I Will Never ........

Have you ever said, “I will never _______ ?”

Every time I say that, it comes back to bite me in the...backside.  I often forget never is a very long time.  I often forget God has a sense of humor.

Some of my nevers:

BOXES, DUCT TAPE AND BALING TWINE

When I got married, you could put everything I had in a couple of large boxes.  I did not need a walk-in closet.  I needed one drawer and a dozen hangers.  I assumed one move when we got married and probably one after that would be the extent of my moving.

Wrong.  Life steps in.  A job ends.  A new job is found.  A move here. A move there.  All totaled, I have moved seven times.  Give me boxes, duct tape and baling twine and I can pack up a house in no time.  I must admit, this last time took me a bit longer and took more than a couple of boxes and a dozen hangers.

THE HOG BARN

Having been raised in a small town, I was not prepared for being the wife of a farmer.  First we had hogs.  Having a full time job, I knew I would never have to —— take a shovel and clean out the barn or deal with a sow having a rough delivery.

Wrong.  Hubby was more than willing to have me beside him as we cleaned out the stalls and put fresh bedding down.  He took great delight in telling me I was an expert with a shovel.  Of course, the rough delivery happened one night when hubby was gone.  All I had to do, he had said, was check on them.  He assured me mother nature would take care of the rest.  What I found out, when I went to check, was that apparently mother nature was nowhere to be found either.  This town girl got right in that pen.  (Skip if you have a weak tummy.)  I quickly saw a dead pig was stuck and not allowing the others to travel down their intended path.  I will never have to.... but I did.  I removed the dead pig and watched with amazement as the rest of the litter was born, each alive and healthy.

CAN YOU STRETCH HER?

When we lived on the farm south of town, I told hubby he needed a hobby.  One day a truck unloaded feeder calves.  I told him that was not exactly what I had in mind.  My first reaction was that they were a lot bigger than the hogs we had all those years ago.  The feeder calves came every spring for about three years and then were replaced by even bigger bovine called heifers and cows.  Plus a rather intimidating bull.  I became very good at putting in ear tags, feeding when hubby was on the road and checking on the cows when they were ready to deliver.  Then one day I heard, “I need help. We are going to have to pull a calf.”  WE?  That would be like including ME?  “Yes and take your rings off.”  You want me to put my hands in there and stretch her so you can .... Never.

Wrong.  I have put my hands in places I never thought I would.  And I became a very good “stretch her.”  I could get those feet just where they needed to be so the chains would go on.  Then I would watch in amazement as a new life began.

I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH

Our family made it many, many years with no serious illness or surgeries.  Until ..... our daughter needed surgery and over the years has needed several.  Until ..... our grandsons were in the hospital or needed surgery.  Until .... I needed some too.  Being operated on and recovery is hard but I am not strong enough to watch a loved one being taken down the hall.  Never, will I be that strong.

And I was right.  Moving.  Working in a hog barn.  Delivering calves.  Those I learned how to do.  But to sit and reassure a grandson that I would be there all night and another one that surgery was successful and his mommy would be back shortly and to watch while another one gritted his teeth and refused to cry after getting his tonsils out.  I am not strong enough.  To stand beside the bed as our daughter awaits her turn in surgery, to sit in the waiting room, to watch as she has trouble coming out of the anesthesia and to ... I am not strong enough.  Never.

And I am right.  On my own, I would never have been strong enough.

But .... I was NEVER on my own.

Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

            Philippians 4:12-13

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

            2 Corinthians 4:6-9

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

            Isaiah 41:10 NIV

On my own, I would never have been strong enough.

HE gave me strength.

Through HIS power I was not crushed, I did not despair,

I was not abandoned and I was not destroyed.

HE held me up.

NAME THAT TUNE

Can you Name That Tune in 10 notes?  8 notes?  5 notes?  2 notes?

Name That Tune was a TV show when I was a kid.  The contestants tried to guess the song on the least amount of notes.  If it worked out for them, they advanced.  If not, they went home with a song going around in their head and wondering how did I miss that one.

