Works In Progress

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, new talent Sarah Austin has some fantastic things to share about  true romance …

Diamonds in the Sand
By Sarah Austin

If our generation today had a theme song, it would probably be “I Want to Know What Love Is,” by Foreigner. And if you don’t know who Foreigner is, you’re probably the generation to which I am referring. The media seems to be in love with love. We see it on the TV. We read about it in books. We listen to it on the radio. Everyone seems to be talking about it, and, at the same time, everyone wants to know what it is, exactly.

We look around our campuses, in the mall, on the street even, and we inevitably find – a couple. Holding hands perhaps. Laughing, talking, smiling – like they have the world stuck in the little space between their palms.

And we ask ourselves: Why don’t I have that? Why isn’t someone walking beside me and holding my hand?

With the empty space gaping beside us, we come to the conclusion that something must be wrong with us. Or, simply, that love does not exist at all, despite our culture’s obsession with it.

Let me say here that a conclusion based on an empty space is hardly grounded in reason. And to doggedly refute the existence of something that has such insurmountable evidence in its favor is hardly logical. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” (Psalms 14:1). And “God is love” (1 John 4:16).

Imagine a diamond in the sand. A person walks by and doesn’t pick up the diamond – he’s blinded by the sun and stumbles obliviously past the precious stone. Another person walks by and doesn’t pick up the diamond either; he’s particular in the way his diamonds are cut. Yet another person searches on hands and knees, but fails to recognize the diamond for what it is amongst all the other glittering shards.

Tell me – does the fact that no one picked up the diamond make it any less valuable? It is still a diamond, perfect in itself. And someday, perhaps, a person will pick it up off the sand. But that will not in any way increase its value. It is already as valuable as it ever will be – and that is valuable indeed.

We are all of us precious stones. Our value does not ebb and flow with the tide but remains anchored in the love of the One who matters most.

What do we say then of this empty space beside us? It is nothing but a space – room in which to move freely, to learn, to grow, and to blossom. And love? You want to know what love is? Ask Him. He can show you.

1 Corinthians 13

In the midst of the rainy season here in Washington, Carrie reminds us to build on The Rock…

A Cracked Tank

A few weeks ago I casually glanced into the waiting room at work and discovered a small wading pool. I jumped out of my chair and called for reinforcements. The 280 gallon saltwater fish tank had sprung a leak. Again.

Upon inspection I noted that the water level in the massive tank was three inches lower than it should have been and sinking steadily. Not good at all. I turned off valves and switches and still the water level dipped. Under the tank, a waterfall gushed. I knew there had to be a crack somewhere, a catastrophic crack. I just couldn’t see it.

I called the doctor in charge of our saltwater family. He, of course, was three hours away. His calm advice was to stick a tube in the draining tank and siphon some water into a trash can and then catch the fish.

So, I sucked and spit, sucked and spit, to no avail. By then the water was so low it couldn’t fight gravity. Meanwhile, a brave patient had meandered in and began filling garbage cans with saltwater. Anything to save the chromis and crabs who lived in the tank.

By the end of the ordeal, I was wading through the flooded room shoeless with my pant cuffs turned up, picking up the occasional crab or snail that I found. Dried bits of salt clung to my shirt. A few days later I learned what had caused the crash. After removing sand and hundreds of pounds of rock and coral I saw a four foot crack across the bottom of the tank; it had been hidden.

From the outside, the tank looked beautiful; the black lights shone, the fish were colorful and healthy, the water sparkled. The tank was the pride of the clinic, despite the occasional leak. But, unseen, something dangerous had formed. The foundation had weakened over time.  Hundreds of pounds of pressure had caused a crack to form. When it finally burst the life of the tank drained. Water overflowed and there was nothing but disaster.

This can happen in our lives, too. From the outside, everything looks good.  Our smile is in place. We’re always at church. We’re reading our Bible everyday. But, underneath, in our souls, is a crack. And we don’t realize it until the pressure in our lives causes something to burst. And then we drain.

Life’s pressures will never go away. God taught me that if I don’t cry out to Him on a daily basis, a crack will form in my own foundation.  It may start small, but with each passing day, it will widen, the day’s pressures overwhelming, damaging. God wants our pressure, our burdens.  He wants us to talk to Him about our issues, no matter how small they are.

