Something New

     I like to have a plan. Early to bed, early to rise describe my husband and me. Breakfast is typically around 6:30, lunch around 11 and dinner at 5.  Each day I sort through what lies ahead for the day, for meals, for the week ahead.

     I am fortunate to have some wonderful and wise girlfriends and I was able to spend a few hours with some of them over the weekend. One of them said, “Well, we have to be flexible.” Wise words.

     Lately, I have been writing blogs for the week ahead as a theme, spending a few hours putting them together. Last week’s theme was finding freedom in the Holy Spirit, understanding that God will always work in us, working for His good and perfect purpose in our lives.

     This week let’s listen to the Spirit, and allow Him to do something new. Each day will bring new surprises and adventures. I plan to get up at my usual time. (No surprise there!) But I will not plan what I am going to write ahead of time, trusting the Spirit to move in my life as He chooses with no plan.

     What will He do in your life today?

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

     If you are feeling stuck or lost, don’t be afraid. God will make a new way. He can provide clear, living water during the desert times of life. He can bring fresh blooms and new fruit, after a long cold winter. He can find a new way for us! Do you see it?

Father,

Thank You for teaching us and leading us with something new. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to show us a new path today. Thank You for the freedom that faith gives us to place our trust in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Freedom and Purpose

     As we close out the week of studying His plans and purpose, He reminds us that all of us, working together, as different parts of His body, are working toward one common goal. Our goal, as a church, is to bring glory to Him.

     It is not about us. It is always about Him.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16

     God has raised you up at this time, in a particular family, in a work environment, in a neighborhood, to bring glory to His name, so that others mayalso know and proclaim who He is. And every single thing we do, including laundry, eating a meal, fulfilling our passions and desires, the ordinary and extraordinary, can be done for Him.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:3

     God created us for His glory. That is our united purpose, each one of us, to show His glory.

Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, I have formed and made. Isaiah 43:7

Father,

You have created us to glorify You. Complete Your plans and purposes in our lives as you continue to work in us with Your everlasting and unfailing love. Give us the spiritual clothes we need in our hearts to live our lives for You and give us freedom and peace to enjoy the journey.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Freedom and Purpose

     God’s purpose and His work in you will look very different than His purpose and His work in me. He knows us intimately. He understands our quirks, our frailties, and He understands and will use our personalities, our natural talents and the spiritual gifts He freely provides.

     I have volunteered and given time to ministries that were not a good match for me. Once I understood that God could use me in exactly the ways He had made me, I began to understand and to listen to how He could use me best. The work He has for us will always bring joy and blessings.

     If something you are doing in the name of Christ brings a sense of duty and obligation, a sense of dread or fear, pray and ask if it is right and if it will bless others. God loves a cheerful giver. It’s easy to compare and compete in this world. But God ordained the body of Christ to work together. We need each other.

     Sometimes, we will plant a seed, and the next person will water that seed, and finally, God will grow and nurture it until it blooms!

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8

     Whatever God accomplishes through us will be for our good and for the good of others and to fulfill His perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Jesus,

Help us to see ourselves through Your eyes. Allow us to walk in the plans You have designed for each one of us individually. It is miraculous that You have designed each one of us to be used in such a variety of ways We praise You today.

Amen

Freedom and Purpose

     A great way to relax into the freedom God offers, is to remember His Holy Spirit now lives within us. We know that we know that we know, we belong to Him and will one day reside in a perfect eternity with Him. His Spirit is a deposit and a seal.

And you also were included with Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1;13

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God who has given us the Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:5

     A seal and a guarantee. As we are filled with and guided by that perfect Spirit, we look different, we act different, we are transformed. Look at the first part of the verse above from 2 Corinthians.  We have been “fashioned” for a purpose.  Did you know you wear inner clothes? God works from the inside out.  Clothe yourselves with the Spirit today. Here is our fashion statement.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

     The spiritual clothing provided by the Spirit is really all that matters to God. It is all about the heart. It brings beauty from the inside out.

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:4

     I want that gentle and quiet spirit of peace that is of great worth. Put on your spiritual clothes and that inner light will shine.

