The mountain and the valley

Well, we have returned from the verdant, cool mountains and are back in the "valley" of heat and noise and busyness. How can I fall so precipitously from the mountaintop of peace and gratitude and quiet joy to that pressured feeling of simmering frustration with my children, my too-long to do list, my messy home (welcome to summer), my many failings as a mother, wife, and homemaker and on and on. I'm reminded of that beautiful Puritan prayer, "The Valley of Vision." The prayer begins, "Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in my mountains of sin I behold Thy glory." The author asks for God to "Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit... that the valley is the place of vision."

Why is that? The view is so much lovelier from the mountaintop! The air so much clearer, the stars so much brighter, the breeze so much cooler. How I love it on the mountaintop.

But the valley is the place of vision, for the valley is where we live and learn what it is to persevere in spite of our feelings, our obstacles, our challenges. If we can learn to sing in the valley when busyness or exhaustion or discouragement or hopelessness seems to hem us in on every side, then we find that song so much sweeter, so much richer and deeper, and ultimately, so much more glorifying to our Savior.

He, too, experienced the mountaintop on the Mount of Transfiguration. And good ole' Peter wanted to build a little shelter so they could hang out there on that lovely mountain and just bask in the glorious glow. Can you blame him?! But the Lord Jesus came not for the glorious mountaintop but for the salvation of the lowly, harsh, preoccupied, busy, ungrateful, frustrated, worried, overwhelmed men and women trudging along in the valley.

Aren't you thankful that He was willing to come to the valley? Aren't you grateful that He is in the valley still, walking beside you, ready to carry and encourage and strengthen you when the road just seems too hard and too long? Aren't you overjoyed that He is using whatever you are going through for your greater good and His greater glory, for there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that is beyond His sovereign control? As the Dutch theologian, Abraham Kuyper, declared "There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry out, 'Mine!'"

So, as I look at my messy home, I cry out "His!" As I try to encourage (rather than fuss at) my children, I cry out, about each one, with his or her strengths and weaknesses, "His!" As I deal with all the challenges of life, as I pray for dear friends with hard circumstances, as I walk in this valley, I cry out "His, His, His!" And if it is all His, then somehow, someway He will redeem and renew and restore in spite of all our weaknesses and failures.

Many years ago, a few years before his death, my daddy quoted Justice Helms who declared "I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as it is what direction we are going. To reach the port of heaven, we must all sail sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it--but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."

O Lord, help us to sail and not drift! Help us to keep pushing along in the valley when our feelings tell us to quit or let up or give in, for You are there with us, guiding and teaching and helping us all the way. To You be the glory!

Better than Chocolate!

Boy, the mountains have been so beautiful! There is just something about being up here that reminds me anew of the majesty and wonder of God's creation. As I sat on the porch today having a quiet time, the birds sang a chorus that you would not believe! I've never heard such a racket (a lovely one, of course), and it seemed the birds were all trying to outdo one another singing and glorifying their Creator. It has been so terrific to have absolutely no schedule, no long to-do list, no places to go or things to pick up or people to see. Just enjoy one another and the beauty of God's creation... and of course, eat some great meals. Everything seems to taste better up in the mountains!

This reminded me of something I heard the other day. A woman said that she had asked God to give her a deep desire to study His Word. She said she loved chocolate (truly a woman after my own heart) and ate some every single day (and an incredibly wise one to boot). She asked God to help her to hunger after and desire to feast on His Word more than chocolate. I love that! God gave us our desires, our passions, our hopes and dreams, and He clearly, unequivocally gave us chocolate--that supreme food, that elixir of the gods... okay, maybe I'm overdoing it a bit, but He really really did a mighty fine job when He made cocoa and chocolate!

This woman's words reminded me that I am to love absolutely nothing on this earth more than my Lord and His eternal, life-giving Word. Now in all likelihood, none of us would knowingly value food or clothes or cars or success or popularity or comfort or any other thing this world offers more than the Sovereign Lord of the universe. When given the clear choice, we would surely seek the eternal, abundant life He offers over all those substitutes that give only temporary happiness but never eternal satisfaction and joy.

But so often we rush through our days and unknowingly choose to place things and stuff and worldly priorities over Him. We jump up from bed and get going with our busy day and fail to speak to and meet Him first and seek His plans for our day and His guidance and strength He longs to give us. We spend money without asking Him first if this is how He would have us use our time and treasure. We fail to express gratitude for all the daily blessings He showers upon us--from our health to our families to our food to our minds to our homes to our friends and on and on. Have you thanked Him today that you woke up this morning? Have you thanked Him for the ability to breath and to see and to hear and to walk? We grow discontented and focus on the little that we lack rather than the abundance that we possess. We exhibit irritation with those He has given us to love and focus on their weaknesses and shortcomings rather than on loving them unconditionally with the love only He can give. We seek immediate gratification and happiness rather than eternal grace and holiness.