Matthew 7: 24-25 says that we are to build our house on the rock because, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” However, the house built on the sand foundation, the weak foundation, “fell with a great crash.” (v. 26)

Is there a deadly crack in your foundation that will cause your life to drain, till nothing is left? Or have you built, and keep building, on the Rock?

A terrific little booster shot of encouragement and hope to start the new year …even if your name isn’t Esther.

What times are these?

Difficult times, a time of recession, times of change, the end times?

So much is being said at the moment about the times we are living in that I felt nudged to read once more that beautiful passage in Ecclesiastes 3 which begins

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

The God who lives outside time, (that concept is too big for my imagination) wants us to understand that everything has its time. What time is it for you at the moment? If you are living in good times personally and spiritually then be strengthened and prepared for the next season, because surely it will come. If you are going through a difficult time, then be encouraged because it will have its season and its close. God uses the times and seasons in our lives to test us, and train us.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever time you think it is, is that He has a plan for your life, that you are alive today because God wants it that way. (Read Psalm 139 to be reassured.) He knows where you are living, who is around you, and it is more than probable that he has put you right there.

What time are you living in? I would say, you are living in your time; the time for you.  Yes our seasons of life change, but Jesus’ words don’t. He still says to His followers, “Go in my name and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) He still tells us to heal the sick, cast out demons and speak in other tongues. (Mark 16:16-18) He still invites us, as He did Peter, to get out of the boat. (Matthew 14:29).

Maybe you don’t agree, maybe you are thinking, “the Lord says ‘Be still and know that I am God’” and of course you are right, but that time too will pass. And even if we are being still, then we must still pray without ceasing, (1 Thess 5:17) for those who ill treat us, (Luke 6:28), for those in authority, (1 Tim 2:2) and many, many more.

Maybe your argument is that you are a nobody who can do nothing worthwhile. My friend, you are not a nobody, you are important in God’s kingdom. You are not an accident; God wants you here, now, today. You are not here because somewhere in your family line a contraceptive pill was forgotten or someone drank too much, or someone was abused. You are not here because way back in the generations something secret happened in a hidden place. No! You are here today because God has a plan for your life. Just look back through 2 or 3 generations, and see what lengths God went to in order to secure your birth.

In my own life here in Western Europe, my parents and grandparents survived two world wars. My paternal grandfather had a very serious accident in a stone quarry blast. This took his sight, but his life was preserved. By chance? No, by the will of God for a future generation. My maternal grandfather survived many accidents working in a coal mine. Was he just very lucky? No. God wanted him to give life to my mother, so that I and my children and my grandchildren would be born. I haven’t mentioned plane crashes, road accidents, and all the other dangers God protects us from in order to fulfill His purposes.

What times are these? They are your times, they are my times. It is time for us to be the people God is calling us to be. Let’s do it in His strength, in His name, and in His time.

This devotional encouraged me so much this morning…what can I plan to do for those I love?

Your Day – A Blank Page
By Barbara Chadwick

Each day when you open your eyes you have a whole new day ahead of you, an entire blank page. You may think your day’s page is already full but you have the power over your page. You have the power to insert some splotches of color onto a gray page day, to rejoice over a day already filled with color, or to fill a totally blank page with blessing others.

A recent lesson in my writing course is entitled, The Creative Process. The point is to write. The first assignment is to fill three double-spaced pages as fast as you can. It’s an exercise in free writing. It doesn’t matter what you write!

In the textbook the author tells about larceny in his third grade. When the teacher left the room he would take some blank pages from her desk. He’d fold the pages over then staple a construction paper cover to the back. He could hardly wait until school was over so he could begin filling those empty pages with stories!

How wonderful would it be if we could hardly wait to get up in the morning to begin filling the blank pages of our day with our story!? Then if the words and actions on that page would glorify God it would be amazing!

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1 MSG

In a writing course to bring out the creative side in us we can just begin writing. We can write anything. We can write as fast as we can without thinking about punctuation or – consequences. However, in a life it does matter what we write on our days. Our days are not an assignment or just practice. We need to be thinking about intentionality – about placing this day before God as an offering.

When I prayed at breakfast this morning I thanked God for the day and the opportunities it presented to me. Now, after having my devotional my mind goes to the day before me. What do I have to get done today? My mind makes a list: lesson 40, a luncheon, mending, grocery shopping, etc.

