A Gift from My Nook

               The second day after Larry’s total knee replacement surgery, he texted me about 8:30 in the morning that he might be dismissed. I was still in bed at our daughter’s house and reading his message woke me with a fright. Flashbacks of his dismissal from the hospital after his first knee replacement surgery swept through my mind.  When we had arrived home from his first surgery, his pain level had worsened so much so that we contacted his surgeon who was unavailable at that time. We managed to speak to the doctor on call and eventually received stronger pain medication. Then, beside the pain, there was concern about blood clots. Consequently, these memories created anxiousness within me when Larry said he might be dismissed, a day earlier than anticipated.

               I hurriedly dressed, packed my bags, and drove to the hospital. When I arrived, Larry was resting in bed.  I must have looked in disarray because he asked if I were okay.  I confessed that I felt anxious, especially with the possibility of his being dismissed.  Selfishly, I wasn’t prepared to be the home “nurse” quite yet.

               As I struggled with these concerns, I felt my spirit struggling as well. In my haste to get to the hospital, I had failed to release my misgivings to God.  In fact, the words from one of my favorite Bible verses, Psalm 18:2, kept eluding me, and this frustrated me even more. Trying to pull my emotions together, I found comfort from the morning sun’s warm rays as I sat in a chair near the window in his room.  I glanced at Larry who had fallen asleep.  In that solemn atmosphere I remembered I had a copy of the Bible on my nook. Immediately, I grabbed my nook from my purse, woke it up, and selected the Bible from my library.  When the page opened, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Psalm 18:2 stared at me from the screen. “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Oh my…the verse I was struggling to remember appeared before me. To me it was a small miracle, a gift from God, as though He had selected the page for me. I was genuinely in awe of God’s goodness!!  I read the verse over and over and praised my Father for His Presence. I continued to read and rest in the LORD.

               When Larry woke from his nap, it was mid-morning and no definite word of his dismissal was mentioned. In fact, the entire south wing of the hospital where his room was located seemed rather quiet. A CNA entered and checked his vitals as well as his pain level. She then commented that she had heard that he might be going home. With her comment, I asked Larry if he felt he was ready to be dismissed. He, too, was somewhat apprehensive. We had nothing to do but wait.

               Lunch time arrived. While Larry ate his food, I left the hospital, not only for lunch but also to process what lay before us.  After buying my food, I parked the car in the hospital parking lot, ate, again thanked God for showing me the verse, and relaxed.  All the various emotions of the morning had tired me.  Then, as I rested, I was reminded of a text I had recently received from my Christian soul sister in Hong Kong. She had expressed her concern for Larry’s surgery and for me as well.  In fact, she said she had asked her colleagues to pray for us too. With that reminder of prayer and the support of her words plus the prayers of other prayer warriors, my body and my mind were filled with an unexplainable sense of peace. Sitting alone in the silent car refreshed my soul. Hope returned! I knew without a doubt that God would give me the strength, the energy, and the patience I would need to help Larry through the weeks of recovery. After all, He is my ROCK!!!

               As it turned out, Larry was not dismissed that day because his PT session did not go well and his pain level had risen.  He stayed one more night and was dismissed the next day. Both of us were better prepared, thanks to God who was involved throughout our ordeal. He was the “ behind the scenes” guy, orchestrating all things for our good: prayers and support of family and friends, the successful surgery and the care of the health providers, the special Bible verse, the comforting peace, the reassurance of His Presence, and much more.  He had known our needs before we did and had followed through with His faithfulness, His protection, His care, and His love.

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

My Personal Oasis

              When I entered the church that I had grown up in to attend my Aunt Margaret’s Memorial Service, I felt like I had come home. Being there brought countless memories. From my infancy through my marriage, Bethlehem Lutheran Church had a major influence in growing my faith in Jesus Christ. From all the church activities my family was involved in, like Sunday school and church services, Vacation Bible School, Luther League, choir, Christmas programs, special services, etc., my favorite experience was being in the sanctuary alone with Jesus. In fact, I claimed it as my “oasis” amidst the often confusing and challenging ways of the world.

               When I thought of an oasis, I imagined an attractive area filled with an array of trees and shrubbery along with a beautiful assortment of flowers, like a secret garden.  A pool of water or several watering holes might have been dispersed among the growing vegetation. An oasis in the middle of a desert offered rest, refreshment, and renewal to the sun-parched travelers crossing the arid land.  It was a place of refuge and safety, a place to regain energy and zeal, and a place to recondition one’s mind and body.  Likewise, the church, the physical structure, a place to worship God, became my personal oasis.