We love our chocolate more than His Word.

So, Lord, I'm asking that You help us to love You and Your Word more than chocolate! I know how fallible, how weak, how prone to wander and waiver, how selfish and superficial we (or at least I) can be, so we know we cannot do it. But You can. Would You give us a love for You and Your Word that trumps all else this sin-sick world can offer? Give us a desire to come to Your banquet table every single day and feast upon Your glorious, life-giving, joy-producing Word. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Ps.34:8)

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul... the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes... the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb." (Ps.19:7-10)

I might add, "more to be desired than the finest of dark chocolate; sweeter than the most scrumptious of chocolate cake!" His Word, for you, might be better and finer and greater than the most beautiful of homes, the most well-behaved of children, the most fabulous of trips, the most perfect of marriages, the most lovely of faces or figures, the most productive and accomplished of days.

Nothing this world can offer can compare to our Lord and to feasting at His table with Him in His Word. For those of us who love to eat (that would be me!), nothing can compare. And no one, no place, no success, no pleasure, nothing can ever satisfy and bring eternal joy like our Creator and His Word. So, will you join me in asking that God would give you a hunger and deep desire for Him and His Word more than anything else in this world? I'll see you at the banquet table! To Him be the glory.

D-Day and V-Day

On this Memorial Day weekend, I thank God for the men and women who have given their very lives to save and preserve the freedoms that we hold so dear. How easily we take this for granted, and yet we literally owe them everything. What a reminder this was to me as I read one of my favorite books of all time, Unbroken, about the remarkable life of Louis Zamperelli (I can't remember how to spell his name--sorry!). As I read of his service in WW II and his horrific imprisonment as POW in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, I was overcome with gratitude and wonder at the incredible strength, bravery, and sacrifices of our armed forces. Might we all stop and give thanks for such men and women who gave so inestimably much for those they would never ever know. And many of them suffered and died never knowing if their ultimate sacrifice would be worth it, and if the cause they died for would ultimately be victorious.

I recently read about something written by Oscar Cullmann, one of the great theologians who was born in Germany but came out of Switzerland during WW II. In his book, Christ and Time, he wrote about the 2 most crucial days in WW II: D-Day and V-Day. He points out that in any war, there is always a battle that determines the outcome of the war. In the Napoleonic Wars, it was Waterloo. In the Civil War, it was Gettsyburg. Sure, the war and bloodshed continued after both of these watershed battles, but after each, the ultimate outcome was clear. There was no doubt as to who would win.

D-Day was such a battle for WW II. On that June day when the Allied forces landed on the beaches in Normandy, everyone on both sides knew that this was the day when it would all be decided. If the Allies could establish a beachhead, they would win the war. If the Nazis could drive the Allies back into the sea, they would win. And praise God that after the terrible loss of life that desperately long day, the Allies established the beachhead. Interestingly, after that battle, Rommel, the head of the Nazi forces, secretly joined the plot to kill Hitler. Rommel knew that Germany had now effectively lost the war, but he also realized that Hitler would never give up and would continue to destroy his nation and her young men.

D-Day decided the outcome of the WW II, but between D-day and V-Day when the war actually ended, the battles and bloodshed and suffering continued unabated. Indeed, there was more death and devastation during that interlude than at any other time. Oscar Cullman commented that "We live between God's D-Day and God's V-Day." Jesus ultimately won the war at Calvary. The decisive battle was fought on the cross over 200o years ago, and the Resurrection proved once and for all that Jesus has defeated sin and death and satan. Satan cannot win the war, for he lost the decisive battle for the salvation of our souls. And one day every single knee will bow to the Lord Jesus. The kingdoms of the this world will become the kingdoms of our God, and the Lord will reign forever and ever! Alleluia!

But until that glorious day, we still live in between God's D-Day and V-Day. We still live in a fallen world where the innocent are murdered, where loved ones struggle with sickness, where pain and disappointment and fear and frustration seem to have the upper hand. But the Resurrection assures us that Christ will win the war, and we will reign with Him forever. Tony Compolo expressed it this way as he contemplated the events of 9-11: "We live in that anticipation of victory. So when we see evil rear its ugly head, when we see the horrors of of the World Trade buildings, we recognize the setback. We recognize the evil that was at work there. But we know that those evil forces have won a battle in a cause that they will ultimately lose. And it am here to declare that it is better to lose a battle in a cause that ultimately wins than to win a battle in a cause that ultimately loses... That is the good news of the gospel."