On the blank page of my day have I put down any intentional activities to be encouraging to anyone? I need to include my family here! Will I speak to anyone about Jesus? How can I share my resources with someone in need? Can I show kindness and love to someone today? How about my family? I keep inserting “family” here because so many times our families receive the gray or even black pages of our daily story! They must receive some of our rosiest pages.

If we could keep a tablet (of blank pages) by our bedside and just before going to bed we could jot down whatever way our page for that day was a blessing to someone, would it help to remind us that tomorrow we have another entire wonderful page to fill with God’s goodness and grace?

My dear friend Teresa reminds us to pass the baton…and to grasp it when it’s been passed to us.

The Priceless Gift of Generations — Teresa Neumann

“Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning?  I, the LORD – with the first of them and with the last – I am he.” – Isaiah 41:4 (NIV)

God was absolutely brilliant when He sorted human beings into different generations.  Can you imagine life without babies, or children, or teenagers, or grandparents or senior citizens?

God could have grown tired in the midst of His creative mode and simply ascribed to humanity the same ephemeral attributes of, say, certain flowers, or fish, or insects.  After all, if humans were like salmon there would be no overlapping generations.  No broad spectrum of age from newborn to ancient-of-days.  No ability to share the unique gifts inherent to each generation.  We would be a sorry mass of tunnel-visioned individuals struggling through life’s various stages with no other living soul to lead or mentor us other than our equally flawed peers.

Take dying, for example.  My mother passed away three years ago.  Though I loathed the painful moments, I learned they were, in retrospect, opportunities for me to function as one of her royal escorts into God’s Kingdom.  She was able to teach me what it is to die nobly and I was privileged to bless her in ways that were only possible because I had the energy and resources of comparative youth.

Again, reeling from the recent news that my father was diagnosed with lung cancer, my niece – a single mom of 13-month-old twins – flew to Oregon with her children to stay with us for two weeks.  The timing was perfect.  Depression has had little time to dig its poisonous claws into me.  Not with twin babies around.

Yesterday, Landon, my downy-skinned, saucer-eyed grand nephew, slept peacefully in my arms for nearly an hour.  I had forgotten what it was like to willingly drop everything to comfort an innocent, baby soul.  It was pure bliss, and feeling his little heart beating next to mine, I was struck by the pricelessness of staggered ages.  One generation gives awe and revelation, another comfort, another direction, another financial security, and yet another wisdom and hope.  We temper each other with our age-appropriate gifts.

So, the next time you pray for your children, pray for their peers.  Pray God will equip and enable America’s youth to do the work of the Kingdom despite a culture that mocks godlessness.  When you talk to your grandparents, remember their failing generation and pray for their blessing.  Pray for the mothers and fathers in this nation, that they would demonstrate the wisdom and love of Christ to their children to the extent they would indeed someday be called “blessed.”

And most of all, remember:  “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” – Psalm 33:10-11

Visit Teresa on her blog, The Vortexiverse; a Journal of Vicarious Living:  vortexiverse.blogspot.com

God teaches us unusual things in unusual ways. What can pests add to your life? Read on…

It all began in my daughter’s seventh grade science class. The subject was plants and pollination. The text covered three types of pollination: self-pollination, cross-pollination, and artificial cross-pollination.

The first, self-pollination happens when an excess of pollen in a flower causes pollination to take place within that same flower; hence the name, self-pollination.

Immediately after reading this description my brains dendrites began firing and an analogy began to grow. Prayer and meditation, fasting and Biblical studies will fill us to the point that we can produce that which God has planted in us. This was good. I was getting excited about this science class, much to my daughter’s dismay.

The next method, cross-pollination, is the method in which small animals, rain, wind, and insects carry pollen from one plant to another.

In spite of my best efforts, my mind returned to analogies. What did these things mean for my daily life?

Another name for an insect is a pest. Pests are things that irritate me. Small animals might represent the small inconveniences that arise and hinder my plans and production. Rain could be the dark days that hide life’s sunshine. Wind is the storms that test my faith. Yet the irritations encourage patience by teaching me self-control. The small inconveniences cultivate steadfastness, instructing me in diligence no matter the deterrent. The rain promotes contentment in every season of my life that I may know an unspeakable joy. The wind when rocking me loosens the earth around me allowing my roots to go deeper, producing a stronger faith in Him.

Desiring more, I hungrily read the next method.

