Category: Blog Article

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Coming home from work I had to “run an errand for our kids”, that’s what the hubby said. He rarely asks me to go out of my way for errands so I agreed. Traffic was fairly light so I was able so zoom along the freeway pretty quickly and take the exit I needed. Adding to my delight, when I got to the store there was a sweet parking spot right in front! Wow, I thought and said my thanks again to the “big God”.

In and out, I ran my errand and still easily got home in light traffic. Along the way I felt such inner peace which had been with me all day. I loved this mindset. I didn’t even mind when I got home that I had to make a couple trips in and out to take in the bags. Once I got to my kitchen however my inner peace began to creep away from me quickly.

There was much to be done. Crumbs, dishes and a vacuum was in order. As I started to empty the sink so I could run some hot water I smashed one of my finger tips. About this time my wonderful husband walked in to “help me”. I walked away for a few minutes unable to “deal with this” for the time being.

Than it hit me, I wanted to go to a special place and this afternoon it was hanging on my own wall; a scenic café setting with some flowers (I love flowers), a water fountain and charming surroundings. Looking carefully I couldn’t see any crumbs, nor did I see a fat lazy cat or a shedding dog panting, wanting to be noticed. There were no dirty dishes on any of the tables. Sighing inwardly all I could imagine was sitting under the umbrella outside and chatting with those I loved to be with….yes this was a happy place….

Vvrrrroooommmm, oh drats, the vacuum cleaner was interrupting my pleasant thoughts. Well, those dishes will only become a bigger pile if not dealt with now so it’s time to roll up my sleeves but at least I can look over my shoulder now and again to see where I long to be for dinner.

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A couple decades or more ago there was a movie called “The Marathon Man”. It was some kind of edge of your seat flick where a young guy is chased all over the city for reasons he doesn’t understand after his brother is killed. Finally he is captured and a seemingly insane torture dentist induces painful procedures all the while asking and screaming at the guy “Is it safe?” Eventually the young guy figures out what this nut case is after but not until he’s escaped the grasp of this man and raced around the city like a madman trying to figure out who he can trust.

I was thinking about my spiritual journey this evening and this movie popped into my thoughts. I think many of us share this same experience in various forms throughout our lives. We seek God wondering if He’s for real but all the while we have the enemy chasing us down with various schemes and plots to wear us down until we don’t know who to trust and we want to stop running the race. When we finally think we have found our savior in Jesus we spend a great deal of time wondering, “Is it safe?”

Is He for real? Can we trust this savior Jesus? Is it safe to trust in Him? I can only speak for myself tonight, but there are 2000 years worth of testimonies to read. Not only is He for real, but yes, it is safe to trust in Him.

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Love……….what is your experience of this insatiable emotion? I myself can only name but a few…….

Love given

Love withheld

Love hurts

Love pain

Love lost

Love searched for

Love as a drug

Love needed

Love twisted

Love desired

Love denied

Love understood

Love misplaced

Love unfulfilled

Love undeniable

Love beyond ourselves

Love without reason

Love without expectation

Love with exception

Love unimaginable

Love simply to love because nothing is more expressive

We are so different, all of us, and yet one thing is consistently the same. We are all in some way dealing with love and its many facets. For those who may not love each other, you are still in some way chasing a form of love albeit for your idol. Money? Fame? Popularity?

What are we giving our love to? Does anyone ask why we seek love in the first place, and how come we are looking so hard for it in others or things?

1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us

While reading a book this morning it was thought provoking on idolatry. We all know one of the ten commandments spoke of there being no other gods before Me, meaning our heavenly Father wants us to only worship Him.

I got to thinking about how easy it is to consistently fool ourselves with daily idols. Instead of spending time in the presence of the Lord I can dismiss that thought and turn on the television to watch something mindless. The dissatisfaction of this action later makes me irritated with myself that I wasted my precious time. This small example is but one of a dozen I could name in any given day.

It’s not very profitable for me to beat myself up over things I cannot change but it is rewarding to have my thoughts readjusted to recognize today is a brand new day and I have the opportunity to spend quality time with my Abba Father. I’m guaranteed this will surely be profitable.

