Embrace Life

I needed an image for my most recent blog post, so I searched my archives for a cross.  This was taken in February during my visit to NC on a photo safari with an online photographer friend.  I edited it using some of Michelle Kane's HeARTy Actions and one of my own texture images.

Happy All the Time?

There's a children's church song that is high energy and fun to sing because of the hand motions and increasing speed, but it hit me one day that it can also be very confusing and deceiving.   Why?  Well, it goes like this:

I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.
I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.
Since Jesus Christ came in and cleansed my heart from sin,
I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time!

Are Christians happy all the time?  We might pretend to be, but no, we're not. We have some of the same struggles as everyone else.  I recently read an article by Russell Moore entitled Why Facebook (and Your Church) Might Be Making You Sad.  One of the things he says is, "By not speaking, where the Bible speaks, to the full range of human emotion—including loneliness, guilt, desolation, anger, fear, desperation—we only leave our people there, wondering why they just can’t be “Christian” enough to smile through it all."  Have you ever felt that way?  I have.

I think there are at least two reasons we tend to put on a façade:  1) It makes us feel more religious/spiritual, and/or  2) We sincerely have a desire to glorify God and show that He is real and trustworthy.  But can we truly reflect what's real, if we ourselves are not?

I confess I am really struggling with something right now... and I am very discouraged... but it doesn't make me any less a Christian, and it doesn't make God any less real, powerful, or trustworthy.

If you happen to think of it when you go before the throne of God, would you mind saying a little prayer for me, too?  Thanks...

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." --Psalm 19:1

Have you ever noticed when you wear sunglasses you can sometimes see luminous colors in the clouds?  While running errands a few days ago, I noticed the iridescent colors.  I had my sunglasses on.  If only I could capture what I was seeing!  I then decided to do an experiment and put my sunglasses 'on' my camera's lens.  The shots using the sunglasses were pinkish and somewhat blown-out and not what I expected, but I did take one shot without using the sunglasses.  After all, it was an experiment, right?  I was amazed at what the camera itself was able to capture and reveal beyond what the naked eye could see, even beyond what I was seeing through my sunglasses.  Wow...

Y’know, life is kind of like that, too, isn’t it?   I mean, depending on how we view things, our worldview or political persuasion for example, the ‘lens’ we use will determine what we see.  A meteorologist might look at this picture and simply see what types of clouds they are and foretell the weather, while an artist or photographer might look at it and notice the composition, colors, and ‘movement’.   A creationist might look at this picture and see the intelligence, creativity and handiwork of God, while an evolutionist might see only a natural phenomenon and perhaps even global warming.  1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  What do you see?

On the flip side, have you ever seen something that wasn’t there?  Have you seen togetherness and perceived rejection?  Have you ever seen laughter and thought people were laughing at you?  Or how about conspiracy?  What do you see?  Which lens are you using?  The lens of insecurity and self-focus or of wisdom, discernment, and love?

Then, there are those things that are beyond our scope of vision... invisible, unseen things.  1 Corinthians 2:9 says, "But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."  Wow!  Considering all the beautiful, amazing, magnificent things we have seen, whether through God’s creation or even through man’s imagination like in the movie Avatar, God is basically saying, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Gracie: Baby Dedication

Today, Max and Emily presented Gracie, as well as themselves, to the Lord in a dedication ceremony.







Pastor took Gracie in his arms and explained that dedicating one's baby to the Lord does not secure eternal salvation and an entrance into heaven for her, but it is a public display of the parents' decision to raise her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.   (Ephesians 6:4) Gracie will one day have to seek the Lord herself and choose to trust Him as her Savior.

He also encouraged church members to support Max and Emily in their endeavor, and promised that as a church, he and the teachers would strive to teach her about God and His Word.





After saying a prayer and handing Gracie back over to her parents, Pastor presented Max and Emily with a little New Testament for Gracie.  It warms my heart to see the love Max and Emily have for her and the Lord, and the dedication our pastor has to being a good under-shepherd.