Lord,

Thank You for the work You do in us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us submit to His lead, so we can represent You with beautiful hearts, clothed with Your character. Change our inside fashion.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Freedom and Purpose

     Remember, we did nothing to deserve Christ’s sacrifice for us. None of us are worthy. But because of His great love and His willingness to come to this earth, we are saved and we are called!  Jesus came to serve us and that kind of love brings out the best in us. Love always does.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:9

     It all boils down to grace, His unmerited favor upon us. His grace is sufficient to get us through each day! (2 Corinthians 12:9) His mercies are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

     Whatever your plans for this day, the purpose and plan of Our Lord for your life will prevail. Begin the day with Him. Ask for His guidance and for Him to be shown through you as you go through the business of the day. And be refreshed. He is working!

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Father,

We know that our faulty human notions and plans don’t always match up to the amazing plans You have in store for us. Bless others through us. Help us plant seeds of hope because of You and we will be blessed.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Freedom and Purpose

     God’s promises and God’s purposes have been and will continue to be fulfilled. All is accomplished in His own timing and will come to pass in His perfect and good will. Hard to believe sometimes? One of the questions unbelievers ask is, “How can a loving God allow such evil and horror?” 

     Our answer is, a resounding “Jesus is the answer!” The evil in man’s hearts has been on this earth since the beginning of time. Satan is real and will one day be vanquished. In the meantime, we can trust God and live in joy and peace, because of Jesus. His purpose will prevail.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10

     God’s plans and purposes are over-arching, spanning the heavens and the earth. He watches over the sun and the moon and the stars. He watches over nature, with all of creation is under His control. And He watches over you and me. Let this bring you a sense of freedom. He is working in each one of us continually. Allow His love to set you free!

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

     Did you hear that? It is God’s work in us. His “good purpose” will be done through us because of Him.  And He never, ever, ever gives up on us. Feeling discouraged or unworthy? Join the club!  But God sees us as His beloved children. His work continues with patience and love. He will provide the people, the opportunities, and the good works He wants accomplished through us. What a blessing!

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Lord,

Your ways and your thoughts are so much higher than ours. Let us relax into Your good works, knowing You will fulfill everything that needs doing until the return of Christ Jesus.

Amen

What Would Jesus Do? Follow the Spirit

     Our lives of following Jesus will include deep prayer, a willingness to listen to the outcast and the lost, and will take conviction and courage. What would Jesus do? I want to know more and more about Him, to draw more and more from His word, to live the life He has envisioned for me.

     What would Jesus do in your life right now? Let’s go to a quiet place and pray. Let’s follow His words of comfort and hope. And most of all, remember what He has done for us. He continues to work upon the earth through His Holy spirit. And that Spirit lives within all of His believers.

     The Holy Spirit is the true light of this world. Jesus is our Lord. He sits in the heavenly realms, ready to come back, ready for the Father’s perfect timing to vanquish evil once and for all, to set up His kingdom with us on the new earth and bring heaven to us.

     That day is coming. In the meantime, we can follow in His footsteps. We can have a passion for Him and His ways. We can move with confidence and conviction. He is real. He is alive. He died for us. He has risen!

Jesus,

Fill us with Your Holy Sprit today. Breathe new life into our weary bodies, bring fresh light to our souls, increase our love and commitment to You. You will do miraculous things with us and through us.

Amen  

What Would Jesus Do? Stay Faithful

     Jesus reminds us not to be discouraged. Not everyone will listen. Many may criticize us. In fact, He tells us just as, we too, will be persecuted. It isn’t easy when others are offended by our faith, or criticize, or not like us. Here is what Jesus told His disciples.

“Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.” Matthew 10;14

     Jesus spoke in the neighborhood where He grew up and they did not listen. All they remembered was the boy who grew up near them, the carpenter’s son. (Matthew 13:54-58)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

     Standing up for Jesus and His truth will not always be easy. But He gave up everything for us. Let’s take up our crosses and go!

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

Jesus,

Keep us strong in faith, even when others don’t believe. Help us to plant seeds of faith, even when it is not easy. We will be blessed.

Amen

What Would Jesus Do? Stop

     As we sit in our churches with the people who look just like us, who act like us, who dress like us, we forget about how Jesus lived His life. He was looked down upon by the religious leaders of His day. Why? He hung out with the outcasts. He spoke and loved the lepers. He ate with a tax collector. He forgave an adulterous woman.

