tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48590600790928144842024-03-21T04:06:39.224-05:00SUNDAYS WITH CINDYIt’s Sunday morning and I am at home with Robbie, watching over him as he sleeps. Everyone is at church. It’s a good time to spend some quiet moments with the Lord—and with you. Get your cup of coffee, or tea if you prefer, and let’s share our thoughts, our hopes and dreams, our burdens and prayers—and maybe even a few laughs! I’m glad you’ve come—and hope you’ll come again.Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-72050575783004979982011-01-23T01:21:00.003-06:002011-01-23T01:33:07.483-06:00WE'RE MOVING!<em>Sundays with Cindy</em> is moving! We've been having technical problems here on Blogspot for more than a month now, so I decided to look around for a new blog site. Starting right now you will be able to find us at <a href="http://www.sundayswithcindy.wordpress.com/">www.sundayswithcindy.wordpress.com</a> . I'm so happy we were able to take all our archived blog posts with us as well! I still have a little work to do to get it set up the way I want it, but beginning today, Jamuary 23, 2011, you'll find our weekly devotion over there. Can't wait to welcome you there!Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-57344870842765893132011-01-09T14:36:00.004-06:002011-01-16T14:31:21.336-06:00BORN AGAIN - AGAIN<div align="justify">JANUARY 16, 2011</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Oh, what a week it has been! Nice things happened, bad things happened, miracles happened—and through it all we are praising the Lord. I am so glad we walk with the Lord and can literally see His hand at work in our lives!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Let’s start with the nice things: Our son-in-law Fernando is here with us for a couple days this week. Fernando is a missionary in his native land of Ecuador. He has some meetings to attend in Cleveland, OH and decided to fly into Chicago and spend a little time with us and then drive on to Cleveland tomorrow. Of course, not having Laurie and the kids here with him makes us sad, but we are enjoying these few hours with Fernando. He loves the Lord, and he loves to laugh, and he loves our daughter and grandchildren, and that makes the fellowship very sweet indeed! We are so looking forward to the time later this year when, the Lord willing, the whole family will be back for a short furlough.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Nice thing #2: Julie broke some good news to me this week, as well. She and David have decided to bring the family up here from Alabama at the end of the month to celebrate Robbie’s birthday with him (a few days early.) It is also Benjamin’s 13th birthday so we will celebrate both birthdays together. How fun! We were just there at Christmas but we can never have too much time together! I’m so excited!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Nice thing #3: Robbie will be going into the hospital sometime in the next month or so for some oral surgery. Because he is so severely handicapped, any dental work that is done on him has to be done in a hospital under general anesthesia. One of his seizure medicines causes his gums to overgrow his teeth and periodically he has to have the tissue cut back. At the same time they will do fillings or whatever else might be needed.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Bob took Robbie to see the dentist the other day in preparation for this work. While they were there, he was dismayed to find out that neither the dentist or oral surgeon takes Medicaid any more, and that is Robbie’s insurance. What a nice surprise it was to find out that both of these kind men had decided they wanted to do the work on Robbie for free! In fact, the dentist still had the thank you note and pictures of Robbie we had sent him the last time on his bulletin board. We are very grateful for them both.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Now the bad things: Something else that came out of the visit to the dentist was his recommendation to us that we allow him to pull all of Robbie’s teeth! He said, for the sake of Robbie’s health that this would be the best thing we could do. Robbie is tube-fed and no longer eats anything by mouth so he does not need his teeth. He has ground them terribly over the years and the dentist said he is susceptible to infection, which in Robbie’s case could be fatal. In his words, “You need to think of Robbie’s well-being above your own.”</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Well, that is all we <em>have</em> done all these years, but I understand what he meant. It is a gut-wrenching decision for me and I am really struggling with it. <em>Of course,</em> I don’t want to put Robbie at risk. We have lived with the reality of Robbie’s fragility for the last ten years, fighting to keep him alive at times; knowing that at any time the Lord could take him through seizures or asphyxiation or pneumonia. We know he has already lived out his life expectancy. We would give our lives for that boy.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />At the same time I think of his handsome little face and his sweet smile, and it tears me up to think of disfiguring it this way. Robbie has enough strikes against him as far as people accepting him the way he is without adding something else to possibly make others turn away. Maybe infection could happen—but maybe it won’t, either. If we were to do this, there is no un-doing it later. He can’t wear dentures, so his smile, which is such a precious part of him, will be ruined for the rest of his life. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>It may seem strange to some people to think that in my mind Robbie’s smile would be as important to me as preventing him from possible risk of infection. I can’t help it. At this moment that is how I am feeling. Please pray for me that the Lord will open my mind to <em>whatever</em> is the right thing to do and that if it<em> is</em> following the doctor’s recommendation, I will be able to accept it with peace and comfort. Bob is leaning that way, but as I said, I am really struggling. We will have to make the decision soon and are praying about it now. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Bad thing #2: I got a call the other day from my mother, “Craig [my 54 year old brother] is having open-heart surgery in two hours!” <em>What???</em> He had gone in for a test that morning, ended up with an angiogram and then was told by his doctor that they had to do surgery immediately. He had one blockage, but it was a bad one and in a very dangerous place. In fact this particular blockage is called the widow-maker. It is the kind that kills you suddenly with no signs or symptoms to forewarn. He had been feeling just fine and had no idea that there was a problem at all.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />That they caught this just in time is nothing short of miraculous. The doctor told Craig yesterday that he had, at the most, six months to live—maybe as little as six weeks. We are praising God for His intervention and for His healing! It was amazing to me to see how well Craig is recovering in just the first couple days. He’s far, far beyond where I was after a week! He was enjoying all the company yesterday and seemed his normal self. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I am sure he is feeling a rush after realizing how close it had been and how the Lord had spared him. Craig told Bob and Fernando yesterday when they went to visit him, “I feel like I’ve been born again—not in the spiritual sense this time, but physically.” We don’t always get a second chance at life. How thankful we all are that we still have him with us! I know Craig is ready for Heaven whenever the Lord will take him, but still I know that he is glad to be around a little longer to be a grandpa to Isaac and the new grandbaby on its way.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Our lives are filled with the blessings and challenges; the day-to-day routine and the unexpected. We say it so often—“Who knows what a day will bring forth?” Whatever it is, God is there. We see God performing miracles in our lives. We feel His peace and comfort and presence when we are burdened with care. When we trust Him we know He will lead and provide. That is what it is like to be His child.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6 to thank God for everything—good and bad. <em>“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”</em> It is easy to give thanks for the good things the Lord brings into our lives. It is more difficult sometimes when we are faced with hard trials to find something in them for which to praise Him—but there is always something. In this problem about Robbie’s teeth I can praise Him that we have had ten years longer already with Robbie than we had thought we would; that his smile—however it may appear—reflects the happiness, love and contentment that he is feeling inside, whether he can say it or not; and that no matter <em>how</em> Robbie is physically or mentally, God has blessed our lives with the gift of this precious child. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Everyday we can thank Him for the good and the bad, but when we stand amazed in the face of the <em>miraculous,</em> we are humbly grateful for His watchcare, His intervention, His power and love—and yes, sometimes even the second chances He allows us.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”</em> (I Thessalonians 5:18)</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-34387499233351052412011-01-09T14:18:00.004-06:002011-01-16T14:32:45.348-06:00A BLANK CANVAS UNFOLDS<div align="justify">JANUARY 9, 2011</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Happy New Year! We are off to a good start—better anyway than last year. I looked over Sundays with Cindy 2010 as I printed several copies of it to give as Christmas gifts. There were forty-six entries, 146 pages. The first entry in 2010 was called “A Fizzle and a Thud.” I was sick at the time I wrote it—too sick to write my usual devotion for the week. Well, Sundays with Cindy 2010 ended with a fizzle and a thud, as well! There were no entries for the last three weeks. I wrote a devotion for the first of those weeks but the website was having a problem and I could not post it. The following two Sundays we were traveling to and from Alabama. *Sigh.* I am sorry that it ended that way.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">But this is a new year and a new start! I am looking forward to what the Lord will do in our lives in 2010! The big question for me is, “I wonder if this is the year that Jesus comes back for His own?” I am so ready for that to happen! So ready for Heaven—but in the meantime life must go on here on earth.<br />The year unfolds as a blank canvas. We don’t get to know what will be revealed ahead of time. I am glad for that. I don’t want to know ahead of time the challenges and trials we may have to face. God gives strength for those things at the time we need it. If I knew too much too soon I would waste precious time and energy worrying about it. Better to walk by faith, trusting God for the path ahead and to lead me step by step through the hard times.<br />But isn’t it nice that He gives us glimpses ahead of time of some of the good things we have to anticipate? In our family we have the birth of a new baby to look forward to in a few weeks! Laurie will be delivering her baby girl sometime in February and we are all so excited about that! Julie and David are a few steps closer in their adoption than they were at this time a year ago. Will this be the year they finally get the children they have waited to welcome into their family for so long? Sometime this year we are expecting the Naranjos to return from Ecuador for a few months. Oh, happy day for this grandma! Having joys like these to look forward to makes the journey today easier.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There will be changes in our family and in our home and I am anticipating the things I will have to do here to make way for those changes—or should I say make room? The Naranjo family—all eight of them—will probably be staying with us, at least for a while. We have the bedroom space, but not a lot of closet and drawer space. I am already thinking about the wardrobe cabinets and plastic dressers for the kids I can bring in and where I will put them.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There will be changes in lifestyle as well. Gone will be the days of a quiet house where Robbie sleeps and I sit with my computer on my lap and write eight or ten hours a day. There will be life and noise and activity and fun! Grandma will help with home-schooling, play games with the kids, and rock the new baby. Robbie, hopefully, will wake up and enjoy the hustle and bustle and the sound of little kids’ voices and laughter. Gone will be the quiet suppers for two in front of the TV. Our table will be filled to overflowing and Grandma will have to start cooking for real again! Gone will be the privacy and peace of an older couple, but taking its place will be the love and joy of having family here again under our roof! And what will make it complete will be when the Sanchez family joins us for a visit and we squeeze in even closer! Can you see I am excited about those changes?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There are other changes I am anticipating, as well—changes that may not be quite as exciting, but certainly challenging. These are the changes I have been praying about, and actually working on for the last few months—changes in me. It is natural when we stand on the threshold between the old year and the new, to take stock of our lives. Many people make resolutions (or at least they have in the past) to do better in the new year—to lose weight, or quit smoking or drinking, or control their temper, or spend more time with their families—whatever. I quit making resolutions a long time ago. They never lasted more than a few weeks and then I was right back to my old ways.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Resolutions don’t work for me and I know why—they are dependent on my willpower and my strength. Unfortunately my willpower and strength aren’t what they used to be. I can’t do it on my own. And so I turn to the Source of power and strength—the Lord. I can’t change me, but He can.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I have been praying that the Lord will change me (my mindset, my will, my obedience to Him, my priorities) in two basic areas—how I relate to others and how I relate to myself. I began to see a need in my life to put people first again. I have spent the last ten years alone much of the time as I stayed home and cared for Robbie. He was my first priority as his needs were so great. Gradually, though, I began to fill my life with projects to fill the empty hours and days as I sat by his bedside. Though they were good and often a ministry, I finally saw that they were hindering my relationships with other people—eating my time, keeping me isolated, becoming more important in my life than the people I loved the most.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I asked the Lord to change me in this area—to help me see what I could completely cut out, and what I could cut down on, and to give me the strength to actually do it. I asked Him to give me the determination to step out as I could and do for others. I have always looked at writing as my ministry for the Lord and to others, but I began to realize all over again that our love and service ought to go beyond words and become action. I have always respected pastors who are not just scholars and orators hiding behind a desk and a pulpit, but who are real people-persons, out there showing their love in real ways for their flock. I am limited still in how often I can get out of the house, but not as much as before. I need to get out of my comfortable rut and out there meeting face-to-face the needs of family, friends and others to whom I can minister.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I am asking the Lord also to change my attitudes about caring for myself. It is far easier for me to see and desire to care for the needs of others than it is to take care of my own needs. As I get older, though, I realize that if I want to continue to care for Robbie, Bob, my grandchildren and other loved ones, then I need to take better care of myself. For some reason my physical needs have always had a low priority in my mind. I don’t know if it is because I think of my spiritual well-being as having far more importance, or if it is because I have no fear of death, or if I am just so lazy that it is not a priority. To God it is important however, and if I am to be obedient to Him I ought to take it more seriously. This old body, He says, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such ought to have the care and respect that the tabernacle in the Old Testament or Solomon’s temple received. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (I Corinthians 6:19, 20) No, I am not making resolutions to lose weight or manage my diabetes better, but I am asking God to change my mindset on this and to help me realize that this is not something I can slough off if I want to be obedient to Him—and I do want to be obedient to Him.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I cannot change myself. I am weak, but I know that just as Christ changed me into a new creation through the power of His blood, He will continue to work in me and change me if I allow Him to do so. I leave you with some Scripture that reminds us of the good work He has done in us already, and His promises to finish that work:<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Just as the New Year unfolds before us as a blank canvas, so do the rest of our lives—ready to be created into the masterpieces only Christ can make of them when we allow Him to work in us. </div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-57452537991124097302010-12-12T13:25:00.003-06:002010-12-12T14:48:37.700-06:00ANGELS (?) WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH<div align="justify">Every other year our church does a living nativity called <em>Journey to Bethlehem</em> as an outreach to our community. It is a huge event with more than 200-300 people from the church involved, and attracts thousands of people from around our area. I was able to go last night and tagged along with my sister Cheree and her husband and son.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Actually, <em>Journey to Bethlehem</em> is much more than just the nativity scene. It starts in the church auditorium with a wonderful Christmas concert by some of our church’s very talented singers. This is where you wait for your journey to Bethlehem to begin. When it is time for your group of people to begin I could scarcely tear myself away from the beautiful music!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>A guide led us across from the church building to the family center. It is amazing to see as we step into the gym that it is no longer a gym, but is transformed into the village of Bethlehem, as well as Herod’s palace. Hundreds of people are in Biblical costume, sitting outside their homes and going about their daily chores, or selling their wares in the village market place. There are bakers and poultry, cheese, vegetables and grains vendors; sellers of leather, copper, jewelry, cloth, and flowers; tentmakers, dyers of cloth, and so on all trying to hawk their products as you walk by their booths. A well stands in the center of the village with a live goat tied nearby. I was amused as we passed the tentmakers’ booth. My sister Corinne and her husband Ray and youngest son Sam were supposed to be making and selling tents. As we walked by, Sam said, “Buy one, get one free!”<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Our tour guide took us to Mary’s house where we witnessed the angel of the Lord suddenly appearing to her, making the announcement that she was to be the mother of God’s only Son. We were then lead to Joseph’s carpenter shop. He told us of his thoughts when he heard that Mary was expecting a baby and it was not his, and how the angel appeared to him and told him not to be afraid to make Mary his wife. We were led to Herod’s palace and saw him questioning the wise men who came from the east searching for the newborn king of the Jews and heard Herod’s evil plans. (Another nephew, Lance, was one of the Roman guards. He played the part to the hilt, being as stern and authoritative as he could be—the complete opposite of the normally smiling and pleasant person he normally is!) We stopped at the tax collector’s booth where we registered for the census and paid our taxes, and then moved on to the inn in Bethlehem. We were informed there was no room and, in fact, the innkeeper had been forced to send one young couple out to the stable since she was about to give birth.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">From there our tour guide led us outside. It was pouring rain all day yesterday and didn’t let up at all for our Journey. All day I had thought about the poor shepherds (another nephew, Caleb, was one of them) standing out in the field and wondered how they would fare in the cold and wet. They had a big bonfire going, so I am sure that helped (although I wondered how that blaze kept going in the rain. It must have been a miracle!) There were live sheep there with them. Suddenly a bright spotlight shone down on them, and they hid their faces from the light. A voice boomed out of loudspeakers somewhere—the angel’s voice, obviously—and Cheree jumped! (Later, when I went to my mother’s condo which is about a mile from the church, I could hear the “angel” voices booming in her parking lot!) The angel told them about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, and the shepherds headed for the stable with us following through the rain.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Mary and Joseph and the baby, as well as more sheep and a donkey, were at the stable, just as you would picture the scene. It does give you goosebumps as you look at the scene, and not just from the cold. You imagine how it must have been that night, bearing a baby all alone in such lowly circumstances.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">From there we were led to a barn where we were offered hot cider or coffee, and heard our pastor speak for five minutes about how the journey led from Bethlehem to the cross and an empty tomb and how we can be saved through that babe who became our Savior.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"><em>Journey to Bethlehem</em> is a beautiful experience and I can see why it is so popular in our community. It is one thing out of all the commercialism of Christmas that makes you stop and focus on the true reason for it all.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I was thinking about those shepherds all day yesterday. Oh, not just those young guys playing a part at Journey last night—but about the actual shepherds who were out in the fields outside of Bethlehem that night more than two thousand years ago. <em>Who were they?</em> The Bible doesn’t give us their names. Most likely they were lads—sons of the owners of the sheep, or maybe hired to care for someone else’s sheep. I don’t know—maybe they were older adults. They were poor, I am sure, and probably had no expectations of being anything <em><span style="color:#339999;">other</span></em> than poor, lowly peasants all their lives.