Older...but still burning!

     Okay, just for the record, on this fine day when I've officially grown another year older, I can now fully embrace Henry Fonda's quip from the great, old movie, On Golden Pond.  When his wife (Katherine Hepburn--no wonder this movie was incredible) told him she had met "a nice middle-aged couple just like us,"  he dryly responded, "Ethel, we're not middle aged.  Middle age refers to the middle third of your life.  You're old.  I'm ancient."
     I'm guessing unless people live to a hundred and ten, I'm no exactly middle aged...though maybe I'm still on the back end of "the middle third."  But who's counting?   I'm just thankful to still be here!
     And ancient or not, how can we not thank the Lord for the gift of another day?  One more day to serve Him and bring Him glory.  One more day to love those He's so graciously placed in our lives. One more day to learn what it means to abide in, and depend upon, Him as we grow in grace.
     Yet, the older I get, the more I realize--I can't live the Christian life.  I can't love unselfishly.  I can't think rightly.  I can't show kindness or compassion or generosity.  I can't do what I'm supposed to do or say what I'm supposed to say--or keep my mouth shut when I should!  I can't do squat apart from the mercy, grace, and power of the indwelling Savior.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  Nada.
     But with Him, ah, with Him we can do ALL things. (Phil.4:13)  Endure all things.  Forgive all things.  Be content in all things.  Be loving and kind and unselfish and grateful in all things.  We can't do it...but He can.  When we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, well, then He-who-never-fails to fulfill every jot and tittle of His Word, promises: "Whoever abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
     Only Lord, keep my love for You white-hot.  Father, You alone know how prone I am to meander and wander.  To get busy and preoccupied and suddenly find an hour (or two...or five...or seven) has flitted by, and I haven't consciously focused my mind upon and lifted up my heart in praise to our forever faithful Emmanuel.  Lord Jesus, I don't want one hour--much less one day--to pass by without a conscious, rejoicing thought of Who You are and Whose I am.  
     What wonderful words I read just this morning from Scotty Smith: "May I never stop singing the last line in the hymn 'O Sacred Heart Now Wounded.': 'Should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love for Thee.'  That's my earnest, impassioned prayer, Jesus.  I don't fear losing my salvation.  I will stand firm to the end because of my standing in grace.  But what could be worse than my love for You to cool down, degree by degree, as I get older?  Don't let that happen to me, Jesus.  Don't let that happen.  What could be worst than to finish the race with an ingrown, icy heart.  I do not and will not trust in my love for You, but only in Your love for me."
     Yes!  Me too, Lord!  We want a love that burns and burns!
     And the really great news?  It's not about our love for God, but God's love for us.  "We love because He first loved us." (I John 4:19)  And like everything else, it's all by grace--and only by grace--that we can love the Lord...or anyone else.
     So, Lord, as we grow older, keep Your grace flowing and keep our love burning.  One hour at a time. One day at a time.  One year at a time.  Might we never, ever outlive our love for Thee.
     To God be the glory.

The cold...and friends!

     

Thank You, Lord, for friends--

   (Bingley's friends...or gang really!)
      Thank You, Lord, for the reminder, once again, that gratitude (rather than grumpiness) is a choice.  And thank You for grace when I forget.  Like yesterday...while walking Bingley in ridiculously frigid weather.
     Okay, I need to scratch that word "ridiculously."  Let's choose thankfulness--thank You Lord for allowing me to have legs that can move, hands that can hold a leash, eyes that can see the icy path, and ears that can hear a great podcast while I'm walking Bingley in the refreshingly cold air.  After all, that air did wake me up.  And it was quite peaceful out there on the greenway yesterday morning...as in, we didn't see one other man or beast!
     Yes, even that cold air is to the glory of an Almighty God...a reminder that our Lord is omnipotent and makes the wonderful change of seasons!  Thank You Lord that it's not always hot and humid.  And thank You even that it's not balmy spring weather all the time--otherwise, we'd never appreciate the wonders of fall and spring.  And as much as I prefer warm weather, how I praise God for the ever-changing seasons.  Each season with it's own challenges and joys.
     But back to gratitude for friendship.  Walking in the cold yesterday reminded me that I'm doubly thankful not only for all my incredible friends but also for two wonderful women (beautiful twin sisters, actually) who have helped us with training Bingley and often take him out on long walks with his gang--

