Increased Stature

1 Samuel 2:26 says:

"Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people." (NRSV)

This verse really caught my eye because of its similarity to Luke 2:52:

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people." (NET)

Most of us want to be in favor with God and with people. There are two ways to increase in stature - the literal physical way, and the more figurative way of increasing in visibility and power.  Most of us are finished with the physical increase in stature.  So far as the figurative way is concerned, some of us want to increase in stature and some of us don't.  I'm one of those who isn't so interested in increased stature, preferring to quietly go about my work behind the scenes.  But that's not the way God is leading in my life right now.  Just as a child has no control over his growth in stature, if I continue to do as God directs, it doesn't look like I'll be able to avoid such growth either.  What I DO have some say in is growth in favor with God and people.  Proverbs 3:3-4 says:

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man." (NASB)

This is my prescription - focus on kindness and truth if I want to grow in favor with God and people.  Each of these can indirectly be a challenge for me, though I care deeply about the people around me and try my best to always be factual in my dealings.  

For example, I choose to focus on kindness, but I can have "tunnel vision" at times.  I can be so focused on my current task, that I don't pay attention to the people around me who need kindness from me.  Obviously such behavior can detract from finding favor with people! 

The other piece of this - truth - is an interesting concept.  What is truth?  Jesus said that He is "the way, the truth, and the life"  (John 14:6 - NASB)  The challenge for me with truth is that I can get so caught up in human perception of things that I miss the truth of God's power and grace that can improve any situation.  THAT is the truth - not the appearances all around me!

Father, thank you for your truth!  Truly in "Your presence is fullness of joy"! (Ps 21:6, NASB)  I am so grateful, Father!  You always have my best interests at heart.  Life goes so much better with you in it!  Father, I ask this day that kindness and truth be a continual focus in my life and that I am able to continually be aware of the needs of your children when you want me to be interacting with them in a kind and loving way!  May I always remember the truth of your power and goodness rather than believing in appearances, Father.  I love you!

What God Chooses

While this page may look a bit cluttered, it has a lot of meaning for me.  The top portion reminds me of things this passage suggests should be totally demolished.  The bottom is symbolic of things I am encouraged to do in this passage.  Throughout the "picture/collage" one thing stands out - the yellow "light".  This is the promised result of living in the way depicted in this chapter - Isaiah chapter 58.

This is the passage that lead to the creation of this blog in the first place. At the time, I was ill and feeling frustrated that recovery of my health was taking so long.  A portion of Isaiah 58:8 jumped out at me "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily".  That's what I wanted!  A speedy return to health.  So I read the rest of the chapter to understand what needed to happen so that promise could be fulfilled.  You can read how that resulted in the starting of this blog here, but the short story is that I came to understand that "sharing my bread with the hungry" goes much beyond sharing physical food.  It's also important to share my spiritual food!

I've recently returned to this passage, and just as last time, I see the importance of figurative meanings - not just literal.  I had been brought into contact with someone who was feeling discouraged, and trying to understand God as a loving God when circumstances made it seem that God was punishing them.  This passage kept coming to my mind.  God says, this is the fast I choose:

"loosen the bonds . . . let the oppressed go free . . . divide your bread with the hungry . . . bring the homeless poor into the house . . . when you see the naked, cover him . . . don't hide from your own family . . . don't point your finger at others . . . give yourself to the hungry . . . take care of those who are troubled"

Father, what is it you want me to do in this situation?  What do these words mean for me today?  As I contemplated, I realized that just like bread can represent spiritual as well as physical food, the other things listed can have spiritual meanings as well. While I'm not suggesting we ignore physical needs, I'm very aware that many times the spiritual needs are more pressing.  

"Loosen the bonds - let the oppressed go free".  How can I do this TODAY?  The friend mentioned earlier was clearly feeling oppressed - how can I help free this friend?  

My friend doesn't need a physical house, but do I perhaps need to share my spiritual shelter?  Maybe help bring my friend into a deeper understanding of God's love and care?

My friend has physical clothes, but may be feeling naked and vulnerable spiritually.  How can I help cloth my friend?  I think of my recent study in Proverbs - "Strength and dignity are her clothing" (Prov 31:25 NASB).  How can I be a part of clothing my friend in strength and dignity?

