40 Words for 40 Days: Day 10

 Karsten and I filled our basket with tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini and kale for dinner. We even found fresh rosemary in the beds we’d stripped down to expose the herbs. In the morning he’d noticed the pattern on my dress. “Whoo, Whoo!” he’d continue to express to the slanted owls. (Yes, you’re right, I do dress for my children and grandchildren!)

    Our word today, on this 31st day, is BELONG. From generation to generation, God weaves our lives together and teaches us the art of belonging.

    To whom do we belong? I belong to Christ, to the brethren and to the family of the human race. We are many family trees, filled with branches, but we are created from the same precious dust of the earth, in the image of God.

    One of my very favorite passages, read at our wedding 31 years ago, is from Ephesians 3:14-21. Read it slowly and let the words sink into your spirit.

    “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family on heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

    We BELONG in the center of God’s will, and when we align ourselves with the truth of his Word, that’s where we find peace. Even through these trials, we see his abundant love when our hearts are in tune with him. Harvest is upon us, and as his children, we can surely find delight in this season, because he is in our midst!

    God bless you and keep you until we meet again tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 9

 Hello Beloveds! On this 32nd day, I have a new word for us to ponder: MULTIPLY

    Our grandson, Karsten, joined me in the kitchen. His faithful companions, our chocolate labs, Beatrice and Huxley, stood ever vigilant hoping for a tasty reward. My earnest little helper followed my directions diligently and in no time at all, the tantalizing aroma of peach crisp filled the house. What began with the simplest of ingredients, became a delicious delight for all to share.

    Do you remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000?

The disciples were ready to turn away the hungry crowd on whom Jesus had had compassion, healing their sick and ministering to them. They’d been with the people all day and felt worn out. Instead, Jesus said to his 12 disciples, “You feed them.” The bewildered disciples scrambled then finally found five simple loaves and two fish, shared by a boy from the crowd. Jesus instructed everyone to sit in groups of 50 in the grass. Imagine as the hush of anticipation fell over each person wondering what Jesus might do. He took the fish and loaves into his hands, offered them up to heaven, thanked his Father and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. At the end of the feasting, twelve baskets of broken pieces were gathered, not an ounce of miraculous abundance was wasted. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s economy!

    Imagine if you were the boy with the lunch! He offered his best to Jesus, believing that in Jesus’ hands it could be useful. And oh my, was it ever MULTIPLIED into a feast for all! When I look at this picture of our little boy offering his help to feed our hungry family, my heart melts. He knows that whatever help he offers me, I’ll gladly receive and that his best efforts will always be of greatest value to me. I love this little guy, and when he wishes to work alongside me, my joy abounds.

    In the complicated situations we face today, it’s difficult to imagine what use we might be to those feeling empty, suffering and in need. We, like the disciples, have our own plans before us, turning others away seems most logical. Besides, mounting problems arise daily, tempting us to shrink back in feelings of compassion fatigue. But we mustn’t give up! Jesus calls us to stand strong and stay faithful! Our simple prayers for one another,
push back the evil and invite love to override fear. Praying and believing are vital! Our kindness, listening ears, small acts of service and calm presence are of eternal use when courage is failing and hope seems dim all around us. God MULTIPLIES what the faithful surrender back to him. And as we bless and serve others in Jesus’ name, I imagine His joy might just be MULTIPLIED as well!

Good night, abundant rest and strength for the new day!

I’ll meet you here again tomorrow!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 8

Hello! It’s the end of our 33rd day, but before I share our word, I have two stories to tell.

    Eight years ago, three little children, who shall remain anonymous, clamored into the kitchen, breathless and wide-eyed talking so fast I could barely understand them. They waved for me to follow. As we dashed out the door, the somewhat compassionate comment of a brother went something like this, “...and we got ours over but sister didn’t...she was trying her best...” In a few seconds we all stopped short in our tracks and stared up. Before my eyes was a massive hole in the neighbor’s floor to ceiling picture window! Our three musketeers had been throwing rocks over the ridge of their house!!! Amazingly, one missed! It was a costly cast.

    Not many months later, I recieved a knock at the door from another neighbor. This time she led me in a silent procession to her yard where we halted to examine the entire side wall of her garage. Dotted, like a modern polka dot blouse, were umpteen splatted plum marks from the ground to the roofline and across the entire wall. How could they have done so much damage in such a short time? I’d been making dinner, thankful for their contentedness in riding their trikes. And to make matters worse, they’d used all the ripe plums from a third neighbor’s tree to accomplish their masterpiece! Oh the hours of holding sudsy buckets, leaning on ladders and scrubbing until our hands ached!

    From the broken window, to the stains and finally for the stolen plums we were given the exact same response from each tender neighbor...

Can you guess what that was? It’s our word for today:

FORGIVENESS

    We can now laugh at those stories because our dear neighbors didn’t harden their hearts to us. By readily offering forgiveness, we saw the true nature of uncondional love in them. A forgiving heart invites ourselves and others to dwell in peace and freedom. Revenge and hatred fan fires of destruction, we’ve seen so much of this, but kind acts rooted in forgiveness are like drenching Living Water on the flames. And furthermore, receiving Jesus’ eternal forgiveness by grace, then sharing it with others, has the power to change the world.

