BRIDGE OUT

The sign is big and very easy to see.  BRIDGE OUT.  And yet, car after car goes around the sign ….. a car pulling a boat goes around the sign ….. a semi goes around the sign ….. a pickup pulling a camper goes around the sign ….. then ….. they all turn around or back up.  My gosh.  The bridge is really out.

We have all done that.  We have gone around the road closed sign because we know there will be a side road we can get on.   Not this time.  No side road and they mean bridge out. 

THE LAST TOMATO

Hubby likes to garden and his garden is much, much smaller than usual.  Today, he gave me three tomatoes and said, “That is the last of the tomatoes.”  I don’t like those words.  Green peppers.  Red tomatoes.  Sweet corn.  Always sad when the fresh vegetables end.  Our last hope is turnips.  

The end of the garden.  It looks so … so empty.  

HARVEST AND FALLING LEAVES

Around here, soybean harvest has started.  When harvest starts, the landscape changes.  Then comes corn harvest.  The landscape really changes then.  No tall corn to block your view.

And those falling leaves?  The leaves are turning to red and yellow and brown.  It looks like it will be a pretty fall, but falling leaves means leaves on the front porch and the patio.  

SUMMER TO FALL

I love fall.  It is cooler and the leaves are pretty and the outdoor furniture needs to be stored for the winter.  The flowers need a final trimming.  And the ice cream freezer did not get used.

But the hamburger on the grill tastes extra good and the memory, of a cup of coffee, on a chilly morning, while wearing warm pjs and watching the sun come up, will last all winter.

NOT THE NORMAL BLOG

Have you realized this is not the normal blog?  Sorry but I had no idea what to write this week.  Then it hit me.  How often do we overlook something fun like watching cars turn around or the gift of the last tomato or how our world changes when harvest opens up our view or the leaves crunching under our feet or the season changes or a cup of coffee starts our morning.  Way too often we forget that life is made up of everyday happenings.  The normal things.  The small, routine things.  

Now what?  Look around.  What normal thing has been a blessing this week?  Was it a smile?  Was it having all the laundry done at once?  Was it making it through your morning routine without interruption? 

Celebrate each day and give thanks for the normal things.  

I belong to a Memoir Writing group and our topic was A FAVORITE QUOTE.  I had also written my blog, STATISTICS.  I thought, “These sorta go together.”  This week you have two writings for the price of one.

Memoir Writing:  A FAVORITE QUOTE

ONE DROP OF INK

A DROP OF INK MAY MAKE A MILLION THINK.

George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron), English poet (1788-1824)

These words made my imagination take off.  Vision after vision popped into my head.

One drop of ink.  Another drop of ink. ……………….

And on and on, until each signer picked up the pen and signed their name.  The Declaration of Independence was written.

A sharp.  A cleft.  A whole.  A half.  A quarter.  Each note working with the note before it and the note after it.  Handel’s Messiah was written.

The sound of jazz and an album needing an illustration caused David Stone Martin to put pen and ink to work.  His art decorated more than 100 album covers.

What started as a drop of ink on a napkin became, overall, the best-selling book series.  The Harry Potter series has sold more than 500 million books worldwide.

Sign and date require a drop of ink.  And, just like that, millions of people are married. They become licensed drivers.  They can have a credit card.  They are dismissed from the hospital.  And they sign papers that they wish would not require their signature. 

Times change.  Today, an almost seventy-nine-year-old, gray-haired woman, in a small rural town, puts fingers to a keyboard and, without one drop of ink, wishes she made a million people think. 

 STATISTICS

I write because I feel the need to put words on paper.  When I started the blog, I said that if my words helped one person, it was worth the effort.  For a long time, I did not check the statistics.  I didn’t want the number of people reading or not reading to influence my writing.  BUT, occasionally, I do check.  I am often amazed and honored by the number of people who view my blog.  During the last 30 days, my blog was viewed 2,420 times.

What really amazes me is where the readers are located.  During the last 30 days, the blog was viewed 2,700 times in the USA, 846 times in Hong Kong, and 595 times in Singapore.  These are all countries you have heard of.  When I went to the bottom of the list, one person from Naura had read my blog.  Naura?  Never fear, Google to the rescue.  Naura is a small island in the southeastern Micronesia, 25 miles south of the Equator.  By land mass, it is the third smallest country in the world.  They can collect rainwater, but, there are no streams, so they have to import water.

How did this one person find my blog?  Were they bored and spent time scrolling?  Did it appear in their feed? (To the one person, from Naura, who reads my blog, how did you find it?  Thank you for reading it.)

Google also said that four-fifths, of the islanders, are Christian.  How did they find out about Jesus? 

(Paul speaking) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Four-fifths of the people are Christian.  Who was their “Paul”?  Who found this tiny island, stepped off the boat, and said, “I want to tell you that God loves you.  I want to tell you about his Son dying on the Cross so your sins are forgiven.  I want to tell you about grace and mercy and joy.” 

Who was your Paul?  Who told you about the sacrifice Jesus made?

