Routine: The Travelled Way

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3 KJV

The Intuition Diaries

Routines were to be left behind, while we vacationed on Lake Michigan. Or so we thought.  We found out at the beginning of our trip that routines are important whether we were on vacation or not. Just like the rising and setting of the sun, routines have their purposes. Every time we take the boat out, we follow a checklist. Read more if you want to hear how we neglected a crucial routine, but were graced with GRACE!

 

At the beginning of July, we drove away from St. Louis, towing our boat, the Intuition. We arrived late afternoon to our destination just north of Chicago on the western shore of the lake. We checked in with the marina and proceeded to get the boat ready for our adventure of following a clockwise circuit around the shores of Lake Michigan.

We were out of our normal routine. Les was thinking about getting the extra kicker motor on the back of the boat. (This motor is our backup if the main engine fails.) I was thinking about how to arrange the extra food and other items inside the boat, so we wouldn’t be tripping over stuff for the next few weeks. It took about an hour to get everything transferred to the boat, so we were pleased with our efficiency.

Next stop—back the boat down the ramp and find our boat slip. We have a checklist for this procedure, but for some reason neither one of us pulled it out. Familiarity and past successes at this mundane part of boating became an embarrassing oversight.

Before heading out to sea, it is prudent to make sure the engine fires up and everything is working properly. So we took our usual steps (sort of) and tried the engine. NOTHING! Was the battery dead? Why is the bilge pump running? Did the fridge drain the battery on the road trip here? We were baffled.

We went back to the bilge pump question. Why was it running? Its purpose is to bail water from the cockpit of the boat or any water that is in the bottom of the boat. Under my breath, I was praying for wisdom. We opened the floor hatch and noted  water in the bottom of the boat, which the pump was dutifully offloading. All of a sudden, we remembered…the plug…did anyone put the plug in before we entered the water!? Nope, we totally skipped that part of the checklist. We scrambled and pulled the boat back on the trailer, let the water drain. Then promptly put the plug in.

The grace part: In our rush to get to our destination (the slip at the marina); I had knocked the throttle out of neutral. The engine only starts in neutral. The checklist states: “Check to make sure the throttle is in neutral position before starting the engine.” If the engine had started, we would have had a more serious problem on our hands, like how to get a sinking boat out of the harbor.

After figuring out the plug problem, we consulted the checklist, which solved the engine failure. I put the boat back into neutral, and the engine fired up immediately. What did we learn? We learned to trust the routine and always look at the checklist. After our humiliation subsided, we laughed at ourselves and thanked God for watching out for us in our foolishness.

Sunday Morning Sunrise

North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, IL 8.10.2012

 

 

Teeter-Totter

Tuesday's Pic

Do you lean towards a balanced life or a rhythmic life?

Turning Point: A Point at Which a Significant Change Occurs

Monday Musings

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.

(Isaiah 48:17)

Significant change can occur instantly or over time. I have been travelling to this particular turning point over the past twenty-four years. I remember the day the journey started, July 29, 1988, the day Kurtis John Rohlf arrived into our lives. Our first baby, and a couple years later another boy joined us, Bradley Keith Rohlf. Each arrival changed our lives, bringing joy and heartache and fears and hopes. Today they are young men, sharing an apartment and seeking their destinies.

Their departure finds hubby and me alone, with time and space and new challenges and dreams awaiting us. Last year, I completed my Bachelor of Arts in English. My turning point has arrived. I am moving towards a new season of pursuing a road I left behind when I chose to have a family. The road up to this point has prepared me for the next part of the journey.

Trust has been the foundation of this journey. Trust in a Savior, called Jesus-Emmanuel-God-with-us, the one who never leaves or forsakes me. My constant companion at each turn, this God-Man communicates unfailing love to me daily. And not only to me, but He loves every person in this whole wide world.

I got a glimpse of Jesus loving my nephew, Peter, recently. We were at our local water park. One of the highlights of the park is the lazy river, so our first visit there this summer, we gathered my nieces and nephews and a few tubes to float away our cares. The three younger ones each fell off their tubes, and Peter refused to return to the lazy river the rest of the summer. Peter is almost seven. He has a twin brother, an older sister (11) and a younger sister (5). They moved to our neighborhood recently, bringing much joy to us.