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Mood music? A general question for all…do we put in music to fit our mood or do we listen to music and it sets our mood? I love the arts in all forms and I can’t define all the forms I have come across. Being a writer of course I am passionate about writing. I like the limitless places one can take a reader and all we need is the ability to describe our thoughts on paper.

Music however is beyond words and can convey in moments what may take chapters to describe for emotional content. A painting on the other hand is just what the cliché says, “worth a thousand words”. Sculpture is still another form but so often we cannot touch the art and often stand in awe but long to be nearer.

How we view art can be limited however. I am often drawn to people not because they are known for any “art form” our natural world recognizes but more for their own expression of art as they themselves see it. Sometimes these persons don’t even realize they are artistic. Food for instance, it is amazing how many people can approach food like art. Friendships too. Some people are just born to make friends but also make those friends feel special, not like they are part of some collection.

I guess to me, people themselves are art. How they live, how they interact and especially the many ways they give of themselves to the enjoyment of others. Yeah, I know not all of these expressions are beautiful but those who understand their gifting are the most beautiful creatures on earth.

I have never understood “Auld Lang Syne”. Perhaps I just never cared to know.

I loved the year that is now behind me for all it’s growing pains and new hopes born. I could spend much time reflecting but than I wouldn’t be looking forward and I might miss the opportunities ahead.

Which way are you looking?

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We recently were up north, sharing a holiday meal with family. This in itself was tremendously fun but part of what we really enjoy is the clan of nephews! Part of their lawn is next to a gravel yard so there are many hills of sand and rocks. My husband is usually handy with the camera and talking nephews into doing crazy stunts is nothing new. I have to say my stomach did a few flips watching Michael pretend to be jumping off the edge of this sand cliff!

Another Christmas has come and gone. In a mere few days a new year will roll over on our calendars. 2009, what does that mean? What are we really hoping for? A new president will soon take the international stage of public figures and be setting the example for how our great nation should be run.

I haven’t had time to digest any changes. I suspect just getting through day to day matters has kept me preoccupied. I would think that is also what is keeping the rest of America preoccupied as well. We are looking at the changes in our prices.

I haven’t gone shopping in a while but let me vent for just a few minutes. I have a nearby grocery store and in a time when gas prices have dropped by $2 a gallon our grocery prices have stayed not only steady but have gone up. I actually found myself angry when I stood in the produce section. You see this nearby grocery store has really tried to hoodwink the consumer with potatoes. Potatoes have not had a blight but yet our neighborhood store has seen fit to give us bags that offer 2 pounds less and yet our prices have gone up significantly.

My husband and I are blessed to still both have jobs but my anger is righteous. If I am this upset, what are my other neighbors feeling who have been let go from their job? How can a single mother feed her children when being gouged? How is the husband who is a sole provider consistently put food on the table if prices are so unfair?

I have to admit in this hour I long for the corner grocer who knew his neighbors and they were also friends. The business man with a heart to be able to make a living but not suck the life out of his community. May the local farmer come to resurgence and the greedy businesses who only see numbers on the bottom of a page be dismissed!

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Most were all there. My immediate family gathered together to share a holiday and a meal. There were those missing this year, but especially those who have gone before us. We were painfully aware of their absence and yet the fact we came together on this special day made all the sense in the world.

Healing; we are in the midst of healing. While we heal, the laughter soothes our bitter wounds and the closeness weaves those we love into our knit. The young ones are growing into young men and the younger ones keep them connected to being young boys still. The young ones keep those growing older connected while we pour ourselves out into these next generations.

I had a front row seat to what love does. Love given freely, love unexpected, love unrestrained. I want more.

Christmas morning is here and as I open the blinds it appears to be gray and wet outside. I must get ready to go soon. We are expected up north at my sister’s home who has graciously offered to host our family this year. This is special.

Over the past couple of years some healing has been happening. Love is pouring through our lives and we have been open to receive it. We are finally starting to act like we want to be together as a family and that is a rich blessing.