From slogging to soaring

     To be such a short month, February sure is a long month.  Always has been.  The change of seasons is a glorious gift from God.  Who doesn't love the smell of spring or the hot beauty of the summer sun or the refreshing crispness of fall?  Autumn leaves--wow, what a Creator!  And winter... winter's good, too.  Loved the snow last weekend.  When you really think about it, snowflakes are one of those God-gifts that blow you away when you truly examine them.  Such delicate, unique little packages of white glory floating down from our Father.  Yes, thank You, Lord, for Your relentless and ever changing gifts.  Just about the time you start to grow immune to spring's glory, along comes summer.  And when you feel you just can't sweat through one more searing day, well, here comes the first brisk fall day.
     But February... sometimes this just seems like a slogging month.  As in slog on through it, day after day, after day.  The excitement of December is past.  January's fresh new start and cold days now forgotten.  Even Valentine's Day--always a great excuse for chocolate--history.
    And now, as always, it's slogging time.  Another "wintry mix" today.  ugh.  I'm really starting to dislike that combination of words.  "Wintry" is okay.  Makes me think of sleigh bells and hot chocolate by the fire.  I'm good with "mix" too--as in mix up the ingredients to make a cake or "let's add something new to the mix."  Fine words, both of them.
     But, Lord have mercy, put them together... and you get school delays and closings, traffic snarls, long lines at the grocery store, messy laundry rooms, and slips and falls on the icy pavement.  Sigh. And it always seems like February is the longest short month in the year for the dreaded "wintry mix" and just generally slogging through 28 more days of a winter you're ready to leave behind.
    I think Shakespeare was referring to February when he wrote "Now is the winter of our discontent."  No doubt about it.  
     So Lord, the time has come to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and come to You by faith rather than wallow in our feelings.  Boy, it's so easy just to give in to our emotions rather than walking by faith in our forever faithful Father.  And why on earth would we choose to do that?  Why do we choose to slog along by ourselves when He wants us to soar in Him?
     I just read this morning: "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" (Ps.32:10-11)  It's a choice--to be glad in Him, for in Christ there is always abundant grounds for rejoicing and shouting for joy.
     And I also read this morning the ever-faithful "do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:6-7)  
     Thank You, Father, even for February and wintry mixes.  Thank You that You are in control of ALL things, and You tell us to be anxious about NO things but to come to You with thanksgiving and prayer for ALL things.  I can't see much room for equivocating in those words!  Definitely no room for my grumbling and slogging and fretting.  Nope, time to leave slogging behind and start soaring in Him.
     So February... bring in on!  My Father's in control of every one of your days, February, and since He's the Author even of wintry mixes, they are a gift from Him.  Sometimes I can't see it... but that's why He's given us eyes of faith. Because with God, every day is a new opportunity to rejoice in Him as we walk through this adventure of life.  To God be the glory.

My feet too

      We’ve been studying John 13 in Bible study this past week where Jesus and the disciples gathered for one last supper, one last meal before His crucifixion.  Jesus has less than 24 hours left to live.  The disciples don’t realize this, of course, but Jesus does, and He chooses to spend these last precious hours with His beloved disciples, fellowshipping around a table... and, incredibly, washing their filthy feet.  This was a necessary job in their day as their sandal-shod feet got dirty as they walked about all day on dusty roads.  But this was a job reserved for the most menial of servants.  And yet the King of Glory, got down on His knees, took up a towel, and washed and served others hours before He knew He was about to tortured and killed.  Incredible.  What act of service and love could ever possibly be beneath any of us if this is what the Sovereign Lord would do?  

But, I thought I might share a few things that we talked about yesterday in Bible study, for they have certainly been on my heart and mind.  So if you were at Bible study yesterday, my apologies for repeating myself!  

Can we all for just a moment imagine we are gathered around that table--that table of fellowship at the Last Supper?  Seriously, really try to picture JC there, His outer garment hung on a nearby chair, a long towel about His waist.  He’s washed the other dis’s feet, and now He slides over on His knees to you and looks up with an ever so slight smile, an inviting, loving smile.  

But you look down at your filthy feet.  Caked with the dirt of those harsh words you spoke to your child this morning.  Toenails encrusted with the mud of that little “white” lie you told.  The grime and muck of your pride in trying to climb ahead of someone else by putting them down and puffing up yourself.  Not only are your feet filthy looking, they smell horrible from all that greed and envy harbored in your heart.  

“Not my feet, Lord,” you say.  “Maybe let me clean them up a bit.  Let me wash them off  with a few good deeds or a few achievements and accolades.”  