Just before school started, we decided to have another family outing at the water park. Everyone else wanted to go in the lazy river. Peter was reluctant to go. While the others lazed around the river, I decided to coax him one last time to try it again. They have double tubes, so I reassured him that I would go with him. He finally agreed, when I said he could bring his goggles. Just before we stepped down the step and into the tube, Peter stopped in his tracks. He placed his hands together and stated simply: “I’m going to pray.” He asked God to not let him fall out of his tube. I smiled and hoisted him on the tube. His anxiety returned, and he took a breath counting to ten out loud. I settled into the tube next to him, and pushed us off into the lazy river. Peter took another breath counting to ten again. (I was pleased that he was counting because I taught him this technique that I learned from a friend. She told me that counting to ten is not just a technique to calm down, but the task actually engages our rational side of the brain, thus overriding our emotional responses. Try it, and see how it works.)

We were on the lazy river, Peter resting calmly on his side of the tube with his arms propped behind his head; classic relaxed pose. It was a mere few minutes after his prayer and counting exercise that he remarked “I trust God with my whole life.” What joy! This confession birthed out of his rational mind brought me renewed hope. It is a rational choice to trust God! And the emotions follow—peace, hope and joy!

I will mark that afternoon as a turning point for Peter and me the rest of my whole life! By the way, Peter didn’t fall into the lazy river that day. He actually got the courage to hold on to the sides of the tube and dunk his goggled face under the water. J

Coming Soon

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land

that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

(Joshua 1:10-11 ESV)

Life is eventful! Full of events that keep us occupied and often running out of time for the things we really desire to accomplish. Can it be August already? I stood at the corner today watching my sister send her kids off on the school bus. Her youngest entered kindergarten. Where have the years gone?

Our boys flew the coop in January to rent their own apartment. Summer has been hot, hot, hot in St. Louis. My husband and I escaped for a few weeks to celebrate our new season of life. While out on Lake Michigan, we relaxed. And I renewed my passion for art, nature, writing and all things creative. As the school year begins, I don't have any children at home to mark the transition. I am not taking any classes myself. But I want to take this time to start anew.

I redesigned the background on my blog, removed some clutter and refreshed the photos. I am getting ready to roll out some daily postings on August 20th.

Monday Musings

Tuesday's Pic or Book Review

Wednesday Word of the Day

Thrilling Guest Thursdays

5 Fives Friday

To find out more about this excitingTurning Point at Nourishment for the Soul, come back on Monday!



Silence: Absence of Mention

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20 NLT)

“Oh, in the time of silence when man remains alone, abandoned when he does not hear thy voice, it seems to him doubtless that the separation must last forever…

Bless then this silence as thy word to man; grant that he never forgets that thou speakest also when thou art silent; give him this consolation if he waits on thee, that thou art silent through love and that thou speakest through love, so that in thy silence as in thy word thou art still the same Father and that it is still the same paternal love that thou guidest by thy voice and that thou does instruct by the silence.” (Soren Kierkegaard)

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?

Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
(Psalm 90:13-15 NIV)

  

Silence is so deafening. How can it be that I strive to quiet myself and yet I cannot hear anything? I long for times of contemplation so I can hear from God, but lately the silence even outweighs my questions and longings, giving way to this awkwardness with God. What should I pray for now? I feel so lost and confused, almost as if this silence is full of invisible sounds drowning out the word I long to hear.

I turn to words. Yet something is missing. The old passion escapes me. I plow through the entries of the dictionary and no word seems to fit or light up my eyes and thrill my heart like it used to. It feels like something is missing. What am I looking for? I turn to Scriptures and read Psalm 119 for several days in a row, hoping for some spark of recognition. Of some deep yearning rekindled. Bits and scraps, but nothing satisfies my soul. My taste buds seem deadened.

 

Silence fills the void. I page through a collection of prayers and puzzle over this cumbersome reasoning from Kierkegaard about the silence of God having the same value and meaning as his words. Maybe I just need to sit in silence. Absorb. Wait. Breathe. Remember. Embrace the Unfailing Love.

I keep wondering if God forgot to mention that sometimes life has no answers. What it is that He is accomplishing right now? Have I not been paying close enough attention? I am troubled by this time, where everything around me seems to be falling apart, instead of being built up and restored like He promised.

To trust during His seeming absence, I must wait in silence upon the LORD.

Hope: To Expect with Confidence

Shattered Hope. Broken down ideas about life. What will restore my hope?

An Empty Tomb!

And the Empty Cross becomes an emblem for more HOPE!

I have been silent these past forty days. Not on purpose. Life just took over. I was observing Lent. I didn't plan to fast from blogging, but it happened. I did give something up. I chose to "Be not anxious." My hope in giving up anxious thoughts was to replace them with peaceful ones. The challenging thing about giving something up and asking God to replace it with something else is that you have to practice.

Often over the past forty days, I was bombarded with anxiety producing situations. How did I do? Sometimes I yielded my anxious attitude to God's peace, and other times I failed.

