deception! I am determined to go counter culture, go back in time in a sense, and rebel against this popular trend and be relaxed, stress free, meditative, 'unbusy'. I want to be....'in the world but not of the world!'  That doesn't just include the latest fashion craze, religious slant or trendy food.  As a Christian who is professing to be not only a believer but also a follower of 'The Way',  I should be living a way of life that looks very different from that of being 'busy.'  Let's take a look in His Word:


Cease striving (be still)  and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Psalm 37:7


And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,  but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  Mark 4:18-20


For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?  Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.  Ecclesiastes 2:22-23



Ah, ha! Satan deceives and distracts. He disguises himself and his temptations as good. ('You shall not surely die." he says to Eve in the Garden. We know how that story ended...) So, he whispers, "[insert your name here], do you want to feel and be more successful?  Do you want to win friends and influence people? Well," Satan implies, "the more you have on your 'to do' list, the more popular and accomplished you will be in today's world.  The more activities you have scheduled on your calendar, the more fulfilling your life will become giving you a sense of purpose. The more you volunteer and serve, the more favor you will find with God....?!"

In reality, Satan is a thief, a liar and a joy killer! He robs us of our precious gift of time as we run to and fro from home, to class, to event, to job, to activity. He tells us we will be living out our purpose as we cram our schedules full each day.  He kills the joy in everyday living by filling it with stress and pressure to perform instead of providing opportunities for love and relationships. He convinces us that it is the right thing to do and we must do it to experience the fullness of life. He implies that, in order to receive love and favor from the Almighty, we must earn it by serving, serving, and more serving rather than following God's lead and accepting His love and grace. Unfortunately, the devil's most important deception is influencing us to busy ourselves and be distracted from spending time in God's Word and at His feet on a daily basis! Let us stop, look to Him, and listen....

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

God does not measure us by tasks accomplished, events attended, items checked off our 'to do' lists, or acts of service. He loves us despite our weaknesses and failures. He desires that intimate relationship with us that spending time with Him on a regular basis will provide.  That means in both quantity as well as quality! He wants us to listen to His still small voice, seek His will and follow His lead no matter what the circumstance. Choices come to us each day; we should seek godly wisdom and council in making those choices. Ask God how to spend your time today, where to spend your money, what classes to enroll your children in, and where to best serve Him. His purpose for you is where you should be spending your time and your energy!

 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.   So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  1 Kings 19:11-13

Okay, slight detour...back to my drive home.  While mulling the evening's events over in my mind, I began to realize and remember all the little things that He had done for me that day to free up my calendar and give me more breathing room. Apparently, I was TOO BUSY being stressed on the way to my meeting to think of and remember the changes.  Things for which I hadn't prayed but crowded my schedule causing anxiety.  He moved appointments and dropped or postponed activities until a more convenient time. None of these changes were initiated by me. Suddenly, I felt a huge weight removed from my being. A weight that I had placed there myself. And yet, He saw fit, out of His mercy and goodness, to help me though I hadn't even asked....because He knows the end from the beginning.  He is a God of details. He is love! That fabulous scoop of ice cream He gifted me with earlier now had whipped cream and sprinkles on top!

God is truly good ALL the time!  Don't be deceived! Let go and give your schedule to God. Let Him have ALL of you. My prayer for you is that you let Him fill your cup each day in every way so that you find true fulfillment in Him as He accomplishes His purpose through and in YOU! And, maybe, just maybe, you'll get a cherry on top!

STAND OUT IN THE CROWD

When circumstances allow, I love to take walks around my little neighborhood to feel the sun on my face, the wind swirling around me, stretch my limbs and get my heart pumping a bit.  (It also serves to remind me of the endlessness and timelessness of our Creator.) The neighborhood overlooks a deep, wide canyon and maintains glorious views of the surrounding hills mountains.  These walks often refresh and strengthen my mind, body and spirit as I use them as exercise in a spiritual sense as well as  physically.


