A Day to Remember.

I day of remembrance, Memorial Day. I am grateful to all who have given lives...some paying the ultimate price...to ensure my freedom. Please enjoy this tribute. Summer arrived early in Arizona so we are going to escape for a bit. We are off for a couple of weeks, flying coast to coast, to see kids and grandgirlies. Don't forget that God is good...all the time.

A Charge

So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. 1 Chronicles 28:8 (NLT)

It's birthday weekend. Actually, I'm in favor of birthday month, but I'm not going to complain. My kids have the double trouble of both Mother's Day and my birthday within a week of each other. That could be a big disadvantage but they do a good job of making sure Mom feels loved and appreciated. As the calendar turns over and year 62 hits, I think back on other birthdays. My mom was great at making my day special with small family celebrations rather than many big parties. Even now, my daughter calls to make sure I have all my meals covered with something fun to do…because we always did that. I endorse family traditions for the stability they add from one generation to another. Having recently read the Old Testament stories from Abraham to David, I noticed that family traits were often passed from one generation to another, even when the patriarch might have preferred to skip a particular one; deception comes to mind when I remember the stories of Jacob and his sons. As a mother and grandmother, I ponder over what I want to pass down to those I love. No one is perfect and even giving it our best shot leaves us vulnerable to failure, at times. However, David's command to his son, Solomon, sums up the best advice–obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Does that sound overwhelming? Maybe, but it is the bottom line and to accomplish it means that we need to be in God's word…reading, meditating, praying, listening, and obeying. Even when the children of Israel blew it, which they often did, God never gave up on them and led them to the Promised Land. This year, my prayer is that my family will stay close to the One who promises blessing and hope for the future...to the third and fourth generation.

The Healer

I, the LORD, am your healer. Exodus 15:26 (NASB)

It was kind of a good news/bad news kind of day. The good news is that the "lesion" is a benign, common, cartilage cyst in the bone. The bad news is that I have the spine of a 76-year-old woman in the body of a 62-year-old with the accompanying deterioration and pain. I am not surprised since my dad suffers from the same kind of thing. Thankfully, God gives us just enough light for the next step because I have no idea what is down the road. A friend sent me an email yesterday that encouraged me that God is my true healer. She shared with me what she learned about our Healer from a recent class: "The Hebrew phrase translated "the LORD who heals" is Yahweh Rophe and reveals God's ability to restore, to heal, and to cure, not only in the physical sense but also in the moral and spiritual sense. The Hebrew root verb rapha ("to heal") occurs approximately 70 times in the Old Testament." "Trusting God does not mean telling God anything. Trusting means relying on God's names and then waiting patiently to see what He will accomplish. Remember, TRUST means Total Reliance Under Stress and Trial. Can God heal? Yes. Will He heal? Yes, He is Yahweh Rophe. The Lord is the Great Physician. But how and when will He heal? We cannot presume to know. Watch and wait to see how He heals. And trust your Yahweh Rophe." Catherine Martin The definition of trust popped out at me. Stress really shows our true colors and I want mine to always reflect the rainbow colors of His love and promise. I know that God is good all the time.

In the Shadows

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:6-8 (NLT)

The phone rang last week and my world tilted. As I listened to the nurse give me a report on some recent x-rays, all I could hear was the word "lesion" that was found in my right hip. She had no explanation, of course, and suggested that I set up an appointment with my doctor. My mind started racing and immediately latched on to the worst-case scenario. Why do we do that? Mark gently reminded me not to worry but I decided I would rather have my own private pity party first. I mentally struggled with all the "what if's" and fretted most of the evening. As bedtime approached, the fear that sleep would be elusive compounded my anxiety. I am very good at going over and over things in my head when I hit the pillow. But that night, when darkness settled in and threatened to undo me, I started to pray. I know that God is not surprised by any of this yet He lets me whine and moan without condemnation. I prayed for Him to post sentries at the corners of our home and cover us with His protection. Then I returned to the words of the 23rd Psalm—words that have often comforted me in the last months:

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

I thought about the rod and staff. Why were they mentioned and what were they used for? As I pondered, I realized the rod was used defensively to protect the sheep from robbers or wild animals. The staff, on the other hand, was used to hook the foot of a stray before it tumbled into trouble. The quiet assurance that my Shepherd is there to catch me either way blurred the sharp edges of my worry and I fell asleep. I was safe in the shadow of His wings. I still have that doctor's appointment this week but I cling to Him for the outcome. No matter what, I am secure in His hands.

Something New

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

When the New Year hit, I wondered whether turning over the page of a calendar would make any difference. I was so ready to begin 2009 after a long and difficult 2008. And, once that new calendar was on the wall, I decided that yes, it gives me the opportunity to start over. To have a second chance, a clean slate, a new beginning. Basically, it is narrowed down to one word—hope. There were some days last year when I felt so dry and weary as I struggled in the wilderness of my own dashed hopes and dreams. I wanted to believe that God was working on a way out but I couldn't see it. I learned over the course of those months that my job is to trust and have faith that His plan is moving along at just the right speed. I tend to be quick in my actions so learning to sit back and be patient is challenging. We changed churches in January, one of those new beginnings but not an easy one. I left after that first Sunday service knowing that God was doing a special work in me in this place of worship. Tears of joy and healing often run down my cheeks. I know that God knows my heart's desires and is slowly bringing people and opportunities to my doorstep so that I may serve Him. I am so excited about the possibilities. What's new in your life?

