Finding Your Place Now

Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:2

We have three fawns that are currently living during the day in our backyard.  The momma drops them off in the morning and comes back later in the day to pick them up.  It feels like we are babysitting deer.  The three have found their place in our yard – close to the house next to our office window.  They lay in the mulch and leaves.  Their indentations are in the mulch.  It is so sweet that they have found a comfortable place in our wooded yard.

In my hometown over the past two weeks, we have participated in two ice cream socials and a luncheon.  After getting our food, it is finding a place to sit.  I have sat with family and friends and have had wonderful conversations.  It is choosing a place.  Sometimes a person will say, “I saved it just for you.”  Now that makes you feel wanted and special.

Finding a parking place sometimes is a challenge especially during a busy time or busy area.  Someone pulled out of one recently and I found a place to park that was convenient.  Other times, you find a place a distance away and choose the attitude of enjoying the extra walk.

We find our place in our families too.  Our place is like our role or responsibility in the family.  The place in the family is sometimes based on birth order, personality, your gifts and talents, or just your ability to get along with others.  Your place in the family can also be your own choice.  It depends on how involved you choose to be, how willing you are to be available to help and support, and how much other listen to you and trust your word and guidance.

It is finding your place in your social groups and friend groups.  You may be the organizer and have the role of getting everyone together and making the plans.  You may follow the crowd.  You may desire to have a social group and have not found your place.  My cousin, who moved back to her hometown a couple years ago, is searching for her place in relationships.  It is difficult to break into already established groups and relationships.

We also have to find our place in the Church.  It is choosing where you want to serve and give of your gifts and talents in the fellowship of believers.  It is finding your place in your faith.  There can be a feeling of not fitting in or even not being welcome.  It may even feel like there is judgment or a lack of acceptance.  It is difficult finding our place in this world and in relationships with others.  It is trying to fit in without compromising who we are or allowing others to be in control.

In each season of life, we need to find our place – our role and who we are now that life has changed.  Finding your place when you feel empty or lost or unsure is difficult without someone to be your guide.  That is why Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John that he prepares a place for us.  Not just a place in Heaven where we will be with Him forever, but also a place with Him now.  Jesus gives us direction in finding a place – “I am the way and the truth, and the life.”

The ultimate finding our place is with God.  God wants us to find Him and to be with Him.  Sometimes, we feel we have to find our way on our own and earn a place with God.  God calls us His children and provides the perfect way to Him through Jesus and the cross.  Jesus died for our sins.  We are forgiven and given the gift of salvation and eternal life.

But so often, we struggle with the simplicity of grace.  It is free, and it is a gift.  God seems distant and Heaven seems unattainable.  We complicate the relationship and think we have to understand and figure it all out.  That is what faith really is – a trust that you don’t have to know it all to believe it all.  It is finding your place as a child who is loved by a Heavenly Father who is good and faithful.

You fit in with God because God chose you.  God accepts you.  God has a place just for you.  When you feel like you don’t fit in or have a place in your family or among those around you, remember God always has a place for you. 

www.livinginthedifferent.com

The Simple Music of Life

“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.”  Psalm 55:16

Heaven continues to get sweeter and sweeter this year as another dear friend, Sharon, took the journey home.  My connection with Sharon began with her family and then with her involvement in the Vesper Services at the facility where she lived.  My connections were many, but our bond of friendship was in the deep and confidential conversations we shared over the years.  Sharon trusted me with her heart and as a person she could process through what was going on in her life and in the life of her family.

Trust is the basis of all relationships.  It is in this trust that we share deeply and create a bond that nothing can separate.  Trust is knowing the person lives what they say and loves without condition or judgment.  When you trust someone, you can be open and vulnerable.  My friendship with Sharon had the foundation of trust. 

Her life and legacy were built on trust.  Sharon trusted Jesus and gave her heart and life to Jesus.  Sharon loved Jesus and simply and quietly lived her faith through her love and actions.  Sharon loved her family fiercely, and they trusted her to always be there for them and to love them no matter the circumstances.  Sharon loved the simple things of life.

In Sharon’s Celebration of Life Service, music was central.  Sharon had a love for music that she instilled in her family especially her son, Phil.  Sharon had the desire for a music career but life took a different direction.  Her desire was fulfilled through her son, Phil.  I got to know Sharon as she played for the Vesper Services when I would assist the Chaplain.  Music flowed through her fingers.

At her service, Michael sang “If I Sing” by Richard Muenz which moved my heart deeply.  Phil said it expressed his relationship with his mom.  I began to ponder some of the words of the song – “If I sing you are the music, if I love you taught me how.  Every day your heart is beating in the man that I am now…. I never told you.  It took time till I could see that if I sing you are the music and you’ll always sing in me.  Yes, you’ll always live in me.”

For Sharon’s family, she was the foundation of music.  She gave them the gift of music not just in notes on a page, but the music of love, the music of shared meals and delicious food, the music of laughter and joy, the music of Jesus, the music of enjoying the simple things of life.  She was the music that helped them sing, that gave them a voice to become who God created them to be.

Jesus is the music of our lives.  Jesus creates the rhythm of our lives.  A rhythm is a strong, intentional movement that guides the flow and pace.  It is the underlying pulse.  It is a regular pattern that is natural and continuous like heartbeats.  We can only sing if Jesus gives us the music which Jesus does in the Bible and through His Holy Spirit.

Sharon’s legacy of love for Jesus, others and the simple things of life come from Jesus being the music of her own life.  Is Jesus the music of your life?  It is not just listening to music or singing the words of songs, but allowing the rhythm of the music to become your natural pattern of life.  It is allowing Jesus to guide your pace and flow of life.  Everything you say and do, goes through the beat of Jesus.

We tend to complicate our faith and our lives with activities, worries, anxieties, an abundance of tasks and make our faith complicated with so many expectations.  When we do this, we lose the music and gentle rhythm of salvation and grace.  It’s simple – God loves you.  God sent Jesus to die for your sins.  You believe and accept and sing for Jesus.  Simple.  Listen to the music.  Surrender control to Jesus and follow His rhythm of life.

It takes time to see that if you sing, it is because of those who leave a legacy of love.  Their love will always sing and live in you.

It takes time to see that if you sing, it is because Jesus is the music.  Allow Jesus to be the music – the rhythm of your life – and you will always sing, that is, live in his love and grace and glorify Him.  It’s that simple.

Listen to the music.

Elaine J. Sturtz

www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my other blogs and newspaper articles and books on my website.

My Spring Reflections

 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

The Spring rains have come.  The fields are planted.  The new birth of creation is growing.  God’s Word is alive.  I continue to reflect in my morning devotions, and God continues to reveal His presence through His Word and the word shared by others.  I hope you will reflect on what touched my heart this Spring.  Here is some of the thoughts I wrote in my journal -

We should never lose the sense of wonder that God’s love for us is so undeserved but given freely.

Jesus said, “It is finished.” There is nothing left for you to add to the cross.  Nothing left for you to earn, to prove.  The debt is paid.  You can stop striving for what is already secured – your salvation.

Prayer makes us wait as we give the situation to God.  Prayer quiets my heart. You cannot pray and worry at the same time.  Prayer is an act of trust.

God provides for me places of rest and enjoyment in everyday life where He restores me.

Good deeds are evidence of God’s Spirit working in and through us.

God is not asking us to keep up, He is asking us to slow down and meet Him.

God doesn’t answer to our schedule.  God invites us into His.

It is in the quieter rhythm we find God’s voice, presence, and peace.

There is a longing, an emptiness in us to desire the fullness of joy with Jesus.  It will be fulfilled in Heaven when we see Jesus face to face.

To completely trust in God’s work rather than our own is our ultimate Sabbath rest.

Stop spending time on decisions that are not yours to make.

Our first reaction to people and circumstances tell who we really are.

Jesus forgives our sin even before we commit it.

God knows the darkness of my life and doesn’t flinch or push me away – God just moves closer.

Trust is not built on knowing the road ahead.  It is built on knowing the One who walks with you.

It is not the size of your faith that matters but the object of your faith – Jesus.

Confession is telling God what you did.  It is not that God doesn’t already know, but the two of you need to agree.  (Max Lucado)

When God called you – God knew your past sins and your future sins – and He still chose you and called you.

We are always in God’s line of sight.  We won’t miss out on anything God has planned for us to experience.

When we take a wrong turn, God’s grace gently redirects not with shame but with guidance.

You are not what happened to you, you are what you choose to become.

Nothing surprises God.  We question “why?” but God is working even in senseless tragedy.

Peace is the gift of God in the middle of the chaos and storm.  It is not the reward after the storm.

It is exhausting trying to be your own Savior.

