Category: Blog Article

Last weekend I was up in Redding and participated in singing a powerful song called “King Of Glory”. It rang deep into my soul and I found tears running down my face. Music can move us like nothing else here on earth. Some music revs us up and some relaxes us. This particular song hung in the air like a cloud and gave me a reason to look at myself and who I am. What I am.

“King of glory, have your glory.”

As these words were sung out over and over, it started to really get deep into my heart. If I am His glory than what am I giving Him? This is when the tears came. I realized I am nothing without the blood of the lamb to cover me. The only way I can bring Him glory is to accept the grace He died for me to have. His perfect gift of life, that I may never die even when I pass beyond this world.

Psalms 24:10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory

She woke early and try as she might there was no drifting back off to sleep. Her mind kept chattering despite any effort to quiet it down. Her husband lay sleeping beside her and although she wanted to snuggle up closer to his warmth, she thought it best not to disturb him. Extracting herself from the covers she tiptoed out into the living room. Her friend’s home faced the river and looking out she could see it would soon be sunrise.

Stepping closer to the screen she could hear the sounds of nature waking up. Finches flew in and out of the leafy oaks overhead. Slowly she opened the screen and stepping outside she slid it shut behind her. The patio was covered by an evergreen pine of some sort and an oak tree with bird houses nailed to its side.

There was a huge beam sitting upon cinderblocks providing a makeshift bench, so sitting down she relaxed in her surroundings. Breathing deep she sucked fresh air into her lungs and let her mind wander in its hope. Her eyes scanned back and forth trying to absorb every detail of beauty. She lived in the suburbs outside major metropolises of cities so her experience was becoming quite limited to any trees that were taller than 20-25 feet. Her heart ached remembering every old growth tree that was cut down only to be replaced with what she thought of as “tract trees” to make room for strip malls in her own neighborhood. Here, she could look up and see the expanse of old growth that provided an abundance of shade and character.

The sky grew lighter and her attention was drawn towards a particular bush where the color was different from everything around it. All the other trees were clearly benefiting from being so near the water and everything around had deep hues of green. The bush she saw however didn’t look like the rest, matter of fact it looked to be gold. Shaking her head she wondered if perhaps she were seeing things and refocused her eyes upon the leaves of this bush whose fullness was partially hidden behind a tree’s trunk. The color of gold was intense.

Was this a sign? Like Moses who saw a burning bush, could she be seeing something spectacular in this golden colored bush? Its color was so stunning. Something inside her gave way to caution so she went inside to get her camera. It had a decent long-range lens so she wanted to get a photograph in hopes of capturing this wonder. Taking the camera out of her bag she zoomed in tight to the leaves of gold. Under the intense focus of her lens the truth was at hand. These golden leaves were a “fool’s gold”. What looked so gorgeous from the distance was nothing but a ruse. Under closer scrutiny this colorful bush was nothing more than dead leaves with great lighting.

The truth in this experience was not to be lost upon her. She knew instantly there was a lesson to be had. Giving thought to how easily her eyes could fool her, she’d have to be careful of what looked to be gold on its surface but was truly dead. It was important not to be misled. Her willingness to put this bush under scrutiny and intense focus brought out its real character. She would be careful to study other such “golden” items or people in the future just as carefully as this bush.

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Well it’s moving toward the end of August and I keep hearing all my friends and co-workers talk about their kids going back to school. For myself, I have recently ended a class that kept my attention for the last seven plus months. Isn’t it funny how we want to reach a goal and yet when we do, there is that momentary pause where you wonder, “What’s next?” I’d love to be in that category of people who just know what they are supposed to do; but I’m not.

As I take time to rest and relax, my mind is also wondering, “Where do I go from here?” Now this is more than just figurative. I have noticed my job is changing, my personal life is changing and my mindset is definitely changing. Add to that my husband’s changing life too makes for some interesting conversations. Faith in what our Father has in store for us keeps our sanity level in one piece, otherwise we would have been impulsive and bought a boat this weekend to live the perpetual life of “no boundaries” to shuck our responsibilities.

With the inevitable ending of summer days we must once more prepare ourselves for the changing season. How does one prepare for something if you don’t know what’s coming? Well, all we can do is what we already know how. We will clear the gutters of old leaves and gunk that would stop up the flow of water in coming rains. We will clean up around the outer part of our house, especially near the foundations where bugs or rats might want to seek refuge. We will cleanse the inside of our home for comfort when we cannot be outdoors because of weather. It may seem a bit early for this preparation but we like to live ready.

Ecc 3:1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven

Relaxation can be so stimulating to our mental creativity. Once we are able to drop out of the “rat race” for a moment, we can see clearly again. I spent the weekend on water and realized once more how refreshing this is; to be absolutely soaked from head to toe in clean and pure water. For a short time I put on my snorkel gear and enjoyed the fish swimming beneath my feet.