So, on this Memorial Day weekend, might we thank the Lord for the courage and sacrifice of those countless ones who died so that there could one day be a V-Day and a joyous future of freedom for all of us. And then might their sacrifice remind us of another even greater D-Day when Christ fought and defeated the assembled forces of satan and evil. We still live in between, and the days in between can be hard and fearful and discouraging. But that glorious V-Day is coming when He shall return and all, absolutely ALL, in creation shall be made eternally right and perfect. Never forget that after Good Friday came Easter morning! So even now, we say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" And to Him be the glory forever.

Ants and our Thoughts

Right now I am sitting up at the lobby in the Inn near our cottage in the mountains. And I forgot my reading glasses, so if this blog is filled with typos, blame it on my eyesight! We arrived late last night, racing all our stuff inside just barely in time to beat the raging thunderstorm. As I unloaded the groceries, I noticed we had quite a few tiny squatters in the kitchen who had already staked out their claim to the kitchen. Okay, I'm trying to be positive--they were teensy ants and there were tons and tons of them! Yuck! I was squishing and spraying and smashing to beat the band, but they just kept coming. The war continued unabated today, and I can't decide if it's worse to have ants in our food or pesticide permeating everything. Life is full of dilemmas.

But I have to hand it to those ants, they are such resourceful, persevering little creatures. No matter how hard you hit 'em, they just keep coming back. Since I don't have my glasses on, I can't look up the exact verse, but I love the passage in Proverbs that urges us to "Go to the ant, O sluggard, see how she works all day..." (or something to that effect!). God can teach us through all of creation--even the lowly little ant. When I'm tempted to give in to the "slough of despond" or just go with the flow and put my feet up, I think of that industrious little creature working away, finding it's way to the smallest crumb of food, undeterred by any obstacle (or pesticide or slapping hand). Help us not to quit, Lord!

I also thought about how our thoughts can multiply like those pesky, determined ants. I have been reading a book recently about the power of our thought life, and I've been so convicted how frequently our thoughts can sabotage God's best for us. Just a few short quotes: "Our defeat or victory begins with what we think; and if we guard our thoughts, we shall not have much trouble anywhere else along that line." Vance Havner "All things be ready if our thoughts be so." Shakespeare "The mind is it's own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell; a hell of heaven." John Milton

You know, it's really true, what you think about determines what you become. Thoughts ultimately and always begat actions. And we can choose our thoughts. I tend to forget that! I tend to just let thoughts flow into my mind during the course of the day, and I can start to dwell on those thoughts which are negative and discouraging and worrisome. Isn't that a woman's prerogative?! But when we focus on the faults of our children or the shortcomings of our spouse or the unfairness of some situation or the fearful unknowns facing us, we become critical or ungrateful or bitter or anxious. But God has told us He has not given us such a spirit! He has given us "a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind."

His Holy Spirit is within us as believers, and do we not believe that He is capable of handling any crises or challenge facing us or those that we love? Perhaps we need to tell ourselves a hundred times a day "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13 We all know that verse, but yet we choose to dwell not upon our all-sufficient Lord but upon our insufficient selves. It is true--I can do nothing. But He can do ALL. I cannot handle the pressures and pains of this life. But He can triumph over any and every enemy so that no matter how hapless or hopeless the situation, He brings ultimate good and glory out of it.

But it starts with our thinking. Will we choose to focus, to dwell upon Him and His Word or will we continue to contemplate our grievances and worries and inabilities? Will we ask Him to direct and inform our thoughts or will we just allow our thoughts to meander along with our fallible feelings and emotions? Like those tiny ants, our thoughts will multiply. The question is, what thoughts are multiplying? We have the choice--the mind of Christ or the mind of fallen man. Help us to choose to Christ, to choose life, to choose the fruits of the Spirit that accompany a mind preoccupied with Christ--joy, peace, patience, gentleness... The choice is ours--each day, each hour. About what are you thinking? Choose Christ and to Him be the glory.

Facing the Lion

“In the United States, mountain lions are the animal regarded as the number one human

predator.

“Author and naturalist Craig Childs was on foot doing research on the lions in Arizona’s

Blue Range Wilderness. As he approached a water hole from downwind, he spotted a

mountain lion drinking water. When it finished drinking, it walked slowly away into a

cluster of junipers.

“After a few minutes, Childs walked to the water hole to identify tracks in the mud and

record notes. Just before he bent down to look closer, he scanned the perimeter, and there

among the shadows of the junipers, 30 feet away, he saw a pair of eyes. The lion walked

into the sunlight toward him. Childs pulled his knife and stared into the eyes of the lion.

He knew what he must do. He also knew what he must not do. He wrote:

“Mountain lions are known to take down animals six, seven, and eight times their size.