               Today, whenever I walk into any place of worship, whether it is my “hometown” church or one of the many I’ve attended through the years, I feel a special sense of His Presence.  This awareness is difficult to describe because it comes from within. I must admit I am more in tune with this awareness when I am alone in God’s house.  However, its similarity is to that of my personal oasis of my youth. I find rest, refreshment, and renewal within its walls.

               Once inside the church, I am greeted by a quiet, calm atmosphere that relaxes not only my body but also my mind. As I sit in a pew or on a chair, I pause for rest because life’s trials often wear me down. Peace surrounds me and the only disturbance might be a passing vehicle outside. I take time to look at the surroundings and marvel at the various pieces of art displayed through stained-glass windows or elaborate, cloth banners.  It’s a beautiful setting, giving honor to God through works of art.

               As I rest, I find myself becoming refreshed.  There in the presence of my Father, I feel no condemnation because as Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”  I can be myself…no pretense. I can freely express myself without interruption, insult, or correction while God gently listens. Of course, I am certainly aware of my shortcomings but more fully aware of His unfailing love and forgiveness. This time of prayer brings my refreshment.

               There in the quiet I notice that my inner strength and confidence are being renewed. My attitude toward myself, toward others, and toward life in general is becoming positive and hopeful once again. I have the faith and reassurance that God is continually by my side. “And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deut. 31:8.  With a sigh, I’m reluctant to leave this peaceful sanctuary and return to the world outside. But for a brief moment, I have found rest, refreshment and renewal.

               May you, my readers, find your personal “oasis”.

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…” Psalm 37:7a

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” Acts 3:19

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51: 10

Small Blessings

              Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” The verses that follow list a variety of larger issues which happen throughout life. We tend to take notice of these “big” events in life, but what about the smaller, often overlooked occurrences along life’s path?

               As I age, I find myself appreciating the “little” things in life more than ever before. For instance, the other day while shopping in Garden City, I decided to eat lunch at Burger King. However, since I was alone, I drove through the drive-thru, paid for my food, and parked under the shade of a tree in a neighboring parking lot.  When I took a bite of French fries, my taste buds quickly notified me that the fries needed salt.  But to my relief, I remembered placing a packet of salt in the car’s ash tray a long time ago. I sprinkled the seasoning upon the French fries, and my taste buds were ecstatic! No fries ever tasted better!!

               Then, at a family gathering we were eating our evening meal on the deck. Everyone was scattered in various places, but I couldn’t help notice my grandchildren. Being children, they were actively chowing down their food and being silly with each other…so carefree and innocent.  But, highlighting the meal was the sight of dripping watermelon juice from the wide, smiling mouth of a very  satisfied three year old. A simple piece of watermelon brought a “bite” of joy to my granddaughter as well as to me watching her.

                Later, after the grandkids had finished eating, they scampered off in all directions, both outside and inside the house. However, I couldn’t help but overhear one of my grandsons inquire about a locust skin he saw clinging to the tree bark.  While my son answered his questions, I was drawn to pleasant childhood memories of when my neighborhood pals made a game of collecting locust skins during the summer. Every morning (when we remembered) we would take a long, cane fishing pole (to knock off the ones located out of our reach) and glass jars and walk around our block and neighboring blocks to find the skins. At the end of summer we would count them to discover who had collected the most (no prize awarded – finding them was award enough). Then we’d empty our jars and let them fly with the wind.  This fun memory had slipped my mind but resurfaced from an inquisitive child.

               Other happenings have caught my attention since learning to appreciate the finer things in life. While I was driving to work, I noticed a streak of light blue sky appearing through gray-covered clouds that had been lingering for several days. A flash of energy crept within me at the unexpected sight and a hope of brighter days ahead engulfed me. Then, one day while I was walking down a grocery aisle, a smiling stranger said “Hi” as she passed me. Her welcoming gesture caught me by surprise, but it left me feeling special. Now I aim to pass on her kindness to another. But of all the “little” outstanding parts of life, one of the best features is receiving a hug that penetrates to my heart, warming my soul. Lately, I’ve received several of those hugs and the warmth remains with me.

               While experiencing those various, non-dramatic circumstances of everyday life, I had felt God’s nearness in them.  His appearance was made known by problem-solving, satisfying smiles, pleasant childhood memories, nature’s beauty, friendly greetings, and unforgettable hugs. No matter the season of our lives and no matter the significance of our circumstances, God blesses us in His own unique way. So, my friends, learn to appreciate the common, uncomplicated events in life and take notice of God’s participation.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits,

The God of our salvation!” Psalm 68:19

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:31

Wise Words

              We who believe in God have an amazing Father. Throughout my life He has demonstrated His love, His faithfulness, His care and His forgiveness not only by extraordinary events but in my daily routine as well.  As I grow spiritually, I am discovering that God often touches our lives through unusual measures. In fact, recently He used distraction to get my attention.