We may possess things, but God owns them all.

Our hope is not in our performance but in God’s open arms of grace.

We are to walk in moment-by-moment dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

God, not other people, are in charge of our situations and life.

Hope is a quiet, stubborn conviction that the light at the end is real, even when you cannot see it yet.

My hope is that one of these statements will resonate with you and help you on your journey closer to Jesus.

Check out all my blogs and newspaper articles on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Anchors Are Aging

“When they are old, they will still produce fruit; they will be healthy and fresh.”  Psalm 92:14

I listened to Charlotte Leeth, dressed as a Revolutionary War era lady, share about the women and their work and influence during the early years of the formation of our country.  Her knowledge and authenticity transported the audience back in time.  Mrs. Leeth, as I refer to her, was my ninth grade English teacher.  I credit her for beginning my writing journey.  She encouraged me as a teenager and saw potential in me which influenced me to write several books.  Mrs. Leeth edited my last book – Live Different Moments. Since you are reading this blog, you can thank Mrs. Leeth too.  Her influence is still producing fruit.

My life has been impacted by the encouraging words of my teacher.  Mrs. Leeth will be ninety-eight years on this earth in a few weeks.  Her life has been fruitful in great and small ways.  She has made a difference in her students and her community and in her faith and mission trips.  I am privileged to be counted among those she has influenced.  Age is just a number to her.  She remains active and full of joy and life.

I had lunch with my friend, Dwight, who is in the season of his 90’s.  He has been like an adopted dad to me since I served as a youth minister in my early twenties. Always a gentleman, always the same constant man, always strong in his faith and his love.  He told me that he has had a good life and has been blessed.  He has been a strong foundation for the church and for those he has mentored.  He wonders why his is still here on earth.  For me, he is an anchor – always steady and sure.  I need people who are consistent, strong, never waver in their faith, and always love.  Dwight always says “Love you back” when I say “I love you.”  He always loves me back.  Now, that is a great legacy and wonderful fruit.  To always be loved back.  That makes a difference.

Ginny is preparing to leave this world whenever God calls her.  She tells me she has lived long enough at age ninety-four.  She is ready to join her daughter, Jan, in heaven.  She wants to make sure all the paperwork is completed so her granddaughter does not have to worry or figure it out.  She has also told me she has waited until warmer weather in the cemetery so I do not have to officiate at her service in the cold.  Ginny’s life still bears fruit because she is teaching how to prepare and not leave work behind for others to complete.  Completion and practicality are good fruit.

So many of my dearest friends are in their 90’s and still going strong.  I value their wisdom, and I so enjoy listening to their stories and the sharing of their memories that they hold close to their hearts.  They have lived a long and full life filled with joys and sorrows, challenges and accomplishments, and have survived to share their knowledge and faith.  Yes, all of them are grounded in their commitment to Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

It is amazing conversation to talk about Heaven with those who are preparing to take the journey whenever God calls them home.  My friends wonder why they are still here and are ready to walk into Heaven.  They feel like they have fulfilled their purpose and because of their aging bodies do not feel productive.  But they are anchors for those who follow them.  We need people who live the values of integrity, commitment, consistency, respect, and are grounded in their faith and love for Jesus.

Heaven keeps getting sweeter as my dear friends take the journey home.  I am never ready to let them go, but I am always happy for them.  They will get to see Jesus face to face and be rewarded for their earthly labor.

Anchor yourself in Jesus and allow those who have travelled farther on the journey to be your guide to Jesus.

Check out my Newspaper Articles and past blogs and my books on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

A Place For You

My people will live in peaceful places and in safe homes and in calm places of rest.”  Isaiah 32:18

This month, I have been watching two nephews play baseball and a niece play softball.  It is a joy to watch young children learn to play a sport and attempt to hit the ball.  There is excitement on their faces when they actually hit the ball and run the bases, but what thrills each player is to cross Homeplate and score a run.  One of my nephews, Avery, does a little dance when he touches each base, and when he touches Homeplate the joy and excitement flow from him.  Being home is the goal.

Recently, I talked with my dear friend Dwight who moved into a new home.  He is enjoying his new place because it is comfortable, peaceful, and he is surrounded by the possessions that are important to him.  He has made the space his own and enjoys sitting on his porch in the morning drinking his coffee.  His friend told him that he is “nesting” in his place.  It is home, and Dwight prefers being home.  He has found contentment being home.

I spent a day at home without counseling, a project, or anything on my agenda.  It felt good to be home – in my house and not having to be connected with media or people.  I sat in the sunshine and just lingered in the peacefulness of the woods around me.  I was aware of God’s presence all around me and felt the contentment of being peaceful with no great purpose but to just be present and enjoy being home.

I live in my hometown.  It is where I was born, graduated from High School, and where generations of my family have lived and currently live.  It is my place of origin, where memories have been created, where family has lived, died, and are buried in the family cemetery.  It is where the church is that I grew up in, and the church still remains active.  It is where I first learned about Jesus.  It is where my Grandma lived.  It is peaceful, comfortable, safe and secure, and where I belong.  My hometown is a peaceful Hallmark type of town where every time you go somewhere, you know somebody.  People talk to each other, smile, and life is at a slower pace. It is home.

What is home?  Home is where you are comfortable and feel safe and secure.  When you come home from work, a trip, or from an outing, it feels good to be home.  You relax and everything is familiar and it is yours.  You have the freedom to be yourself and create the space to be what you want it to be.  You sleep in your own bed, and you can eat what you want and make your own choices what to do.  This is the ideal view of home.  Not everyone has this feeling and contentment in the house where they reside.

I enjoy taking trips and exploring new places and having adventures.  It is relaxing to go to the beach and enjoy the sunrises and sunsets.  I eat different food and stay in a place that provides the basics of what I need.  But it always feels good to come home and sleep in my own bed with my own pillow and use my own bathroom.  Home is a place where I am surrounded with the familiar.

Home is more than a house filled with possessions.  Home is a feeling of family, belonging, familiarity, a place of origin that creates the feelings of peace and contentment.  Are you home with God?  Our place of origin is with God – we are created in God’s image and we belong to God.  God loves us as his children.  But sometimes, we are uncomfortable with God and do not believe God will love us because of what we have done or that we are not good enough for his love and acceptance.  When we finally surrender to Jesus and know that He loves us, died for us, and has a place for us, only then can we be home with God.  It is not about being perfect, but it is about accepting Jesus’ love and grace.

Jesus has prepared a home for us in Heaven.  When we die, Jesus will come and take us home to be with Him forever.  We long for a place where we are loved, where there is freedom to be who we are, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no struggles, and that is Home in Heaven.  Many of my friends have gone Home to Heaven this year. 

Are you at home with yourself? It is being grateful for who you are.  It is forgiving yourself and not absorbing or trying to fix everyone around you.  It is not expecting others to validate you and give you happiness.  You can have peace and contentment in your heart and be at home.  Slow yourself down and look at what you are trying to do in life.

To be home with God now on earth is to be so familiar with God that you talk together throughout the day.  Wherever you are, God is with you.  God’s presence is in you through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus’ Spirit makes His home in your heart.

“Jesus answered, “If people love me, they will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”   John 14:23

Our world can be a scary place filled with pain, hurt, heartache and sadness.  It is not allowing yourself to make all this negativity, anxiety and fear so familiar that you make your home there.  Home is where your heart is.  Be at home in Jesus.  Allow Jesus to be the most familiar to you and your place of peace and contentment. 

Living In The Dailyness

“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

Every morning as I begin my run, I say this verse and surrender my day to the Lord.  The day is a gift from God and it is a blessing to be given this day.  You may wake up tired, sad, hurt, confused, anxious, and a hundred other feelings and emotions, but it is still a day given to you to be lived.  So are you living?  Yes, you are alive because you are reading this blog, but are you really living in the dailyness of life?

We live in this world where work is necessary, bills need to be paid, and commitments and responsibilities need to be fulfilled.  Life has daily tasks that seem endless and mundane without enjoyment.  You complete them because you have to and you grumble when you do them.  Life is busy but not fulfilling or enjoyable.  You may look forward to vacation or retirement or when life gets better.  So, what do you do now in the dailyness?

I believe each day is a gift from God and has a purpose.  Life may be hard and filled with heartache or pain.  It may not be what you want or expected, but this is the life you have right now.  You may be able to make some changes and take steps forward and make healthier choices.  Sometimes, we get into a rut or on a merry-go-round and every day is the same feelings and same tasks and same outlook.  There are choices.  Life sometimes gives us diseases and devastation that is not a choice.  Bad things happen.  Life is broken and fallen.

