Truce

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged. Proverbs 17:6 (ESV)

The landscape is dotted with high drama consisting of tears, scowls, tattling, territorial rights, negotiations, and compromise. Do you think I am describing the situation in Israel? No, pretend you are a fly on the wall at our house this week and watch three sisters, our grandgirlies, in action. This is the first time we have had them without their parents for any length of time. We are having a great time but it is amazing how the bantering and interaction can escalate to full-on crisis mode at any moment. We are a bit tired after a few days and it is not so much the constant activity that is wearing us out but the relentless mental alertness required. I have a much better understanding of my daughter's daily interaction with these girls and the frustration with each one for very different reasons. It is easy, as a Nana, to referee from the sidelines and have all the answers but living in the situation is quite a different story. Parenting is one of the best refiners as we age which, hopefully, results in wisdom. It requires all you have to love, discipline, encourage, motivate, and praise those children placed in your care for 18 years. The task, is even greater as a Christian parent because you want them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and learn His teachings. Our little girls are growing up to be wonderful young ladies. Their bedtime prayers are precious and the moments when they play as if these are all each other's very best friends are priceless. They enjoy each other and are fiercely loyal. Squabbles end at the water's shore. Maybe I should send them to Jerusalem for a day or two to show them how to do it.

Life Instructions

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (NLT)

Do you ever notice that sometimes things don't turn out exactly like you think they will? Mark headed off to Memphis to spend some time with his mother after she took a fall and injured her knee. Since she is 91, she doesn't bounce any more and found herself in rehab for a few weeks. However, a trip that we thought was going to be five days stretched into two weeks once he arrived and assessed the situation. After looking over my empty calendar, I decided to have a girlfriends lunch. I enjoy entertaining and it would give me purpose in this quiet week. My table seats six but I couldn't seem to fill it. Either people were away or plans already made and I was one person short. After a couple of tries, I decided that God just wanted me to have five.

Over a simple salad and bread, it didn't take long for a lively conversation to begin even though these ladies did not all know each other. Love began to flow freely from one to another as the life stories unfolded. One is a relatively new widow, one has a husband with multiple injuries after an accident, one is raising her granddaughter, one is a pastor's wife. Each of us has experienced the ups and downs of life but now in the fourth quarter, we see the footprints of God in our lives and know the best is yet to come.

So many times, I have asked God what he wants me to do and the verse in Micah answers the question. This week, it was to have a luncheon. I rotate tag lines after my signature in emails and right now, I am using:

Live simply, love generously,
care deeply, speak kindly,
and leave the rest to God.

Sounds like the modern day version of Micah to me. What better way to sum up our daily walk with Him. Have a good one!

Sunshade

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

Psalm 121:5 (NLT)

It is HOT! This shouldn't surprise me since I live in the desert, yet each summer I have to get back into a "hot weather" routine. It is imperative to put up an interior sunshade on the windshield if you have any hope of touching the steering wheel or sitting on the seat. After suffering the consequences of forgetting a couple of times, I now reach for the shades before I turn off the engine. It makes a huge difference. What an encouragement to know that my God is there to protect me when life gets hot. This past weekend, I was drooping with the weight of the cares of my family—frustrated, fearful, and disappointed. I really wanted to fix it or at least make it go away. But I couldn't do a thing. Today, our verse reminded me that I have the promise of God's watchful care over me and those I love. He knows what is best for each of us. So, whether it is scorching heat or thunder and lightning, let's wait it out under the umbrella of His love and power and see the great things He will do.

King?

You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!

I sing for joy because of what you have done.

O Lord, what great works you do!

And how deep are your thoughts.

Psalm 92:4-5 (NLT)

In a few minutes, Michael Jackson's memorial service will begin. As I was reading this portion of scripture this morning, I couldn't help but compare the words of the Psalmist as written about the LORD, our King and Creator, and what I know will be portrayed on stage for a man dubbed the King of Pop. Many will sing and speak praises about this man who spent his life entertaining people. The crowd will thrill as his life in pictures and music thunders through the Staples Center. Yet, Michael was a tortured man who spent his days under a cloud of mystery and despair. I feel sorry for his children. Having a parent suddenly taken is never easy and these three face a future of uncertainty and curiosity by the public. We live in an age of idols and icons. But is this the kind of person I want my grandgirlies to emulate? No, I want them to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords and thrill in His presence.

In God We Trust

Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow: I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Psalm 44:5-8 (NLT)

The 4th of July weekend started off with a bang. Normally a quiet news time, the reporters and pundits had their weekend unravel with Sarah Palin's retirement announcement. Today, the North Koreans fired seven missiles with an upraised fist, threatening our safety and security. Adoring fans tie up the Internet in hopes of getting a seat at Michael Jackson's funeral and the city of Los Angeles prepares for the worst. Can't we just have a normal, family, fun-filled 4th of July?

Today our world is both smaller and less safe and we can no longer expect life to be "normal." I have read with interest about the nations of Judah and Israel who discovered that regardless of the number of men, horses, chariots, spears or swords, it was impossible to defeat all of their enemies. They thought they had the best tactics and minds to put together a great offense but they failed. As the Psalmist writes, the kings and generals finally understood—God gave the victory. Change will come when we replace arrogance with humility. It's time for us to humbly bow before our Maker and acknowledge His hand in the life of our Nation.