Lasting Friendships

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."~John 15:12-13 NRSV

Gazing out the window, I see my little friend eating the table scraps my husband, Jim, and I have left for him or her to enjoy. My friend is an unusual looking cat, with some Siamese coloration, a small head, and a large body, that lives in the woods behind our home. My heart tells me she is a female, but I really don't know. Last fall she arrived in the backyard looking thin and battered. Many stray cats have come and gone in the years that we've lived here. I'm not sure where they have come from, or where they go to, but I do have this sense of wanting to care for them while they're here. Tonight, she came a little closer as she quickly went for the leftover burger spread out for her to feast upon. It's always a blessing to see that she made it to the food before the raccoons and possums get to it. I'm not sure how long she will be a part of our family, but while she is here, I know I will always cherish caring for and seeing her even from a distance. Our own cat, Rosie, looks out the window wondering what it's like outside, but really has no desire to be out there, because she is loved and has her every need met. Something she never knew about in her first weeks living in a shelter. She wouldn't do anything to risk leaving the people who love her so dearly.

Sometimes in our lives friends come and go while others spend a lifetime with us. I will be honest in saying that sometimes I try to deal with feelings about how could some friends have been such an important part of  my life, and now the friendship has changed due to many different factors some preventable and some for reasons that one has no control over happening.  I can really get hung up on what did I do, what could I have done differently, or what should  I do to help the friendship find its way back to what it once was in my life. In reality, I know that life only moves forward, not backwards. I'm thankful each day for those long time friends that have seen me through the struggles and continue to be there, as I hope I am for them.

Yesterday, Jim, and I, after participating in Bible study at church discussed a point that was brought up in that conversation. Maybe, we often get too hung up in asking the wrong questions. With regards to friends that have come and gone in our lives, instead of asking why the friendship has changed so much, perhaps we should be asking how was our life blessed by the time we spent with those friends? Why not dwell on all the good of what was, rather than mourn what is no longer?  Then each time we think of those friends our response is a loving and uplifting way to think of them rather than a disheartening feeling.

Maybe not all friendships can last forever in the way we wish they could. The forever part of the friendship, may be the treasured memory that a friend or friends brought to a particular time or  moment in our lives. The celebration is in what was shared. Hopefully, they too, fondly remember special times together.  The future may unexpectedly bring us back together, but if not, the memory will always be cherished. Some may argue that friends come into our lives in a kind of random order, but regardless every friend comes into our lives to not only teach us about them, but to teach us to become a better friend.

I think that is why having Jesus as a friend in our lives is so important. He is a constant in our lives. He loves us unconditionally in spite of ourselves.  He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It's a friendship that cannot be broken unless we choose to break it. How amazing is His grace? It can't be put into words.

Whether it be the friends that come and go in my life, or the stray cats that come and go in my life, I will learn to ask the bigger question of how they blessed my life rather than dwell on mourning them in the present. And at those moments, when I struggle to focus on the bigger question, I know I can always count on my best friend, Jesus, who loved me yesterday, loves me today, and will love me tomorrow.

Let us pray,
Dearest Jesus,
You came to teach us about the importance of loving each other, setting an example for us in Your unconditional love for each of us. Thank you for the friends that bless our lives if even for a little while and for those that remain with us throughout our lifetime.
Amen

Let Our Lives Stem from Kindness

"Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."~Ephesians 4:30-32 NLT

Each winter, snowmobilers come out in groves along our rural highway when the snow flies. I think their eyes must light up when they hear a winter storm is on the horizon. Although, they have a wonderful time going up and down the road through ditches, yards, and across driveways, the homeowners often don't have the same feelings about their adventures. As the snow melts and is cleared, the snowmobiles often continue leaving ruts in the yards and permanent damage to driveways. What is an exciting and fun time to one is an irritation to another! We just don't always think alike.

