Jul 31, 2013

What's Love Got To Do With It?

 My mind is full, but far from satisfied.
I am thinking of all that I have, all that the world is telling me I should want and how I shake my head in agreement some days.
I know better, but sometimes it's like a pacifier for real satisfaction.
Do you know the feeling?
I am finishing a study of James... if you can ever finish James. 
Oh, how Jesus half brother draws me in, whispering deep truths to my godless ears. 
He has reminded me of my hearts deep discontent.
I dig deeper and find the true love my heart wishes and longs for...
one that the world does not afford. 
How will I live my days.. this vapor?
For wealth of filthy paper or with my eyes on
The One who knew me before I was born?
James.. wise follower of Yahweh.
You tell me to seek wisdom from above, consider it joy when trouble comes.
 Be slow to anger, quick to listen... slower to speak.
Do not just listen to God's word, but obey it.
Do not show favoritism, as God does not.
Be merciful to all, actively engaging where there are needs. 
Recognize the tongue is wicked.
Do not judge your brother.
Do not indulge in all the worlds earthly pleasures.
Be patient with each other. 
Pray without ceasing.
Our faith must be active.... there will be works involved.
If you are wealthy.....
we best live with hands wide open or we will be judged harshly.
Really..
 I think He is serious about this. 
 James 1:4
"And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The word emerge was spoken by a pastor when he read this verse.
It's time to emerge when we have been perfected and completed.
What you say, that will never happen... this side of heaven.
Might want to check His word.
God says we are ready, lacking nothing.
God is waiting to use us, in all our humanness to shine a light on the dark paths of this world.
Using the above verses, we have a clear way to go forward in love.
I feel overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed with the decisions I make. 
They matter as they will affect people I help or choose to ignore. 
Resources I have to show love, lift up and engage.
Or to waste...
What I live is what I really believe.
  That's what loves got to do with it.
Everything.
How will I live today?
How will you?

Jul 30, 2013

You Can Have All This World...

 Some mornings... these are the words on my lips. When fear and trembling try to take the place of truth and trust... in the One.
I cry out. I sing... these words.


In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. 
You can have all this world, just give me Jesus.
When I am alone. 
When I am alone, give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.. give me Jesus.
You can have all this world.. just give me Jesus.
When I come to die, oh when I come to die.
Give me Jesus.


He is enough. He is more than enough. Thank you Jesus.
I hope you sing these words today and find Him to be enough.

Jul 25, 2013

The cloak of Invisibility....


Have you seen the cloak of invisibility?
It isn't by choice or desire. You have no idea it's coming until... you are wearing it and can't seem to untangle from it.
Stuck like glue.
It's not clever. It doesn't help you solve mysteries or get away with murder.

It simply makes you invisible.
To many of those around you.

A few years ago I first heard about the invisibility cloak, from two people I love. Very much.
They were attractive.
They were well dressed.
They lived in a nice house.
They helped people.
They smiled.
They were in their seventies.

They told me they felt invisible, because of their age.
Younger generations walked by them, like they were invisible. 
They were hurt.

The two I speak of were vibrant, yet still felt hit in the stomach with this age related curse.
What about the folks sick, alone, without faith, hope or community?
My stomach went tight.
I knew this occurred to people... at certain ages.
An age related disease no one talks about.
These two did.
It broke my heart.
I felt fear, for me.
Honest.

How many suffer this disease?
Feeling... inferior, unworthy, valueless, abandoned, insignificant.
Because of a slower gait, wrinkles that tell stories, a birth year.
Our world holds little value of older generations.

The ones full of wisdom, stories.
The ones who worked hard without complaint, went to war, suffered the Depression, without depression.
The ones who didn't have a name or a drug to explain their behavior.
They tied up their boots, or heels and got to work.

Now they sit in hard chairs, some unable to care for themselves. Others, fortunate enough to be able, help these friends. Most are lonely.
My friend, that will be you and I.... tomorrow.
I pray not.
I pray we remember where our value comes from... God.

Yet still, to grow old is not for the faint of heart.

Today as we travel our path, we may see someone wearing that cloak, the one that buries them in darkness. Pull it back, show them they are loved, valued, significant and have great purpose.


"Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety…” (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

  “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old… I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32).  

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old” (Proverbs 23:22).

“Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31). 