I do like music.  Good ole Rock and Roll.  Country when it was country.  A little of this and a bit of that, but no rap.  I like old and contemporary hymns.  (Settle down.  Please remember that when written, Amazing Grace would have been considered contemporary.)

Hymns can tell the story of my faith walk.

As a child, Jesus Loves Me told me everything I needed to know.  In church, we sang In the Garden, Amazing Grace, Holy Holy Holy and Are Ye Able. 

I believe in Jesus, the Son of God.  I believe Jesus came to save me!  Me!  God loves me so much he wants me to be with him always.  God knows, on my own, I would not have the strength and wisdom to find my way to him so he sent a way.  Jesus!

Mary Did You Know, sung by Mark Lowry, is an amazing song.  Jesus – the Great I Am.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXmfkFoX-PE

I have been baptized.  I do not remember it, but baptism is the washing away of my sins when I confessed and accepted God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  What would I be without this baptism?  Lost!

Jordan Feliz’s song The River makes my toes tap and lifts my spirit.  Never the same! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maT4phfTXR4

I honestly believe God has a 2 X 4 with my name on it.  It is a very long one because, every so often (more often than I would like), he whacks me on the head to get my attention.  Sometimes to make me do something.  Other times, to remind me that, in His eyes, I am flawless.

I would love to see Mercy Me.  Their song Flawless gives me such hope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk

Believe?  Yes.  Forgiven?  Yes.  Will I still have troubles?  YES!!  Life is still life.  Bodies become ill.  Tragedies happen.  The difference is I am not alone in my troubles and God does not intend for me to stay in the trouble.  I am to get through them.  How?

Sometimes by slowing down.  Taking a deep breath.  Jonny Diaz has a song, Just Breathe, which helps me stop.  Take a breath.  Sit at Jesus feet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnjeMwxFuBA&list=RDhnjeMwxFuBA

Just take a breath is great but sometimes I am so weak.  Sometimes, I need for someone stronger to hold me.  When the world seems against me or life is a struggle, the song, Just Be Held, by Casting Crowns gives me comfort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ

Recap:  I believe.  I am forgiven.  I have a refuge in my trials. 

Question:  What do I do with this? 

Answer:  I serve.

My favorite song – my absolute favorite – hymn is Here I Am Lord.  I cannot hear or sing this song without realizing I am to serve God by serving his people.  I am to go where he sends me.  I cannot hear or sing this song without raising my hands, as I lift the words:  Here I Am Lord.  I will go Lord if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.

Please use this link to hear Danial O’Donnell sing Here I Am Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyHTkGrLicg

Celebrate each day,

Mary

HIDING BEHIND A MASK

As I sat on my porch passing out pencils (yes pencils) and candy, I saw Lego blocks, a dinosaur, a mummy, many princesses and three jellyfish.  Some of those kids were just plain cute.  Some scary.  Some really put a lot of thought into their costume.  Some had parents walking with them.  Sadly, some were sent down the street while the parent sat in the car talking on their phone.

After the pencils and candy were gone, I thought about all the masks and all the hidden faces.  With the mask on, I couldn’t tell the age of the child.  I couldn’t tell if the child was happy or, maybe, scared at the strange creatures walking on the street beside them.  I couldn’t tell if the child was tired or high on the candy they ate walking to the next house. 

So much can be hidden behind a mask.  And we all wear one.

“How are you today?” a friend asks. 

            “Just fine,” we answer.

                        And inside we cry.

“Are you recovering quickly from your surgery?  I have been praying for you,” a church member says.

            “Much better than I thought,” we say.

                        And we want to shout, “No.  I hurt everywhere.  I am tired.  I cannot sleep.”

“Wow that was some party.  I did not see you there,” a very good friend remarks.

            “I already had plans,” we reply.

                        And our brain is exploding, “Party?  What party?  I was not invited.”

“How was your day?” our spouse inquires.

            “Pretty normal,” we respond.

                        And we want to be honest and say, “The kids were awful, I really hurt today and I was not invited to a party.”  But we do not want to burden our loved ones and we do not want to complain.

We all wear masks.  We all hide behind them and think we have a good reason. 

·        No one wants to hear about my troubles.  They have troubles of their own.