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">That night changed their lives. Here is the account as Luke 2:8-20 tells it:<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"><em>And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.<br /></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">It was a night like any other night they had watched over the flocks. Can you imagine their fright when suddenly out of the darkness, the glory of the Lord shone ‘round about them and angels appeared before them? They wasted no time, however, once they had heard the message the angels brought. They hurried to Bethlehem and saw for themselves the Messiah, the Savior, Christ the Lord. They spread the word, not caring if others thought them crazy or not. And then they returned to their quiet, ordinary, lowly lives as shepherds out in the fields outside of Bethlehem.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">They returned with a difference, however. They returned praising and glorifying God for these glorious things they had heard and seen—the angels, the Christ-child—and for the fact that for some reason God had chosen <em>them</em> to be the first to hear the announcement of His birth! <em>Who were they,</em> that God would choose them above all people to hear it first? Just as God had chosen a lowly peasant girl to bear His Son, a poor carpenter to raise Him, and the humblest of places for his birth, He had chosen <em>them.<br /></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">They returned <em>changed.</em> They would remember that night for the rest of their lives. I am sure often they would lie out in the fields, scanning the skies for a glimpse of the glory they had once seen and talking among themselves of that night they could never forget, remembering the sound of the angels’ voices and the glory too bright for their human eyes. They probably relived over and over in their memories how they had quickly sought for the stable and the baby lying in the manager. No, something like that they would never forget!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"><em>We</em> are ordinary people. I doubt that any of us sharing together here today have great wealth or position or power. We go about our ordinary lives, doing our ordinary jobs. But one day God <em>chose</em> us to show us a great miracle and a glorious message and to lead us to His Son, our Savior. He chose us, the lowly and humble and ordinary and yes, foolish and weak, as I Corinthians 1:26-28 puts it: <em>For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen… </em>We may not have heard the angels’ voices, but we heard and responded to the voice of the Holy Spirit.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">He <em>changed</em> us. When we truly meet the Savior we cannot forget it. Our very purpose in life is changed from living for self to living for God and bringing glory to Him. Our standing before God is changed from His enemy to His beloved child. Our lifestyle is changed from walking in darkness to walking in the light. Our desires are changed from earthly concerns to things that matter for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, <em>Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.<br /></em><br />We are <em>challenged </em>as well to, like the shepherds, tell others of the Savior. Everything they had heard and seen that night they told to all they met. They spread the word in Bethlehem until the entire town was abuzz with the news. <em>What?! The Messiah had come?!</em> Not everyone believed, but some did, I am sure. They saw the change in the shepherds. Their words and their lives were witness to all that God had shown them and done within them. Like the shepherds we are chosen to be witnesses. Isaiah 43:10 says, <em>Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen… </em>Acts 1:8 talks about the change and the challenge: <em>But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. </em>Christmas is the perfect time of the year to be witnesses to others, when they are more focused on the birth of Christ and perhaps more open to reason He came.<br /><br />This Christmas I am praising God for choosing me, nobody special or great or wise, to be His child. I am thanking Him for changing me and praying that I might bring glory to Him. And I am challenged, especially now at this time of year when we are more open to others and they might be more open to hearing about why Jesus came, to be a better witness for Him. </div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-66598096426244006742010-12-05T12:59:00.002-06:002010-12-05T13:54:36.115-06:00THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE<div align="justify">I used to work with mentally handicapped children, ages preschool through high school, when we lived in Colorado Springs. Loved it, loved it, <em>loved it!</em> Most of them were fun and sweet and they made me smile and laugh every day. A few were ornery, and even a little violent. You didn’t want to get within pinching, biting, hitting, or head-butting distance. I loved them, too, but they were more challenging to work with. One thing I noticed that most of the kids—especially the higher-functioning ones—had in common was that they liked <em>routine.</em> They often did not handle <em>change</em> well. Robbie doesn’t seem to mind change so much, but he certainly seems to love his routine.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Little ones often do not like change, either. Maybe it has something to do with the undeveloped brain—I don’t know. I remember when my grandson Benjamin was only two; he had a complete meltdown because Mommy moved Daddy’s underwear from one drawer to another! Oh, the trauma!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Then there are some of us—and I won’t mention any names here—who may have more fully developed brains who <em>still </em>don’t handle change well. I will confess—I am one of them. I am a traditionalist. I don’t mind my quiet routine. I tend to be less than flexible, shall we say, when my “perfect” plans are suddenly changed by someone else. (Give me a few minutes to think about it, though, and I’ll usually come around.) I’m too <em>lazy </em>to change, sometimes.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>And then you have to admit, not all change is good. We’ve been seeing that in our politics and government the last few years. <em>“Change”</em> has been the byword and many have blindly jumped on the bandwagon for the sake of change, never asking themselves the question “But what kind of change?” There is change for the good, and then there is change for the bad. Some people seem not to care as long as there is change. They ought to care.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I am facing a new change, and a new challenge—one that I hope will be for the good. I finally got that new laptop Bob gave me for my birthday (and as an early Christmas gift.) I am very happy with it except for one thing—it came with Windows 7 rather than the Windows XP that I am used to. <em>All </em>new computers now come with Windows 7, so there’s just no getting around it. I am also switching to a newer version of Office, which means I will have to learn the ins and outs of Word, Powerpoint and a host of other things all over again. *sigh* I think I will be happy with the changes, once I’ve figured it all out, but in the meantime, it’s a pain to have to switch. I guess I will have to look at it as a mental challenge.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There are other issues, too, with the change to Windows 7. I discovered last night, to my dismay, that <em>none</em> of the software for programs that I use on a regular basis, like The Print Shop and my greeting cards program, is compatible with Windows 7 and I am going to have to go out and buy all new software for those programs. That is what I would call a financial challenge. I did, in fact, buy a new version of The Print Shop last night, since that is the one I really cannot work without, that is compatible with Windows 7. I figured it would be the same Print Shop I have used for over ten years (I update it every two years) but updated and compatible with my new computer. I was horrified to see it was a completely different version with about 1/20th of the capabilities of my old Print Shop. There’s no way I can use it to do the work I do. The problem is, once you open software, unless it is not working, you can’t return it. Now I am out the money I paid for it, and I still have to find and buy the correct version. My money and I are not easily parted and to think that I wasted $40 on it just galls me!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Anyway, back to the challenge of change! Life is a series of changes every day, isn’t it? We begin life as helpless infants but gradually we grow from babyhood to little children; from little children to teenagers; from teens to adults; and someday down the road to seniors and then if we know Christ as Savior, on to Glory with new bodies! Mom and I were just talking about that yesterday—how we are so looking forward to our new bodies, and wondering what those new bodies might be like. We learn new things every day—how to walk and talk; how to count to ten and tie our shoes; how to drive a car, do our work, raise a family… New circumstances, experiences, challenges, blessings or trials crop up every day.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">God made us the way we are but He <em>does</em> want us to change! First of all He wants us to repent from that old sin nature and the sins we commit every day and turn to Him for salvation. The word “repent” means to make a 180 degree change in our hearts and in our behavior. <em>For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation …</em> (II Corinthians 7:10) When we are sorry for our sin, we will accept the salvation Christ provided through his shed blood and become new, different, spiritual creatures in Him. <em>Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.</em> (II Corinthians 5:17) This change is easy—He’s already done the hard part. All we have to do is believe and repent.<br /><br />It gets more challenging, though. There are choices we must make, steps of obedience to take. As we go on to live our Christian lives, He wants us to grow and mature and be obedient to Him. We start out, just as in our physical lives, as newborn babies. We begin to grow through hearing and reading His Word. <em>As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:</em> (I Peter 2:2) As we begin to understand His Word, and learn from it, we become more mature in our faith and knowledgeable concerning doctrine and closer to Him in our walk. <em>That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:</em> (Ephesians 4:14, 15) He tells us, <em>But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.</em> (II Peter 3:18)<br /><br />We get past the babyhood stage, and maybe we’re more mature Christians, but it still is a challenge to be good children every day. We’re still fighting that old sin nature and the temptations of this world, and the devil himself. The Lord reminds us, <em>For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: </em> (Ephesians 5:8) There’s been a change in us! Don’t look and act like the rest of the world! <em>When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. </em>(I Corinthians 13:11) Grow up and act like heirs, <em>mature</em> sons of God!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">The final change comes, then, when we join Him in the clouds. <em>Behold, I shew you a mystery; </em></div><div align="justify"><em>We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.</em> (I Corinthians 15:51, 52) Can’t wait to put away this weak, corruptible body, and that old nature, and change fully into the new Cindy who will live with Him forever! Now THAT’S a change I can believe in!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">One final word about <em>change:</em> Yes, there needs to be a change in us, but I am so glad God does not change! He says, <em>For I am the LORD, I change not…</em> (Malachi 3:6) The Bible tells us that He is faithful and that means unchanging, dependable and trustworthy, <em>Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;</em> (Deuteronomy 7:9) What a promise to rest upon! What a blessing for which to thank Him! <em>I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.</em> (Psalm 89:1)<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">It’s a challenge sometimes for us to accept change or to change ourselves, but praise God –He’s done the hard part for us and if we trust Him to help us, we can grow and mature into followers of His who bring glory and honor to Him. And praise God for His everlasting, <em>unchanging </em>love and salvation and watchcare over us! <br /><br /><em>Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.</em> (Hebrews 13:8)</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-13374269130500921562010-11-28T13:36:00.004-06:002010-11-28T20:57:26.415-06:00TIME WELL SPENT<div align="justify">It’s been a busy week. I’ve had the privilege of spending extra time with my mother this week as she’s been laid up with three compression fractures in her back. It’s so hard to see her hurting, and not able to eat because of the pain medications. I tried to make things that I knew were normally her favorites, to try to tempt her appetite, but until she could back off the pain meds a bit, it didn’t really work. The time spent with her was nice, though, as we talked and watched a few chick flicks together. I took my crocheting along and made some progress on the baby sweater, bonnet and blanket set I am making for Laurie’s baby. Bob was able to arrange his work schedule so that I could be with my mom. He travels a lot for his job, and of course I am always home with Robbie, so I appreciated his willingness to help out with that.<br /><br />Then, of course, there was Thanksgiving, which also happened to be my birthday. I traditionally make the turkey, stuffing and gravy for our big family meal, so there are not a lot of early preparations I can do ahead of time. It’s all basically done on Thanksgiving morning, keeping an eye on the clock so that the turkey goes in the oven on time. As usual, everything tasted wonderful, but someone made the comment, “All that time making all of this and then it’s over in a matter of minutes!” We did take the time to thank the Lord for his abundant blessings in our lives and to share with one another some of the things for which we are most thankful.<br /><br />Those were times well spent this week. Then there were the wasted times. Time I spent staring at a computer screen, struggling with writer’s block, I guess. Too much time spent in research for the book I am writing, and not enough time actually spent writing. Time worrying about the deadline that is looming and wondering if I will get it done in time. Time doodling as I waited for inspiration to come…<br /><br />And what a waste of time my one attempt at snagging a Black Friday bargain was! Bob surprised me big-time with my birthday gift this week—the money to buy a new laptop for myself! And just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend sales, I thought! I poured over the ads until I found the perfect one for me—at a savings of $250 if I could get in on the doorbuster special! I went on Wednesday night to check it out and make sure they had it in stock. Yes, they had nine of them. Great! Even if there were twenty or thirty people ahead of me, they wouldn’t all be there for the exact same thing I was there for, would they? The chances of me getting the laptop I wanted seemed pretty good.<br /><br />Not quite. I got up and out the door in the wee hours of the morning and pulled into the parking lot twenty-five minutes before the doors were to open. Call me naïve. I had only done the Black Friday, doorbuster thing once before with my sister many years ago, and then it had been a little crazy, maybe, but fun and not stressful at all. This time, when I got to the store ready to buy something I really, really wanted I was dismayed to see there were already 100-150 people ahead of me in a line that stretched from the doors clear around the side of the building. I went to the back of the line and started to shiver almost immediately. It was only about twenty degrees and I wasn’t dressed warm enough. Eventually a couple store employees came down the line handing out vouchers for the items people wanted, so they could go back to their cars and wait. The laptop I wanted was long-gone. I was disappointed of course, but grateful to get back to my car and go home and crawl back into bed.<br /><br />As I lay there, trying to get back to sleep but still shivering, I thought about what a waste of time it had been, and that I would never, ever do that again, no matter how great the bargains sounded! I’m sure I would have felt differently if I had been able to get the computer, and then even the one or two hours I stood in line waiting to <em>pay</em> for the thing might not have seemed like a waste, but at that moment it all just seemed like a big waste of <em>time.</em> Oh, there will be other sales, probably almost as good, and if I am patient I will eventually get the laptop that is best for me.<br /><br />Time is so precious to me, and I am sure, to you. Once those minutes tick by, they cannot be reclaimed. We are allotted in our lives so many years and months, weeks and days, minutes and seconds. Having a birthday this week made me think about time and wonder how many more years the Lord will allow me here on this earth. I am eager for Heaven, and yet, I want the time I have left here to matter. I go to bed sometimes thinking regretfully, “Well that was a wasted day!” On the other hand, on the days when I have really accomplished something I feel good when I go to bed, and grateful that I used my time wisely.<br /><br />Robbie has had his days and nights mixed up again this week. He sleeps all day and evening and then, just about the time I am going to bed, he wakes up and wants to play all night. I feel badly that he is staring at the ceiling all night because Mom just can’t entertain him any longer. It’s hard to get him back on the right track because if he really wants to sleep there is nothing we can do to keep him awake, and if we do manage to wake him up before he is ready, he immediately goes right into seizures. I would love to convince <em>him</em> of a better way to use his time more wisely!<br /><br />The Bible is clear that we are to use our time wisely. Romans 13:11 says, <em>“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”</em> (A good verse for Robbie, wouldn’t you say?) We do not know how many days are left to us individually, but the Lord says that our salvation—the time when He will take us out of this world, whether it be through death or the Rapture, to eternity with Him—is <em>near!</em> Until that time there is work for us to do for Him! Wake up and get to work!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span><em>“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”</em> (Ephesians 5:15-17) Using our time wisely means using it within the will of God. We sometimes are unsure of the next step in God’s will for our lives, but there can be no doubt in many instances of what is <em>not</em> God’s will. “Circumspectly” means not acting foolishly or sinfully as we did before we were saved, but being obedient. Our hearts know, our consciences know what is right or wrong; what brings glory to God and what does not; what is a waste of time and what is worthwhile. And “redeeming the time” ought to give us the sense of urgency, that because the days are evil we ought not to waste time.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">What is truly God’s will, and the whole purpose of the Gospel, is that men and women, boys and girls receive the salvation Christ has offered through His shed blood. It is our commission as believers to be witnesses to others of the Gospel. It is our sole purpose to bring glory to God through lives that are a testimony of that salvation. It is our responsibility to use our time toward that end. Our days are numbered here on earth and we are to <em>“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving…Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”</em> (Colossians 4:2, 5)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>God has promised blessings when we obey Him. Time is short. Time is precious. <em>“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” </em>(Revelation 1:3) The time is at hand. We waste so much time chasing the material things of this world, the foolish things, the selfish things. Anything that draws us away from what is of eternal value. Time spent helping others is never a waste. Time spent being a testimony or sharing the Gospel is never a waste. Time spent in prayer is never a waste. Time spent obediently and wisely following God’s will is never a waste.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"><em>Redeem the time—time well spent.</em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-21191302321283996122010-11-21T23:37:00.006-06:002010-11-22T01:04:04.783-06:00LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL<div align="justify">It has been a long, arduous journey for Julie and David for the last three years in the world of international adoption. They had no idea in September of 2007 when they embarked upon this journey that the country they felt led to adopt from, El Salvador, was the slowest in the world to cut through the red tape and procrastination, and would allow its children to languish in orphanages for years rather than releasing them into good, loving families who were eagerly willing, ready and able to provide good homes for them. After three years they were still waiting on approval from the two agencies in El Salvador that handled international adoptions.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So many times they questioned if they should try a different country or quit altogether, but over and over as they fervently prayed, the answer always came back to them,<em> “Be still, and know that I am God. Wait on the Lord.”</em> They determined that until God closed the door on El Salvador completely, or showed them clearly some other direction, they would hang in there. Lately they had wondered if the door might actually be closing. Their adoption agency, fed up with dealing with El Salvador and seeing almost no movement over the last three years, was talking about pulling out if something didn’t start happening very soon. David and Julie started talking about their options if that happened and looking at different avenues. They must renew their application with Immigration again very soon and they were beginning to wonder if they even should.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">This week the call finally came. They had been approved by both agencies! Oh, the joy! They were ecstatic! I was thrilled—more grandchildren! Whoo-Hoo! The good news didn’t stop there. Not only were they approved, but because they were willing to take a sibling group of up to three, they were promising to put their application aside for special processing in order to speed it up. (That remains to be seen. We’ve heard those kinds of promises before.) </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Soon,, we hope, they will be matched up with the children God has for them. Who knows how long that will take, but perhaps now that they are fully approved, and with sibling groups so hard to place, it won't take months for it to happen. Even then, there is normally still a ten month (at least) waiting period after they are matched before the adoption is finalized and they can bring the children home. But at least there is light at the end of the tunnel now.