               For several weeks I had been dreading the arrival of two minor medical procedures I needed to have done: a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy. Actually, it was the prep day regiment that was causing me more anguish than the scopes. I had had a colonoscopy ten years ago and had an unpleasant experience with the prep day procedure so I had reasons to be concerned. However, this time my concern had turned to fear.  Full of anxiousness, I recruited several prayer warriors from my family as well as from my spiritual sisters.  Even with their support I felt edgy.  I was constantly talking with Jesus about my apprehension, and He kept reminding me to TRUST Him.  He provided words of encouragement and assurance through devotions, text and face book messages from my prayer warriors, a special card from my Bible translator friend, and a kiss and a hug from one of the sweetest, older ladies I know whom I hadn’t seen in months. All of these encounters were Jesus’ way of showing His faithfulness. But the most significant reassurance came on the day before my procedures.

               On Sunday as my husband and I were driving to where I was to have these medical tests done, we received word that my Aunt Margaret had died early that morning. Aunt Margaret was my mom’s sister and my godmother. From my birth Aunt Margaret had been a part of my life.  Having married my dad’s brother, Aunt Margaret was like my second Mom.  Our families, despite the distance separating us, remained close. Holidays, special family gatherings, shared vacations, and sleep-overs kept us together through the years. Our families were like one big unit, always there for each other.

               After hearing about her passing, tears filled my eyes as I drove. Memories flooded my mind as I visualized her bright, infectious smile. She and I had spent many special moments together…too many to write in this post. However, with all the memories surfacing, one telephone conversation we had had toward the end of last year struck dear to my heart at this time.

               When my mom passed away in 2004, Aunt Margaret took her place for the person to talk to for encouragement and advice. I was going through a down time so I called her. Hearing her voice immediately perked me up. We discussed many topics, joked and laughed, and as our conversation came to an end, we decided we could not live in this life without Jesus and wondered what people did who didn’t have Him.  Her comments about Jesus and His importance in our lives renewed my hope and attitude that day.

               Aunt Margaret’s love for Jesus shined through her servant’s heart. She was a giving, thoughtful person, ready to share not only material goods but her faith in God as well.  I admired her strength of character, her enthusiasm for life, her skill at playing cards J, and her glowing personality.  She was my aunt, my godmother, my spiritual mentor, and my friend.

 As I reminisced those special memories, I felt a peace pass through me. With tears subsiding, I noticed soft, white whispy clouds appearing in the blue sky. Suddenly, I became aware that I had completely forgotten my impending prep day. It was like God had provided a distraction. No longer was my focus on me but on my cousins who had just lost their mother. And by that distraction, I was reminded of my Aunt Margaret’s wise words about needing Jesus in our lives no matter what.

               Fortunately, I did have Jesus, but in my fear of facing the medical procedures, I had forgotten that, even with all the support I had received. I had failed to completely trust Jesus to take care of me…to place the worry in His Hands. So in the quiet of my soul, I asked Jesus to forgive me and thanked Him for my Aunt Margaret whose wisdom encouraged me even through death. As for my preparation and scopes, all went well. Thanks be to God!

A special verse reflecting the life of my Aunt Margaret: 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Mat. 5: 16

A special verse for worriers:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2: 6 -7

Joy in June

               A month ago I was reunited with one of my dearest friends who currently lives and serves the Lord in Hong Kong. In fact, I wrote, “Dimes and Hearts,” a short story describing our friendship and posted it on my blog in 2015. Those of you who have read my story will know the background of our friendship. For those who have not read it, may I suggest you do so you can fully understand and appreciate this reunion story.

             

              When LaJuan messaged me that she and her family were planning to visit our small town while they were stateside in June, happiness and excitement filled my soul.   It had been nearly five years since we were physically together. During those years we had kept in touch via skype, fb messages, texting, and surprise packages from across the ocean.  Our friendship continued despite the distance and perhaps, it had even grown stronger.

               After they arrived in Dighton, LaJuan and I agreed to meet at one of our favorite places, the city park. Since my daughter, Haley, was home for our wheat harvest and wanted to see LaJuan as well, she accompanied me to the park.  When LaJuan arrived, we greeted each other with warm, loving hugs. Tears of joy welcomed our reunion. Haley, too, shared our happiness.

