What I am about to tell you is not logical. What I am about to tell you makes no since at all but I know it's true because it happened to me. Forty years ago today at 9:30 am I saw a stranger framed in the doorway of the church and I heard in my heart, "This is the man you're going to marry." Okay, that seemed a little weird even for me so I tried to shake off that feeling but it wouldn't go away.
A few weeks before I had read about how Abraham had arranged a marriage for his son Issac. It was such a beautiful story that I responded to it by asking God to do that for me. The next day I met Mr. Jones. Mr Jones prayed a heartfelt prayer for his grandson and I was so moved by his prayer that I went up to him afterward and told him I knew God would give him what he had requested. He looked at me for a moment and asked, "Who are you?" Suddenly, I was completely embarrassed and thought, "Who do I think I am that I can come up to this elderly man and tell him that I know God will answer his prayer?!?"
He recognized my discomfort and when on to ask,"Who is your mother?" As soon as we established the fact that he knew both my mother and my grandparents he quickly added, "I have a grandson I want you to meet!" The stranger I saw framed in the doorway of the church was Mr. Jones' grandson. He had come to church that Sunday on a blind date that his grandfather had arranged. After dinner that day Mr. Jones talked about how when you marry someone you bring two families together. I learned latter that Mr. Jones had encouraged his son to write my mother when he had enlisted. He had tried to bring the families together then but he was a generation off.
On our first date we were together from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm. We shared on a level I had never experienced before. Part of our evening together involved talking to a hurting friend of mine. After we finished talking to her Steve said to me, "Some relationships are exclusive so that when the couple is together if anyone come they feel like they are intruding. Other relationships are inclusive so the people they encounter feel welcomed. Lets make our relationship be inclusive."
Forty years ago today I met the man that I was to marry. Forty years ago today God answered my prayer and the desire of Mr. Jones to bring two families together. Forty years ago today God gave Steve a vision of a relationship that would be inclusive and reach out to others and welcome them into our love for each other.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
The Maze
We walked beneath the deep blue of the Autumn sky. My granddaughter and I were finding our way through a maze of corn. The tall stalks blocked my ability to see anything except the path I was on. From my perspective all I could see were tall corn stalks but my granddaughter showed me an aerial view of the maze. I was stunned by the detailed picture that had been created by cutting different paths into the crop of corn.
There are times when I feel like my life is a maze, a puzzle with complex and confusing turns. I get confused and unsure of the correct path to take. I can't really see the big picture and sometimes the path I'm on makes no since to me at all. However, I believe their is an eternal view to the life I live.
In God's word I am given a glimpse of eternity which helps bring meaning to this complex passage I find myself on. There is a sanctification process that occurs on this journey as I rely on faith because my earthly vision is blocked. My lack of understanding could cause me to walk in fear except for the promise I have found in God' word. "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
I believe that I have been invited to be a part of the story of redemption. Living out my part in this story must be done by faith, being sure of what I hope for and confident about what I do not see. If this journey I am on depended on my own understanding I would be lost in the maze. But I believe in the promise given me that, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."(1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Lord Jesus, thank You for leading me on this journey and giving meaning to my life.
There are times when I feel like my life is a maze, a puzzle with complex and confusing turns. I get confused and unsure of the correct path to take. I can't really see the big picture and sometimes the path I'm on makes no since to me at all. However, I believe their is an eternal view to the life I live.
In God's word I am given a glimpse of eternity which helps bring meaning to this complex passage I find myself on. There is a sanctification process that occurs on this journey as I rely on faith because my earthly vision is blocked. My lack of understanding could cause me to walk in fear except for the promise I have found in God' word. "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."(1 Thessalonians 5:23)
I believe that I have been invited to be a part of the story of redemption. Living out my part in this story must be done by faith, being sure of what I hope for and confident about what I do not see. If this journey I am on depended on my own understanding I would be lost in the maze. But I believe in the promise given me that, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."(1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Lord Jesus, thank You for leading me on this journey and giving meaning to my life.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Exercising Vision
I was twenty one years old she was ageless. One day when we were walking together she paused and stood quietly looking into the distance. I asked her what she was looking at and that was when she taught me how to exercise my vision. "Find the farthest place on the horizon,' she said, 'and focus on it."