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Please pray for Julie and David as they continue the rest of their quest to bring children out of orphanages and into a loving home. Please pray for wisdom to know God's will, patience and strength for the journey, and peace with decisions made. Pray for Benjamin, Joshua and Hannah, who are so willing to share their mommy and daddy and home. Pray for the children who are waiting for a family who will love and care for them and have no idea that Julie and David are waiting eargerly for them, too. And pray for the children in orphanages all around the world or out on the streets all alone. We cannot help <em>all</em> of them but we can help <em>some,</em> and if we cannot help <em>some</em> of them, perhaps we can help <em>one.</em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify">The Bible says, <em>“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress."</em> (James 1:27) We generally hear very little in our churches about caring for orphans. My own church supports Compassion International and the Baptist Children's Home, but in my whole life I doubt I've heard more than one or two messages on the subject. Even if we are not called to actually adopt children or be foster parents, it is the duty of us <em>all--</em>churches and individuals--to in some way demonstrate our love and kindness to orphans, whether it is by supporting a child through Compassion International, or doing a Christmas shoebox for Samaritan’s Purse, or just taking an interest in the kids on our block who have no father in their home. <em>We show our love for Jesus when we show our love for the “least of these."</em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-61627485768107536372010-11-14T12:55:00.002-06:002010-11-14T13:08:45.075-06:00POTPOURRI IV<div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Plans, Preparations and Prayer --</span></strong> It’s that time of year again. We start planning Thanksgiving dinner—who’s bringing what to my sister’s house. I always cook the turkey, and along with that, make the stuffing and gravy. It’s tradition, and in our family we are really BIG on tradition! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year, right after Christmas. Not because of the meal, and certainly not for the parades or football games. I don’t really relish spending the whole morning in the kitchen. The gathering of the family is always wonderful, of course, but even more than that, I really take to heart the part about <em>giving thanks.<br /></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I try always, <em>every day,</em> to have an attitude of gratitude for all that God has done and is doing in our lives, and to be thankful for not only what He does, but for Who He is. I don’t really need a special day of the year to remind me to count my blessings and be grateful. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and more introspective and reflective, or because I’m walking closer to the Lord, or that the last ten years have been so hard and yet so good and we have seen the hand of God sustaining us through it all—whatever the reason, I thank Him every day. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I think something that opened my eyes to how rich we are was visiting Ecuador for the first time eleven years ago. I had the privilege of returning last year and celebrating Thanksgiving there. Once again I was struck with how much we have physically and how blessed we are compared to most of the rest of this world. Being truly grateful was especially brought home to me when I spoke to a group of ladies about the <em>spiritual riches</em> we have as daughters of the King, regardless of our economic situation, citizenship, class, or race. Thanksgiving last year was probably the most meaningful of my life.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">This year I have been putting together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. I have to turn them in at church tonight. I loved shopping for them and then trying to squeeze everything into the boxes. With every little gift I bought, I wondered about the child who would receive it. Where did he or she live? Would the shirts I bought fit them? Would the older girl like a little stuffed poodle or would she think it was too babyish? Which ball would the boy like better? Too bad a soccer ball won’t fit in the shoebox! Do they <em>really want</em> a toothbrush and toothpaste, wash cloth and soap for Christmas? Not my idea of a great gift, but apparently those things are precious to them. Into the shoebox they go, and with them the thought once more that things we take so for granted are of great value to those who cannot get them. It is hard to imagine that while our children and grandchildren have so much, these kids barely have the basics in life; that the yo-yo or harmonica or markers or jump rope in that shoebox will bring the same happiness to a poor child that a Wii or a IPod would bring to one of our kids.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I have bathed each of those shoeboxes in prayer, that the child who receives it will know Jesus as his or her Savior and feel the love and watchcare of Christ throughout his/her life and follow Him faithfully. With each box, too, I have breathed a prayer of thanksgiving for the privilege of sharing with that child and for all that God has done in my own life.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>II Corinthians 9:7-13 reminds us to share with the poor for we are abundantly rich and have much for which to thank God. <em>“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.” </em> Our giving brings thanksgiving to God both from the one who receives, and also from us, and glorifies God.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Pain –</span></strong> My mother is back in the hospital this week with terrible pain in her back. No one is sure what is causing it, for it is not in the usual places where you would think of back pain and seems to move around. Mom is a pretty stoic person. You seldom hear her mention when she is hurting or if she is sick, so when she does finally say something, you know it is pretty serious. When I called her Thursday morning and heard the almost panicky, excruciating pain in her voice, I knew it must be bad. She went to the emergency room that day, but they couldn’t find anything and sent her home with some pain pills. Later, after phone calls to several doctors, they decided to admit her, but for almost two days she waited for a hospital bed to open up.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">It is difficult to watch your mother, or any loved one, suffering. I had never heard such pain in my mother’s voice before. My sisters Cheree and Corinne had to <em>watch </em>her suffer, for they are the ones who could be with her and take her to the hospital. (Bob was in Michigan and I had to be home with Robbie.) The pain pills helped some, but it wasn’t until they got her in the hospital with painkillers delivered by IV that she got some real relief. We are praying that the doctors will get to the bottom of this and be able to fix whatever is wrong.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">As long as we are in our earthly bodies there will be pain and suffering, disease and injuries, and the inevitable aging. How wonderful for the believer to know, though, that these sufferings are but for a little while and we will have new, perfect bodies someday! No more pain, no suffering, no diets or contact lenses or hearing aids! Romans 8 says in verses 18-26, <em>“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” </em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I hate seeing my mother in pain, but I am so thankful that we can trust the Great Physician and know that He has His purposes in suffering, and her life in His hands. One thing is certain—we surely won’t take our new bodies for granted after all we have suffered through with these old carnal ones!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><span style="color:#ffffff;"><div align="justify"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Pink, Pink, Pink! –</span></strong> I started crocheting a tiny baby sweater this week. I will also make a matching bonnet and blanket to go with the sweater. I love the yarn. It is so soft and a beautiful shade of lustrous pink. Just looking at that color makes me happy! I crocheted a “coming-home-from-the-hospital” sweater set for each of my grandbabies and it makes me happy to be doing this one now.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Everything I have sent for the new baby so far has been pink, pink, pink! If little <em>Amanda</em> turns out to be little <em>Michael</em> instead, he is going to look mighty funny coming home from the hospital in all that pink! We certainly enjoyed having a boy, Matthew, the last time after his four big sisters, but it will be fun to have a precious little girl again, too.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I don’t think you’ll find “Thank Heaven for little girls!” anywhere in the Bible. It’s not exactly Scripture, but I’ll still quote it and believe it! What <em>is</em> Scripture, though, is, <em>“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD…”</em> (Psalm 127:3) and <em>“Children's children are the crown of old men [and old women!]”</em> (Proverbs 17:6.) The first time in my life that I truly felt I was leaving a heritage behind me was the day my first grandchild was born. It made me want to be a better person, a more faithful follower of Christ so that my grandchildren would have a godly example to follow. And every grandparent can tell you that there is no better reward or crown in this life than to have grandchildren!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">* <br /></span>Thank you, Lord, for pink—and blue!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-73738343612230206182010-11-07T08:33:00.002-06:002010-11-07T08:46:32.729-06:00PRIORITIES, PROJECTS, PEOPLE AND PERSPECTIVE<div align="justify">My life this year has consisted of moving from one big project to another. It has been crazy as sometimes I tried to juggle two or three projects at once, and always, as soon as I finished one, I would move on to the next. <br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I’ve written six books this year so far. I helped out with the family reunion and my mother’s and aunt’s 80th birthday party. I started a new hobby of making jewelry and have made quite a number of pieces as gifts and for myself. I took on a two-month study of the book of Revelations and read the Bible in 90 days. I did many projects for our pastor and the church, including doing the pastor’s weekly Powerpoint outline of his message, as well as four other major Powerpoint presentations. I put together two booklets for special occasions for our church’s 50th anniversary (a prayer guide and a pictorial history of our church), ordered and organized 5000 prizes for the church’s Springapalooza, headed up the missions booth for our ministries fair and wrote/and or designed several other smaller projects for the church. I wrote a weekly devotion for my blog. I sent three suitcases off to the Naranjos with various travelers, and if you don’t think sending a suitcase to Ecuador is a project, think again! <br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">In the last week or two alone, I have shopped for and packed one of those suitcases with Christmas gifts, things for the new baby and a variety of other things the Naranjos needed. I have also <em>made </em>some of those gifts and finished writing one of the books. Our pastor is the one taking the suitcase to them as he stops in Ecuador to visit them on his way to Bolivia. He is speaking ten times at a pastor’s conference in Bolivia and asked me to research and write bullet points for six topics in his syllabus, design the cover and also to do Powerpoints for his messages down there. I also put together two Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes this week. At this moment, I am printing, laminating and binding 34 of my books—a huge task in and of itself. I am speaking to a creative writing class on Monday and discovered of the 42 books I have written, I only had 8 left on my bookshelf.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I have several more projects standing in line that <em>must</em> be finished before the end of the year. Two more books to finish. A baby sweater, bonnet and blanket to crochet. The narrative for our church’s Easter cantata to be written. And of course, all the preparations for Christmas.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> <br />Trust me—I am not telling you all these things to toot my own horn. There are pros and cons to all this. Yes, it is nice to look back and see all the things that have been accomplished this year. I may have done a lot of sitting on my backside, but I certainly have not been lazy! I love it that, although I cannot get to church much because of caring for Robbie, I can still have a ministry in my church and in missions. I cherish the ministry I have to our precious Robbie, but I also love it that, after eight years of quietly sitting at home with him, in the last two years my outreach has once more extended beyond the walls of my home. I find happiness and satisfaction in having an outlet for my creativity.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>The cons? Time spent on all these projects robs me of time for relationships with the people who are important in my life. Bob and I still spend a lot of time just talking or being together when he is home, but I am sure he could use more of my <em>undivided</em> attention. He’s been very patient, and helpful, but I know it would please him if I would make a little more time to get some other things done, too, like housework and laundry! It is hard to prioritize things like vacuuming or scrubbing toilets when so many of my “projects” seem to be so much more <em>worthy</em> in terms of ministry or eternal value. Pleasing my husband, however, ought to have <em>highest</em> priority since that is the role to which God has called me. Scrubbing the floor is pretty low on <em>my</em> totem pole, but if it makes my husband happy… </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Time sitting under the computer takes away time I could be playing with Robbie when he is awake, or time spent with my mother when I am able to get out of the house. <em>People</em> ought to take the priority over <em>projects.</em> Someday, will I look back with regret for all the time I spent on my computer or working on other projects rather than being in the moment with my loved ones? The time we spend with the people we love is ministry, too, and has great eternal value. Love is an action word. Time spent encouraging, helping, <em>acting out</em> love and kindness is never wasted.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I know I’m not alone in this. You’ve been there, too, haven’t you? Whether it is projects like mine that keep us too busy, or a job that has precedence, or some activity that’s become an obsession, we need to be mindful of our <em>true</em> priorities. Most of us know the pressure and guilt of feeling as if there is just not enough time to do everything we need to do and that we are neglecting relationships because of it. Something has to give. But what?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I guess it’s a matter of balance. I know I tend to get obsessive about the projects I do. I am an overachiever, I suppose, living by the motto “If anything’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well” and by the verse, <em>“…whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”</em> (I Corinthians 10:31) Bob says I have tunnel vision when it comes to my work. Somehow I have to learn to balance the projects I am involved in with the rest of my responsibilities and with my relationships.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>It’s also a matter of perspective. If I could look at vacuuming and dusting as ministry to my husband, perhaps I’d be more eager to do them! If I bear in mind that every minute I spend with my mom or playing with Robbie is ministering to them, then my other areas of ministry will pale by comparison.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I think of the story of Mary and Martha. Luke 10:38-42 tells us a little something about them. <em>“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”<br /></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I’ve always had a bit of a problem with this story. We women all know that <em>someone</em> had to feed all those men! Martha invited them into her home and she felt responsible to serve them. We understand that, don’t we? I’m sure she wanted to do her best for Jesus. She probably thought of it as her ministry to Him. I can see myself in that, can’t you? I know Jesus was grateful for her efforts, but He had a gentle reminder for her. Two reminders, actually:</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> <br />The first was that our ministry must be done with the right heart attitude. If we are grumbling and complaining, stressing and fretting over it, we may as well not do it all. Serving Jesus should be done out of hearts of love, joy, gratefulness and generosity. The second thing he wanted Martha to see is that the spiritual and emotional relationship is more important to Him than the physical busyness, even if she was “ministering” to Him.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I need to find that balance and perspective in my life, and get back to putting people before projects. It means I am going to have to cut back on some things; maybe even give up some things altogether. I may even have to learn to say “no” now and then! That’s so difficult for me because I love everything I’m doing. I need to balance my time better. Most of all, though, I need to prioritize what is truly important in my life and put them—the people I love—back at the top of the list. My mother is a good example to me of this. People are her projects! Her time and efforts and money are spent on doing for others.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I John 3:18 says, <em>“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” </em> Bob knows I love him. Robbie knows I love him. My mother knows I love her. I tell them all the time. But love is an <em>action </em>word. It’s time I set aside some of these other things and show them a little bit better. </div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-17840286286574465292010-10-24T14:14:00.005-05:002010-10-24T14:38:32.836-05:00ANTICIPATION!<div align="justify">Laurie and I got to go shopping together this week! Well, sort of… I wish we could have actually <em>been</em> together, walking in and out of stores, stopping to get a bite to eat, spending some real girl-time together. Instead we were each in our pajamas, on the telephone and on our computers late at night surfing the internet together. It’s not quite the same as shopping in person with one another, but hey—it’s the best we could do and we had fun anyway!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />It’s not the first time I’ve done that with my girls. I’ve even gone <em>house-hunting</em> with both of them via the internet! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I sure love modern tecnology! It has made it possible for me to stay so much closer with my daughters and grandchildren who live hundreds and thousands of miles away than I ever could have twenty years ago.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>This time we were shopping for a going-home-from-the-hospital outfit for the new baby and a nursing gown and robe for Laurie. I had been out shopping earlier in the week in the stores here in town and could find not find a single newborn baby dress or nursing gown. (Yes, we are looking for a <em>dress,</em> for the baby finally decided to let them get a peek at her during the last ultrasound and it is confirmed—it’s a girl! Their<em> fifth</em> girl! Three-year-old Matthew will retain his position in the family as crown prince!) Laurie had not been able to find anything in Cuenca, either, that she could afford (prices down there are two, three, even four times higher there than they are in the States) so we resorted to the internet.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Laurie, especially, had fun doing that! She told me she felt like she was actually shopping in the US again, and the prices looked good to her after seeing how much they charged down there. We found what we were looking for and they are being sent to my house. Our pastor is going to Ecuador in about nine days to visit them and he said he would take a suitcase for me with the kids’ Christmas gifts, some things they needed and a lot of new baby things in it!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>We are so looking forward to this new baby! Once they found out the sex of the baby, and could start thinking of baby names in earnest, it just seemed to make it so much more “real.” They are thinking of naming her Amanda Laura (Fernando was dead-set determined to name this fifth daughter after his wife! It is a cultural thing, and he had wanted to do it from the first daughter all the way to number five.)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">* </span><br />We had all kind of hoped at first that it would be a boy so Matthew could have a little brother, but of course, we all said we would be thrilled with either a boy or a girl. All except for Matthew. He was pretty determined that it <em>would</em> be a boy and kept saying “Hi, Baby Michael!” to his mommy’s tummy. He was there when they did the ultrasound, and when he heard it was a <em>girl,</em> he said, “But I wanted a brother!” They told him God had decided he should have another sister and he actually accepted it with grace. Now even <em>he</em> is excited to have a baby sister!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Laurie has gone through her baby things to see what she still needs. She did not have a lot left of the baby girl clothes or her baby equipment. They had given a great deal away, not expecting to have <em>six</em> children. What she has and what I am sending down to her will probably suffice until she comes home next August for a few months. We will get whatever larger size clothes she needs then so she won’t have to bring a lot in their suitcases, and hopefully be able to borrow whatever equipment they need. I started looking through crochet patterns so that I can crochet a baby layette (sweater, bonnet, bootie and blanket) for Baby Amanda, just as I have for all my other grandchildren.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Anticipation! We still have another four months to go before little Amanda’s arrival! It is hard to wait, but on the other hand we don’t want her to come any sooner than she should. Remember the old ketchup commercial with the ketchup slowly, slowly coming out of the bottle and Carly Simon’s song, “Anticipation” playing in the background? Like the old saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait!” Or the quote I’ve seen in a lot of baby cards – “Nine months? It takes <em>time</em> to create perfection!” We <em>have</em> to wait—no getting around it—but in the meantime, the excitement and anticipation is building!