Here, There, Nowhere, Really

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."   ... Psalm 28:7

***

So! Mostly I'm ok with my current life being all Up In The Air, who-knows-where-we'll-be-next-year?-ish. Tom and I got used to living this way after his first lay-off, you know, resting in God, trusting that all will be well and doing little tasks while believing they'll lead to bigger things.

You have to be patient when your life goes all Up In The Air. You can't just grab things and opportunities because--if you do--you'll probably grab soon-to-be-disasters and feel sorry about it for years.

And oh... Have we ever been tempted to grab some houses this week! In three different states, even--cute, sweet, cheap places we could buy outright after we sell Hobbit Cottage. My, my... Especially now when our low temps are 8 degrees and highs are 23 and when--if we took a deep breath and just snatched something--we could soon be basking in lovely 62 degrees, instead.

Is there really such a thing as 62 degrees outside? Every Buffalo February I have my doubts.

But instead, we wait. Listen. Even though I feel the grace to handle these long winters seeping away as a sign that  this year is truly the time to move away from this state we have loved for 20 years--even so--I try not to complain. But nearly every day now, even though we're trying to keep a good attitude, one or both of us will groan, "We've got to get out of here."

Tom sends out resumes, we both consider other plans, other options and sort and declutter and drive loads of stuff down to the Salvation Army bin located conveniently down the street. I clip more coupons, pay more bills, do the laundry and feed the cats. You know, keep up with the normal stuff while we're here, all Up In The Air.

And we're fine up here--honest. Fine amongst the new lessons and the old ones to be recalled, like the one about keeping our hearts calm so that they'll not beat too loudly within our ears, keeping us from hearing God's whispers. Right now, all we want is His will, His way, in His timing. So we'll be doing much listening in the days and weeks to come.

And all will be well.


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"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."   ... Isaiah 40:31

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Color me extremely grateful for those of you who left me sweet notes in my comment box on Valentine's Day. Thank-you! Our day was quiet, but special and sweet. Just about perfect, really.

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Go here to get two very rare coupons for $1 off fresh pork.

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Wow... Saw these people on the news tonight and what a blessing! How encouraging and uplifting.

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The Friendship Thing

 ^"And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God."   ... Deuteronomy 28:2

***

So! The subject of friendship came up in yesterday's comment box, spurring ol' Debra to share her many and varied thoughts.

Before age 35, I collected friends like some ladies collect state spoons. I wrote letters by the hundreds to folks I'd left behind in Nevada and California and--as for my new friends here in New York--when they had out-of-town company, I'd become bummed-out because that meant zero chance of going out for coffee until their (annoying) visitors returned home. 

(Yikes! I know.)

The days the mailbox didn't hold letters for me were sad days. The fact that I could never seem to form a Lucy and Ethel type of friendship bugged me. Majorly. Probably? Probably God foiled some friendships, told some folks not to write or visit, because He wanted me to wake-up and see I needed more of Him.

"Hi. My name is Debra." (Hi Debra.) "I was a friendship addict." :)

And oh dear. For two decades I saw the addiction, felt it, but didn't want to admit it. Didn't know how to kick it.

Then came 1994 and wow! During the world-wide Christian renewal years, Jesus gave me (and a few million other people) such an enormous love for Him. And over time, the chains of Friendship Addiction fell off, I felt free (indeed!) and just having Jesus for a friend felt like enough. More than, actually.

And for awhile--a season--Jesus kept me to Himself. 

I spent oodles of hours hanging-out with Him in my room or on walks, sometimes reading the Bible, sometimes watching/listening to great teaching. He had a ton of things to rebuild inside me, 'Christian structures' which I'd built dreadfully wrong by myself. Some time was involved, some pain and humility, also, but I didn't mind. Finally I'd formed a friendship with Jesus, something I'd assumed was impossible for me.

And after that alone-with-Jesus season? Not only did I come away with the best new, most-satisfying friendship ever, but my Real people friends had waited for me and the Unreal ones had impatiently walked away. 

And suddenly everything, everyone, felt like enough. I had enough friends, they had enough time for me. Why? Because Jesus was now everything to me and when you have everything? All else feels like leftovers, all else feels like extra blessings.  

