First Day of School

You can see the excitement on their faces. New second grader Kate, and Tori, a kindergarten newbie, pose for their first-day-of-school pictures. You go, girlies!

Integrity

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9 (NLT)

“She looks just like her mother.” “I can see her dad’s dimple.” “”She is going to be tall like her Nana.” How many times do we speculate, either in our minds or with others, about how our children or grandchildren will turn out? Some things are easy to see since certain physical characteristics show up at birth but others take time and maturity to fully develop. Two of my granddaughters start school tomorrow. If they did not have the same last name, you probably would not put them together as sisters. In fact, all three girls definitely have there “own look.” But these little girls will use their own particular strengths, personality, and family training to tackle the challenges of school. I loved school and did well. It would make me feel good to hear someone say, “She does well in school, just like her Nana.” Upon reflection, however, if I could choose a gift to give these girls that would last longer than an “A” on a test or popularity among their friends, it would be integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. The challenges they will face on life’s path with its twists and turns, will be so much easier to navigate if each girl pursues fairness, honor, and good character rather that popularity and a good time. Do you remember when they used to give grades for citizenship along with academics? As a mother, those "needs improvement" marks got my attention faster than any low grade...just ask my son. Yes, I am excited for the new school year to start for my girlies. My daily prayer is that they stay near to God’s heart and be known for their integrity.

Spot Cleaning

What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

My two month wait finally over, Alex, the painter, has been here all week. His job, as part of the warranty on the house, is to do the paint touch up work both inside and out. I am thrilled to get this work done so that I can remove all the blue masking tape that has dotted the house. But do you know what I have discovered? Every time he comes and makes a sweep through the house, I find more areas that need his quick, sure touch. Clean, fresh paint highlights areas I never noticed and the next thing I know, more blue masking tape. I am sure he thinks he will never be done with this project. Have you found that your life can be like the walls in my house, always in need of repair with just one more spot to clean up? Just when you think you have everything under control, out peeks a loose string in your life that needs to be cut or tucked away! We try out best to clean up our act but somehow it is never enough. Ever been on a diet? If you have, I would imagine, it was not your first. We dress to camouflage our perceived weak spots, use make-up to hide the blemishes, color our hair to hide the gray. Such actions may cover the outside but what about the inside? Negative emotions and attitudes are harder to hide and change. Too often we adopt unhealthy responses because the pain inside is too great to handle and we can’t find a way to escape; anorexia and bulimia are good examples. Anger, depression, compulsions, and withdrawal are manifestations of the dark places in our heart and soul. We try and put on a happy face but it doesn’t last. Let me assure you that the only way to get the job done once and for all is to give it to the Master, the One who made us and knows all of our parts. Sin gets in the way and messes with our lives. Yet, Jesus offers us new life, without spot or blemish. Only the grace and forgiveness that comes from repentance and acceptance on our part can make us whole and clean. Finally, no more spot cleaning...it is all done!

Curve Balls

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)

Weary, tired, exhausted, worn out, fatigued, sapped, spent: pick a word and you've got me. We spent last week moving my dad into an assisted living facility. His mind and hearing are as acute as ever but his body and vision are failing making it impossible to continue to live alone. He gave the family a huge gift with his willingness and acceptance – even excitement about this move. But his limited physical state left the bulk of the work to us. Knowing him, the hardest part was watching us dismantle the house that he has lived in for 41 years and not being able to do one thing about it. Life brings us curve balls and he commented more than once that he never expected to be in this position. We all face unexpected challenges. It might be an illness, a job loss, a sick child, or a mine or bridge collapse. How do I handle this crisis? There are times when we can barely hang on for grief. Other times, we roll up our sleeves and get busy. But each trial gives us the opportunity to take the steps of faith acknowledging our trust in the One who made us. I know that I have prayed, more than once, complaining to my Father about a particular test or challenge. Yet, it is during those intense times, that I feel His comfort and understanding deep in my soul and know that He is walking right beside me...I will trust Him. I have a real sense of peace that Dad is now in a good place and I know that soon he will be calling it home.