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>There is someone else whose arrival I am eagerly anticipating! It seems the older I get, and the more I see this old world turning away from God, the more I long for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus has promised that He is coming again and he tells us to comfort one another with these words. <em>“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."</em> (I Thessalonians 4:16-18)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I don’t know about you, but I get excited when I read those words! I can’t wait! We wonder sometimes why Jesus tarries, why He has not come already. We wonder how this world can get any worse. Oh, but it will, and when it does, He will come and take us out of it. He said in John 14:3, <em>“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”</em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /></em>It is so exciting to look forward to the birth of a new baby and to make preparations for her arrival. How much more exciting, though, is it to look forward to the coming of our Savior! No preparations needed to go with Him, other than trusting in His shed blood for my sins and your sins. He’s done all the work for us! All we have to do is accept it, but oh, the joy, when we share that good news and bring others along with us!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>These are my words of comfort and joy to you today—He is coming again! Look forward to it!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-31830999110940425742010-10-17T12:26:00.002-05:002010-10-17T12:34:14.686-05:00SWEET REUNION<div align="justify">Our son-in-law David is in the air, on his way home from Iraq, right now! He left Baghdad Wednesday and went to Qatar. Yesterday he flew to Ireland and from there he will fly to Baltimore, MD today. Tomorrow Julie and the kids will pick him up at the airport in Montgomery, AL! What a day of rejoicing that will be! I wish I could be a fly on the wall to watch that sweet reunion! </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">So much has happened since he left. Many things have changed. I think David will be surprised at how much Julie and the kids have grown since he’s been gone—and I mean that more than physically. Benjamin and Joshua have both stepped right up to the plate and tried to fill their dad’s shoes as much as possible in order to help their mother. They’ve taken on chores they’d never done before, used their creativity to help to solve problems and been willing, encouraging supporters for their mom. Hannah, too, has been quite the little worker-bee, but she seems to have struggled the most emotionally without her daddy there. Believe me, though—tomorrow all will be right with her world again! Julie laughs when she says she has become an independent woman—learning how to mend fences, fix doorknobs, deal with car breakdowns, and drive across country on her own. She also says she can’t wait to hand it all back over to her husband again! It has left her with an even greater appreciation for those military wives whose husbands are gone for even longer and in more dangerous deployments. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">David himself has changed. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel over there, but more than that, his training and time in Iraq brought difficult challenges and opened his eyes to real suffering and a different world. He spent the last six months in a spiritual wasteland, receiving very little in the way of spiritual refreshment or fellowship where he was, other than whatever family and friends sent from back home. David has always been one of the most godly men I know, but I am sure the Lord will use these things to make him even more grateful, even more burdened for the suffering and lost, and even more willing to be used by God. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There is so much for which to be thankful, as well. That David made it there and back again safely. That it was six months, not a year; Iraq, not Afghanistan; air-conditioned office and room, not a tent in the desert or hard duty in perilous areas. That they had Skype and cell phones with which to communicate twice a day. That although there were many challenges for all of them, none of them were life-threatening or so difficult that they could not make it through with the Lord’s help. Even little Pumpkin the pound puppy whom they adopted just days before David left to be a distraction for the kids presented them with one dramatic escapade after another and raised the stress level considerably, but she brought a lot of joy and they are so thankful for her. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">There will be such joy tomorrow! There will be sheer bliss on David’s part as he enjoys being back in the center of his loving family and the comforts of home again. There will be relief on Julie’s part as she turns some of the responsibilities of home back over to David. There will be adjustments to be made in the coming weeks as they get back to normal again. There will be new challenges, but at least they will be able to face them together. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Julie and I have greatly admired my cousin Betty over the years. Her husband Brad is a Navy pilot and Commander. They have had <em>many </em>separations of months and even years, as Brad has been deployed, and through it all their family has prospered. Betty is a strong, compassionate woman who truly reaches out to others to help and encourage. Their children, whom she home-schooled, have grown into wonderful adults. Betty and Brad seem to have a close, sweet, loving (and fun!) marriage. I know Betty would be the first to say it is the Lord who made it possible.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I Peter 1:6-7 says, <em>“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”</em> God takes us through the hard times to <em>change</em> us. To make us better, stronger, more mature. To make us come forth shining as gold. To prove to us and to others that our faith is real. To bring praise and honor and glory to God.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>The Lord has done all these things in David and Julie and their three children through this difficult time in their lives. And now comes the time of great rejoicing! Now comes the time of sweet reunion! Praise and honor and glory to God! <em>Thank you, Jesus!</em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-81522221710102853342010-10-10T21:33:00.006-05:002010-10-11T17:28:11.905-05:00MY HERO!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG248txyG4owRSWJ3q2pO4SheBWDKqNNU6_fUn2Uhvk5WhgbTDgbWlHyrTo7YsuzqU7bphrhn1jo37KeVLNlkMnPlyvhkZLuQMOsXZ8NbYD8JgPgrLwiWwWWQjALYCQ364-S9AYMAP543/s1600/BlastmanBrick.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526623677762389378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG248txyG4owRSWJ3q2pO4SheBWDKqNNU6_fUn2Uhvk5WhgbTDgbWlHyrTo7YsuzqU7bphrhn1jo37KeVLNlkMnPlyvhkZLuQMOsXZ8NbYD8JgPgrLwiWwWWQjALYCQ364-S9AYMAP543/s320/BlastmanBrick.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxuiL4neG9Lu3bYXduzNcDnAQg3_FeFk5vEZdOgwpLosOqEKfmi6xjjhK0bqcq_WD9CyKEfv7VTm1W0jK9IvHkbV57C5vvg9FYavL3OSI_yqf5aUBUuWObqlv9lXz4iQuo6-jcdhD_Qrq/s1600/BlastmanHere.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526623670430635362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxuiL4neG9Lu3bYXduzNcDnAQg3_FeFk5vEZdOgwpLosOqEKfmi6xjjhK0bqcq_WD9CyKEfv7VTm1W0jK9IvHkbV57C5vvg9FYavL3OSI_yqf5aUBUuWObqlv9lXz4iQuo6-jcdhD_Qrq/s320/BlastmanHere.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv2Y3xoVhqE0tRUvRPtt7j0_VXVe46lkHbcigTGINdZxDHUM7mkDYd9hQxwV9AbRinbDRd_u9tpHmAaC9oFk8-flw9ePzQ4g7EiWA275Qqp5Rj9OLi6dyrHDpmwIq2EBIaTCyaFcIq_8w/s1600/BlastmanFlyClouds.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526623663164507554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv2Y3xoVhqE0tRUvRPtt7j0_VXVe46lkHbcigTGINdZxDHUM7mkDYd9hQxwV9AbRinbDRd_u9tpHmAaC9oFk8-flw9ePzQ4g7EiWA275Qqp5Rj9OLi6dyrHDpmwIq2EBIaTCyaFcIq_8w/s320/BlastmanFlyClouds.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify">There’s a new hero in my life! He wears blue spandex, red shorts and a cape. A big yellow star is emblazoned across his chest and he stands with his hands on his hips in a heroic pose, joining forces with God to take action!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Who is this masked man, you might ask? Not a bird, not a plane—it’s Blastman! AKA my mild-mannered hubby, Bob! Yes, he’s finally given in to his alter ego after forty years and donned his Superhero persona to fight for truth, justice and the American way! </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">Oh, wait a minute! Actually, Bob has come out of the phone booth to promote the Ministry Fair our church is having on October 24th. The theme is “Be a Hero! Take Action! Join Forces with God!” They asked Bob to be Blastman since 1.) He’s one of the few who could fit in the costume and 2.) He’s willing to really ham it up and make a fool of himself in front of several hundred people for the sake of the ministry. Bless his heart… </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">I have to admit, he was a bit reluctant at first. <em>“I need to lose two or three pounds before I put that thing on!”</em> he declared. <em>“The last time I wore tights </em>[as part of a costume, I hasten to add] <em>was thirty years ago! I’ve gained five pounds since then!”</em> I wanted to smack him! </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">We’ve had a lot of fun with Blastman all week. Last Sunday Bob stayed after church and put the costume on so they could do a photo shoot of him posing as a superhero. Then a few days later I cropped the backgrounds out, put in the backgrounds I wanted, and put together a Powerpoint presentation of Blastman encouraging everyone to attend the Ministry Fair, and even more than that, to be a part of the ministries in and through our church. </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">The Powerpoint turned out really cool, if I do say so myself! The pictures and backgrounds were great, the animations were fun, and the music I set it to really added excitement and that Superhero flavor to it! I used the theme from Star Wars—you know, the one that starts out Daaa-Daaa-Da-Da-Da-Daaa-Daa-Da-Da-Da-Daaa-Daa-Da-Da-Da-Daaa… (You know that one, right?) </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">Blastman himself will be at the Ministry Fair, encouraging everyone to be a hero and take action for God! Knowing Bob, he’ll be a hit with the crowd, and he’ll have a lot of fun himself. Of course, I’ve always known my husband is a superhero—now everyone else will know it, too! </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">From the time we were kids, we’ve all enjoyed superheroes and fantasizing about the supernatural powers they might have—the ability to fly, x-ray vision, being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and so on. As we grow up we’ve realized that although <em>superheroes</em> are imaginary, there really <em>are </em>heroes among us. They may not have supernatural powers, but they use what they <em>do</em> have in extraordinary ways to accomplish extraordinary feats. We saw it on September 11, 2001 when hundreds of firemen and rescue workers rushed into the Twin Towers while thousands of others fled, knowing full-well that they might not come out again. We see it every time a soldier braves the bullets to go back for a fallen comrade. We saw it this week when a few construction workers rushed a man who was shooting at a schoolyard full of little children, and took him down. </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">We see quiet heroes every day—people who will never do great things in the eyes of the world, but who steadfastly, courageously do what has to be done against all odds, with determination and all the strength that they have. People who give of themselves sacrificially for others. People who are willing to stand for what is right, even if they stand alone. </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">What does it take to be a hero? What does it take to be a <em>hero of the faith?</em> Courage probably comes to mind first. Courage is not the absence of fear. As human beings, we all experience fear. It is part of our survival instinct. Courage, rather, is the ability to <em>overcome </em>our fear—to function and do what is right and necessary <em>despite</em> our fear. If we had no fear, why would we need courage? I Timothy 1:7 says, <em>“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” </em>Fear is part of our human nature, but God does not want us to be controlled by it, or held bondage by a spirit of fear. </div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">Courage means having boldness and the confidence to say or do what is true and right and just in the sight of God. Over and over again the people of God are exhorted to be of good courage, to be strong, to not be afraid for God goes with us and will not leave us or forsake us. <em>“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”</em> (Deuteronomy 31:6) <em>“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”</em> (Joshua 1:9) <em>“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”</em> (Psalm 27:14)</div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">Courage for the believer comes through faith. We cannot see the future. We cannot see what is coming at us next, and even when we do see the obstacle or trial coming our way, we cannot see how the Lord is going to handle it for us. Hebrews 11:1 says, <em>“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”</em> God is at work, whether we see it or not.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Scripture gives us one example after another of heroes of the faith. There is Noah who believed God and stood alone with his family for God when the rest of the world called them fools. That is faith, resulting in courage. There is Daniel who prayed at his window for all the world to see when he knew doing so could result in him being torn apart by lions. That, too, is faith, resulting in courage. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego obeyed God rather than man with a courage that was a result of their faith in God, and the Lord saved them from the fiery furnace. David faced a giant alone when the rest of the army hid. His courage came from his faith that God was with him when nobody else would stand with him.</div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">Faith brings the courage to take the first step, but we need determination and strength to keep going. Faith gives us the courage to stand fast when necessary, but again, we need determination and strength to hang on. Determination is purposing to accomplish whatever it is God has called us to, regardless of the opposition. The book of Nehemiah gives an account of the courage and determination and strength of Nehemiah and a group of captives who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. <em>“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work…So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.”</em> (Nehemiah 2:18, 4:6) They strengthened their hands for they had a mind to work. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">The good news is that we do not need the strength of a superhero. God takes whatever little strength we have and multiplies it for the task that is at hand. He promises <em>“…and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”</em> (Deuteronomy 33:25) Psalm 18:22 says, <em>“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”<br /></em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Courage, faith, determination, strength—all these are traits of a hero. There is something else that is a mark of a hero, however, and that is sacrificial love. Our greatest example of this, of course, is Jesus Christ. <em>“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”</em> (I John 3:16) John 15:13 says, <em>“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”</em> Sacrificial love is selfless, putting others before self. That is why those firemen could climb the Twin Towers. That is why a father works so hard to put food on the table for his children, why a mother stays up into the wee hours caring for her family, why a missionary leaves family and home to take the Gospel across the world. It is sacrificial love.</div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">We’ve had a (dare I say it?) <em>blast </em>with Blastman this week! I teased Bob, asking him, “So where has Blastman been for the last forty years of our marriage?” The truth, though, is that I don’t want a superhero. My husband is a real-life hero to me. Bob’s life and faith have always been characterized by courage and boldness, determination, faith and strength. He has given of himself sacrificially for his family and for anyone else he sees in need. He goes through life, not looking for recognition or reward, but just quietly being a <em>hero.</em></div><div><br /></div><div align="justify">We can <em>all </em>be heroes for our families, heroes for the Lord, heroes of the faith.</div></div></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-35445820947378444732010-10-03T13:11:00.003-05:002010-10-03T13:44:22.079-05:00MY GOD SINGS!<div align="justify">I started the day with singing this morning! Before my feet even hit the floor we were on the phone singing <em>Happy Birthday</em> to our little Katie. She’s turning seven today! She’s always been such a tiny little thing; it’s hard to imagine her getting taller and older. She was soooo excited about her birthday this year! She called me every couple days the last few weeks to tell me what the countdown was to her birthday. Oh, how I miss those kids! I wish so much I could give Katie a big birthday hug and kiss. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I was just thinking the other day about how greatly our lives are touched by singing. We begin life with lullabies, and then our childhood years are filled with hundreds of little choruses and ditties by which we learn and play. Most of us continue our love affair with music—even if we cannot sing ourselves—into our teen years and beyond. And then we mark so many of the events of our lives with music, don’t we? There’s the birthday song, of course, year after year—after year. Many of our holidays have music attached to them<em>—“The Old Rugged Cross”</em> at Easter, <em>“Stars and Stripes Forever”</em> and <em>“The Star-Spangled Banner”</em> on the Fourth of July, and literally hundreds of Christmas carols and songs! We get married to Wagner’s <em>Bridal Chorus</em> (also known as <em>“Here Comes the Bride”)</em> and Mendelssohn’s <em>Wedding March</em>, and are buried to <em>“Amazing Grace.”</em> And throughout our lives, the great hymns of the faith and other Christian songs uplift us, comfort and encourage us and help us to worship our Lord. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I <em>love </em>to sing. I don’t have a great voice, but it’s good enough for me! I can carry a tune, at least. I sing <em>all</em> the time. I credit that to my mother. She wasn’t a great singer but she sang (or whistled or hummed) around the house as she did her housework or washed dishes as I was growing up—the old-time hymns mostly. I can’t hear <em>“We’re Marching to Zion”</em> or <em>“Beulah Land”</em> without thinking of my mother. Now I do the same thing. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">My grandchildren tell me, “Grandma, you have a song for everything! We say something, and you break into song about it!” The girls have even challenged me from time to time while we’re driving in the car. “We’ll think of a word, and you have to sing a song with that word in it, Grandma.” They almost never stump me. </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">The brain is an amazing thing. I often start singing a song, word-perfect, that I haven’t heard in thirty or forty years and I wonder, <em>where did that come from?</em> I can’t remember where I put my glasses, keys or the telephone two minutes ago! Ah—the power of music! </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I don’t know too many people who <em>don’t</em> like music. Even if we can’t sing, most of us like to listen to it at least. Even Robbie sings! He’s always had a love for music, and actually has a very discerning ear for harmony and <em>good</em> music. Every now and then he tries to sing himself. It’s so sweet. Here is this person who can’t talk, but he gets a happy look on his face and sings out “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I call him Mr. Johnny One-Note because it is only that one word, sung in one note, and held out for as long as he can until he needs to take a breath, and then he starts again—usually upping the volume as he goes! I say, “Are you singing Robbie?” and he beams and nods his head and keeps going. Sometimes it is alone; sometimes he accompanies me when I’m playing the harmonica for him; sometimes I join him and we sing a duet. <em>“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”</em> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Music and singing are gifts from God. <em>“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…”</em> (James 1:17) What a blessing in our lives! They are also important to God. Singing is integral in our worship of Him and we are told over and over throughout Scripture to come before Him with singing. <em>“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”</em> (Psalm 100:2) <em>“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”</em> (Psalm 98:4) <em>“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” </em>(Ephesians 5:19) Even the earth itself sings praises unto God! Isaiah 49:13; 55:12 say, <em>“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted…For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”</em> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Singing is so important in our lives—in <em>my</em> life—and to God! That is why it was a jaw-dropping shock when Bob came to me last night with a question that I had never heard before: <em>Can you think of a place in the Bible where it says that <strong>God</strong> sings?