  Not only have they saved me from insanity and from occasional murderous thoughts towards our rambunctious puppy, but they have also taken him on some walks in the worst kind of weather.  I was particularly reminded of this yesterday when I couldn't feel my toes or fingers while walking along the greenway.  I was really missing the Boyette girls!  "Remind me, Lord," I prayed, "to be grateful for friends who help us along life's challenging paths...whether walking and training dogs...or encouraging us when the way is tough...or laughing with us when the road is joyful...or crying with us when the path is sorrowful."
     Yep, there's nothing like a good friend...four footed and two.  Young or old.  I love how Henri Nouwen put it: "Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a human being can receive...Friendship is being with the other in joy or sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow.  It is a unity of souls that gives nobility and sincerity to love.  Friendship makes all of life shine brightly.  Blessed are those who lay down their lives for their friends."
     So today, Lord, thank You for the irreplaceable gift of friendship in our lives.  Help us to share with our friends today what priceless gifts they are in our lives.  And thank You most of all, Lord Jesus, for being the ultimate and perfect Friend in laying down Your life for us.  "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  Thank You for walking with us, loving us, and leading us through every possible path of life.
     To God be the glory.

Monday--no match for God!

     "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam.3:22-23)
     Lord, I needed that reminder this morning.  It's a grey, rainy monday morning, and a coooooold front is moving in.  Cold, as in "Who on earth is going to walk Bingley tomorrow when it's 12 degrees?"  I already know the answer to that question, but still a girl can dream.
     And did you know that today, the first monday after New Year's, is officially the most depressing day of the year?  Well, geez, between this miserable Arctic freeze coming in fast and the dark, damp skies overhead, and the old Monday morning to-do list that is now so overwhelming that I can't face looking at it...well naturally, I had started to forget.  And, oh mercy, can't we all be such good forgetters?  
     We so quickly forget the Lord's steadfast, never-ever failing love.  Forget His grace and mercy that stretches into infinity and beyond.  Forget that every single morning provides a brand new opportunity to experience His goodness, faithfulness, love, and all-surpassing sufficiency to deal with whatever challenges (and opportunities) each new day brings.
     Forgive me, Lord, for forgetting and facing this day focusing upon myself rather than upon You.  Forgive me for dwelling upon the obstacles before me rather than the Almighty Lord who moves mountains with even our most minuscule, insignificant seed of faith.  Forgive me for choosing to rehearse my worries rather than rejoice in Your worthiness and Your gifts in my life.
     Here's what my hero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, says: "Every new morning is a new beginning of our life.  Every day is a complete whole. The present day should be the boundary of our care and striving. (Matt.6:34; Jas.4:14)...To grasp the old faithfulness of God anew every morning, to be able--in the middle of life--to begin a new life with God daily, that is the gift that God gives with every new morning. Not fear of the day, not the burden of work, but rather, the Lord wakens me."
     So, Lord, thank You for waking me this morning and thank You for this gift of a a new day.  Father, we're back on track!
     And to this dreaded, dreary, award-winning "most depressing day of the year" monday in January, you're no match for the Almighty Lord of unending love, mercy, and faithfulness!  He's given us a brand new day, a brand new week, a brand new month, and a brand new year to start afresh.  Might we live this day by His grace and to His glory.
     To God be the glory.

A simple morning thank you

     It's dark and still and peaceful this early Sunday morning--always the best time of the time of the day--and Bingley sleeps happily in my lap while I try to tap the computer keys over him.  Not especially conducive to typing...but very consoling to the heart!
     Thank You, Abba Father, for the simplest but greatest blessings in our lives--sweet, cuddly puppies, dinner last night with dear friends, laughter, powerful prayer, steaming mugs of tea, warm homes in cold weather, good books, sweet emails from those we love, chocolate cake (always got to include that), hot fires, children home for Christmas, weddings and flowers and bridal veils and bridesmaids celebrations in the mountains with photographs sent via text message--

(Janie and Mary Norris with her bridesmaids hiking this weekend in God's playground.  Wish I were there!)

Sometimes we forget the beauty of our daily lives.  The wonder of the rhythm of waking up with the gift of another 24 hours to to do our best to live for His glory, to love in His strength, to press on in His grace. 

The joy of quietly sitting down with His Word--the Bread of God, His steaming-hot, fresh manna for us--for this day, for this moment.  And incredibly, this supernatural powder-keg and power- source and power-sustaining Word can rest in our laps and in our hearts and on our lips.  How will He change us and shape us and strengthen us with it's jewels?  Who can we encourage with it's treasures?

And so Bingley and I sit and praise the God of the majestic mountains--

And we praise Him for His powerful, beautiful Word--the Word we hold in our laps and the Word who became flesh--Jesus. The  Living Word we hold in our hearts...but Who holds us, and those we love, and the heavens and the farthest galaxies in His omnipotent hands.  

And at the dawn of this new day, we praise God all the way down to the simplest gifts of daily life--a puppy, a mug of tea, a quiet home, and a grateful heart.  

Thank You, Lord Jesus.  Thank You.  To God be the glory.  