Many biblical scholars feel that Paul was probably imprisoned when he wrote Ephesians, and that is why I find this message remarkable. Even when he is suffering, and should be angry and throwing out harsh words, he chooses to preach kindness. He isn't telling us that we don't have a right to be upset, but I understand from this passage that he's encouraging us to think about how we react to circumstances. I rarely handle conflict well. Even constructive criticism is sometimes hard to hear. (What an unusual term if you think about it; how do you construct criticism?) The problem, once again,is that rarely do two people see the situation from the same viewpoint. 

Can conflict and kindness be combined effectively? An analogy for me to think about is that kindness is more like the stem of a flower and as the flower blossoms out in beauty it draws from the kindness as it grows. So kindness is a place deep inside us that we may draw from. How we react or blossom out always pulls from this stem of kindness. So even if the conversation becomes "colorful," I want to make sure I pray for guidance to absorb kindness from the stem. If I were the snowmobiler enjoying the sledding through the snow, how would I feel?  If I were the homeowner absorbing the damage, how would I feel?  I have to combine the two ways of thinking before engaging in the conversation. Sounds so easy, but it takes courage and humility to honestly weave kindness through the conversation. Fortunately, for the moments when we fail in our endeavors, Paul reminds us that forgiveness, God's grace, is always waiting.

Forgiving and Kind Father,

Fill our hearts with kindness this day. Help us to handle conflicts in our lives with a kind and gentle spirit that reflects your image. Remind us that that we should humble ourselves at all times and in all places to seat ourselves on both sides of the conflict as we work through the problems together.

Amen.

Introductions

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."-I John 4:11-13

Have you ever had an awkward moment when you're meeting someone for the first time, and by the time you've finished the introductions, you already have forgotten their name? At some point, the moment of truth arrives, and you have to humbly apologize that you need to ask their name again. I know a pastor that has a remarkable memory for names. I'm in awe of this gift. How does he do it? I'm not sure, but I wish I knew.

Perhaps, the problem in remembering a name when first meeting someone is exactly that: meeting someone for the first time. A relationship hasn't been built and the few minutes spent together haven't created any emotional bond. As time goes on and the relationship grows and feelings develop, the person rather than the name of the person is what becomes important to us. It's easy to remember the name of someone we care about. 

I'm guessing that most everyone has heard the name, Jesus, but to really know Jesus takes the commitment of getting to know Him. I often think that Christmas and Easter are great introduction moments, but to really build a lasting relationship, it will take dedication and sacrifice of time. He's one of those friends that really does want to change us. He loves us for who we are, but wants so much more for us. He wants us to develop our talents and share them with others. The Bible verse above says, "God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."  If His Love is made complete in us, then it seems that he wants us to succeed in all we do. It may also seem that we carry a responsibility to share that Love with others. In some ways, it's as if God is that Cheerleader inside of us saying things like, "You can do it!; Be bold!; Take risks and introduce others to Me!; and Remember I'm a living part of you and regardless of the outcome we will deal with it together."  

Loving others takes courage and having that Cheerleader inside of us helps us step out of our comfort zones. All we need to do is call out His name, and He's already here. That's what a true and loving relationship is all about knowing that you can count on someone. The best part of having Jesus for a friend is that He needs no introductions because He's known us even before we took our first breath.

Heavenly Father and Friend,

Thank you for being our Cheerleader at all times and in all places. Give us courage to introduce others to You. May we always trust that You live in us and complete us. Amen.

Suffering, Rest, and Protection

"I have a lot of enemies, LORD. Many fight against me and say,"God won't rescue you!" But you are my shield, and you give me victory and great honor. I pray to you, and you answer from your sacred hill. I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, LORD, protect me." Psalm 3:1-6


Over the last few months, I can honestly say that I've never known so much heartache happening around me. The heartaches have surfaced from those who suffer from different diseases that have forever changed the course of their lives or in some cases, taken their lives. The enemy in these cases is disease. The different reactions of each person facing this type of enemy vary in so many ways. Some pull out their shield and refuse to give up. Others have quietly gone off by themselves seeking stillness and solitude to cope with their pain and fears. In each of the cases each person has had a deep faith in God and/or was surrounded by prayer warriors petitioning for God's intervention for them. 