Life also has good.  It depends on outlook and attitude.  God is still good even when life falls apart.  God is still with you.  The Lord is still our Shepherd.  He still leads us even when it is through the valley of the shadow of death.  I talked with someone recently who shared the dark valley he had gone through.  It was tough and at times he thought God was not there.  He has made it through to the other side and now sees that God was with him.  He is grateful for what he went through because it has made him who he is now.  He has released the past and redeemed it and placed a boundary on the negative and the hurt.  He is living into the dailyness of life and finding rest and joy.

It is finding a moment of good in each day.  I have talked about looking up more often and taking a deep breath and breathing in the beauty of the sky and the clouds and having, for a moment, no responsibility but to enjoy the gift of God’s beauty and His presence.  We do not take these rest moments as often as we need to.  God provides places of rest and enjoyment in the dailyness of life but we tend to be too busy to pause and notice them.

While writing this blog, I just paused and enjoyed the beauty and innocence of a baby fawn resting in the ravine in our back yard.  The momma has left her little one hidden in a safe place.  I keep checking on it and enjoying the moment of being privileged to see nature in my backyard.  Sure, there are tasks and projects to complete, but there are also moments to enjoy.

It is finding moments of enjoyment in every day no matter your circumstances.  I am not denying your pain, problems or struggles.  It is finding life in your existence and living in your dailyness.  When you wait until you feel better, when you have more money, when all the tasks are complete, you will never get there.  Stop right now, look around you, what could bring a smile to you?  A good memory? A grateful heart?  A tear of sadness mingled with the joy of the memory?

It is not allowing the world to define you or your circumstances.  Joy and life are greater than this world and its hold on you.  Rest in God’s presence.  Allow God to give you rest in the moments.  Look for joy.  Live in the day.  Release what you cannot control.  Release your past and failures.  Receive God’s grace and mercy.  Allow yourself to live today.

Check out my book – Live Different Moments – for ways to live into this dailyness of life. All my books are available on Amazon or at Tea Story in Upper Sandusky.

Drinking In The Moments

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  John 7:38

We arrived home just in time to see momma deer with her new born taking nourishment among the trees in our backyard.  It was a moment that I just stopped and watched from the kitchen window - nature at its most innocent moment.  A little fawn drinking from its mother.  It was a moment that God allowed us to step into His creation and see the beauty of life and the trust of innocence.

My niece asked me if I wanted to hold her new granddaughter – my great niece who is just two and half weeks old.  Of course, I said yes.  I held her in worship as we sang praise songs.  A line in one of the songs as I held her was – “I am a child of God.”  I drank in that moment and felt the presence of God.  It was a holy moment to hold this precious child – a child of God - through the entire worship service as she fell asleep in my arms.  It is truly a miracle how God created humanity.  We are precious in His sight.  My soul was full.

I officiated at the funeral of a dear soul who now is singing in Heaven.  During the visitation, her granddaughter created a beautiful video of her grandmother.  One video showed Sue laughing and smiling with her great grandchildren.  I stood between the video and the casket.  Her body had no life, but her spirit of love and joy filled the room.  I drank in the moment.  Sue is alive in Heaven, and her love is alive in the hearts of all who loved her.

I visited my friend whose daughter died this year.  Her daughter was my dear friend.  We shared stories of her daughter, Jan, and talked about ways to celebrate her birthday by remembering how she lived.  Jan always knew what to do next for her mom.  But then, we told stories and I saw the laughter in the memories.  I drank in the moment that God had placed me right there to bring her joy for a moment in the midst of the sadness.

Then my next visit was with Dick.  His wife died three months after my husband, Dave.  Dick and I walked through grief together being connected to the same church.  We would hug each other in our grief and share those honest moments that others did not understand.  My visit began with a hug and ended with a hug.  It was a moment where I paused and absorbed the connection.  Words were not needed.

In my next visits, I experienced the need for conversation and understanding.  I listened and heard the need for connection and for someone to just care about who they are and where they are in life.  I heard regret.  I heard confusion.  I heard joy.  I heard need.  I sat in the moment and took into my heart my purpose God had for me in that moment.  Just to be present and to listen.

I officiated at the memorial service for the father of a friend.  As the VFW folded the flag and presented it to my friend, I took in the moment – the memory of receiving a flag.  I holy moment where tears flow freely without embarrassment. Then the taps were played and the moment became sweeter and holier.  I drank in the solemness and respect.  My soul was refreshed in the memory and the sacredness of the ceremony.

Then the ashes of my friend’s mom and dad were placed in linen bags and then buried in the memorial garden.  They were buried together and the ashes would be absorbed into the earth – ashes to ashes, dust to dust.  We came from the earth and to the earth we return.  My friend showed me a picture of her parents happy and laughing together.  They lived, they loved and they made a difference, and now their love is absorbed into their family and those touched in life by them.

What does it mean to drink?  We drink water and other fluids to keep our bodies hydrated and healthy.  The liquid is absorbed into our bodies, but it takes time.  It is drinking slowly and deliberately.  Our souls need to be hydrated and refreshed, too.  It is pausing in the sacred moments of life and any moment can be sacred when you are aware of the presence of God in the moment.  It is drinking in the moment, that is, slowing yourself down and being totally present in the moment.  It is using all your senses to truly be in the moment.  It is absorbing the holiness and being refreshed and renewed in it.

God wants us to slow down and meet Him in the moments of life.  It is not our schedule and timing but God’s.  When we pause and drink in the living water that Jesus gives, we truly find refreshment, peace and contentment.  We experience God in ways we had previously rushed past.  It is hydrating our souls with the life-giving moments that are holy and sacred all around us.

Drink in the moments of life and allow them to renew and refresh your soul.

Check out my website for my Newspaper Articles and my books – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Absolutely Positutely Fulfilled

Jesus said, “After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.”  John 14:3

I know Heaven is for real.  It is absolutely real because I know my friend, Sue, is singing with the angels now.  Sue took her last breath on earth recently and her next breath was in Heaven.  I know Sue is with Jesus because she gave her heart and life to Jesus years ago and lived her faith daily.  I believe because of my own faith and trust in Jesus. This year, Heaven has become sweeter and filled with some of the dear people of my life and ministry – Ed, Jack, Donna, John, Jan, Sue, and the list could go on and on.

I met Sue over thirty years ago when her daughter and family were our neighbors.  Sue and her husband, Don, sang in the choir in two churches where I was on staff.  Sue and Don were the sweetest couple who lived the joy of the Lord in their daily lives.  I enjoyed having them in my Sunday School class, too.  They were always willing to serve the Lord.  Sue was full of life, smiles, and loved life to the fullest. 

When dementia began to take Sue’s mind, it never took her joy and love for Jesus and cookies.  When I would visit with her over the past several years, I brought her chocolate chip cookies which she ate immediately.  We sang the hymns of our faith and talked about Jesus and going home to Heaven.  Sue’s favorite words to say when she agreed with something completely was “Absolutely Positutely.”  She said it makes people smile.  Her family told me it was something she said all her life.

Sue knew she was loved by God.  She made a life long commitment to follow Jesus.  When I would talk about Heaven, her eyes would be filled with tears of joy knowing she would see Jesus face to face.  One day as we talked about Heaven, Sue said, “It would be wonderful to go see Jesus.  Most best thing in all the world, absolutely positutely.”

Even in her dementia, Heaven was absolutely true and she was positutely going to see Jesus.  Her hope and belief were fulfilled when she breathed her last on earth and ran into the arms of Jesus in Heaven.  I am absolutely positutely sure Sue is with Jesus.  Jesus gave His life for Sue and for each one of us.  Sue accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  She loved Jesus.  Her heart was filled with songs to worship Jesus.  Her smile radiated the love for Jesus that was in her heart.  Sue loved life even in its brokenness.

While dementia is a terrible disease and was difficult for her family, it helped Sue in the loss of her dear husband.  She did not go through the grief continuously.  She just accepted that her husband was at work or away on a trip.  She missed him but knew it was something he had to do.  She remembered him as he had always been.  He was still alive in her heart, just away for a while.

This is true of death. Our loved one’s love is still alive in our hearts, and they are alive in Heaven.  We are just apart for a period of time, but we will be reunited in Heaven.  Having the assurance of Heaven brings peace in the midst of our grief.  We will always miss them and miss sharing the moments of life with them.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John not to be troubled or afraid but to trust His Word.  He is preparing a place for all who believe in Him, and He will come back and take them to be where He is.

Do you believe in Heaven?  Is it absolutely positutely true for you?  We have the assurance when we trust in Jesus.  For me, Heaven is where Jesus is and that is what is most important.  Sometimes, religious words cloud our view of Heaven.  Mansions and streets of gold and angels may not seem like where you want to go.  It is remembering that John was trying to describe the indescribable in earthly language using what was the most elaborate and beautiful he knew to give us a picture of Heaven.