·        There is nothing they can do about my aches and pains, so might as well keep them to myself.

·        I will not allow them to see that my feelings were hurt.

·        My spouse has had a rough day too. 

We all wear masks and think no one can see the truth. 

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me,

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:1-10

There is one who can see behind the mask.  God!

God wants to hear about your troubles and about your day. 

He cares and is never too tired to listen.

God can help ease your pain.

You will still hurt but you can take a deep breath and rest in Him.

God understands hurt.

(He does not get invited to a lot of parties and many people do not accept God’s invitations.)

God will gently comfort you.

LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

Every so often we get together with our out-of-town friends.  We eat lunch and then find a corner where we can chat away.   The guys talking about – guy stuff.  The gals talking about grandchildren, new recipes, travel, church, the weather and husbands.   Good food, good friends, good conversation.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus eats?  He went to at least one wedding.  He had dinner at Levi’s house.  He picked heads of grain to eat, as he went through the grain fields  -  on the Sabbath no less.  He talked with Mary while Martha finished the meal prep. Jesus had a way with fish and loaves.  Jesus invited himself to Matthew’s home.  Oh my!  He ate at the home of a tax collector.  Apparently Jesus failed to abide by the local social standings in his choice of companions.  He had a final meal with those he had chosen.  Jesus even ate fish with his disciples after he died.

We spend time with our friends because, even after all these years, there are new things to learn about each other.  We recall old memories.  We make new memories.  We trust them with our worries and they know we are there for them.  We find new things to laugh about.  We spend time with our friends because we love them! 

I have a feeling these are the exact reasons Jesus ate at so many homes.  On the hillsides with thousands.  In a quiet, upstairs room, with his beloved disciples.

NEW THINGS TO LEARN:  I picture Jesus, making eye contact, listening to every word Levi said.  What story would Levi tell on himself? 

MEMORIES OLD AND NEW:  Can you hear the disciples share stories about walking through fields when they were young?  Can you picture Mary listening as Jesus quietly spoke?  Can you imagine a hillside full of people telling others about the fish and loaves and then asking, “Were you there?”

NEW THINGS TO LAUGH ABOUT:  Do you suppose Jesus chuckled when he thought about the “high and mighty” watching him enter the home of a tax collector?  Chuckle?  I bet before he went to sleep that night, he told God, “Did you see the look on their faces?”  I bet God replied, “Told you it would cause a stir and, my goodness, they knew about it on the other side of town before you got all the way in the door.  Now rest.”

BECAUSE HE LOVED THEM:  Plain and simple:  Jesus loved them!!

OR MAYBE – JUST MAYBE

Maybe my premise is all wrong.  Maybe, just maybe, Jesus ate with all these people – the disciples, women, children, men, sinners – so they could know HIM.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Maybe, just maybe, Jesus ate with all these people so they could learn about HIM.

THE PERFECT FAMILY

If you are of a certain age, you will remember Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best.  Donna Reed.  My Three Sons.  The Danny Thomas Show.  The Adams Family.  And the all-time favorite, The Andy Griffith Show.

Every family wanted to be like these perfect families. Mothers wore dresses and pearls.  Fathers came home from work, put on their sweater, lit their pipe and waited for dinner.  The children said “yes mam” and “no mam.”  They never got into serious trouble.  And they all sat down at the supper table as the closing song began to play.

Yes, everyone wanted a mother that looked like Donna Reed.  Everyone wanted a father that took them fishing.  And no one wanted Eddie Haskell for a brother.

In other words, we thought families should be like those on TV.  We wanted A Perfect Family.

News flash: It was television!  Those families did not exist.  Not back then and not now.  No matter how gushy and over the top the Christmas letter, no family is perfect.  Every family - important word is EVERY - every family is a mix of the good, the bad and the “this too shall pass.”

No mother wears dresses and pearls 24/7.  They wear jeans and sweat pants and sometimes do not have the energy to change out of pajamas.

No dad comes home, puts on his sweater and waits for a meal to magically appear.  They come home tired and dirty and sometimes they are just plain grumpy.

No kid remembers to always be polite. They get mouthy and throw tantrums and sometimes you wish they belonged to someone else.