Then, as though we had never been apart, our conversation began immediately and ran non-stop for several hours.  If our husbands would have been there, they would have shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders at our continual chit-chat J However, Haley understood and joined in as well. Must be a “girl thing”!! J  We laughed and giggled, reminisced, shared family stories and so much more. Our visit took us through the noon hour so we decided to finish our discussion over a late lunch. However, before we left the park, God gave us two amazing surprises!!

As I revealed in “Dimes and Hearts”, both dimes and hearts had become reminders of God’s Presence in our friendship. Dimes for me and hearts for LaJuan, but we had also added the numbers 1:11 and 11:11 since our separation. Whenever we found dimes, saw hearts, or read the numbers, we thought of God, our Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit…the triune God. And with those God reminders, we were drawn together spiritually, a very special relationship for both of us. So Friday afternoon before leaving the shelter house, what should I find lying under the picnic table between LaJuan and me but a shiny, heads-up dime!! We looked at each other with surprise and joyful wonder. Then, Haley suggested we take a picture so when LaJaun handed Haley her phone for the picture, what should appear on her phone but the numbers 1:11!!! Another awe-inspiring moment!!

God had reaffirmed His part in our friendship. It was our mutual love for Jesus and our desire to study His Word that brought LaJuan and I together in the first place. From that point on, God not only grew our friendship but each of us individually as well. Although we had been separated for five years, we had remained together both physically and spiritually in our FATHER’S eyes, and He had blessed us this summer.  In fact, LaJuan and I were able to spend more time together the next day.

 Months before her visit to the states we had planned a Sonic stop when she had arrived so naturally, that was our place of conversation and refreshment. While we talked, we noticed dark, approaching storm clouds. Soon we saw close strikes of lightning with clashing thunder to follow. Since this Sonic had an indoor section, we sat back in our booth and enjoyed the summer storm together.

               Because my family was in the midst of wheat harvest, I had planned Pizza Hut pizza for supper for our small crew, which consisted of my husband, our son and his family, Haley and her boyfriend. As it turned out, the storm had halted our harvest so LaJuan and I picked up the pizza and drove to our farmstead.  As we travelled, we both marveled at the various cloud formations and the lightning display which were now before us. I told LaJuan she might be late in returning to Dighton but she was fine with that. However, she contacted her husband to update him on our whereabouts.

               Arriving at our house, we dashed inside with the pizza and was greeted with lots of smiles J Our harvest crew had gathered in our snug dining area awaiting the pizza. As my son prayed before the meal, I squeezed LaJuan’s hand. It warmed my heart clear-through to have her join us and to be surrounded by part of my family.

               When our time together came to a close, neither of us wanted to say, “Goodbye.” We had spent the past two days sharing our joys, our concerns, our hopes, and the special surprises from our Father. Our visit passed too quickly but its memory will remain embedded in my heart until God arranges another memorable encounter. Until that time God will continue to keep us together in His eyes as well as embraced in His arms!! 

               And YES, we will keep looking for dimes, hearts, and numbers as reminders of His love and faithfulness in our friendship and in our lives!!

“Your love is faithful, LORD, and even the clouds in the sky can depend on you.

Your decisions are always fair.

They are firm like mountains, deep like the sea, and all people and animals are under your care.

Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:5-7 (CEV)

                

Parade Candy

               Many years ago when our four children were still at home, our family enjoyed attending the yearly county fairs, especially the parades.  Each child would bring a paper or plastic bag to collect all the candy and other items tossed along the parade route.  One summer as we gathered with friends to watch the annual event, I took note of the candy as it fell upon the street and the reaction of the children. Consequently, as an observant “Mom”, I wrote a modern-day parable referring to Jesus’ parable of the sower. (Mat. 13: 1-9; 18-23)  My parable went like this…

               During the county fair parade, candy (Word of God) fell continually upon the streets along the designated path.  Candy which fell into the mud, the kids left alone. (Word of God fell upon deaf ears.) Candy that fell freely and abundantly upon the street, the kids ran wildly after it. Some ate it as soon as they picked it up. (Heard the Word/digested it but that was all.) Others put the candy in their sacks/bags for later enjoyment. (Heard the Word but left the spreading of its message for another day or perhaps not at all.)  A few eager participants noticed other kids weren’t getting any candy at all so they shared theirs. (Heard the Word and shared it.)  As the candy became an instrument of saving grace, we as the recipients must share its message.

               For all you parade goers out there, enjoy the candy and don’t forget to share!