</em> In my fifty-eight years I had never wondered once if God Himself sings! We know we are made in the image of God. We know many of the attributes of God—He is holy, omnipotent, omniscient, just, gracious, merciful, loving and so on. We know He must love music for He made it and desires it. But I had never wondered before if God Himself ever breaks out in song, and I could not recall a verse that said He does. Bob handed me a card with a Scripture verse on it: </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="center"><em>“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”</em> </div><div align="center">(Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV) </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">What a beautiful verse! I instantly fell in love with it. Yes, I know in its context it is speaking of Jerusalem, but I believe it must be true for <em>all</em> whom He loves. God, the <em>Almighty </em>God, is right here in the midst of us and will save us. He rejoices over me! (What a blessed thought when I am feeling down on myself.) When I am in distress He quiets me with His love. (The peace that passes all understanding.) And He sings for joy over me! Isn’t that amazing! God sings! He sings for joy over those He loves! The picture I get in my mind is of a loving Father tucking his child into bed—protectively guarding His child; rejoicing in that child; covering him with His love and singing a lullaby of love and joy and peace. How can we not rest in that verse, and find comfort in His faithfulness and love and just that fact that He is singing for joy because we belong to Him? </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">I hope I will always be able to sing—or at least be able to make a joyful noise unto Him! It brings joy and blessing and comfort to my soul when I sing. <em>“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”</em> (Psalm 71:23) It is a witness to the unsaved. Psalm 126:2 tells us, <em>“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”</em> It is a testimony to those who follow after us. <em>“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."</em> (Psalm 89:1) It brings worship to God. Psalm 21:13 says, <em>“Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.”</em> As long as the Lord gives me life, I pray He will give me breath to sing unto Him! <em>“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”</em> (Psalm 104:33) </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Today I am praising God for music and the ability to sing! And I am praising Him for helping me to realize for the first time that He Himself sings as well—and He’s singing over me!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-79045739849093715392010-09-26T11:59:00.002-05:002010-09-26T12:38:14.573-05:00AUTUMN MUSINGS<div align="justify">It’s official, and it’s real. Fall has arrived. It doesn’t happen very often that the weather makes a dramatic shift right on time with the date on the calendar, but this year just as September 22nd, the first official day of autumn, crept upon us, the temperatures dropped and at last—ahhhh! Beautiful, cool autumn days are here again! At least here in my little corner of the world. It was still in the nineties down in Alabama, but take heart, Julie, this week your highs will drop ten degrees, too.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I am so ready for fall! We had such a hot summer this year that the cooler temperatures are a welcome relief. It is wonderful to turn off the air conditioning and enjoy the cool breezes coming in through open doors and windows again! I’m sure I’ll be singing a different tune in February and March when we’re all ready for spring to spring but for now I’m enjoying <em>cool.</em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>My favorite things about fall: The leaves changing colors. (They haven’t started yet around here but they will soon.) Making a big pot of homemade soup. (I made two different kinds this week.) Pumpkins. Apples. Pies made from pumpkins and apples and cinnamon and spice. Popcorn balls and caramel apples. (Are you beginning to see a pattern here?) Getting out the sweaters and sweatshirts and long-sleeved shirts. Bonfires. Hayrides. (Bob and I met on a hayride.) Thinking about Christmas coming soon and sneaking out the Christmas CD’s because I just can’t wait to start listening to them again. Thanksgiving. Kids going back to school. Watching (and hearing) Canadian geese and ducks flying in V-formation over my house as they head south. Seeing the little squirrels in my neighborhood getting fatter and fatter as they prepare for winter.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">* </span><br />I dream about living somewhere where the weather is “perfect” all year long, but really, I think I would miss the seasons if I didn’t have them. I love the beauty of God’s creation, but even more, I think, I love its <em>variety.</em> What an awesome God to have planned and created all this for us, and then to hold it all together by His power! <em>“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”</em> (Colossians 1:16, 17) How some people can believe this all happened just by chance is beyond me. Only an omniscient and omnipotent Creator could have designed it all to work together so beautifully and actually brought it into being.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />He is not only our Creator, but he is our <em>faithful</em> Creator. When Noah came out of the ark and built an altar to the Lord after the flood, God promised <em>“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” </em>(Genesis 8:22) As long as the earth exists, there will always be seasons; faithfully like clockwork He brings them about. Psalm 104:19 tells us, “<em>He appointed the moon for seasons…”</em> and Daniel 2:21 says, “<em>And he changeth the times and the seasons…”</em> He created them and He changes them.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>And though the Lord may change the seasons, <em>He Himself</em> does not change! <em>“For I am the LORD, I change not.”</em> (Malachi 3:6) More dependable than the sun, moon and stars, more dependable than the seasons or time or anything, because He created them, He is faithful. The Bible tells us in James 1:17, <em>“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”</em> His love and kindness are forever. <em>“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”</em> (Jeremiah 31:3) His mercy and grace are eternal. <em>“It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” </em> (Lamentations 3:22, 23) His promises are true. His salvation is secure and everlasting. <em>“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”</em> (II Corinthians 1:20-22) <em>“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may <strong>know</strong> that ye have eternal life.”</em> (I John 513)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> <br />I chose this morning to simply reflect on the arrival of autumn, and to praise Him for it and for <em>all</em> the beauty and variety of His creation. I praise him for His faithfulness to us and all that that means—His steadfastness and dependability, His eternal truthfulness, His unfailing provision of salvation and every other blessing we have in this life or eternity. It’s a good thing to simply pause and praise.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I’ve shared the words of one of my favorite hymns before, but I want to do it again today—<em>Great is Thy Faithfulness.</em> They are so true and such a blessing to me.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="center">Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;</div><div align="center">There is no shadow of turning with Thee;</div><div align="center">Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;</div><div align="center">As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="center">Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,</div><div align="center">Sun, moon and stars in their courses above</div><div align="center">Join with all nature in manifold witness</div><div align="center">To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> </div><div align="center">Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth</div><div align="center">Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;</div><div align="center">Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,</div><div align="center">Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> </div><div align="center"><em>Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!</em></div><div align="center"><em>Morning by morning new mercies I see.</em></div><div align="center"><em>All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;</em></div><div align="center"><em>Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! </em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-10588139467056134482010-09-19T13:56:00.003-05:002010-09-19T14:25:59.003-05:00JUGGLING<div align="justify">Robbie never ceases to make me laugh. He can’t talk, but I can read the expressions on his face like a book (most of the time)—and he has a <em>very</em> expressive face.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />It’s been over three years, I think, since Robbie began his love affair with apples. He can’t eat them, but he loves to hold them. He is rarely without an apple in his hand during his waking hours, and I frequently have to try to sneak his apple away when he is asleep. I say <em>try </em>because his fingers clamp down like a vise if he senses someone is trying to steal his apples. He plays a mean game of Keep-Away with his apple, too, during playtime.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Last fall I bought him one of those tiny pumpkins that are about the size of an apple. I wondered if he would accept it in place of his apple. Oh yes, he accepted it—<em>in addition</em> to his apple. There was no way he was giving up his beloved apple!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">* </span><br />Well, it’s that time of year again. Bob came home from one of his trips this week with a surprise for Robbie. “Robbie! Daddy has a present for you!” he sang as he shook a bag in the air. Robbie got so excited! He leaned forward eagerly and held his arms out. Bob gave him the bag and held it open so Robbie could reach inside. He pulled out a tiny pumpkin! Whoo-Hoo! Then he reached inside and pulled out something else—a small orange and yellow striped, pear-shaped gourd! Robbie was thrilled!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />There was just one problem. He had the pumpkin in one hand and the gourd in the other. His apple was in his lap. Three treasures. Two hands. What to do? He put down the pumpkin and picked up the apple. Ooo-but he really wanted that pumpkin! He set down the gourd and picked up the pumpkin. Wait a minute! <em>I want that gourd, too!</em> his face said. This went on for several minutes as Robbie tried to figure out how to hold three precious playthings in only two hands.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Bob and I were cracking up. His eyebrows were going up and down. He was grinning and frowning all at the same time. We could just see the little wheels turning inside his head. And then Mama had to throw something else in the mix. “Robbie,” I said eagerly, “Mama’s going to buy you some <em>more</em> pretty gourds—all shapes and colors and textures—and another pumpkin, too, and you can have a whole <em>basketful</em> of fun things to play with!” (Can’t let Bob outdo me when it comes to pleasing our boy!)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I’m not sure how much of that he really understood, but he turned and looked at me with such a look of dismay! “Mom!” his face seemed to say, “Can’t you see I only have <em>two hands?”</em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I laughed a few days later when I was sharing that with my ten-year-old granddaughter Melissa. Her response was, “So you’ve got Robbie j<em>uggling</em> now! Maybe instead of more gourds, you should buy him more hands!” That tickled me. Robbie—<em>juggling?</em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Robbie could never juggle, but <em>we’ve</em> certainly all been there, haven’t we? Our hands are full, but we need to fit something else in somehow. We feel like we are doing a juggling act and something is going to fall at any moment—or maybe the whole thing will come crashing down! We are stressed out, dashing back and forth, trying to keep our eyes on the ball and everything going smoothly. We're overwhelmed and crying out, "But I only have two hands!"</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />I don’t know how some of the women I know do it. They are working jobs, taking care of children or grandchildren, cleaning house, cooking, doing ministries outside the home, home-schooling, being a help to their husbands, and on and on. I live an easy life here at home compared to them, but it never really stops around here, either, with Robbie to care for, writing deadlines to meet, projects to do for our pastor and church, as well as caring for home and hubby. It is a fact of life in our modern American lives. We are too busy, too stressed, too exhausted.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Let’s face it—juggling not only saps our strength, it also saps our <em>joy.</em> Our most precious treasures become liabilities; demands on us that wear us down and wear us out. Instead of enjoying our children to the fullest, we snap at them or push them away with, “Not right now! Mommy is busy!” Our husbands often get put on the back burner, the last to get our attention. And remember the old chorus, <em>There is Joy in Serving Jesus</em>? Where’s the joy when our ministry for the Lord turns into just one more duty I am obligated to perform?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I think sometimes at the end of the day when we fall into bed exhausted, that we feel as Solomon did in Ecclesiastes 2:11, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” <em>Well, I got through this day. Tomorrow it starts all over again.</em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />You may remember the old commercial, “Calgon—take me away!” David, in Psalm 55:6, said it like this—“<em>Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”</em> Well, we don’t have wings to carry us away, and a Calgon bath will help for only a few minutes. What <em>is</em> the answer then?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>There are some things we simply must juggle—family, home, serving the Lord. Some of us simply <em>have </em>to work outside the home—not for the little extras, but just to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. Some things, like home schooling, are a conviction, and we know that it may not be right for all families, but it is God’s will for <em>ours.</em> All of these things are important; many of them are precious treasures. How do we juggle them and at the end of the day end up tired, maybe, but still joyful?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>There are four principles, I think, that can help us be successful, joyful jugglers! The first is so simple, and yet so hard to remember sometimes: <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Start the day, and continue all the way through, with the right attitude.</span></strong> Psalm 118:24 says, <em>“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” </em>God gave us these treasures to be <em>blessings </em>in our lives, not burdens! Rejoice in the little ones clinging to your leg when you are trying to cook dinner; in the teenagers wanting a ride to the youth group activity; in the husband wanting his share of attention, too! Think how empty your life would be without them! Praise God for the home that has to be cleaned, the food that has to be cooked, the job you have to go to. Think how many millions of people in this world go without those very basic things. Thank the Lord for the opportunities you have to serve him with a heart of love and gratefulness for all that He has done for you. He gave you a new day! Praise Him for it! And keep the gratitude going all day long.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>The second principle goes along with the first: <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Do whatever it is that you have to do in God’s strength, not your own.</span></strong> I say it goes along with the first principle because both should be a matter of <em>prayer before</em> we hit the floor running. Colossians 1:10, 11 says, <em>“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”</em> So many times I have failed when I have tried to take on something in my own strength! When we pause to read a portion of God’s word—even if it is only a verse or two—we are “increased in the knowledge of God.” When we first praise and thank Him, and then ask for His power to get through the day with patience and endurance and strength, He gives it to us and we come out at the other end of the day with joy at all that the Lord has given to us and done in us and through us.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />The third principle is this: <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Don’t try to be a Super-Woman!</span></strong> <em>Wait a minute!</em> you might be saying right now. <em>What about the Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman? She certainly had a lot on her plate to juggle!</em> Look at this: <em>“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple…She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant… She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness…Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”</em></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Wow! Super-Woman? Maybe, but I think there are a few sub-principles that she can teach us. First: <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Don’t try to do it all alone—Delegate!</strong></span> It seems the woman of Proverbs 31 had <em>maidens</em> to help her. (vs. 15) Sure, the responsibility rested on her, and she jumped right in there with her own two hands and did her share, working from before dawn on into the night, but she had <em>help.</em> Second: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Don’t try to do it all at once.</span></strong> I believe there are seasons to a woman’s life. When our children are young, they need us and we may have to postpone for a few years things that we would like to do in order to care for their needs. When we are old, we may not have the strength or physical capabilities that we once had, and we may have to give up things we once enjoyed. I cannot say for sure, but I doubt that the Virtuous Woman did all of this at the same time. She cared for her children when they were young, providing food and clothes for them. When they were older, perhaps, she entered the marketplace and helped the needy. Third: <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Whatever you do, do with strength and honor, wisdom and kindness, trusting and obeying the Lord. </span></strong>Verses 25-26, 30 say, <em>“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”</em> When our hearts are right with God, no matter what He has called us to do, we will rejoice in time to come.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>The fourth and last principle I want to mention is this: <strong><span style="color:#990000;">Be content with less.</span></strong> Ecclesiastes 4:6 says, <em>“Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” </em>Part of our problem as modern American women is that we think we have to <em>have </em>more and better—a vacation or two every year, far more clothes than we could ever wear, a big nicely furnished and decorated house and so on and so on. We think we have to <em>do</em> more—run the kids to every activity imaginable, take on this project and that, have the <em>perfect</em> home and family. We add so much to our plate that it is no wonder we can’t keep up. If we could only realize that we can get along with far less, relax a little more when we demand less of ourselves—think what a burden that would lift!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Psalm 90:17 says, <em>“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”</em> Our hands are filled with treasures. We have to juggle sometimes, but we can do it with joy when we do it in the Lord—with praise and thankfulness, with contentment and in His strength.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Oh, I’m still going to get Robbie that basketful of gourds, little pumpkins and apples, but I think I’ll give them to him just one or two at a time!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-55804245747774365862010-09-12T02:44:00.006-05:002010-09-12T10:45:23.220-05:00GREAT LADIES IN THEIR EIGHTIES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHjkz4MrIFR1MskcGMU22KPad5qF_M2fmhKyE3ah5KDoUT4VvRgCwo1JU6SuM8E7Z_BKbp66Z4XWEggQ69-tnVbpkAQ8X9m7WN5XykJHHioNNb34eL0-T2KEkIiPqov-i6bYWlNIU7tLl/s1600/57978_431650339222_701749222_4789914_4749611_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515937496844933746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHjkz4MrIFR1MskcGMU22KPad5qF_M2fmhKyE3ah5KDoUT4VvRgCwo1JU6SuM8E7Z_BKbp66Z4XWEggQ69-tnVbpkAQ8X9m7WN5XykJHHioNNb34eL0-T2KEkIiPqov-i6bYWlNIU7tLl/s320/57978_431650339222_701749222_4789914_4749611_n.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0574xRHCfjI3Jepk4cYPADH7JGCzoofTWKkRHjCrZ3oozQR73vtkUZJebNOty8UPARBKBI2PoWxXUNhoJWlYvTpXzqn5pM-TkqJMdWN8pslhvxlhO19DQ82RBTt2fdyYb64CeDYEellB/s1600/boncon80B.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515937483421543234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0574xRHCfjI3Jepk4cYPADH7JGCzoofTWKkRHjCrZ3oozQR73vtkUZJebNOty8UPARBKBI2PoWxXUNhoJWlYvTpXzqn5pM-TkqJMdWN8pslhvxlhO19DQ82RBTt2fdyYb64CeDYEellB/s320/boncon80B.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify">It was a weekend to remember! In my mother’s words, no other weekend could ever surpass it. My aunt (my mother’s twin sister) told me it was her best birthday ever. “Bonnie and Connie’s 80th Birthday Party” at Spring Mill State Park in Indiana was a huge success, especially for the Birthday Girls. Almost all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there to celebrate with them—over fifty of us altogether. We were happy for our mothers, and excited about spending the weekend with our siblings and cousins and their families.<br /><br />It is a wonderful thing to see twin sisters make it to their eightieth birthday together. We’ve always enjoyed seeing them together (and yes, indeed, they fooled us sometimes as to who was who), but now they’re just downright cute as a pair! All weekend long we remarked at the likenesses and funny little traits they shared.<br /><br />Sunday was their birthday and we had a special luncheon to honor them. The Lakeview Room looked out on a forest, rather than a lake, but it was pretty with its tables decked in pastels, a fully loaded gift table, and the cake with their pictures at age sixteen as the centerpiece. The food from the Inn’s special Sunday buffet was delicious and plentiful. The company was relaxed, and the fellowship was sweet, and both our Birthday Girls were beaming!<br /><br />We could not let this special day go by without some spontaneous tributes given by their children, grandchildren and children-in-law. My brother called them the “grand matriarchs of the clan.” Their reputation as pranksters was mentioned. Their love, encouragement, help and generosity were appreciated. They were lauded as wonderful mothers, best friends, special grandmas, and over and over—the best mothers-in-law there ever were! I think what struck me most, however, about these heartfelt, sometimes-teary and sometimes-comical sentiments was how many times Mom and Aunt Bon were referred to as women of faith and prayer. The spiritual heritage they have laid down and their prayerful support of their children and grandchildren had made an impact in all our lives, and helped to make us the people we have become—for now and all eternity. They have been found faithful in the calling God has given them as wives and mothers, and we are all eternally grateful and love them deeply. Proverbs 31:28-31 fits them perfectly: <em>"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."