Families stay together.  Families break apart.  Families ….

God’s family is definitely not The Perfect Family.  Definitely not ! !

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.  Genesis 6:9

(David wrote) “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest.  Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”  2 Samuel 11:15

Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin.  2 Kings 17:21

(Esther to Mordecai) When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.  And if I perish, I perish.”  Esther 4: part of 16

(Peter) began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”  Mark 14:71

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go!  This man (Saul/Paul) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name”

God’s family is made up of righteous people, murderers, those that have turned away, those that are willing to die, those that deny knowing Jesus, and those that are turned from sin to saved.

A Perfect Family?  Not years ago.  Not today. 

BUT SOMEDAY --- Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” ….. “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.  Revelation 21 parts of 1, 7

NOTE TO URBANA YOKE PARISH:  I wrote this and had it set to post before hearing Pastor Larry use this poem last Sunday.  I guess we both have good taste in poetry.

The Road Not Taken (1916) 
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This has been a favorite poem of millions and millions of people.  Apparently, one of the most googled poems.  I learned this poem in school, an extreme number of years before google.

In July, when on vacation, we drove by a church in Bennington, Vermont.  Hubby is used to me saying, “Oh, look at that church.  Let’s stop.”  Stop we did.  The First Congregational Church was beautiful inside and out, but what fascinated me was the cemetery. 

And then there it was.

The grave of Robert Lee Frost.

Immediately a poem I had not thought about in years tumbled into my mind.  For the rest of the trip, every time I saw a lane or path my mind thought about roads not taken.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

God does have a path for each of us.  It is a joy when God is on the path with us.  It will be a pleasure when our path leads to eternity.

God has a path for each of us.  And we do not walk that path alone.

SPEAK     BREATHE

Ready?

Think of something you would like.  Got it?

Say it out loud. 

Is it there?  Did you get it?  No?  Maybe you did not say it just right.  Or you were not forceful enough.

Let’s try again.  Maybe something a bit smaller than last time.  Ready?

Think of something you would like. 

Say it out loud.

Is it there?  Gee, I thought it would happen this time.

Since that did not work, let’s try something else.

Ready?

Breathe in.  A deep breath.  Exhale.

Breathe in.  A very deep breath.  Blow out as hard as you can.

What happened?

Nothing?  Really?  You must not have followed directions.

Well, try again.  Breathe in.  Exhale!

What happened?  Nothing again?  Surely your breath caused a change in the world somehow.  Oh my.

God said, “Let there be

• Light
• Firmament
• Waters
• Grass, seeds, trees
• The sun, moon and stars
• Creatures in the ocean, on the land and in the air
• Man              Genesis 1

The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.  Psalm 50:1

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.  Genesis 2:7

The breath of God produces ice,    and the broad waters become frozen. Job 37:10

But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don’t worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.  2 Thessalonians 2:8  The Message

Let’s recap –

We can speak – ask for something to appear, maybe a car or a new refrigerator or even a toothpick – and nothing happens.

God speaks and – oh my goodness – the world is created, complete with lights and animals and us.  God speaks and summons the earth day in and day out. 

We can breathe out a deep breath and the world does not change.

God breathed into Adam’s nostrils and – oh my goodness – we breathe.  God’s breath produces ice.  Jesus took a deep breath and blew the Anarchist away.

Our power to speak or breathe water to ice or something into or out of existence:  Cannot do

God’s power to speak or breathe water to ice or something into or out of existence:  Can do

Question:  Why do we try to do life on our own instead of using the power of God?

If you are reading this around 8:20 AM, I will be giving the message at a local retirement home.  They have chapel and invite guests to speak and I enjoy doing this three or four times a year.  Today I am speaking on Elizabeth.  It would be a long blog if I copied the whole talk, so I would like to give you some of the highlights.  Cliff notes – and hopefully they will make you want to read this mother’s story taken from Luke 1 and Matthew 3.