Or perhaps you think your feet are just too far gone.  No way--not even JC could clean up this long-encrusted filth. 

     Or maybe you’re tempted to just stand up and walk away.  “I don’t have time for this,” you mutter.  “I’ve got too much to do, and I’ll just cover up my feet in these shoes of busyness and achievement and striving.”  

Or maybe you look around and figure, “Well, my feet look a whale of a lot better than Ashlie’s or Liz’s, so I’m good.  Jesus, why don’t You go work on her filthy feet rather than mine!”

All the while, JC kneels in front of u, waiting, longing to gently and lovingly wash, dry, and restore your feet and your heart. Because you see, the Kingdom of God is not just about serving and giving--it’s also about receiving... and before we can go out and serve God, we must always first receive from God. We have to receive His salvation first and foremost.  But then we daily have to receive His cleansing, receive His Word, receive His grace, receive His love, receive His power.  We can’t do this on our own.  If we try to go out there and serve and love in our own strength, we’ll just burn out.  We always first have to receive from Him and then we can serve.

So Jesus is kneeling before you.  Waiting.  Will you turn away from the kneeling Sovereign and go your own way into the darkness?  Like Judas--who chose to leave the warmth and light of fellowship with the other disciples and chose to leave forever the Light of the World when he abruptly left the supper that night to betray the Lord?  

Will you say, “Nope. Too busy today, Lord,” and head out on your own, figuring you can handle this all by yourself today? 

      Or will you receive His grace and His love?  Will you say, “Yes, Lord” and enjoy the cleansing and freedom from sin and shame that only He can give.  If you’ve never said “Yes” to Him and asked Him to cleanse you from sin and be your Savior, might today be the day!  Might the sight of the kneeling Sovereign Savior break your heart and cause you to say, “Yes, Lord.”

And if He is our Savior, might we continually say yes to Him by daily coming for cleansing of that day’s dirt of our harsh tongue or impatience or jealousy or selfishness.  Daily coming to Him for strength, wisdom, grace, and love for that day’s needs.  

And when we are cleansed, fortified, and filled by Him, might we choose to serve as He served and love as He loved.  The world says we are blessed if we get ahead or our children succeed or we have a perfect body or we enjoy unlimited finances.  But that’s not the path to happiness--never has been, never will be.  If we need proof of that, just look around and witness the misery of so many folks who seem  to have it all... like Hollywood, often a picture of restlessness and emptiness--so many possessions but so little peace.  So much fame and so little joy.  

Because joy comes not from having it all but from having all of Him--of the kneeling, sovereign Savior.  Jesus says that the path to true happiness and blessedness consists not in stuff but in servanthood.  And not in wildly doing whatever we feel like but in obeying and doing what we know is True. And finally, not in having others idolize us but in us loving others.  

So today, might we receive Him, receive all of Him--His cleansing, His grace, His power, His love for this day’s needs and challenges, and then go out there and serve and love in the power of our kneeling Sovereign. 

Yes, Lord... my feet too.  Thank You, Jesus. 

To God, the kneeling Sovereign Savior,  be all the glory.

Down on Downton Abbey

     Can I just say that I am in a slightly bad mood?  Actually, I'm really quite upset... and it's all because of my addiction to the TV show on PBS--"Downton Abbey."  I admit it, yes, I'm addicted to a TV show--pathetic--and I probably need to attend some sort of support group to help me get over this.  I'm writing this today (monday) but not posting it until tomorrow just in case some of you who watch it are just not quite up to rehashing the whole sad, sordid tale.  I know I'm not.
     If you have never watched Downton Abbey, do not, I repeat, DO NOT start now.  It will break your heart in a million different ways.  This season has just been the worst in that department--killing people--good people--off right and left. Nope, don't start now... and anyway, the season just ended last night... and the season for this series only seems to last a day and a half.  What's the deal with that?  Maybe they figure we just can't handle the angst any longer.
     Not to mention, the show airs at 9 on Sunday night and is usually over by 10.  This is not optimum as you start your week off feeding your addiction.  But then, what's this?   They trick us the last two weeks and have it run for two hours--so you're just ruined the next day by staying up so late... and crying your eyes out to boot.  And I thought I liked PBS.
     So, just for the record, that new couple that brought in last night from Scotland should make everyone feel better about their marriages and relationships.  Good night.  They made that movie "War of the Roses" look like "Love Story."  And the wife, Susan?  Mercy, the rest of us moms look like Mother Teresa compared to her.  I'm actually starting to feel a little bit better about myself.
     And also, just for the record, why couldn't they kill off that new hussy maid, Edna?  What's the deal with her?  My blood pressure shot up every time she wormed her way into the room... with Branson, of course.  Geez.
     I purposefully stopped watching at 10:30, because I had heard rumors, unconfirmed of course, but still pretty reliable, that things were not going to end well.  And, O brother, they didn't.  I'm not even going there.  Not even going to utter the words, but we all know what happened.  And it was TERRIBLE.  If you don't know, then, trust me, you don't want to know.  Just assume everyone goes happily off into the sunset.
     My oldest daughter, who is also addicted (but who is normally a very stable, well adjusted, wonderful person except for this horrible addiction) had already announced weeks ago that she would never watch the show again after this season, because she sensed what was coming.  Yes, PBS, the TERRIBLE event which shall-not-be-named is costing you viewers next year!  Maybe you better think about that next time before you break our hearts and ruin our week.
      I may just join my daughter and boycott the show next year.  That'll show 'em.  Because we all know addictions are awful things.  And TV is generally a huge waste of time.  And I should be loving my family and getting things done rather than glued to a TV set for two hours.  And weeping over imaginary TV characters is not generally a healthy thing.
     So Downton Abbey--goodbye. I'm done forever watching and weeping. You've seen the last of me.