</em> (Proverbs 31:28-31)<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">It is hard to see our parents growing older. We see them slowing down, suffering from more and more physical ailments, sometimes even suffering mental disabilities. And always looming overhead is the knowledge that we may not have many more years left with them. For those who know Jesus Christ as our Savior, we know that the Separator called Death is but for a short time and then we will be reunited in Heaven some day, but still it is a grievous day when we have to say goodbye. We treasure the days we have left with our mothers and pray for many more years of good health to come.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Bible tells us to honor our parents and those elderly people around us. Leviticus 19:32 says, <em>“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”</em> Ephesians 6:2-3 reminds us of one of the Ten Commandments: <em>“Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou may live long on the earth.” </em>Proverbs 23:22 tells us to “<em>Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.” </em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /></em>Although it may not feel like it sometimes, old age is something to be proud of, and a blessing from the Lord. Many times the Scriptures speak of old age as “a <em>good</em> old age.” And although I have sworn to cover my gray hairs until the day I die (!) gray hair is a badge of honor! Proverbs 16:31 says, <em>"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."</em> and Proverbs 20:29 adds, <em>“The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” </em>I still <em>have </em>my gray hair, of course, hidden somewhere—I just refuse to look older than my husband!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>With old age come many blessings. Mom and Aunt Bon would tell you (and I agree!) the greatest of these are our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You just can’t comprehend how wonderful it is to be a grandma until you become one yourself! Someone has said that “being a grandmother is your reward for having been a mother.” Someone else has said, “Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old.” Whether or not we’ve earned them, the Bible says in Proverbs 17:6 <em>"Children's children are the crown of old men [and old women!]"</em><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></div><div align="justify">Hopefully, with old age comes wisdom. Job 12:12 tells us <em>"With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding." </em>and Job 32:7 adds <em>"…days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom."</em> Old age also comes with promises. Isaiah 46:4 tells us that God does not forget us in our old age, but will carry us through: <em>“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”</em> He is faithful in providing. <em>"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."</em> (Psalms 37:25)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>God also tells us that He does not set us on a shelf in our old age but that there is still work for Him that we can do. Psalms 92:14 says, <em>"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age ..."</em> The elderly are to be examples of holy living and teachers. <em>"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things."</em> (Titus 2:2, 3) Prayer and intercession are vital ministries the aged can have. 1 Timothy 5:5 says <em>"Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day."</em> The elderly are also a testimony to the generations that follow. Psalms 71:18 tells us, <em>"Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."</em> Eunice and Lois are examples of the impact we can have on our children and grandchildren. <em>"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."</em> (2 Timothy 1:5)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>It is God who determines the length of our lives. Job 12:10 says, <em>"In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." </em>Oftentimes he blesses the righteous and those who are obedient to Him with long life. He said of David in Psalms 91:14, 16, <em>“Because he hath set his love upon me ... because he hath known my name.... With long life will I satisfy him...”</em> 1 Kings 3:14 also says, <em>"And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments ... I will lengthen thy days."</em> Proverbs 3:1, 2 tells us to <em>"... keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."</em> and adds in Proverbs 9:10, 11, <em>"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." </em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span></em><br />Psalm 92:12-14 gives us a picture of the beauty of old age in those who love the Lord. It says, <em>“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He [or she] shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.”</em> I see beauty in my mother and Aunt Bon, and I know the Lord does, too. What a testimony they are to lives lived for Him and for their families! Many years ago I sent a poem to my grandmother—their mother. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating for it describes my mother and my dear aunt Bonnie—lovely in growing old. I hope I will follow in their footsteps.</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Let me grow lovely, growing old—</div><div align="center">So many fine things do:</div><div align="center">Laces, and ivory, and gold,</div><div align="center">And silks need not be new;</div><div align="center">And there is healing in old trees,</div><div align="center">Old streets a glamour hold;</div><div align="center">Why may not I, as well as these,</div><div align="center">Grow lovely, growing old?</div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">-Karle Wilson Baker-</span></div></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-56984167190188210962010-08-29T11:04:00.002-05:002010-08-29T11:10:27.269-05:00KISS<div align="justify">Julie and the kids arrived last night from Alabama!! Whoo-Hoo! What a fun week we have planned! Everything from taking tours of a dairy farm and a candy factory, to making jewelry and having a board game marathon, having a Girls’-Night-Out, and then going to Spring Mill State Park next weekend to celebrate my mother’s and her twin sister’s 80th birthday. It will be a full, fun and fabulous week!<br /><br />It all starts with Grammy coming home from church with them today for lunch. I’ve already made the brownies (which I left in the oven waaaaay too long when I got distracted with the kids—good thing we’re having them with ice cream on top!) and the jello salad. I read aloud three chapters of the new book I wrote for Joshua to the kids. And now, while they are at church and before I start making the rest of the dinner, I must sit down and write my blog for this week. <br /><br />I have less than two hours to write—and I normally spend anywhere from four to six hours writing my blog each week. What to write about? I spent the entire week working non-stop on Joshua’s book, trying to have it done before they came. Not much to talk about there. I spent some time working on the big birthday celebration, but I’ll write about that later. My kids have not been a lot of inspiration this week.<br /><br />The only thing I can think of is KISS—an acronym I heard of back in the 80’s when Bob was in seminary preparing to be a preacher-boy. It stood for <em>Keep It Short and Sweet.</em> Or <em>Keep It Short and Simple. </em> Or <em>Keep It Short, Sweetheart!</em> (as the young seminary wives would say.) Or <em>Keep It Short, Stupid!</em> (as the rest of the congregation might say!)<br /><br />And so I am going to KISS (and I have just used more than 300 words to tell you I am going to keep it short!) Sometimes that is not such a bad thing. My father used to like to quote Abraham Lincoln: <em>“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.”</em> Before Lincoln, though, Solomon said it best<em>—“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”</em> (Proverbs 17:28)<br /><br />I’ve been reading in Proverbs this week and it is interesting to see how much that book has to say about keeping your words short and sweet. For instance, Proverbs 10:19 says, “<em>In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”</em> Proverbs 13:3 goes on to say, <em>“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”</em> and Proverbs 21:23 adds, <em>“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” <br /></em><br />Proverbs talks a great deal about not just the quantity of our words, but the kinds of words we speak. We are told to put away lying, flattery, gossip, trouble-making, clamor, quarreling, perverseness and foolishness, and to speak with wisdom and kindness. Proverbs 31:26, in speaking of the virtuous woman, says, <em>“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”<br /><br /></em>I was thirty before I began to see the wisdom in keeping my mouth shut more often—to guard not only what I say, but how much I say. You may find that hard to believe, I know, considering how long-winded I can be when writing this blog! (Even trying to keep it short—I am over 600 words now!) I think that is why I prefer writing to speaking—I can weigh my words and backtrack—deleting what is a mistake, or awkwardly-said, or just should not have been said at all. When you are speaking, once those words are out there, they’re out there for good. You can’t take them back or delete. Whatever we say and whether we keep it short or long, we need to guard our mouths. James speaks of the tongue and the great damage it can do. <em>“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! …And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil…" </em>(James 3:5-8)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Psalm 19:14 says, <em>”Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”</em> Let this be our thought for this week: Keep our words short and sweet and <em>always </em>glorifying to the Lord!</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>(And I said it all in only 794 words!)</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-83359445435631771362010-08-22T12:02:00.003-05:002010-08-22T12:13:09.465-05:00DOMINOES DIVAS<div align="justify">I get together each month with several of my friends from church for an evening of fun and fellowship. And once every six or eight months it is my turn to host the group. It was my turn this week.<br /><br />We jokingly call ourselves the Dominoes Divas. <em>Dominoes</em> because we play a game called Mexican Train with—what else—dominoes, and <em>Divas</em> because we are—what else—divas! Okay, I’m just kidding about the divas part. We are anything <em>but</em> divas! But we have a good time together and over the years have become a close-knit group.<br /><br />I say <em>over the years</em> because we have been doing this for somewhere around eight years, I think. My friends began it way back then as a means to reach out to me at a time when I needed some friends and fellowship. Robbie had been sick for a year and I had pretty much been housebound the entire time. Even when I <em>could</em> leave the house, I had a hard time tearing myself away from him and had become somewhat of a recluse. Several of the women in the church decided I needed some friends and some fun and if I wouldn’t get out of the house to get it, they would bring it to me!<br /><br />I didn’t even <em>know</em> some of them at the time! And I wasn’t even sure if I really wanted to be a part of this. It had been rather thrust upon me and at the time I was an emotional basket case. I didn’t want to leave Robbie’s side, but it made me nervous having them come to my house every month. I couldn’t come right out and say that, of course, but somehow fairly quickly we began rotating the hosting. The idea was to get me out of the house more often.<br /><br />I think they knew that I was dragging my feet a bit. I made excuses once and a while not to go, but they stuck with me, and as time went by and Robbie’s condition became less critical, I became more comfortable about being a part of the group and began to appreciate even more how these friends had ministered to me with their persistent friendship and caring.<br /><br />Over the years our group has changed a bit. One friend dropped out, out of necessity, while we added three new friends. The format has never changed, though. We all chip in $5 and order pizza. The hostess usually provides dessert and some snacks to munch on while we play. We play, laugh, joke, talk, encourage one another, and try not to gossip until 9:00 or 9:15 when everyone heads for home.<br /><br />I must confess, I still dread it when it is my turn to host. I, who used to be Miss Hospitality and who would have large groups of people in my home <em>every weekend</em> for years—well, I am older and a lot lazier now! And it is not that I am nervous or uncomfortable about it anymore, either. Having people over means I have to clean my house! It’s always a good thing, though, when company is coming because it stirs me to do a bit more than just the basics. (<em>You </em>know what I’m talking about, don’t you?!) The second thing I dread is trying to figure out what toppings to order on the pizzas! Decisions, decisions, decisions! For some reason, that little chore always throws me for a loop!<br /><br />My turn came around again this last Thursday. I had it licked this time, though! I decided to deviate from tradition and not do the pizza thing. Bob was supposed to be out of town and would not be around to pick up the pizza, and I didn’t want to ask the ladies to stop for it. I hate paying delivery charges and tips. I decided instead to make Italian beef and barbecued chicken sandwiches. I bought small French rolls so that if they couldn’t make up their minds which to have, they could have both. I made fruit kabobs on long bamboo skewers to go with the sandwiches, and had the usual assortment of snacks.<br /><br />For dessert I decided to do something different, as well. How much fun would it be to have six or seven different kinds of ice cream and a couple different kinds of cones and have everyone make their own double, or even triple-dip ice cream cones! Lots of choices, lots of decisions—and it all started in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store! In the end, I had to have a stranger help me decide which flavors to buy! I told you—when there are too many choices, I am not good at making decisions!<br /><br />It turns out my friends aren’t any better at that than I am! I think they all ended up trying <em>both</em> kinds of sandwiches. And I just had to laugh at my friends, who normally aren’t real big eaters, layer on three, four, even <em>five</em> different kinds of ice cream in a big waffle cone—and then go back for seconds to try the flavors they’d missed! It was crazy—and so much fun! And yes, we actually did get around to playing dominoes!<br /><br /><strong><em>Choices.</em></strong> We make them every day, whether we like it or not. What to wear? What to make for dinner? What to do first from my to-do list? Which brand to buy? What to order off the menu? (I especially dislike that one—too many choices!)<br /><br />My friends <em>chose,</em> years ago, to minister to me at a time when I really needed it. I’m sure they had plenty of other things they could have done with their time. They <em>chose</em> to hang in there when I was reluctant. It might have been a lot easier to say, <em>well just forget her, then!</em> and move on. There were others to whom they could have ministered, I am sure. Instead they continued to offer their friendship and fellowship and to show how much they cared. <em>I</em> had to eventually make the decision to step out of my isolation and choose what they were offering. I am so glad for the decisions we each made back then. Our little group has been a blessing, I think, to all of us.<br /><br />There is so much more to ministry than preaching or teaching, soul-winning or discipling. Just being there for one another, sharing a burden, listening, showing kindness—those are things all of us in the body of Christ can do for one another. I have spent most of my adult Christian life teaching, leading, writing, and sharing the Word in one way or another. I have often had people tell me that my words meant a great deal to them. What my friends did for me, though, in just meeting my needs for friendship and fellowship, being there to share the burdens and to show they cared—well, their <em>actions</em> did far more for me than words could ever have done. I am so thankful they made the choice to share their lives with me.<br /><br />We all have our part in the body of Christ. Let us each be faithful in whatever ministry the Lord has called us to do. Even when we are not especially or specifically given the spiritual gifts of giving or helping, however, we are all called to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord and to show kindness and share burdens. Let us make the right choices, even when it is not easy, to minister to one another.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ…As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.</em> (Galatians 6:2, 10)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality…Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. </em>(Romans 12:10, 13, 15)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.</em> (Romans 15:1, 2)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.</em> (II Peter 1:5-7)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span><em>Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering…</em> (Colossians 3:12)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /><em>And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted…</em> (Ephesians 4:32a)</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-89927619998896869442010-08-15T09:59:00.005-05:002010-08-15T10:40:25.518-05:00PRECIOUS JEWELS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPs0r1SGTmUhu0BpVSW-fEccq2WO8mBbPnHUoTLnQjK7BQfbOcDKbNrZkUss0xz9_TlLZ_A2LOTeI0CakgNkYyKV_6SLeGYCvVFkJYgMFeveLmhkTwmTU2drHOYV_JgFR_oeH3_MT0Z0J/s1600/12JewelsFoundaionNewJerusalem.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505661347978912434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPs0r1SGTmUhu0BpVSW-fEccq2WO8mBbPnHUoTLnQjK7BQfbOcDKbNrZkUss0xz9_TlLZ_A2LOTeI0CakgNkYyKV_6SLeGYCvVFkJYgMFeveLmhkTwmTU2drHOYV_JgFR_oeH3_MT0Z0J/s400/12JewelsFoundaionNewJerusalem.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8KNW0LPXcSNDHEQahLzOe6Z4ucnnTB6MDC8RZL2uG_gBzrfnGTN-1ny_3Ng_6kWnvs6JiLUUQ7czn3ZVOo6fTGCz9qRQ9mNMb2GebDxVPrKoSW_S5SfxtvQNXO0kx2bczTxwgzUf-UWw/s1600/CRYSTAL.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505661131862715250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8KNW0LPXcSNDHEQahLzOe6Z4ucnnTB6MDC8RZL2uG_gBzrfnGTN-1ny_3Ng_6kWnvs6JiLUUQ7czn3ZVOo6fTGCz9qRQ9mNMb2GebDxVPrKoSW_S5SfxtvQNXO0kx2bczTxwgzUf-UWw/s200/CRYSTAL.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify">Before you jump to any conclusions after seeing the title for today’s blog let me assure you—no, I did not receive any diamonds or emeralds, rubies or pearls this week. <em>*Sigh*</em> I’m a pretty plain girl. I don’t own a lot of gold or silver, and the only jewels I have are the diamond in my engagement ring, an opal and a blue sapphire, also in rings. I love pearls, and all my pearls are pretty—but fake.<br /><br />Why then am I writing about jewels this week? I suppose what brought the topic to mind was the fact that I’ve been doing some window shopping on the internet—not buying, but just looking to see what was available if I <em>could</em> buy. And I wasn’t looking at diamonds or rubies or pearls. I’ve been searching for gemstones like beryl and jasper, sardonyx and chalcedony, chrysolite and jacinth.<br /><br /><em>Huh?</em> Now why would I be interested in jewels like those? I mentioned last week that I had embarked on a new hobby of jewelry making. It occurred to me that it would be interesting to make a bracelet of the twelve precious stones that will be the foundation of the New Jerusalem that God is preparing for us someday; namely jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprasus, jacinth, and amethyst.<br /><br />I should probably back up here and tell you that I did a little research on those twelve precious stones a couple months ago as I was wrapping up my study in Revelations. I don’t know about you, but I had always been curious to know what beryl and jasper and some of those other less familiar stones looked like. We all recognize emeralds and sapphires, and even topaz and amethyst, but what is a<em> jacinth</em> or a <em>sardius?</em> As I read the description of the New Jerusalem I wondered about the foundation that God made for her, and what those twelve precious stones looked like all sandwiched together.<br /><br />Here—I’ll let you read John’s description of it for yourself: <em>“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband...And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. <strong>And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.</strong> And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”</em> (Revelation 21:1, 2, 10-21)<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><div align="justify">Pretty impressive, isn’t it? Actually, it will exceed far beyond what our human minds can even conceive when we try to imagine the beauty and magnificence of that holy city. I Corinthians 2:9 tells us, <em>“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.”</em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /></em>My curiosity was up, though, when it came to those precious gemstones. What were their colors? How would they look all sandwiched together? I knew I could not begin to imagine the scope of its beauty, but at least I wanted to get some glimpse of what it might appear to be. I mean, we can try to imagine the pearly gates, and even the streets of pure gold although the Bible says the pure gold will be like transparent glass, but the foundation of all those beautifully colored jewels? <em>Ahh</em>—how lovely to have the world at our fingertips via the Internet! In a matter of seconds, my curiosity about the precious gemstones of the foundation was satisfied!<br /><br />More or less. I did run into a couple interesting side notes and one little glitch. For instance, the chrysolite of today is what is more commonly called peridot, and is a pale green color. The chrysolite of a couple thousand years ago, and probably what John described, is a translucent gold. And jasper? That was a problem. Revelation 21:11 says, <em>“Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;"</em> When I had researched the precious stones, the only jasper I could find is an opaque reddish-brown color and usually spotted or striped. It is not clear at all. I began to wonder then if the jasper of the Bible is different than the jasper we have today. I could find no pictures of clear jasper, but I did a little more research and found out that jasper is a microcrystalline variety of quartz. Because it contains up to 20% foreign material, the color and appearance of the stone is rarely uniform and does not have the appearance of a crystal quartz stone, although clear crystal-like inclusions are visible in different varieties of the stone. Could it be that the jasper of Revelation was <em>pure</em> crystal, with no impurities to cloud it or add color? I'm not a geologist, so I could be way off base, but the description in Revelation 21 seems to support that idea.