On frogs and friends

                          A little food for weekend thought--

        "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars." Henry Van Dyke
        Yesterday afternoon, I went out on our deck to sit down on a rocking chair and do some reading.  I glanced down and noticed a bright green leaf in the middle of the seat.  As I absent-mindedly looked down to brush it away, I was stunned to discover this little fellow--

 Holy cow!  Where did he come from?  I must say, I've always thought of frogs as not particularly lovely, but he was pretty stunning with his lime green color and yellow accents. 
        I decided to move to a different location and give him the opportunity to hop away.  After all, isn't that what frogs are supposed to do?  Aren't they jumpy, active little critters? 
        Apparently this little guy didn't get that memo, because I never saw him so much as move a muscle (uh, do frogs have muscles?  Well, he never moved a membrane.)  So I waited, and a good hour or two later, came back out, and he had moved...but just a teeny bit...to get out of the sun, I presume--

        I simply couldn't help but be amazed once more by God's creation.  What a Creator to craft such variety, such complexity, such stunning colors and shapes and textures!  Can you imagine the creativity involved in thinking up a frog?!  Seriously, who would do that? 
       Only the Sovereign of the Universe, that's who! 
       He's infinite and holy and glorious...but He's also joyous and creative and loving and fun.  Yes, fun--after all, HE created fun.  HE created laughter.  HE created neon colors and clown fish and giraffes and porpoises and frogs.  I mean, how can you not smile and chuckle when you look at some of His astounding handiwork? 
        Oh Father, keep us awake and alert to all You have made and all You are doing.  Don't let us miss it.  Don't allow us to slip into complacency, but instead instill in us an endless sense of wonder and gratitude.  And might our daily response then be to worship and thank You.  Worship of our awesome Creator and gratitude for His myriad gifts...and for the gift of life. 
        But I also have to add one more thing this little fellow reminded me of--my dear friend's Mama who recently went to heaven. Her mom apparently added the frog emoji to all her texts to her children and grandchildren. 
        Why, you might ask?  Because of the acronym for frog: Fully Rely On God.  Makes you feel a bit different about the lowly frog, doesn't it?!
        I'd heard that little acronym a while back and have always loved it, but now it means far more,   because it reminds me of the priceless gift of my friend and of her remarkable, godly Mama.  All gifts--friends, mamas, frogs, and most of all--Almighty God--upon whom we can always and forever fully rely!
        So today, open your eyes and see all that God has for you.  It's all around you, because He is a relentless gift-giver.  And sometimes, His gifts come in mighty small and surprising packages!  But I kinda think that's the kind He likes the best....'cause He loves to see us smile. 
        Thank You, Father, today for frogs and friends and fun. And thank You that no matter what we're facing or where we're going, we can always and forever Fully Rely On You. 
         To God be the glory. 

The Door

        It's a seemingly small, tiny moment I still remember vividly to this day.  Our daughter, Janie, was desperately sick in the ICU--unconscious, high fever, unresponsive.  My dear sister and husband insisted I go to a hotel room nearby for a few hours of sleep while they remained with Janie for the night.  Exhausted, I fell into bed...but felt jittery, tearful, frightened, alone.  Despite bone-deadening fatigue, I'd be able to fall asleep shackled by this fear and sorrow. 
         And then His still, small voice spoke to my heart.  I don't how else to describe it.  A gentle, peaceful whisper to a thirsty, terrified heart--"I am the Door."  Words I had read days earlier in the Gospel of John.  "I am the Door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 9:10) 
        His voice spoke Truth and peace into my very soul--I am the Door.  I am the Door in the midst of all this fear, uncertainty, sadness.  Walk through Me and find rest for your soul.  And I did...and for the first time in days, slept.  Knowing that my Savior had our girl and was holding her in His arms.  And no matter what happened, He would have us too.  For He was the Door in that wall of fear and sorrow.
         Why this sudden vivid recall of this particular memory?  I don't know--the Lord suddenly brought it to mind, but I have to believe our Good Shepherd knows someone out there needs to be reminded today that He is the Door.
        He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and He is the Way through your sorrow, your suffering, your terror, your depression, your pain, your uncertainty.  He was the Door, He is the Door, and He will be the Door forever and ever. 
         I just found these words I scribbled down weeks ago.  They are from Nabeel Qurershi, a brilliant Pakistani American physician, who was a former Muslim, dramatically converted to Christianity and who then became a powerful apologist for Christ.  Nabeel recently died from stomach cancer at the age of 34.  As he endured the horrors of his terminal cancer, Nabeel shared these words:
        "If you are going through something right now, if you are suffering and struggling, what I have learned is that there is some door that the suffering and struggling has opened for you that would not be open if you were not struggling or suffering.  Walk through that door.  Or dwell on that door and praise God for that door.  Take advantage of that door.  Don't waste your suffering." 
           Nabeel did that in the midst of his battle with cancer.  He walked through that door and has impacted untold thousands through his testimony.  And now, having walked through the ultimate Door, he rejoices in glory. 
           There is always a door.  No matter what sorrow, what terror, what perplexing hardship you are going through right now, there is always a door.  And that Door is Jesus.  He is the Doorway through the suffering.  He is the Doorway that will enable you to endure that suffering.  He is the Doorway to hope, joy, and peace in the midst of that suffering and on the other side of that suffering.  He is the Doorway that will ensure that your suffering--every painful shred of it--will somehow, someway, be used for your ultimate good and His glory.   And He is the Doorway to no-more-sorrow, no-more-separation, no-more-struggling, no-more-fearful-uncertainty, abundant, perfect, glorious eternal Life.
           Walk through that Door today. 
            To God--the Door, our Door--be the glory.   
           