A Busy Week

When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Psalm 142:3a (NLT)

I love Spring in the desert. After living most of my life in the lushness of California foliage and flowers, my preconceived ideas of living in a basically brown landscape are dashed when the calendar turns over to April. Each cactus blooms with its own particular flower and the desert is awash in color. You have to hurry to catch a picture because they some flowers last only 24 hours before shriveling up. Some days this month, I, too, felt like that cactus flower. Better catch me before I faded for the day. It is amazing to me how three little girls can turn our world upside down in a matter of minutes. We led a whirlwind week of fun in the sun with them as they enjoyed their Easter vacation with us. Swimming at the pool, birthday party for Tori, BBQ, dinners out, shopping, golf cart rides, loading and unloading the dishwasher—there were not many minutes in a day for Nana to just sit. On top of that, we drove to Pasadena to see Dad for the Easter weekend and almost missed church as we dealt with a dead battery. As we all drove off in different directions and returned home, I was a little sad to see the girls leave. It had been a great week. As crazy as my life is these days, I am thankful that my steps are ordered by One who knows what is best for me and keeps me from losing it. The celebration of His resurrection last week reminds me that He is alive. I serve a living God—not one made of wood or stone. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Jephthah's Daughter

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. Hebrews 11:32 (NLT)

The record of the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 inspires me every time I read it. These people faced situations that required purposeful decisions to trust God in unbelievable circumstances. It was often life or death. Finally in the Promised Land, you would think the children of Israel would have finally figured out how to please God. But the book of Judges notes that they continue to disobey and worship other gods until life becomes unbearable and they beg for help. Each time God sends His emissary to clean up the mess. He never lets go of His special people even when they can't seem to get it right. The author of Hebrews 11 recounts the stories of men and women who earned a good reputation because of their faith. He runs out of time and finally lists several more men, including Jephthah. It is an intriguing story of faith with a plot twist at the end that had me scratching my head. As Jephthah returned from battle, his excited daughter ran out to meet him and congratulate him on his great victory. Yet, rather than embracing her and dancing with her, grief overwhelms him and he tears his clothes because of a vow that he had made to the Lord as he entered into battle. This vow is the complicated part of the story but her response is what captured my attention. We never see her complain, even though her life immediately changes and she knows she will never marry or have children. I like feel-good-endings to stories but this one made me stop and ponder. Obviously, God was pleased with both of them because He listed them in His Hall of Fame. Why? They followed directions, gave glory to God, and earned the reputation of a pure heart. How do we respond when life doesn't make sense? Rant? Rave? Question? Sometimes, I find myself doing all three but the longer I walk in His footsteps, the easier it is to say, "Yes, Lord."

Milestones

So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NASB)

My online dictionary defines milestone as, "an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development." Birthdays and anniversaries are the typical examples when someone mentions milestones. But, I am celebrating a different one today–this blog is my 200th post. Encouraged by Mark, I started blogging three years ago. I thought I wanted to write a book but moving to Arizona usurped my time and energy. Another snag was that I am not a writer but a reader and felt inadequate for the job. Yet, I felt that God had some things He wanted me to say. The task seemed daunting but I decided to go for it. Determined and prayerfully, I finished that first post and then realized, with the prodding of my husband, that I had to get right back at it and write the second. After a few months of blogging, discouragement hit. I made the decision to continue whether anyone else ever read it online or not. It was great discipline to learn how to put thoughts together on a subject, more often than not, to remind ME of God's goodness and faithfulness in my life. However, whenever I check my stat meter, hits from all over the world overwhelm me and I realize that I am just a tool in the hand of God. So let’s celebrate knowing that we are all called to number our days. Blogging may not be your thing, but find an avenue that you can use to glorify Him. My prayer is that all of us will be ready with a heart of wisdom when we come face to face with our Savior.

Key to Life

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This (He) is the key to your life. Deuteronomy 30:20a (NLT)

I love to watch TV shows where the good guy wins, usually after a series of twists and turns in the plot. I am hooked on "24" for that very reason. As I follow the wanderings of the children of Israel, I notice that as they approach the entrance to the Promised Land, God sits them down for one last lecture. They didn't have a good reputation for remembering things so not only did He tell them but also He had Moses teach them the whole story in song as a memory tool. We still use that method of teaching and I remember listening to my grandgirlies sing the "A-B-C" song again and again. Yet even as God recounted the story of their journey and His miraculous care to them, He knew they were going to make bad choices and would turn to other gods. As furious as this made Him, He loved them so much that He gave them a key to life. It would be their choice whether to live a life of pain and suffering chasing after other gods or would they choose life and all of its blessing by loving the one true God and obeying His commands. What gods are we chasing today? Wealth? That is probably not the best pursuit in the current economic climate. Position? We have seen what happens when a governor attempts to sell a senate seat. Fame? Ask Mel Gibson what happens when your dirty laundry is aired on the news. But these pursuits are not limited to the rich and famous. We all do it in our own way. It is so easy to start out with noble purposes and then discover that we let the enemy lead us astray. The key to life is a choice. It doesn't just happen but must be willfully lived out each day of our lives. Make it happen! Choose God.

Trust Parade

But even after all he did, you refused to trust the Lord your God…Deuteronomy 1:32 (NLT)

The children of Israel were a stubborn lot. A trip that should have taken eleven days instead took forty years. The verse continues with, "…who goes before you looking for the best places to camp, guiding you with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day." They lost the opportunity to start a new life of freedom because of their fear, bickering, and disobedience. He was there to guide them day and night, yet they still refused to cooperate. And, yes, they suffered the consequences. How many times do we complain to God about the circumstances of our life? As I look back over the last few years, I see the hand of God in so many ways. Whether the months were filled with joy due to a wedding or birth of a new grandgirlie or months of pain and anguish in the shadow of the pit of depression, God held the flashlight on my path so I could see the next step. I don't want my legacy to be that I refused to trust God and failed to make the grand parade into the Promised Land. I want my grandgirlies to know that Nana believed God and had faith and trust in His goodness and guidance. Join me in the Trust Parade…it will be glorious!