<br /><br />And why is all this important to us now and how do we apply it to our lives? Well, I suppose the answer to that question is that it is <em>not</em> terribly important to us right now. I just got off on a tangent and spent many more hours researching it than it deserved in light of all the other far more important issues we find in the book of Revelations. The Lord gave us this description of the New Jerusalem, however, so that we believers might have something to look forward to and to show us how much He loves us and is planning only the best for us both now and when He calls us home. This journey here on earth is hard sometimes, but no matter how poor we feel sometimes, or how tired or discouraged, we have all the riches and beauty of God to look forward to in the end. The journey is will be worth it all when we reach our destination!<br /><br />I remember the pastor I grew up with would often say that we ought not to be so heavenly-minded that we were no earthly good. I understand what he was saying, and yet what a joy it is to think every now and then on all the glories of Heaven and what the Lord is preparing for His children! He wants us to live with Him for all eternity! He wants to reunite us with our loved ones and to have us share in fellowship and worship with <em>all</em> our brothers and sisters from every tribe and nation and age of this world! What a family reunion that will be! He wants to motivate us to work to bring others with us to Heaven. And for the believer, He wants us to understand that there is no fear in death. We have glory and peace and joy to look forward to someday. <em>Hallelujah and Amen!<br /></em></div></div></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-87465593672090738892010-08-08T12:36:00.004-05:002010-08-09T08:36:27.090-05:00ONE BEAD, ONE DAY AT A TIME<div align="justify">I’ve taken up a new hobby. When I will find the time to work on it, I don’t know, but I was inspired recently to try to learn how to make jewelry. Perhaps it was when I went to a jewelry party at my sister’s a couple months ago. I loved the pieces that were made of natural stone – so smooth and shiny and colorful. They were far too expensive for me, though. Or maybe my inspiration came from the “hippie market” in Cuenca, Ecuador when I was down there several months ago. There are no hippies there. I don’t know how it got its name, but Indians sit there and make jewelry all day and sell it from their booths in an open market. That jewelry was very inexpensive. I especially loved the pieces made from shells and again the natural stones, while my daughter Laurie preferred the pieces made from coffee beans, seeds and the like because of their uniqueness.<br /><br />Anyway, I took it into my head that I wanted to try to make some jewelry, so finally when we went down to Julie’s in July we went to Hobby Lobby and I stood for an hour in the bead aisles trying to figure out which tools I needed and which beads I wanted to start with and what exactly I was going to try to make. I didn’t have a clue. Another lady approached me and just as I was about to ask her for some advice, she asked <em>me</em> for help! She didn’t have a clue, either! I didn’t want to spend very much until I knew what I was doing, and if I would stick with it, so when I found some pretty beads on clearance, a few tools at half-price, and some free leaflets with instructions and ideas, I finally made up my mind, made my purchases and took it all back to Julie’s.<br /><br />That first night I made a bracelet in five minutes. I felt like a kindergartner stringing the simple beads on a piece of elasticized plastic cord. I even had to have Bob tie the knot for me. Then <em>he</em> got inspired and made a matching bracelet for little Hannah with the leftover beads. We proudly went off to church that night wearing our matching bracelets.<br /><br />I didn’t have another opportunity then to try my hand again with it until yesterday. When we got back from Julie’s I had a lot of catching up to do, a lot of writing, and a big project for our church’s fiftieth anniversary to work on. Finally, last night when the project was finished, I’d been sitting under my computer for weeks and I just needed to do something that didn’t take a lot of concentration (other than housework!) I decided to get out my beads and tiny pliers and wire cutters and cord and try again.<br /><br />This time I got more creative and took a little more time stringing the beads in pretty patterns. The first one I made was of natural turquoise stones, some flat and round, and some in irregular shapes, with tiny clear glass bead accents. It turned out beautiful and I was so thrilled! It was exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to make. The next three were pretty, too, and were designed to be worn separately or together as they were made in a variety of patterns but with some of the same beads and in the same general color scheme. Bob tied the knots the first couple times for me, but finally I learned to do that for myself, too, so I think I progressed from kindergarten to perhaps third grade in just one night! Whoo-hoo!<br /><br />I am planning to move on to making earrings and necklaces and even watches, but just making simple little bracelets on stretchy cord brought me a lot of pleasure last night. There is something about designing a pattern with all those shiny and colorful beads and stones and then carrying it through one by one until the project is complete that is very relaxing, and then when you have something of beauty in the end—well, it satisfied my creative soul.<br /><br />I discovered as I was working, though, that sometimes it was a little trickier than it first appeared. There were times when I made a mistake and had to take the beads off the cord until I came to the mistake and could fix it. Other times I had to basically start over in order to change the pattern a bit to adjust for size. Once, I was totally finished and had even tied the knot, and then decided I wasn’t satisfied with some of the stones I’d used. I cut the cord and started over again with different stones. In the end, I was so glad I did!<br /><br />I thought about that later and thought how like our days that sometimes is! We wake up in the morning with a plan all set as to how that day is going to go. We have a schedule to keep, our daily routine, some special event to attend or we plan to work on some special project. Our pattern is set in our minds. Bead…bead…bead…<strong><em><span style="color:#990000;">special bead</span></em></strong>…bead…bead…bead… And then something happens. Something unexpected. Someone with a need. A mini-crisis. An argument with your husband. You’re running late. All of a sudden that pretty plan you had in mind is out the window.<br /><br />Julie had a week like that this week. She had planned to start homeschool—a little early, but she wanted to get a head start since she knew down the road there would be some times when they would want to take off, like when David comes home from Iraq and when they come up here for a visit. Every day, though, something came up that prevented her from moving ahead with her plans. Each time they were opportunities to minister to someone.<br /><br /><em>“Please,</em> could you watch our children for a few hours so my husband and I can go out on a date? We need it so badly and we can’t afford a babysitter.” This from the mom of the worse little terrors in the church.<br /><em><br />“Please,</em> could you watch our son every day this week? He’s having problems with bullies at his daycare and there’s only one week left before school starts and he doesn’t want to go back.” Turns out he was the bully!<br /><br />“Could I come over today with my children?” from a young unsaved mom on one of the worse days with the young bully she was watching.<br /><br />“My little girl is home from the hospital now, so you can come over with that balloon you mentioned. Oh, and why don’t you bring dinner with you, too, and we’ll eat together?” from another unsaved mom. Big surprise to Julie about making dinner for everyone – again on a day with the little bully.<br /><br />Every day was a challenge, and she never could get to even the preparation for the start of homeschool, but the Lord had a plan for her week and in the end she was so glad she was open to that plan.<br /><br />The little terrors from church were sweet and good for Julie and they had a good time with them. And Julie was able to do something nice for a mom who was often a little difficult to be around.<br /><br />The little bully? On the last day he came through the door with a heartfelt apology to Julie and to Joshua, whom he had picked on all week, and he did his best all day to be on his best behavior. As he was leaving that evening, he said to Joshua, “Sorry again I was a butthead to you, Joshua.” The best thing, though, was that despite the problems they were having, Julie was able to show him and his parents, who were new Christians, genuine love and forgiveness and patience.<br /><br />Julie had only met the young unsaved mother a couple weeks before at swimming lessons, but she had been praying for her and asking the Lord for some way to witness to her even after swimming lessons had ended. To her amazement, the first words out of the girl’s mouth when she came over were, “I was wondering if you could tell me how I could know for sure if I was going to heaven?” Praise the Lord! Julie was all prepared, too, to talk with her and to give her a tract about salvation and a list of verses she had written out for another lady she was witnessing to. The young mother has not made a decision yet, as far as we know, but she keeps calling Julie every day wanting to talk.<br /><br />The other lady Julie had written the verses for was the lady who had called her and asked her to bring dinner over. She lives just two minutes away, and amazingly, her husband’s room in Iraq is right next door to David’s! Julie had only gotten to know her recently and had had one or two opportunities to witness to her. It was inconvenient that day to make dinner and take it over, but the door is wide open to the hearts of that mom and her kids as the friendship has been strengthened and Julie has ministered to them.<br /><br />By Saturday, though, Julie and the kids were frazzled and she pleaded with the Lord, <em>“Please, could we have a little rest today?”</em> She told me later, though, that as the day went on the Lord began to convict her until she went back and said, <em>“Okay, Lord, however you want my days to be, let me always set aside my own plans and be open to what You have planned.”<br /><br /></em>The Lord has our days numbered and our steps ordered. Psalm 37:18, 23 says, <em>”The LORD knoweth the days of the upright… The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”</em> He will lead us step by step, day by day in the way He wants us to go when we are open to his leading and obedient in following. Psalm 25:4 says, <em>“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”</em> When we are obedient in following the path He has for us Psalm 16:11 says, <em>“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”<br /><br /></em>I would much rather have the Lord set the pattern for my life than try to do it myself. I make mistakes. I don’t always get it right. The things I would choose are not always the best or the brightest or the prettiest. I can only make those bracelets or necklaces one bead at a time. So God patterns my life one day at a time. And when He orders my steps and sets the days of my life according to His plan, it turns into a pattern of beauty and glory to Him. <em>Obedience… ministry… faithfulness… <strong><span style="color:#990000;">blessing</span></strong>… patience… love… kindness… <strong><span style="color:#990000;">joy</span></strong>… praise… worship… prayer… <strong><span style="color:#990000;">peace…<br /></span></strong></em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-30032152087127726882010-08-01T10:41:00.002-05:002010-08-01T10:51:37.182-05:00FOUR DECADES…AND COUNTING!<div align="justify">Bob and I reached a real milestone today—<em>our 40th wedding anniversary!</em> I have to admit—I am very excited about this one, and proud of it, too! Not that we deserve all the credit, of course. It is the Lord who brought us through four decades of “for better or for worse” and despite our immaturity, hard-headedness and sinful natures at times, gave us the love, faithfulness, respect and forgiveness that it took to be able to live together as man and wife all this time. <br /><br />We thank and praise Him for giving us to each other and for helping us through these last forty years. He gave me a man who has the just the right qualities in him that I need in a husband. Bob is dependable, faithful, generous and good, and my biggest supporter. He makes me laugh! He is the best father to my children that a man could be. I have in me the qualities that he needs in his helpmate, as well—a listener and encourager, a soft place to land when he comes home, a helper and someone who loves and understands him. We thank Him for helping us to grow in love for one another.<br /><br />We thank and praise Him for the beautiful family that He has given us, as well, and that our home and family have been solidly planted on Him. Our children and their spouses know and love the Lord and are serving Him. Our grandchildren, so far as they have grown old enough to understand, have each accepted Jesus as their Savior and love Him. What could be better than that? Our family has been blessed with the precious gift of Robbie and the Lord has used him, as well, to mold us all into the people He wants us to be.<br /><br />We thank Him for the joy and laughter that have echoed through the walls of our home, and for peace and comfort when our hearts were breaking. We thank Him for carrying us through the floods and fire of testing and trials, and for refining us and helping us to mature in Him. We thank Him for providing for us, for protecting and leading and blessing us all these years. There have been difficult times but He has always, <em>always</em> been there for us. Yes, God has been good to us these last forty years, and I look forward to whatever He has for us during the next however many years He gives us together!<br /><br />Laurie’s family called this morning to wish us a happy anniversary. I told them how excited we were to reach our fortieth and I mentioned that my grandparents had only celebrated their forty-sixth anniversary before the Lord called Grandpa home. I said, you never know—we might not reach our fiftieth, either, so I am really rejoicing in this milestone. Melissa piped up, “Oh, you’ll reach your fiftieth, Grandma!” and Katie added, “You might even reach your sixtieth!” I laughed. “I don’t know, Katie! Sixty years married to one man? I don’t know if I can take it!” (Just kidding, of course!) <br /><br />As much as I love Bob, though, I am glad there is only <em>one</em> of him! I’ve been reading about Solomon this week, and I have to tell you, I simply do not understand how the man who was blessed by God to be the <em>wisest</em> of all men could have had 700 wives and 300 concubines!!! <em>“So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart… And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father…And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father…And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.” </em> (I Kings 10:23-24; 11:3-4, 6, 9-10) </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Seven hundred wives??? Even for that culture, it seems a bit—shall we say—<em>excessive?</em> Yuck! And then even worse, to allow those women to influence him to turn away from the Lord to false gods—after all he had seen God do. After the Lord had actually appeared to him twice. After God had blessed him so abundantly, more than any other man on earth. It is just incomprehensible to me. What happened to his wisdom? It doesn’t even take a wise man to see and understand what God had done for him and for Israel—any dolt would have realized how God and God alone had so abundantly blessed him and been grateful. Shouldn’t a <em>wise</em> man be able to think for himself and not allow his wives to draw him away?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> <br />I simply cannot understand the extent of Solomon’s lack of wisdom and how he turned away from the Lord, but I know we have all allowed things or other people to come between us and the Lord from time to time. I may not have the great wisdom or riches of Solomon, and perhaps I have not forsaken the Lord to the same extent that he did, either, but that does not make me any better than him. Solomon’s story makes me so sad. When we allow other things to take priority in our lives it draws us away from God and obedience to Him, and He cannot bless that in our lives.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>I mentioned a number of qualities about Bob that bless me as his wife. There is another one that is perhaps the most important of all. Bob is a godly man who encourages me in my faith. I am so grateful for a Christian husband who puts the Lord first and foremost in his life. He may not have the wisdom of Solomon, but he tries his best to serve and honor and obey the Lord, and he has led me and his children to do likewise. He tries to encourage and teach us, and he sets a good example by the way he lives his life. <br /><br /><em>Thank You, Lord, for a godly husband! Thank You for forty years of marriage and for the beautiful family You have given us! We are not wise like Solomon was, but help us in our simplicity to simply love You above all else and follow you obediently all the days of our lives. May our children and grandchildren find us faithful in our love for one another and for You and may they follow behind us in love and faithfulness, as well. We love You, Lord. Thank You!<br /></em> </div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-87966762014210242892010-07-25T00:16:00.006-05:002010-07-25T23:26:43.366-05:00A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK<div align="justify"> We had a great week in Alabama! Being with Julie and her family is always a blessing. She and David, and their children, too, are kind and thoughtful and a lot of fun to be with. Their family life is centered around the Lord and how He would have them live, and it really shows in how their children are growing up. I am sure He must be pleased. <br /><br /> It is so interesting to see how their personalities are developing. Benjamin is twelve and just hitting puberty. You know—the deep ((and sometimes cracking) voice, whiskers on the upper lip, suddenly shooting up in height, and all that. What a fine young man he has become! He so reminds us of David. He’s always had his father’s genes in appearance – darker skin and hair and those heavy eyebrows – but now we see his dad’s personality all over again in him. He’s quiet and laid back, always thoughtful and willing to help, very smart and yet humble, with a love for the Lord and a godly wisdom about him that is remarkable in a child that young. <br /><br /> Hannah is a cute mixture of prissy princess and tomboy following in her brothers’ footsteps. She wants to keep up with them, but at the same time flaunts her girly ways in their faces – mostly because she knows anything frilly and frou-frou annoys Joshua to no end! What a tease! She’s only six, but is as tall as an eight-year-old so sometimes you forget that she is still a <em>little</em> girl. The challenge this week was that she desperately wanted to jump off the diving board at swimming lessons but just couldn’t quite screw up her courage enough to do it. She went in there every day absolutely determined she was going to take the plunge, and then went away disappointed in herself that she couldn’t do it. In the end though, she learned to swim and on that last day swam the entire length of the pool! And learning to swim was what it was all about, so she came away proud of herself after all! We were proud of her, too! She reminds me of Julie when she was a little girl. She could be so stubborn, but in the end that stubbornness turned into strength and determination and has been a gift in becoming the woman she is today.<br /><br /> It is Joshua’s personality, though, that makes me laugh! He is such a chip off the old block – Boppa’s (Grandpa’s) block, that is! There is no volume switch on either one of them. Joshua and Boppa are both loud, loud, LOUD! They have the same sense of humor. They both love to roughhouse. They both would love to be out hunting or fishing. Boppa taught Joshua to make coffee when he was just a little guy so now Joshua can’t wait until he can be a coffee drinker like Boppa! (He got to have little bit for his birthday and declared up and down that he loved it--that is, <em>after</em> he shook the coffee creamer bottle and spilled it all over the kitchen!) He is a hard worker like Boppa and has a kind and generous heart – with a little bit of male ego thrown in to boot. He has a strong sense of what is right and wrong and is always ready to stand up for righteousness. We call him <em>Mini-Boppa</em> and it just makes me laugh!<br /><br /> It is wonderful to watch our children and grandchildren grow and to see that “little bit of me and that little bit of you” in them. We see them carrying on the heritage they’ve been handed and it makes us proud to see that little extension of ourselves and to know that someday when we are gone, a little of us will live on in them. I made a card to send to David in Iraq a few weeks ago that had a picture of the kids on the front. I had found a photo of each of them that really showed their personalities and cropped them out and then formed a new photo with the three of them together. I put “Personality Plus!” on the front of the card with the picture and then on the inside wrote this little poem:<br /> </div><div align="center"><br />God took the best of Julie,<br />He took the best of you,<br />A little bit of Boppa,<br />Grandma and Grandpa Sanchez, too,<br />Threw in a part of me --<br />The very BEST of all of us --<br />And made the very cutest kids<br />With personality PLUS, PLUS,<br />and PLUS!<br /> </div><div align="justify"><br /> As I watched the kids this week and thought about how Benjamin is so like his dad, or Joshua is another Boppa, or Hannah takes after her mommy when she was a little girl, I couldn’t help but think how we are to be <em>so like Jesus.<br /></em><br /> We are made in His image, after all. <em>“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”</em> (Genesis 1:26a) Sin has distorted that image, but when we are redeemed we are made new creatures. We have His Spirit and our lives are transformed—transformed to be like Him. <em>“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”</em> (Romans 8:29)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /> To be like Jesus—what would that be? His life exemplified love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—all the fruit of the Spirit. He wants us to produce that fruit and be like Him. (Galatians 5:22, 23) He became a humble servant and sacrificed Himself for us. <em>“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”</em> (Philippians 2:5-8) He is holy and He wants us to be holy. <em>“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”</em> (I Peter 1:16)</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /> When others look at me, do they see <em>Jesus</em> in me? Does my life reflect Him? Do they know I am a Christian – a “little Christ”—by how I live my life? I always loved the chorus “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be seen in Me.” It goes like this:</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me--</div><div align="center">All His wonderful passion and purity.