Fruits Game

I am the 'game lady' for a children's Bible club, and I wanted to come up with a game that would teach the kids about the fruits of the Spirit vs. the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:13-26) So, I drew pieces of fruit and labeled them.  The kids had to sort them, considering which are good 'fruits' and which are bad... which ones are pleasing to God and which are not.  I thought it might help them really consider the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh more seriously if they had to actually read the words and consider which category each one belonged.  It also gave us an opportunity to teach them what some of the words and characteristics mean.  Maybe you can use this idea for your own children's ministry, and if you have any ideas of games you've played that teach, I hope you'll leave a comment and share your own tips.  Thanks!  :)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." --Galatians 5:22, 23

Book Review: I Am Hutterite

Book cover image used with permission

I Am Hutterite  is a young woman’s account of her life as a little girl living in a religious colony, a group whose beliefs fall somewhere between the Mennonites and the Amish.  She reflects on her idyllic and simple childhood, as well as her struggle to adjust and be accepted by the outside world when her parents leave the colony she loves.  The story begins with a visit back to her childhood home and recounts her family’s heritage and personal journey.  It’s a story of faith, hope, and love in the midst of politics, intolerance, and unforgiveness.

Reading the book brought back memories of my own struggles.  Although I never lived as part of a religious colony, my family and I briefly worshiped and fellowshipped with a fledgling group having similar beliefs and practices as the Hutterites and looking to form their own community.  While there were many similarities between the fledgling group and Hutterite colonies, because people are different, each group is also different and usually assumes the personality and convictions of those leading them.  As Nicodemus admonished his fellow Pharisees by asking, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51), we, too, should not judge a group of people before talking with and getting to know them.  Some well-meaning friends tried to dissuade us from fellowshipping with the group, but because they offered no personal experience, scriptural foundation, nor tried to get to know the group, our friends seemed disqualified as counselors and we didn’t listen.  While I do have some regrets from the experience as a whole, I am grateful for what I learned about life and relationships and through the exposure of my own heart.  I encourage you to read the book, and I think you, too, may discover the appeal and joy of living in community and the potential snares and heartache of trying to govern your life according to tradition and a strict religious code.

After writing a review for Same Kind of Difference As Me, I was contacted by Thomas Nelson Publishing and asked if I would like to receive a complimentary copy of two other books with no obligation to write another review.  Thank you, Thomas Nelson Publishing, for giving me the privilege and opportunity.  (^_^)

Along Came a Spider

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”  --Luke 14:31

While outside photographing some flowers using my 100mm macro lens, I came across an interesting sight.  A tetragnatha pinicola spider appeared to have sensed movement.  It slowly made its way to the center of the flower where a honey bee was gathering pollen.  As both the spider and honey bee drew closer together, the spider carefully stretched out one of its legs, drew it back again, and backed away.  It appeared to have examined its potential prey and counted the costs before attacking.  The bee on the other hand seemed quite undaunted by the spider’s presence or covert probe.  The encounter reminded me of Jesus admonishing a great multitude of followers to count the cost of becoming His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), and just as He used common examples, we, too, should count the cost before venturing into a potential unknown.

Jesus Saves

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...”  --Philippians 1:27a

My daughter wanted to take her new puppy for a nature walk in a local park that is home to a stone observation tower.  Knowing a lot of people and pets use the trails, she wanted to offer ‘Sally’ an opportunity for socialization and practice on her leash in a different environment.  It was a gorgeous day, and we encountered a Schnauzer and a dachshund, both unleashed who excitedly ran up to greet Sally.  As they bounded off after their owners, Sally wanted to run with them, but she was very obedient and stayed with us.  We also encountered a little girl who, despite being told Sally was very timid, chased her around and around our legs to pet the cute puppy.

When we’d first reached the tower and saw the words “JESUS SAVES” scratched into the outer, surrounding wall, being believers of Christ ourselves and wanting others to hear His message of forgiveness and hope, it was a pleasant sight.  At the top of the tower, we found the usual additions of sentiment one might find in such a place... declarations of having been there and romantic expressions of love to another.  The notes at the top seem almost fitting, but as I was processing the photo of my daughter and her puppy, the big, bold letters etched into the wall  below were recognized for what they are... graffiti.