Their method: attack from behind, clamp onto the spine at the base of the prey’s skull,

snap the spine. The top few vertebrae are the target, housing respiratory and motor skills

that cease instantly when the cord is cut ... Mountain lions have stalked people for miles

... killing them from behind ...

“I hold firm to my ground and do not even hint that I will back off ... The mountain lion

begins to move to my left, and I turn, keeping my face on it, my knife at my right side. It

paces to my right, trying to get around on my other side, to get behind me. I turn right,

staring at it ... My stare is about the only defense I have.

“Childs maintained that defense as the mountain lion continued to try to provoke him to

run, turning left, then right, back and forth again and again, getting as close as ten feet

from him. Finally, the standoff ends. The lion turns and walks away — defeated by a man

who knew what to do in its presence.”

I heard Dr. David Jeremiah quote this well known naturalist the other day in connection with the spiritual armor God has given us, as described in Eph. 6. What a vivid reminder of the position we are to take with the armor God has given us as we go to war against satan. In Eph. 6 Paul repeatedly urges us to "stand." "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Eph.6:11) "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (6:13) "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth..." (6:14) God calls us to stand and face our enemy. He does not command to rush out blindly against our adversary. He does not tell us to march resolutely forward and onward. And He does not tell us to turn around and run away as fast as we can or to slink away in fear and trembling. No, He commands us here "to stand" and "to stand firm."

As with the mountain lion, we are called to be watchful and be ready and to stand firm, facing forward. Our shield does us no good if we are fleeing away from the enemy. Our sword is useless in a pell mell retreat. Our breastplate cannot protect us from behind. But if, in the day of struggle and strain and stress, we refuse the temptation to give in and give out and instead stand firm in Him and in His power, God's weaponry will strengthen and protect us.

I don't know about you, but, sadly, my tendency is to run away when the fires of difficulty and disappointment start to burn in my life. Don't we all want to run away to something? Run to food; run to shopping; run to a pity party; run to alcohol; run to busyness and accomplishment. But God does not call us to run away but to stand firm. To face the enemy in the power of God's might and fully rely upon Him to strengthen and deliver us. To stand firm and not to wallow in discouragement and negative thoughts of defeat and despair.

Dr. Jeremiah writes that "If we don't stand our ground, we are giving that ground to the enemy. Every time we compromise our spiritual standards or fail to walk in righteousness, we are giving ground to the enemy. We are allowing him to have a bit more influence in our life than before. Our task is not to defeat him--Christ already defeated him at the empty tomb. Our task is to stand firm against his attempts to destroy our credibility or God's credibility in our sight. Anything he can do to weaken or destroy our influence for Christ, he will do. But our perseverance--if we are standing firm in the armor of God--is guaranteed."

Satan is a roaring lion--he is that stalking, vicious mountain lion--who seeks to destroy and devour believers and their faith and their testimony. (I Peter 5:8) But when we refuse to give in to fear and discouragement and fleeting emotions and instead stand firm in God's Word, satan will flee-- "Resist him, firm in your faith..." (I Pet. 5:9)

Lord, help us to stand firm in You and in Your powerful Word! Help us to stop giving in and running away to all those sorry substitutes that might bring us momentary relief but that always always always disappoint and ultimately destroy. Thank You that You are the Lion of Judah and that You will always always always conquer in the end! In Your victorious Name, we stand! And to You be the glory!

Getting Lost!

We were going to the zoo for a third grade field trip. Two other moms and me headed down Route 1 for the straight shot all the way to Asheboro to the NC Zoo. The only real turn was the Zoo Highway that took you into the zoo from Asheboro. All we had to do was make sure that we veered the correct way when Highway 64 split from 1. How hard could that be? Even I, with my truly pathetic record of getting lost any and everywhere, could figure that one out. Besides, I've been to the zoo lots of times, and the directions are so clear I didn't even need to print off goggle directions! (though I did, just in case).

Yet somehow, someway, we managed to get lost. We were driving along, talking and chatting about everything under the sun, and suddenly I looked around and thought, "Hmm, I don't recall going through downtown Southern Pines to get to the zoo." When I pointed out that I don't think I had ever gone this way before, we pulled over and discovered, to our horror, that we were way way way off the right track! No, we were definitely not supposed to go to Southern Pines. We had gone almost directly south and we were supposed to go almost directly west!

And it all started when we missed one tiny little fork in the road. We somehow missed the signs pointing to Route 64 going west and instead we stayed on Route 1 going south. When we left Raleigh, the roads were one and the same, and even when they split, they were so close together, but with each mile we traveled, we went further and further away from where we needed to be. Such a small, seemingly insignificant difference at the time. We could have walked the space between the two roads... at the beginning. But within a mile or two, each road headed in entirely different directions, and their destination was in radically different parts of the state.