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

Quiz Bowl

               Sometimes I serve as a judge for our school’s junior high Invitational Quiz Bowl.  I enjoy participating in this scholastic sport because I like educational contests where students are mentally challenged, and I’m always amazed at the variety of information these students know.  They learn and retain volumes of knowledge, and that’s to be commended.

               Now in Quiz Bowls as in any sport or contest, there are rules to be followed.  Quiz Bowl rules of play are relatively easy to understand and are usually reviewed for the moderators and judges before the event begins.  This is good practice, especially for me, since I only judge once a year.  However, this past fall when I judged, I discovered that one of the rules struck home with me personally.  The rule: “If the team rings the buzzer before the question has been read completely and answers incorrectly, they will lose five (5) points and the question will be repeated in its entirety for the other team.”

               I’m saddened to admit this, but I find myself following the actions of the team who rings in before hearing the entire question when I interrupt a person before she’s finished speaking.  Just as the team misses the entire question so I miss my friend’s entire comment.  By interrupting my friend, I don’t give her a chance to complete her thoughts, and this isn’t fair to either of us.  So I ask myself why I interrupt.

               The following are some of my observations:

a      Sometimes when I’m with a friend or friends whom I haven’t seen for an extended period of time, I am so excited that I can’t wait to express myself. (self-centered)

b      At other times, I assume what the other person is going to say so I step in and complete her/his thought verbally. (disrespectful)

c      When someone is speaking slowly or reaching for words, I grow restless. Then I find myself either tuning out the person’s comments (poor listener) or finishing her sentence. (impatient)

d     While I’m listening to the conversation, I might have a sudden, inspirational thought so if I don’t say it then, I’ll forget it. (inconsiderate)

       When I reflect on my observations, I realize I have a long way to go on improving my listening skills. I also need to work on being selfless, respectful, patient and considerate to those whom I am conversing with. It took a Quiz Bowl rule to bring this to my attention. Again, through ordinary life events, God’s Spirit led me to insights about myself. From now on with the Spirit’s guidance, I will be more alert in my conversations. So all my family and friends out there, gently tap me on the shoulder when I interrupt our conversations and reply, “Quiz Bowl.”

“He who answers a matter before he hears it,

It is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13

Screws and Screens

              The other day I decided it was time to open up our bedroom windows to let fresh air flow throughout the room.  When I began my task, I lifted the outer storm window to let down the inside screen.  As I moved the screen down, I noticed that the storm window’s outside aluminum frame was loose.  After further investigation, I discovered two screws were missing and one was half-way out.  Consequently, I found a couple of screws I thought would fit, grabbed my trustworthy screw driver, and headed outside.

               When I surveyed the situation, I decided to screw in the loose one first and then check on whether or not the other two screws would fit.  Yes, they did!  But in my excitement and clumsiness, I dropped one of them.  Now, the grass beneath our window was several inches high as mowing hadn’t begun yet.  “Oh great!” I thought. “I’ll never find it.” But then as though the Spirit took over my plight, I asked Jesus for His help.  I knelt down to look through the blades of grass only to find a dead bug or two.  Yuck!!  However, I continued my search, and there, lying between particles of dirt and grass, I saw the screw.  “Thank you, Jesus!”  I carefully took hold of both screws and completed tightening the frame.  One window down…one to go!

               I returned to our bedroom and began the process all over again on our second window.  However, this time it wasn’t a loose outside frame I was dealing with; it was a stubborn inside screen. The latch that I needed to press and lift was stuck as well as partially broken which made it difficult to move.  I tried several times…grunting and groaning as if the noise would help.  I was ready to give up and let my husband deal with it later.  But then, once again I asked Jesus for help and it seemed as though He said, “Try one more time.”  So I did. I pressed against the latches and the screen lifted so easily I was awestruck. Wow!! Both window screens were now in place and the welcomed spring air entered our stuffy bedroom.

               As I reflected on this incident, I was reminded that it’s the common, every day events in life where Jesus greets us and welcomes our requests. We can call upon Him for anything at any time no matter the situation.  Often we fail to seek help from Him until we're struggling with serious life circumstances, whether it be financial, relational, health related, or spiritual. But Jesus wants us to come to Him even with what we might consider silly, simple, but frustrating every day issues. I was momentarily baffled by the loss of the screw and the stuck screen, but Jesus through the Spirit helped me even though I had failed to ask Him first. What a forgiving, loving, and caring Savior we serve! 

"Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me."

Psalm 86:6-7

Passing On...