Heaven is where there are no more tears, no pain, no hurt, no evil, no sin.  It is perfect.  It is home.  To me, Heaven is the perfect Garden of Eden and is filled with all that God has created.  We receive a glimpse of Heaven on earth through nature – the beauty of the sky, the clouds, the trees, the animals and all that grows.

As I remember Sue, I smile and know she is whole and free from dementia and the weight of this world.  Sue loved to sing and I am sure she is singing in Heaven.  My friend, Jan, I know is in Heaven and singing along with Sue.  As I think of Heaven, I begin to name those I know who are in Heaven – my Grandma, my mom, my dad, my husband, Dave, Sue, Jan, and the list goes on and on.  It brings me joy to know that I will see Jesus face to face and be surrounded by those who came before me.

Heaven is real – Absolutely Positutely!  Trust Jesus.  Take Jesus at His Word.

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The Smile of Hope

“I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord.  “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.  I will give you hope and a good future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

God smiled upon my day.  The clouds broke into sunshine and the rain moved out of the area.  Spring flowers were in bloom, and the trees clapped their leaves in the breeze.  All of nature was alive and yes, this added to my happy day.  But hope was what filled my heart.

The first smile was the hope of Heaven to come and release a dear one from the bond of dementia that has ravaged her mind and body.  It was praying with her that God would grant her mercy and receive her soon into Heaven.  She loves Jesus with her whole heart and is so ready to go be with Jesus.  My prayer was a prayer of hope and belief that in Heaven my friend will be whole again and live forever.  I prayed for her to keep turning the eyes of heart to Jesus and Jesus would take her home.  Our hope was real because we both believe in Heaven.

The evening was filled with an abundance of smiles as hope was fulfilled.  My friend, Tamara had experienced the death of her beloved husband and after several years of being alone she wanted to share life again with a partner.  Her dating experiences were never hopeful, but they were definitely entertaining to listen to.  She wondered if she would ever meet someone she could enjoy life with again.  Keith had lost all hope of finding someone to share life with after experiencing hurt and rejection.  Then God brought them together.  It was definitely God because their second “date” was going to Church together.  Hope turned into reality.

I had the privilege of officiating at their wedding which filled my heart with joy.  I was so happy to see two people who had experienced loss and hurt, now find love in this new season of life.  In their vows they promised to “enjoy the adventures God has for them together.”  That is hope.  They want to live and experience what God places in front of them, not just work and exist.  Each day is a gift.  Each day they ask – “What’s our adventure for today?”

Hope is what you long for even when it seems impossible.  Life hurts and relationships break and death happens.  Many times, we have no choice and are left to figure out how to put the pieces of our lives together again.  They will go together differently and life will never look exactly the same.  But that does not mean you cannot enjoy life and find a new direction.  God promises that He will give us hope and a good future.

The ultimate hope is Heaven.  Those of us who have experienced the death of a loved one, place our hope and faith in the promises that our loved ones are now living in Heaven.  While we will always grieve and miss them here on earth, we know they are living in Heaven with Jesus and someday we will join them.  We also know that we need to live here on earth in this different life.  We both are living.

Hope is about the future, but it is also about living now in the adventures and experiences God has for us.  Hope involves trust.  It is believing life has purpose and joy, and it is trusting in a loving God who has these gifts planned for us.  Life is sharing this trust with someone who is excited to live in this hope.

I am choosing to smile every day.  Yes, life is hard and has pain and struggles and diagnoses and traumas that hurt.  But life also has hope when you put your trust in God.  Death happens.  Love never ends.  We still have life to live here on earth.  Don’t give up.  We are to live not just exist.  Find life again.  Tamara and Keith found hope and life and adventure, and I am blessed to be a part of it. 

Hope is the belief that good will happen.  It is the expectation that God is at work in our world and in our lives.  Hope knows God is good.  God is with us.  Hope is moving closer and closer each day to Jesus.  Hope is trusting God has it and you do not need to worry or be anxious about anything.  Hope is believing God works everything out for His purpose.  Hope is knowing that whatever happens, God will someday take you to live with Him in Heaven.  Hope is taking the step into life everyday knowing God is already there.

Smile.  God has you.  Enjoy the adventure called life.  Find the good.  Remember God is good.  God loves you.

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Revealings From The Beach

“And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  Isaiah 40:5

I recently spent some time at the beach.  It is my place to pause, relax, refresh, and re-focus.  I ran and walked on the beach.  I biked the paths and sat in a beach chair and listened to God speak in the beauty of His creation all around me. God reveals amazing insights and discoveries when we listen.

Listening was what God revealed to me first.  My prayers were less words and more listening.  I listened to the waves, the breeze, the rain, even the silence.  God’s glory was revealed in it all.  To reveal is to make something known, to disclose.  God makes Himself and His will and desires known when we listen more and talk less and do not try to control.  It is when we surrender and trust Him.

I wanted sunshine but there were times of clouds.  It was in the cloudy times, I truly rested.  There wasn’t anything else to do when it rained.  All we had were bikes so we didn’t want to ride in the storms.  God revealed to me the need to slow down and just be present with Him.  Our bodies need rest – a complete slow down to nothing.  Rest is needed so our system can heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

One day on our bike ride, the clouds were in the East and in the West but right above us the sun broke through the clouds showing the deep blue sky.  God was telling me – you need to be in the moment.  Do not focus on what was or what will be.  Enjoy the current moment.  We need to live now.  Yes, planning is good and reflecting and remembering reveals our foundation, but we also need to enjoy life now.  Not someday.  Do it now.  Take the trip!  Book the flight!  Laugh!  God is with us in the present.  God shines His light of love in the now.

When rain comes enjoy the rest.  When the sun breaks through the clouds, enjoy the blue sky.  Live in hope even in the struggles, the pain and the heartache of life.  God is our ultimate hope.  Pray through the struggles even when words do not come.  Just trust, sigh and know Jesus is with you.

The beach is a great place to people watch and listen to how God sees people.  There is no judgment at the beach.  You can wear anything, be big or small and you are accepted.  Your belly may hang out or you may be muscular.  Everyone is the same.  When you smile and say “hi” people are friendly.  God calls us to be childlike – enjoy the simple things of life.  Dig in the sand, chase the birds, giggle and jump in the waves.  We take ourselves way to seriously and think we are to be the judge of others.  Our job is to love people where they are.  God is the judge.  Just love and accept people.  Be Jesus to them and stop controlling others.  Be patient and humble not judgmental and prideful.  Smile and talk with people.

While on the beach, I heard many different languages spoken.  I did not understand their words, but I understood their laughter and smiles.  Laughter is a universal language.  So are tears.  God made us to connect with others with our emotions.  Start connecting and listening.

The waves are powerful and never stop coming no matter the strength of the wind or the calmness of the day.  God is always present in our lives.  Sometimes we recognize His power and presence through His strength, and other times God comes in the quietness or through a gentle whisper.

In my beach running, I learned to run closer to the water and the waves where the sand was more solid and I did not sink as much.  Even though I was in the water more, I did not sink or stumble.  In life, we may have to get a little wet.  It is standing firm though, on our foundation and not go where we think it will be an easier way.  That is usually when we sink and fall because we are farther from Jesus.

Enjoy the blessings and gifts from God.  I did not earn or deserve a trip to the beach.  It was a blessing from God.  Recognize God loves you and provides blessings in our lives that we tend to disregard as from God.  God gives.  We receive.  We do not deserve anything from God.  It is God’s love, grace and mercy that God so freely gives.

Always look up.  We were surrounded by angel wing clouds one day.  These are thin clouds that look like the wings of angels.  There were dozens of them.  It was in that moment as I looked around me, I knew God’s host of angels were singing and my friend, Jan was with them.  In that moment, I felt I released my friend to Heaven to sing with the angels.  I felt a calmness and peace come over me.  I miss my friend, but I know she is singing with the angels.

God reveals Himself when we listen and look.  It may come in unexpected ways and even through disappointments and changed plans.  God uses every opportunity to reveal His love and grace.  Allow God to reveal Himself to you.  Keep your eyes open.

Prayers Matter

“Lord listen to my prayer; let my cry for help come to you.”  Psalm 102:1

Mark thanked me for his birthday card and appreciated my prayers.  God is using him to share the Gospel in many ways.  I told him my mom would be so happy.  Mark responded, “I know her prayers to the Lord mattered in our lives.”  Yes, they did and they still do.  Prayers matter.  My mom was known as a prayer warrior.  When someone asked her to pray for them, she prayed.  She prayed for her family daily and for whomever she encountered and whatever was going on around her.  She prayed.  My mom saw prayer as vital in her relationship with God.