And what I found is that blessings are nice, but not vital. I'm not to seek them, but rather, I'm to seek after knowing God better. To becoming closer.

But the wild thing? That's when blessings start dropping like rain--after we place God in the number 1 spot. He so enjoys releasing presents into the lives of His kids, the ones who will keep them in perspective. The ones who will keep Jesus first no matter how many blessings (or friends) He hands down to them simply out of love.

God is the God of more than enough. More than enough friends, even. I've found that to be very true.


*****

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."   ... Matthew 6:33

"A friend loves at all times..."   ...Proverbs 17:17



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How To Prepare For a Mystery Future

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."    ... Matthew 6:33

***

I've heard people say lately, "It's not even possible to prepare for a Last Days type of world."

I, like, disagree.

How to prepare for a world we'll barely recognize, one stuffed with changes, even scary ones?

Today fall in love with Jesus. And stay there. (This will change and strengthen you more than anything else.)

Today remember perfect love dissolves all fear.

Today, during your current hard times, practice living with faith, with peace, without complaining. Increase your trust muscle. Pass your tests.

Today determine in your heart you'll never accuse God of wrongdoing, no matter what happens in the future.

Today stay at peace with your spouse. 

Today keep strife out of all your relationships as much as it's up to you. Strife slows everything down and closes our ears to truth.

Today forgive. Everyone. Today learn how to heal.

Today be obedient. Listen. If God asks you to do research, do research. If He asks you to spend your money differently, spend your money differently. If He asks you to live a new way, live a new way. 

Today ask God for wisdom.

Today plug into God's strength, His peace, His courage. Then He will truly be increasing, we will be decreasing and the world will more clearly see Jesus shining through us. And we'll be better able to walk in the Light, able to see--and avoid--certain dangers on the pathway ahead.

Today be still and know He is God.

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"He must increase, but I must decrease.”   ... John 3:30

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."   ... Romans 12:18

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."   ... James 1:5

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Obedience: A Mystery Solver

So.

Not in a huge, wild-and-crazy way, but in a calmer one, yesterday I became antsy about moving away. You know, like, "I know we're supposed to move out-of-state, but, like, when? When should we get serious? When should we put the house up for sale?"

After awhile, I even wondered if 'when' might be now. I mean, after all, I've learned that God's timing is as vital, as important to obey, as the thing He asks you to do, itself.

Didn't help that I discovered an I've-waited-for-this-for-years prophetic website with tons of posts (click on 'blogs' and 'spirit') speaking about these Last Days and things such as mass exoduses of folks to different states, ones where they feel safer and more in tune with those states' policies, etc. Lots more there confirmed what I'd read earlier here through a newsletter which I'll forward to anyone who wishes to see it--email me at GladOne4@yahoo.com. (My mouth dropped at how often she spoke what I'd been saying in my blog lately.) And I'm not even mentioning a couple other prophetic blogs I added to my blogroll. I've been busy. :)

Hey. We each enjoy certain quirky things--and well, I enjoy prophetic stuff. You know, meditating about what's been said, weighing it, pondering and finding confirmation about certain odd things I'd 'heard' inside my head/heart/who knows?

Anyway.

Then there's Tom's who's got a job interview on Monday with a local plant, which feels weird when I'm all set to move to Boise (or wherever). I told him I feel Jekyll and Hyde-ish lately, as though Good Ol' Debra could gleefully stay in New York forever, but Way Down Deep Debra believes we need to call Cher the real estate lady and get outta here quick.

Again, there was no wild-eyed-ness about this, just an unsettled wondering which colored my day.

But then this morning! God reminded me of this: "If you faithfully do Today what you're sure of, then Tomorrow's questions will eventually be answered. Tomorrow you'll find yourself in the right place at the right time."

And oh, the peace... The sweet, sweet peace. It's baaaaaack.

I certainly do know the tasks I should be completing today. The Holy Spirit's a pro at nagging revealing to me Today's To Do List:

Return to the Great Decluttering Project of 2013.
Keep stocking-up on groceries for the basement pantry using sales + coupons.
Get around to the basic house repairs that have needed doing for, er, months.
Make a written plan for someday selling the house.
Research Boise. Stay open to other areas. Listen. Pray.
Pay your bills.
Plan your flower beds.
Prepare for emergencies in all ways, physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Send your Valentines.
For goodness' sake, exercise.
Clean your house.