               A few days ago our family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, my Aunt Alvena, who was married to my dad’s brother.  Even though she was 94, her death came unexpectedly because she was still living independently in the country, driving her car to and from town, and enjoying life in general.  So when I heard the news of her death, I was deeply saddened but thankful that she had led a long and meaningful life.

               With the passing of Aunt Alvena came the realization that our faithful, strong, hard-working older generation was leaving us.  In fact, only three aunts remain in that older generation on my side of the family. Soon, my generation will be the “older” one, and that was a humbling thought.  Perhaps my daughter Haley expressed it best when through our tears, she said she felt like “a stranger… that everyone in that generation we looked up to was leaving us.”  We had depended on their strength, their security, their love and their faith to lean on and embrace. Now they were gone.

               On the drive home I silently reminisced as well as reflected on the day’s events.  I couldn’t help but be drawn to an appreciation of what my grandparents, my parents, my aunts and uncles and other extended family members had taught me. Theirs was a life filled with commitment, dedication, loyalty, and a strong work ethic. BUT one aspect of their lives stood out above the rest…their reliance upon God.  Their testimonies of God were not a rip-roaring, showy outburst of words but a quiet, steady dependence upon “the Man upstairs” as my dad referred to Him at times. They shared their faith and trust in God through their everyday life encounters as well as in their service to the church. Many were Sunday school teachers, leaders in church business affairs, Bible study leaders and participants, Ladies Aide ministries, and choir members. This service was part of their lives, no questions asked.

   Of course, laughter and joyful celebrations occurred along with hardships and overwhelming challenges, but they persevered and endured whatever life tossed them. They were a responsible Christian generation, and whether they realized it or not, they were shaping my generation to pass on to the next generation how they had lived. As Ecclesiastes 1:4 states, “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever.”

               Now, it’s my generation’s turn, duty, and responsibility to “pass on” the values of leading a Christian life:  to be faithful to our commitment to God and His Son, to persevere when life’s pressures overrun us, to be bold in our Christian witness, and to place our trust in the hope we have through our Savior Jesus Christ that someday all generations of believers will be together forever.  Finally, my hope is that my generation will be admired and respected as much as what we admired and respected those family and friends before us.  Praise be to God, the Father of all generations.

“Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children,

Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,

And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done."  Psalm 78:1-4

An Overlooked Battle

I find it quite exciting when the Holy Spirit reveals Scripture to me in a new light. One such enlightenment took place several years ago when I was leading Beth Moore’s women’s study on David, entitled A Heart Like His.  It was a short and often overlooked incident that took place during the life of David.  However, this story didn’t mention David but his dearest and most loyal friend, Jonathan.

               From I Samuel 14: 1-14 we learned that the Israelites were once again facing battle with the Philistines. Without informing his father, King Saul, Jonathan and his armor-bearer decided to fight the Philistine garrison alone.  As they approached the enemy, Jonathan placed his faith and trust in the LORD. “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us.  For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (verse 6)  Without hesitation Jonathan’s armor-bearer followed. His reply was, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” (verse 7)  Now, that’s what I call loyalty, obedience and trust.  As it turned out, Jonathan and his armor-bearer destroyed the Philistine garrison as the LORD led.

               In Beth Moore’s study, she showed through this story and other Bible references how Jonathan compared to Jesus in the sense that both were leaders and positioned themselves ahead of their armor-bearers, who represented today’s Christians.  In other words, our God goes before us through the daily challenges and storms of life. We, as Christians, should respond with faith and obedience recognizing God’s presence, like Jonathan and his armor-bearer.

               I found this particular story comforting when both my daughter and my son took overseas mission trips while in college. As my daughter departed for China and later, when my son left for Egypt one summer and for India the next, I prayed for God to go before them to prepare the way as well as to keep them safe. As a result, both experienced unforgettable encounters and returned home stronger and closer to God, our Father.  God had indeed led the way for both of them, and they had responded with faith, obedience and courage.

               Ever since this passage was re-introduced to me, I have referred to it often in my spiritual walk.  Whenever a new and often unexpected situation presents itself in my life, I am drawn to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, remembering who leads the way, now and into the future.

“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

A Skunk's Presence

               Just before rising for the day, the pungent smell of a skunk’s presence permeated throughout our house.  At first, my nose detected a slight odor, waking me from a peaceful slumber.  Then, gradually it became more noticeable, growing and gaining strength until the sickening scent seemed to engulf our entire bedroom, so much so that staying in bed was unbearable.  However, even though its intrusion was unwelcomed, I had no choice but to wait until the forces of nature extinguished its invasion.  Meanwhile, I got to thinking J

               Isn’t that the way temptation invades us?  It, too, comes gradually, springing from thoughts in our minds, often going unnoticed until the thoughts keep repeating themselves, spreading so thick that they become intolerable.  So we react, whether for the good in us or the bad in us.  The consequences will vary. But who is the instigator of these temptations?  Satan, of course.