But the Pharisees and the leaders of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2

     A great reminder to all of us. He may ask us to get out of our comfort zones, to speak with someone from a different culture, from a different neighborhood, to stop along the way.

     Jesus stopped.

     As the crowds moved around him, as they followed behind Him wherever He went, He stopped. He stopped for the blind beggar. (Mark 10:46-63) He stopped for the woman with the bleeding disorder. (Luke 8:43-49) He stops for you and for me.

     Let’s remember to pause when we feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit, to speak, to listen, to offer comfort and hope where it is needed most.

Lord,

Stop us along the way, to see and to listen and to open our hearts to those that others shun. You love us all.

Amen

What Would Jesus Do? Pray

     Jesus was in constant contact with His Father in heaven. Prayer was woven into His days and nights. He was followed by crowds of followers as He walked through His days. Just as we do, He would grow tired and weary. Just as we do, He faced fear and temptation. Just as we do, He felt hunger and thirst.

     And He prayed.

Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a solitary place where He prayed. Mark 1:35

     When we are busy and overwhelmed, we can move to a quiet place and spend time with our heavenly Father. When the house is quiet, we can get up and find peace as we connect with Jesus.

     Jesus prayed with thanksgiving and praise. And He taught us to remember Him as we eat the bread and drink the cup.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take it. This is My body.” Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them and they all drank from it. “This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many,” He said to them. Mark 14:22-24

     Getting close to Jesus includes praying and listening, includes remembering and honoring the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.

     And Jesus prays for us!

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17:20-21

     Jesus greatest prayer for us is that we will be one with Him and His Father and why? So that others may believe!!  What an honor. Prayer is available to us all day, all night, as we pray for others, as we look for a quiet place, as we give thanks, and as we look for His will in our lives. Even in anguish before the cross, Jesus was obedient.

Going a little farther, He fell on His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, remove this cup from Me, yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39

Lord,

Give us every opportunity to stay in close contact with You throughout our days, to thank You, to listen to You, to praise You, to remain in Your will. Thank You for teaching us to pray.

In Jesus name,

Amen

What Would Jesus Do?

     Do you remember the bracelets with the letters, “WWJD”? When we need to make a decision, wondering how to answer a question, faced with a temptation, it is a great question to ask ourselves. What would Jesus do? And if He would not be willing to work in this environment, talk back angrily to that person, say yes to that temptation, what do we do?

     Let’s get to know Jesus and find out. No one alive has seen God the Father. He sent Jesus to show us just who He is. He sent the perfect man to us because He loves us so much.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15

     Jesus told us He is the way to the Father. If we know Him, we know God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you know Him and you have seen Him”. John 14:6-7

     Do we really know Jesus? Let’s take a look at Him this week. How did He live on this earth? What was most vital to Him as He walked through the streets of Jerusalem? As He visited with friends and family? As He ministered to others? I love reading through the words of His 33 years on this planet.

     Knowing everything about Him, will give us the courage to ask, “What would Jesus do?” And walk in His footsteps.

Jesus,

We want to honor You with our lives. Take us back to the days of Your life as one of us and show us who You are. Just as You are the image of Your Father, we long to be the image of You.

Amen

His Love, His Work

     Remember, God’s work always continues in us. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. The Bible reminds us our lives are but a vapor, a mist, a wisp.

Why, you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. James 4:14

     I am grateful for each day of life. As we continue to live out our very short lives, keep Jesus front and center. The true blessings in our lives will flow from that love, His love for us and our love for Him in return.

     If we look for ways to bring glory to His name, we will continue to be filled to the brim with His love, His joy, His peace. Not easy, is it?

     There are days of frustration and worry, days of health concerns and days of being too busy. The days move on, sometimes decades move on, just as James told us, as a wisp. But God loves us, not because of what we do or don’t do, but because of who He is. Live each day fully. Watch for miracles. Don’t compare your life to others. God loves you, just as you are right this minute. You are His.

Jesus,

We thank You for this precious life of ours. Continue Your work in us with Your love, even when we don’t feel it or see what You are doing. We place our trust in You.