Jul 18, 2013

Twenty Years... My Boy



Twenty years ago we lived on 100 acres of fertile ground. Eighty miles removed from New York City, along the Delaware River a log cabin rose out of the evergreens.
A mirror lake reflecting tall timbers, herons waiting patiently for fish, fawns with mamas drinking from deep waters, stood guard at the cabin's entrance.
The Homestead, a magical Montessori school our 4 year old daughter attended, a few curvy miles away.
A storybook setting, every parent wanted to linger as they dropped off their child, beside the tall barn with sliding doors welcoming the children in.
They would gather to sing, dance, hold hands as best friends. Mamas would circle, share stories instead of Starbucks... plan play dates, walks in carriages with the littlest ones.
The sound of chickens, goats and kittens always a soft backdrop.

At home we read Little House In Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder... not quite realizing the similarities of our surroundings.
Life was sweet.
In July 1993 a baby boy was born.
Life became sweeter.

Life soon called us away. Away from family and our Little House in Big Woods.
Champaign became home. The boy and girl grew strong, the gifts and blessings immeasurable.
The boy learned to play baseball, ride a bike, grow friendships, love Jesus.
Life changed again.
Today Nashville claims a part of his heart (and the sweet daughter) where friendships grow deep, running and competition become passion.
Many things change in twenty years.
Homes, locations, relationships.

Some things remain the same.
As I write this I hear him playing Xbox.
That familiar noise of years ago, the laughter of buddies from his upstairs bedroom, tumbling down the stairs into my kitchen.
This morning the sound is just a few moments to relax after a 6 am, four mile run, to be followed by a nine mile run tonight.
Training.
Last night I followed him on my bike, as he ran his seven miles, just back from five weeks in Australia. His body had not slept but he pushed forward.
I pushed forward, arriving in town to celebrate his return and birthday. 

This morning I wanted a few minutes to reflect on the day of the boy's birth, two decades ago and yet... to me, my eyes see him new and beautiful as if... yesterday.
Hmm. You understand this.

As I write he enters the living room, telling me about the Italian he is learning, something downloaded on his phone. In between I hear repeated vines and his deep laughter. The same vines we watched last night.
The little boy in him, still shining through.
I tell him the life of a writer demands quiet. Shh..
He laughs.

I go into the bedroom to continue. He follows within ten minutes, giggling. He says he won't say a word. He is like a puppy, a little boy, my buddy. He fibs... like a five year old. He is talking again.
I laugh.
I realize one day he will have a wife and I will be glad. I will rejoice and celebrate... and life will change.
We will no longer have the moments we share now, so I will hold these close to my heart.
He is a sweet boy/man.

Now he is talking to me about what we will do today, his birthday. He needs a few things... an Italian suit (this may have something to do with his half desire to learn Italian).
I'm suggesting a suit whose maker ends in a vowel, like JC PenneyO.... cause this boy isn't done growing.
I figure he's part Italian and slim, so that's half the battle.

He is now making up funny ways to say my name, in between explaining why his Droid is so much more awesome than my iPhone. He is doing this in his best Aussie talk while cuddling with Jack on his sister's bed.
This is not shaping up to be a brilliant post, however it is from my heart.

Many things change in twenty years.
And beautiful things remain the same...
I love this boy. I love his sister.
I love that I still love his dad....  and that he still loves me.
I really love this.
I love that we are a family that nurtures, enjoys and protects one another.
I love that we can laugh at each other.. and more importantly, at ourselves.
I know this is a gift and not taken for granted. I thank God each morning for this family I call mine.
I am aware of how fragile it is.
How fragile life is.

We are family far from perfect. But we try to practice grace.
There is nothing outstanding or amazing about our family.
We love each other and try our best.
We are a family who puts God first... when we don't fail Him.

This boy knows he is loved. By us. By his heavenly Father.
He knows he can accomplish all that is set before him.
His dad and I are pleased.
There is much we could be proud of, pleased with. Most if it is temporary though, crumbling like dust.

We are pleased by this....  that He follows Christ. That he chooses Him. That he trusts Him.
For his whole life.

Life will be hard for him some days.
He knows Whom he follows and he knows where the sweetest moments will be found.
Not in following the world and it's many dried up, barren paths, but in following the One who gave him life and has a plan for his life.

Happy Birthday Dan The Man.
You will always be my heart.






 






Jul 16, 2013

Remember

Remember...
Today, no matter what comes your way, what falls in your lap of joy, or on the winds of sorrow... He is there.
Look up and remember... He is in the details of your life.
Fill your mind with the Truth that He is there.... In all of it.

"Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural."
 Oswald Chambers

"Ask, and it will be given to you." Matthew 7:7

Remember and Pray