MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day

A day to remember the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

I know that – sorta.  For some reason, there is a gap in my understanding of Decoration Day/Memorial Day.  Somehow, I missed the part about it being for those that had died while serving in the military.  Did I learn it wrong in school?  Well, after all these years, I have no idea.  My best guess; in my mind, the holiday is what I saw around me. 

My dad served in WW II.  He rarely talked about it.  And only when he and one Army buddy were together.  The war was left behind.  It was not something to be discussed at the dinner table.  It was not something …. it was not something he wanted to remember.  He did not go to Decoration Day services so we did not go either.

My memory associates Decoration Day with families placing flowers in old fruit jars, going to various cemeteries and placing those flowers on the graves of their family.  It was a time to pull weeds around the head stone.  It was a time to tell the annual story about grandpa building a fence and forgetting to put a gate in.  And, of course, he, the horse and the wagon were inside the fence!  These annual stories always brought smiles and tears.  It was a time when families laid their differences aside and honored their ancestors. 

Maybe that is why my idea of Decoration Day/Memorial Day is a bit confused.  History books, society and the news told me one thing but the actions of my parents and family told me something else. 

You would think I would have figured this out when they renamed this day to Memorial Day in 1967.  But honestly, when the name was changed to Memorial Day I was busy being a bride of two years, raising a one year old and trying to make ends meet.  

Where am I going with this?  I have no idea.  I do not know what to write next.  I do not know how to end this.

Oh, yes I do.  I kept the idea of respecting our ancestors.  I moved honoring soldiers, alive and dead, to Veteran’s Day.  That way I was not confused about this day.

There are many things that confuse us in life.  We are a product of what we see in our day to day lives.  What our parents teach us.  What school teaches us.  What we read in the paper and hear on TV.  We get confused because we then pick and choose what we keep and what we do not.

Well, I thought I knew where I was going.  So, here is the deal.  Now that you have read this, think about what you know to be true (Example:  Memorial Day is to honor those that lost their lives while serving) versus what you really want to think (Example:  Memorial Day is a day to honor my ancestors).  Apply that to your faith.

The end.

UNEXPECTED ENCOURAGEMENT

The other day hubby and I went out on a farm drive.  If you live in a rural area or are the wife/child/friend of a farmer, you know what a farm drive is.  “Hey.  Want to go for a drive.”    That is what you hear.  This time of year what they mean is, “I want to go see if the field is dry enough to work and you can help me check it out.”  (My sweet hubby knows that if he really wants me to go, all he has to do is use the words “back roads.”  Those words are the equivalent of dangling a carrot on a string and pole before the horse.)

So off we went to find those back roads.  He found dry fields.  I found encouragement printed on a sign, in a front yard.

The sign said:  YOU MATTER

My heart shouted thank you to the home owner because I could picture all the people that sign encouraged.

• An exhausted person after a very long shift
• A parent driving to yet another practice/game/?
• A widow/widower going home to an empty house
• A teenager who feels invisible
• A child of divorce who spends weekends with the other parent
• A teacher who had a rough day
• A minister on the way to a hospital visit
• A spouse along on a farm drive 
• ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Unexpected encouragement – what a gift! 

AND -- Not once but twice.  A few days later, it happened again.

There I sat.  Waiting on the train to pass.  Looking at the graffiti.  Thinking some of that is pretty good art.  When I saw it.  Right there on the side of a car.  Almost to the end of the train. 

Spray painted in large letters:  YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Again my heart sent a thank you to the person on the other end of that spray paint can. 

Encouragement – we expect it from those we love.  People at church.  People at work.  Friends.  BUT what a blessing when encouragement is unexpected.  Words that are slipped in the routine of our day.  Words that leap out and wrap themselves around us.

YOU MATTER

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

These words are true.  Read them aloud.  Allow them to wrap around you and encourage you.

A SPRING COLD

The sun is shining but do not say it out loud.  You might scare it away.  It is a lovely day.  At least I guess it is.

I have the dreaded spring cold.  Started small.  Just a tickle in my throat.  That tickle did not hang around long but it left behind a raspy voice.  Quickly joining in to make it a quartet are the sneezing (Should have bought more Kleenex the last time I stocked up.), the plugged up nose (I hate the plugged up nose because breathing is rather important.), and the cough (For sure not your sweet, quiet, ladylike cough you see on TV.).  Bless hubby he made a trip and I now have cough syrup sitting beside the open-your-nose pills and boxes (plural) of Kleenex. 