ELIZABETH

FROM A NORMAL DAY TO I BET SHE DID NOT SEE THAT COMING

Zachariah and Elizabeth were quite elderly and they had never been blessed with a child.  Although she would have reconciled herself to never having a child, I bet, in the early morning, when she heard the children laughing and playing, her heart would ache.  I bet, when a new baby was named, her arms felt empty.  I am sure, even being obedient to God, Elizabeth often wondered, “Why?” 

It was Zachariah’s turn to enter the altar of incense.  With over 8,000 priests, this honor would only happen once, at the most twice, in any priest’s lifetime.  Zachariah was performing his duties, when an angel appeared and told Zachariah, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  …………  to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

It was then Zachariah blew it.  My goodness, that silly man questioned an angel of God. 

The angel said to him, (Before you read this next part, use your imagination, picture the angel standing there.  Now, in your imagination, have the angel develop an attitude.  Standing very tall, an annoyed look on his face.  Maybe even, a finger now pointing toward poor Zachariah, who has realized he should have kept quiet.)  The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time” 

I can picture Zachariah walking home.  Trying to sort it all out.  Knowing he had to tell Elizabeth.  But how? 

I can picture Elizabeth quietly watching as her husband tried to explain why he couldn’t talk, that they were going to become parents and the baby was going to be a boy.  Then, I think, she turned a cartwheel.

Elizabeth did become pregnant and was enjoying the normal life of a pregnant woman when one day, she heard a greeting. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  

Zachariah and Elizabeth became the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy.  They named him John.

I am sure, even being obedient to God, Elizabeth often wondered, “Why?” 

Why?  Oh…the child born to Zachariah and Elizabeth was the one needed.  Elizabeth was to give birth to the one that would prepare the way. 

For the Lord’s hand was with John.

Then John consented and baptized Jesus.

===========================================================

I love Elizabeth.  She has so much to teach each of us.

SHE  WAS  ACCEPTANING  OF  GOD’S  PLAN

With grace and righteousness and obedience, she accepted her lot of an empty womb.  Under the condemning stares of pregnant women, she obeyed even the ordinances of God. 

SHE  WAS  LOVING  AND  COMPASSIONATE

With open arms, an understanding heart and love, she comforted her husband when he came home and gave her the message from the angel. 

SHE  TRUSTED  AND  SHE  WAITED

She trusted God.  Getting pregnant, at her age, had to be a miracle.  And she waited.  She waited nine months.  And after waiting a lifetime, I can imagine those nine months were a time of joy and celebration and dreams fulfilled.

SHE  WAS  NOT  JEALOUS

When Mary came to visit, she did not shout, “For goodness sakes.  I am the daughter of a priest.  The wife of a priest.  I am married.  Why am I not carrying the Lord’s child?”  No!  She honored Mary and called the baby blessed.

SHE  WAS  STRONG – SHE  GAVE  BIRTH

At Elizabeth’s age the delivery would not have been easy.  She had to be strong.

SHE  WAS  HUMBLE

Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and told everyone what this child would do.  Elizabeth quietly held her child.  She became a mother.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 

In high school, I took two years of Latin and two years of Russian.  Not exactly sure why but I remember something about how Latin would help me understand the root of words.  Et tu Brute is not exactly a phrase I can work into everyday conversation and that is the one phrase of Latin I remember.  Russian, you wonder.  What I really wanted to learn was French so I could be an international airline stewardess, but our school did not offer French.  Russian would have to do.  It was interesting and my grades were -- not going there!! 

Thinking back on trying to learn Latin and Russian, makes me feel sorry for anyone trying to learn English.  Talk about confusing. 

How can these both be Hens and Chickens?

How would you use these words in a sentence?

            Live                       Resume                       Desert                          Produce                            

If you only heard these words, would you know how to use the word?

            Flour/Flower         To/Two/Too                Eight/Ate                    Knight/Night

Yes, the meaning of English words can be very confusing.  So can words in the Bible.

            Mercy                    Forgiveness                 Faith                            Sanctification

            Peace                     Baptism                       Communion                Grace

How do we learn the difference between Hens and Chickens the plant and Hens and Chickens the animals?  We read.  We study. 

How do we know the difference between flour and flower?  Eight and ate?  We read.  We study.

How do we learn the meaning of words such as mercy, grace, faith, and forgiveness?  We read.  We study.