I sign most of the cards I send with “Love and Prayers.”  I say a prayer for the person I am sending the card and in essence put the prayer in the card and then seal it.  When someone comes to my mind, I say a prayer for them or when someone sends me a text asking for prayer, I say a prayer at that moment.  It is being intentional and praying when we say we will pray for someone.  Once you say the prayer, God knows it.  You do not need to keep reminding Him.  We pray for some of the same people daily because they mean so much to us and we just want to keep bringing them to the Lord.

Yes, we tend to repeat our prayers because we are sharing with God what is important to us and what weighs heavy upon our hearts.  God knows our hearts, and God never forgets.  Our prayers also remind us that God cares about us and what and who is important.  In praying, we release to God control over those we love and the concerns of daily life.  Prayer is a way to confirm that God’s got it.

I hear so many people say, “I don’t know how to pray. I get distracted or fall asleep.”  It is a beautiful way to fall asleep – in the arms of our Heavenly Father.  Don’t worry, God is not offended if we fall asleep when we pray.  God just smiles like we do when a child falls asleep as we read to them.

Prayer is intentional and continuous.  I Thessalonians 5:17 says – “Pray without ceasing.”  It does not mean we are talking all the time.  The part of prayer we tend to avoid is the listening part.  Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation with God.  It is talking and listening.  It is being still.  Being still is difficult in our world with all the noise and outside influences trying to get our attention.  Sometimes when we are trying to be still, we fall asleep.  So what about a prayer walk or run?  Disconnect from your phone and the things of this world and listen to God through nature, the clouds, the sounds of the birds.  Just be present.

I believe the prayers of those who came before us are still active in this world.  My mom’s prayers and my Grandmother’s prayers are part of my foundation.  God heard those prayers and fulfills them in God’s time.

Prayer is the active awareness of God’s presence with us.  We can pray without words when we look at the beauty of creation around us.  Sometimes, the prayer is “Thank you, God.”  And sometimes it is just, “Jesus, help me.”  Music is also a type of prayer because it is active and brings us into the awareness of God being with us.  Sighing is also a prayer.  We sigh when words do not come.  It is a way to release the emotions in us.  It becomes a prayer when we sigh knowing we are in the presence of God.

Prayer is a relationship with the One who loves us the most.  It is a conversation.  It is a smile that warms our heart knowing God is with us.  In the midst of struggles and heartaches, prayer has nothing to do with words.  It is a childlike trust that God is there even when we cannot feel His presence and even when we do not like the situation.  Prayer is trusting the One who promised to always be with us. 

As I write this about prayer, my thoughts go to my friend, Jan.  Her prayers were beautiful childlike words to her Heavenly Father.  Her prayers were worship, thanksgiving, and very specific as she shared with God her heart’s desire for situations and those she loved.  Jan always ended her prayers with me saying – “God you are good.  I love you.”

Don’t complicate prayer so much that you feel inadequate to pray, and don’t worry about not saying the right words.  Remember, God loves you.  God is your Heavenly Father who wants to talk to his child.  Just crawl up into the lap of God and talk, listen, sigh, and just be still.

Reflections in the Stillnes

“Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

Each day during my devotion time, I write down thoughts and what I heard God speak through the scripture or devotion.  I have shared some of them with you in the past, and I have decided each quarter to share what I have gleaned by being still before God.  Sometimes random thoughts speak deeply to our souls.  My hope is that something will speak to you.  Let me know.

Each day we awake to being completely free of our burden of sin when we accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness.

Do everything to please God.  Learn to live your life so every detail pleases God.

To acknowledge God and even receive Jesus’ forgiveness and grace but not make Jesus Lord of your life becomes a miserable existence.

Salvation is God-given, God driven, and God empowered.

Shame – Self Hate At My Expense.

Think before you speak.  It is not how many words you say to God, it is what is in your heart when you say them.

Instead of dwelling on failures or regrets, trust God has scrubbed your past clean with the blood of Jesus.

Defer to God’s “to do” list not your own.

When God interrupts your plans for His plans – change your attitude too.  Don’t complain and grumble.  Be grateful for God’s plan and guidance.  God chose you to do it for Him.

Failure does not define me, God does.

We are just walking each other home.

God gives us the faith to keep trusting Him when we do not understand.

The key to the Christian life is to consistently live and abide in Jesus.

Focus on this season of life and not compare it to the previous seasons in your life.

The core of the Gospel – I am wrong.  Jesus is right.

God delights in using ordinary people like us to do great things for Him even when our task may seem insignificant to us.

A humble heart leads toward a life of meaning and joy.

Yield your heart to God and you will find what you are truly seeking and desire – peace and contentment.

Change means purging your heart of anything that cannot co-exist with Christ.

Live for Jesus not for false Christian leaders who do not follow Scripture or lead one to Jesus.

Embrace humility and do not seek recognition for yourself but direct attention to Jesus.

God’s covenant is dependent upon God’s protection and provision not on our performance.

God’s economy works differently – the more you give, the more you receive.

Your tongue needs to be under the control of God’s Spirit to make it an instrument of blessing and praise.

Salvation is God’s gift, God’s work, God’s grace.  God gives and we receive.

Look and see God in the simple things of life.

Obeying God should not be something we do, but something that flows from who we are.

Jesus entered the tunnel of death to prove there was an exit.

The anchor points of the cross – My life is not futile.  My failures are not fatal.  My death is not final.

May your life glorify God.  May your good deeds glorify God.

Hope you found a thought to ponder this week.  May God speak to you in the stillness.  May you allow yourself time to be still and to listen.

Living In Freedom

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32

He told me it was hard trying to do everything on his own strength.  He felt like he was failing in following all the rules.  The guilt and shame of his past choices weighed heavy on his heart.  He was attempting to make up for his past and did not think he was doing enough.  He had accepted Jesus as his Savior but was not living in the freedom of grace and forgiveness.  His faith was becoming a heavy burden.

We believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for our sins.  We even believe Jesus conquered death through His rising from the dead.  Jesus saved us and is our Savior, but for many that’s where faith stops.  We may say Jesus is our Lord and Master and His Spirit dwells in us, but we do not live in the freedom Jesus truly gives.  To be the Lord of our lives means that we surrender daily every part of our life and our struggles to Jesus.  We allow the Spirit to be our guide, our strength, and to give us wisdom and discernment in making decisions and choices.  It is giving every aspect of our daily lives to Jesus and trusting Him.  It is living in the freedom of trust.

When we live in this freedom, we have nothing to worry about or be anxious for because we have surrendered everything to Jesus.  This is not being naïve or blind.  It is simple childlike trust.  It is believing what Jesus said.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Jesus is the truth that sets us free from the worries and struggles of the world.  Jesus does not take us out of them, but Jesus carries the load and walks with us through them.  Jesus is our strength.

The sins of our past are forgiven.  We confess and God forgives.  We do not need to keep remembering them and bringing them up in prayer.  Other people may remind us, but God will never bring them up again.  They are forgiven and forgotten, and the debt was paid through Jesus’ death on the cross.  We are free.  Not free to keep sinning because we know it will be forgiven, but free from the burden of what we have done wrong in the past and free to live in the present. We are free to rely on the power and strength of Jesus’ Spirit, the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is a free gift given to us when we receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.

God calls us to His saving grace and chooses us.  God knows our past sins and our future sins, and God still calls us.  God loves us and this is a freedom to be who we were created to be.  Live in the free gift of love.  Nobody will love us more than God and accept us.  Jesus comes to us and wants us to accept the free gift of grace and love.

We are free to enjoy the life God has given to us.  Life is not perfect in this broken and fallen world, but there is certainly good in it.  It is enjoying the gifts God gives to us.  It is finding good in the bad.  It is living free from the negativity of the world’s hold upon you.  Release yourself from only focusing on the negative and the bad.  Sure, it is there and most of the time you cannot change it.  But good is there too.  Look for it.

Free yourself from worry and anxiety.  I know, easier said then done.  The news is cause for worry.  Worry and anxiety may have become natural to you, but it never helps the situation or your outlook or health.  It usually makes life worse.  Start by praying and giving each worry to God.  “God, this is yours.  I trust You.  If there is something I need to do, reveal it to me.”  Release it by looking up.  Looking up is like looking into the presence of God.  It slows you down to take some deep breaths and changes your focus.  Turn off the media.  Listen to the birds.  Watch the sunset.  It is not getting so lost in the things of this world that you do not see Jesus and the freedom He gives to you.