My head is so full I feel like a bobble head doll. 

All this means I am only at the computer long enough to write a very short blog.  (I saw that smile.)

Sin is a lot like my spring cold.  That ole devil sneaks up, tempts us with a sin and we need to be ready. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.      Ephesians 6:10-18

I sent hubby to the store to get what I need to fight my cold.

To fight Satan’s plans, I go to God.  There I find exactly what I need. 

I have to go lay down now.  My head no longer wants to stay upright.

Have a blessed week.   

RAIN, GIGGLES AND LAUGHTER

Last weekend three other ladies and I headed to a “Girl’s Getaway Weekend” in Hannibal, Missouri. 

We started making plans for this weekend a month ago.  Motel rooms were reserved.  Getaway bags ordered.  Added to the bag was a crazy light up glass which could be filled over and over.  (With water of course.)  We were sure the band would be loud.  We studied the activities the merchants had scheduled.  We were ready.

One of the things we have absolutely no control over is the weather, so we started listening to the weather channel.  We kept our eye on the weather app.  Rain Friday.  Rain Saturday.  Rain Sunday.  OH MY GOODNESS!  What do we do? 

Well, duh!  We got in the car, of course.  We drove in the rain.  We got out of the car.  We lifted our umbrellas high.  And we got wet.  REALLY WET!  We had a blast!!!!!

We giggled as we stuck our heads through a picture board and made silly faces.  Oh, you never get too old to make silly faces.  Especially when your head is stuck through a sheet of plywood!

We made earrings and bought popcorn.  We bought chocolate too.  Remember, chocolate is a food group!  We took a Haunted Hannibal Tour.  Two of the girls climbed the stairs to a lighthouse and came back extremely wet.  I have perfect timing and decided to fill the car up with fuel during a break in the rain.  That break lasted long enough for me to get out of the car.  Not long enough to fill it up.  I changed clothes when we got to the motel.  I think those jeans are still wet.

We laughed as we shared stories.  So much fun being girls, lying across the beds and saying, “We really should go to sleep.”  Made us all remember those slumber parties from when we were silly teenagers. 

Then we drove home – in the rain.

Making plans was fun.  It gave us something to look forward to.  There was rain but there was joy.  Sorta like my Christian life.

I know where I am going!  There will be rain and there will be joy as I travel the road toward my final destination.  There will be friends to lighten my burden, when it is more than I can carry.  There will be friends to share in my joys.  There is one who always has His eye on me. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”    Revelation 21:1-4

Do you know where you are going?  Are you making plans now?  Do you have a church family and friends who will walk beside you?  Do you talk to the one who always has His eye on you?

May your journey be full of joy

and

may you always find support and love when it rains.

ALL THOSE NOT SO LITTLE THINGS

When making that gratitude list or saying a prayer or going around the table in Sunday School telling what blessing you received this week, how do you answer?  Do you give the typical answers of my family, my friends, forgiveness, mercy, grace and eternal life?  Do you ever throw in there, “And all the little blessing I do not even notice.”? 

That is what I want to do today.  I want to make a list of all those not so little things.

Wow, this could be a very long list.  To start with there is --

·         the way it feels to squish mud between your toes and how it feels to lay in the grass and see clouds become dogs or cats or elephants or ice cream cones,

·         how a child's hand feels in yours when they are trusting you to get them to the other side of the street,

·         the absolute carefree joy of feeling the wind in your hair when you are driving along on a beautiful summer day,  (This only works if you remembered to forego the hair spray or still have hair.)

·         the inner calm that comes from walking the beach and watching the waves come and go.  The tide carries your troubles away and brings back a peaceful spirit,

·         the taste of cheesecake,

·         the look in the eyes of a dog,

and

·         the sizzling, popping and cracking sounds the wood in a fireplace makes.

Of course no list would be complete without --

·         swinging,

·         talking to children,

·         hearing stories about our parents, when we are old enough to appreciate them,

·         unwrapping a package,

and

·         the words please and thank you.