It has been a journey. And today I woke up before the sun to capture some moments on my camera. I didn't see the sun rise, but I did see the moon reflecting the sun.



Sara Groves sings a song about how the moon reflects the sun on her album, Add to the Beauty. The song is called You are the Sun. Her lyrics give me restored hope, not in my ability to do anything, but the hope that as God's love shines on me it will be reflected in my life.

You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

(Lyrics from You are the Sun by Sara Groves)



Soil: A Medium in Which Something Takes Hold and Develops

“. . .the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NIV)

“But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:20-22 NIV)

To think of how you embraced the soil of earth, which you spoke into being, cradling an idea in your hands. Did you mix soil with water? As you survey all the materials in your reach, your artist's eye alights  upon dirt—the very medium for growth.

And then you exclaim, “This will do. Yes, indeed. I see it. I will form man out of nothing, yet something.”

In your mercy you choose dust- soil- earth to become the seedbed of humanity. You gather up handfuls mixing it with water—maybe even your own sweat and blood. Wiping sweat from your brow you form the man you imagined. In your work did you pick up a stick to sculpt the features of his face? No, I see you taking this lump of clay into your hands deliberately shaping a body, a forehead, an ear, eyes and a nose.

You are plying your finishing touches, when you take a moment to step back to observe your progress on his face—and a smile breaks across your own. You add a mouth with two lips desiring that he be able to form words just like you. You bend over his form kissing his lips with the breath of life.

Did Adam cough and shudder awake? Did his eyes flutter open, seeing for the first time, the One who sees him—and did he smile back? You reach out your hand lifting him from the ground, the very soil that became his essence—mixed with water and imbued with life giving oxygen. You introduce him to your world.

Later you would see that he needed companionship. You would invite him to recline on that same ground, to take from his form to create a suitable companion—to eat bread with, to amble and admire the garden together and to commune with their Maker.

Did you add the same mixture of soil and water to that rib? Was the rib a structure to build, to sculpt and to shape this next being around—a female image bearer? I imagine your desire to make another human hinges on the joy and satisfaction you experienced in making the first. Similar, but different.

This one would have a womb. Did you knit together her inner person before forming the body around this cradle of civilization? A being that would be able to produce fruit—not like a tree, but in a mysterious, soul-drenched way. In her womb would combine blood, water and soil cells.

Another soul born out of two. A new way of conceiving life. Their bodies designed to become one in the most intimate, delicate and creative act.

An act of love.





See: To Perceive the Meaning or Importance of

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes. (Marcel Proust)

There’s always something to look at if you open your eyes! (Dr. Who)

Joy is always a function of gratitude—and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we are going to have to change is the way we see. (Ann Voskamp)

Once upon a time a woman bought a backpack. Was she out in Colorado with her family or was it some outdoor store here in St. Louis? Now she can’t remember. But she purchased this backpack, when she decided to go to community college. It carried her books to Intro to Theater one semester and kept her company the semester she gutted it through College Algebra.

It joined her on trips, when she visited her sisters here and there.

It came with her to rehearsals at Center Stage, where she had the chance to work both backstage and onstage. It followed her to UM-St. Louis bearing with her through six semesters to complete her Bachelor’s of Art in English.

And one time it carried a few belongings and snacks, as she hiked by herself along the Fife Coastal path in Scotland for her 45th birthday.

She found the discarded backpack in her garage today. She dropped it there on her last day of finals, as a sort of nod to her accomplishment. Thinking she wouldn’t need it anymore, maybe she would even give it to the Goodwill one day.

But she remembered that she left a journal in it. She was searching for something to guide her into this next season of life.

As she dug out an old newspaper, she began to weep. What a joy it used to be to sit on campus and read the New York Times for free. Crumpled napkins from the coffee shop, where she bought coffee and a bagel to make it through the day. Pens and pencils, a miniature stapler that she stapled her papers together on their due date. Memories tumbled out onto her kitchen floor with tears of grief and gratitude.

She was mourning the loss of such a rich season of life. Not really lost, but no longer experienced in same way as before. So much has filled her mind, changed her life and saturated her soul. Grateful tears. Much needed release and a time to see the importance of that simple backpack.

It carries her memories. And today it takes on new meaning, a satchel to fill with provisions as she ponders the new frontiers awaiting her.