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the song – “I’m Free”

“I am free from the guilt that I carried.  From the dull empty life, I’m set free.  For when I met Jesus, He made me complete.  He forgot the foolish child I used to be.

I’m free from the fear of tomorrow.  I’m free from the guilt of my past.  Oh, I traded my shackles for a glorious song.  I’m free, praise the Lord, free at last.”

Are you living in the freedom that Jesus gives?  Free to enjoy the good of life and look for the good.  Free to not carry the worry and anxiety this world creates.  Free to give the load and burdens to Jesus to carry.  Free to find hope and joy and peace and contentment even in this fallen and broken world.  Live free.

By The Way Of The Cross

“Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right.  And you are healed because of his wounds.”  I Peter 2:24

Holy Week – the week from Palm Sunday to Resurrection/Easter Sunday – was filled with worship, praise, emotions, memories, and the essence of the Christian faith.  The journey began with the birth of Jesus.  God became flesh and lived among us.  Jesus came to fulfill the purpose of redemption knowing he came to die for our sins.  It was a journey.

The journey that began at the manger, goes through the cross and ends with the empty tomb.  These are the Christian symbols for the journey.  The manger represents the birth of Jesus.  God becoming flesh and being born as a baby.  God coming to be with us.  The baby, Jesus, grows up and begins a ministry by choosing twelve disciples.  Jesus’ journey is recorded in the Bible in the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Jesus is a teacher and a healer.  For some people, that is all they know and that’s enough.

But the journey is not complete, and it is not enough.  God had a greater purpose and plan.  The world is fallen, broken, and sinful.  God is a righteous and just God who is also loving and merciful.  There needed to be a perfect sacrifice to make humanity right before God.  God became human to pay the penalty for sin that humanity could not pay.  The journey goes through Good Friday.  Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all humanity.  The sins of the world were nailed to the cross, and through Jesus’ death, all humanity is granted forgiveness when they accept the gift of grace and mercy.  Jesus dies, but that is not the end of the journey.

Easter is Resurrection Sunday.  The tomb is empty.  Jesus conquered death and the separation of humanity from God.  Jesus is the bridge.  Easter is the celebration of Jesus being alive.  He walked out of the tomb.  There is victory over sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus.  The journey is not over, because of this victory, humanity has the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.  This is not the end. It is part of the journey home.  Easter gives the hope of new life in Jesus. 

Salvation comes by way of the cross.  It is nothing we have done to earn it or deserve it.  The words spoken by Jesus to the thief on the cross reveal that the work is done by Jesus.  The thief says to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  And Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  The thief has done nothing to merit Heaven.  But the thief knows he is a sinner and Jesus is the Savior who is going to Heaven.  A simple but profound confession of faith.

At the Good Friday service, one song has stayed in my head “By The Way of The Cross” – the words of the thief on the cross are sung as he enters Heaven –

“I have come by the way of the cross.  It is nothing I have done.  It’s the suffering of God’s Son.  I have come by the way of the cross.  I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.  I was hopelessly lost and could not find my way.  ‘Til His glorious light of love shone down on me.  His mercy washed all my sin away.  And what He did for me that day was a price I know He paid.  By His grace, I too can say, forever say, I have come by the way of the cross.”

Each of us come by the way of the cross.  We are not good enough on our own.  Yes, people have good in them, but Heaven and eternal life is not based on how much good we have done to earn it.  We live in a society of measurements and rewards.  If you do the right things and enough of them – you receive recognition.  Scholarships, bonuses, promotions, being appointed or accepted, is based on what you have accomplished.  Someone makes a judgment and accepts or rejects you. 

God paid the price He knew we could not pay.  It was through the cross.  We sin, we make mistakes, we mess up, and we can never be good enough nor perfect to overcome them and be right in the eyes of a righteous and just God.  That is why God does it for us.  All the sins that have every been done or will ever be committed were nailed to the cross – absorbed by Jesus – and he paid the penalty for all our sin.  That is salvation.

We, like the thief on the cross are accepted through God’s grace and mercy when we admit our sin and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Therefore, we can sing -

“We have come by the way of the cross.  We have come by the way of the cross. It is nothing we have done.  It’s the suffering of God’s Son.  We have come by the way.  There is no other way, but the cross.”

God's Canvas

 “When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established.”   Psalm 8:3

I enjoy sunrises, sunsets, clouds, blue skies and sunshine.  The sky has been filled recently with amazing clouds through all the storms with some of them being so dark as they race across the sky.  My favorite clouds are the white fluffy ones where you can use your imagination to see unique shapes of animals and even people.  I enjoy the sunrise during my morning runs as the horizon awakens to the morning light.  God is an amazing artist.  It is being grateful to God for loving us so much that He creates this beauty for our enjoyment and pleasure.

Recently, I led a seminar on “Living Life Forward” and shared one way to release anxiety and stress was to go outside and look up.  I asked the participants what do you see when you look up and one person responded, “God’s canvas.”  I like that description.  Each time we look up, God paints a different picture.  Each sunset and sunrise is different.  The colors vary in intensity.  There are numerous shades of blue and clouds have a million different shapes.

When we look up, all we see is what God created.  It allows us to breathe and let go of the things of this world for a moment and reset.  It is getting lost in the beauty and awe of what God has painted and designed.  Looking up helps us to restore and refocus.  We tend to get lost in the things of this world and the tasks that loom large in front of us.  Pausing to look up reminds us that God’s got this and worry and anxiety does not need to be in control.

Looking up also connects us to the One who created the world and created us.  It feels like I will see a glimpse of God if I keep my eyes looking up.  I feel a sense of freedom that this world does not weigh me down.  It is as if God is painting grace across the sky and writing mercy on every streak through the sky.

Recently, when I looked up, lightening filled the sky.  It was like daylight breaking through the night.  Storm clouds raced across the sky, lightening flashed and then the thunder boomed.  It was an intense storm, but it felt like God was showing off His power and might.  I thought about “the fear of God.”  It is a reverence and respect for God.  While God is a loving God who gives us grace and mercy, God is a powerful Creator.

The storm reminded me that God brings good and also hard times.  We do not like the hard times and cannot understand why certain things happen.  There is no earthly reason.  Why the storms?  The storms are part of God’s canvas.  They are weaved into the fabric of creation.  We do not like the storms in our personal lives and question the purpose.  We may never know the answer to our “why” questions, but we know God is still in control.  God is still painting His masterpiece in the sky and in our hearts.

We are God’s canvas, too.  God created each one of us.  We are all unique and different in looks, personalities, gifts, and experiences.  Some days the good comes through, and others see and feel the love of God through us.  Some days, the struggles of life weigh us down.  These are the times we need to remember that the God who paints His grace across the sky also showers us with His grace and mercy.

Let us go outside or look out the window and look up to remind us that God is the greatest artist who also gives us freedom from the worries and struggles of this world.  God gives us moments to pause and breathe in His love and mercy.  The world is not in control; God is in control.  God gives us freedom from the anxiety and worry if we will but trust Him and look up.

Pause the worries and the technology and look up.  Slow down your life and your mind and linger in God’s masterpiece.  Take some deep breaths.  Thank God for the beauty, the peacefulness, the release of the worries, and just relax your thoughts and your body.  Give yourself some quiet time, some moments, and some grace.

Keep looking up. 

Daily Walking Close

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me.”  John 14:6

I enjoy walking in God’s creation.  Spring and sunshine make the walks so much more enjoyable.  Walking is great exercise, and it also helps to release the day and the thoughts.  I recently preached a sermon – “Walking Each Other Home.”  I will share some of those thoughts with you.

In the Gospel of John in chapter 14, Jesus tells us that he is going to a prepare a place for us and then he will come back to take us to be with him.  Jesus promises to walk us home.  The Gospel accounts share how Jesus walked throughout his ministry.  He walked to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.  Jesus walked into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.  He walked by the lake and called Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow him and become his disciples.  Jesus walked everywhere.  He walked to the wedding at Cana in Galilee.  He walked through Samaria for the purpose of talking to the woman at the well.  Jesus walked on the water.  He walked Lazarus out of the grave.   He walked Bartimaeus out of the darkness by healing his blindness. 

Jesus walked into the Upper Room and shared with his disciples that he would prepare a place and then come to walk them home.  They did not understand what Jesus meant.  Jesus said simply, “Trust in God and trust in me.”

Who do you trust?  Who trusts you?  Trust is having confidence in and a belief in the reliability and truth of the individual.  It is a conviction that you believe the one you trust will be with you and be available when you are in need.  Do you trust God?  Not to just do what you want, but to trust His greater purpose and plan.

Isaiah 26:3 – “You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you because they trust you.”