Nothing tastes as good as –

·         licking the paddle after the homemade ice cream is done,

·         popcorn while watching a movie,

·         the last piece of pizza,

·         an apple right off the tree

and

·         peanut butter on pancakes.

Also, not to be forgotten are --

·         sitting quietly in church,

·         hearing a favorite hymn,

and

·         stained glass windows.

When you look back over this list, I am sure you could add many, many things.  The point I am trying to make is not to forget the small things, because they are not small. 

Through Jesus we receive so many magnificent blessings.  And I want every one of them.  I am greedy that way.  But I also want the little things that get me through the day. 

The words I love you                           An unexpected smile                          A sincere compliment

A tooth brush                                      A good cup of coffee                          A gentle breeze

Sometimes tears                                  A cold glass of water                          Laughter

Rest                                                     Conversation                                       My iPad

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill.

I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

In 1883, Daniel W. Whittle wrote the hymn “There Shall be Showers of Blessing.  The first stanza and refrain go like this:

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

Question:  What “not so little thing” have you been blessed with today?

BAKING A PIE

I wish you could smell what I smell.  I just took a rhubarb pie out of the oven and the whole house smells sweet with a whiff of cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg.  It is going to be hard to let it cool before slicing a piece.  But I must wait because I like ice cream on my pie and the ice cream would turn to … milk and milk over pie would be … odd.

Bill loves rhubarb pie and I have come to enjoy it also, as long as it has ice cream as a topper.  The recipe was given to me by a very sweet lady and she gave me the whole recipe. 

When asked, some cooks will give you their recipe but it never turns out quite right.  It will taste almost as good but it is a bit off.  Then one day you tell them, “I have tried but I must not have the knack you do because the pie/cake/casserole is never as good as yours.”  When they get that glint in their eyes and their mouth curls a bit, it hits you:  THEY LEFT AN INGREDIENT OUT!

That rhubarb pie is going to taste fantastic because I had the whole recipe.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  …..  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen    Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21

Talk about having all the ingredients!  Having the whole recipe!  It is all there!  The recipe for a foundation of Righteousness and Justice, walls called Salvation and gates called Praise and a crystal clear river of the Water of Life.

Now are you ready for the really, really good part?  We are ingredients in this recipe!  How cool is that?

We – you and me - ---are God’s children!!  We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ!  We share in his sufferings and that means we may share in his glory!  By golly, this is the best thing ever?  And this is for EVERYONE! 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  Galatians 3:26-29

The Bible did not leave any ingredient out.  Devour it one slice at a time!!

NOW WHERE DID HE GO?

Ever looked for Waldo?  Or helped children find objects in an I Spy book?  Or lost a grandchild?

Many years ago (She is now 22.) our granddaughter, Kailyn, disappeared.  Her parents looked for her.  They looked in all the rooms.  They looked under the bed.  They looked in cabinets.  (She was very flexible and we used to kid her she would make a great magician’s assistant.)  They looked outside on the porch and in the yard.  The neighborhood kids started looking.  They rode bikes up and down alleys.  The police were called.  Still no one could find her.  And then ……

The Easter story is full of “where is he” times. 

Where is he?  Where is the one who will betray Jesus?  Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”  Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”  (Matthew 26:25)  That one was easy. 

Where is he?  Where is the one who will deny Jesus?  “I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  (Matthew 26:34)  But he denied it before them all.  He denied it again.  Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”  (Parts of Matthew 26:70, 71 and 74)  Where is the one who will deny Jesus?  Peter was hiding in the courtyard and then went out to the gateway.  He heard the rooster crow.

Where is he?  Where is Jesus?  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  (Matthew 26:36)  Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.  (Matthew 26:57)  They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.  (Matthew 27:2)  After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him.  Then they led him away to crucify him.  They came to a place called Golgotha.  (Matthew 27:31, 33)  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb, that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  (Matthew 27:59)  He is not here:  (Matthew 28:6)  He is not here?  Then where is Jesus? 

It was easy to find the one who would betray Jesus.  Jesus named the one who would deny him.  But the words “He is not here” brought shock and fear and disbelief.  If he is not here, where is he?