    Goodnight and God bless you. I’ll be here again tomorrow, Lord willing!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 7

 How is it suddenly 1:30 a.m., wasn’t it just midnight? I’ll tell you how. A precious friend, who couldn’t sleep, texted: Awake?

    And in our sorting, even though we spoke of both good and painful things, I left our conversation feeling deeply encouraged. So that must be our word for this 34th day:

AWAKE

    Do you remember when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane? He brought his disciples to watch and pray with him. I believe he wanted their encouragement, but three times they fell asleep. The second time he admonished them saying, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

    Does that declaration resonate with you? It does with me. In these difficult days, I want Jesus’ words to align me. Otherwise, I’m tempted to react in frustration, feel mortified at another’s different mindset or even plow forward with a preconceived idea of what they’re thinking, when I truly have no idea. To be AWAKE, is to engage first with a listening ear, then, before I answer, to be alert to a spirit of condemnation or accusation in me. The only way forward from here, beloved friends, is to think, speak, act and respond in love. It feels as if landmines are everywhere! Therefore, we must be AWAKE to the power and necessity of living as vigilant prayer warriors, for the fight is not against flesh and blood, but against every evil principality of darkness, as Ephesians reminds us. And as we do this, we stand against fear, united in love and abiding in hope.

    Romans 8:37-39 proclaims this truth, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    God bless you!

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 6

 Hello! On the eve of our 35th day our word is LEAST.

    Pastor Jim Fleming taught Dennis and me a phrase, 22 years ago when we lived in Memphis.

The posture of a follower of Jesus is to be:

~lowest of all

~least of all

~servant of all

    When we approach others, choosing to surrender to Jesus’ humble ways, no matter the response we receive, there is freedom. In these years when five of our eight are in Middle School and High School, my parenting model has changed dramatically. It’s simpler. I seek peace, search for needs, request respect, pray and seek, and endure through huge meltdowns, to come to the real heart of each matter.

    Jesus lay in the stern of the boat while the storm raged around him on the Sea of Galilee. He chose the least of all places to rest his weary head, but at any moment he could calm the storm. As his children, ready to serve, we know that for now he hasn’t calmed the storm in our land. That means we have much more to do, loving people well and praying for mercy and healing. As we bless and serve amidst many who have no hope, now is our opportunity to share the hope upon which we live! When we are less, God is greater.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 5

 Welcome to this little square of words. Drop your burdens for the moment and breathe. I imagine we’re sitting with our backs against a weathered tree trunk, as old as time. Sun beams stream through it’s branches, spreading across the soft grass on which we sit. There may even be a picnic basket nearby. With this peaceful image before us, let’s settle into this evening’s thoughts.

    CALLED is where we land, on this 36th day. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are CALLED not only to love one another, but to love our enemies. And love is an action word!

    “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16

    There is no condemnation in Christ, there must be none in us! A children’s song reminds us of this, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love...” I’ve been reciting this verse to myself lately when I’m tempted to speak death to anyone, especially those with whom I disagree. And finally, this beautiful truth to which my daughter in-law, Line, directed me years ago. Though Jesus models every virtue, there are two traits he specifically asks us to learn.

    “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:29

    Amidst the roaring of voices, arguing and seeking to tear people apart, we mustn’t respond with arrows and stings. We stand courageously for truth, but we are CALLED to do so with gentleness and humility. And by living this way, we find rest for our souls. Wouldn’t it be lovely if others found rest in our company as well?

    Good night dear friends, I look forward to catting again tomorrow. Sweet dreams for now.

40 Words for 40 Days: Day 4

 Hello there! Did you find a bit of sabbath rest today? I did, by falling asleep on the couch, sandwiched between Emmaus’ long legs and a cushion. I’d promised Ezra (13) we’d watch Madagascar, with Zion (13) and Emmaus (14). Like Grandpa Nichols used to say, “I was awake, just had to examine the back of my eyelids!”

    Today’s word, on this 37th day, is SONGBIRD. I awakened wondering what ideas this word might bring to our day and first off, the birds serenaded me through the open window. I thought of the geese flying south for the winter, the partridges that flutter and scurry amidst the tall prairie grass and the coos of the morning doves perched on the roof ridge. God provides for each of these precious creatures; we can trust in his love to care for us. Later, we worshiped, with the hymn Amazing Grace on our lips. And in the early evening, when baby Karsten needed comfort, Mama Line’s voice was the song that settled him.  

    As I sit with you now, in the hush of a quiet house, my Bible is open to Psalm 57. I’d had no time to read earlier, and here are the words that greet me from my planned reading: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass by.” Yesterday, my friend Tiffany, spoke of this very idea, of God’s wings quieting the roar of the world, like a soft blanket, sheltering us. I imagine wings and feathers are intricate elements of our songbird idea.

    In this season, let’s lift our voices in praise of our good God, who lifts our spirits as well. Each morning he is with us, having watched over our souls even in the darkest hours of the night. Let us trust in him as our comforter and shelter, just as Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

    I must end with one of my favorite verses, that encourages us to be songbirds of joy in these days. Psalm 61:8, “And I’ll be the poet who sings your glory, and live what I sing every day. As I switch off the lights, though it’s nearing 1 a.m., I hear a bird singing through our window. Instead of focusing on the dark night, I find I’m listening to his song instead.