Cross: An Unavoidable Affliction

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross , scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12 :2 NIV

Early Christians knew without doubt all facets of the life of Christ stemmed from one reality…one central reality: the cross. Jesus was born to confront the cross; Jesus died on the cross to bring us to fullness of life; Jesus rose to defeat the cross; Jesus embodied what the role of the cross was to be in the life of us all. –Joan Chittister , The Liturgical Year



{This is a vintage blog from 2010, but I came across it while preparing for a time of contemplating the cross with some girlfriends. It was a timely word for today.}



Visions of families gathered around the table eating delicacies both savory and sweet. Piles of presents wrapped and placed under our Christmas trees so neat. And just for good measure we remember the babe in the manger, where farm animals are said to eat. Why would one want to leave this scene and to mention the cross? Because if we keep saying that Jesus is the greatest gift without the mention of this greatest affliction, we should count it great loss.


Every adventure has its dark moments, and it seems every year that I contemplate the advent of our Savior, the “little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay,” that it is not long before the images of passion week come into my readings or my mind. And as I was reading about the liturgical year, the author reminded me that while on Christmas we will worship the newborn King, every other day after this is marching us straight to the cross. The pinnacle of our experience of Jesus as our Savior.


To think on these things may be sobering, but they also bring about a mysterious hope. The cross was the unavoidable affliction that Jesus faced for us, yet He triumphed over it. Our hope is found in His resurrection. The hope of this season—a new birth—leads us to the wonderful news that we have access to new life ourselves.


The quest to follow the liturgical year for me is not just a religious checklist, but a desire to know the life of Jesus more fully and a willingnessto take up the cross in order to follow Him wherever this life leads.


I want to leave you with a link to a very old poem that you may like to read and use in your contemplations of the Cross. The narrator of the poem has a vision of the cross, in which the cross is adorned with jewels. Further into his dream, the cross takes on a voice and from its perspective tells what the crucifixion was like. I like the creativity of this poem and how the cross knew that Jesus willingly took His place on the cross. I would love to hear your thoughts on this poem, if you have a moment. The link takes you to a translation of the poem, it was originally written in Old English. Here it is: The Dream of the Rood (Rood means cross).

More Nests

Ordinary: The Regular or Customary Condition or Course of Things







Last Sunrise of 2011





“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 NIV

"Ordinary Time comes from the term ordinal and means “counted time.” You might call it the “season between the seasons”—the weeks between the main events on the church calendar (like Lent, Pentecost and Advent)."

Sarah Arthur

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12 KJV

Each year I not only follow the calendar on the wall, but also I try to observe the church calendar or the liturgical year. It is Ordinary Time and it has been since January 7th. This time will continue until Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.

My life has been quite out of the ordinary this year. On the first day of Ordinary Time, our two grown sons moved into an apartment together, leaving our nest empty. Within a week, the nest was full again with the liveliness of four young children. My sister and her kids stayed with us, while arrangements were being made for the kids to enroll in school. Two Saturdays after we had moved the boys, we moved my mom, my sister and the kids into a house right around the corner.

I haven’t had any time to experience ordinary life, until this week. May I grumble for a moment…I don’t like regular days. I yearn for excitement, purpose and activity. It is hard for me to rest. At the beginning of Ordinary Time, I proclaimed a sort of Sabbath rest for myself and so far my observation of this rest has been a little off or at least different than I had imagined.

It helps to know that Ordinary Time is not just to be suffered through; it is to be numbered and counted. It is the time to look forward to the next feast. I like how Peter and John were considered ordinary. Their ordinariness was marked by the miracle of Jesus healing presence in their action and words. They were with Jesus.

While it is good to look forward to feasts, I am reminded to enjoy the moments of daily resting in the Presence of Jesus. It seemed easier to contemplate Him in the manger. Now I ask myself, will I contemplate His journey to the cross with just as much awe? To walk with Him through these seemingly ordinary days, while looking for glimpses of His mysterious presence and workings in this world and in my soul, this is the aim of Ordinary Time.



Nest: A Place of Rest, Retreat or Lodging

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD Almighty!


My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young —
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.


Ps 84:1-3 NIV



My nest emptied on Saturday. And yet those two birds have stopped by to pick up some things they left behind or just to say hello or to leave a hug. More birds have flocked to this retreat. Young birds with hungry tummies that I enjoy feeding from my store of food. Milk and juice and sandwiches with fruit and veggie sticks and hot cocoa with sweet treats. Breakfast, lunch and dinner today! What a glorious time of gathering in, playing or watching a film or creating something special to remind us of today.

Words exchanged. Hopes kindled. Thoughts mulled over. Meals served. All these moments in a nest make it a cozy and welcome lodging. I am glad to be home. I embrace winter, even the wind-chilled arctic cold breezing through the house as I remind the young birds to close the door behind them. My bares toes freezing, but my heart melting because my nest isn’t empty after all.

Fallow: The Tilling of Land without Sowing it for a Season

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

"A field that has rested gives a bountiful harvest." Ovid.