While it may be satisfying to some well-intentioned believers to proclaim that 'sound byte' about the Gospel, I wonder if those same folks realize that obedience to authority and respect for property are aspects of the entire package of 'Good News'? And I considered my daughter's puppy, Sally. She had been excited to run and play with the other dogs we'd met, but she was also aware, in her little puppy mind, that she must be obedient.  I began thinking that many Christians enjoy the excitement of proclaiming the immediate message of the only way of our salvation, but they forget that obedience to authority and the property of others is an important means to demonstrate our love for Christ. Just as my daughter's puppy showed her love for my daughter by obedience and respect, we demonstrate our following the Lord the same way - obedience and respect.

Strawberry Heart = God's Love

Our church hosted a VBS (Vacation Bible School) last week.  I'm the 'Snack Lady', and I like to try to prepare healthy snacks that help reinforce the lessons.  This snack represented part of the feast given by the father after his prodigal son returned home.  The strawberry heart represents our heavenly Father's love.

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." -- Luke 15:20 

FAIL'd... But Lesson Learned

 “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”  --Deuteronomy 15:11

Have you ever thought you’d learned something through reading or hearing, but when put to the test, you weren’t ready and wished God would give you another chance?  While in the area for a friend’s wedding, my family and I took a trip into Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and possibly a museum or two.  We were ill-prepared in more ways than one.  Using our GPS, we tried to locate a parking garage close by, but we ended up parking ten blocks away.  Since it was such a beautiful day and we wanted to take some pictures of the amazing architecture we’d passed, we decided to walk.  Although ten city blocks was a greater distance than we’d anticipated in the hot blazing sun, I’m really glad we walked, because I learned a valuable lesson that day.

I had just finished the two books about homelessness by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, but it hadn’t even occurred to me that we might see homeless people on the streets of downtown Philadelphia.  Having been to Boston several times, despite seeing street musicians playing for money, I don’t remember seeing homeless people nor experiencing the pungent smells of urine and filth.  As we walked around the gorgeous City Hall building in Centre Square, I noticed a man several yards away sleeping atop cardboard on one of the benches under the shade of some trees.  We came to the corner of the building and saw a very thin, ragged-looking woman with hollow eyes sitting on some steps.  I wondered if she was homeless and wanted to give her some money or ask if she needed anything, but I didn’t quite know how to go about it, so we just passed by.  At the back of the building heading toward Market Street sat an older black woman asking for a match.  We apologized for not having a match to give her.  I wondered if I could perhaps buy some matches for her, but since I was with my family and didn’t know where to purchase any, I didn’t say anything.  As we kept walking, a young, strong-looking black man had just shoved a lighter into his pocket after lighting his cigarette.  I wanted to stop and ask him if he could offer the woman a light, but I was out of my element, and I was sure she’d ask him anyway when he passed by.  I turned to look and wish I’d turned sooner, prepared to capture the moment with my camera, but it blessed me to see a young man being kind to an old woman.

As we walked down Market Street, I saw another thin man sleeping on a covered bus bench with a shirt over his face, a young man sitting on the sidewalk against a brick wall with an open suitcase and a cardboard sign, and an overweight woman asking passersby to buy her something to eat.  We walked a little further, and I finally stopped, took out my wallet and shoved a bill into my pocket to be easily accessible.  “What is that for?” my daughter asked.

“For a homeless person,” I replied.

As we drew closer to Independence Park, we didn’t seem to encounter another homeless person.  After seeing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, we decided to utilize the transportation system so that we might have more time to visit a museum or the zoo.  But first, we stopped at a nearby Dairy Queen to use their facilities and get something cold to drink.  As we sat for a moment and I drank my ice cold raspberry lemonade, I thought about the homeless who must be hot and thirsty, so I bought a bottled water to go along with the money I had shoved in my pocket.  I prayed God would give me another chance... but... He didn’t.  As we walked the block toward a shuttle bus stop, I purposefully looked for a homeless person to bless.  I wish I had asked my family if we could have kept walking, but I thought surely, we could ride the bus to City Hall and encounter someone there.  We didn’t.  Why, I wondered, wasn’t God giving me another chance?