</div><div align="center">O my Savior divine, all my being refine</div><div align="center">Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span> It makes us happy when we see ourselves in our little ones. How much it must please God when He sees our lives reflecting Him!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-65351027165150276972010-07-18T02:19:00.002-05:002010-07-18T02:30:14.278-05:00WILLING AND WISE<div align="justify">We are on our way to Alabama today. <em>Whoo-Hoo!</em> I’m so excited! Joshua’s tenth birthday is Wednesday and we’re going down to help celebrate and also to give Julie a hand in some of the little jobs that need to be done around the house that David would normally do. Well, I should rephrase that—<em>Bob</em> will be doing those jobs. I’m just going down to have fun! That’s a <em>grandma’s</em> job, after all!<br /><br /> When they found out David was being deployed Joshua had come to Julie with tears in his eyes asking, “Whose birthday is Daddy going to miss while he’s gone?” He knew, of course, but I suppose he needed to talk about it. When we heard about it, we made the decision right then that, if at all possible, we would go down there for his birthday, and hopefully make it a little easier for him.<br /><br /> I’ve been preparing for the trip all week. Oh, not packing. I got that done in a few hours last night. No, I’ve been typing my fingers to <em>the bone</em> all week, trying to finish a book I’ve been working on for months. It’s the sixth in the Noble Heart series, <em>Valley of Valor</em>, and it is a birthday gift. Uh, not for Joshua, though. It is for <em>Benjamin</em> whose birthday was in February. Um, it’s a little late… <em>Joshua</em> is getting a special little card (among other gifts) with a title and cover picture on it that says his book is coming—a little late. (It’s the next Noble Heart Mystery and will be called <em>A Hero’s Heart</em>. At least I have <em>that</em> much figured out!) I still have Sara’s book to finish (half-done, due last April) and then Melissa, Gabi, Katie and Hannah have birthdays one after another through the end of the year. Oh, yes—Matthew gets his first book for Christmas, as well. <em>*Sigh*</em> <br /><br /> Can I do it? I <em>have</em> to do it! I cannot bear to disappoint any of the kids. They love Grandma’s books and eagerly look forward to the next one. What I will do when the next little Naranjo comes along, and then if Julie and David’s adoption goes through and we have Grandchildren #10, #11 and #12—oh Lord, <em>help!</em> <br /><br /> Don’t get me wrong—I absolutely <em>love</em> writing for the kids. I am not normally late like I have been this year. I have had several other large projects that took a lot of my time, but to be honest, I’ve struggled this year a bit in the two books I was working on, as well. Writer’s block? Probably. I’ve never really had a problem with it before, but I just wasn’t happy with how they were going and inspiration just would not come. Finally there was a breakthrough, though, and the words began to flow. It meant scrapping most of what I had already written in Benjamin’s book and going back all the way to the middle of the first chapter and basically starting over, but I was so glad I did for it all fell into place easily then. In the end, I was excited about how it turned out and praising the Lord for His inspiration and help.<br /><br /> And that is how I feel about what I write—that it is the Lord who gives me the inspiration and creativity to use what I write as a ministry for Him, whether it be the kids’ books, my blog, a special project at church or a simple note of encouragement. I can feel Him helping me find the right words, putting my thoughts together, giving me the message He wants me to bring. Oh, I know it is not “inspired” in the way the Word of God is miraculously and totally inspired, but I do not have a single doubt that it is He who gives me inspiration and the gifts to be able to write for Him. Never have I felt so sure that this is the ministry He has for me now.<br /><br /> I was reading in Exodus this week when a passage of Scripture jumped out at me. Exodus 35 is the story of how the Israelites followed God’s direction in putting together the tabernacle while they were in the wilderness. "<em>And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD…And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen…And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair…The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan…Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work</em>." (Exodus 35:21-22, 25-26, 29-31, 34-35) <br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> </div><div align="justify"> There were several things that made me take special notice of this passage. The first thing, obviously, was that the people gave their offerings freely and with <em>willing </em>hearts for the work of the Lord. They had been slaves in Egypt with nothing, but the Lord had instructed them to spoil their Egyptian neighbors of their gold and jewels and wealth as they left Egypt, and now they <em>willingly</em> gave back to Him the riches which God had provided. <br /><br /> The Lord also had prepared them for this work, giving them the knowledge, skills and wisdom to do the work. They worked with <em>wise </em>hearts, using the talents and skills that God had given them for His work. I loved the part where it said of Bezaleel that the Lord <em>“hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…And he hath put in his heart that he may teach…Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work…”</em> They had <em>willing</em> hearts first of all, and then He made their hearts <em>wise.<br /></em><br /> And then we see that they worked as one—united, willing and wise—and so fulfilled the work to which the Lord had called them.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br /> God will always <em>provide</em> for His work. He asks us to have willing hearts and to give from what He has provided freely and cheerfully for His work. We can give willingly by <em>faith</em> because He will provide. He will <em>prepare</em> us for the work to which He has called us, also. God gives us the talents, knowledge, skills, ability and inspiration–<em>the wise hearts</em>—to do whatever it is He wants us to do. Then He wants us to work together with united hearts to accomplish His will and His work.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span> <br /> I was praising God <em>before</em> I read this passage for the help He had given me this week in finishing my book. To read a confirmation that it is the Spirit of God indeed who gives us wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to accomplish beautiful workmanship for Him when we are willing to be used by Him was a blessing to me.</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span> <em>Lord, thank You for providing and preparing for Your work. When you call me to do something for You, I can step out in faith knowing that You will accomplish it through me if I willingly and cheerfully trust you and use that which You have already provided. I know You have called me to write, for I feel the inspiration and wisdom and words You give me, and see the skills which only You could have provided. I cannot do it without You. Thank You for allowing me this ministry which brings me so much joy. May it always be a blessing to You, Lord, as I seek to do it for Your glory and to reach others for You. May I never fear to step out and do whatever You have called me to, may I always trust that You will provide and may I always give back to You of my possessions, my talents and my life willingly and cheerfully.</em></div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-79746170291700630692010-07-11T13:16:00.002-05:002010-07-11T14:13:34.085-05:00SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!<div align="justify">I wanted so badly last weekend to write a blog called “I Know a Secret!” or better yet, since it was the Fourth of July, “Red, White and…Pink or Blue?” Yep, that’s right—(sing-song) <em>somebody’s having a baby!</em> I’m free to tell it this week (they can’t keep a secret any better than I can!)<br /><br /> You could have knocked me over with a feather! Laurie and I were talking on the phone last Saturday and discussing their plans to celebrate this most American of all holidays down there in Ecuador with Fernando’s family. They were having a cookout, complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, s’mores and apple pie among other yummy treats. We talked about favorite family recipes she’d be using— Grandma’s potato salad and apple pie, my beans, her aunts’ pretzel salad—and then she casually said, “We’re not going to get the kids any sparklers or fireworks, though. We’ll have our fireworks in February.”<br /><br /> <em>Huh?</em> “Fireworks in February?” I was confused. “What are you talking—<em>What?!</em> <em>No!</em> You’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you, Laurie? You’re <em>not</em>—you <em>are!</em> You’re pregnant!” I stammered. For a moment I was speechless. Laurie was laughing, and then I realized she had put me on speaker-phone because in the background I could hear the kids all laughing, too. “You’re having a <em>baby?”</em><br /><br /> I hardly knew what to say at first. My first thought was concern for my daughter. This was baby number <em>six,</em> and she would be forty years old when it came. I’ve always been thrilled to welcome new grandbabies into the world, but I have to admit, I get scared for my daughters when it comes time for the delivery. And how would she handle six children now with all that she has to do—especially the home-schooling? It was already stressful. These thoughts raced through my head, but within moments I set them aside and said, “Well, praise the Lord! Babies are such a blessing!”<br /><br /> “Thanks, Mom,” I heard Fernando say quietly. “Thanks for saying that.”<br /><br /> I knew what he and Laurie were thinking. There would be criticism from some folks at this news. Large families are not in style—even in Ecuador--anymore. They’re expensive. How could a missionary family afford to have so many children? Why couldn’t they be satisfied with the children they already have and just stop? <br /><br /> I must confess—I had been less than enthusiastic with the news that babies number four and five were on the way. I had quickly seen, though, that Katie and Matthew were such special, precious, wonderful little gifts and had blessed our lives immeasurably. I could not imagine the pure joy we would have missed out on if they had not been sent by God to our family. Laurie and Fernando were just as surprised as we were that God had chosen to bless them again with another child. If He saw fit to bless this world with another precious little Naranjo, then who were we to question His wisdom? He has a special plan for that life! And you have to admit—He certainly makes <em>beautiful </em>little Naranjos, inside and out!<br /><br /> This time I would not question. I’d learned my lesson. The news of a new grandbaby deserves to be met with joy and excitement—and it was. Oh, I’m still concerned for Laurie, but I have to place those fears in the Lord’s hands for He knows what He is doing. <br /><br /> Of course, I was full of questions. When did you find out? How far along are you? Have you figured out the due date? Which would you rather have—a boy or a girl? Have you thought about names yet? And then, of course, I could not resist teasing Laurie and Fernando about having a baby in their old age—just like Abraham and Sarah! “Just think, Laurie—you’ll be almost as old as I was when I became a <em>grandma!”</em> I joked. By the time we were Fernando’s age, we had <em>three</em> grandchildren!<br /><br /> She laughed. “Don’t remind me! We’ve already been calling ourselves Abraham and Sarah!”<br /><br /> It was just by coincidence (???) that I happened to read the account of Abraham and Sarah this week in my Bible-reading. I’ve been reading in Genesis and I came to chapters 17 through 21 where it recounts the story of the announcement by the Lord that He would bless them with a son, despite their old age, and make of them a great nation and nations. The passage goes on to tell of the birth of Isaac and the fulfillment of God’s promise—and their reactions to it.<br /><br /> Genesis 17:1, 5, 6, 15-17, 19; 18:12-15; 21:6 tells the story: <em>And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him…Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. …And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.<br /></em><br /> Their reactions to this unexpected announcement and the miraculous birth of their baby boy? They laughed! But there is laughter—and then there is laughter. Abraham’s reaction to the Lord’s promise to him seemed to be one of wonderment! He was ninety-nine years old, but he would father this miraculous son! The Lord Himself had made the announcement to him—how could he doubt it?<br /><br /> Sarah, on the other hand, <em>did </em>doubt. For many years it had been her all-consuming desire to have a child until finally her body had gone through menopause and she knew with a bitter finality that it was not to be. She was old. When she laughed, it was in disbelief and bitterness. Then, to make matters worse, when the Lord asked why she had laughed, she denied it. She tried to lie to the Lord—the One who knew her heart better than she did herself. He, in his forgiveness and grace, however, kept His promise and a year later Sarah bore a son, despite her age and the fact that her body was long-past the capability of conceiving a child.<br /><br /> Sarah laughed again—this time in <em>joy</em> at the birth of her little miracle son. And she named him the name that God Himself had chosen—<em>Isaac</em>—“He will laugh.”<br /><br /> Reading the story all over again reminded me that God has a purpose for each life that He brings into this world, and that the birth of a baby is a blessing and a gift from God and should be met with rejoicing and wonder and thanksgiving—and yes, laughter!<br /><br /> I was reminded also of another truth—nothing is too hard for the Lord! Sarah had become discouraged and bitter and hopeless as the years went by and her greatest desire and prayer was not granted by the Lord. She could not see that the greater miracle was about to happen, not only in the fact that she would miraculously conceive, but also in the fact that through this son, all the world would someday be blessed, for Jesus’ humanity would come through the line of Abraham and Isaac and their descendents.<br /><br /> God’s timetable is not always what we would desire. He does not always work in our lives in the way that we would choose or expect, but never doubt that He<em> is</em> at work! I must not be discouraged when time slips away and it seems that God does not hear my prayers. I should never lose hope, even when things seem impossible in my finite, human wisdom. He is still the God of miracles, and when I trust Him, He brings unexpected joy and laughter into my life! Is anything too hard for the Lord?<br /><br /> I was sharing these thoughts with my other daughter Julie later that day. As I recognized the discouragement and hopelessness in Sarah over the years as she had begged God for a child, I could not help think of Julie and David’s long journey on the road to adoption. It was easy to get discouraged. At times it seemed hopeless—that it was never going to really happen. I wanted to encourage her. “Look at Sarah! After her despair and hopelessness, God worked a miracle and brought joy and laughter! <em>“Is anything too hard for the Lord?”<br /></em><br /> “Mom, I read the exact same message this morning in my devotions! ” she exclaimed That must be our word from the Lord today—is anything too hard for God?</div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span> They are good words to remember. When things seem hopeless; when the desires of our hearts seem to go unfulfilled; when the years have slipped by and it does not seem that God hears or cares—He is working in our lives. The miracle may yet come—but if it does not, He can <em>change</em> the desires of our heart to be in line with His will. Be open to His timing and working in your life. Regardless of how He works, you just may be surprised with unexpected joy and laughter!</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859060079092814484.post-18082177220039532172010-07-04T14:16:00.003-05:002010-07-04T14:36:07.269-05:00LIBERTY FOR YOU AND ME<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR_Abd-pUbGGwywEeAf54QBgpScWmtj_5pkE-Jk-G-qbjLBBljV7YnFb_HIgHJXDQWmMmsbN3MuEUfEbSCfsljHYH5jHgHbBZ1wwANepyjy-Z4CW3iySyPJQUTXby2vnWuwAI33B7gjLY/s1600/statue_of_liberty.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490137102316283842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR_Abd-pUbGGwywEeAf54QBgpScWmtj_5pkE-Jk-G-qbjLBBljV7YnFb_HIgHJXDQWmMmsbN3MuEUfEbSCfsljHYH5jHgHbBZ1wwANepyjy-Z4CW3iySyPJQUTXby2vnWuwAI33B7gjLY/s200/statue_of_liberty.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I spent several hours this week working on a Powerpoint presentation for our pastor’s message today. In keeping with the Fourth of July, he is speaking on “The Greatest Freedom of All.” He wanted a patriotic picture for the title slide. I searched for something that would be appropriate and came upon one that was both impressive and, more importantly, conveyed the message celebrating freedom. The picture was a close-up of the Statue of Liberty, with fireworks behind her lighting the night sky. As I looked at his outline, and worked on the Powerpoint, I couldn’t help thinking of a song I first heard thirty years ago, and wishing someone could sing it in conjunction with his message. Perhaps you remember it:<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><strong>Statue of Liberty</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><br />In New York Harbor stands a lady </div><br /><div align="center">With a torch raised to the sky;</div><br /><div align="center">And all who see her know she stands for</div><br /><div align="center">Liberty for you and me</div><br /><div align="center">.<br />I’m so proud to be an American,</div><br /><div align="center">To be named with the brave and the free.</div><br /><div align="center">I will honor the flag and our trust in God,</div><br /><div align="center">And the Statue of Liberty.</div><br /><div align="center"><br />On lonely Golgotha stood a cross,</div><br /><div align="center">With my Lord raised to the sky;</div><br /><div align="center">And all who kneel there live forever,</div><br /><div align="center">As all the saved can testify.</div><br /><div align="center"><br />I’m so glad to be called a Christian,</div><br /><div align="center">To be named with the ransomed and whole.</div><br /><div align="center">As the Statue liberates the citizen,</div><br /><div align="center">So the Cross liberates the soul.</div><br /><div align="center"><br />Oh, the Cross is my Statue of Liberty,</div><br /><div align="center">It was there that my soul was set free.</div><br /><div align="center">Unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged cross</div><br /><div align="center">Is my Statue of Liberty.</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">© Words & Music by Neil Enloe</span><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><em>Proud to be called an American.</em> In this house we are Red, White and True Patriots – <em>yes, sir!</em> Our flag flies every day from spring until winter. Americana t-shirts are the favorite everyday garb for Bob and Robbie. The political talking heads are on our television most nights, and Bob loves to talk politics. To this day, although he knows his steps were ordered by the Lord in a different direction, he still talks about how he would have loved to have gone into the military.</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />He received a gift on Father’s Day from Julie and David that was right up his alley and will always be something very special to him. David sent him an American flag from Iraq that was flown over one of Sadaam Hussein’s palaces in Baghdad. Wow – you couldn’t have pleased Bob more!</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>We love our country, our flag, our great American pioneer heritage. We’re proud of our motto “In God We Trust;” proud to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; proud whenever we sing <em>The Star-Spangled Banner.</em> We still think we live in the greatest country in the world – or in the <em>history</em> of the world. Americans are the most generous people in the world and the most willing to defend and help those in need. We are thankful for all with which God has blessed us in this country – for our freedoms, and our opportunities, our prosperity and our beautiful land.</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Our hearts are heavy when we see some of our cherished values and freedoms being eroded away and the path our country is on leading away from the traditional truths of our past and the godly principles upon which our nation was founded. We are saddened when we see the moral fiber of our people wearing thin. We are sickened at the horrible destruction in the Gulf, one of our country’s most beautiful resources. We pray daily for our land and its healing – spiritually, politically and physically.</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />Yes, we are proud to be citizens of the United States of America. Our son-in-law Fernando became a citizen of this country a couple years ago, and he and all of his children hold dual citizenship in both the US and Ecuador. I, too, hold dual citizenship. As much as I hold dear my US Passport that proclaims to all the world that I am a US citizen, with all the authority, rights and protection of the US government behind me, I treasure my <em>other </em>citizenship far more.</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*</span><br />The Bible tells us that as followers of Christ our citizenship is in Heaven. Philippians 3:20 says, <em>“For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”</em> I am proud to be called an American. I am prouder still to bear His name – a Christian. As an American I love our motto “In God We Trust.” As a Christian I live by the motto, “In God I Trust.” I proudly say the Pledge. I am humbly grateful for His Promises. I love to sing <em>The Star-Spangled Banner.</em> It brings tears to my eyes to sing <em>The Old Rugged Cross.</em> We thrill to all the beauty of our land’s natural resources and bounty. We cannot even begin to imagine the beauty of our Heavenly homeland someday. We honor those who have shed their blood to insure the freedoms of our country. We love and serve and worship the One who shed His blood for our freedom from the power and penalty of sin.</div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">*<br /></span>In New York harbor stands the symbol of our freedom – the Statue of Liberty. On Golgatha’s hill stood a cross that symbolizes true and eternal freedom. May we always be proud and grateful to wear the name <em>American,</em> which was bought with a price so dear. And may we who bear His name – <em>Christian</em> – be ever thankful, ever unashamed, ever bold and strong to stand proudly for the cross and the Savior who paid the most precious, sacrificial price of all, His blood, for our salvation.</div>Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382192845179403885noreply@blogger.com0