I am not a farmer, but the idea of a fallow field intrigues me. There is purpose to leaving a field fallow. In its simplest sense fallow means plowed land, but why it is plowed seems to be of some importance. It is not plowed for planting, but for resting.

Christmastide ended on January 6th with the celebration of the Feast of Epiphany. We have now entered Ordinary Time. Winter beckons. A season of rest appeals to me. Usually, I lament the passing of winter, chafing for spring, longing for summer and harvest time. But this year I am content, there is a deep yearning for Sabbath. Not hibernating, but recuperating, allowing my soul time and space to breathe. This is my season to prepare for cultivation and growth, so that in the summer I may flourish and in autumn reap a bountiful harvest.

Today, January 9, 2012, I am declaring for myself a season of simplicity, frugality and tenacity of purpose. In forty-five days, the season of Lent will arrive. During these days, I intend to stay home more, to drive less, to invite friends over for coffee in my kitchen, instead of Starbucks, as well as to read, reflect and blog. I am proclaiming a sabbatical of sorts, not a pilgrimage to the monastery, but a cloistering in my home and my heart in order to prepare my provisions to take possession of the next season of life (Joshua 1:10-11).

My nest is empty, my English degree is complete, my words are published, my life is wide open for New Frontiers. New Frontiers will be a God initiated movement toward authenticity in my own life, which I hope will overflow and inspire the same for others. It may look like a blog site with daily thoughts or coffee on Thursday mornings in my kitchen or collage art or a day retreat or another book. This frontier of my life has yet to be explored and documented.

As you feel drawn into the adventure of living, won’t you join me on this journey of knowing God and sharing His grace with others?

For now this initiative will look like a fallow field. No growth, just resting and waiting for spring planting. In the meantime, the weeds will be frozen out and the soil will soak up the winter moisture.

In coming days, I desire to blog about God, words and other interesting topics. Stay attentive to Nourishment for the Soul. A place to feed on words, as we embrace the solace of Winter.

Near: In a Close or Intimate Manner

What joy for those you choose to bring near,

those who live in your holy courts.

What festivities await us

inside your holy Temple.

(Psalm 65:4 NLT)

“Happy You Near” (quote on a mailbox in our neighborhood, they have a magnetic message board attached to it. I love reading the quotes on the way to walk with my friends.)


We are nearing the end of Christmastide. In three days, the feast of Epiphany will be celebrated. The time when the church remembers that the Magi came from afar to be near a miracle. Their journey intrigues me. They studied the stars and by faith followed a significant star across many miles to confirm a prophecy.

Two short paragraphs in Matthew’s gospel recount the visit of the wise men. The details are sparse. He doesn’t say how long it took them to get to Jerusalem, just that they were from the east and had travelled there. They were looking for a king and wanted to worship him. They found a king ruling who said he wanted to worship this king as well, but he was not telling the truth. He was jealous of this newborn king, so insanely jealous that he slaughters many children to secure his own future. This tragic event darkens the retelling of Jesus’ birth. I can never justify or explain this adequately to myself.

So instead I focus on the pageantry and majesty of an entourage of learned men and their caravan of camels loaded with provisions for their journey. Marveling at their faith, their perseverance and their generosity as they arrive to venerate the baby king, to worship with what they have and to draw near to one promised to save all mankind from their sins.

It’s just the beginning. As this year unfolds, I want to draw near to the one who came to save. To bring my questions and ponder why pain and joy coincide over and over again. I may never make sense of the paradox of a baby becoming a king or a king dying on a cross for His subjects, but I do know I want to experience, understand and worship Him with all the faith, perseverance and generosity of the Magi.

Cradle: To Support Protectively or Intimately

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11 NIV)


“Christmas is meant to take us to the level of spiritual maturity where we are capable of seeing in a manger the meaning of an empty tomb. It is meant to enable us to see through the dark days of life to the stars beyond them.” (The Liturgical Year, Joan Chittister)


The days after Christmas often leave me at a loss. A darkness overshadows the recent joys of the season. This year I planned to avoid the post-Christmas blues. I would observe Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas, continuing the feast until its culmination on January 6th, Epiphany. After three days, my observations have been fairly mundane. I wrote down the gifts of each day—the moments that stood out, while practicing thanksgiving in all things. I found myself enjoying home, running errands and visiting with friends.

As I drove around today in a low energy mode, pushing myself to finish the errands, I kept asking God what do I need? I haven’t been very hungry for His word. My mind wanted a break from thinking.