Still no one could find her.  And then ……  And then she came out of the house.  “Where were you?” everyone asked.  “I was playing hide and seek.  I crawled way back under the desk but I went to sleep waiting for you to find me.”  (I am so glad I only knew about this after it was all over.)  One more important part of this story is that little Miss Kailyn had forgotten to tell her parents she was playing hide and seek.

HE IS NOT HERE

THEN WHERE IS HE?

He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.

He has risen!  He is not here.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

(Mary Magdalene to disciples)

They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

(Jesus speaking to Mary Magdalene)

“Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them,

‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John might not agree on exactly who went to the tomb that morning, but they all agree on one thing:  HE IS NOT HERE.  HE IS RISEN!

Kailyn had not told her parents she was playing hide and seek.  They did not know what was going on.  But Jesus – Jesus had told his disciples exactly what was going to happen.

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them,

he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Oh, my friends, we do not have to ask the question:  Where is he?  We know where he is!!!

Now doesn’t that just make you want to jump with joy?  To lift your hands in praise?  To bow your head in gratitude?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Amen and Amen

HANDS

Our minister finished a sermon series on hands.  This series focused on the hands in the Easter Story, but it got me to thinking about what the scriptures say about hands?

One of my favorite is Psalm 63:4 –

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

As I looked up various scriptures, I found hands which:

deceived (Jacob & Isaac)                                held up other’s hands (Moses)

lapped up water to drink                                 were laid upon others in healing

built an ark                                                      belonged to God

Also hands which were:

pierced                                                            clean

clapping                                                           lifted

lazy/idle                                                           eager

helping                                                            feeble

reaching out                                                    working

angry                                                               prayerful

My imagination kicked into full gear and I pictured hands:

drawing water at a well                                  dropping stones

lowering a friend through a roof                     destroying a temple

tending sheep                                                  feeding the hungry

raising the dead                                               washing feet         

breaking bread                                                driving nails

Finally there was only one more set of hands to think about. 

My hands!  Are they hands Jesus would take into his and say, “Mary you have made good use of your hands.”?

What should my hands – our hands do?  They should worship and they should serve.  How would you answer the following?

Worship:  Does the Word of God feel comfortable in my hands?  When holding the Bible do my hands feel as if they are holding something valuable and familiar?  Can my hands be still as I quietly sit with God?  Are my hands lifted in praise when my Spirit soars?  Are my hands able to reach out and take the Bread and Cup?

Serve:  Are my hands kept close to my side and only used to serve those I love?   OR   Do my hands reach out to others?  Do I use my hands to wipe away a tear?  Do I use my hands to offer food to those in need?  Do my hands help lighten the burden another carries? 

Oh, Lord, please show me how to use my hands to worship and serve.  Amen

COMING SOON -- EASTER

What an exciting time:  EASTER!! 

The baby grew up!  Mary’s little boy is no longer little and it is time for him to complete his journey on earth.  Can you imagine making sure every teeny-tiny detail leading up to Passover, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection was in place?  The entrance into the city meant the colt had to be in one exact location and  someone had to have all those palm branches ready to hand out.  The room for the Passover could not have been reserved through TripAdvisor.  Judas.  The soldiers.  The cock had to be ready to crow on cue.  Details.  Details.

We know so much and we know so little.  Easter is a time of great sorrow and great joy.  It is a time completely told beforehand but not understood by those closest to Jesus.  Easter draws upon emotions from complete and utter despair to hope.

Yes.  What an exciting time:  EASTER!!  But there has always been something I could not figure out.  WHY DID THE DISCIPLES NOT GET IT?

How could they not understand?  My goodness, Jesus told them.  They heard it with their own ears.  They spent hours, months, and years walking beside him.  Listening to him.  Learning from him.  They saw him heal.  They healed through his name.  They ate with him.  They prayed with him.  They were his disciples.  He chose them.

How could they not understand?  How could Judas betray him?  How could Peter deny him?  How could…  How could…

I will tell you that I would have understood!  I would not have betrayed Jesus!  I would not have hidden and lied about knowing him!

“Mary.”

“Yes, God.  Am I in trouble again?”

“No.  OK.  Just a bit.”  (He chuckled when he said that so I knew the 2X4 was coming out.  You know.  The one he uses to get my attention.)

“Mary, do you understand all of My Word?  You know:  the Bible.  Do you understand it completely?  Every word?  Every syllable?”