Oh my yes... There's no wondering about those! No huge questions there, no need for 2 angel appearances as confirmation. They simply should be plugged away at until their completion, rather than stepped over, ignored and procrastinated for months.

Plain old obedience can illuminate dark paths and solve all sorts of mysteries. Today I'm grateful for that reminder... I'm so very thankful for the return of sweet, calm, trusting peace.


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Not certain what God's specifically asking of you lately? Often it helps to go back to the last thing you're sure He told you to do and ask yourself if you've faithfully completed that.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

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The Best Place To Live

"The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?" ...1 Kings 19:11-13

***

This passage flew to my mind when I read yet another blog post today hinting that the country life is the best life, the one closest to how God meant us all to live.

And well, let me tell ya... The best place to live is where God calls you to live.

If God wants you in the suburbs, well, you can move out to the greenest, most-natural patch of country land--but He won't be out there. At least, not in the way you're hoping to find Him. You can go 'back to the land' and off the grid and drink milk straight from under a cow, yet you won't find any extra-closeness to God out there, no matter how many people tell you that that's where He lives.

No, if God's called you to the suburbs, you'll know Him best and feel His joy while fulfilling His purposes for you there in the 'burbs.

If God has called you to a cabin in the woods, you won't find greater happiness on Rich Peoples' Boulevard. And of course, if He's called you to a big countryside farm, you won't be 100 percent happy on a tiny lot in the city.

Trust me. I know.

Three years ago today I moved to this large countryside lot and--on a scale of 1 to 10-- my Joy Level has averaged a 6. Maybe a 5. But in our suburb house squeezed between two other houses? That level usually ran around a 12.

Uh-oh.

The truth? I have often resented this too-big-for-me farm for zapping my best energy. Too many times I worked harder than I wanted to just to keep up with things that always need doing--when instead--I just wanted to write in this blog. Or rearrange furniture and paint a wall. Or read a book, make a craft or sit outside and dream in the sun--and come away with more blog fodder.

Lots of bloggers told me the simple life was in the countryside and I've (sadly) resented that, too. The simple life is out here? Ha! Never have I known such extreme complication, such a need to plan everything beforehand and to always be one step ahead of the myriad details out here.

And yet I needed to move out here in order to realize where I truly belong. 

To learn that I can't run a farm and write my very best in this blog simultaneously. I'd heard before that when you have a gift you must arrange your life so to pursue it and seek to do it better--but I forgot that. Or didn't make the connection in this case.

Believe me, I'll never forget again! This amazing experience has been so huge, so memorable, that from now on I'll arrange to make room for my writing and encouraging gifts-- my strongest giftings. To put them before lesser things, not after.  I'll sacrifice, even,  to devote my best strength to God's purposes for me.

For your sake I'm determined (and excited) to do this.



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"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." ... Proverbs 4:23


If you're feeling led to move to a farm--go for it! But only if you're sure God wants you to expend your energy working the land, first, and all else, second, third, etc.. He does call some people to do that, you know.


*****



Julie asked a great question so I thought I'd publish it and my response out here for clarification:

Julie From Texas said:
So, you didn't feel, at the time, that God was calling you to be a country dweller?


Debra said:
Julie--hmm... Well, it's not the countryside that's the problem, really. It's more like the *size* of it we bought! :)

I still prefer this lovely area (and our sweet little town) but as Peter Walsh would say, "It's all too much." Tom and I need to downsize our house, yard and possessions and then I can more easily fulfill God's purposes for me.


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Just Some Photos

Always I've been big about lighting. Sensitive to it. Great sunlight can cheer me up in a milli-second so I just had to share some glorious sunshine with you by way of our realtor's photos from Tuesday. (Click to enlarge these to get the kinda-full effect, ok?)

Oh wow... Cher's photos (and God's sunlight) make our place look much better than it appears in Real Life. (Hmm... If potential buyers come on cloudy days..... uh-oh!)  Tuesday was one of those days which brings back memories of childhood afternoons, you know, where suddenly you're transported back a few decades and poof! You're ten-years-old again and all your adult concerns and hurts vanish and you're left with just an airy, child-like trust and love for God.