Remember the young man with the open suitcase?  I had wanted to take his picture, as well as others, and capture the plight of the homeless, but I also try to consider a person’s privacy and dignity.  I could’ve asked for permission or simply taken a picture of his suitcase and cardboard sign.  Did you wonder what the sign said?  It said something like, “Today is my 22nd birthday, and I have nothing...”  Despite what I thought I’d learned from Denver Moore’s admonition to not judge a person, I had judged the young man.  Although my heart went out to him, I had judged his sign to be merely a way of tugging at heartstrings to gain more sympathy and money.  Maybe it really was his 22nd birthday, but even if it wasn’t, he was obviously in some kind of need... and he was someone’s son.  If God had allowed me to give that bottle of water and money to someone else, it’s likely I would’ve felt good about myself and neglected to reflect on my failure to try to get to know a person, ask his name, and show the unconditional love of Christ.  I failed, but I truly hope the lesson was learned.

Book Review: SKoDAM

Cover image used with permission

Same Kind of Different As Me  is a heartwarming and inspirational account of two men from different backgrounds and social strata, brought together by a very special woman.  The story draws you in and takes you on two separate journeys until the two paths meet and they essentially become one.  This is a story of faith, friendship, hope, and love... a powerful combination that leads to amazing transformations.

There were several things I liked about the book.  Although I didn’t pick cotton on a plantation, my sisters and I did pick tobacco one summer, and on our way to work, we drove past little run-down shacks.  I often wondered if slaves had ever lived in them.  Anyway, it brought back memories of home in the South.  I like how the story was told from two different perspectives... through two different pairs of eyes.  And I like how the authors wrote conversations in natural form using distinctive idiomatic dialogue.

I was touched by the love Ron had for his wife as expressed in his openness and desire to support her in fulfilling what she believed God was calling her to do... to minister to the homeless.  And I was both convicted and inspired by Debbie’s and Denver’s faith and close relationship with the Lord, as well as their love in action for those who aren’t always very lovely or easy to love.

I have a few friends who minister in homeless shelters in L.A. and VT, including one dear friend who actually experienced homelessness himself.  Now he is able to comfort others with the comfort he himself has received  (2 Cor. 1:4).   Although I myself have never worked in a homeless shelter, I have helped serve in a soup kitchen and have eaten alongside some who were not necessarily homeless, but just needed a bite to eat.  I still remember, Stacey, one young lady who caught my attention.  Even though it’s been years since I met her in the soup kitchen, once in a while we see each other downtown and stop to chat.  She has a beautiful little boy now.  I wish I knew then what I know now through the experiences my friends have shared and through the things contained in the book.  People are the same kind of different as me, and sometimes it just takes a bit more patience, determination, and genuine love to draw them out.  Like Bryan Duncan’s song Don’t You Wanna Rap  says, “The heart is the same, it’s just a different face.”

Happy Resurrection Day

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."  --2 Corinthians 1:5

Snowdrops are said to be symbolic of consolation. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17)

Happy Resurrection Day  :)

 

Passing It On

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God...”  --Psalm 78:6-7b

My daughter-in-law is now five months pregnant with my first grandchild.  She and my son already sing and read to their unborn baby... a girl?  It’s never too early to start.  Studies have shown that a prenatal baby’s developing brain is stimulated by the sounds, which helps them develop.  After being born, hearing those familiar sounds, stories, and songs can help to calm the baby.

It warms my heart to know that both my son and daughter-in-law share the same beliefs and are working toward the same goals.  How difficult it can be for children when there is no clear sense of direction... or hope.  Who should they believe?  By having to choose one, they are essentially forced to reject the other... or both for that matter.  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  (Amos 3:3)

Having pretty much raised our children, I know they won’t always believe exactly as we do.  But that’s okay, because we’re still learning, too.  God is still working to open our understanding and mold us into the likeness of His Son.  So, what’s important is to have a firm foundation in what we believe and pass it on.

Reminders

A macro shot of red berries on an American barberry bush. This bush also has thorns in the midst of the green leaves. When the leaves drop off in the winter, leaving the thorns and red berries, it reminds me of the crown of thorns put upon Jesus' head and the drops of blood He shed on our behalf. I actually made a mini crown of thorns from parts of a barberry bush. You can see the photo of the little crown of thorns and read a dialogue between a Roman and me as to why Jesus came to die if you click here: This Is Love.