I note particularly the phrase "give yourself to the hungry" (NASB) or as the ISV puts it "pour yourself out for the hungry".  Clearly we're not expected to encourage cannibalism of ourselves to satisfy someone's physical hunger.  This is about sharing of our SOUL to feed a much deeper spiritual hunger. 

And we're told the results of living our lives this way:

"THEN your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring forth . . . you will call and the Lord will answer . . . your gloom will become like midday . . . and the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones" (NASB) 

Father, thank you for your promises and for your love for me!  I want to do your will this day.  Please work in and through me to loosen the bonds and let the oppressed go free, to clothe the naked and give myself to the hungry.  Father, you know the many things on my to do list today.  I trust you to manage my time and energy that I may accomplish those things that need to be done as easily as possible.  May all who come in contact with me see you within me and feel your love for them through me.  I love you, Father.  You are such a gentle and loving parent and teacher!  Your love for me shows in SO many ways.  Thank you for the many blessings in my life this day and every day.

Healed & Happy

I've spent the last several days pondering the story of Hannah. Clearly she had a caring husband, who noticed how sad she was and that she wasn't eating.  He tried to cheer her up, but no amount of attention on his part could have taken away the pain she was facing. To want a child so badly, watch a rival have child after child, and then be harassed about not being able to conceive would have been so hard.  And then to make matters worse, as she was praying to God with all the pain and longing of her heart, the priest accused her of being drunk!  

One of the things that stood out to me was that when her prayer ended and she was done talking to Eli, she went her way and "ate and her face was no longer sad". (1 Sam 1:18 NASV).  It reminded me of Psalms 40:4 that says "Happy is the person who trusts in the Lord" (NCV).  When we truly believe our prayers have been answered, our behavior will change - even before any outward sign of the miracle has shown up.

And yet, God whispers to me that this is not an act.  This is not us simply saying, okay God, I'm going to trust you and "act as if".  Sometimes when we do that, we're actually in the state described in 2 Tim 3:5 - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (KJV).  I find myself comparing Hannah's story with a couple of others:

• Jacob wrestling with God and saying, “I won’t let you go, unless you bless me.”  
• Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me" and later "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

The picture I see here, is one of praying until we CLEARLY receive an answer.  This isn't just a quick prayer and an "okay I'll trust you, God".  This is praying until we KNOW the answer is on its way (whether it's what we wanted or not!) and we can face the situation, filled with God's power.  Jesus spent hours praying about the situation He was facing.  How can we think we can get away with less?  

Father, I want this experience with the challenge I am facing right now.  I want to pray until I KNOW healing has occurred!  But I really don't know how to do that.  Once I've discussed the situation with you, what more is there to say?  I know you love me and want this healing for me.  What is it that takes it from "want" to "happening now"?  What is it that must occur so that you can fill me with your power?  

In the past, I've struggled with the concept of persevering in prayer.  I know even Jesus taught that it was something we needed to do in the parable about the widow and the judge:

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8, KJV)

I've found this concept hard to understand.  If we keep badgering God about something, isn't that the same as not trusting Him? But the picture that is emerging is about praying about something until we receive an answer and a sense of peace about the situation.  As long as we are struggling within ourselves about the situation, we are NOT there yet!  We need to "badger" God until we are!  

I think of a story I've read recently about a woman who was quite ill for YEARS. She sought God about it all that time, and only after many years did she experience full healing.  I suspect the story of Hannah represents something similar.  Though the story here in first Samuel doesn't specify, I suspect that this was not the first time Hannah was distressed about her barrenness and prayed about it.  Clearly part of the answer is that the time was not right until this point.  So I'm once again back to the question.  Don't we need to trust God that He will bring about the healing when the time is right?  How does that jibe with continuing to badger Him about something? 

Father, I really want to understand this.  I KNOW it is an important piece for experiencing your power more fully in my life. Father, how do I get there?  It's like I can see the destination, but there is some sort of invisible wall preventing me from reaching it.  What needs to change, Father?  I want the healing and I know you want me to have it.  What needs to change?