If you've ever had a good crying spell brought on by worry about someone you love and care about, you know the value of a restful deep sleep.  Somehow you awake in the morning refreshed and feeling a little better than you did the night before. For those few hours while you sleep, God takes all the pain and worry and handles it so that you have renewed strength and courage to face another day. I have a little plaque hanging in my home with this quote by Mary C Crowley that says,"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway." I think there is some great advice in that little quote. Sometimes our burdens are just more than we can bear. We need that restful night's sleep to take us to a place where God is totally in control. We count on Him for every breath and when we sleep we truly hand our lives over to Him. One part of my prayer I recite before I go to sleep is telling God I am handing over the burdens from the day to Him.


On this earth, in this life, I don't believe we will ever be able to understand why suffering exists in so many ways. Why does a child die while another adult lives to be 100? Why do so many suffer? Only God has the answers to questions like these. So, on days like today when I wish I could wave a magic wand and cure all those on my prayer list, I have to trust in the psalmist words, "I pray to you, and you answer from your sacred hill. I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, LORD, protect me." Protection comes in many forms. Sometimes, as sad as it is, God takes away the pain and burden by carrying the afflicted home to be fully protected. I just have to trust that someday I will understand in a more profound way about this journey and that God will remind me of all the times He was there protecting me and all His children even when we couldn't see it or understand it.


Let us pray:


Protective and Healing Father,
Life is filled with people suffering in so many ways. As they and others call out to You praying for healing and courage to face another day, grant them restful nights where You carry the burdens for them. Give them strength to awake the next morning refreshed with the knowledge that whatever happens that day, you are there to protect them and watch over them and those they love.
Amen

I Believe . . .

Jesus said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." John 17:20-21 NLT


On occasion, I've found myself coining a phrase that begins like this, "I truly believe . . . . ."  Sometimes, these words can throw me into a vat of trouble. I can be so sure I'm right that I don't open my mind to even recognize that perhaps more facts and details should be gathered.  This belief, I've confidently expressed, has been based on presumptive understanding rather than truth. 


Each day we are bombarded with presumptive understandings rather than knowing truths.  The media helps form our thoughts each time they report the news. Unbiased news reporting rarely exists. Everything from the words chosen, the depiction of what is or isn't reported, the tone of voice used, and the body language displayed all help us form presumptive understandings. Presidential political candidates face some of the most viscous scrutiny of all.  Regardless of what candidate is loved or hated, I am feel confident in saying that if each of us were granted the opportunity to personally sit down with an individual candidate, we would probably find a person that cares about the country and wants to make a difference. The presidential candidates are rarely as self-serving and arrogant as they are portrayed to be by the media or their opponents. Supporting a candidate is a citizen's right and admirable as well. Understanding the candidate's platform and qualifications are very important in forming knowledgeable voting decisions.  It's okay to not agree or not support a candidate, but "hating" other candidates doesn't have to be part of the equation.


Jesus was scrutinized, despised, and hated by many. Yes, hated.  He knew that regardless of what He said or did, that there would be some that wouldn't want to sit down and get to know Him nor take time to understand the plan He wanted for them. (I can only imagine how the news media would portray him today. I shiver even thinking what we would hear or see.)  As one of His last prayers on this earth, He prayed to the Father that those that truly believed would come together as one to share the Message of God's Love from one generation to the next. The words in this translation were very touching, "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you."  The greatest Love every known is between the Father and His Son.  That is the type of love He wanted us to have for one another. This is Someone I do believe in!


Let us pray:


Heavenly Father,
The divisions that exist in our world are widespread, and at times seem hopeless to mend.  Help us, one at a time, to get to know each other for who we are rather than who we presume one another to be.  Let us grow in our understandings and beliefs based on learned truths as we turn to you for guidance. 