After returning home from errands, the high intensity of the past six weeks caught up with me. I began to wonder how I would make it through the dark days of winter. I wanted to be cradled, to be held close and to rest. So I took a nap.
When I woke up, I was drawn back to my intention to observe Christmastide. To take time to sit quietly with God. Silently. No words needed. Enjoying the twinkling lights on the tree, brewing a cup of coffee, snuggling up with a blanket on the couch to be cradled by the Presence of God. Reminding myself that it is perfectly fine to have no agenda right now. Permission to rest, to breathe and to enjoy the moments of each day.

Today I choose to celebrate the glory, which started in a cradle, albeit a feeding trough, and culminnated on the cross and ultimately  was revealed through the empty tomb.

Birth: To Bring Forth

“And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:5 AMP)

“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”

(John 1:14 AMP)

“My Son has set you free to love, to believe that I am good and that the good story I am telling is unfolding under His control. Faith in Me and hope for tomorrow free you to love today. And loving with divine power releases a kind of joy into your soul that nothing else can bring.” (God’s Love Letters to You, Dr. Larry Crabb)

Marvelous morning. After a night of laboring, a child is born. It often happens this way; the mother goes to the hospital with contractions close together. The staff settles her in her bed, and then the waiting and the breathing and the groaning begin. Sometimes things slow down for awhile, and then the pain increases, the pressure builds and after a fair amount of pushing— love gushes out. Joy comes in the morning.

Here we are, we have arrived at Christmas. We can welcome the memory of Jesus’ birth in its fullest. But He was not only born, He lived and loved. He dwelt among us. And through the Holy Spirit dwells with us still. My soul is overwhelmed within me. A supernatural, miraculous wonder and awe overtake the quiet moments of early morning before anyone else in the household rises. I am alone with my Savior, our Savior.

I am drawn to the nativity. Figurines set out on tables to remind us that Jesus was born. It was recorded, His parents pondered Him, the shepherds proclaimed Him and the Magi proceeded by a star entered the scene to give Him the honor due his birth.

Can you believe it? Will you embrace this good story? The hope, the joy, the peace and the love transcend anything our minds can comprehend. Yet there is a place in us in our hearts, souls, spirits, minds and even our bodies where faith wells up and needs to be expressed. A desire, a longing that no words adequately express.

Silently, with tears brimming in my eyes, I marvel at this Birth.



For unto us a Child is Born!

Clean: Free From Dirt

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

(Psalm 51:10 NKJV)

“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up

is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” (Phyllis Diller)

Today I tackled a long neglected task: deep cleaning the family room. We are expecting guests over the Christmas holiday, so I am motivated. I started in one corner moving furniture to the opposite side of the room. About halfway down the wall with windows, we have a AC/heating unit. I figured since I was deep cleaning, I should take out the filters to vacuum them.

It never ceases to amaze me how much dust, dirt and animal hair can accumulate in these filters. I looked a little closer and realized I should take the front cover off to clean inside the unit. After I was done I wiped the vents with antibacterial cleaner. It felt good to know that I might ward off some germs and allergies by taking the extra time with the unit. I spent all day cleaning and rearranging the furniture to be ready for Christmas. This kind of cleaning is exhausting, but satisfying.

Whenever I encounter this neglected dirt in my cleaning ventures, I think about the how the dust and dirt silently accumulates. Then I think about the subtlety of sin. Sometimes I’m too busy to look deeper. But just like the filters on the AC/heater, which need routine cleaning, I need to regularly bring my heart before God and ask for His cleansing forgiveness.

I wonder how much longer the unit could have kept going with all that dirt. And now that it's clean, I hope it runs more efficiently. My life would run so much smoother if I spent regular time asking God to search my heart. Since I accomplished so much today in the house, I am thinking tomorrow I will spend some extra time with God to examine my heart and make sure it’s ready for Christmas, too.

Haste: Eagerness to Act

 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
 and they were filled with fear. (Luke 2:8-9 ESV)



And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)



When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

 And they went with haste . . . (Luke 2:15-16 ESV)

As Christmas approaches, my heart is beating faster. This past Sunday, our pastor asked us to reenter the story with a fresh perspective. Eyes to see. Ears to hear. Hearts to comprehend. An invitation to welcome Christmas once again.

We watch with the shepherds as they encounter the glory of God. Great fear and trembling overcomes them. The mighty messenger angel calms their fears. And just as they are beginning to recover, ten thousands of thousands, a multitude of more angels proclaims the greatest news—“A Savior has been born in Bethlehem! Just like God said! All glory and honor and praise and majesty be unto His name!”