As I write these words, I hear my Father's still small voice in my heart saying, "Really?  Do you REALLY want the healing?"  And I realize that is the issue.  I am still wavering about it.  James 1:6 says "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." But I realize I am indeed wavering.  I want the healing, but I don't want to make changes I know I need to make for it to occur.  I want the healing, but I'm afraid of changes in how people will relate to me when it occurs.  I'm of two minds about it.  I want healing now - but I'm not sure I do!  I'm in the exact boat that James was talking about, and of course I can't receive healing when I'm not even sure I want it!  Is this then the reason for continued prayer about something - for "badgering" God?  Is it that we need to continue to pray about a situation until all parts of ourselves line up in agreement about it?  In Matthew 18:19, Jesus promised that if two of us agree about anything we ask God for, it will be done.  But here I am, and I can't even get the one of me to agree! :)

Father, I DO want this healing!  I've tasted bits and pieces of it here and there, but I want the whole thing!  I want to be COMPLETELY healed - including a healing within about the way I think about it.  I want to be TOTALLY willing to make any change necessary, and I want to eagerly embrace your healing, regardless of what others around me might think, say, or do.  Father, I ask for willingness to change, for a clear understanding of the changes that must occur, and for the power to make those changes.  And I ask for your love to fill me and cast out any fear that I have associated with thoughts of healing.  And I intend to continue to ask for these things until all parts of me that are not in agreement have been brought to light and healed so that the full healing I seek can occur.  Thank you, Father, for your continued work in my life and for the promise that the work you have begun in me will be seen to completion!  I love you, Father!

Family Matters

Today I'm writing about something I never thought to journal about - all those "begats" in the Bible!  (You know, this person begat that person begat another person.)  I started reading this morning at the beginning of 1st Samuel:

"Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite." (WEB)

Though in this case it used the phrase "the son of" rather than "begat",  I caught myself thinking "Here we go again.  All these begats.  Why waste time & space with this stuff instead of getting on with the story?"  Immediately the answer came.  "Roots.  Family history is important.  It's important to understand where you come from."  Of COURSE there's a REASON!  It's not wasted time or space!

In the past, when I've tried to gain some meaning from similar passages, I've done so by looking up the meanings of the names to see what that might tell me.  While that can be an interesting exercise that sometimes brings intriguing insights, it was something like focusing on the trees and missing the whole idea of the forest.  While there's something to be said for tree study, today was time for me to see the forest.

The reading of this passage and the focus on roots and family came to me in the context of a question I had been sitting with about time devoted to extended family.  It was as though God Himself was saying to me, "Cheryl, family history is important. Roots are important.  Think of all those passages about family heritage in the Bible.  You've wondered about them for so long, but totally missed the point.  Time was taken to list all of that heritage because it's IMPORTANT!"

I find myself wondering why.  Why is it important to note the family relationships with people that are no longer living or are more distant relations?  Why not focus on immediate family and those nearby?  Anyway, isn't the most important family history my adoption as a child of God?  These are questions I still sit with, but I know I don't need to know why. I just need to move forward as directed.  If the time comes when it is helpful for me to know why, I will be given those answers. They're not important before then.

Father, thank you for your guidance and your love.  May I fully understand and act on that which is important for me for now.  I trust you with that - and with the rest of it Father!  Thank you for the family I have.  Too many people have such challenging family relationships!  Father, thank you for bringing my daughter back to me and for the love you put in each member of my family.  Again today may I be filled with your love such that it overflows to each person I interact with.  I ask Your blessing on each family member and friend in a special way, Father.  Once again I thank you for all you do for each one of us.  Thank you for peace and joy and love.  I love you, Father.

My Cup Overflows!

My cup overflows!  God is SO good!  Mo matter what I may be facing, He guides and protects me and causes everything to work for my good!!!

Father, you are so generous and surround me with beauty!  What You provide goes way beyond my basic needs!  Father, I am SO grateful for everything!  I could never list all your blessings.  I am so grateful for health and strength, for redemption and power, for joy and gladness, for my food - physical and spiritual, for sleep, for energy, for air to breath, for the beautiful birds & their songs, for the fragrant beauty of the flowers, for art supplies and ideas, for working through me to create things I know I could never create on my own.  Father, it's sooo wonderful to be a partner with you in creative endeavours.  It's so much fun to see the beauty that comes from your Word.  Father, family and friends are such a gift, and I am so grateful for them.  I'm grateful for the way you bless my work and see that everything unfolds as it should. I'm grateful for guidance as I work through the tasks before me. And most of all, Father, I'm grateful for Your love.  May it flow through me today in all my interactions.  I love you, Father!

