Saturday, November 22, 2008

Memory Lane

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts. Psalm 107:21-22 (NLT)
It has been a crazy, busy week. I decided to have a Thanksgiving Supper for several of our friends and neighbors this weekend because I'm not hosting dinner on Thanksgiving Day. These folks carried the flashlight for us during a long and, at times, difficult journey this year. I asked each guest to come prepared to share a Thanksgiving memory. As I think about my past holidays, snapshots pop into my mind: a little girl waiting for dinner to be served at my grandparent's house with aunts, uncles, and cousins seated at various tables. I also see my kitchen, pots bubbling, the special smell of cooked turkey permeating the entire house, the table set with china, crystal and candles, and friends and family standing around and chatting in anticipation of the dinner. Then there was the phone call a couple of years ago from my mother who lived several hundred miles away. She didn't feel well and after checking on her several times during the day, I encouraged her to go to the hospital. The story ends with the diagnosis of a blood clot on her brain because of a fall on Thanksgiving morning while getting out of bed. Although she survived the surgery, she never left the hospital and slipped into the arms of Jesus a couple of weeks later. My life's photo album is probably not much different from yours. Some events are prints blown up to an 8 by 10 while others are stuck in the back of the album. Yet the Psalmist did not hesitate to give thanks and praise for the wonderful things the Lord had done for him. David's life story is filled with intrigue, heartache, and discouragement, yet God calls him a man after His own heart. I encourage you to read David's story beginning in 1 Samuel 16 and learn of his walk with God. At this special time of year, take some time and reminisce a little. Make a list of all the wonderful things God has done for you and give Him a big THANK YOU. Have a memory to share?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Mission Accomplished

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
Our weekend plans changed when I opened the email and found we had a free ticket with Southwest. We had received an SOS from Mark's daughter, Sarah, who recently moved to Florida to work on her doctorate. She needed both "Dad-help" and a little design consultation in setting up her new apartment. We expected to unpack boxes, hang pictures, and find ways to store more stuff than room but instead we listened, encouraged, and waited. Having lived all her life in Tennessee, the enormity of the move and sudden change overwhelmed her. Lonely, unfamiliar with the area, and unsettled, Sarah began to have second thoughts about the whole adventure. Was this decision the right one for her? Confusion and fear replaced the peace she had felt in the beginning. Sarah is not my daughter, so all I could do was pray…and search the Internet for a good local church. Two looked promising but I decided to choose the one closer to her apartment. Clearly, God's purpose prevailed and was evident from the moment we entered the building on Sunday. It was friendly, great music, the sermon right on, and even a future seminar that met some of her immediate needs. As we sat there, I thanked God for His grace in this time of need. Sarah is still questioning but we left knowing that God has her in the palm of His hand and won't let go. I reflected on the weekend during the many hours on the trip home. One of the principles I recently learned from Priscilla Shirer in Discerning the Voice of God is "never make concrete plans without leaving room for God to do something different." I realized that I, too, had to let go of my plans for the weekend of having everything neatly in place. I am a "mission accomplished" kind of gal but, it occurred to me that my true mission was to leave my agenda at home so that God could do something different in all of our lives. Taking time to listen was much more important than unpacking boxes. Ready for a change of plans?

Friday, November 7, 2008

The Master Planner

He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21 (NIV)
No more TV ads for candidates. No more phone calls encouraging me to vote. No more flooded mailboxes with campaign flyers. No more unending conjectures by pundits. The nation voted and chose a new leader. Really? Although, 52% of the electorate voted for Barack Obama for president, God already knew the outcome and this new president is just one of the players in His great design. If you have occasion to look at the backside of a finished piece of needlework before it is framed or fabricated, notice the loose ends, myriad of knots, and threads looped haphazardly from one spot to another. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the color selection and no discernible pattern. But, a flick of the wrist reveals a beautiful work of art with all of the nuances of color, intricate design, and expertise of the craftsman. Right now, all I can see are the knots and untied threads of this election. Yes, I am disappointed in the outcome but not dismayed because God knows the end from the beginning. Once again, I am reminded to look to Him for direction—not the government. I get stuck in the now but for God, every moment is now. He will never disappoint me. His picture is glorious.