I am reminded of the importance for restoration. Realizing how that starts with “rest” I must be more diligent to set aside the time meant for resting and not fill it up with chores and errands. Our society is such a busy atmosphere it really does keep our minds distracted from why we are here in the first place. Our rest should be a soaking from head to toe and through such resting our strength returns.

When we ourselves have been restored we can offer our strength to others in need, a brother or sister who needs help and a strong shoulder to lean on for a little while.

Php 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength

We have friends who live right next to the river and it’s breathtaking to watch all that fast moving water flow by. I wanted to sleep in this morning but the opportunity to see the sunrise was something I had to take advantage of. As I sat outside listening to the birds sing I felt such tremendous peace while I watched the water. I wanted to stay there as long as possible. Our own home does not afford this type of view and it wasn’t to be dismissed too quickly. I think it’s important to open our eyes and recognize beautiful moments.

While my gaze was focused on this scene, up out of the water popped a head and then the full body of an otter. He just floated along with the current looking as though he had no cares in this world. I think we could take a hint from this small creature. Instead of constantly striving so hard to make things happen we should just relax some and enjoy the life around us.

Psalm 116:7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

I was thinking about an old song this morning in my special place to think….the shower. It was by Jim Croce who was hip before my time but also dead before I had ever heard his music. The song was called “Time In A Bottle”. The words are interesting….

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I’d save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

I reflected upon the importance of what this man was crying out for and it touched my heart. He was so desperate for love and wanted always to stay in its presence. So many of us experience this deep kind of love for the first time when we meet that special other person and yet so often the human experience can leave us wanting in its afterglow.
I wonder if Jim Croce ever found his true love who really could save time in a bottle?

What would blow your mind? I was thinking about that this afternoon because I had been reading a mother’s sharing of healing happening in her son who has autism. A member of my family has also been afflicted with this condition so we continue to hope for improvement month after month and now year after year. As she told her story some of the details involved really stretched the mind for faith. Personally I read them with hope because sometimes faith is believing what you can’t yet see with your natural eyes.

I found myself hesitating though about sharing it with others. Not because her details were too fantastic to believe but more because I did believe them. No, I hesitated for sharing with friends or family because I’m not really sure if they are ready to believe such fantastic possibilities!

Now doesn’t that seem hypocritical, to go forth so boldly to share the gospel but yet pull back when it comes to sharing what Jesus has done in someone’s life to heal a disease? Clearly I have some prayer time ahead of me but I am thankful each time these inconsistencies are exposed to my consciousness. To me it means my Father still wants to show me places where I am holding back on Him.

I know I will share this woman’s story because it offers hope where there could never be enough hope, and that’s for a family member to be healed of autism.

The days keep zooming by like some kind of train picking up speed don’t they? That is until you anticipate and look forward to a specific event. I can waiver between wanting the days to slow up and feeling tired enough to ask the heavens to come this very hour. My delay tactic is not for me though, it’s for the unsaved. Many do I love and who touch my life in some way or another and I earnestly seek for them to do all they can in this hour before the dawn.

My heart aches for those who are called and yet put off coming home because they feel like they will miss out on something great. How awful to know the greatness they are already missing. I know well what I speak because I once put off the greatness for things offered in darkness. I gave my endless joy over to things of small use and small reward only to be left empty again and needing my next “break” in life.

I have wasted so much time chasing the “almighty dollar” or my material idols. When I finally did accomplish gathering some of my desires the results were draining of happiness. I share openly what I have done with my time in hopes to inspire another not to be so wasteful with what is so precious. As the song says, “Everything I once held dear I count it all as lost”.

Early in the morning I seek out the strength I will need to combat whatever may be put into my path and prepare myself for blessings, whether they be for me personally or if I am to be used for another’s blessing.

Psalm 1:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

My husband and I were listening to a talk on faith this morning and how our faith can really be tested in times of trials. I know my own trials are at hand and I can hear the enemy whispering his lies in my ear to confuse me about why I am not yet through the current trial. His lies try to condemn me for not being good enough but I have been honing my ear to hear my heavenly Father who speaks louder still when I read His word.

I don’t always understand the trials we have to come through but something I heard this morning gave me pause for thought. The message was saying that perhaps our own trials come so that we aren’t leaning upon the faith of others. To really have faith we need to learn how to lean upon the Lord for ourselves.

As I witness the faith of others I notice how sometimes in the heat of the battle they speak out of fear of limitations for who God is. I got a picture of a small sized cane where they can barely stand to face their enemy, but then I also got a picture of the full sized crutch giving us the ability to see our enemy face to face. I have no shame to admit Jesus is who I lean upon throughout my life and in the battle I will stand tall upon his saving grace.