The angels part just as suddenly as they appeared. The shepherds have seen the glory of God! Their hearts race, their minds whir and their bodies move. They make haste. “Let’s go see this thing!” And the thing they find—A mother and a father with a baby lying in a manger. This thing that happened was made known to them by God, to mere shepherds whom no one would even ask to represent them on the witness stand in a law of court.

But God. God chooses them to be His first witnesses, the first ones to hear the good news proclaimed and see it fulfilled— the first ones to testify to the world: “We have seen our Savior. We have been in the presence of God. He has been born among us.”

The shepherds return to their flocks. Praising and glorifying. Hooting and hollering. Causing a stir in the community: “Will wonders never cease?” Causing a mother to ponder and treasure: “Can it be that my God should be born for me?”





Calm: A Period or Condition of Freedom from Storms

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 ESV

Sudden

Trials

Overtake us.

Raging through us with

Much fear.

Stifling our Peace.

Christ speaks with

Authority,

Leaving in His wake

More faith.

A storm of tasks overwhelm me as a face today. I grab Jesus Calling and the words calm me: “If you focus too much on these…tasks, trying to get them all out of the way, you will discover they are endless…Seek My Face continually throughout this day. Let My Presence bring order to your thoughts, infusing Peace into your entire being” (Young). My shoulders relax and I take a deep breath, ready for another day.

As I read through the gospel of Mark, another storm catches my attention. Jesus and his disciples are moving around Galilee, so one night they climb into a boat to cross over to the next town. A storm pops up producing great fear in the disciples. Jesus sleeps. The disciples frantically poke him, crying “Don’t you care? Wake up! Do something! We’re going to die!” Jesus rises. He rebukes the wind, “Peace! Be still!” Immediately calm returns, a great calm.

Silent awe fills the scene, and then Jesus rebukes again. This time he addresses the disciples, “Now are you afraid? Don’t you know me yet? Where is your faith?” The rebuke stings, yet they marvel and talk among themselves, “Such authority! Can you believe this? Who is this man?” Jesus restores their rest, their natural fear ceases and their faith has been reinforced. What a storm of emotions must have been rippling through their hearts and minds, yet reverent respect overrides every other thought or feeling to take hold of their hearts.

Jesus appeared to be sleeping through their storm. But as soon as they run to Him and wake Him, He sets everything back in order. I find it hard to understand this aspect of the story. Maybe it was just a lesson for the disciples to strengthen their faith at this point in their relationship. I think it is hard to admit that sometimes, it feels like Jesus isn’t paying attention to our circumstances. But He is present. And for some reason, He waits for us to rouse Him into action. Jesus’ life remains a paradox, sleeping yet alert.

Hope: To Cherish a Desire with Anticipation

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25 ESV)

Having
Our
Perspective
Eternally Focused!









This morning I woke up with great hopes of accomplishing everything for Christmas and more. Since I have finished with school stuff, I was gearing up to dive into the Christmas rush. I almost fell for that trap, but instead I retreated to the quiet of my couch to read the devotionals scattered on the coffee table, asking God for a word. A word to keep me focused on Advent. I opened Jesus Calling and read words of hope:

Your longing for heaven is good, because it is an extension of your yearning for Me. The hope of heaven is meant to strengthen you, filling you with wondrous Joy . . . the phrase hope of heaven highlights the benefits you can enjoy even while remaining on earth. This hope keeps you spiritually alive during the dark times of adversity; it brightens your path and heightens your awareness of My Presence. (Young 366)

Then I picked up God’s Love Letters to You, and the theme continued:

If you could see right now what is happening in the unseen world, you would be filled with hope. . . The hope I provide anchors a weary, empty, troubled soul . . . Beneath difficult feelings, hope encourages by giving you reason to persevere with the joy of anticipation. Happiness depends on present blessing, which I do not guarantee. Joy depends on future hope, which I do guarantee. Do not expect to feel good. You may. You may not. My work of hope reaches into the center of your soul to strengthen your character and deepen your resolve in any circumstance of life. (Crabb 56)

Rich thoughts to chew on. I want my life to be more and more marked by hope, rather than despairing about what I think I don’t have. I will still get caught up in the moment, but I want to do it with an eye to the future planned by Jesus. That future where we all get to live with Him forever in heaven, no longer prisoners of this temporal world. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Embrace: To Clasp in the Arms; Cherish

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakkuk 3:19 AMP)


“Know this: those who live by faith will struggle in ways that those who live to make their lives work will never know. It is that struggle, to believe despite desperate pain and confusion that a good plan is unfolding, that will open your eyes to see Me more clearly.” (God’s Love Letters to You, Dr. Larry Crabb)

Habakkuk is one of my favorite minor prophets. I could just hug him for being so real. By the way, his name means “Embraced by God.” Habakkuk prophesied judgment upon Israel, not a pleasant task. Everything was falling apart. Yet he rejoices in God! He knows God is his strength. He knew how to worship God. He ends his book with a song, lamenting the situation, and yet his song concludes by rejoicing in God!