 

AN ILLUSION

A long time ago, the entertainment, at a Christmas party, was a magician.  I enjoy magicians because I want to know, “How did you do that?”  I was enjoying the show.  Then he pointed at me.

“I want you to catch this new deck of imaginary cards,” he said.  With that, he threw the deck straight at me.  Of course, I caught it.  “Please take the cards out of the box.”  I did as instructed.  Since it was a new deck, I first took the wrapping off.  Made a big deal about that.  I put the wrapper on the table and tried to open the box.  Had a bit of trouble with the protective tab, but I finally got that peeled back and the cards out of the box.

“Hold up the deck for everyone to see.”  I held it high.  “Now, pick one card.”  I did.  “Show the card to the audience.”  I held the card up and turned it so everyone could see it.  “Now put the card back in the deck and put the deck back in the box.”  I made a really big deal of putting the imaginary cards back into the imaginary box.  I even secured the box with the tab.  “Please toss the deck to me.”  I did.

The magician put the imaginary cards into his pocket and picked up a deck of real cards.  He then asked me some questions.  “Have you and I met?”  No.  “Have I even talked to you before the show?”  No.  “Did you throw back the same deck that I threw to you?”  Yes.

He then took the real cards out of the box and said, “You are the only person who knows what card you picked.  Would you tell us what that card is?”  As I was getting ready to tell him the card, he took a card out of the deck.  I answered, “2 of Diamonds.”  He then turned the card around: a 2 of diamonds.

HOW DID HE DO THAT?  I have no idea.  Maybe, when I showed the card for all to see, he had a way of seeing through the back of the invisible card.  Magic?  An illusion?

Ohhhhhh, Satan is the master of magic and illusion.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

 

Genesis 3:1

Satan deceives today and still uses the question, “Did God really say ….” He will turn words around to make sin seem normal.  Acceptable.  And, just like Eve, we listen.  Then we sin.

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

 

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

 

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:11-13

Also, like Eve, we try to blame others or make excuses:

• Everyone is doing it, so it must be okay.
• It is a small thing.  It didn’t hurt anyone.
• God will forgive me.  I might as well have fun.
• The minister had said, if I pray hard, everything I want will come to me.  Why did I not get the job?  Or win the Powerball?  Or be healed?

Satan will deceive you and he will use whatever illusion works.  Be prepared.  Stand on the Word.  Hold ministers and teachers accountable.  Practice saying, “NO!”

 

  

 OUR WALK

I have thought long and hard on how to end this series, which I hope helped you “see” the people in the Bible.  People who were real, who were searching for answers, and each had a walk to take.

Mary’s path was hard.  She knew her son was not hers alone.  She knew he would take a walk that she could not take with him.  She shed tears.

Jesus’ walk ….  How do you even begin to think about Jesus’ walk? He walked as a humble servant of his Heavenly Father.  He walked with determination and purpose.  He walked with love to tell the Good News.

And the crowds.  The crowds walked to find him.  To hear him.  To find eternal life.

When is something right also wrong?  There was no shame in the steps of those who followed the law.  What did they have to feel shameful for? They could have thrown the rock.  They can charge fees.  It is legal and there is nothing shameful about their work.  Or so they thought.

Some walks are not honest or even borderline honest.  Those walks are evil and taken in the dark, in the shadows, or on the edge of the crowds.  Satan sets the hook and reels in those that walk in the shadows.  He will help them justify their actions.

Once again, we saw Jesus walking.  Walking to a place of quiet.  A place to pray.

BUT what about our walk? Years from now, if someone is sitting at their desk, reading an article about a portion of your life or reading your whole life story, how would they describe you?

My life?  My story?  I am sure it would begin:  A baby was born, in a small town, with eyes that see beyond the words on a page, ears that hear the stories of others, a nose that could sneeze with abandon, hands that wrote a blog to help her understand life, and a mouth that never knew when to shut up.  I put that last in to see if you were still reading.

Now for the real description.  How would I be described?  I have no idea!  It is hard to look at yourself realistically.  My story would have times I was walking toward Jesus and times I was hanging around the edges.  Not because I wanted to do evil or because Satan had his hook in me, but because I wasn’t sure where I fit in.  There are times when I thought what I was doing was perfectly fine.  As my faith grew, I realized legal/perfectly fine might just not be the right answer on judgment day.

And my walk continues.  

And your walk continues.

JESUS WALKS TO A QUIET PLACE

Walking, preaching, healing, resting and starting all over again the next day.  I have often wondered if Jesus felt ….. Of course not. 

Take a sip of your coffee and picture the sun coming up.  It is a beautiful morning.  Very early.  Jesus left the house without waking his disciples.  And he walked toward the morning sun.  I picture him stopping, looking around, hearing the birds, feeling a gentle breeze, and then no sound at all.  Just quiet.  As if nature held its breath, waiting to hear Jesus pray. 

My Father …  What beautiful words must have followed his greeting.  Words from deep within his soul.  Praises.  Petitions.  A conversation that can only be held between God and His Son. 