And all because we missed one little tiny fork in the road as a result of inattentiveness and preoccupation.

Now, in our case, it all worked out fine. The children had gone on the bus, and while we were about an hour late (a trip that should have taken an hour and a half took us well over 2 and a half hours), they had plenty of chaperones so everyone was taken having fun in the zoo while we traversed the state. And we laughed an awful lot about it and had a good old time. But I couldn't help but be reminded how quickly as believers we can go off course. We think we are headed in the right direction, so we just go on autopilot. Life can be incredibly busy, so we start missing quiet times and forget to pray. A day here or there where we fail to read God's Word and, hey, the world doesn't come to an end, does it? The next thing you know, we haven't sought out the Lord's guidance, haven't gone to Him in His Word to be encouraged and comforted and convicted, and we suddenly look up and we are miles and miles away from where we know we ought to be and want to be. Preoccupation, busyness, exhaustion, discouragement, pride--all kinds of things silently, stealthily, cause us to miss God's still, small voice urging us to follow Him and remain in His love. And then we wonder how on earth we got to this place that seems so devoid of peace and joy and contentment.

But here's the good news: God is just one decision away from returning to Him and getting back on track and back on the right path that leads to the abundant life. We can choose to keep going the same way... and get further and further away. Or we can choose to stop, seek His forgiveness and turn around. It's never too late. It's never too hopeless. It's never too far. For He is there, wherever we go--whether Asheboro or Southern Pines! He stands ready and waiting for each of us to come to our senses, take stock of where we are and turn around and seek Him in His Word and in friendship with Him.

Don't go any further down the wrong road--it will never get you where you want to go, no matter how alluring it seems, no matter how close it seems to the right road, no matter how tempting it is to just keep going and hope for the best. Trust me, Route 1 will NOT get you to the zoo. But Route 64 will, and so, by the grace of God, we will choose to stop wringing our hands over the mistakes that led us the wrong way and we will simply turn around. Seek Him. He is seeking you. If you don't believe me, look to the cross and see how infinitely far He came and infinitely far He went to find you and save you. The journey with Him will be so worth it, go get back on the right road with the Saviour. To Him be the glory.

For Gladys

I've just returned from the funeral of a dear lady named Gladys Dimmick. She was the longtime secretary/assistant for Judge Dickson Phillips whom I clerked for right after law school when he was the on the 4th Circuit Ct. of Appeals. I always knew Gladys, as well, just sweet ole' Gladys. Always kind, thoughtful, helpful, good natured. But how little I really knew of her remarkable life! She was one of 10 children, and her parents were apparently wonderful, hard working folks who struggled and worked hard manuel labor jobs to provide for their 10 beloved children. The Judge spoke at the funeral and said all her long life, Gladys referred to her parents with incredible love and respect, and she honored them and their memory all her life. It made me think of my own dear parents and their great legacy of love and wisdom and honor. O how I pray that my children would so speak of my husband and me when we are gone, but, frankly, I so often can see only my myriad flaws and weaknesses as a parent, wife and woman of God. Help me, Lord Jesus!

But I was also struck and convicted by how little I knew of Gladys' remarkable life--she was one of the first women to serve as an air traffic controller during World War II. She was stationed in Norfolk, I believe, and served as part of the Navy. She loved the Navy and was so proud of her service that she wanted that great naval hymn to be sung at her funeral. She worked all her life and loved what she did and invariably maintained her good humor and gentle ways and yet was able to always be on top of things. She was sharp and bright and yet so humble and gentle. You'll never read about her in People magazine or the New York Times, and yet what a quietly ordinary, yet extraordinary life.

I guess I write all this, because I'm sad that I didn't make more of an effort to keep up with her or learn of her life. How easy it is to get so busy and preoccupied in our own lives that we miss the joy of really knowing and focusing on others. Every life is remarkable in it's own way, and our Saviour died for each of those precious, unique lives. How, then, can we not seek to know and care for and invest, even in some small way, in those lives? Even if it simply means that we genuinely look into the face of those bagging our groceries and give them a smile and moment's full attention. Or that we take a minute to pray for that harried clerk or exhausted mom. Or that we jot that quick note or make that phone call to encourage that lonely older person or that one bowed down with life's cares. Christ died for that homeless man on the street and that rude driver who cut you off and that forgotten woman at the nursing home just as surely as He died for the likes of you and me. Forgive me Lord for how often I fail to act on the Spirit's promptings when it comes to showing love or care for Your dearly loved children.