    Nah.... wonder when the new season starts?
    Lord, thanks for putting up with me and all my foolishness.
    To God be the glory.

Moses' Three Desires

     Okay, I know I've talked about this before, but here is sweet old Moses, seeking the light this morning!  He loves to help me with Bible study lectures, for when I move from room to room, he follows along, giving needed support and encouragement.  When I leave the kitchen to head into the dining room, well, he laboriously rises from his comfortable bed and follows along... always searching for those patches of sunshine splashing across the rug.  The dining room is clearly his favorite spot as it features by far the best sunlight opportunities.  Den... too dark.  Living Room--forget about it... unless, of course, no one is around and he manages to haul himself up on the sofa.  The sofa definitely competes with the sun, but it's still a fairly distant second.
     Yep, old Moses is all about the warmth of those rays and the comfort of close proximity with those he loves.  Give him those two things, and he is one happy camper.  Well, that and food.  He is also all about food. But look at him--is that one contented, peaceful dog, or what?
      You know,  now that I think about it, give most of us those three things and we're mighty contented as well.  Give us the Son--the warmth and joy of knowing God, spending time with Him daily in the Light of His love and grace.  Give us fellowship with our family and friends--truly God's greatest earthly blessing.  And give us food--both physical and spiritual.  The food of God's Word to sustain and strengthen us, but also the physical food that allows us to survive and thrive and grow.
     And is there anything more wonderful than sharing that food with the people you love--sharing His Word but also sitting around a table and eating and talking and laughing?  Nope, I don't think so. Especially if it involves chocolate.... of any form... but especially cake.
     Thank You Lord for all the gifts You bestow upon us each and everyday.  Keep us daily seeking Your Son.  Thank You for relentlessly pursuing us, Father--like that sun that pours in unbidden into our dining room day after day.  But keep us faithful, like old Moses, to look for You, to seek out Your Son, and  to live and walk in His Light.  For it is only as we rest in Your love and the Light of Your Son, that we can truly love those You've put in our lives.  O help us to love them as You love, Lord.
    And finally, thank You for our daily bread.  For Your Word to us in the Bible--hot, fresh, and savory every morning. But also for this day's physical bread and provision.  Help us to stop worrying about tomorrow's, but rest in Your provision for today, for all our needs today... as we trust You who are forever faithful will meet tomorrow's as well.   If Moses can do it, then so can we.
     To our great God be all the glory.

The snow

    How I  love to simply watch the snow fall!  It is so beautiful today--fat, fluffy flakes chase one another down to the earth.  Just for a few moments the landscape is transformed--decorated by lacy icing.  And the sound of the falling snow... peace and serenity.  The music of the spheres, surely.  I could stand here all day and breathe deep into the soundless proclamation of God's greatness.
    I couldn't help but think of the words to "All Creatures of our God and King:"

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam

Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him!  O praise Him!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heaven along

O praise Him!  Alleluia!

Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice

Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

O praise Him!  O praise Him!

And all ye men of tender heart

Forgiving others, take your part

O sing ye!  Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear

Praise God and on Him cast your care!

