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!”

Christmas Symbolism

You know how some people try to find symbolism and meaning in everything? Well, while I may not do that exactly, I did wonder if the Christmas cactus actually had anything to do with Christmas and if it contained any symbolism in relation to Christ.   I don't want to be one of those people who try really hard to make something fit when it doesn't, but then I realized that if Christ is, indeed, the Creator... and I believe He is... then it stands to reason that His creation will reveal things about and have a connection with Him, right?



A Christmas cactus is also known as a holiday cactus, because it generally blooms around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.   It's scientific name is zygocactus, which is Greek meaning 'joined or yoked cactus', because of its segmented 'leaves'.  Whenever I think of words having a Greek name or origin, I always think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  Anyway, if you're familiar with the teachings of Jesus, you might have been reminded of His invitation found in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Who couldn't use a little rest, huh?

A Christmas cactus is an epiphyte, another Greek word meaning 'upon plant', because if a segment is broken off, it can grow on another plant, but is not parasitic.   Rather, it is a type of symbiotic relationship called commensalism in which one organism benefits while the other neither benefits, nor is harmed. Jesus invites us to abide in Him in a relationship that promises blessings.

While the Christmas cactus can be propagated through seeds, it is generally propagated using one or more of its segments.  If you know anything about Christianity, you know that it is propagated by spreading the 'seed' of the Good News, also known as the Gospel, but it is most effectively propagated through personal contact and discipleship.   It is only when we are willing to give of ourselves and love one another, as Christ commands, that others can know and come to understand the love of Christ.

So... how's that for symbolism? Do you think it's a stretch? Or could it be a small part of God's revelation to man through His creation?

A Message of Love

I took this shot of the morning sky almost two weeks ago because I thought the patterns and textures were so beautiful. It wasn't until I went to process the photo that I noticed the small heart of light. Isn't it cool when God sends us a message of love when we least expect it?

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared..." --Titus 3:4

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

Why Be Nice?

“Love is always bestowed as a gift—freely, willingly, and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.”  --Leo F. Buscaglia

Why be nice? Why do you do the things you do?  This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, but a Facebook friend’s status caused me to revisit it.

How would you feel if you knew someone did nice things for you in order to get something back in return?   I know we usually do things for people to make them happy, to meet a need, to let them know they are loved and valued, and when they’re happy, we’re happy.  So, it’s true that we usually gain at least the benefit of happiness ourselves, even if being made happy is not our motivation.   But what if you knew that the person’s primary reason for doing nice things for you was to make themselves likable and happy and even to get something in return?  Would you feel loved... or would you feel used?

I think it’s somewhat natural for us to subconsciously hope for something in return, even if only for a response in kind expressing an acceptance of the thoughtfulness or friendship. But have you ever done something nice for someone in secret... anonymously, simply because you knew it was something they needed?   Usually, in those instances, because the person doesn’t know who to thank, they end up thanking God, and He gets the glory.  On the flip side, have you ever done things to make someone happy and then become hurt or even upset when they seemed to ignore you or take you for granted?   I confess that I have felt that before... even recently.  Why do we sometimes feel that way? The Bible reveals that we get upset when we don’t get what we want or expect.   (James 4:1-3)  Sometimes our expectations are realistic.   The greater the level of intimacy or connection in a relationship, the greater and more realistic the expectation.   Just be sure the feelings of connection and intimacy are mutual lest you become disappointed when your expectations are not met.  Sometimes our responses reveal that our expectations and motivations are more self-focused.   If we are truly doing something for someone else, then we should do so with an attitude of not expecting anything in return, else we are in essence doing it primarily for ourselves.

A good friend of mine has said that people, but especially children, want to know two basic things: 1) Who’s in charge? and 2) Am I loved?  We all want to be loved and valued.  John tells us that we love God, because He first loved us.  (1 John 4:19)  And Jesus said we are no different from others if we simply love those who love us.   So instead, we should be like God, our Father, and love and bless even those who hate us... and use us.   (Matthew 5:43-48)   So, why be nice even if it seems to get you no where?  Because it’s the right thing... the loving thing to do.

The Northeast Kingdom

My daughter and I took a road trip this past weekend to explore the upper Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.  While our primary objective was to visit the Abenaki Clan of the Hawk grounds, we were also hoping to catch sight of a moose or two, but the only wildlife we saw was a rafter of turkeys.



We took Sally along, which made the trip a bit more adventurous.



We stopped at this spring water access to refill a few water bottles. The water was cold and refreshing. Notice the date of 1892 on the side of the concrete reservoir.  Vermont has several public water accesses along its back roads.



We passed by this quaint little country store and just had to turn around to check it out. Everything, from food items to a wide array of collectibles and antiques, was displayed in a folksy and artistic manner.



The Amish peaches smelled too wonderful to resist, and they were the best tasting we've ever had.



They also offered homemade cakes, pies, and cookies, as well as jams, pickles, and even free range eggs.