Do you trust God even when you do not understand?  Even when it does not make sense to you?  It is praying – “God, I don’t understand why this happened, but I still trust You.” One of the hardest prayers to pray is when a loved one dies and you had prayed for healing but it came in the perfect healing of death not physical healing.  It was not the answer you wanted.  So, can you pray – “God, I don’t like this, but I still trust you.”

Jesus tells us that he is going to walk with us through the struggles of life and prepare a place for us in Heaven.  He will come and take us there.  Jesus gives us some facts about Heaven.  It has lots of rooms, that is, plenty of space for all believers and the rooms are permanent and secure.  There is a place for us.

Audio Adrenaline has a song “Big House” – “Come and go with me to my Father’s house.  It’s a big, big house with lots and lots of room.  A big, big table with lots and lots of food.  A big, big yard where we can play football.  A big, big house, it’s my father’s house.  Come and go with me to my Father’s house.”

God’s house is big and there is a room for you.  Jesus promises a home and that he will come back and walk us home.  Thomas asks the question that you and I would ask, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going.  So how can we know the way?”

Have you ever gotten lost?  Took the wrong turn and had no clue where you were?  When someone tells you to meet them somewhere but you have no idea where it is or how to get there.  If you have an address, you usually put it in your GPS, but even GPS can get you lost.  You need a specific address, location, and how to get there from someone who knows the way.

Jesus gives us the directions – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  The only way to the Father is through me.” 

The Way is through the cross.  Jesus walks the road to the cross to die for us.  It is through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that we are forgiven of our sin.  The only way is through receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We admit we are sinners in need of grace, confess our sin, and ask for forgiveness and receive His grace.

Jesus is our roadmap.  I learned to read a roadmap when I was very young probably around six or seven years old.  My dad always needed someone to go with him, and being the youngest I was always volunteered to go with him.  My dad could not drive and read road signs at the same time.  He would tell me where we were going.  I would find it on the map, and I would give him directions.

We all need help getting to Heaven.  We cannot do it on our own.  We cannot earn it.  We are never good enough, do enough nor find our own way.  Jesus shows us the way through his sacrifice.  He fulfills the truth of the prophecies and is the Word that speaks truth.  Jesus is the life.  Jesus calls us to live life fully and abundantly.  “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  John 10:10

When we allow Jesus to be the center of our life, life becomes full with purpose and meaning.  We do not need to live in the sin and shame and hurt of the past.  We need to live in the forgiveness and grace of God.  This brings joy and freedom.  Life in Jesus is filled with joy and peace and hope.  It does not mean life will be perfect because we live in a broken and fallen world.  But life in Jesus means we focus on the freedom Jesus gives us and not to let the worries and burdens of the world steal our peace.

It is releasing control and surrendering to Jesus.  Jesus walks with us through the dailyness of our lives, and Jesus will walk with us into Heaven when it is our time.  Jesus calls us to walk with others on the road.  Slow down and listen.  Be present.  Share Jesus with people who are hurting and cannot feel the presence of Jesus.  Walk closer to Jesus as you journey down the road of life.  Keep your focus on Jesus.  Remember, Jesus gives us directions – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Daily walk close to Jesus.

“Just a closer walk with Thee.  Grant it Jesus, is my plea.  Daily walking close to Thee.  Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

The Hope That Remains

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong.”  Hebrews 6:19

It is amazing how God uses you when you surrender and listen to His leading voice.  This past week was a unique trip experience.  We took a visit trip.  It was not the usual trip of driving to the Columbus area, but it was an airplane trip to Florida.  I personally delivered two prayer quilts and completed some premarital counseling for a wedding I will be officiating.  Yes, the quilts could have been mailed and the counseling done virtually, but that was not God’s intent or way.

First, my dear friend John died a month ago and his wife, Marilyn, wanted me to visit when she was ready.  She requested a personal visit.  When your ninety-five-year-old friend requests a visit, you book the flight and go.  They had been married for seventy-two years, and she did not know life alone.  Here she was in a new location without her partner.  We shared memories, cried together, laughed together, shared meals and sat outside watching the clouds and blue sky.  I gave her the prayer quilt which had scriptures on each block of material.

The scripture that Marilyn picked on the quilt that she said she was going to hold onto was from Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not be afraid, I am with you.”  Marilyn said this was going to be her scripture of hope knowing God was with her and she did not need to be afraid.  We prayed together knowing God was with her giving her hope in her grief.

One day after dinner, we sat again outside watching the pond and ducks.  Then the rain came but the sun stayed out.  God blessed us with an incredible rainbow for almost an hour.  The rainbow of hope and promise came as we shared together in the grief and sadness and the joys and laughter of life.  God knows when we need a sign of hope and a reminder that He is with us no matter where we go and no matter our circumstances.  God revealed to Marilyn in a very tangible way, “I am with you.”

Even in death, there is hope.  Hope is what remains when we are parted by death.  We have hope of being reunited in Heaven. Hope of being with Jesus and our loved ones.  Hope that God is with us even in our grief and sadness.  Hope of sharing with those who understand and have walked the journey.  Hope remains.

Then, we visited with my friends who are engaged and I will be officiating at their wedding.  Tamara is widowed and after time knew she wanted to share life with someone.  She had lost hope after her dating experiences and wondered if there would be someone who she could enjoy life with again.  Keith was divorced and lost hope of finding someone who would want to be with him.  When they met, both were hopeful.  Keith was hopeful she would want to be with him.  Tamara was hopeful that she could live again and find joy and happiness.  Hope was living forward.  It was taking a firm stand on the foundation of the past and hoping to build upon that hope.

Hope honors the good of the past and helps you build upon it.  Life is meant to be lived in hope.  Some people choose to share life with another partner and enjoy sharing the adventures of life with someone.  Others choose to live in hope by enjoying the fellowship of friends and family.  Hope is what remains.

My last visit was with my friend, Linda.  I have known Linda since early childhood, and we attended school together for twelve years.  Linda had a medical emergency before heading home after vacation and had been in the hospital for many weeks in Florida.  Recently she was released but unable to travel yet.  The visit warmed my heart when she knew me, and we talked about memories of the past.  Linda is a medical miracle.  She is a living hope. The hope remains that she will continue to improve and God will continue to bring healing and hope into her recovery.

My visit trip was filled with hope.  Hope is what remains in life.  When life changes, hope is still there.  We walk through the sadness, the loss, the grief, the fear, the uncertainties of life.  Life is still to be lived.  It is taking steps toward hope.  Hope is a belief that good will still happen.  Hope is an expectation and a trust and confidence in God’s promises.  God still sends rainbows to remind us of His promise.  God still performs miracles of healing.  God still brings good out of the bad.  God still comforts us in our sorrow.  God still loves us and wants us to depend on Him and not be afraid.

Hope remains.

Living Intentionally

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”  Philippians 2:13

I want to share one of my last Newspaper Columns with those who also read my blogs.  I felt it was something that all of us need to hear more than once.  I have added to it, too.  Life happens and sometimes it gets away from us and days, months, years have passed, and we have not done or lived like we desire.  We get in a rut or routine and just exist and let life take us.  We need to be intentional in how we live, choices we make, relationships, and intentional time with God.

“I was going to eat healthier this year, but…” “I was going to keep the house clean and organized, but….”  You had good intentions, but no follow through.  The concept was good and you were motivated when you made the decision, but it is difficult to change the rut you are in.  To be intentional is to be deliberate with purpose and to have a plan.  You make choices that follow your values, beliefs, and goals when you are intentional.  You put thought into what you are doing and are mindful of your triggers and stumbling blocks. 

When you are living intentionally, you have focus and take action.  You create meaning and purpose to your life.  You are proactive instead of just letting things happen by accident.  When you lack focus, things that are not a priority or of importance tend to grab your attention and occupy your time.  You get lost and let life just happen around you.  Things pile up and overwhelm you because you did not intentionally decide your priorities and set a schedule and routine to complete these priorities.  You did not take ownership of your life but let society and circumstances create your life.

Let’s be intentional.  First, with your time.  You check your phone or watch mindless TV or scroll social media and get lost for hours without realizing it.  You lost those hours on something that brought no fulfillment or purpose, and guilt takes over.  It is beginning to set limits on things that are not essential and choosing where you spend your time.  What is important to you?  Choose to invest your time and energy in what matters most to you – what you value.  Turn your eyes and thoughts onto Jesus.

Be intentional in relationships.  When you say a person is important to you, make time for that person.  Be proactive and set a time to be together.  When you say, “I’m busy and don’t have time to get together” you have made stuff and tasks more important than relationships.  Look at those you value and who are your support.  Are you making them a priority and spending time with them, not just talking about it?