O praise Him!  O praise Him!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

      Thank You Lord for the beauty of the seasons.  Thank You for the stillness and wonder of the falling snow.   "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.  But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep..."  So, back to work... but filled with peaceful gratitude for our good and great Creator.
     To God be the glory.

Evidence to convict?

     We're studying John 13 this week in Bible study, and one of the verses that has particularly stood out to me--particularly in light of Valentine's Day today--is "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
     Boy, based upon this standard and the way we're loving others, would the world have sufficient evidence to convict us of being Christians?  So often we miss the mark, don't we?  When I get short-tempered with my children or irritated with my husband, or frustrated with another's weaknesses, how on earth will the world know what a good and great Savior I have... or profess to have.  All the words in the world don't make up for how we love.  
     I remember hearing many years ago the simple phrase, "Love is action."  Love isn't  emotion.  Love isn't a plethora of lovely sounding phrases.  Love isn't feeling.  No, love is action.  But it's so easy to forget, isn't it?   The words can flow off our tongues... but the world won't judge based upon the quantity of our words but upon the quality of our love.  And frankly, we can tell someone we love them all day long, but until we demonstrate it, until we validate our words with our actions, well, it won't mean squat.
     And here's a little sober food for thought from Francis Schaeffer on this probing verse.  Schaeffer explains that when Jesus says this, He essentially "turns to the world and says, 'I've something to say to you.  On the basis of My authority, I give you the right: You may judge whether or not an individual is a Christian on the basis of the love he shows to all Christians.'  In other words, if people come up to us and cast in our teeth the judgment that we are not Christians because we have not shown love toward other Christians, we must understand that they are only exercising a prerogative that Jesus gave them.  And we must not get angry.  If people say, 'You don't love other Christians,' we must go home, get down on our knees, and ask God whether or not they are right.  And if they are, then they have a right to have said what they said."
     Whew.  Wonder what I'm telling the world about my Savior and about the faith I profess based upon the way I've loved others today?   The way I drive my car.  The way I share with those in need.  The way I talk to my family.  The attitude with which I do my chores (resentment or gratitude).
     If our love of others provides scant evidence of our faith, might this be the day we confess and repent and begin anew--to love, truly love, by the power of the Holy Spirit, those God has sovereignly placed in our lives and in our paths.  Might there be plenty of evidence to convict us of being Christians by the way we love.
     To God who is love, be all the glory.  

For Lent--Just come

      Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  We talked about it last night at the dinner table--about what Lent means, this season of 40 days to prepare our hearts for the death and resurrection of Jesus.  And it reminds me of how often I have failed at this in the past.  Given up chocolate or dessert or something, and then at the end of the first week, I've already missed the mark.  Already seemed to say to the Lord who died for me and saved me that a piece of chocolate cake is more important to me than the Savior.
      I know this is not true, but still, in many ways, it's a reminder of our, of my utter weakness and frailty and consistently sin-prone selfishness.  I want what I want far too often... and not what Jesus wants.  Even though He offers us Life and love and joy and peace, we tend far too often to choose those pale, poor substitutes that we think will bring us joy... but never, never ultimately do.  Forgive us Father.  Forgive me, Your weak and wandering child.
      And thank You that knowing all that, knowing all the times we would fail and falter and refuse Your will, Your way... reject You, You came and loved and died and rose again.  For us.  How can we get over the wonder of that?  You came for such as us.
     And today, You beckon us still... even in the dirt and debris of our pride and selfishness, to come, come to You and unburden those sins that strangle us and separate us from You and from abundant, joyous, full and free Eternal Life.
     "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mt.11:28-30)
     Yes, the Savior beckons me, beckons you--Come all who labor under impossible self-imposed standards and relentless work loads.  Come all who feel laden by deep sorrows and sins and struggles that seem to never end.  Just come.  Come.   Come and learn.  Come and laugh again.  Come and love.  Come and be restored and renewed and revived once more by the One who came that we might come.
       And so today, might we pray big--knowing we can never do any of this on our own, can we?  Or at least I can't.  I can't make it till this afternoon with my brash Lenten vows.  I can't be the wife and mother and friend God has called me to be.  I can't love as I should and want to love.  I can't find the energy and motivation to do what I should be doing rather than what I oftentimes just feel like doing.
     But He can.  And He simply says "Come to Me."  And so we come.  And we pray.  We pray big, bold prayers for those we love... and for those we may not know, but He does.  Because we serve a BIG, all powerful God.  And we trust that He is moving and working in their lives, and all the while making us into the men and women He's called us to be.
     Because He is.  We just need to keep on coming to the One who came to us.  To God be the glory.