“No, but…”

“There is no ‘but’ here.  Your answer is no.  And that is okay.  You are learning.  You are, after many years, beginning to put it all together.  You are digging deep.  But, face it child, you have it right there in front of you to go over again and again and again.  Did the disciples have that?”

“No, but…”

“There is no ‘but’ here.  They did not!  You were going to say, ‘but they had Jesus himself.’ weren’t you?  They did and they learned so much.  They were good disciples.  I love every one of them.”

“How could they not understand?  How could Peter deny Jesus?”

“They were afraid.  How would you feel if all of a sudden the Trinity was taken away from you?  You have the Bible.  What if you no longer had that?  What if you could no longer feel the Holy Spirit in you?  What if you could not have the forgiveness of the Cross?  What if you could not pray?  What..”

“I would be afraid.  I would feel lost.  I would feel abandoned.  I would not understand.  I would hide.”

“My child, the disciples did learn and they wrote it down for you.  They wrote it down so you would know the truth.  So you would have hope.  So you would have faith.  Eternal life.  The disciples did understand.  They spread the Gospel from one believer to another to another to another.  Do you understand now?”

“Beginning to.  The disciples were chosen by Jesus but they were also human.  They had their support – Jesus – taken from them and they were afraid.  I guess the answer to my question is they did know.”

“Shall I put the 2 X 4 down for now?”

“Yes, please.  But keep it handy.  I am sure you will be getting it out again shortly.”

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

Can you imagine making sure every teeny-tiny detail leading up to Passover, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection was in place?  Every detail – even how the disciples reacted so they could “therefore go.”

FROM MY JOURNAL PART 4

Most of the prayers from July 2009 to January 2013 were prayers for the church.  That was the purpose of my Tuesday prayer time.  Prayers for the church and congregation.  I hope you have benefited from reading them and pray you understand that prayers come from the heart.  From life.  And can give glory and praise.  Can ask for help.  Prayers are conversations with a God that loves to hear your voice.  Loves to spend time with you.  As often happens, my Tuesday prayer time at the church ceased when I was called in another direction. 

Occasionally a personal prayer slipped in.  January 8, 2013 –

Know what, Jesus?  I like the word new.  It is a chance to start again.  A new year.  A new day.  A new life.

I like the new life the best!  Thank you for making my new life possible.  On my own I would be absolutely lost!  On my own I would just as well stay in bed because I could not make it through the day.  I would not be able to control my anger, pride and long list of things.  Without you I would just be a human – going through life.  Just going through and not seeing the beauty, the glory nor the needs of others.

But you are so deep inside me that I take you for granted.  I expect my heart to beat and I expect you to be just as steady as my heartbeat.  I don’t mean to do that but I seem to go through the day and realize I hadn’t talked to you or read the Bible.  What amazes me is that you are deep inside me and you continue to give me words and you guide me as I teach and you give me patience to listen and you decorate the sky.

What amazes me is that you do not take me for granted.  You are constantly sending me reminders and wake-up calls.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Love, Mary

=   =   =   =   =   =   =

These are not from my journal and I have shared these before.  Thought it was a good time to do so again.

This was written January 2005 after doing Purpose Driven Life:

The purpose of my life is to place God at the center of my being and to see God in all the world around me.  To be always thankful and grateful for being created by God to be his child and to know I am important to God.

With God at the center of my life, I want my character to reflect that I am a believer and that I make Christ based decisions.

I want the lives of others to be enriched by my actions and words.  I want to help family, friends and strangers move closer to God because they can see the light   in my life and hear the story from my heart.

I want to share in fellowship with other believers so we can worship together, using the talents God has given each of us, to encourage each other and celebrate our faith.

This was written for a Sunday School lesson:

Personal Statement of Faith

I believe Jesus is the Son of God.

I believe Jesus walked on this earth and that he brought the love of God

to all who will accept it.

I believe Jesus can heal souls and bodies.

Although I may have times of doubt or times of disobedience,

I believe the love of Jesus is unending and never fails.

I believe Jesus is my salvation.

I believe Jesus died so my sins could be buried with him.

I believe he arose and is with his Father.

I believe Jesus lived so he could present me to his Father

as a forgiven, cleansed daughter.