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This page utilizes stamps from HOTP.  To find out more about how it was done, check out my papercrafting blog here.

My Shepherd

I really like the way this page turned out, and it has a great deal of meaning for me. (For more details about HOW the page was done, check my papercrafting blog here.)  Psalms 23 is one of the better known passages in the Bible, and a promise to which many people have clung - especially in challenging times.  And it DOES contain some wonderful promises.  There's also some real food for thought here.  

Though I've memorized this passage and contemplated it many times, there are several things that jumped out at me this time that I haven't considered in the same way before. The Psalm starts, "The Lord is My Shepherd".  I've often thought of this in the context of Jesus' story in Matthew & Luke about the shepherd with 99 sheep who is missing one (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:3-7).  This time, a couple of other verses came to mind.  First was a verse in Isaiah:

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way;"  Isaiah 53:6 (KJV).

Just in case I didn't get the message about who's got the power (see this post), this verse makes it pretty clear to me.  When sheep go astray, as in the parable of the 99, only the shepherd can find the missing sheep and bring them back.  It's very unlikely the sheep will find its own way back!  Father, thank you for searching for me and bringing me back when I've gone astray!  May I rely on the power of Your Spirit within me.

Then another verse comes to mind - 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 (KJV)

If sheep listen to the shepherd's voice and follow him instead of getting side-tracked by whatever they're doing in the moment, they won't go astray in the first place!  Father, may I always HEAR your voice and FOLLOW!

This brings me to the part of Psalm 23 that I have been pondering the most:

"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

Comfort from the rod & staff?  When I hear the word "rod" I tend to think of the saying, "Spare the rod and spoil the child".  I don't like the idea of being hit by my Father.  I really can't say that idea is very "comforting".  Frankly, it's also not the way I've experienced God working with me, either.  My experience with Him is of much more gentle correction and guidance.  "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."  Really, Father?  How can that be?  The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

"Your rod [to protect] and your staff [to guide] they comfort and console me." Psalm 23:4 (AMP)

The rod is for protection?!  Oh, Father, of course you protect me.  How sad that my first thought is of being hit myself, when you use that rod to protect me!  When I look up the original words in Strong's concordance, I see that the word translated "rod" simply means a stick (used in many contexts), while the word "staff" comes from a word meaning "to support".   After reading about shepherds and sheep from a variety of sources, I feel I understand this better.  While the rod can indeed be used to administer discipline to a stubborn sheep, it also is used to protect them from danger - snakes, wolves, etc.  And clearly the amount of force used, and exactly how the rod is used, varies depending on the goal - discipline or protection.  The staff is used to give the shepherd something to lean on, but also to reach out and grasp a sheep to protect them from harm or to rescue them when they've gotten themselves into difficulty.  

I think of children.  Those who have studied child-rearing know that children need discipline.  They need to know that their parents care enough about them to protect them - even from themselves if need be.  Such discipline makes them feel safe!  Obviously that is different from abusive beatings that make a child afraid of a parent.  Most of the time gentle guidance, or a determined word is all that is needed to correct a child.  Occasionally more is needed.  I can trust my Heavenly Father to know EXACTLY what I need and to guide me in the best way possible.  I can also trust Him to ensure that I am protected - even from myself and my own stubbornness if necessary!  And if I get myself into difficulty, even if it was because of going my own way, He will seek me out and rescue me from my difficulty!  What an amazing God and Father.  So many people say things like "You've made your bed, now you have to lie in it".  But that's not the way my Father treats me. While He doesn't save me from all the consequences of poor choices, He assures me that NOTHING can take me out of His hand (John 10:28-30), and He is willing to rescue me even if I'm the one responsible for getting myself into difficulty in the first place!