Perfect light, perfect temperature, perfect Springtime afternoon--it was all there on Tuesday and back again today. Days like these make our long Buffalo winters bearable--this is why we sit them out year after year. On glorious Spring days, Winter becomes just a memory and about 2 weeks long in retrospect. (Well, kinda) :)

So I hope you're enjoying some glorious sunshine where you are-- I like to think of it as getting used to the heavenly light we'll skip around in with perfect freedom someday. You know Heaven--that place so big, so unlimited in understanding, that we'll wonder why we ever wasted a moment worrying and complaining down here when the God of Heaven dwelt within us all along.

Happy sigh.

The Memorial Day Inside My Head

Memorial Day. Well, I will remember our soldiers who have fallen, yes! But I will also recall my loved ones who have passed away. This may sound wildly controversial to some, but always I've been thankful that no one can stop me from thinking whatever I wish. 

No one can reach in and snatch away my own private thoughts.

And nobody can force me to dread the future just because they're dreading it like crazy or doubting God's goodness.

No one can make me become a bitter, unforgiving, afraid old-before-my-time lady.

Well, no one except for myself. I, myself, can certainly push my head into some creepy, dark places in a matter of seconds. But I must keep choosing, each day, not to.

Has anyone else noticed that Life in 2011 isn't exactly getting easier? 

I'm thinking the 2000's require us to, daily, purpose in our hearts to think and live God's positive, hopeful way. And I purpose in my own heart to let His voice, His written words, tell me what I should be thinking, for I prefer peace. Joy. Strength. And not falling down. 

Uh, no. I want to stand--not all bent over and shot-up by satan's darts--but tall, straight, and looking forward to a future with a towering, can-do-anything God all over it.

That's what I want. But it's gonna take much purposing within my heart and head to get--and stay--there.



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I was so grateful for you who left condolences here and at Facebook for me regarding the death of my friend, Sandy. I've been praying a special blessing for each of you who paused to show me you care. Thank-you with all my heart.



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"Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion ... " 2 Corinthians 9:7

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord..." ... Joshua 24:15

The Secret Love Place

The best thing I ever, ever did in my whole life? In 1994 I fell passionately in love with Jesus.

That's it. Oh, and I stayed in love with Him. That's important. No, vital.

It's the staying in love that gets you through all the painful pruning He does. Snip. Snip. Ouch! Snip.

It's the staying in love which helps you forgive people and circumstances and yes, God Himself, when He uses everything to test you. To see if what He spent weeks teaching you sunk in this time and became a solid, permanent part of you.

It's the Love Place where you can go when you feel insecure, then feel insecure no more because God reminds you how much you're loved. Today. This moment.

 It's the Love Place which eventually expands, spreading to give you a peace which travels with you, even to the deadliest battle lines. 

And it's that Love Place, the God sitting there waiting for you, that brings a sweetness, a we'll-get-through-this, which wraps around your heart, buffering the hardest blows and reminding you of the love that is behind all the death, all the growth, all the becoming.

And it's from that Love Place where you can reach out to others and share what you discovered there.




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"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." ... Psalm 91:1

Lately I've heard from various friends and relatives that they just want Jesus to return, like, right this minute. Or they long to (frankly) just die and go to Heaven. 

Hmm.

They say they're tired. Tired of the way our Country is going and of feeling ill and the way their family and friends act, tired of living the same ol' way, themselves. Tired, and afraid, too.

Yet I have other older relatives and friends who love this life which God gave them. Most days they feel good physically, they're filled with hope that their loved ones will love and serve God someday, they don't base their feelings upon the way the United States is behaving, and Jesus, even after their many years, is still their #1 joy and the reason to hop out of bed, whether it's sunny or a cloudy mess outside.

They're anticipating Heaven and Jesus' return, yes, but in the meanwhile, He's showing them an amazing time and keeping them close to His heart, a place where Life always appears hope-filled.

When I get older, I so want to be in that latter group! Heck, I want to be in that group this morning. And perhaps that's why I so often read about (and mention here to you) nutrition and the importance of exercise, as well as a positive attitude, valuing tiny things, laughter and 'not allowing my heart to be troubled.'