Once we take the time to study, for more than two minutes, we will know what these words mean too.

Here are some websites I use to find the meaning of words in the Bible, answers to a gazillion questions and two that help when I have questions on the Jewish faith.

Online Bible:                                                         www.biblegateway.com

General questions:                                                 www.gotquestions.org

Bible commentaries:                                              www.studylight.org

Study help                                                             www.biblestudytools.com

For questions on the Jewish faith:                        www.torah.org

                                                                              www.jewfaq.org

I hope these help you when you are trying to find the meaning of a word.  Or you have a question.  Or you want to dig a bit deeper. 

Celebrate each and every day.

TWO COPPER COINS

They spent time getting dressed.  Picking out their best robe.  After all, they wanted to be seen.  How great it was to walk into the temple and be treated with respect.  Just last night they had the best seat at a banquet.  And today they would be in the most important seats in the synagogue.  They were prepared to offer long prayers that would make people take notice.  It was unimportant that they had taken a few houses away from widows.  They were the teachers of the law. 

She looked at the tattered edges.  But her clothes were clean.  Besides, who would notice her?  Only a widow.  That is what she was:  a widow.  If she hurried she would be in the woman’s court early and she could slip in quietly.  She could drop her money --- money?  It was not even enough to be called money.  What use were two copper coins?  She hesitated and wondered if she could, just this once, miss temple.  She decided if she looked at the floor she would not see the disgust in the eyes of those who judge what she put in.  Slowly, she closed the door, entered the street and became invisible.

Jesus sat opposite the temple treasury as the rich put in large amounts.  He watched as the teachers of the law made their way to their seats.  Then he saw her.  Bent over, trying to melt into the floor.  She approached the treasury, wearing the best she had.  Quickly she dropped two copper coins into the treasury.  Quickly so no one would notice how little she gave.

We know very little about the widow in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.  Only four verses.  But I can picture the whole scene.  It is as if I am watching it unfold in front of my eyes.

Jesus is in the middle.  Calmly watching the people.  The disciples are off in the corner discussing yesterday’s activities.  The teachers of the law are making a grand entrance.  Others, the rich and the not so rich, are mingling and dropping their money in the treasury as they head to the different areas of the temple. 

It is then the widow enters.  Looking around she realizes she did not get there early.  She will not walk in alone.  She will be seen.  She will have to drop her coins in … she will have to drop her coins in and they will all see there are only two copper coins.  Only two.

The disciples hear Jesus calling them and they go to him.  Jesus tells them about the widow.  Jesus tells them about her extravagant gift.  Jesus tells them…

These verses on the widow’s offering are used often.  It is used to encourage us to be generous givers.  To give out of love and not show.

BUT –

I see this in a different light.  JESUS SAW HER!!!

The life of a widow was hard.  (The story of Ruth is a big exception to the life of most widows.)  She would not have inherited an estate.  Maybe a small settlement to help with expenses, but that would not have lasted long.  She had no way to support herself and had to be dependent on her son(s) or the generosity of the community.  She could only take the leftovers from the fields.  She could not easily remarry.  She would be invisible so people would not feel guilty about her poverty. 

Invisible!  But JESUS SAW HER. 

In her poverty.  In her tattered clothing.  In her humility of only putting in two coins.  JESUS SAW HER.

In that instant, Jesus saw her humble heart.  He saw her struggles.  In that instant, she was not invisible.

I wish Luke and Mark had told the rest of the story because I do not think it ended with Jesus pointing out this woman to his disciples.  I think Jesus approached the widow.  I think Jesus gently held her hands.  I think Jesus assured her that she was not invisible.  I think Jesus assured her that she was valued and loved.

And he assures us of exactly the same things.  JESUS SAW HER.  JESUS SEES YOU.

CHANGING SEASONS

As I look out the window, things are changing.  The leaves now look a dusty green.  Some leaves are beginning to turn various shades of red and orange.  It is dark when I wake up.  (Hate that!)  But, at least it is dark when I go to bed.  I do believe fall is fast approaching.