Father, I am so grateful!  You are such a loving Father!  As I think about it more, I realize that your rod and your staff definitely comfort me!  I can trust you to protect me, even from myself - administering guidance and discipline as needed to keep me safe and close to you, My Shepherd.  Thank you, Father!  No wonder you tell me not to be anxious about anything.  You are in charge and taking care of me.  Some hired shepherds might be lazy, but You are not.  You don't slumber or sleep and nothing gets past you.  You know everything and work all things for my good.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Father I WANT your gentle guidance - and your discipline when I need it.  And I'm so grateful that you care enough to guide and protect me, even if I get stubborn.  Knowing you do so does indeed comfort me!  And thank you for guiding my hand as I drew the shepherd and sheep.  They came so easily that I KNOW it was the miracle of Your guiding my hand!  And thank you for bringing the transfer technique to mind.  It's been a LONG time since I used it!  This time spent with you is so wonderful!  I love you, Father!

Denying the Power?

Yesterday I woke up thinking about Romans 7:15, because I found myself in the same boat that Paul was describing:

"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." (NASB)

It can be SO discouraging when this happens, but it helps to know I'm not alone in this situation - that even Paul the apostle experienced this!  I'll admit that for me, this section of Romans is rather challenging to fully understand, but Paul says pretty clearly that when we find ourselves in this boat, it is not US, but SIN living in our human bodies that is the issue.  And yet, isn't the whole point of  Jesus death and resurrection the FREEING us from sin?  The next chapter, makes it clear that if we are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation for this experience and that instead of focusing our mind on that, we are to focus on things of the Spirit. 

As I continued to ponder these things, a phrase from 2 Timothy popped into my head: "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim 3:5 - KJV).  I do NOT want to live that way.  "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control." (2 Tim 1:7 - NCV)

I found myself thinking of a store manikin.  It has the form of a human, but certainly not the power.  How foolish to live my life as a manikin, when I can live an empowered life!

Father, thank you that you understand and do not condemn!  And thank you for the Spirit you have put within me - one of power and love and self-control.  May this Spirit guide each thought and action, Father, and break any chains of human nature that try to control me.  May I do what I want to do - what you want me to do - instead of what I hate!  I am so grateful for your love, Father! And this morning I am particularly grateful for the power of your Holy Spirit in my life.  Thank you, Father!  I love you.

An Excellent Wife

While I don't claim to be an excellent wife, it is certainly something worth aiming for!  

For the last several days I've been pondering this passage from Proverbs 31 that talks about the qualities of an excellent wife.  Several things stood out to me:

1. Clearly those who believe that a woman had no place in the business world and must sit back and leave everything outside the home for a man to do, hasn't read this chapter!  For example, she's out buying land, making the decision on her own.   She then plants it with seed purchased with money SHE earned.  She's creating clothing that is clearly sought after and selling it to others who can market it for her.  Does this fit the picture of the subservient wife that some of us have thought the Bible taught us to be?
2. "She works with her hands in delight." (verse 13)  Can I say that I work with my hands with delight?  Certainly that is the case for some of my tasks, but is it the way I approach ALL of them?  Surely it would be if I were "Rejoicing in the Lord ALWAYS" as we're encouraged to do in Philippians 4:4. 
3. "She rises while it is still night," and "her lamp does not go out at night." (verses 15 & 18).  Clearly while we're told that God gives sleep to those he loves (Ps 127:2), that doesn't mean we won't put in long days.  And it says she "does not eat the bread of idleness" (verse 27).  I think again of Psalms 127:2: "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." (ESV)  This time I focus not on the time of rising or going to bed, but what stands out to me in that next phrase, "anxious toil".  This is such a contrast to the picture of working with delight! And I recognize that when I am working with delight instead of anxious toil, I am eager to get up and start my day and also want to finish what I'm working on before retiring to bed.  And when I DO go to sleep, I usually fall asleep easily and sleep well.  When I am engaged in "anxious toil" is when I'm less likely to be able to fall asleep very easily, or sleep well when I do.
4. "Her clothing is fine linen and purple" (verse 22) and "all her household are clothed with scarlet" (verse 21).  I grew up believing the Bible taught that we shouldn't care about our appearance, but here it is clear that she puts time into making sure her clothing is good quality and looks good - pretty like royalty would wear. 
5. And yet, it makes it clear that she is not a vain woman who spends all her energy thinking about adorning herself.  She's aware that her character is of more importance than her looks and clothing: "She girds herself with strength", "Strength and dignity are her clothing" "She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  She also takes care of her entire household as well as extending her hand to the poor and needy (verses 15, 20, 21).
6. Her husband can trust her.  She helps him increase the value of their household, rather than foolishly putting them in debt. (verse 11)
7. She faces the future with JOY. (verse 25)  This is what stood out to me the most.  At the time I read it, I had just been informed of something that caused me to wonder what would be happening for me job-wise - a situation that I could easily move into anxiety about.  But God gave me direction through this verse.  "Face the future with JOY!"  Obviously this is not unlike many other verses throughout scripture that encourages us to let go of anxiety and fear and instead trust God with thanksgiving and joy.  But it was another timely reminder for me.  Thank you, God!