Artificial cross-pollination occurs when a person gathers pollen from one particular flower, and, using a special brush or blower, applies it to another flower. I thought back to the different people God has sent into my life. Each had left a signature fragrance that remained long after they had gone. Some had left a sweet smell while others had left an unpleasant odor that lingered for years. In life, people bring both the good and the bad. But each produces its own kind of growth.

The “sweet’ pollinate the Word and encouragement in my life promoting deep, thirsty roots of faith in Christ and juicy fruits of the Spirit. While the “odorous” flit about seeking to pollinate the works of the flesh, blowing strife, anger, bitterness, and hatred into my life. It is a choice whether I refuse or accept their poisonous powder, or as a pollinator myself, brush their lives with peace, forbearance, forgiveness, and love.

The science class ended. I closed the textbook, reached for my Bible, and began applying the scientific lesson along with the Word, humbled by the new perspective on life’s difficulties. Each is a chance for me to grow.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6: 7-9).

Like the plants and the trees, I may not have a choice in the “pollinators” that the Creator sends into my life. However, I do have a choice to apply the sweet “pollen” and brush off the “odoriferous” to grow in the garden of the Almighty.

A perfect, memorable illustration for those of us who love dogs, and even, I believe, for those who don’t!

He’s There

Read Psalm 139:1-16

Laney, our dog, came to the back door barking. Then she ran out of the yard and up the hill and circled my small son, barking. In a few minutes, she was back at the door barking, and then once again on her way up the hill, circling my son again all the while barking. I was watching this from behind a curtain at the back door. You see, I had never taken my eyes off of my two year old son.

John Mitchell had been playing in the back yard, where it was fenced and safe, but decided to leave the yard and climb up the hill behind our home. I’m not really sure what lured him, but Laney felt she needed to let someone know. She knew what he was doing was out of her control, and wanted me to know that he was wandering and possibly headed for trouble.

What Laney didn’t know is that I had been watching all along. I knew exactly where he was and what he was doing. I cared for him as much as she did. I knew that if he called for me, or needed me, I could be there in an instant. Watching Laney’s reaction was touching. She had so much love for John Mitchell, she wanted to protect him. She wanted what she felt was best for him. What she couldn’t get him to do, she wanted me to do.

As I stood at the back door, I thought about how many times I have reacted just like Laney. I have frantically gone back and forth to God with requests, about my children and loved ones, feeling hopeless in controlling a situation…wanting Him to do what I think is best. Yet it dawned on me that morning as never before that God never takes His eyes off my loved ones. He loves them more than I ever could, and He is the one who knows what’s best. He just wants me to trust Him. He is lovingly watching and waiting…ready to be there in an instant.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times that I become anxious and frantic in my prayer life. Help me trust You more. Amen.

Thought for the Day:  God cares for us and those we love.

Prayer Focus: Those who struggle with letting go

“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 comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I spend a lot of time straightening my hair, choosing clothes, and accessorizing in an effort to look good. Sharon gives us a timely reminder of what beauty really is.

During a casual conversation one evening my husband remarked, “You used to be nice.” At that moment his remark did not trouble me. I knew what he meant and I thought myself justified in speaking harshly to him on occasion. His indecisiveness, forgotten tasks and messy nightstand were some faults I could not tolerate and so, I’d been “faithful” about pointing them out. But later, his comment bothered me. What did he mean?

How is it we show our best qualities when getting to know someone but once the relationship is secure the need to impress takes a backseat to the “need” to correct? When my expectations of him were dashed and difficult circumstances arose I responded negatively.

I learned that a bad attitude is not a characteristic of a servant of God. He gave me, a wife, specific directions on how to conduct myself. 1 Peter 3 1-4 says: Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, 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.

This is a hard command for me to follow. I wanted to continue expressing my frustrations over his behavior. To me, being kind meant being a push over and I was having none of it. That part of my old self was determined to stick around. The more I responded negatively to my husband over matters that really didn’t matter the more strife developed in our relationship which complicated discussions over things that did. I held on to things long beyond when it was profitable.

Then I stumbled upon this verse: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32. I became troubled. What right did I have to disobey God’s word?

For so long pride had controlled me. I knew I had to bend, I had to humble myself. Patience is not one of my strong points but I practiced patience with my husband. One way I accomplished this was allowing him to finish speaking before I responded. Another way was that often, even if I “knew” my way to resolve an issue was “best”, I let him resolve it his way instead.