               Satan is very crafty and delights in surprise attacks, similar to a skunk.  However, Satan’s perfume is pleasant rather than pungent. Consequently, we need to be aware of his ploys and be on guard to protect ourselves from falling under his spells.  How do we resist him?

               Unlike waiting for the skunk’s lingering presence to pass with the wind, we can take immediate action from Satan’s temptations by relying on God, our Father.  I Corinthians 10:13 states, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  To me that verse reassures me of God’s faithfulness, His concern for His children, and His escape route when we are tempted by Satan, whose scent is even less desirable than a skunk’s.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7

First Friend

Once again I am reminded how precious my friendship with Jesus is.  As we begin the Lenten Season, we pause to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for every one of us.  He left His Heavenly status and lowered Himself to become one of us.  And as a man, He established Himself among us, not only as our Savior and King but as our friend as well.

               The Gospel, the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament, reveals incident after incident of Jesus befriending people as He lived on this earth.  Some of His first friends became his 12 disciples.  Jesus, compassionate and gentle, reached out to common, ordinary people.  From Matthew 11:19, Jesus remarks that He was accused of being a friend to tax collectors and sinners: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’  But wisdom is justified by her children.”

               Another example of friendship comes to mind when the names of Lazarus, Mary and Martha surface. These three individuals had welcomed Jesus into their home.  Not only had they served Him but they had also listened to His teachings.  The closeness they felt for Jesus was reciprocated by His love for them.  Jesus referred to Lazarus as his friend when He said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” (John 11:11)  And most of us know the rest of that story as Jesus did indeed wake him up…wake him from the dead!

               Then, on the night when Jesus was betrayed, He referred to His disciples as friends. (John 15:15) He no longer thought of them as servants but as true friends. As followers and servants of Jesus, we, too, are His friends.

               Jesus became my friend when I was a child, although at the time I wasn’t fully aware of what it meant to have Jesus as my friend.  Being raised in a Christian home aided in developing that friendship, but it wasn’t until I was in junior high that Jesus became my First Friend.

               Being raised in the Lutheran denomination, it was customary for seventh and eighth graders to attend Confirmation classes.  During these classes we studied the Bible’s Old and New Testaments thoroughly as well as Martin Luther’s Small Catechism . It was during these two years that I developed a deeper understanding of the Word and the walk of a Christian disciple.  Consequently, drawing closer to Christian principles separated me from the “popular” group at school.  For a time I was without any close friends, except one --- Jesus!

               Jesus took me under His wing so to speak.  And when I made my public confession of faith by accepting Jesus as my personal Savior when I was 13, my life changed.  In high school, Jesus provided me with an entirely new set of friends, friends that were trustworthy, faithful, and fun-loving.  My high school years were some of the best of my life. And Jesus had arranged it all. What a loving, caring friend!!

               Today, as I reflect on my friendships through the years, I see Jesus’ hand in all of them.  He has placed friend after friend in each of my life experiences…each friendship at the perfect time.  I consider all my friends, near and far, precious gifts from Jesus, my First Friend.  Jesus knows about friendship, and He wants to be our friend….our First Friend.  You couldn’t ask for a better one, especially a friend who gave His own life to save all of His friends.

Instead of a Bible reference, I want to share the lyrics of my favorite hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Oh what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.

              

               

Behind-the-Scenes

              God is continually active in our daily lives whether we are aware of it or not. HE is a behind-the-scenes guy. For instance, last week two "out of the norm" incidents happened to me. The first dealt with my car tire adventure which I had mentioned on a Facebook post.  What I want to share now is “the rest of the story”. J

               When my first tire went flat, I was about 20 miles from home on a less traveled road on my way to Garden City to do some shopping. Of course, my first reaction was to contact Larry, my husband. I felt badly about calling him because he was still recovering from his knee replacement surgery. Although he was now more mobile, he still had more recovery to go. However, he said he would be there as soon as he could.         

               Meanwhile, as I waited in the car, I noticed my cell phone beeping because the battery was low. Fortunately, the charger I kept in the car worked when I plugged it into the cigarette lighter. (The lighter hadn’t worked recently.) I thanked God that it worked so I could have a source of communication. I decided to relax and to appreciate the fact that it wasn’t snowing like it was in other parts of the state.