Today--live!

        "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!  You have set Your glory above all the heavens.  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.  When I look at the heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." (Ps.8:1-5)
        Just this morning, they ambled across the greenway right in front of us--a mama and her buddy along with a baby--

(That's the little fellow--the grownups had just passed into the woods ahead of him.)
         What gentle, graceful creatures deer are!  We see them fairly frequently on the greenway, but I never want to grow apathetic and not be amazed at God's astounding creation.  Aren't you thankful He made deer...and hawks...and hummingbirds...and butterflies...and dogs?  And how about changing leaves...sunlight splashed across the pavement...cool, crisp air...pumpkins and mums?  What a Creator!  What a Giver of innumerable good gifts!
          Here's how worked up  Bingley was when we glimpsed the deer--

 He'd found his usual big stick and languidly glanced back at me as if to say, "Deer again.  Ho hum."       
         It was one of those moments where you pause, sensing how precious, how lovely the gift of life is, and how grateful you are to be enjoying your moments on this planet.  This day is what He's given us--this day to laugh and love and see and savor and thank and encourage and feel.
      Oh don't let me slip into autopilot while walking our dog or cooking a meal or chatting with friends or running errands.  Help me to see--truly see--God as reflected in His creation all around me and in His priceless, irreplaceable gifts of the people He puts in my path.
         There are no "throw-away" moments.  There are most definitely no throw-away people.  It all matters.  He crafted every blade of grass and every star in the heavens--it's all His.   And they all matter--every single priceless person so lovingly created by their Heavenly Father. 
       Might we have eyes to see clearly, hearts to love boldly, and senses to experience fully each moment, each person the Lord has so extravagantly and generously placed in our lives.  And might every moment we savor, every person we cherish point us always straight to the Giver of every, every, every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17)
        While we are alive, let us live.  Live thankfully.  Live kindly.  Live forgivingly.   Live encouragingly.  Live joyfully.   Live fully and gratefully.  Live today!  
       And today--and every single day--might we live all by His grace and all for His glory.
       To the One who came and died that we might truly live, be all the glory. 