This was written during a Bible Study on David:

Jonathan had been King David's friend and the king wanted to honor his friend by restoring all the land that had belonged to his grandfather Saul.  He would restore this land to Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son.  King David invited Mephibosheth, who was stooped and had crippled legs, to sit at the king's table and partake as one of his own.

From 2 Samuel 9:1-13 -- Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”   Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.”  So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.

You see, David did not see a "dead dog."  He saw the son of his friend.  That made me think about how God sees me.

My Dear Heavenly Father,

  

I approach your table on feet that have walked on the path of sin.  With hands that have stayed close to my sides instead of giving bread to the hungry and water to the thirsty.  With eyes that have refused to see injustice and a tongue which has not defended your children.  I bring ears that have not heard the cries of the needy.  I come before you with a heart that reserved love for only a few.  I bring a body that is racked with guilt over my actions.

But when I arrive, at your table, the only thing you see is your child, clean and whole.  Forgiven.  You see your daughter and you invite me to eat at your table.  To eat at your table as the King's Daughter.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN AT THE FEET OF JESUS

I WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD

AMEN AND AMEN

FROM MY JOURNAL PART 3

Understanding is not always easy.  If the disciples were confused, as they spent days, weeks, and years with Jesus, it is easy to see why we are confused.  But we have the whole story.  We have the Bible.  Shouldn’t it just be clear?  Easy to understand?  Well, as clear as mud!

April 26, 2011

He is not here: he has risen!

Luke 24:6

What wonderful but frightening and confusing words:  Not here!  Where is he?  Where can I find him?  Who took him?  What do I do without him?  How can I anoint the body?

Fear:  Where is he?  What happens if we don’t find him?

Wonderful:  He has risen!

Confusion:  Huh?  What exactly does that mean?

Lord, help us deal with and understand this one sentence.  You are not in the tomb.  Just how do we keep track of you?  We put you right where we can find you – In the church, In our Bibles, In the small corner where we go to study or read.  We feel safe with you there.  Right where we put you.

So we always know where you are.  BUT YOU JUST REFUSE TO STAY PUT!  How do you expect us to know where you are if you won’t stay where we put you?  Do you expect to go to work with us?  Walk down the street with us?  Invite you to go along to the restaurant, the store?  The next thing we know – He is not here!

Lord you are not in the tomb and you refuse to stay in the tombs we put you in!  Lord help us roll away our stones.

He is risen!!  OH, MY OUR LORD JESUS, YOU ARE ALIVE – AMEN!!

PS But we still get confused.  Keep sending those light bulb moments.

July 5, 2011

Joshua 7:20, 25b,   John 8:7, 9,   Matthew 7:7,   Acts 14:27   Revelation 3:20

Scriptures on stones and doors

At the end of a Sunday School class, I made a statement:  Today we don’t throw stones, we just shut doors.

Dear Wonderful Lord, It is hard for us to understand much in the Old Testament.  One man sinned and the whole family stoned.  Why the whole family?  Why death?  Why did the whole community have to participate?  But we are New Testament people and see sin through the CROSS.  We like the time Jesus said to throw the stone if you are free of sin.  We know no stones will be thrown because we have ALL SINNED!!  We no longer throw stones or punish a whole family – or do we?  As the discussion progressed, we realized we don’t throw stones, we just shut doors.

That person

• has tattoos everywhere – shut the door quick
• they want praise hymns – shut the door fast
• she sinned – shut the door
• their father sinned so the family is not our kind – shut the door firmly
• look at their clothes – shut the door quickly

Forgive us Lord, this list could go on and on.  We feel smug because we don’t throw stones but we feel fine shutting the door.  Forgive us Lord!  Move through us.  Move through this church.  Be the force that gives us courage to open our doors.

Lord, when we see someone who

• sins – let us open the door of forgiveness

• dressing differently or covered with tattoos – let us open the door and invite them in
• is suffering because of the actions of another – let us open the door of understanding and compassion

Lord, since our hands do not hold stones, let our hands open doors.  When a seeker comes to our church, I pray we open the door BEFORE they even have a chance to knock.  AMEN and AMEN.