New Season

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven…
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

We head out tomorrow for Southern California to spend the week with my dad. All the family, young and old alike, are looking forward to sharing this special time of celebration of his 85th birthday. The kids will spend the weekend camped out all over his house. (We are staying with a neighbor and have a real bed!) Dinner is planned at his favorite restaurant on Saturday night and Allie has her mom making the birthday cake. And yes, there is a time for everything because the other task for the week is to help him move into assisted living. Eight months of living alone, unable to drive due to poor vision, dependent on so many for even the smallest things, has left him feeling like he was under house arrest. It is time to move…and he is excited about it. As the generation in the middle – sometimes called the sandwich generation – I have had to learn about things I never knew I needed to know. I get calls from him for help and sometimes the calls come from my children. However, God has been gracious to give me a window of stability in my life so that I can be available to my family. I am so thankful that He is there walking with me along this uncharted path because this is a season for change…for all of us.

No worries!

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)

I have been known to fret on occasion, particularly over uncontrollable things. The result of all this fretting or worry is usually nothing; it doesn't change the outcome and it steals my joy. I like to know the whys of life but I find that God usually works on a need-to-know basis. And most of the time, I don't need to know. This past year has been a tough one. Health issues, moving, death, job loss, aging parents, and pain have dominated the life of our family. However, on occasion God pulls the veil away to show me a glimpse of His plan. Ah-Ha! I get it! I have had a few of those, too, and while it strengthens my trust in Him I cannot expect Him to answer all my questions on my time frame. Yes, I see His hand in my past but I trust Him for my future because He promises to always lead me, to direct my footsteps, and to care for me along the way. No worries!

The Lord alone is God!

My daily reading through the Bible continues and it has been such a blessing! I did not expect to enjoy and appreciate it as much as I am or realize how timely it would be given the current events in the Middle East. I have been fascinated to read about the kings of both Israel and Judah. Usually the first or second line of the text lists the name of the newly crowned king and whether they walked in the good or evil footsteps of their father. I wonder what those boys were thinking when they heard the stories of God's exact instructions on how to live and worship; then they watched their dad build altars to false gods, worship them, and follow all the pagan ways of their enemies. God was quick to discipline these foolish kings with defeat, destruction, and captivity by their enemies. He was not about to protect or promote a leader that shook his fist in His face and turned from Him. Yet, over and over again, when faced with certain defeat and death, this same foolish leader would repent and ask for forgiveness and God graciously gave it. As angry as God was with this man, He loved him even more and wanted to give him life not death. Listen to this record from God's Word:

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 (NLT)

Amazingly, some young men did choose to reign with integrity and justice, tearing down the idols of the past. Who are you choosing to follow? But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NLT) We know that God is our victor in the battle of life, not the enemy. Yet daily, I must choose to take the reins of leadership in my world and follow Him. This is the heritage I want to leave to my little ones!

Afraid?

Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. Psalm 25:12-13 (NLT)

As I pedaled in the gym watching the morning show playing on the TV's overhead, in the space of twenty minutes I saw one heart rending story after another – from breast cancer to the slaughter of an innocent family. One of the girls on the treadmill commented, "I sure would like to see some good stories!" How true! Life can be so daily and often, the tedium and frustrations drown out any joy or hope. We all desire to be doing work that is either fulfilling or making a difference. But sometimes we have no control and our world crashes around us. Illness, death, job loss, rebellious children, or divorce may strike when you least expect it. These are the types of circumstances when more time, money, or effort will not change one thing. Then comes the big test – do we trust God or not? The verses in today's Psalm give us a clue to the solution; we must fear the Lord and He will guide us. This is not fear as in to be afraid, but rather to regard God with reverence and awe. We have to get out of the way…it is not all about us. We must believe that we can trust Him with our life and that of our family, especially when circumstances are beyond our control. David, the author of these verses, had his share of life's problems but in the end he was called a man after God's own heart. That is the kind of person that I want to be…in the midst of the turmoil of life, I put one foot after another following Him. Anyone behind me?