Christmas Stocking and change

     It all started with a stocking.
     My oldest daughter's Christmas stocking, that is.
     One minute I was reveling in the wonder of Christmas and the joy of having all our children home to celebrate...and the next moment I was plunged into a little "pit of despond."  My husband had innocently commented that next year, Mary Norris' stocking would be gone, because it would be hanging in her new home with her new husband.
     What?!!!
     Now don't get me wrong--we adore Mary Norris' fiancee, Matt.  Seriously, he is TOTALLY wonderful in every possible way, and we thank the Lord daily for the incredible gift this incredible young man is to our daughter and to our whole family.
     And they are getting married two weeks from today!   Yahoo...and yikes all at the same time!
     But here's what prompted the stocking melt-down--it suddenly hit me that life is changing.  Mary Norris will soon have a new home and a new family with her wonderful almost-husband, Matt, and chances are pretty good they will not be spending every Christmas for the rest of their lives with us in our home.  This was a terrible and shocking revelation.
      But it gets worse.  All our children are growing up...and leaving our home...and moving away...and life will never be quite the same...and how on earth did this happen so quickly...and why can't we hold onto them and everyone else we love and freeze them and keep them right here next to us forever...
     Deep breath.
     And one unimaginable, awful day every one of those five beloved, handmade-by-my-aunt-Janie-stockings will be headed off to new homes and new families to go hang by new fireplaces.
     O mercy...another deep breath.
     Here's the thing--change is tough.  Of course, hard changes rock us to our core.  But good changes can be just as stressful in their own way.  Even glorious changes--like joyful weddings--can be challenging.  Because all changes remind us that nothing in this life will last forever, that this world is not our home, and that we're only passing through.  We can try our best to desperately hang on to people or possessions or whatever we're hoping to cling to--but it's all for naught for only God is eternally changeless.
     But I loved this quote I read just this morning: "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." (Anatole France)   That's it--we have to, in Amy Carmichael's words, "See in this a chance to die."  An opportunity to die to ourselves, to our need to control, to our plans, and to our selfishness.  And instead to be open to all that God has in store for our future.  To grow in our trust and faith in our never-changing and forever-faithful Lord.
     David Jeremiah put it this way: "We can embrace change by knowing we serve an unchanging God. At the beginning of this new year, we confess with Joshua: 'We have never been this way before.' But our faithful, changeless Lord will show us the way to go, guide us at every juncture, bless us at every step, and provide goodness and mercy every day of our lives."
     So, ready or not, change is here.  But then, so is our Almighty God!  So I guess it's time to release that Christmas stocking with a happy and trusting heart. Our family may be changing and that involves a little bit of dying...but, boy, it also means a whole lot of new and joyful living just around the bend!
   Might we embrace the changes You bring into our lives, Lord, as we love with open hands and follow You with trusting hearts.  To God be the glory.

   
   

Strength for today...bright hope for tomorrow

     "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today's trouble is enough for today." (Mt.6:31-34)
     How often have we heard or read those words?  We know them.  We consider them sage advice. We say we want to live by them.  And at various and sundry times we do--we actually obey Jesus' command not to worry and instead fix our focus firmly and trustingly upon Him.  And, oh, when we truly relax into Him, when we press into Him, there's nothing that can shake our our peace or demolish our joy.
     But the problem is that far too often we forget.  We forget to trust.  We forget to choose gratitude.  We forget to reject worry in favor of worship.  And we forget to redirect our focus from created things to the Creator of all things.  Ironically, too, it's not so much the big crises of life that trip us up.  Rather, it's often in the little daily, niggling concerns of life, that we allow our minds to wander and our hearts to fall into that worn-out, old rut of worrying and fretting.
     Of course, this has never happened to me...at least not for the last 59 seconds or so.  Sigh.
      Where did worrying ever get us?! Seriously, when have our anxious thoughts or runaway emotions ever helped our children or our spouses or our health concerns or our financial woes or our relationship struggles?  Has fretting ever made any kind of positive difference?  Ever?
     Nope.  Worrying is nothing but a joy-thief and a peace-stealer.
     And here's the thing--worrying is a CHOICE!  We choose fretting...or trusting.  We choose worrying...or worshipping.  We choose rehearsing our woes...or remembering God's past faithfulness.  We choose our thoughts and our focus just as surely as we choose the direction we turn our car's steering wheel.  Will we turn toward trusting in our ever-faithful, Almighty God or will we turn toward indulging in our fearful "what if's?"
     I love the way The Message paraphrases v.34: "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
     Amen!  We choose (there's that word again) to give our "entire attention to what God is doing right now"--that means living fully and gratefully and joyfully in the present moment.  Living in the river of God's grace and goodness today, right now.  That's all any of us has anyway--this day.  This hour.  This moment. The Lord will always be more than enough for all that we need right now.
     But then trusting that whatever comes tomorrow, our Great and forever faithful and eternally present, I Am, will be there too. And He will provide and equip and empower and sustain and redeem whatever tomorrow holds in store as well.
     Here's how Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it: "Worry is always directed toward tomorrow. [Ain't that the truth?!] In the strictest sense, however, possessions are intended only for today.  It is precisely the securing of tomorrow that makes me insecure today...Only those who place tomorrow in God's hands and receive what they need to live today are truly secure.  Receiving daily liberates us from tomorrow.  Thought for tomorrow delivers us up to endless worry."
     "Give us this day, our daily bread," Jesus has taught us to pray. (Mt.6:11)  Today's bread.  Today's need.  Today's gifts.  Today's never-to-be-repeated opportunities to love and laugh, to reflect and rejoice.
     Sure, we could all worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow's merciless "What if's." But doesn't all that worrying boil down to refusing to trust that God will be enough?  Refusing to believe that God is infinitely greater than any of our imagined what if scenarios?
     Yet has He ever failed to pull us through in the past?   Sure, bad things have happened to all of us for we live in a fallen world, but the Lord is always higher, stronger, bigger, and greater.  He who has brought us this far will not fail us in the future.  And even if, even if the very worst happens, He will still be more than enough.  If we need reminding, look to the cross.  The worst--the absolute worst--ended up being a platform for a demonstration of God's absolute and most glorious best.
     As the old hymn puts it, "Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow..."  That's what He promises--today's strength.  Today's provision.  Today's grace for today's need.  But not tomorrow's...not until tomorrow.  Yet in the meantime, we have bright hope for tomorrow because we know, we know, we know that He is already there and will provide the strength and joy and love and grace we need tomorrow...when it is tomorrow.
     So in the meantime, let's reject worry and relax in Him today.  Let's rejoice in Him and His gifts today.  Let's press in and press on in Him today.  Let's love, enjoy, forgive, and serve those He's placed in our life today.  And let's trust Him for tomorrow.  He's got it anyway.
     To God be the glory.
   

