Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Convinced

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

We are headed to Los Angeles this weekend to see Dad. Normally, we spend Easter with him but this year we had commitments at home and didn't make it. He will turn 88 this summer and the family realizes how important it is to make time to see him. It is especially fitting that we go over the Memorial Day weekend as a way to honor Dad for his 20 years of service in the Navy.

Mark says, "Gettin' old ain't no place for sissies." As I watch Dad struggle with vision loss, kidney failure, and loneliness since the death of my mother, I admire his will and determination to live. He is limited in what he can do but we all call him when we're in a tight spot because we know we can count him to be our prayer warrior. He always wants to hear stories about the girlies. He keeps me up on politics and sports. Our visits give him something to look forward to when life gets so daily. And anything is better than eating in the dining room of his retirement community.

Dad showers his love on all of us—young or old, son or daughter, in-law or out-law. In God's scheme, his life on earth is just a dash with that ending date unknown. But we know, in due time, he will head Home, his vision clear, looking into the face of his Savior.

My Heavenly Father loves me even more than my dad. Even when life spins out of control, I'm convinced that nothing will ever separate me from that love—even when war threatens in the Middle East, oil spills unchecked in the Gulf, politicians wrangle for control, and evil rampages through our city streets. Satan, the great liar and thief, may think he is the ruler of this earth but he is so wrong.

Remember ... nothing.



Friday, May 21, 2010

A Glimpse



This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:2 (NLT)


Last night at choir rehearsal, I was putting my music in order when a friend plopped down beside me and asked, "What do you do when you don't know what to do?" Then she stopped talking and just looked at me. I wasn't completely in the dark about what is going on her life so I responded to her that we trust God and take it one step at a time.

"But what do you do when it is hard and others are involved?"

Memories flooded my mind as I thought back to the last few months. There were times when I cried out, asking God why? And the words of Job echoed, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you." We don't know why the trials hit but we do know the source of our strength. God is sovereign and that is enough for me.

As we talked, I reminded her that the only person we can control is ourselves. It doesn't do any good to try and manipulate the situation, whine or complain, or even stamp our feet. God is in control and we're never alone in the whirlwind. He promises new mercies every morning, a relief to both of us since we sure can use them up fast.

As the rehearsal progressed, we practiced Bow the Knee. While singing the beautiful melody and lyrics, I noticed that the message of the song captured the heart of our earlier conversation:

There are moments on our journey following the Lord Where God illumines ev’ry step we take.

There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,

As we try to understand each move He makes.

When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him.



Bow the knee;

Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee;

Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King, bow the knee.



There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,

The cold and lonely winds won’t cease to blow.

And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;

We are tempted to believe God does not know.

When the storms arise, don’t forget we live by faith and not by sight.


After rehearsal, I hurried over to my friend and asked her if she, too, had noticed the message of the song.

"Yes, and I didn't want to catch your eye or I knew I would lose it." We gave each other a knowing look as we headed out to the parking lot.

I love it when I get a glimpse of the puzzle that God is putting together. It is going to be a glorious picture.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Right Answer

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
I met Mark on the Internet and during those first days of getting to know each other, we spent a great deal of time online, chatting back and forth, sending emails and text messages. However, the first "real" conversations occurred a few weeks into our relationship when I flew up to take care of my grandgirlies for a few days. I didn't have time to spend chatting online because of my responsibilities to the girls, but after I put them to bed at night, we would talk on the phone. This was new and added a different dimension to our conversations. I was able to ask questions and get immediate responses with accompanying voice inflection, pauses, laughter, and tears. The amazing part was Mark's answers reflected exactly what I was thinking. I don't remember how many times I replied with "right answer."

I recently had one of those days when the sun was shining outside, but it was cloudy in my soul. Nothing was going like I wanted it to and there didn't appear to be any change in the near future. Ready to give in to my own personal pity party, I decided to spend some time with my Father knowing that any hope for change would have to come from Him.

I sat down to read two different devotionals and would you believe they both had the same theme? One read, "Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials." The other began with with, "Thank me for your problems." The author, Sarah Young, didn't write these words just for me but God did. So, instead of whining, I asked God to give me a thankful heart. I knew that this was His day, He had taken care of me in the past, and I needed to quit worrying. But I had to choose to lay the burdens down at His feet. Soon the clouds lifted and His light shone in my heart.

Don't be afraid to approach your Father with your worries, cares, or doubts. He will always have the "right answer."


Friday, May 7, 2010

Mama

He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.Psalm 91:4
After living in Arizona for a few months, Mark commented that he had never seen so many birds that would rather walk than fly. Whether it is a roadrunner or a family of quail, we constantly dodge them as we drive around our neighborhood. We have affectionately named all roadrunners, "Jake." It's easier. They are busy birds, always seem to be in a hurry, and, much to my surprise, are meat eaters.

The quail are beautiful and I love it when the babies hatch and they scurry in a line across the street—Mom in the front and Dad bringing up the rear. The gardener brought to my attention a nest secreted away in a pot by my front door. Geraniums make a perfect cover. A couple of weeks ago, I did notice Daddy quail strutting on sentry duty on the casita roof but didn't realize he was watching over his new little family. Mama is now patiently sitting on her eggs. Since she is so well hidden, she has scared me a couple of times as she flew out of nowhere when I was out snipping off the spent blooms. Now I peek through the leaves and try not to disturb her. Mark says he talks to her as he goes back and forth.

Quail babies make perfect snacks for roadrunners. Danger hovers around them until they are grown and can take care of themselves. God, in His infinite wisdom and design, created this family unit with two parents to nurture and protect them until they are able to outwit their enemy. He has done the same for us.

We celebrate mothers on Sunday. Whether your relationship with your mom is one that brings you joy or maybe some sorrow, the fact remains that without her, you would not be here today. Be sure and let her know how much she means to you.

Danger lurks in the bushes for us, too, but God provides the cover that we need in a world that is often scary and out of control. His wings and feathers weather the storms of our lives and His promises offer protection for our hearts and minds. We are not alone. He will be both our front and rear guard.

Remember...YOU are loved.


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Take Heart

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NIV)

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to the ladies of my church last Saturday at the annual Spring Tea. All the tables sparkled with the hostess' finest place settings and table decor, each unique and special. My friend decorated our table with the china, Old Country Roses, a favorite of mine. A neighbor let her raid her rose garden for a bouquet that matched the pattern perfectly, with extra petals dotting the tablecloth; silver and crystal sparkled. It was lovely. All over the room, women chatted and oohed and ahhed as they walked among the tables, enjoying the creativity of each one.

As I told my story, I watched as women nodded, smiled, and cried. Many pulled me aside afterward and confided that they knew what I was talking about. We are sisters in the challenges of life.

Yet, I was driving with a friend to the movies and as we talked, she mentioned that her life right now couldn't be better. She is happy in her marriage, her home, has a new granddaughter…all is well. I rejoiced with her as she talked and encouraged her to enjoy this time.

But I also know that life has a way of turning the corner to reveal heartbreak and tragedy when we least expect it.

We know of a family whose 13-year-old son fell from a tree and is in Children's Hospital with severe brain trauma. Another family has just gone through the valley with a five-year-old daughter who now has a new kidney but struggled each step of the way. Heart attacks, falls, depression, death. We never know what trouble is ahead of us but take heart. Jesus is alive! He overcame death so that we can have life…now and forever.