Now that I no longer measure my life by years but by decades I often exercise my vision. I look intently to the horizon where time and eternity meet. It is there I see the One who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. "God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in...He brings out the starry host by number; He calls all of them by name. Because of His great power and strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:12,22)
When I was twenty one I learned that in order to exercise my vision I needed to be willing to pause, to quiet myself, to look beyond where I was until I could truly see. I learned then that focusing on the farthest point on the horizon not only exercised my vision it also gave me perspective. By exercising my vision I have leaned the perspective of place of time and of eternity.
I sit by my grandchild's bed. I gently place my hand on their closed eyes. Their days are filled with sight. Now that they are still I pray that they will have vision. I close my eyes until I can see the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I quiet myself and pray. I pray that they will be rooted and firmly established in love and that they, "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love."(Ephesians 3:18) I also pray that God will give me the opportunity to teach them how to exercise their vision.
Now that I no longer measure my life by years but by decades I often exercise my vision. I look intently to the horizon where time and eternity meet. It is there I see the One who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. "God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in...He brings out the starry host by number; He calls all of them by name. Because of His great power and strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:12,22)
When I was twenty one I learned that in order to exercise my vision I needed to be willing to pause, to quiet myself, to look beyond where I was until I could truly see. I learned then that focusing on the farthest point on the horizon not only exercised my vision it also gave me perspective. By exercising my vision I have leaned the perspective of place of time and of eternity.
I sit by my grandchild's bed. I gently place my hand on their closed eyes. Their days are filled with sight. Now that they are still I pray that they will have vision. I close my eyes until I can see the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I quiet myself and pray. I pray that they will be rooted and firmly established in love and that they, "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love."(Ephesians 3:18) I also pray that God will give me the opportunity to teach them how to exercise their vision.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
To Be Seen
Her shoulders were bent, her head was bowed, her spirit was broken as she walked into the church. She sat as one in a crowd of many and tried to prepare herself to listen to what was being said but round and round in her mind the same prayer kept circling, "Lord, help me! What am I supposed to do!" She was a prisoner of circumstance.
As she tried to focus her thoughts on the melodious voice of the preacher suddenly he paused in his message and began to talk about Hagar. Hagar was the female Egyptian servant of Sarai. Sarai gave Hagar to Abram in hopes of obtaining children through her. The preacher explained how Hagar became a prisoner of circumstance when she became pregnant. The Lord found her alone in the wilderness and gave her hope. "So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are the God who sees me.'"(Genesis 16:13)
The words the preacher spoke became a ray of light to her darkened soul. After the service she timidly stood in line to speak to the one who had given her hope. When her turn finally came she slowly lifted her eyes to the preacher and asked with quiet voice, "How did the fact that God saw Hagar help her in her circumstances?"
He looked at her and smiled. "So you are the reason I told the story of Hagar. It had nothing to do with the message I had prepared but I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to tell the story about the God who sees." Then he paused and looked kindly into her tear washed eyes and said, "The answer to your question will come as you meditate on what it means to be truly seen by God."
And so the lonely prisoner of circumstance became a prisoner of hope. The truth of being fully known by God became her meditation day and night. She discovered that her true identity was not found in what others thought of her but in the reflection of the eyes of God. All her life she had wanted to be known, to be understood, to be seen. The circumstances didn't change but she did. The timid hurting woman became a beautiful woman of inner strength because as she meditated on what it meant to be seen by God she also received the quiet confidence of one who is seen, understood, known and loved by God.
As she tried to focus her thoughts on the melodious voice of the preacher suddenly he paused in his message and began to talk about Hagar. Hagar was the female Egyptian servant of Sarai. Sarai gave Hagar to Abram in hopes of obtaining children through her. The preacher explained how Hagar became a prisoner of circumstance when she became pregnant. The Lord found her alone in the wilderness and gave her hope. "So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, 'You are the God who sees me.'"(Genesis 16:13)
The words the preacher spoke became a ray of light to her darkened soul. After the service she timidly stood in line to speak to the one who had given her hope. When her turn finally came she slowly lifted her eyes to the preacher and asked with quiet voice, "How did the fact that God saw Hagar help her in her circumstances?"
He looked at her and smiled. "So you are the reason I told the story of Hagar. It had nothing to do with the message I had prepared but I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to tell the story about the God who sees." Then he paused and looked kindly into her tear washed eyes and said, "The answer to your question will come as you meditate on what it means to be truly seen by God."