I don't wish to arrive at old age, an old wreck.

And the most vital thing in the world to me is to keep a running, hourly closeness to Jesus. No one, I mean no one, keeps me positive and happy and hopeful like He does. And I believe that what I become in this earthly life will matter much in my heavenly one.

I want to start well and finish well, too.

So may I listen to and obey all the myriad lessons He gives me each day so I, too, can be in that latter group, above, the one which believes to be in Heaven is good, but to be here with Jesus is good, too.



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Our reasons for longing for Jesus' return may not be as holy as we believe them to be.

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Life is a gift from God, a present to be opened--and appreciated-- every single morning.

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"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ... John 14:27

Don't you just love the beginning of a new year? The chance to start over, begin fresh, try again and renew hopes of change?

I do.

This year I hope to (among other things) act upon the lessons I've learned my previous 50 years. And oh my, have there ever been lessons! Hundreds. And while I'll, of course, learn new lessons, I'm anticipating acting upon what I've already learned, often the hard way. Some afternoons I think, maybe by the time I'm 80 I'll get everything right. :)

And I do hope you noticed the lack of awful guilt and condemnation in that paragraph, for those two things will only slow me down. I mean, how many runners ever win a race while kicking themselves down the track? No, I'll choose the conviction of God over guilt and condemnation, for hope and encouragement and unconditional love come woven into conviction. Give me conviction any day!

Happy New Year to all my special readers! I look forward to us growing-up together.


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Here is a gift from me to you, a Susan Boyle song which is perfect for this first day of a new year. Let me know if you love it as much as I do.

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"New Year's Day is every man's birthday." ~Charles Lamb

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"... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ... Hebrews 12:1

Sigh.

Things weren't feeling 'right' around here for a couple weeks and finally I listened to what God was trying to tell me.

He said there's been too much...

Too much tv watching.

Too much eating.

Too much computer time.

Too much analyzing how I feel about this house.

Too much complaining.

Too much of other things as well.

So, as I said, I finally decided to listen. And now I need to finally decide to obey. To knock off the too much stuff and fly right. And since He's here convicting me, He's certainly also here to help me. As long as I stop relying upon myself to make things better.

It's vital to nip these sorts of things in the bud, otherwise they tend to grow into monsters which lead me around the neck to places I do not want to go. And it's much, much harder to shoo away monsters (and find my way back home) than it is to snip, snip, snip these things while they are small, but large enough to disturb friendship with God. And without that wonderful sense of fellowship, well, I have nothing.

And as we all know, it's the little foxes which spoil the vine.

Alas. And amen.

I'm glad that I try not to make decisions according to the way I feel.

Yesterday, if you would have walked into my yard and handed me a fistful of money as I yanked out giant squash plants, I'd have sold you this old farm. The house and the yard felt like too much. "The honeymoon with this place is officially over," I kept hearing inside my head (and well, it probably is).

But alas. Today I (finally) painted the closet area of our living room, rearranged a few things on our front porch and mowed part of the lawn. And well--today--I would tell you to keep on walking with your money. Today, Life here feels doable.

Oh, how important it is to listen to God in the deeper parts of my heart and not to my finicky feelings. My feelings are often all over the board, but I'm thankful that I, myself, am not yanked around with them (well, not constantly, anyway). That would be way too exhausting--and there's too much work to be done.

And I can't afford to let my changeable feelings exhaust me.

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"Deep calls unto deep." ... Psalm 42:7

Last night Tom and I traveled to the town we moved from, to a park where Naomi played drums in a new band. People everywhere, boats along the canal, small dogs and a summer evening so perfect weather-wise it could not be improved upon.

The music was eardrum-collapsing loud. It always is. And as we leaned back upon a steel railing, people all around us smoked, drank beer, laughed and some of them danced. There was a giddiness on the air, but mostly I just watched Naomi who can play the drums like you'd not believe and looks like she was created from the beginning of Time to do so. And I prayed for the vast variety of people scattered around the park, folks from all walks of Life.

Now, when Naomi was a sweet, tiny toddler did Tom and I pray for her to, at 29, play drums in the secular band circuit, get tattoos and have good friends who've never even stepped into a church? Uh, no. And are we all disappointed and worried and frantic? No again.

