Reflections on the Lake

       "This place engulfs me," my "sister-cousin" Margie said some years ago, a perfect expression for how so many of us feel about this lake or another special place. For nearly seventy years this very spot has been a sanctuary for my soul, a quiet retreat when the storms of life are raging around me. 

      My favorite time of all, though, is in the still morning, when not even a zephyr disturbs the water and it reflects the sky and trees like a mirror, an almost perfect image of the original. The calls of geese and great blue herons making their morning flight peal clear as church bells on a summer Sunday. The secret is in the stillness.

      When pain and sickness or the world's adversity overwhelm me, sometimes I have to stop crying out to God for relief, stop the music I love, the noise of television and internet, and even conversation with loved ones, and simply be still. And that is when the pain eases and I feel God's calming presence even more than in the most beautiful sanctuary. And He reminds me:

 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

      How hard it is to be still! Just like the lake is ruffled by the slightest breeze, I let myself be bothered by the smallest adversity-- a malfunctioning cell phone, a spill on the stove, not to mention the big things like the death of a loved one or the insanity swirling around us in this broken world.

      "Sister-friend" Linda sent me this gem not long ago : "To love a person is to see all of their magic, and to remind them of it when they have forgotten." (Author unknown). Shouldn't we all be mirrors, first and foremost of our great and loving God, Who created us "in His own image" (Genesis 1:27)? And then of the loving people He has placed around us, who like us are His own image-bearers? Imagine a world where we are all still enough to see the face of God reflected in each other. 

   "After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice."  (1 Kings 19:12 WEB)

 "He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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Expectantly Waiting

     

    This is the sight I see nearly every morning while I'm eating my toast with honey. Copper knows that when I'm finished, "in the fullness of time," he'll be handed my plate with the thinnest coating of honey to lick! He seems to know the timing is totally up to me, not dependent on anything he does; yet I can't possibly miss the fact that he's waiting expectantly, eyes on the prize, for me to make the slightest move in his direction. There's no particular place or time or way his desire is fulfilled. Sometimes I place it right under his nose, sometimes on the floor in front of me, sometimes I hold it in my hand for him. But he never stops expecting my offering until he receives it. He doesn't ask for more-- he's happy when he's gotten every molecule, but not before, no matter how large or small the gift.

      What a lesson for me! Yes, I certainly "hound" (pun intended!) my Heavenly Father for my fondest desires-- healing, the salvation of loved ones, His kingdom to come quickly. But how confident am I of His hearing and answering? Are my eyes always on Him, waiting expectantly? How well do I believe His answer will come at the perfect time, in the perfect way-- HIS way, which isn't necessarily my way? Will I wait patiently and be happy like Copper with whatever my Master gives me each day, remembering every moment the Truth of Romans 8:28, the ENTIRE verse, not just the first part?

"And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."  (Romans 8:28 BSB, emphasis mine)

      Let's challenge each other in 2022 to wait EXPECTANTLY on our Lord to accomplish His purpose in His timing!

 "He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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Christmas Plans

      

My Plans

    In the early morning darkness, I clicked through a few last purchases on Amazon. Would they arrive before Christmas? I thought of the cards waiting to be written, the carefully chosen baking ingredients still in their boxes and bags waiting to be mixed together. Six more days, and who knows if I'll have the energy to accomplish any or all of it?

     As I cast this thought into the air around me, there came to my heart a message, as clear as if the words had been spoken: Christmas isn't about the gifts you buy or make; it's about the Gift you receive from Me. It's not about what you accomplish; it's about what I accomplished in a stable in Bethlehem and on a cross on Calvary.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  (Luke 2:4-7 KJV, emphasis mine)

"After Yeshua had taken the wine, He said, 'It is accomplished!' And, letting His head droop, He delivered up His spirit."  (John 19:30 CJB, emphasis mine)

      Yes, my Christmas "accomplishments" are for the purpose of giving, and Jesus Himself told us, according to Paul, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  (Acts 20:35) And yet a vessel, no matter how willing, must receive before giving! Even a jug of water must be filled before it can pour out its life-giving substance. Mary willingly received the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and through no effort of her own became the human vessel for our divine Savior, accomplishing her purpose on earth. And this child of Mary's, our Messiah Yeshua, though sinless, became the willing vessel for our sins and then poured out God's grace on us. IF ONLY WE WILL RECEIVE. 

      I've confessed to you before, dear reader, how much more difficult it is for me to receive than to give, and so as usual I'm reminding myself here. But hopefully I'm also passing on to someone else the words God spoke into my heart this morning. Let's try to remember this Christmas, and every day, that unless we receive the Gift of Christmas, all our giving is meaningless.