So right now, I thank You Lord for dear Gladys and the difference she made in so many lives. I thank You that she is now reunited with her beloved husband and with so many others enjoying the glories of heaven. And Lord, give me a glimpse of Your heart and enable me to love as You love, care as You care and forgive as You forgive. As John Wooden once said, help me to "Forget favors given; remember those received." Only a heart preoccupied with Christ and not self can do that. Lord, I know I cannot do it... but You can, and You live within me. So Lord, empty me of me, myself and I and fill me with glorious You! And to You, and You alone, be all the glory. Amen.

Graduations: Changes and Challenges

Our oldest daughter has graduated from college! Wow, I know it sounds so cliche, but it truly does seem like yesterday I was crying when she graduated from preschool! I can remember vividly my sorrow at the fact that she was growing up and away from me and getting ready to enter elementary school--boy, how little I knew how quickly the years would fly by. And now she is a godly young woman who sets her own schedule and earns her own money and, incredibly, does her own laundry (something I cannot say for the rest of her siblings!). It is such a bittersweet feeling--such joy at God's undeserved goodness and faithfulness as evidenced in my daughter's life, but yet mingled with sadness that she is grown and entering a new chapter of her life that will increasingly relegate me to the sideline. I don't like that at all. In fact, I don't think I like graduations!

I don't like change. Never have. Transitions have always been, well, to put it in as positive a way as possible, challenging for me. I'd just as soon travel along in a nice, secure, unchanging rut all my life. Keep the people I love safe and close by me. Avoid hard, unpredictable challenges and changes that threaten to swamp my little boat or, more frighteningly, the boats of those I love. Keep 'em close. Keep 'em safe. Keep 'em successful and secure.

Ever notice God doesn't work that way? Just as soon as we start to get comfortable, He changes things, moves us around, throws in those curve balls. He refuses to let us live in that rut, comfortable, secure, and usually utterly independent of Him. Put me in that rut and the next thing you know, I'm just forging ahead on autopilot. I somehow seem to get so busy zipping along in my rut, that I don't have time to read His Word or seek Him in prayer. I'm so busy with my own comfortable agenda, that I fail to seek His will and His way. I get so preoccupied with my little world that I forget to be preoccupied with Him and His greatness. And then I wonder why I lose my joy, my peace, my patience, my love. I've stopped abiding in Him.

So I thank Him that He sends us challenges and changes to shake us and wake us. I'm reminded anew how great a sinner I am and yet how great a Saviour He is, and He floods me with gratitude. I remember that I can do nothing, absolutely nothing, apart from Him, but in Him, I can do all things (Phil.4:13). I recall that He wants to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2Cor.10:5) so that I, moment by moment, surrender my thoughts to Him and choose to focus on that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent (Phil.4:8). Even in the midst of upheaval and change and difficulty, I can choose what to think, and when I think of Him and His Word and His ways, then those challenges prove a means of growing closer to and stronger in Him. God doesn't send those changes to swamp our boat but to push our boat nearer to Him and enjoy the abundant life sailing along with Him.

I am reminded of one of my favorite passages: I Thess. 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Lord, this is what we choose today. And we know that tomorrow, with it's new set of changes and challenges, we will have to choose to live out again, moment by moment, I Thess. 5:16-18. But help us choose to be joyful even when those challenges make us uncomfortable or even sorrowful. Help us to pray every day, every moment. Make prayer our first response and not our last resort. And Lord, make us grateful people! Help us to see Your gracious hand behind every blessing in our lives and then help us to express our overflowing gratitude to You, our extravagant Lord. Might our lives be living, daily songs of joy, prayer and praise as we sail along with You. And to You be all the glory forever and ever. Amen

God's plans and our graduates!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'" How many times have we heard that verse and been filled with warm, fuzzy feelings that God holds His plans for each of us in His omnipotent hands? What a comfort and encouragement this verse has been for so many of us.

And yet, how often do I chafe at God's plans when they are not MY plans? I love this verse as long as His plans line up with what I hope and want for my life, and more particularly, my children's lives. But, boy, when His plans seem to be diverging and missing MY mark, then I can so quickly act like a spoiled child, fussing and fretting that things are not working out the way I had hoped or dreamed. Surely this could not be Your plan, Lord, we cry out when illness or injury blindside us. Surely You are mistaken this time, Lord, when our child doesn't get into the right school or makes the wrong kinds of friends or takes an unexpected detour. How on earth could this be the best way, Lord, when finances crumble or relationships struggle or life disappoints.