No, Faith and Trust don't get stomach aches from worry. They don't wait-up till dawn with self-imposed headaches and pace the floor and imagine the worst night after tortured night. And they don't doubt or keep asking questions which cannot be answered.

No, real Faith and Trust find the good in Now and believe the best is yet to come--and feel deep peace along the path. They go to concerts and pray for the whole crowd and sing along to the few songs they recognize and look up into a perfect sky on a perfect summer night and know for certain that God knows what He's doing. And that He's teaching us all in different ways... and calling us, wooing us closer to Him all the time as only He knows how.

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"He makes all things beautiful in His time."

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:7

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

Siren Prayers

(As I'm digging through 1,400 old posts so I can label them, I'm finding ones I'd like to post again (as you've noticed, I'm sure). Bear with me. :)

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I dig in my garden and stop when the sirens sail and wail down the street at the end of my own... And I pray--every time I pray for those who are in trouble...that they will be helped and healed and will come to know Jesus--they and all their relatives, too.

And, also, I pray for the heroes.

This is what I began to do when my daughter first learned to drive. She would leave the house in our car and nearly always, within minutes, I would hear sirens down the street. What a test! And I would pray that it was not my daughter who was hurt.

But then God asked, "What about the others? What if others are hurt and leaving this world without knowing Me?"

And He was right. He is always right.

That was eight years ago that I began praying whenever I hear the sirens wailing down the street. Twice a day or sometimes six, but whenever I hear them--I pray.

Who knows? Maybe in Heaven strangers will greet me, folks I prayed for without even knowing their names. People I prayed for every time I heard the sirens.

***

Do you pray siren prayers, also? I'm just curious.

***

Receiving From God--How Sweet It Is

"Be still and know that I am God." 

Now, that's my favorite thing to do. But in earlier years? I didn't get it. I thought that you could only feel close to God if you...

...drove to Bible studies (lots of 'em)
and traveled to Christian conventions
and went to every meeting at church
and read chapters and chapters of the Bible everyday
(so you could make all those check marks on Bible charts).

And if you tried really, really hard--

to be a Good Girl
and said everything right
and did everything right
and performed extra good deeds to make up for your mistakes

and got all A's on your report card from God...

But you know? It was in 'being still and knowing that He is God' where my Life totally changed and Peace came and stayed. Grace, she came and stayed, also.

When I learned simply to receive from God instead of always trying to--

take and get

and earn and force

and cry and struggle

and beg and plead

to get something from Him

--that's when all became brand new. When I learned to receive.

Receiving instead of creating or following formulas on how to get God to do something for me, that's what made all the difference--

--and continues to do so to this very hour. How amazing I can be still and know God at my table with a cup of coffee and we can have a life-altering time. Right here. Right now on a Thursday morning at home.

It still blows my mind.


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"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

"Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." Matthew 20:34

"I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Galations 1:12

Out Of The Box

Reposted from 2005--



Naomi has moved more than half her possessions into her new apartment and last night was her first night there.

I'm so excited for her. I remember the months I lived alone at age 19 in my own little two-story house. I paid just $120 rent per month and even back in 1978 that was a terrific deal. I felt gratitude for God's watchful eye upon me and I was ecstatic to finally be on my own.

To succeed or fail on my own.
To stay up as late as I pleased, even into the wee hours of the morning if that is what I chose.
To bring home paper bags of groceries and place them in my own (old) refrigerator and yellow cupboards.
To decorate my little house however I wanted (albeit with tons of imagination and almost no money).

I had four months in that cozy house in a tiny mountain town, and then Tom and I got married and continued living there. Oh my, there were fights and fireworks as we struggled to live peacefully together, but there was fun, too. We often felt like the kids we actually were, just playing house. Beginning a new adventure together.

This morning? I'm feeling the same way. Giddy. And Tom and I are alone again playing house, yet with many pluses we lacked all those years ago.

We now have a history. We've learned to live peacefully together (well, most days).
We're reaping good things from our 26 years of Life Lessons learned.
We have cool stuff. We don't need to save-up for more furniture and things.
I get to make my own Dream Room upstairs out of one of Naomi's former rooms.
I get my kitchen all to myself.