Amen

Pure and Lovely

     Feeling inspired yet? There are days I doubt I am doing anything for God. Seasons of life change us and Jesus works with us in ways we can’t imagine. Our suffering becomes a gift of compassion for others. Our weakness shows His strength. Our age (hopefully) brings more Godly wisdom. Our experiences draw us into a more intimate relationship with our Lord.

      As we fix our hearts and minds, our eyes and our thoughts on Christ, we can become more like Him in this world. Here is what He asks us to think about. These words are in sharp contrast to what we see happening around us in the world.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

     Keeping our thoughts on what is pure and lovely, excellent and admirable, may mean turning off the nightly news and listening to a sermon, or reading through Scripture, or making time for a Bible study with friends. When our thoughts match up with the character of Christ, we begin to change. Some of my pure and lovely activities include watching Hallmark movies and eating chocolate! How about you?

     The peace of Christ can continually flow within us as we gain confidence in Jesus. Let’s take these words of Paul as a prayer for us as we venture out into the world.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much praise and glory to God. Philippians 1:9-11

Amen!

Here I Am

     Are you available for Jesus? What is He calling you to do? Where is He asking you to serve? Who will He place in your life today? We just have to be ready when He calls. When God called Abraham, he said, “Here I am.” (Genesis 22). When He called out to Jacob, he replied, “Here I am.” (Genesis 46) When He called out to Moses, he answered, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3) When He called Samuel, he replied, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3)

     Just as Jesus said to God, “Here I am…” (Hebrews 10) we, too, can do the will of God. Here are the words to a favorite hymn:

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save

I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people's pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away

I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
Who will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save

Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

      Is our Lord calling to you in the night? Is He calling to you right now? How will we answer? Let’s try it together, “Here I am, Lord!”

Father,

Give us your confidence. It is always Christ in us, nothing of ourselves. Give us the confidence of King David and the wisdom of Solomon, the bravery of Gideon and the help of others around us as we serve.

In Jesus name,

Amen

In His Strength

     God chose you and me to represent Him in this dark and crazy world. He meets us where we are and He saves us and makes us brand new. His gift of salvation is pure and loving. He doesn’t need us to perform His work and to fulfill His purposes. After all, He created us and our planet! And yet, He chooses to bless us as we learn to follow Him. Somehow, miraculously, He uses these weak human vessels to complete His work.

But God chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

     Moses stuttered. Gideon was the smallest man from the weakest tribe. King David was the youngest and weakest of his family. The apostle Paul was named Saul before he met Christ and persecuted and looked for ways to kill the Christ-followers.

     Something happens when these weak and foolish humans understand our need for a Savior. We are faced with a pure and loving God and understand the sin within us. What a gift it is to be humbled before a righteous God. And imagine what He did with Moses and David, with Gideon and Paul. His disciples were from the poorest communities, many fishermen by trade.

     And they would have the privilege of beginning the church that moved around the world. All but one of them was martyred for their faith. They had seen the risen Lord and understood the joy of salvation. Give your weaknesses to Him and watch His strength kill the giants in your life. What will He do with you and me? David trusted the strength of our mighty God.

     None of the Israelites wanted to fight against the Philistine, Goliath, no one except one small shepherd boy. When he offered to face the giant, others tried to dress him in armor, but he was not used to it and removed it. His confidence in God was so strong, his weapon of choice was a rock and a slingshot.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands. 1 Samuel 17:45-46a

     You know the story. The great giant would topple over and die from the rock. What giants are you facing? What obstacles are in your way? Let God remove them and continue glorifying Him. God works through the weak and foolish things of this world to make His name known. How will He use us today?

Father,

Thank You for reminding us that with You we are strong. With You we can face anything. With You, we confound the wise and the strong. Let others find You and may we be strong in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Inspired!

     Let’s get inspired this week. Inspired to stay humble. Inspired to trust God. Inspired to allow Him to work in us. Inspired to find joy and peace. There is no better inspiration found in God’s word than the example of King David.

     David was the youngest and weakest of his family. His brothers (all seven of them) were stronger and a bit more majestic. David tended to the sheep, the boy instructed to bring lunch to his brothers out in the battlefield. God understood David and understood his great heart. He would be the one chosen to be King of Israel.