Slowing down...and savoring

         Well, it's been several weeks--a packed and busy couple of weeks--since I've last been here and written a post.  And it's been good things that have kept me away: things like working hard on lectures for Bible study--which is exactly where God has called me to be and what He's called me to do in this season of life; and watching our sons play in golf tournaments--a gift to be with them and to watch them in this brief season of life before they're all grown up and off on their own; not to mention life's daily necessities from laundry to carpooling to, well, you get the idea.
        It feels like life's been hustling by at a frantic pace...but finally, a moment of respite.  A Sabbath rest.  Ahh.  Breathe out stress and hurry.  Breathe in His Spirit's strength and hope.  Sit quietly with God's Word, not studying it to learn and prepare so I can try to give it out...but savoring it to hear His wise voice, admire His beauty, and enjoy His presence.
        We need both--the busyness and the stillness, the studying and the savoring--but oh how we suffer when it becomes all about the practical, the get-it-all-done, the fill in the blanks and check the boxes and move on to the next bit of urgent business.  Our souls must have time to breathe.  Time to worship Him, rest in Him, gaze at Him.
        I don't recall who wrote it, but I read many years ago--It's the glance that saves but it's the gaze that sanctifies.  Even a believing glance at Jesus can save...but the process of sanctification and holiness requires gazing at the Savior.  And with that gazing comes peace, perspective, deep-rooted joy, and wonder.  But gazing takes time and patience.  Gazing isn't hurried or frantic. 
        John Newton wrote, ""A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible, but in time becomes a great deep-rooted tree."
       Goodness, we know all this intellectually...but in the stress and busyness, haste and urgency of everyday life, we forget.  And so we push...rush...accomplish...toil...do...go...achieve...until we suddenly discover we're running on fumes with weary, worn hearts.
        That's when we  need--we must--crawl into our Abba Daddy's lap.  Come to Him with all our weariness and weakness, hand it all to Him and simply rest.  Listen.  Look.  Exchange our worry for worship.  Exchange our hurry for humble dependence.  Exchange our all our doing for desiring and loving Him.
        The really good news?  Our weakness makes room for His working and moving.  Our inadequacy makes room for His infinite ability.  Our emptiness makes room for His overflowing fullness.
         As Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
        Spurgeon said "Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up."
        So right now if you are feeling weak and inadequate or weary and worn, take heart, because your Heavenly Father is ready and waiting to envelop you in His arms, to restore you with His love,  to forgive you by His grace, to encourage you in His Word, to empower you through His Spirit.  Our job is simply to come to the Father. Come to be forgiven. Come to be filled.  Come to be renewed.  Come to be restored.  Come to be redeemed.   
         "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 find rest for your souls." (Mt.11:28-29)
           Father, help us to come to You for the rest and rejuvenation that we all need and that only You can give.  As we gaze at You, restore to us the joy of our salvation.  Give us thankful, rejoicing hearts.  Renew our strength so that we can run and not be weary as we fix our eyes on You and run this race You have set before us.  You are infinitely worthy and able, Abba, and we place all our trust in You.
         Slow us down that we might savor You, Lord Jesus.
         To God be the glory.   

This day

           A little over a week ago, most of our family went to the mountains.  We arrived on Friday evening to rain.  Cold rain.  Pounding rain.  And fog, lots of fog.  We were completely enveloped by a blanket of chilly, damp, grey.  We couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us.
           The next morning...same thing.  More cold, grey, rain, fog.  We'd look out over the valley on our porch and saw...absolutely nothing.  I'd have never believed even a tree, blade of grass, or any other living thing existed out there in that vast white deadness.  And it lasted all. day. long.  And into the evening.
            Isn't that like life sometimes?  We feel alone, discouraged, fearful.  Slogging through some hard or exhausting time.  Anxious and uncertain about what's around the bend.  Thinking we're surely the only one.
            But faith says we're never ever alone.  Faith says God's in control. Faith says all of God's promises are "Yes!" in Jesus.  Faith says we walk by faith in our never-changing omnipotent God rather than worrying and wobbling along based on our ever-vacillating unreliable feelings.
            And faith says everyday--every single day--is a gift to be opened and enjoyed, not a burden to be endured or wished away.  Even the hardest of days have God's fingerprints all over them.  As such, they are His never-to-be-repeated gift of 1,440 minutes for us to love Him and love people.