Yesterday a little sparrow inexplicably found his way into our kitchen through a window I had cracked open to let in the cool, sweet smelling outdoors air. Honestly, I cannot figure out how he managed to navigate such an insignificant little opening, but he did. (And if my 14 year old son had not come home, that little fellow might still be desperately flying around our kitchen! My daughter and her friends and I managed only to shriek and run away in fear as if that tiny little sparrow was going to peck us to death!) I wonder what he found so alluring about our kitchen that he determined to sneak in through that cracked window? He had all of the freedom and beauty of a warm spring day outside, yet that little bird somehow figured that life would be better in that mysterious place on the other side of the glass. Sadly, as soon as he found his way in, he discovered that what looked like a utopia, was actually a terrifying prison, full of big scary people running and screaming. He futilely flew into the windows again and agin in a desperate attempt to get back outside to the freedom God had planned for and given him.

We cranked all the windows wide open, and opened both kitchen doors to the outside, but even so, the little guy confusedly flew away from us and into walls and furniture--everywhere but the one place God has provided for him with everything he needed: the out of doors. Finally, after much gentle coaxing and patient directing, our son got the frantic bird outside. I can only imagine his relief and joy as his wings beat at the open air and sunshine. God had a perfect plan for that little sparrow, and while he might have thought our kitchen looked like a far better idea, God's plans were ultimately the best, pleasing and perfect (in the words of Romans).

How often are we that little bird--sure that somehow God is holding out on us and that His plans simply cannot compare to the bigger and better dreams we harbor for ourselves or for those we love. But His Word promises us that His plans are for our ultimate best and His ultimate glory. He promises that "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." (Rom 8:28). Psalms tells us over and over that God is good and faithful and loving and kind and all His ways are perfect.

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is--will we trust God and His Word or will we trust in ourselves and our fleeting feelings? When things don't go our way, will we choose to trust that the God who sees all, knows all, and can do all has the best plan or will we insist on trusting in our limited vision and plans? Trusting in God and His plans results in peace and joy, for no matter the outcome, our faith is in Him and His absolute faithfulness. Trusting in ourselves, well, that's pretty much a recipe for bitterness and anxiety and frustration.

I have seen it over and over again in my life, and how I thank the Lord that despite the fact I am such a slow learner, He still doesn't give up on me! Our oldest daughter is about to graduate from college in a few days, and His plan for her has been so perfect--she has absolutely loved college, her friendships, her involvement in young life, her classes.... It has been a joyous 4 years, and all I can simply do is thank our God of extravagant grace for putting her there!

So when it came time for our 2nd child to go to college, our plan was for him to go to the same school. Surely that would be the best plan, we thought, and we had a million reasons supporting our hopes for him. But that was not God's plan. How well I remember our disappointment and confusion when God's plans didn't track with our plan. I wept when we dropped him off at this strange new school that seemed so far away, so different, so difficult, so uncertain. What on earth was God up to?

But, as Elizabeth Elliott always said, "With acceptance lies peace." We chose to accept and trust that which at first we could not see or understand. And God has blessed him at that school abundantly beyond anything we could have ever hoped or imagine. It has not been the easiest road for him, but it has, beyond a shadow of a doubt, been the best. We now thank God for this wonderful place that the Lord handpicked for our son and that, like it was for our daughter, has proven to be such an example of His undeserved grace and goodness. I so often think of that desperate father asking Jesus to heal his son--"Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!" Lord, we believe, and we trust, but help us with all our unbelief and with our changeable, wandering hearts!

God's best for our daughter was at one school, and we thank Him and praise Him. And God's best for our son was somewhere completely different, and we likewise thank Him and praise Him. Like that little bird, what our eyes can see and what we dream for may not be for our ultimate good. But when we choose to trust His plans, even when they seem incomprehensible or hard, we will fly in the freedom of peace and joy that comes from being right in the midst of His will.

So Lord, help us and help our precious children and college graduates to fly, help them to soar as they trust in You and Your plans and Your ways. Forgive us for so often living lives of cramped anxiety and frustration and bitterness because we want our own way and that way appears so inviting and pleasant... but always results in disappointment and distress. The wide blue sky of Your perfect plans and dreams for each of Your children beckons. O Lord, help them to fly with joyful trust and hopeful dependence upon You, the One who died to secure for every one of us an eternal and perfect and glorious future in heaven... forever and ever and ever. So to You be the glory!

Christ interceding for you!

"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is is the One who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." Rom.8:34

"He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." Heb.7:25

That is incredible! The Creator, the Sustainer, the Redeemer lives to intercede for us! At this very moment, He is praying for you and for me. In the middle of the night, when anxiety and fear threaten to swamp your fragile boat, He is praying for you. As you sit by that sick bed, He is praying for you. Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever sorrow or joys, whatever hardships or blessings, the omnipotent, omniscient Saviour is praying for you. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that He cannot do or change or redeem.