There was no cell phone signal, and we didn't bring a GPS, so I took a couple of wrong turns. But we might have otherwise missed the majestic view of Lake Willoughby had we been less adventurous.



After getting back on track and stopping by a large general store that was akin to a country Wal-Mart, we finally found our way to the Clan of the Hawk grounds where the Abenaki hold an annual pow wow.



No one was around, but the property is open to the public. We briefly stepped into the Welcome Center cabin, peeked into the locked Chief Looking Glass Museum, browsed the non-denominational chapel and bookstore, and walked across an open field to the stone labyrinth. The labyrinth is considered a sacred place of healing. There was also a small altar where people can place a small offering to the Creator. There were pouches, glass stones, bracelets, tokens, and a small wooden flute.



We noticed some small red pouches hanging in a tree nearby as well. The pouches are prayer bundles that people hang to leave their prayers in the sacred place.

There seems to be something about having a tangible place or person to go to in order to have our spiritual and physical needs met, or going through a ritual to make things more 'real'. We tend to be drawn to the mystical. It's one of the reasons some people have difficulty with Christianity. It's not mystical, and although some people call a church building 'the house of God', it in and of itself has no power to heal or transform, nor does it magnify any spiritual energies. And as much as we'd like to think we can and must do something, there is nothing we can do to earn our way to Heaven or appease an angry god. Jesus Christ offered Himself up as a sacrifice in our place to pay the penalty for our transgressions. He has done the work. All we must do is have faith and believe the things He has revealed.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast"  (Ephesians 2:8, 9). I'm so glad He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

Grape Jam

The Lord has blessed us with a bountiful crop of grapes.  This morning, my daughter and I harvested a small batch to try our hand at making grape jam for the first time.







Even though my daughter is allergic to grapes... even handling them is very irritating to her skin... she wore rubber gloves and picked some with me after she captured a few images with her camera.



This shot of the grapes in a basket is my fave!   Isn't she a wonderful photographer?



I found a recipe for Concord Grape Jam on Epicurious.com.  I didn't follow the recipe exactly, because I wanted to use my Vitamix to pulverize the whole grapes, seeds and all, to get the most out of them.

Boiling the grapes made the house smell soooo good!

It seems to have turned out well, and it sure tastes good on buttered toast.  Yum!  :)

Rock Hopper and Beach Comber

A few days ago, my daughter and I took her puppy, Sally, to a park, situated next to a brook, and yesterday we took a trip out to the ocean. We've been experiencing some record high temperatures for this time of year, and I didn't want to let this summer pass by without going to the beach.



Because Sally is still in training, she was kept on a retractable leash and had to be untangled a few times.



She liked wading in the shallow parts, but seemed a bit timid about venturing into the deeper, moving water. She loved hopping on the rocks. She was so cute and quite adventurous, sometimes making leaps two or three times her body length!



While exploring the brook further downstream, we discovered this beautiful wildflower. It is Gentiana Andrewsii, also known as "Andrew's Gentian" or "Closed Bottle Gentian" because it never actually opens.



The beach was very crowded yesterday. We were surprised considering most of the schools in our area have begun. But it was a gorgeous day to be on the beach nonetheless.



Doesn't this grouping of rocks standing firmly in the receding waves give you a sense of... strength and tranquility? Our Creator is the Master Artist!



Instead of making our way down to the rock jetty as we usually do, we went in the opposite direction until we came to a 'wall' of rocks and boulders... the perfect place for a 'treasure' hunt.



We found bits of pretty drift wood and a couple of shells, and I came across a tiny red crab. My daughter was actually a little grossed out when I touched it, because... well, it was no longer among the living.



We also came across a sunglasses graveyard or a kind of lost and found. One had a stem missing and another had a bit of dried seaweed hanging on. I found it curious that one of them had an elastic band still attached. Perhaps the high tide absconded with them and then stashed them among the rocks. Speaking of tide, it was coming in fast, so we didn't tarry too long lest we find ourselves in a predicament.



The waves were beautiful but very powerful. Red flags, caution signs, and constant blows on whistles signaled the danger of riptides.



Several people had to be rescued by lifeguards. The woman on the left was rescued after being caught in a riptide. Another group of teenagers was also rescued after daring to go a bit too far despite the shrill warnings.



The 'big guns' were finally called in. Waverunners don't get tired. Wouldn't it be cool to have his job?



Some people were smart enough to heed the warnings and stay closer to shore. You can't see it in the photo, but three or four other people weren't as fortunate to catch the wave like this guy.

Despite the fact that my daughter was developing a sore throat and earache 1-1/2 hours into the trip, which was halfway there, we still had a wonderful time feeling the sand between our toes, cooling off in the salty ocean waves, shopping on the boardwalk, and eating junk food. Isak Dinesen, a Danish author, once said, "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." I would agree... almost. My daughter is still not feeling well today, so could you offer up a little prayer for her? Thanks...

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.

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  :)