Father, Thank you for the work that you are doing in me!  May I truly be an excellent wife.  May I open myself fully to your love and joy so that anxiety and fear have no place in me.  May I move forward with strength and purpose, energized by the joy and vision you've put within me as I continue to seek your will.  Father, you are so amazing!  When I see the miracles happening in my life I can't help but praise you!  Thank you for the healing you are doing in my life - physical, emotional, mental & spiritual!  Thank you for the beauty you create and for the love you shower us with!  I love you, Father!

All Flesh is Grass

I've been pondering some verses in 1 Peter for several days.  The NIV puts them this way:

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:22-25

The passage Peter is quoting here comes from Isaiah 40:6-8.  As I pondered these passages, they started to come together with others:

• Solomon's stating over and over again in Ecclesiastes that "all is vanity",
• The focus on the law of love that I was brought to the other day,
• The 13th chapter of Corinthians that speaks of the importance of love.

It's easy to wonder sometimes what the point of it all is.  As Solomon described so well in Ecclesiastes, the work I put so much of my energy into each day doesn't seem to make much difference in the long run.  If I clean my house, it just needs to be cleaned again.  What dances I cue are usually forgotten within a day or two.  Life is fleeting; friends and loved ones die.  What is the point of it all?  What is lasting?  

I think of my grandmother.  She has passed on and is no longer with us.  But there IS something that remains.  Her loving words and actions had a great impact on me and while the specific deeds may fade into obscurity, the experience of her love is always with me.

LOVE is the imperishable seed through which we have been born again - the word become flesh (John chapter 1).  LOVE is what endures.  Isn't that what we're told over and over again in 1st & 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, and the Psalms?  "His love endures forever."  

Father, thank you for your enduring love!  May I be an open channel through which you can express your love!  I love you, Father.

Delight in What?

Last night I came home from an engagement where I was NOT happy with my performance.  I tried to just let it go, but old perfectionist tendencies were out in full force.  Instead of remembering how I had prayed for God's will to be done and how He had supported me throughout the day as I prepared; instead of trusting that my prayer had been answered and things went just as He would have had them go, I turned to my old companion - food - to sooth me. Afterwards, as I lay there in bed, realizing what I had done, I felt really bad.  Turning to my Father in apology, I prayed to be free of such tendencies.

This morning, I awoke with Psalms 1:1-3 in my mind:

Happy is the one who does not . . . sit in the seat of scoffers.  Instead she delights in God's law and meditates on it continually.  She will be like a tree firmly planted and fed by streams of water, producing fruit in the proper season, and filled with vibrant life.  Whatever she does prospers and produces maturity. (my paraphrase)

I realized that I had indeed sat in the seat of scoffers last night - scoffing at myself and my performance (and indirectly at God because of my lack of trust!).  No wonder it didn't feel very good! 

The antidote is clear - delight in God's law and meditate on it continually.  But I found myself struggling a bit with this counsel.  I have never wanted to be a lawyer.  Spending a lot of energy on analyzing law - even God's - didn't sound like much fun.  And besides that, God has clearly been leading me away from a more legalistic point of view into a more compassionate one.