     In return, David understood the faithfulness of God, even in the most trying of times. The words penned by David in the Psalms are filled with emotion, with regret, with deep suffering and grief, with fear for his very life, with longing and anguish and always, deep and abiding trust and joy. How are you feeling today? Look into the writings of King David and find understanding and compassion.

     The following words are worth remembering.They may be familiar to you from a doxology often used in Sunday services. I remember singing these words week after week in the Lutheran church where I grew up in South Minneapolis.

Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

     Such beautiful words. God, through salvation in Jesus, makes our hearts clean. His Holy Spirit is given to us freely each day. The joy of our salvation and access to the throne of heaven can be constant throughout our lives. Let God uphold you and inspire you.

Father,

Thank You for Your word that comforts, guides, inspires and reminds us of all You have to offer. Create pure hearts in us as we continue this journey with You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

All In All

     Marriage has been a gift to me and I love reading back through the laughter, tears, the ups and downs of our now 34 years together. At the same time, close friends have been through painful loss, both in divorce and death. Life is so precious and so very difficult at times.

     For me, Jesus is the answer. He is our truest, most loyal companion, the one who will be there to give us just what we need at any given moment, to sustain us through each day of life. Others will let you down. Loved ones will move to heaven before us. Our sorrows and our joys are felt by our heavenly Father.

     He is there when we are broken hearted.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

     He is there with open arms when we are weary.

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

     He will rejoice with you and is delighted with you.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you. In His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

     My prayer for you is to trust Jesus wherever you find yourself in life. If you are lonely, He will be your constant companion. If you are filled with joy, He rejoices with you. If you are tired, give Him your hand. Open your heart to Him, believe in His death and resurrection to save you, and give Him your entire heart. Pour it all out to Him and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Jesus,

Take hold of us wherever we are today. We are grateful for those you give us along the way to share our lives. We praise You for them and we thank You for being everything we need. You are the all in all. (! Corinthians 15:28)

In Jesus name,

Amen

My Wife of 50 Years

After losing my parents at a fairly young age, I was blessed with the most wonderful in-laws. This was written in the voice of my father-in-law, one of the greatest men I have had the privilege of knowing, as we watched my mother-in-law through the last stages of dementia. This was written in about 2004.

     I can’t find her in the place where she lives, my wife of 50 years, even though I try. I bring her clothes, make sure she’s clean and listen to the words I no longer understand. I can’t stay away and I can’t stay long.



     I return to the home we shared, she and I, and there I find her, my wife of fifty years. I find her in the scent of the vanilla perfume sitting on the mirrored tray. I find her under the quilt she so lovingly made, and I find her in the brush that I use on my fine white hair; the brush she used each day trying to manage the hair that never stayed just right.



     Her hair is the one thing that brings a rare smile as I say, “Honey, your hair looks pretty today.”

I guess when you worry and fuss about something your entire life you never forget, even in a mind almost gone. And so I chuckle a little and I sniff, and I snuggle and I brush trying to find her, my wife of 50 years.

Dear Father in Heaven,

Comfort me in this time. Help me today to remember all of the wonderful times past with my spouse. I know you understand her and you understand me. Keep us both safe in your care.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Road Trips and Rocking Chairs

     Even as a moonstruck newlywed, I was determined to work on our relationship as a couple. If and when we had kids, the two of us would always be front and center. And then we had kids. Exhaustion hit and the business and busyness of raising two daughters left us little time to focus on one another.

     Our girls were three and five the year my husband turned forty. It was high time for a get-away weekend to rekindle our love. It would be a surprise. His peers at work expected me early on a Friday afternoon to sweep him away to a cozy, clean cabin three hours north of where we lived in a suburb of Minneapolis. We would be greeted with a basket of goodies upon our arrival.

     My husband looked bewildered as we exited his office building. I couldn’t wait to hear his response to my surprise.  He turned to me.

     “Will we have a TV at this place?”

     “Well… no, I don’t think so.” I replied warily.

     A TV? I thought to myself; couldn’t he imagine a weekend away from everything with his bride? His next words hit me hard.

     “It’s World Series time you know.”

     Uh oh.

     My plans to avoid rush hour traffic went by the wayside as we scurried home to retrieve a TV. After sitting in traffic for hours, we became lost in the darkness of the north woods of Minnesota. Finally, after an extended and exhaustive time of circling the general vicinity, we spotted a small sign heralding our destination.