   

God's plan!

I heard this beautiful song twice Sunday morning! It's a perfect reminder of what's really important: https://youtu.be/-ClYL3pKCwI

 "He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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Maybe the Present is the Present

       We're just past Thanksgiving and already thoughts of Christmas are filling our heads. I've lived much of my life absorbed in planning, whether for a trip, a lesson for school or church, or an event, be it holiday, birthday, or a simple meal. Lately, feeling incapable of looking ahead, I've spent much time looking back with nostalgia on past trips, celebrations, or events, always ending up thinking about how pointless planning is for me now.  Sometimes being in the moment is challenging.

      Right now, though, as a lifelong friend lies near the end of her long battle with cancer, and I think about another dear friend who died suddenly around this time a few years ago, I'm taking stock of how I spend my time and energy. My cancer-ridden friend has continued to be upbeat  and positive, even praying for me as she suffers. The other precious sister, a blessing to all who knew her, was full of life and joy always until she collapsed while looking at photos from the latest trip she and her husband had just enjoyed. 

      These two cherished friends are even now reminding me how precious every moment is, what a gift each breath of life is. I confess, this perspective is extremely difficult for me. And yet, my God understands and demonstrates His love to me, even when I'm struggling to put one foot in front of the other. It happened just now. 

      As I almost begrudgingly lifted my computer onto my lap, because He wouldn't let me ignore these thoughts any more, I felt angry, resentful, sad, frustrated; frankly, I was having a pity-party. Bill had given up trying to help me with a computer problem, because I just wasn't having it, if you know what I mean. Even Copper the dog was staying across the room from me staring, looking puzzled at my expressions of frustration. Bill finally decided to take Copper for a walk. (Can't blame either of them for wanting to get out of the house!) 

      Copper (and God) had something else in mind, though. In two flying leaps a 70-pound coonhound was in my lap, on top of the computer keyboard, licking my face! The neck pillow that stays right above my head on the back of my chair landed on my head like a hat, a sight which Bill thought was so funny he had to take a picture. My tears of frustration turned to hysterics, and I almost wet my pants, truth be told. That silly dog wouldn't move off my lap until I sat up and reached for my shoes. Needless to say, I just came back from a short walk with the two "boys" in my life, and there's even a tiny smile on my face. 

      Friend, how about we pledge to each other during the upcoming holidays and even beyond to worry less about what's past or what might be coming and enjoy the gift of the present. Let's not miss all those moments that are graces from His hand.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

"Who can straighten what He has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future."  (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14) 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  (Matthew 6:25-27 NIV)

Since I'm preaching to myself, why not embarrass myself?

Of Trees and Forests

       

       The trees in the forest surrounding our house are swaying gently in a light breeze today. A few days ago I looked out and they were bending in unison in a stiff wind. Trees also surround my lake house, but not nearly as thickly as our forest here at home. Still, they are more than a few, and very tall. Not long ago, during a stormy season, I called our local "tree man" to look at my trees at the lake to make sure they were not threatening my house (or a neighbor's) in any way. A couple of years ago, you see, a huge pine had blown down across our driveway in a big wind, fortunately missing houses, cars, and people. I wondered if they needed further thinning. Mike told me my trees were stable and strong, and most interestingly he recommended I NOT thin my "forest" because, he said, they support each other, so they're safer together.

      What a lesson for God's people! A quick search on Bible Gateway just now revealed 387 occurrences of the word "together" in the New International Version, 469 in the King James. The short letter Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus contains some wonderful examples, most notably,

"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16 NIV)

      Think about how many congregations floundered when the Covid epidemic hit, and how many people have never gone back to church once out of the habit for several months. Have you struggled to return, finding it much easier to continue watching on-line from your comfortable couch in your pajamas? (NOTE: I am not in the least demeaning those who aren't physically able to attend, whether with health issues or compromised immune systems. I am one of those!) Yes, it is possible to worship from home-- I do it every Sunday and many days in between. Yet there is something about raising our voices together to read God's Word or sing His praises that can't be replicated alone. There's something about the fellowship of believers that is strengthening, just like the trees. We need each other; we are meant for community. 

      Remember Moses leading the children of Israel in battle against the Amalekites? All he had to do was hold up his arms, while Joshua led the troops. Have you tried holding up your arms for an entire day? Even a few minutes? Moses had to have help just holding up his arms! (Read the entire story in Exodus 17:8-16.) From the very beginning, God never intended for us to "do life" alone.

