Longing

It started as a bump and commotion from the dining room window.  Our cat had tried to go through the window after something.  I got up to check on her and she was intently watching the small wood pile on the patio.  She was transfixed.  "Uh-oh," I thought.

So, my son and I let her out the back door and over to the pile she scampers.  She sniffs delicately around and around.  She knows something is in there.  My mind was racing.  "I hope it's not a snake.  I don't think I'd like that much," ran swiftly across my brain.  Then, I saw it - a little bitty mouse.  Relief flooded my muscles.

We moved the wood back and forth until she saw and pounced.  Our fat, nine-year old cat caught that mouse.  And, dropped it.  It took off!  (DUH!)  We rousted it out from under the wheel barrow and she was on top of it again.  She caught it, threw it, and caught it again.  Our cat was having a moment.  Finally, the poor mouse was dead and she finished her tiny meal.

Today, I find myself longing for the day when the cat and mouse will have a salad together.  I grieve over the effects that our sin has on this natural world.  My cat wasn't created to eat mice.  She was created for the honor and glory of the Creator.  How do I know this?  "...All things were created by Him and for Him."  (Col. 1:16)  Does the Bible tell me that the cat and mouse will have a salad together?  Not in those words.  Isaiah prophesied of the time when the leopard will sleep with the baby goat and lions will eat hay.  (11:6, 65:25) This coming time of peace has no hurt or destruction.  YEA!  Oh, that's what I'm longing for!!!

(Father God, how marvelous are your works!  How awesome are your ways!  How high are your thoughts!  I praise you!  I praise your name.  Thank you for the promise of coming peace.  Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!  This I pray in your holy name, Amen.)

It's Spring!

Yes!  I love when the weather starts warming.  It gives me new life and energy.  I am not motivated by the cold. Okay, maybe the cold motivates me to fill up on peanut caramel clusters and hibernate in a warm cave.  But, that's about it.

I've been trying to start garden plants indoors this year.  In some ways, I'm having great success but now I'm hitting a rough patch.  My tomatoes and peppers all sprouted and got their first set of true leaves.  I moved them to a bigger pot and now they are beginning to fail.  I so want this garden to succeed so that I can help my family cut down on the grocery bill this year.  I also want to be able to share with others the fresh bounty that God provides.

I've been reminded (AGAIN) that it's not about me.  So, I'm leaving my garden to God's direction.  He will provide the bounty and move me to do with it as He desires.  I trust Him.

(Father God, thank you for the reminder of all the times you've provided in the past and how that I can simply recall those times to know that you will provide today.  It's been a joy to see what you've done so far and I can't wait to see what comes next!  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Who is Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago, our Sunday School Teacher challenged us to think and consider, "Who is Jesus to you?"  Now, I attend a Ladies Class at our conventional church.  I love this bunch of ladies.  We pray for each other.  We check on each other.  We send a card or two (hundred).  The thing that most impresses me about these ladies is that they are a very discreet bunch.  The heartfelt burdens that come to our class stay in our class.  We DON'T discuss them with others outside our class.  I realize this is a huge blessing.  I pray that God protects it as only He can.

But, to get back to our topic, "Who is Jesus to you?"  At first, I just figured I'd tell my story like anyone else but then it became clear that I needed to write it down.  It's a part of my testimony.

Who is Jesus to me?  He is my saviour.  He was this before He was anything else to me.  He is my faith.  He is my creator.  He is my salvation.  He is my judge.  He is my conviction.  He is my conscience.  He is my shelter.  He is my guide.  He is my friend.  He is my lover.  He is my husband.  He is my peace.  He is my strength.  He is my sword.  He is my shield.  He is my knowledge.  He is my stableness.  He is my joy.  He is my grace.  He is my mercy.  He is my strong tower.  He is my source.  He is my God.  He is my everything.  He is my hope.

Take note...  HE IS because HE IS the great I AM.

You see, when God talks to me He says, "I AM your Saviour."  "I AM your Creator."  "I AM your Salvation."  "I AM your Judge."  "I AM your Strength."  "I AM your Joy."  "I AM your God."  "I AM your Hope." And, so on.  When I dwell on what God is to me, there is no room for confusion.  There is no room for doubt.  There is no room for the ungodly, vile, fleshly me.  What a wondrous and joyful place to be.  So, who is Jesus to you?

(Father God, thank you.  I praise you that you are.  I thank you that you've made yourself known, not just to me but to everyone.  I thank you for the faith that provided me the light to see you.  How awesome that you are right now.  I sing with the four beasts, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."  I praise you in the name of Jesus, Amen.)

The Real Me (Part Two - My BIRTHDAY!)

I am a child of the King.  I have been adopted by the Most High. I am loved. I am blessed.   I am protected.  I am forgiven.  I have peace.  I have joy.  I have patience.  I have faith.  I have self-control.  I think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely.  I dwell in the shadow of His wings.  I know mercy.  I know grace.  (Read Gal 5:22, Phil 4:8, Eph 2:8-9, and the Psalms.)