8-30-11

Matthew 18:21-22 and Luke 23:34

Scriptures on forgiveness

Sometimes prayers are peaceful.  Comforting.  Sometimes they are just pleas for understanding.  The call for UNITY has me confused.  (Disclaimer:  Being a neighbor to, working beside at a charity function, etc. with those of other faiths or those with no faith, I have no problem with.  It is the call to worship with and in unity with those of other faiths and claiming the god of other religions is equal to or the same God I worship is where I have a problem.  Unity, during this prayer, meant worshiping with or allowing access of our church to allow other faiths to worship in.)  This prayer is long.  I have taken it from my journal to show how we can be honest with God.  How I struggled with this in 2011 and, honestly, how I struggle with this today.

Dear God, today my heart is heavy with confusion and lack of understanding.  Please help me, others in this church and in the USA that are having the same problem.  This country is beginning to remember the 10 year anniversary of 9-11.

This country shed tears.  I cannot imagine how your heart must have felt.  Lord, I read about forgiveness and am told to be understanding, to be in unity with other faiths.  That is my problem.

We have studied the Old Testament and read time and again where your people turned away from you, suffered, called on you and you saved them.  Is that where we are?  The suffering part?  Lord, many people are calling out to you.  Many people want you back into the fiber of our country.  We are trying.  Are we just not enough?  Do more need to cry out?  How do we do this?  Is it because we are not Jewish?

Lord, I am confused.  I am scared and I am mad.  Some at you because you rescued people, but do not seem to be doing that for us.  You lifted up leaders.  Why aren’t you doing that now?  Have we – the USA and the church – moved so far away from you that you cannot hear us?  Lord, so many are reaching for you, but it seems like you have washed your hands of us.  I know you haven’t.  You created us and you love us.  Lord, we are crying out – rescue us.  Lord, rescue us.

Told you I was confused and scared and mad.  Lord, give me – us – understanding on the unity part.  I hear them but I do not understand.  I thought the Bible said to stay away from idols and false leaders, but we are to work with, in unity, a group that wants to kill us?  That has killed us!  How can the church preach “One Way, Through Jesus” and then say, be unified with those that believe differently.  Why are we sending people around the world to spread the Gospel – to be fishers of men – when the church turns around and says to work in unity?  Does that save them or condemn them?

Lord, I need help!  Give me some hope.  Give me some understanding.

I thought writing this might put my heart at ease but I am even more confused than ever.

Where do I find the true answer?  I can find scripture to support and condemn.  Show me the truth.

I could go to different people but, again, could find people with words to support or condemn every side of the issue.

My great God, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I am calling out for understanding.  I am calling out – calling out to you.  God, save your children.  Save your church.  AMEN

October 18, 2011

Scriptures on harvest:

Genesis 8:22 and Deuteronomy 16:15

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest fields.”

Matthew 9:37

Harvest – When I hear that word I see fields waiting – wheat, beans, corn – waiting to give back what was planted and tended and given a chance to grow.  Thank you that there will always be a seed time and a harvest time. 

Lord, your farmers are in the fields.  Protect them.  Let their minds stay on task and be safe.  Prosper them.  Let their yields and prices be strong.  Give them strength.  Let their bodies be strong during this harvest so they can work the long hours and then allow their bodies and minds rest when the opportunity arrives.  Give them perseverance.  Farmers are true stewards of your earth!  Let them have the vision and wisdom to move from planting to tending to waiting to harvest to waiting to planting.  Yes, they need perseverance.

Thank you for all involved in agriculture!  Send a special blessing that they will know their efforts, their work, their calling is directed by you.

But our church is to have a different type of harvest.  We are to harvest souls!

Lord, instill in this congregation the desire to be farmers for God.  Let us each plant the seed of your Word.  Let us each tend and nourish all believers.  Let us have patience as we wait for the spiritual growing that only your Holy Spirit can give.  Let us all be prepared for the harvest as believers unite in worship.

Lord, instill in this congregation the desire to be farms for God, so that when the final harvest begins, not on “kernel” will be lost in the field.  AMEN and AMEN

From my Journal Part 4 will be next week.  What will I find as I look at the final journal?  You will have to check in and see.

Have a week where you find peace, joy and something to giggle about.

PS:  I did not realize how long this had gotten until I ran it off.  Hope your eyes are not tired.