     The tired looking attendant handed us our basket and our key.  Relief shone on my face as we unlocked the door to the cabin and it was everything I had imagined. Stepping in, I turned to the side to witness the love of my life’s reaction to the lively fire and the north woods atmosphere.

     My romantic partner for the weekend was bent over plugging in his precious television set right next to the kindling fire.

     There was absolutely no reception.

     He looked at me in bewilderment, followed immediately by a look of panic. He moved quickly around the small sitting area and kitchen, into the bedroom, returning with a small clock radio. There were beads of perspiration on his forehead. Once again, he bent over with cord in hand.

     And once again, no reception.

     The look on his face moved from panic to hopelessness. We sat in the two comfortable rockers in an uncomfortable silence. My mind swirled. The anticipation, the hope, the romance of the long-awaited weekend came crashing down in confusion.

     What would we talk about all weekend? What was I thinking? Where were the kids when you needed them? I suggested we just go to sleep and start fresh in the morning.

     The next day dawned a crisp and clear October day. The view across the lake was spectacular, the trees a vibrant array of color. After a long trip to the nearest grocery store, we decided to go for a walk. Finally, romance! We headed out hand in hand into the beauty of nature.

     That’s when we heard the first shots.

     “Oh no!” my husband exclaimed. “It’s hunting season! We better take cover.”

     So much for our weekend away. We took another drive and went out for dinner. There was no sign of a sports bar. We left early Sunday morning.

     There has been a wide assortment of mistakes made over what now spans over twenty years of marriage. Some valuable lessons have been learned.  It is now understood we need to agree on a spot for a get-away. My girlfriends and I shake our heads at our clueless spouses when we spend the weekend at a cozy, clean cabin in the north woods. My husband and his buddies don’t give us a second thought as they huddle together in front of the large screen TV with the great reception.

     Years ago, one of our daughters told us she liked to hear the sound of our voices when she was going to sleep. We bought two comfortable rockers of our own. And a tradition took hold for us to sit and talk when our daughters were tucked safely in their beds. Our voices soothed them. All was right with the world when they knew we were near.

     Our times to talk have changed, along with the furniture and along with the season of our lives, but the tradition remains. Our current comfortable purple (yes I said purple!) rockers are wearing out fast. Our daughters go to bed long after we retire for the night.

     We wait and listen for the sound of their voices as we are tucked into bed. And when we hear them, sometimes late at night, we know all is right with the world.

     The uncomfortable silences of old have somehow turned into jewels of memory. That moonstruck honeymooner has grown up some from her somewhat naïve but always well-intentioned views. And the often hard-learned lessons of marriage have matured into the well-worn comfort of a life together that has and will continue to stand the test of time.

     And so, with laughter and tears, frustration and worry, with deep joy intertwined with deep sorrow, our lives have merged into one. The wonders of watching our daughters grow into beautiful young women cannot be easily expressed. We will continue to wait together as we listen for the sound of their voices, coming and going through the years to come.

     In the meantime, we understand our need for time alone, just as we understand the need to be with friends. And our hands still reach for each other when we go for a walk. We are ready to take cover together when we hear the distant sound of danger and, along with good conversation, we can rock away the hours in a comfortable silence.

Mr. Fix-it and Me

     This was written over fifteen years ago. Hope you enjoy the rest of the week’s devotions from some of my older writings.

     My Mr. Fix-it was about to leave town for three weeks. It would be the longest time we had been apart since we were married. Oh, I would miss him terribly, but there was an air of excitement within me. This could be the long-awaited opportunity for my do-it-yourself project.

     Don’t get me wrong. I am eternally grateful to have him around.  He knows how to swing a hammer, sheet rock and mud a wall to a smooth perfection, fix a leaky faucet or a sputtering lawn mower. But when it comes to creative projects around the house, we view the world through a different lens.

     He believes nails can only be hammered into studs. Pictures must be hung symmetrically above furniture, preferably one per wall. He did agree to a grouping of three pictures above our living room couch, only because the lines of the pictures hung perfectly above the lines of our couch cushions, which directly aligned with the glass pattern on our coffee table. It could drive a person insane!