In the Amplified version, the first verse gives direction to how to approach this prayer song: “A PRAYER of Habakkuk the prophet set to wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music” (Habakkuk 3:1 AMP). His faith rocked!

The disparity of good and evil around him caused him anguish, but he wasn’t afraid to ask God questions. His faith was bolstered by thinking deeply; he had to ponder hard questions. In the Literary Study Bible, Ryken mentions that Habakkuk was a philosopher of sorts. His oracles reflect “the branch of philosophy known as theodicy (reconciling God’s goodness toward the human race and his omnipotence, considered within a context of evil and suffering)” (1413). As the narrative of Habakkuk unfolds, he remonstrates with God over the pain and injustice he witnesses, then God answers. After their dialogue, Habakkuk pens his prayer song.

As I contemplate the coming of Jesus into our sin tainted world, I marvel at His courage to live among us in order to embrace our flesh, to suffer our punishment, to experience death and resurrection so that we might be reconciled and embraced by Him. Marvelous, matchless love!

Ponder: To Think or Consider Quietly, Soberly, and Deeply

“Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”
(Psalm 111:2 NIV)

“And all men shall [reverently] fear and be in awe; and they will declare the work of God, for they will wisely consider and acknowledge that it is His doing.” (Psalm 64:9 AMP)


“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NIV)


What are you pondering these days? I am in awe of all that God has been accomplishing in and around me this Advent season. Today I finished my last two papers and my last ever final exam as an undergraduate. I really just wanted to suggest today that you ponder the Goodness and Grace of God as we continue this season of welcoming Christmas. Maybe tomorrow, I will have something more profound to offer once I ponder for awhile.

Hurry: Disturbed or Disorderly Activity

“. . . those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 43:29b NIV)

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Having

Unrealistic

Reasons to

Run

Yourself Ragged

Christ

Alone

Lessens

My Anxiety

“Hurry up! Hurry up! Only 13 days until Christmas!” This is what my internal holiday clock mutters to me this morning. I want to yell back, “Don’t remind me! I know, I know!” But the Holy Spirit quietly hushes me during this rush of anxious thoughts. “Just enjoy today. Watch and see what I am going to accomplish. Trust me.”

God’s not in a hurry, so why am I? He has faithfully ordered my previous days and He will direct me this day as well. Yet, it is a constant exchange of confessing my anxiety and yielding to the reassuring presence and peace of Christ. I must place my hope in God once again, asking Him to remind me that there is only one thing that really matters. Sitting at the feet of Jesus, while He settles my heart in His presence, inviting me to sing praises to His name and soaking up His peace. Only then will I be ready to face the day ahead.

Whatever tasks loom before me, like final papers and final exams and Christmas shopping, I will trust God to help me finish. He never disappoints! He always comes through, and even if I feel frazzled or fear failure, His love never fails.

For now it is time to play Christmas carols and worship Him, as I move forward into the work of this day, not tomorrow or next week, but just today. May His calming Holy Spirit breathe peace as you live out this day.

Rest: Peace of Mind or Spirit

 

"Cease striving and know that I am God . . .” (Ps 46:10a NASB)

Remember to
Enjoy and Absorb.
Stop
Trying so Hard.

Relax.
Enjoy.
Surrender
Time.


Why is it so hard to rest? We were designed to rest. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made on account of and for the sake of man…” (Mark 2:27 AMP). This comforts me. God is not asking me to fill every moment of my life with activity. He wants me to take time off from worrying and fussing.

As I approach the end of this semester, this journey of going back to school for personal development, I marvel at all I have learned. I could tell you all my new knowledge about literature or how I survived College Algebra. Yet my greatest lessons had to do with trusting God, which included learning how to rest, how to surrender time to Him.

This semester especially, I kept hearing the gentle call to rest, to absorb, to enjoy the content. To not try so hard at getting it right and getting the perfect grade. This idea applies to any aspect of our lives. Why do I think that I control time? Time is God’s gift, and when I realize this, my life has more peace and less anxiety.

The gospels show Jesus resting in a way that reflects His Father’s intentions for the Sabbath. He healed, He modeled love and He even ate with His disciples. Rest doesn’t always mean inactivity, but it does cultivate a confident trust in God’s ability to calm and provide everything in His time.

As the Christmas season often pushes us into frenzy, I want to invite you to rest. To take some time to reflect on the goodness of God. To follow Jesus, who is “Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:28)