               Several vehicles passed. One stopped. Inside appeared our country neighbors to the west of our farmstead. Tom asked if I was okay. I told him about the flat so he began to help me. However, the car was too low for the jack to fit under it, and Tom didn’t have any tools with him to lift up the car.  I told him Larry was on his way and thanked him for the attempt.

               After they left, I realized God had provided me with friendly faces of encouragement.  And soon after their departure Larry arrived so I wasn’t alone very long.  Larry took off the tire and reached for the donut replacement, but he discovered that the tread on the donut had a nice-sized chunk missing.  He thought it would blow out before we made it home. He was right. I had gone a few miles when it blew. Consequently, we left the car in a field and drove home to hook up a trailer.  While we were loading the car upon the trailer, a red pickup drove past. Soon after, I heard my phone, but by the time I found it through my layer of clothes, I had missed the call.  I listened to my voicemail, and the owner of the red pickup was another farm neighbor who had recognized Larry and my car so he was checking on us.  For me, that was another incident of God overseeing His children in distress.  When Larry and I had finally reached home, we were pooped, and Larry’s knee needed a rest. We decided to take the car to town the next day.

               Early in the morning we arrived at the tire shop.  When the tire repairman looked over the situation, he informed us that a third tire wasn’t good.  Oh my, did I ever feel thankful.  If the first tire hadn’t gone flat, I would have never known about the donut’s tread or the other bad tire. God had prevented a more dangerous situation from happening by one flat tire.

               Now, to more of the story…after leaving the car at the tire shop, Larry and I drove to Garden City so I could complete the shopping I had planned the previous day. (Birthday presents for two grandsons – need I say more? ) J   Anyway, Larry also wanted to leave his new laptop at Staples to have a couple of programs downloaded which would take several hours.

               Lunch time arrived so we ate at KFC. After our meal, we drove to another computer store to check on something Larry needed. I stayed in the pickup, but it wasn’t until we returned to Staples that I missed my purse!! L   Good grief, Gertie….I had FORGOTTEN my purse at KFC!!!  I immediately began praying that it was still in the chair where I had set it or else some nice, thoughtful person had found it and had turned it in to the management. On the way to KFC, I wasn’t quite to the panic point but close.  Even before Larry had the pickup parked, I was reaching for the door handle.  I rushed inside and turned to the table where we had eaten.  There, in the chair tucked under the table sat my beautiful purse, containing my life’s history!!!! J J  I felt so relieved and I do think my purse was relieved too! J  I left KFC thanking God silently and repeatedly for His protection, not only for our lives but our possessions as well!

               Now, dear readers, this was the “rest of the story” of how God was actively involved in these back to back occurrences in my every day walk, not by any dramatic or miraculous deed but through a thoughtful husband, concerned neighbors, an alert tire repairman, and a chair pushed underneath a table. Take note, HE is there for you, too!!

“You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.”  Psalm 115:11

Tumbleweeds

               Looking from my office window on the second story of our farm home, I see tumbleweeds racing each other across the pasture.  As I watch, I become intrigued by their movements.

               Regardless of their size, all travel the same direction determined by the wind.  Larger ones slowly lumber behind the smaller, quicker ones like grandparents following after their grandchildren. Middle-sized ones seem more competitive as they move side-by-side, then with an increase of wind one overcomes the other, bouncing and skipping across the uneven terrain.  All leap and bound freely until an obstacle, such as a fence or a tree row stops their progress.  Stuck together, unable to go forward or backward, they wait for the next strong wind to set them rolling across the pasture once again.

               Sometimes, I’m like those tumbleweeds. I routinely roll along through life, taking it for granted. Then, most often unexpectedly, I am stopped by an obstacle, such as health issues, loss of loved ones, loss of job, relational issues or financial problems.  At first, I find myself stuck, similar to the tumbleweeds. However, unlike the tumbleweeds, I have someone waiting to free me from my difficulties, no matter what they are. That someone is my loving, Heavenly Father.

               In 2010 an obstacle I faced was the loss of my job.  I was devastated at first because I enjoyed working for the community college as an outreach director.  However, due to lack of funds, the college was forced to close the center where I worked. During this unemployment transition period, I spoke to God to help me get through this loss, both financially and emotionally.  I felt His care and guidance as He opened doors to new opportunities and relationships that I would never have experienced if I had not lost my job.  God cares, and He can and does free us from obstacles that block our paths.  All we need to do is call upon Him, trust Him, and be open to His advice through prayer, Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit.

“As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me.”  Psalm 55:16