This is the REAL me. My spiritual birthday came 10 years and 5 months after my physical one.  Most of my life has been a battle when the flesh would win. I wasn't properly equipped for war.  But one day nearly a decade ago, that started to change.  I began to see more victories.  I began to plug into the Power.  I dumped my fleshly weaponry and started using God's.  I truly rested in His sovereign care and I've been there ever since.

Oh, I still fight battles.  I still have much to learn about leaning on God.  But He is victorious.

(Father God, thank you for the day I accepted Christ as my Saviour.  Thank you for the day that I rested fully in you.  Thank you for providing your Spirit so freely.  Keep this part of me ever in front of the other part of me.  I look forward to the day you call us to your side either by death or by trumpet.  Make straight my paths.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.)

The Real Me (Part One - It's My Birthday!)

I have lied.  I have stolen.  I have yearned for things so earnestly that it consumed my every thought.  I have profaned the sabbath.  I have failed to obey and honor my parents both as a child and an adult.  I have accused my neighbor of untrue things.  I have used the name of God with irreverence and as profanity.  I have served myself as superior and sought other gods before Him.  I have committed adultery.  Out of ten simple rules, I have broken all but one at some point or another.  (Read Exodus 20: 1-17)

This is the fleshly me.  This is the one that was physically born today multiple decades ago.  (I'll spare you the exact details of how long ago it was.)  I know my heart is deceitful.  I know it will lie to me.  I know.  I know it leads to all those things listed above. It even tries to convince me that I'm a good person, that I don't need anything.

However, there's another part of me that knows there is a Creator.  There is Someone who loves me and desires to be with me.  There is Someone who cares when I do things that harm me.  There is Someone who wants only the best for me and He knows what the best is because He designed me.  We all know this.

(Father God, I know you are here.  I pray you will lead according to your purpose and will.  Thank you.  In Jesus Name I pray, amen.)

Reflections

On this final day of 2010, I've not felt compelled to think back over the year.  I've not wanted to dwell on the ups an downs.  Instead I sit here doing my normal thing.  I'm here in the present.  I read the blogs on my list and wish that more were updated today.  I smile at the cat curled comfortably next to my husband's Bible on the couch.  I am again thankful to be in this place at this time.

I consider my friend, Ashley, and am grateful for her parents and their dedication to choose life.  Choosing life is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  I consider another family waiting and working patiently for their Ukrainian child.  Their desire to care for an orphan is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  My heart grows heavy when I consider my friend, Jan.  Cancer has invaded her life aggressively.  Yet, she has chosen to live with her daughter and redeem this time to the best that she can.  What a lesson for me to learn!  Sounds a bit like another reflection of God, doesn't it?  My son is defending his faith against an atheist.  Their conversation challenges me to grow more intimate with my LORD.  It requires me to see the reflection of God in His Word.

I know I can't change the past.  It has happened.  I will be exposed to the consequences of it.  And, I can fully trust God for all I need in the present.  I am so thankful to be surrounded by reflections and remembrances and realities of my God.  Awesome!

(Father God, thank you for your great and mighty presence in my life.  Thank you that you surround me with reflections of yourself in so many places.   What a joy!  Father, I pray that as this calendar year closes you will be a welcome, comforting, sustaining presence to Ashley, Angela, Jan, and us.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Straddling a Fence

Are you on the fence?  Are you lukewarm?  Do you try to stand in the place of neutrality?  Do you find yourself saying, "I'm not real sure how I feel about that.  I don't know if I'm for or against it?"

God tells us in plain language that we are either for Him or against Him.  We either believe in Him or we don't (John 3:18).  He also tells us how He feels about lukewarm Christians sitting on a fence (Revelation 3:16).

Ultimately, it does not really matter if you are for or against something (abortion, lying, adultery, etc.).  Your job is to find out where God stands on the issue.  If God hates divorce and you love God, you hate divorce.  My own personal experience is filled with things that God hates.  It makes me want to cry.  But God is faithful to forgive.  (Thank You, Lord God.)  He is faithful to use those that love Him for His purpose.  He is faithful to heal.  He is wonderful.  He is the everlasting God.  Daily we are called to take up our cross, bring our flesh under control, love the things that God loves and hate the sin that God hates.  We are not to be bench warmers on the fence.  If God hates divorce, do everything you can to keep it from your marriage.  If you must divorce, remember that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son that You might have everlasting life.  Seek God's forgiveness.  Then, do everything you can to keep divorce away from this point forward.  But, don't waver in the middle.  That is just sickening.  Be hot or cold about homosexuality, idolatry, covetousness, etc.  Just don't ride the fence.

(Father God, help me to always recognize and stand on your side.  And, when I fail, Father, please forgive me.  Thank you for making your position clear through your Word.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)