And so the lonely prisoner of circumstance became a prisoner of hope. The truth of being fully known by God became her meditation day and night. She discovered that her true identity was not found in what others thought of her but in the reflection of the eyes of God. All her life she had wanted to be known, to be understood, to be seen. The circumstances didn't change but she did. The timid hurting woman became a beautiful woman of inner strength because as she meditated on what it meant to be seen by God she also received the quiet confidence of one who is seen, understood, known and loved by God.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The Perfecting Storm
Storms happen.
The storm struck. The ship was caught and could not face the wind, there was no choice but to give way to it and be driven along by it. Since they were so violently storm-tossed they jettisoned the cargo. On the third day of the storm the ships tackle was thrown overboard, after all what good is tackle if you're fighting for your life? When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on them, all hope of their being saved was at last abandoned. This is a description of a storm at sea that Paul encountered in the book of Acts.
Storms happen.
Storms in life show me my true vulnerability. Yet, in the book of James I am told, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."
Storms happen.
The storms I encounter in life test what I really believe about the power of God. It was during a storm that Jesus' disciples began to understand that Jesus was Lord of the wind and the waves. The storms invite me into a more intimate relationship with God. Job's response to God after the storm in his life was, "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you."(Job 42:5)
Storms happen.
Often with the storm comes a deep feeling of confusion. The book of James not only tells me to consider these storms joy but also invites me to ask God for wisdom in the midst of my confusion. I am invited to ask for wisdom yet there is the stipulation that I must ask in faith and not doubting because the one who doubts is looking at the waves of the storm and not the Lord of the storm.
Lord Jesus, when the storm clouds gather, when the winds blow me in direction that I did not choose, when the sky becomes dark and I can no longer see to navigate and I feel nothing stable beneath my feet remind me to count it joy not panic. Help me remember that You are the Lord of the storm inviting me to know You in a more intimate way. Help me to pray for wisdom with my eyes on You and not on the waves so that I can know the thrill of walking with You on the water in the midst of the storm!
The storm struck. The ship was caught and could not face the wind, there was no choice but to give way to it and be driven along by it. Since they were so violently storm-tossed they jettisoned the cargo. On the third day of the storm the ships tackle was thrown overboard, after all what good is tackle if you're fighting for your life? When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on them, all hope of their being saved was at last abandoned. This is a description of a storm at sea that Paul encountered in the book of Acts.
Storms happen.
Storms in life show me my true vulnerability. Yet, in the book of James I am told, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."
Storms happen.
The storms I encounter in life test what I really believe about the power of God. It was during a storm that Jesus' disciples began to understand that Jesus was Lord of the wind and the waves. The storms invite me into a more intimate relationship with God. Job's response to God after the storm in his life was, "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you."(Job 42:5)
Storms happen.
Often with the storm comes a deep feeling of confusion. The book of James not only tells me to consider these storms joy but also invites me to ask God for wisdom in the midst of my confusion. I am invited to ask for wisdom yet there is the stipulation that I must ask in faith and not doubting because the one who doubts is looking at the waves of the storm and not the Lord of the storm.
Lord Jesus, when the storm clouds gather, when the winds blow me in direction that I did not choose, when the sky becomes dark and I can no longer see to navigate and I feel nothing stable beneath my feet remind me to count it joy not panic. Help me remember that You are the Lord of the storm inviting me to know You in a more intimate way. Help me to pray for wisdom with my eyes on You and not on the waves so that I can know the thrill of walking with You on the water in the midst of the storm!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
What Would It Look Like?
I've been thinking about something lately and wondering what it would look like if I really put into practice what I'm reading.
I'm studying in Philippians and I came to the verse that says, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." From there it goes on to tell how Jesus didn't cling to his equality with God. Instead he gave up his divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. It didn't stop there because he humbled himself in obedience to God and died. He died a criminal's death on the cross. So, what would it look like in my life if I had this same attitude of humility?
Yesterday as I continued to meditate on, "What would it really look like if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus?" I read Isaiah 53. I read it in the morning and right before I went to bed last night. This morning I woke thinking about it. "Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's path to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6) So, what would it look like in my life if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus and I was willing to love my enemy and do good to those who hurt me?
This is another thing I've been thinking about, one of the themes in Philippians is joy. So where was Jesus' joy when, "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter...unjustly condemned...struck down for the rebellion of my people...buried like a criminal...crushed." (Isaiah 53:9-11) I found the answer in Hebrews 12:2 "Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame." So what would my life be like if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus and I looked beyond the moment and lived my life based on eternity?