My husband appreciates when I’m helpful towards him, when I speak encouraging instead of critical words and he responds more lovingly to me, too. There are still times I fail at being a gentle and quiet spirit. God’s power is what sets me right. Only with His help can I begin to change and do His will. Our power is not the same as God’s power; His power gives us peace where our power brings disharmony. Which rules in your marriage?

The delightful Selena provides us with an excellent verse and lesson to swim around in your heart and brain…

What’s It Worth?

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom,” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NASB).

You may have heard the expression, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” I have found it is easier to offer this bit of wisdom to others than it is to live by it myself. Two little goldfish got me sweaty this morning.

We treated our fish for fungus, and the tank filter had to be removed so the medicine would stay in the water. Consequently, the water was getting gross. My husband bought a gravel-cleaning tank siphon a few days ago, and I wanted him to clean out the tank. As he started to do it, I provided much feedback.

I came upstairs pondering how they will probably die, and how I didn’t want any fish in the first place. This was sprinkled with thoughts of how my husband handled the siphon and how I would have done it differently (read: better—even though I couldn’t make it work at all). Suddenly, my heart was pierced with, Who’s more important, the goldfish or your husband? Ouch.

I realize that I get so hung up on minor details that I lose sight of what is important. I want things to be done the right way, but God is showing me that usually means I want things done my way. Letting go of the small stuff is one step toward losing my selfish attitude.

How about you? Have you ever let something little become too big in your eyes?

Dear Father God,

Thank You for Your wisdom. Thank You for showing us that each day is full of small things that make up the big picture, and if we trip over every small thing we won’t do much else but stumble through life. Give us discernment to know when something is important, and to know when to let things go.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

How to apply this truth:

Tricia, my funny and wise sister-in-law who is more like a sister, never mind the law, shares an insight that many can relate to and understand as we remember that we are each called to be prepared to give an account for the hope that lives within us (1 Peter 3:15).

I sat in my Christian speakers class feeling a sense of dread and resignation grow inside me. Not because I feared getting up and speaking. I actually love that now. But I had to give my testimony next.

Over the years I’d noticed that the “gutter to glory” story was the testimony preferred in most churches. The problem was this caused the average person to feel as if their Christian life did not count or have much value. It seemed the only way a life story was effective was for the former life to have been riddled with sexual immorality, addictions and abuse.

But that was not my story. By the world’s (and probably the church’s) standard I was a goody-two-shoe. Yet if the verse in the Bible that says, “every person has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) was true, that would mean I had a story to tell. One where Jesus washed the dirt of my sins away and set me back on my feet after I asked Him to take charge of my life. My feet were often covered with the dirt of un-forgiveness and resentment of others who had hurt me or done things their way instead of God’s, yet prospered. I coveted other people’s good marriages or finances instead of thanking God for His provisions and plans for my life. Most people in the church, I suspect, have a testimony like mine. So why does no one want to hear our stories? In finding the answer to that I discovered a danger lurking in our “sensationalist seeking” mindset.

One of Satan’s lies to us is that we are too awful and wicked to ever be forgiven or used by God. God’s truth says, “We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” (Romans 3:22 NLT) So I believe the “gutter to glory” life has great value and should be told. God is glorified in those freed and restored lives.

The second lie Satan feeds us is that we are so good we do not need Jesus, at least not in the practical day to day things. Perhaps not even for salvation. Jesus said, many will say they did things for God and in Jesus’ name, but He will say He does not know them. Being religious and doing good things misleads some people into feeling as if they are right with God. The danger lurking here is great. We can have a false sense of righteousness and safety, as well as creating a judgmental attitude inside of us. Jesus teaches that our thoughts matter as much as our actions.

Though I didn’t do drugs and wasn’t sexually immoral, my life had been filled with fear and insecurity. That caused me to be a wallflower, allowing others to walk all over me. I was not a “victim” of shyness and insignificance; I had sinned by agreeing with a false view of myself instead of God’s. I had actively allowed this to continue in my life. God says I am His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) Romans 3:23 applied to me as well.

Like everyone in the church, my testimony is an ongoing one. As I recognize the areas in my life that are out of line with God and His word; I gladly tell God I have sinned and ask for His forgiveness. There is no feeling of condemnation in this, just agreeing with God and being released of the hold that sin held on my life. I choose to let God free me then turn and walk with Him into His plan. And this shy woman is teaching Bible study and speaking publically because my old self has been made new and bold in Christ Jesus. From God’s perspective we are all sensational “gutter to glory” stories needing to be told.