Life will pull you in all directions and influence you.  You need to make choices for yourself based on what you want in life, where your priorities are, who is important to you, and where you place your loyalties and values.  Be intentional in what you put in your head.  Set boundaries in movies, social media, what you read and listen to. 

If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, you need to be intentional in your choices.  It is choosing healthier food to bring into your home, healthier choices on the menu at a restaurant.  It is choosing daily movement and including it in your daily routine.  It is not deciding if you will, but just accepting movement and exercise as part of who you are daily.

Be intentional in your faith.  Intentionally begin each day focused on God.  When you wake up say, “Good morning, God.”  Whatever you put first in your day, it will control your day.  Why not put God first.  “This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24. This is what I say after I say good morning to the Lord.  If you want to grow spiritually, you need to live your faith daily and be intentional in trusting God daily and not worrying about what might happen.  If you just let things happen, you will not focus on what will bring peace and contentment in your life.  You will only do what gets your attention – which is usually what is loudest and easiest.

If you want to acquire a new hobby or talent, you need to be intentional in setting aside time to learn and do it.  Make it a priority to write, draw, paint, play a sport or whatever will bring you enjoyment otherwise you will fill the time with things that eat up your time but have no eternal value.

Be intentional in rest and renewal. Take the nap.  Spend time reading the Bible and renewing your spirit.  Give your mind and spirit and body the needed rest and time away to renew.  Jesus knew the importance of going away and spending time alone in prayer.  He rested in the Father’s presence.  Sounds like a great example to follow.

We make a bucket list of adventures and trips we want to take someday.  Be intentional and do it now.  Don’t wait because you will probably never do it.  Take the trip.  Go on the vacation.  Take your children or grandchildren or your nieces and nephews on the outing you promised. 

In being intentional, you will need discipline and accountability.  Be intentional – think before you speak, follow through on your commitments, be present in the moment, be intentional in your choices.  Be intentional in putting God first in each day, each situation, each relationship.

Be intentional.  Think. Pray. Listen.

Fish In The River

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was shining like crystal and was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”  Revelation 22:1

My thoughts have focused on Heaven lately with so many people I have known taking the walk home to Heaven.  I have read the Bible about the streets of gold and the crystal river and the city of New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven.  I have been listening to songs that describe Heaven as a peaceful country scene, too, like the song – “Outskirts of Heaven” by Craig Campbell –

“Where there’s dirt roads for miles.  Hay in the fields and fish in the river.  Where there’s dogwood trees and honey bees and blue skies and green grass forever.  Lord, when I die, I wanna live on the outskirts of heaven.”

This sounds like heaven to me. Heaven is where God is and God is the Creator of all of nature.  Genesis tells us how God created the world – the sky, the stars, the sun, the moon, the plants, all the animals and humans.  God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden which was a perfect place.  To me, this was describing Heaven.

My friend, John died recently and I believe walked into heaven by the river of the water of life.  The Outskirts of Heaven is where John would want to be.  John and I had several life situations in common.  We were both the youngest of five siblings, and we each grew up on a farm.  We knew the hard work of farm life from baling hay to milking cows.  I always enjoyed sharing stories with John about growing up on a farm.  John loved the outdoors and his garden.  John also loved to fish and heaven’s river of life is certainly filled with fish.

Jesus called fishmen as his disciples.  He told them they were now going to fish for people.  John spent his career fishing for people as an educator.  To fish for people is to challenge and invite others to learn and grow.  John was actively involved in the lives of his students and provided hands on experiences to engage them in a life career.  John helped launch a vocational school and eventually became the Superintendent of the vocational school.

John was a man who worked with his hands.  He worked on the farm using his hands to farm and care for animals.  He used his hands as a teacher in Industrial Arts and the vocational trade industry.  And in his retirement, John used his hands in his yard, to tend his garden, and to fish.  John’s handshake was always firm and he hugged tightly too.  John’s smile and joy for life reflected God’s love in his heart.

John was a gentleman.  His life reflected patience.  It takes patience to teach, garden, and fish.  There are no instant results in any of them.  It takes effort and hard work and being persistent even when it doesn’t seem to take root, grow or bite.

When one fishes, you cannot be in a hurry.  You slow down and enjoy the view, the beauty of creation around you, and you just sit and ponder.  One is more aware of the beauty God created and you listen to the sounds of the water and the birds.  You sit back and wait.  Some days the fish bite and other days they don’t, but you still fish.  Some years the garden produces an abundance of crops and you share it with all your neighbors and friends, and other years the drought or floods or animals take the crop.  But you still plant year after year.  Some students are eager to learn and grow while other students don’t want to be there and barely pass, but you still teach and challenge.

John’s life and legacy will live on in me, his students and all the lives he has touched.  His smile and love for life was evident.  He gave himself completely to life.  John had a strong will and determination.  John’s love for fishing – and I fished with him several times – taught me to slow down and enjoy the beauty around the adventure.  If you didn’t catch anything, you still fished.  It was not so much about the results, it was about the adventure. 

Life is about enjoying the adventure not just about what you gain.  It is about enjoying who you walk with on the journey.  It is sharing your faith – fishing for people – not focused on the results because that is up to God.  It is using your hands for the glory of God.  Keep fishing!

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Walking Each Other Home

Jesus said, “After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.”  John 14:3

With the few days of warmer weather and sunshine, the hope of Spring filled my soul and the late afternoon walks were refreshing.  I did not need to bundle up and could actually enjoy the fresh air.  I have enjoyed walks most of my life.  As a child, I enjoyed walking with my Grandma in town to the library, the museum and the stores downtown.  I felt privileged to walk with my Grandma and be associated with such a special lady.

Over the years, I have walked my dogs thousands of miles in parks, neighborhoods, fields and road side rests.  I walked both of my dogs – Specs and Annie – who always seemed to know the way home.  Walking was a great way to get exercise for my dogs and for myself, and it got us outside to enjoy God’s creation and interact with neighbors and other people on the path.

In a walk, there is usually a purpose and goal.  We walk for exercise, to enjoy nature, to relax and refresh, or just take a stroll.  I enjoy walking through small towns or when on a trip, I walk to explore the area.  When you walk, you see more sights and take in the details along the way.  You also meet some of the most interesting people because you slow down and take the time to talk with those along the way.

Recently, I have shared about my friend, Jan, who walked into Heaven and took the journey home to be with Jesus.  Over the years, Jan and I have walked with each other through the challenges and celebrations of life.  We walked together through life changes, grief, family situations, ministry, and trusted each other as we walked and talked and shared the depth of our hearts.  I had the privilege to help walk Jan to her final home.

I have been reflecting on this walk.  Maybe we are called to help walk each other home.  It is more than walking someone to the front door of their home or dorm room.  I remember in college being walked home to my dorm.  It was a way of showing respect, care, and protection.  When we walk with people in the storms of life, we are telling the person that we care, we want to help carry the burden, and we love them.

God has given me the privilege of walking with many people and families on this last journey from earth to Heaven.  The walk is more than the release of the physical body; it is preparing the soul for eternal life with Jesus.  This preparation is not just at the final stage of life, but it should be happening throughout our entire life. 

It is the awareness that Jesus walks beside us just like he walked with the disciples throughout his ministry.  While walking, Jesus taught his disciples and enjoyed the fellowship and laughter of his friends.  He told them that he was preparing a place for them in heaven and would come back and take them to be with him.  I believe Jesus prepares a place for you and me.  He comes to walk us home.

My friend, Jan, saw a gravel road as she was transitioning from earth to Heaven.  She was walking home, and I got the privilege of knowing the road she was taking.  My husband, Dave, saw the beauty of heaven with its flowers, trees and brilliant colors and the angel that was going to walk him home.  Knowing what he was seeing and that he was not alone, helped me to release Dave to take his journey home to Heaven.

My dear friend, John, took his journey to Heaven this past week.  John was a fisherman and he enjoyed just being outside in his garden and yard in his retirement years.  I believe John walked to his eternal home along the river of life and then sat down to fish with Jesus.  This image fills me with peace.  I remember some of my last walks with John.  He strolled more than walked.  He was slowing down and reminded me to enjoy the stroll and be present and in the moment with the ones with whom you are walking. 

As we walk people home, slow down and listen.  Be present.  Share Jesus with them even when they cannot feel the presence of Jesus in the midst of the pain.  Be present with people on the journey of life.  Walk with them, don’t just tell them what to do.  Walk beside them.  Walk closer to Jesus as you journey down the road of life.  Keep your focus on Jesus.

“Just a closer walk with Thee.  Grant it Jesus, is my plea.  Daily walking close to Thee.  Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”