There are those in history who have chosen to live their lives this way. Hebrews 12:1 says the world wasn't worthy of them it also says they are a "huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith." I find in Hebrews 12 what it would look like if I really chose to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. It would mean that I chose to run with endurance the race that God set before me just like Jesus did. It would also mean that I kept my eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects my faith.
Lord I want to obey Your word and have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. I am not naturally humbly, I don't find it natural to love my enemies but I do believe that if Your words commands me to do something You will give me the ability to do it.
I'm studying in Philippians and I came to the verse that says, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." From there it goes on to tell how Jesus didn't cling to his equality with God. Instead he gave up his divine privileges and took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. It didn't stop there because he humbled himself in obedience to God and died. He died a criminal's death on the cross. So, what would it look like in my life if I had this same attitude of humility?
Yesterday as I continued to meditate on, "What would it really look like if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus?" I read Isaiah 53. I read it in the morning and right before I went to bed last night. This morning I woke thinking about it. "Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's path to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6) So, what would it look like in my life if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus and I was willing to love my enemy and do good to those who hurt me?
This is another thing I've been thinking about, one of the themes in Philippians is joy. So where was Jesus' joy when, "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter...unjustly condemned...struck down for the rebellion of my people...buried like a criminal...crushed." (Isaiah 53:9-11) I found the answer in Hebrews 12:2 "Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame." So what would my life be like if I had the same attitude as Christ Jesus and I looked beyond the moment and lived my life based on eternity?
There are those in history who have chosen to live their lives this way. Hebrews 12:1 says the world wasn't worthy of them it also says they are a "huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith." I find in Hebrews 12 what it would look like if I really chose to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. It would mean that I chose to run with endurance the race that God set before me just like Jesus did. It would also mean that I kept my eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects my faith.
Lord I want to obey Your word and have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. I am not naturally humbly, I don't find it natural to love my enemies but I do believe that if Your words commands me to do something You will give me the ability to do it.
Monday, September 16, 2013
During the Fourth Watch of the Night
It's interesting to me how I can be so tired that I can hardly wait until bedtime and then find myself fully awake at 3 A.M. I don't want to be awake at 3 A.M. Not just because I'm not finished sleeping but because usually if I wake at 3 A.M. it's because my subconscious has brought to the surface the stuff I didn't want to think about during the day.
So this morning at 3 A.M. when I woke up with the feeling of being drowned by the things I couldn't control I was reminded of something I read. When Jesus had fed the five thousand he made his disciples get into a boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. "And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the sea." (Mark 6:48) The fourth watch of the night is between 3 A.M. and 6 A.M.
In the darkness that accompanies the fourth watch of the night I often feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I winds of life are blowing me off course, I can't see where I'm going nor do I have control over the boat I'm in. It was during the exhaustion of the fourth watch when the disciples saw Jesus walking to them on the water and they were terrified. Jesus spoke and said,"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Mark 6:50)
Two thoughts came to me during my own early morning hours. First, the disciples were utterly astounded when Jesus got into the boat and the wind ceased. He was able to both walk on the waves of the storm and make the storm cease. My other thought was that their plan was to go to Bethsaida but the wind blew them off course but not off his course, "When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore."(Mark 6:53)
Lord Jesus when I am struggling with the storms in my life during the fourth watch of the night help me to remember that I have a Savior that is able to not only calm the storm but walk on the waves in the storm. Thank You also for using the storms to put me at the destination of Your choosing.
So this morning at 3 A.M. when I woke up with the feeling of being drowned by the things I couldn't control I was reminded of something I read. When Jesus had fed the five thousand he made his disciples get into a boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. "And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking on the sea." (Mark 6:48) The fourth watch of the night is between 3 A.M. and 6 A.M.
In the darkness that accompanies the fourth watch of the night I often feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I winds of life are blowing me off course, I can't see where I'm going nor do I have control over the boat I'm in. It was during the exhaustion of the fourth watch when the disciples saw Jesus walking to them on the water and they were terrified. Jesus spoke and said,"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Mark 6:50)
Two thoughts came to me during my own early morning hours. First, the disciples were utterly astounded when Jesus got into the boat and the wind ceased. He was able to both walk on the waves of the storm and make the storm cease. My other thought was that their plan was to go to Bethsaida but the wind blew them off course but not off his course, "When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore."(Mark 6:53)
Lord Jesus when I am struggling with the storms in my life during the fourth watch of the night help me to remember that I have a Savior that is able to not only calm the storm but walk on the waves in the storm. Thank You also for using the storms to put me at the destination of Your choosing.
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