Again, Jesus goes to pray.  The disciples were crossing the lake and all the people had been sent home.  Jesus walks into the hills.  I wonder if he took his time.  I wonder if he sang or whistled.  Did he start praying as he walked?  Did he tell His Father about the children who gave him hugs?  Did he smile as he wondered if the disciples would ever totally understand?  “Yes, Father.  I will have patience with them.”  Did he even notice when the day ended and the night began? 

The disciples listened as Jesus prayed to be glorified.  As he prayed for them.  As he prayed for all believers.  Then they followed Jesus.  Jesus walked, knowing this would be his final prayer on the Mount of Olives.  “Father, if you are willing….”  “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus walked to preach, to heal, to teach, and to pray.  We each have a walk to take.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:  Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:23, Luke 22:39-45

Four Gospels.  Each written to guide us.  Each writer considered Jesus praying after the Last Supper and in the garden important.  Jesus prayed that final time:  Matthew 26:36-45, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46 and John 17

THEY ARE WALKING IN THE SHADOWS

As Jesus walked in the light, others were walking in the shadows.  Their lifestyle was threatened.  The very words they said were being called deceitful.  The positions they held, in the community and the temple, were being questioned.  Their traditions were being tossed aside.  HOW DARE HE!!!

The Pharisees, teachers of the law, and Sadducees watched and waited for an occasion to accuse Jesus of any small infraction.  Sometimes they were out in the open, but many times, they stood in the shadows waiting to trap Jesus.  Their hate was rooted in self-preservation and their anger was evil.

Can you see them?  Don’t just read the words.  Picture their eyes, hard and cold.  See how they clinch their fists and hold tightly to a section of their robe, as if that would control their anger.  Look at how they straighten their back to try and stand taller than Jesus, so he has to look up to them.  Watch as they plot and look for an excuse to kill Jesus.

“How dare he?  Did you hear this Jesus say we don’t practice what we preach?  Wear fancy robes.  He has no respect for the law.  HE MUST BE STOPPED!”

“We need more than the time the disciples did not wash their hands before eating,” said a Pharisee.  Can you hear the frustration in his voice?

The teacher of the law reminded them, “He talked to the Samaritan woman and he ate with sinners.  Do the people not see this?”

The Sadducees added, “He refused to show us a sign from heaven.  He is not blessed by G-D.”

The Pharisees met to plot a trap for Jesus by asking a question about a coin.  They were sure they would succeed, but they had to report back that Jesus had answered in such a way that they were even amazed.

The leading priests were jumping with joy.  “We finally have him.  30 pieces of silver.  Why didn’t we try to find a disgruntled disciple before?  That was almost too easy.  And it will be finished by Passover.”

And under the shadow of darkness, Jesus was arrested

They walked in the dark, on the edge, and in the shadows, but, over and over, Jesus ignored them and found quiet places to talk to His Father.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Matthew 23:11-7, Mark 7:4-8, John 4:9-11, Matthew 16:1, John 10:22-39, Matthew 12:14, 38, Mark 11:18, Matthew 22:15-22, Matthew 26:14-16, John 18:1-7

 

 

WALKING AND FEELING NO  SHAME

Do you see the man picking up a rock?  He juggled it, as if to see how it felt in his hand.  Does he collect rocks?  No.  He wanted to be ready.  A woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus and the law says to stone her.  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were waiting to see what Jesus would say.  The man juggled the rock again. 

The teacher of the law was full of himself.  He had an honored seat at last night’s banquet and was wearing his newest robe.  No one would miss him, as he walked down the streets.  “I might just feel a prayer coming on.  I will offer a most wonderful prayer outside the marketplace,” he thought.  His morning was going as planned.  He even hoped his prayer would be a comfort to the homeless widow. 

There he sat.  Over by the door.  A change box all ready and a hidden bag for his profit.  A religious holiday always made for a heavy pouch of money.  Of course, those foreign coins could not be used to pay the temple tax.  Those coins had the images of evil spirits.  Or foreign gods.  Was he cheating people?  Taking advantage of them?  He shook the idea out of his head.  This is strictly business and, if they don’t like the fee he charges for exchanging their coins, they can go somewhere else.  Giggling, oh right.  There is no other place for exchanging coins. 

Three examples of people walking with no shame.  They are not breaking the law.  The law says to stone the woman.  The law says it is perfectly legal to assist the widow and charge exorbitant fees, until she has nothing left except her home.  Even that can legally be taken from her.  So many people are coming into town to attend Passover.  They are coming from other areas, and the money changer is providing a service.  He is not doing anything illegal. 

Three examples of people walking with no shame. 

… and he dropped his rock.  There would be no stoning today.

… and a widow is homeless.  But, the teacher of the law feels no guilt.

… and coin after coin is exchanged, with the profit going into that hidden bag.  After all, business is business.

Some people walk through life and do not consider their actions shameful.  Others try to hide and walk in the shadows, as they plot against Jesus.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:  John 8:3-11, Mark 12:40, Matthew 21:12-13