Even as I thought those thoughts, a passage popped into my mind.  This passage is one that is repeated several times throughout the Bible - one of which is Mark 12:30-31.  In this instance, Jesus had been approached by an "expert" in the law and asked this question - "What commandment is the most important?".  Jesus' answer was, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  And the second most important is similar. Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Wow!  That is indeed a law worth meditating on.  I can see how much better things would have gone last night if I had been FULLY doing so.  If LOVE had been my WHOLE focus, instead of also having that part that was beating myself up, I'd have ONLY seen what God would have me do to share His love with those around me, and I'd have been as compassionate with myself about my mistakes as I would have been with anyone else.  There's a song that says, "All you need is love".  This passage makes clear how true that sentiment is! 

When I was finished with this page, it felt a bit cluttered and I was tempted to wish it otherwise, but I realized that what the clutter did was keep forcing my eye back to the focal point - the law of love.  How appropriate!


Father, thank you for your patience with me!  Thank you for your continued work in my life to bring me to better understand the way you would have me live.  Thank you for your forgiveness for having fallen short of the mark last night, and for your guidance back onto the path you would have me walk.  I love you, Father!

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 As usual, a discussion of how I created the page is on my papercrafting blog. 

I CAN

This morning's lesson came through a coloring book I was given.  It's called "The Word in Color" and has some really nice pictures.  As I was paging through it, this verse really spoke to me.  It's a promise I've loved for a long time.  But I really needed the reminder today.  I have a lot on my plate right now and was so exhausted last night that I had started to stress about getting everything done before reminding myself that "He gives sleep to those He loves" (the last verse I journaled about - here).  So, last night I got a good night's sleep (thank you, God!) - even sleeping in a bit this morning!

And this morning, instead of stressing about my to do list, and jumping right in to do stuff instead of taking my usual time with God, I chose to color this picture and let the words seep deep into my soul. 

What a great promise!  He not only gives me strength, but He directs my paths (Prov 3:6), and can even make the sun stand still (Joshua 10) if necessary to allow me time to complete my tasks.  I can trust that I will have the energy I need, and I can trust His time management suggestions!

Father, I am so grateful to you for your strength and direction! I know that you are in charge, and I gratefully put my life in your capable hands.  May I do your will this day!  May those with whom I come in contact today, feel your love flowing through me.  I love you, Father!

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For more information about how I used my colored page to create this Bible page, check my paper crafting blog here.

Work and Sleep

This morning's text comes from Psalms 127 verses 1 & 2:

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—    for he grants sleep to those he loves." (NIV)

This passage is one I've had hanging in my office for several years now - in two parts:

• The first part of verse one reminds me of the importance of seeking God's will as I do my work.
• Verse two reminds me to work reasonable hours and get my sleep.  It also has been a promise that I've clung to when sleep is illusive.  Many nights I've prayed this promise, asking God to give me sleep.  It is also on my mind when I wake up early in the morning (usually 3-4am).  Once again, I pray this promise to Him and ask whether it is time for me to get up, or whether He wishes to give me more sleep.  While sometimes, it is time to get up, often I've gotten several hours more sleep - something that never happened before beginning this practice.

If this were all I ever saw in these verses, it would be more than enough.  They are important words to live by and such a wonderful promise.  This week, however, when I came back to this verse to do some art journaling about it, I noticed a couple of things I hadn't noticed before.

First was just an interesting tidbit as I noticed that this quotation is from one of two Psalms written by Solomon.  Many of the Psalms were written by his father, David, and several more were written by other people - but I hadn't realized that Solomon wrote any until this week!  

Secondly, while most versions basically talk about God giving sleep to those He loves, the New American Standard Version (which is the one I'm currently journaling in) says "...He gives to His beloved even in sleep".   He gives to us while we sleep!  Medical science has been telling us about the many benefits of sleep and how important it is.  I've known that during sleep, among other things, the body regenerates itself and the mind cleans up its filing system.  While obviously God created us this way, I've never stopped to think of this as God giving to us even in our sleep!

Father, I'm so grateful for how light the burden is that you ask us to carry!  You are such a caring master!  Thank you so much for all the sleep you've given me through the years, and for the many gifts you've given DURING my sleep!  Thank you for your guidance for this day, and for your love for me always.  I love you, Father!