Amen

We Need Each Other

"Both of us need help. I can help make your faith strong and you can do the same for me. We need each other." Romans 1:12 NLV


Almost 30 years ago, I read the book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner. I struggle with memory in a lot of ways, but the message in this book was profound, and I still to this day think about how important it is to be there for one another in times of trial.  The Rabbi had endured the pain of losing his child and the deep pain he felt.  He struggled to weave his faith through the suffering and anger he felt.  He said, "In the final analysis, the questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but asking how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened."

When the tragedies of life occur, it is community that gives us the hope to go on when we feel we can't. We draw strength from others as they comfort and provide hope that tomorrow will come, and together we will figure it out one day at a time.  Faith permeates the pain when we share it with one another, thus, eventually making the faith stronger because it has survived what was once unthinkable. This reminds me of a scar from a surgery where an incision is made. In the beginning the incision is very vulnerable and painful. As the incision begins to heal it becomes stronger than ever before as the tissue cells regenerate. Even our cells know that when we are weak, there is a need to come together to heal. 

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father and Healer,

The tragedies of life come, and we are rarely prepared for the pain that must be endured. We know You feel our pain and will provide comfort through the loving acts of others. Thank You for the gift of community that strengthens us in our weakest moments.

Amen.

A Visible God

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see." Colossians 1:15-16a

A beautiful timber filled with plants and animals is nestled behind our home. I never tire of gazing at God's gift of nature.  Deer, fox, turkeys, rabbits, owls, squirrels, raccoons, possum, along with many other animals frequent our yard on a regular basis. Particular times of the day like dawn and dusk offer some of the best opportunities to observe these critters in their habitat. I must admit that after it snows, I can't wait to glance out the window to see what occurred overnight. Tracks coming from every direction with footprints of all kinds have been traced through the snow. It's as if there was a party going on in the backyard while I quietly slept the night away. The animals in all their glory found our yard inviting and left reminders for us that they had been there.

Often times I find myself searching and wanting a visible human-like God. Visible is the part that gets a little tricky.  When I think of a person being visible in my life, I think about the ability to see, hear, or feel. Is our God visible in our lives?  No, we can't see, hear, or feel from a human aspect, but we can trust that He is a visible God from a divine ascertain. We see and hear this visible God through the love and actions of others. We feel this God through the Holy Spirit that lives within us that connects us to God every living moment of our lives. Often we don't even realize He has been at work in our lives, until later when we see the results of a journey we have trodden.

Rest assured that God is a visible God in our lives. Like the animals that play in our backyard whether there is snow to prove they were there or not, God is always there. I do believe that God understands our moments of doubt, just as I wonder do the animals come every night?  But, he has equipped us with all we need to believe and understand that He is here with us, and refuses to give up on us even when we doubt.

Let us pray:

Visible and Loving God,

At those moments when we doubt from a human perspective, remind us that You are divinely visible in our lives in so many different ways. Thank you for the ways You allow us to see, hear, and feel Your presence daily.  Guide us to be active problem solving servants that see, hear, and feel the pains and needs of others as you send us out to reflect Your divine presence and visibility.
Amen

Not Me Lord? Can't You Send Someone Else?

"Moses pleaded with the Lord, 'O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words." Exodus 4:10 NLT

Moses never had the faith in himself that God had in him. As God pursued him, Moses just kept coming up with excuses why he couldn't fulfill God's need to be the prophet and leader God intended him to be.  He even begged God to send his brother, Aaron in his place. So, finally God agrees that together Moses and Aaron can go on this frightening mission to meet with the Pharaoh and try to change the Pharaoh's mind. God found a way to give Moses the strength needed to fulfill God's request.

I find this story from Exodus 4:1-17 fascinating in too many ways to put on this blog, but the part of this story that sticks in my mind is that Moses lacked confidence and was sure he wasn't the right candidate for the job.  Wow! Do I feel a lot like Moses in a lot of areas in my life! I often find myself pleading with God to find someone else to do what has to be done. I have a really great list of excuses!  You might call it a golden books of excuses. I can come up with some of the best excuses.  Now, that doesn't make me proud, instead it makes me feel very sad.  Why? Why don't I trust and have more faith that God knows me better than I know myself?  Why is my confidence so lacking when I have such faith in God that He is with me every step of the way?  It's mind-boggling to believe so deeply, but yet have such little faith to step out at times!