            Sure enough, Sunday dawned spectacular--a gigantic painting only God could craft.  The sun melted the darkness with an astounding show of color and clouds.  It had all been there all along--all the trees, all the valley below, all the birds and butterflies and mountain ranges.  Just because we couldn't see it, didn't matter one iota.  The rain and fog temporarily clouded our vision, but not the reality of what was still there.  It was always there.  A brand new, sparkling day.  But isn't everyday like that?
            Thank You Lord for every gift of a new day.  Thank You that You promise that "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)  Thank You that those very words were written by the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah in a time of great sorrow and distress for the people of Israel.  Despite the fog of sadness and tragedy, Jeremiah knew God was still there.  Jeremiah trusted that God still loved His people.  And he still believed in God's forever faithfulness and endless mercies.
             A very dear friend of mine just lost her godly, wonderful Mama.  And right now, I'm sure the fog of sorrow and the rain of missing her feel overwhelming, even oppressive at times.  But I also know that the Lord Almighty is there, working and moving and redeeming and reviving in the midst of it all.  We might see the clouds, fog and rain on this side, but her Mama, oh her Mama on the other side, sees nothing but glory, light, wonder, radiance, joy, love, laughter...and Jesus.
            Apparently her Mama's favorite verse, and one she recited every morning, is Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  I had to smile when I heard it, because it's always been one of my favorites as well, and it's the first thing I say out loud every morning. That along with Ps.143:8 "Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust.  Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."  I speak them both out loud each morning to Mr. Bingley (since he's the only one up) so my heart can be reminded that this new day is a gift from God.
          And it's His gift to you too.  Might these verses counsel our hearts that the Lord wants us to rejoice in this day.  That His love for us is steadfast--no matter what's going on or how we might feel.  And that He will guide and direct us this day--for these glittering, never-to-be-repeated 24 hours of time.          
        As long as He gives us breath in our lungs, might we rejoice in Him, expend ourselves in love, and live this day to His glory.  Let's do it this day...until He takes us Home.  And then, oh my then, well why don't we let John Donne tell us--
            "I shall rise from the dead...I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines.  I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began...No man ever saw God and lived.  And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die."
           Until that glorious day when we see Him face to face, this is the day the Lord has made.  Because He made it, because He's given it to us, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
          Until that wondrous day of our Homegoing, this day, this very day, we will obey, forgive, love, give, trust, worship, and rejoice...all by His grace, all for His glory.
           To God--to the Resurrected Sun of Glory, our Redeemer, the Ancient of Days, and our King of Kings--be all the glory.  

One of those days...

        The other day, I had "one of those days."  Nothing major or even specific had occurred.  I guess it was more like a million teensy piranhas nibbled away at my joy and hope, so that by the end of day, I felt utterly discouraged and defeated.  Honestly, looking back, I'd have to point to a lack of sleep as one of the major contributing factors.  But throw into the mix sorrow over various hardships some dear friends are facing, as well as plain old feelings of being completely overwhelmed by too much to do with too little time and ability to do it.
        But here's the thing: when these feelings of discouragement and anxious stress overwhelm me, I'm inevitably doing one thing...and failing to do another.  Let me explain.
       What I'm doing: fixating on all the tasks, difficulties, and challenges facing me totally apart from Christ.  Yep, figuring and calculating and planning without taking into account the sovereign power, abounding love, amazing grace, endless mercy, and infinite power of Almighty God.
      Gee whiz, will I never learn?  Please tell me I'm not the only one whose default position, all too often, is to unconsciously but pridefully assume it's all up to me and my paltry abilities and resources.        BUT IT'S NOT!!  God's Word provides us with a stunning treasure trove of promises of God's limitless ability, wisdom, power, and provision.  But we have to choose--yes, choose--to exit the pity party, open the Word, and ask God to speak to us and strengthen us through His Word.
       Just today, in fact, I sent this promise to one of my children who was feeling really overwhelmed at work:"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa.41:10)
       Or how about "God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that having ALL sufficiency in ALL things at ALL times, you may abound in EVERY good work." (2 Cor.9:8)  That's a lot of "alls" and a mighty nice "every" thrown in there, right?  Yet somehow we think it's all up to us?
       And there's this one: "'I will never leave you nor forsake you;' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Heb.13:5-6)
       And "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Rom.8:32)  
      Yes, I could go on and on and on, but check it out yourself.  There is nothing like God's Word!  When those feelings of fear or anxiety or despair set in, open the Word.  Open and read.  Open and be filled.  Open and be reminded of Who your mighty Lord is, all He has done, all He has promised, and all He will do.
         I mentioned there was one thing I did wrong but also one thing I failed to do, and it's related to all of the above.  I failed to preach the gospel to myself.  Because nobody preaches to you more than you.  And the question always is--what are you preaching to yourself?  What are you muttering to yourself?  Words of life or death?  Words of hope or despair?  Words of rock solid Truth or of vacillating lying emotions?  Are you preaching the good news of the gospel of our Redeemer and Savior or the bad news of your feelings, your inadequacies, your fears?
        Even if we don't have a Bible handy, when those feelings of discouragement and fear assail us, we need to start preachin' right then and there!  Before those beginning little thoughts morph into a monster mountain of fear and despair, we need to quickly, immediately, ASAP start preaching!  Preaching God's Truth.  Preaching the true Truth.  Preaching the gracious Truth.  Preaching the powerful Truth.  Preaching the joyful Truth.  Preaching the you're-never-alone Truth.  Preaching the God's-got-this Truth.  Preaching the He's-never-ever-failed-me-before-and He's-not-gonna-start-now Truth!
        Preach the gospel whether you "feel" like it or not.  Because the power's not in us, or our emotion, or our abilities, or our anything.  The power is in Jesus--the beautiful, omnipotent Living Word and in His supernatural written Word, the Bible.
        I don't know if you're having "one of those days" or if you're having a whole, long, hard season of those kinds of days, but this I do know: our God is able.  Infinitely, eternally, perfectly able to help you, lead you, equip you, strengthen you, comfort you, and empower you to get through it to the other side.  Not somehow, but triumphantly.  But you've got to remember not to do--don't trust your crazy emotions and assume it's all up to you.  And you've got to remember what to do--trust God, open His Word, and preach that life-giving Word to yourself.
        To God be the glory.
       