And --

I feel blessed that Naomi lived with us for a quarter century, especially since she was/is our only child.

What is my point? (I usually always have one.)

My point is that life with God is amazing. With Him, I don't have to feel a certain way when certain things happen. With Him, I can be happy for my little-girl-all-grown-up and I can be excited for the fresh beginning for Tom and myself.

God does all things well and makes all things new. I don't have to feel this is the end of everything.

I never have to feel how everyone expects me to feel. And neither do you.

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"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." ... Louis L'Amour

I'm not sure why, but when I go on a big search for new 'God blogs' it's usually a Sunday afternoon and I usually come away with not one new blog, but rather, just a disappointed heart in what I've read.

I don't know.

Maybe if we'd stop fearing we'll lose God's presence, we might just find it-- and keep it. Perhaps if we relied upon Him hourly--and not ourselves--we'd experience the wonder of Him every minute.

And maybe if we stopped being scared about the future, we'd experience joy right now. And therefore, some strength. Some headaches, pains and aches might just vanish, also.

Perhaps if we'd just pray for our leaders rather than criticize and blog about them negatively--we might just come to love them. And understand why they feel and believe as they do. Changes might happen in their actions, thinking as well.

And maybe if we sought to know God, Himself, better rather than to know about Him, we might experience a constant companionship with that Friend who sticks closer than a brother. A relationship which changes everything and makes old things, new. Hourly.

Maybe.


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re:Poor Ol' Rudolph

Sunday night our local Canadian tv station showed Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer and I smiled as I recalled this post from last year:

***

Okay, now I'm not trying to start some new, crazy movement nor am I trying to ban the song Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (just in case you start thinking that's my aim).

No, I'm just making an observation.

The song, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer bothers me and I can't help but roll my eyes each time I hear it on the radio. The movie (which I grew-up watching and loving), bugs me, too.

I mean, think about it. Here's this adorably-cute reindeer who just happened to be born with a bright, red nose. As if he could help it! And suddenly he grows up, goes to reindeer school and gets ridiculed by all his intolerant, bratty little schoolmates just because his nose is different. Just because his bright, cherry-red nose isn't small, dark and boring liking everyone else's.

And because of that one tiny difference, he's laughed to scorn and the majority don't take the time to discover that really, Rudolph, is a darn nice kid, uh, reindeer. He loves his parents, he's sweet and he just wants to be loved and accepted like everyone else at reindeer school. But no, that's asking too much. Even his teachers laugh at him.

But then, poof! Suddenly, Christmas Eve rolls in all foggy-like and since Santa can't see to drive his sleigh, Christmas is nearly cancelled. But then someone remembers that goofy little kid, Rudolph, the one with the nose like a huge red lantern, and Rudolph is whisked to the head of the reindeer pack and Christmas is saved, thanks to that funny little kid... uh, reindeer, who, just the previous week, was considered a royal loser.

Oh but now--now!--Rudolph is considered a hero. And then how the reindeer 'loved him' (if that's love, I'll take spaghetti). They even shouted-out with glee, because of course, now, Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer is going down in history.

But only now, only after he proved himself a useful member of society. Only after his 'disability' saved Christmas for all of mankind. Only after Rudolph became a valuable asset, a famous reindeer and a credit to his family and the entire world at large.

Give me a break!

Right there is the kind of stuff which is messing us all up, stressing us out and making us appreciation-hungry nuts. The fact is, Rudolph was valuable before that foggy Christmas Eve. He was a creation of God, a son, a friend, a member of woodland society and just a sweet little deer. And here is the truth:

Today you are valuable to God.
Today God loves you just as you are, famous or unknown.--for you are not unknown to Him.
Today God would have sent Jesus to die for you, even if you were the only person on Earth.
Today, with God, you are a winner, not a loser.
Today, you do not have to prove yourself to God. He knows your weaknesses and He loves you anyway. And He's standing ready to give you His strength in those areas.
Today, even if you overcame all your weaknesses, God would not love you any better than He does right this minute.
Today God is thrilled that you are His child and He wouldn't trade you for all the perfect, got-it-all together, famous, Christmas-saving people in the whole World.

Really.

And I hope you'll remember that.


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