Monday, July 25, 2016

What did God create on the fifth day?

As I walked out on the porch this morning I found this....
I knew my father had found it on his early beach walk with mom this morning and I stopped to think what an interesting creature.  I passed it several times on my way back and forth to the beach. As the afternoon lull of a beach day set in, I finally took the time to really examine this funny creature and to think how much joy God had in creating all of the creatures of the sea.  I turned him over and there were five limbs to the circular body......why 5 I wondered.  
Genesis 1:21 says, "So on the fifth day, God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds... and God said, this is good!" Look at a starfish and you will see 5 limbs; look at a sand dollar and you will discover 5 petalloids and 5 slots.  Unfortunately, we have not run across either of these two sea treasures yet this week......but, now look at the fair linen cloth that covers the alter. Five small crosses are embroidered on the fair linen - one to fall at each corner and one in the middle of the front edge. These symbolize the five wounds of Jesus. It symbolizes the shroud in which Jesus was wrapped for burial.  
I will never cease to be amazed by our Creator's perfect plan and how His daily reminder's, even in something as funny looking as a sea urchin can bring us to the foot of the cross.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Are you going to open the door?

I take a nap almost every Sunday.  It is something my family can predict like clockwork.  John knows not to mow the grass between 1:00 and 2ish on Sunday afternoons nor do the children ring my phone during that time.  Selfish....absolutely, but truthful!  This past Sunday, like clockwork I was zonked out and the doorbell rang.  Uuuggghhh!  No one else was home and as I lay there pondering who it could be and if I was going to wait for them to go away or go to the door, the bell rang AGAIN!  Ok, alright, I'm coming!  As I peered through the glass pain there stood a young girl with a stack of books.  A solicitor while I'm napping?  Did I mention selfish?  But, I asked through the glass what I could do for her and she raised up one of the books which I recognized immediately.  She explained she provided Bibles for doctor's offices.  You know the blue one where you can tear out the postcard......
 http://www.thebiblestory.com/image-temp/BSMary.jpg
I opened the door and began to listen to her story.  She is a seminary student and through donations was providing these Bibles and also offering other magazines with a donation.  I truthfully never have cash but thanked her for what she was doing and wished her well.  Then she began to ask another question, but not in a million years was it what I assumed it would be: can I leave you with an envelope or some reading material....it was nothing like that.  She asked if she could pray with me.  I was very much taken aback.  I explained some concerns facing me and my family this week and she began to pray for us eloquently, poignantly, sincerely, but simply.
In Luke's Gospel, the disciples ask, "teach us to pray."  Were they expecting magic words; were they expecting a formula or specific steps to the most effective way to pray in order to achieve the greatest outcome?   Jesus meets them once again where they are on this journey.  Through His parable he teaches them about boldness and persistence in prayer.  He teaches them to trust Him as a divine parent to give them what they need and more.  
He teaches us the same thing.  It is not the mechanics of our prayers, it is that we speak them into existence, not hiding them in our hearts and trying to "fix" things on our own.  Not allowing Satan to keep his hand over our mouths.  It is standing on His promises to answer us and to give us what we need in accordance with His will and what is best for us.  Read the parable Luke 1:10-13.  Maybe the friend isn't asking for anything for himself, but for his visitor.  He teaches us to pray for others too.
I will forever be grateful that I opened that door last Sunday and for the lesson of being bold in prayer.

 "Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial." (Lk. 11:2-4)

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Are you going to cook or do the dishes or sit at Jesus' feet and be still?

What a choice!  I know what I would do if given the choice.  I do have to tattle on myself.  When we were children my  mother made Sunday dinner every Sunday...EVERY Sunday!  Mary Ellen and I were expected to clean the kitchen following the afternoon meal.  I would be sure the table was cleared and then "poof" I was gone!  Disappeared!  No where to be found!  Mary Ellen (the Martha of the family with a Mary spirit) would finish the dishes, wipe the counters, put the leftovers away and then I am sure fed the dog and cat, mowed the lawn, and on and on.  If she complained, which was rare, I would return to my post for a minute and then "poof".
Martha gets a pretty bad wrap in Luke's Gospel story this week, but there is a lesson to be gleamed from Martha.  She was the "doer" where as Mary was the feeler, but Jesus met them both where they were throughout His earthly time with them.  Is there a way to be Martha, the thinker and doer but also be the quiet still Mary?  If you haven't read Having a Mary Spirit written by Joanna Weaver, put it on your "to do list".  She beautifully illustrates how to set a "balance between a soul at rest and a body in motion; working hard for Christ and sitting at His feet."
 
I believe this crazy pendulum that keeps us swinging from being Martha to being Mary can be regulated through our prayer life.  Look where Luke places this story.  Smack dab in between the 2nd greatest commandment "to love our neighbor as ourselves which requires a Martha spirit and His lesson on how to pray; how to ask, seek and knock; having a quiet Mary spirit.  So, is that where the Lord is leading us?  Somewhere between being the doer for our neighbor and the feeler in stillness and prayer?
Take some time to evaluate your prayer life this week.
What is your plan?  Jesus Calling, a journal, prayer partner, an Audible version of Discerning the Voice of God  (Shirer) while you brush your teeth? Or if you already have a well established prayer life, what can you tweak?
The wandering mind during prayer.  It's ok.  See where the Lord is leading your mind during this time.  From the grocery list, to scheduling a hair cut; who knows what dots the Holy Spirit is connecting during this quiet time.
SHHHH!  Don't try to monopolize the conversation.  Give the Lord a chance to communicate with you.
I can't remember who gave me this acronym but it has always been something I have held onto.  I usually find myself praying while holding a plank at exercise and using this acronym.  Talk about a "twisted sisterhood" of Mary and Martha!
P: praise
R: repent
A: ask
Y: yield

Dear Heavenly Father,  in our weakness, we are worried and distracted by many things; but we praise you for your reminder that there is need of only one thing; your love for us through Jesus Christ which will never be taken away from us.  Amen.




Tuesday, July 5, 2016

What are the odds of qualifying for the Olympics?

The odds right now for a swimmer below the age of 18 to qualify for the American team is staggeringly low.  For any "new" swimmer to qualify for a coveted spot on the Olympic team is a daunting task because of the success of those competing who are Olympic veterans. The one thing that has struck me is the amazing humility these Olympic hopefuls show when they reach their life long goal.  My sister pointed this out especially in the women swimmers.  They truly are shocked and humbled when their times are posted and their names called. I can't imagine the hours and hours of training, the endurance, but also the hope; the encouragement from family, friends, teammates to keep on keeping on!

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, I find great comfort in this pep talk.  "It is our Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Col. 1:12)  Thanks be to God that we don't have to attempt to qualify for heaven on our own accord.  Talk about being humbled!  Our training involves living a life bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.  Is this easy, not at all!  There are going to be days when we fall short, but we trust in His strength and power and glorious might  to run this race (or swim this race) with endurance and patience all the while giving joyous thanks to our Father.  Through faith in Jesus Christ we have already qualified for heaven.  After an athlete qualifies for the Olympics, it doesn't mean he quits.  He continues to work hard maybe even harder than before; honing skills that will give him that hundredth of a second advantage.  As Christians we do the same, continually striving to bear good fruit and growing stronger in our spiritual wisdom and understanding, living joyfully giving thanks to the Father.