       
         

See you in the morning

        "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  And He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold I am making all things new.'  Also He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Rev.21:4-5)
         "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
         "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:9)
         Oh what sweet words to hear from the lips of the Savior--words of Life.  Real, eternal, glorious, abundant, resurrection Life.
        How thankful I am for Jesus today--for all He is, for all He did for us, for all He's promised us, for all He's given to us.  His death for our sins.  His grace and forgiveness.  His mercy.  His love.  His righteousness.  His joy.  His hope.  His Word.  His promises.  His complete and utter defeat of sin and death.  His resurrection to new life.
          Yes, Lord, we answer with Mary that "We believe this."  We believe...even through tears.  Even through confusion.  Even through sorrow over the death of those we love...but that You love far, far more.  Because You live, we know, know, know that our dearest, sweet Lynda will live.  Because You live, we know that wise, gentle Dickson will live.
         Because You live, we know that our every loved one in Christ who has gone on to heaven,  they live right at this moment.  They are more alive today than any of us who still reside in these "shadowlands" can even imagine.  Even as we weep over missing them here, they rejoice there.  They see as we are all meant to see.  They are experiencing wonders that we cannot begin to comprehend.  They see You face to face and hear You saying to them "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  They "laugh on glory's side"--all the pain of cancer vanished.  All the harshness and hardship of this often cold, dark world, long forgotten.
       "Death is swallowed up in victory," says Paul in I Cor.15:54.  Oh how I love that promise.  Like when we wake up from a really horrible nightmare.  Have you ever done that?  Perhaps dreamed that something terrible has happened--perhaps all your family has been killed--when suddenly you wake up and realize, stunned beyond words, that it was all a terrible dream.  You want to weep for joy and astonishment.  Such an extraordinarily joyful moment, and now your regular old life seems infused with far, far greater preciousness and wonder and joy.  Those people you had taken for granted just the night before, they've suddenly become ever more dear to you.  They are still here, you think, amazed and with sudden and overflowing gratitude.  Death has become swallowed up in victory.  
        Yet that is simply a tiny hint, a whiff of the victory over death that King Jesus has given us.  And that is merely the teeniest glimpse into the wondrous and beautiful reality that our dear Lynda and Dickson and so many, many more loved ones are experiencing right this moment.  Their death has been swallowed up in victory and they dance and laugh and sing on glory's side.  Praise You, Jesus praise You!
        I've said it so many times before, but when our loved ones go to heaven it's so true--we feel deep pain in our hearts and yet at the very same time have a song--a glorious, joyful song--in our souls.  Thank You for the song of redemption You've put in our souls, Lord Jesus.  And thank You that those we love who are no longer on this earth are alive, fully alive, with You, singing that song at the top of their lungs.
         One of my favorite stories comes from Joni Eareckson Tada who said she's often thought about what she'd like on her tombstone.  Here are her words: "When I was little, just growing up, when it was time for the family to go to bed and the lights would be turned out, we would hear--called from around the house--'See you in the morning!  See you in the morning!'  I would say that to my sisters as I went off to sleep.  'See you in the morning.'  I think I might like that on my tombstone: 'I'll see you in the morning.'"
          Precious Lynda and dear Dickson, we will see you in the morning.  Thank You for your faithfulness here on this earth.  Thank You for your extraordinary love and wisdom and kindness.  Lynda, we have one less prayer warrior on this earth, so we will try all the harder to pray and love and encourage and give as relentlessly as you did.  Thank You for showing us all how it's possible to finish well and to run all the way to the finish line with your eyes glued on Jesus and your arms pumping hard to greet the Savior you loved so well, so incredibly well.
          We will see you in the morning.  And until then, we will keep running our race all the way to the end, all by His grace, all for His glory.
         To God--our Savior, Redeemer, and Resurrection Lord--be all the glory.