The posts on Facebook range from “Yes, fall is almost here!” to “Oh no.  Summer is almost over.”  I am sure our daughter is saying, “Winter will soon be here.”  Funny how we have a favorite season.  A favorite holiday.  A favorite sport and team.  A favorite …..

Now, I am not sure how this went from changing seasons to favorites, but that is the way my mind works sometimes.  (I heard a few snickers out there about how my mind works.)  We do have favorites and it is a good thing.  Think about it.  How boring would life be if we were all alike?  Wow – I would have no one to argue with.  Everyone would think just like me.

What if we all liked the same color?  Boring!  Besides, the fashion industry would be in big trouble.  What if there was only one genre of books?  I would hate not being able to read a mystery and then a romance.  What if we could all sing on key?  There would be a really big choir with no one listening. 

What if we never changed?  Oh?  Back to change now?

God did not create this world to be the same, day in and day out.  He created this world with change built in.  Now that is planning ahead!  He created us to change also.  We are not to stay children.  We are to grow and learn.  Our lives have seasons.  The Bible tells us this in Ecclesiastics:

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Spring.  Fall.  Winter.  Summer.       Seasons.  Change.  Change.  Change.

Birth.  Death.  Planting.  Harvest.  Weeping.  Laughing.  Keeping.  Throwing away.  War.  Peace.       Seasons.  Change.  Change.  Change.

Part of the problem is we do not like things to change.  Let it stay fall.  Only the old hymns.  I do not want to get old.  My children are leaving home. 

Part of the problem is we fear change.  What will I do in the winter?  But that song was written last year.  What will happen next to my body?  I cannot know what my children are doing.

All around you, there is change.  Never fear.  Not everything changes. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:8

As I look at my life, things are changing.  But with an unchanging God as my guide, I can handle it.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Hubby and I walked through a National Cemetery.  It was very moving.  We felt humbled that so many served to preserve our freedom and defend freedom around the world.  As we looked around, we saw row after row after row of white stones. 

 

Each stone had a name and rank.  Each stone represented a time in that person’s life when they were willing to leave their family to defend freedom.  

Along the back, a wall contained the remains of those who chose cremation.  Again, a sober reminder that service to our country comes with a price. 

Earlier, on our trip, we had seen a monument to “the glorious memory of our native sons who paid the supreme sacrifice” and “also in everlasting gratitude to those who daring to die, survived.”  Those words came back to me as we saw dates that indicated some died in battle and some died many years later.

As we were walking to another section, I saw them.  Here – in this place of honor.  What were they doing here?  As they came closer, I knew my first impression was correct.  As they came closer, it was even worse than I thought!

They looked 19 – 22 years old.  She had pink hair.  Not a soft pink used as an accent.  Bright pink!  And the clothes she had on.  Really!  Talk about not being respectful.  The piercings did not help.  He had on baggy pants, but to his credit, his underwear was not showing.  Of course there was a chain from a belt loop going to somewhere that made no sense.  Punky hair and things stuck in each ear and his nose.  His nose.  Then they were beside me.  Then they spoke.

Looking at me with genuine eyes, he said, “We love to walk here.  It is so peaceful and such an honor to realize they served for us.”

And with that, they walked on down the path.  And with that, I apologized to God for judging these two fine young people.

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Every sports page.  Every sports show.  Every sports report – we hear:  Colin Kaepernick kneels during National Anthem.  It has become an epidemic.  You would think no one stands for the National Anthem.  You would think no one shows respect.  You would think ….

Let me tell you:  THAT IS NOT TRUE!!  Just last week we were at the Half Century of Progress when the American Flag was raised and the National Anthem sung.  When it was announced that it was time to raise the flag, every golf cart, ATV and electric cart of any kind was immediately turned off.  All conversation stopped.  Seed corn hats were removed.  This farm show spreads over 400 acres and the only sound you could hear were the first notes of the National Anthem.

120’ X 65’ flag flying high between two cranes

A football player making gazillions might not respect the country that gives him the opportunity to throw a ball around but those that get their hands dirty in the soil sure do.  One football player makes the news.  Thousands of quiet farmers do not. 

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It seems we all trust our first impressions.  We know we are right.  But are we?