 "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"  (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

    All that remains of that lone pine is a pile of sawdust. Like my trees, we are meant to hold each other up. I didn't write this blog alone: I had to call Bill to help me find the Moses story, and Linda called in the middle with encouraging words when I was ready to give up. We can only do it together, my friend. 

 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

 "He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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Freefall

       

      

      A few days ago I awoke to a momentary vision which I hope I shall never forget. I was falling, down, down, in a vacuum of softest pink pearl, like a rosy dawn. I was alone, not tethered to any encumbrances like fear, worry, pain, or regret. The only sensation was a feeling of contentment and safety, joy even. As I puzzled over the pleasant peace that settled over me while I lay in bed, immediately there came to mind a line from a Wing and A Prayer song: "You are my Rock-- on You I stand." And somehow I knew deep in my soul that at the end of that freefall, my Father's everlasting arms were waiting to catch me in the gentlest, most loving embrace I could imagine.

"From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."  (Psalm 61:2 NIV)

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27a TLB)

      I have had the most unaccustomed tranquility since that day. The stress of the world, worries about health, relationships, obligations, needs, or earthly desires may come to mind, but are immediately tossed into that beautiful space of serenity and quickly disappear. I find myself smiling, as if I have a wonderful secret, but it's a secret I would like to share with the world. It's as simple as that pink block at the top of the page and as solid as the rock I'm sitting on below. It's the assurance that when the end comes, when my freefall stops, all will be well. All my past mistakes and blunders, all my worries over what I've done wrong or failed to do, all the pain that came to me unbidden, will disappear in the blink of an eye, and all WILL be well with my soul. 

      It's Jesus! His battered, bloody, nail-scarred body is the ONLY doorway leading to this "peace that passeth understanding." My vacuum was pink, like the water and blood mingled together that flowed down His side, and I was alone, because that's the only way to enter His family. We don't gain salvation through a parent or friend, or attached to any individual or organization, but through our own choice to accept His gift freely.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7 KJV, emphasis mine)

"I am at rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my stronghold; I will never be shaken."

(Psalm 62:1-2 CSB)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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Enough!

      

Oops!

    I love to bake. If I have an ounce of energy, I'll spend it in the kitchen creating something tasty to eat. Perhaps I'm admitting to being a bit of a hedonist, because it's the eating that I REALLY enjoy! And I have no trouble leaving the washing, cleaning, and bookkeeping chores until they absolutely can't be put off any longer, in favor of my more pleasurable pursuit. Just the other day, as I impulsively started a baking project, I quickly realized I was missing one key ingredient and didn't have quite enough of another. (Yes, there's a lesson in planning there, but that's for another day.)

      As I sighed in frustration and sank back into my recliner to mope, I opened my email to find my son Christian's weekly letter to his church [https://mailchi.mp/4feacceab580/update-5369169?e=[UNIQID]]. My thoughts quickly turned to my failure to produce the desired tasty treat. It's not that unusual for me to run out of some essential ingredient at a "crucial" time: I just can't seem to keep enough of one thing or another on hand. Just like I can never be good enough to please any human being I love all the time, much less to please my perfect and holy Heavenly Father all the time. 

      As Christian reminded me, though, our wonderful Creator God knew this from the very beginning. Yes, even pleased as He was with His human creation, enough to pronounce it "very good indeed" (Genesis 1:31), He knew that in giving us complete freedom to choose, we would fall short. But unlike me in my creative efforts, He had the perfect plan in mind. As evil spread and grew in men's hearts, He knew that the only adequate covering would be His own flesh and blood, His only Son Jesus. And unlike my insufficient supply of flour and butter, He was enough. Enough for your sins and mine and all of man's sins throughout the ages. 

      As Paul declared, 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  (Romans 3:23)

      And yet the Lord says, to Paul and to all of us, 

"...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness."  

 (2 Corinthians 12:9 CSB)

      I take a lot of comfort in the latter verse these days. Though I never felt that I quite measured up to my earthly father's expectations, for most of my life I felt pretty self-sufficient, thinking I could "do" whatever needed to be done to get along in this world. That's the problem, you see: I was getting along fine in this world without giving much thought to my eternal home. When the difficulties of life take away much of your ability to "do," then you begin thinking more deeply about how little you really CAN do to save yourself or make yourself "useful" or worthy of living eternally in God's presence. NONE of us has what it takes to measure up to God's standards of holiness. Why would we think we could ever be worthy of attaining Heaven?

"But thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 

(1 Corinthians 15:57 CSB)

      When you realize that you can never be enough, take comfort in this beloved verse:

"For God so loved [Put your name here] that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  (John 3:16 KJV)

 "He must increase, but I must decrease"  (John 3:30)

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