Often times I find that I'm stuck defining myself by past failures.  Oh that list could write a book bigger than the Bible! But, wait, have I forgotten that God gave the ultimate sacrifice so that I can change the pages of ugly black and red ink to clean unwritten pages? Am I too much like Moses?  Am I so sure that I'm going to fail before I begin, that I bring out my golden books of excuses. Yikes! Maybe God wants to clear the pages in that book as well.  If I were to take the book of failures and the golden book of excuses and see the pages blank, how much different would my life be?  Would it reflect a person that has faith to step out into new adventures trusting that whether you fail or succeed, now has acquired the courage to move forward?

Let us pray:
Father,
You call each of us to make a difference in a world that desperately needs Your guidance.  So often, I feel like Moses and wait for You to send the right person even when I hear Your call.  Remind me that even if others may be able to do it better, that You will always equip me to do the best I can. And also remind me that even if I fail, you will clear that page so that I can write a new page in the book of life. Most of all, remind me that there will be joyful times of success that You and I will celebrate together!
Amen

Preparing for the Snow

"As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises." II Peter 1:3-4a NLT


After months of anticipation, the first snowstorm of the season has finally arrived. People have been preparing for the snow. Yesterday while out for a winter run/walk with my husband, I observed several people pulling out their snow-blowers, and one man was putting a blade on a four wheeler. Snow shovels were placed at doors.  It seemed everyone had been listening to the weather forecasters, and they wanted to be ready.  They didn't want to be caught off guard and buried in snow. I thought about how prepared each person was for what was to come. 


What if our hearts were as attentive to getting to know Jesus as our minds are to focus on what the weather forecasters have to say?  I think about the verse above, and the very first few words are key, "as we know Jesus better . . ."  How do we get to know Jesus better?  I know the answer, but do I always follow through the way I should?  I need to find faithful ways to come to know my Savior more personally every day just like I listen to what the weather forecasters have to say.  Jesus assures me that I will grow closer to Him as I seek Him in my life. The key is understanding that I need to make the effort.  No one else can do it for me; it's up to me. 


Let us pray . . .
Gracious Father,

Preparation is a big part of our lives. Whether we are preparing for a snowstorm or a party, we spend a lot of time preparing.  I know in my life, there is great room for improvement to better prepare each day for a closer relationship with You. So, my choices are a lot like those that prepared or didn't prepare for today's snowstorm. I can either make the effort or not. Help  me Father to make the effort to prepare my heart each day to grow closer to You. 
Amen.

Grace Pours Down: It's a Gift!

"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."~Acts 20:24 NLT


Grace! The dictionary tells us grace can be in noun or verb form.  I believe that grace is a gift that God pours down on each of us daily.  It seems to be a thing, yet it seems to almost blow into our lives signaling that it somehow stirs action, thence indicating it takes on verb form.  Understanding God's grace is a challenge. Why would a God of such power and glory be determined to want each of us in His family?  How could we ever be worth the price He paid?  What does He know about us that we can't see in ourselves?  These along with many other questions surface when I try to comprehend grace. 


This blog will be a shelter for me to share my thoughts on seeing, feeling, understanding, tasting, hearing, and touching God's grace in my daily life.  Among my failures and successes in this earthly life, I truly believe that grace is a place to dwell. Grace is abundantly and freely given as God pours it down from heaven.  I really don't know at this point what will move me to write, but I trust that the Holy Spirit has a purpose for my thoughts to be shared.  As grace pours down, I envision a cascading waterfall  spraying grace everywhere. God provides an boundless supply of grace that brings forgiveness, love, wisdom, humility, and comfort with no strings attached; it's a gift!