Oswald Sanders writes that "Our High Priest is able to save us completely. There is no personal problem for which He has no solution, no enemy from whom He cannot rescue, no sin from which He cannot deliver--because He ever lives to make intercession for us... we could not live the Christian life for a day were it not that He lives to make intercession for us." Amen! This reminds me of one of one of my favorite quotes from G. K. Chesteron that "The Christian life has been tried and found wanting; rather, it has been found difficult and left untried."

We absolutely cannot do it on our own. It is the impossible life. But with Christ interceding for us, the impossible becomes possible, and for indeed, "With Christ, all things are possible."

Robert Murray McCheyne declared "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. he is praying for me."

When the walls feel like they are closing in, listen for Christ's voice interceding for you. When you lack the strength or the desire to persevere, know that just a breath away, Christ is praying for you. When discouragement or fear or inadequacy loom, it is as if He is in the very next room praying with power for you. And if Christ prays for us, what more do we need?! To Him be the glory!

Buttercups and gratitude

When the sun starts to rise

And I open my eyes

You are good, so good

In the heat of the day

With each stone that I lay

You are good, so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell You I'm grateful again

When the moon climbs high

You are good

When the road starts to turn

Around each bend I've learned

You are good, so good

And when somebody's hand

Holds me up helps me stand

You are so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell You I'm grateful again

'Cause its more than enough

Just to know I am loved

And You are so good

So how can I thank You

What can I bring

What can these poor hands

Lay at the feet of a King

I'll sing You a love song

It's all that I have

To tell You I'm grateful

For holding my life in Your hands

When it's dark and it's cold

And I can't feel my soul

You are good

When the world is gone gray

And the rain's here to stay

You are still good

So with every breath I take in

I'll tell You I am grateful again

And the storm may swell

Even then it's well and You are good

"You are Good" by Nicole Nordeman

My wonderful daughter put this song on my ipod, and what a great reminder it is of the goodness and greatness of our Lord--in season and out of season. He is good when the sun shines brightly and life seems to be smiling upon us, and He is good when the dark clouds hang heavy with rain and life seems to be disjointed and discouraging. How much I take for granted each and every day--the gift of waking up in the morning with strength to live another day to His glory. A hug from my 10 year old. The ability to walk with my dog and eyes to see the brilliant crimson flashes of the cardinals flying from branch to branch. The smell of freshly mown grass or baking chocolate chip cookies (yum!!). The warmth of friendship. The sound of wind blowing through the trees. A great book and comfortable bed after a long day. The joy of worshipping and singing praise songs in church. Going on a trip. Coming home after a trip. Laughter. Wonder. Gratitude. Warm memories. The gift of shared joys and sorrows.

There is so much for which to thank our Lord. What a difference in our perspective when we pause and give thanks rather than continuing to rush through our day, busy and preoccupied and productive but without the depth of joy that comes from gratitude. I recently heard David Jeremiah talk about the importance of having "space" in our lives. He defined space as the difference between our "limit" and our "load." As our load rises ever higher and higher towards our limit, we lose joy and peace and perspective. And like so many of us, I seem determined to cram more and more "load" into my life in an effort to get it all done, but along the way, those precious relationships, with God and with others, can be compromised and sacrificed. Dr. Jeremiah said something to the effect that "If you want to finish the race with grace, you must have space." While he was not talking about thankfulness and gratitude to God, I really believe that slowing down to recognize the Lord's goodness and grace in our lives and consciously choosing to thank Him will result in the space that brings grace in our lives. Thank Him for those dear and irreplaceable loved ones in our lives. Thank Him for the priceless gift of the Lord Jesus. Thank Him for His presence and His forgiveness and His strength. Thank Him for the countless daily blessings that give our lives richness and vitality.

How many times this week have I failed to see all the manifold blessings of God He has extravagantly poured out upon me and my loved ones? As I was walking our sweet dog, Moses, the other day, we came to a large open area on the greenway where the grass on both sides of the trail was covered in neon yellow buttercups. As we walked through this field of nearly blinding yellow blossoms, I had to stop and thank the Lord for making such beauty--and out of a bunch of weeds! No one placed the seeds of those buttercups there. No one watered or fertilized them. Just the Lord of the universe planted and cared for them so that His children might walk past them and marvel! Why yellow? Why flowers? Why beauty? Because that is the kind of God we serve--He delights to bring joy and wonder and gladness to the hearts of His own. Yet how often do we rush right by, focused on our worries or agendas or concerns? And we miss it... miss that He is good, so good.

Lord, help us to see. Help us to thank. Help us to praise--even "when it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul" for still "You are so good." Help us to be grateful for and love without limits those You have placed in our lives. Help us not to miss the buttercups You lovingly, extravagantly plant along the highways of our lives. And then might we stop and praise the One who made them and placed them there out of His great and glorious love. For You are good, so good and to You be the glory forever.