     It took me five years to wear him down and convince him to hang window boxes outside our bedroom windows. Drilling those holes into the vinyl siding took years off of his life. I’ll never forget the look on his face and the sweat pouring down as he picked up the drill. 

     We tried one project together. Why didn’t someone warn me? Not only was it a nightmarish wallpapering experience, but it took place in the small, confined area of our downstairs bathroom. For some reason we picked a very dark colored paper and the seams simply would not stick. The humidity of the downstairs, along with the moisture from the shower, invariably pulled them loose time after time.

     You can imagine how Mr. Fix-it viewed those pesky, unruly seams. He avoided the downstairs bathroom completely.  And over the months to come, our young daughters could not resist the urge to peel those seams. I needed to get rid of that wallpaper. I had a beautiful golden paint in mind, along with some diamond-patterned towels to match.

     And so I waved tearfully goodbye and ran immediately downstairs. I was sure the wallpaper would come right off. After all, the seams had peeled so easily.

And I was so wrong.

     I worked feverishly trying different methods of wallpaper removal. It was so frustrating.  And as I worked, the smooth sheet-rocked walls my husband had put up so carefully beneath that pesky wallpaper began to peel away along with the wallpaper. I was in a panic. There wee gouged spots here and there. I started to feel sick.

     After I put the girls to bed, I crawled into my own bed, exhausted and bewildered.  I played scenarios back and forth in my head on how to explain this to my husband. There was no way out. I turned on the TV for a distraction from the disaster.

There was what I can only explain as a God-inspired intervention.

     The Home and Garden channel provided a miracle. The show centered on a do-it-yourself project; on how to cover an injured, cracked or uneven wall. All I needed was the same substance originally used to make the walls look so pretty and smooth. Sheet rock mud!

I took notes and slept like a baby.

     Looking back, I can’t imagine trying this again. Somehow, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire project. I lugged that heavy bucket of mud from the garage to the downstairs bathroom.  I added a little water and went to work or should I say, began to play? I swirled it with a paintbrush. I made lines with a putty knife and covered those gouges with a practiced eye. I covered every inch of those poor walls with an asymmetrical pattern of mud. And there I left it for two days to dry.

     It took awhile to cover all of those lines and swirls with the honey-colored paint, but I did it. I made a diamond-patterned stencil in cardboard and painted a border in a deep maroon and an even deeper gold above the tub surround. It matched both the color and the pattern of my fresh new set of towels.

     My husband was amazed, surprised and I have to say proud when he came home, although I don’t think he completely understood the state of the walls beneath the beauty. He added to my project with his expertise. He saw some tiny specks of white showing through the lines and swirls and took the deeper gold color I had used in the diamond pattern and sponged it over the lighter-honey colored walls. It had an old-world charm with a stucco texture.

     Imagine Mr. Fix-it actually sponge-painting! I guess we have learned a thing or two from each other over the years.

     That was over ten years ago. Many things have changed, but my appreciation for Mr. Fix-it has only continued to grow. And in the years in between, he has agreed to a purple-colored living room and I always (well, sometimes) look for a stud before pounding a nail.  Our now teenaged daughters have repainted the downstairs bathroom with a bright turquoise and we purchased neon colored towels. One of our daughters is neat and orderly and the other works in a creative chaos.

     Maybe someday, they, too, will come to a middle ground just like Mr. Fix-it and me. And remember, once we meet Jesus, He covered all of those blemishes and messy areas beneath the surface of our lives, and paints us in new and glorious hues.  



You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay and You are the potter. We are all the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Lord,

Mold us with Your creative hands, using our gifts and talents to serve You. Help us to appreciate and affirm the differences and the beauty in each other.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Times of Refreshing

     Today is a day for refreshing our souls, a day of rest, a day to spend with family and friends, a day away. Jesus refreshes our souls, wipes us clean, teaches us throughout our lives and gives us rest.

     Let today be a day to refresh your weariness, to think about the gifts we have been given, to savor the people in our lives and to glory in the creation surrounding us. If you have time, soak up some of God’s words.They will fill you with just what you need.

Repent and turn to Gid, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

Lord,

Refresh our souls with Your words. Refresh our hearts with Your love. Refresh our weary bodies with Your strength. You are everything.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Enjoy this Labor Day!