One winter's day not too long ago, I decided to venture out for a few minutes to recharge my batteries (which often need recharging!). On this particularly bright day, I was struck as to how barren the trees were that lined my path.  Though it was getting close to the first day of spring, not a bud was sprouting on most of the limbs.  They appeared strangely stark (you know, that dullish brown twiggy look) against the clear brilliant blue of the sky.  It was almost as if they didn't realize what time of year was approaching and needed a jump start.

Then I saw it. In the distance, a flash of color caught my eye. I kept walking. I kept gazing through the dullness of the other branches looking for the source of the bright color.  Slowly it came into view.  It was a tree that was fully in bloom!  It had buds, it had blossoms, it had leaves!  The sunlight played off of the fuchsia colored blossoms making it look as though the tree were almost on fire!

It stood out in the crowd. This tree didn't blend in like the others. And, it was beautiful. It was spectacular. Somehow, out of the hard ground and with the scarcity of sunlight in winter, this tree found its inward beauty and displayed it for all to see. It dug its roots deep into the earth and found the nutrients it needed for that moment.  It stretched its limbs upward as far as it could gathering as much daylight as was available to fuel its wonderful colors. It took what it could find and used them gloriously. The other trees and bushes simply blended into the landscape in a monotone of color and shape.

It occurred to me that as I walk this journey through life, I should be as vibrant as the tree. I should stand out in the crowd. I should be different than all the others. Not because of the external but the internal. Not of the flesh but of the spirit. Not because of the world but because of Christ living in me and the power of His Spirit!

1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

How we strive to be different in our society yet all end up being the same! Same clothes, same jewelry, same homes, same cars.  Same schools, same sports, same careers. We all 'want' what the other has already and continually strive to make it so. We busy ourselves with comparing ourselves with others.  We define our success in terms of the tangible, worldly standards even though they are temporary, fading, and change moment by moment.

Our loving God did not create us all the same; He created us with unique gifts, talents, and a purpose in the life to glorify Him.  Yet we squelch our uniqueness and Him in an attempt to 'fit in', to be 'accepted', to be 'popular', to be 'cool', to be 'rich' and define ourselves in comparison to others. And, we always seem to fall short of the mark, don't we? We use worldly standards rather than the divine with which there is no limit.  We prefer the comfort of measuring our 'success' in terms of what we have, what we wear and what we do rather than who we are and what we can do for others and for Him

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We should glow with His light and His glory from within. We should seize the opportunity to be unique in our purpose in order to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us seeking it in all its fullness. We should dig our roots deep into His Word daily and bathe in His life-giving water.  We should stretch our limbs upward in praise, in prayer, and in meditation continually seeking to know Him more and to bask in His life-giving light. We should find strength and hope in our dependance upon Him as He is unwavering. We should shine knowing our completeness and peace comes only from knowing Him and following where He leads.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

And, people should notice. People will notice.  They may not always like the difference or understand the difference but they will notice.  You may not be popular because of the difference.  You may not become famous or wealthy or be 'in style' because of the difference. Others may make fun of you because of the difference, not include you in their social circle, or invite you to go on vacation with them.  Your modesty, manners and unselfishness may be considered unbelievable or old fashioned!

John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

And, alleluia! Your life will make sense.  You'll stop striving and start living. You will see things in a new light bringing new meaning for yourself and others.  Your success will be measured and stored for an eternal purpose. That purpose will mean more than anything in this world ever could.  You will dine with Him at His table. Oh, what a feast it will be!

And, someone will take notice of you, in the here and now.  Someone will notice the difference. You will stand out in the crowd.  That someone just might ask you why you are so different.  And, to Him, that someone makes all the difference!

I don't know about you, but I want to be just like that tree.....  Be radiant!



Psalm 20:4
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,And fulfill all your purpose.

Luke 4:43
but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”


Acts 26:16
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.