Pressing on!

     New Year's morning.  2014.  Hard to believe we sit on the cusp of this brand new year.  Thank You, Lord, for Your undeserved and indefatigable faithfulness to us this past year.  Help us to remember and rejoice. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you" (Phil.1:3) "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice." (Phil.4:4)
     It's so easy to look back, however, and choose to regret rather than choose to rejoice, isn't it?  I regret that I didn't faithfully have devotions with my children or pray with them every night.  I regret that I didn't love and encourage my husband as I should have.  I regret that I didn't love others unselfishly but rather loved myself far, far too much.  I regret that I didn't worship more and worry less.  I regret that I didn't pray more and pout less.  I regret that I wasn't as disciplined with my time as I should have been and wasted far too much on frivolous, vain, and empty pursuits.  Well, and I regret that I bought way too much take-out food and cooked far too few good meals that we could eat together at home as a family.  I regret that I didn't regularly write and tell and show my husband and children how much I adore them and what priceless, wondrous treasures they are in my life.  And I regret that I didn't consistently make the time to love and enjoy and encourage my friends--also irreplaceable gifts in my life.
     O Lord Jesus, I have so, so far to go.  I'm a great sinner...but You are a great, great, great Savior.
     But here's the thing--we all have a choice.  Yes, a choice to regret and wallow in our failures and misgivings and missed opportunities...
     Or a choice to rejoice in God's incredible goodness and grace to us, even in the midst of our misses and mess-ups...and to press on. 
     Because we have a God who commands us to hand Him our regrets and sins and failures.  Hand them to Him and see the glorious, hallowed shadow of the cross towering over them all. Hand them to Him and remember that Christ's blood covered them all.  Every single one of our sins and regrets and failures.
     Incredibly, unbelievably, in Christ our Savior, we are forgiven for the past.  Forgiven...and therefore freed to look to the future...to press on in Him and thru Him and for Him.
     "But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil.3:13-14)
     Forgiven...means forgetting and then forging ahead in Him.  Pressing on.

     Pressing in and pressing on.  Pressing in closer to my Savior who calls us to abide in Him, to follow Him and to daily experience His resurrection life.  No, we can't do this on our own.  I can't make 10 New Years's resolutions and keep any of them.  I'll break 9 of them before 10:00 this morning!  

     But "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  (Phil.4:13)  I can love through Him. I can encourage and strengthen my husband and children and friends through Him.  I can die to my stinking selfishness and give, serve, and love joyfully and fully and freely through Him.  Well, shoot, I can even cook more home-cooked meals and get rid of that ever-present clutter through Him. 

     It's time to stop regretting and start rejoicing...and then pressing on.  In Him.  

     Pressing in and pressing on--great words for the New Year.  For we have a great, gracious, and glorious God leading the way and urging us onward.  Let's press on in Him.
     To God be the glory.