A Word

I thought it might be inspiring if our family had a word for the new year, something that might define us, guide us, challenge us in our choices and our journey.  So, I offered the idea to my clan.  I explained the  intent and their minds began to ponder the possibilities.  I threw some words of my own on the table to get us started - freedom, caring, love, friendship, generosity, hospitality.  They were not impressed.  After careful thought the boys seemed to catch on and offered their best idea.  The 15 year old led the charge - food. The 13 year old had a better idea - feast.  Someone said something about - eating.  They finally agreed on - buffet. They were pleased, buoyed in fact, by their insights. I'm re-thinking this idea. Maybe we don't need a word after all?

Aroma

Just outside my family room window is a wonderfully fragrant shrub. It blooms in early spring and its potent scent can catch you by surprise when you walk up to my front door. You find yourself wondering - where is that aroma coming from? But it doesn't take a curious person long to discover the source.

When people see you, hear you, watch you do they wonder - where is that coming from? What is the source of your thoughts, actions, and daily pursuits? How long would it take someone to discover Whose you are?

"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15

Mountaintops

A dear friend of mine, recently moved from the gentle, low-lying land of the Tidewater Region to the rugged landscape of the Alleghenies. The words of the Psalmist speak to her in this place, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from?" Reminding her, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

How blessed she is to have such a poignant reminder that the Lord is close at hand! How is the Lord speaking to you today? Can you see Him?

Story time

A few Fridays a month my daughters and I attend story time at our local library.  It's a brief twenty minute experience that includes a couple of songs, a finger-play, several stories and a craft.  But what is really interesting about story time are the people who come. There's Shane who brings a bag of Duplos and dumps them on the floor, so he can throw them around while he listens.  There's the twin sisters who sit quietly snuggled on their mother's lap.  And there's soon-to-be three-year old Sophie who tells everyone where to sit and if you are lucky, she'll hold your hand.

But the one who really intrigues me is Sophie's grandmother.  She's 71 and looks as if she's in her fifties.  This past Friday we were sitting together working on our Dr. Seuss puppets to commemorate the Seuss fellows birthday when Sophie's grandmother began to admire my daughter's long, brown hair.   "I want to tell you a story,"  she said softly.  And then she began.

When Sophie's grandmother was 9 years old she had long hair -  hair so long she could sit on it.  Her father had died when she was only twenty-eight months old leaving her mother to care for two young daughters.  Over the years her mother had made ends meet by doing bead work and sewing projects for people.  But this particular year as Christmas drew close, the family's resources were quite low.  One day her mother sat her young daughter -  with hair so long you could sit on it -  down on a stool, braided that beautiful long hair and then cut it off just behind her ears.  When she was done she wrapped that braid in tissue paper and took it to down-town Richmond to the doll shop where she sold it for $58.  "It was premium hair," said Sophie's grandmother.  "My mother was able to pay the electric bill, buy my sister a coat, a pair of shoes for me, a coat for herself, get 2 Christmas presents for each of us, and a turkey...all with the money she made from my hair."  
 
Sometimes love requires so much of us.  What is love requiring of you today? 

"Love each other as I have loved you."  John 15:12

Bread

She journeyed 1,000 miles to visit me in the peak of summer when the tomatoes were ripe and full, butter beans popping their hulls, and corn fresh and sweet.  I had learned so much from her as a child -  how to use my hands, how to sew, cook, wash a dish and set a table.  It was a special treat having her for a meal.  And every thought had been given to its preparation - homemade chicken pot pie, fresh cucumber pickle, locally grown tomatoes, butter beans, corn.  I checked the table one last time and then I called her, "Grandmother, dinner is ready." 

She came slowly - her 80 plus years adjusting her pace.  When she was finally situated at the table she took one long look at the feast set before her.  Without hesitating she turned her eyes toward me and said, "Where's the bread?"

"The bread?"  I responded.  "But, Grandmother there's crust on the chicken pie and starch in the beans and the corn..." 

She cut me off.  And with a steady eye she looked at me and stated, "You always should have bread."  Bread?  Yes, bread.  I knew that.  How could I have forgotten?  Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

Rejoice!

It's a simple thing.  Really.  Most nights before we climb the stairs for an evening's rest we gather together as a family and share our joys.  We've been doing this for as long as I can remember.  And most nights the joys are quite demure -  chocolate chip pancakes, a game won, a good test grade,  a friend to play.  I'm thankful for this moment.  It's simply one more way we rejoice in this gift called life.  I hope you are finding ways to rejoice, to celebrate the oh-so-extraordinary journey God has given you.

Reach Out

Not so long ago, I found myself feeling out of sorts with a new acquaintance. I hadn't heard from her and the deadline for the event we were working on had come and gone. It was her turn to step into the conversation, but she was silent. My mind began racing with all sorts of ideas about what had gone wrong. But thank goodness the Lord helped me quickly move beyond that and urged me to make a move and touch base with her. I did. I sent her an email and left her a phone message to which she responded with these words, "Thank you for reaching out to me." Those 7 words made a big impression on me as I began to ponder how often I might have missed the opportunity to reach out to someone. Maybe there's an opportunity for you today. Why not reach out?

Ashes...

I have a vivid memories from my childhood in the Mississippi Delta of the sight and smell of ashes, of looking  out across open fields and seeing flames and smoke in the distance, of running my bare hand over the hood of a car and picking-up ash.  My father and other farmers in the area would once a year burn their fields to clear the remainder of the old crop and destroy any weeds or seeds.  It was an economical and efficient way to prepare the ground for new growth.  

What if ashes meant for us preparation for something new?    What if ashes meant that we were ready to burn, to get rid of the old junk in our lives, so we could begin fresh?  What if ashes were a sign that we were getting ready for our Lord to claim new ground?

Encourage

Only eight years old, his head was bent low over the paper as he struggled with the numbers. Some things came easy. Some things did not. This was one of those things. I worked quietly in the room, waiting, when with a soft voice and eyes blinking back tears he said, "I just need a little encouragement." Encouragement? Don't we all need a little encouragement? How do you encourage someone? With patience. With kind words. With an affirming presence. With a shift in expectations. With God's help. Let's let the scripture be our guide, Encourage one another and build each other up. (I Thessalonians 5:11)

Make that Call

When the page turned on the calendar we could count on his call. The slow drawl would drift over the phone line, "I just wanted to give y'all a chance to wish me a happy birthday." My father and stepmother would chuckle and sing the familiar song. It became a routine. Something they knew to expect each and every year. They asked him once why he couldn't wait for them to call. And he had an answer, "I just decided I could either sit around and feel sorry for myself or I could pick up the phone and call folks...And you know, it's a funny thing. It makes me happy."

In truth it's a God thing. "Two are better than one....If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV) God doesn't want us to live our lives in isolation. Go ahead. Why not make that call?

Wait

Do you ever wonder if God has you on the radar?  Consider this,"One of the chief

needs in our waiting upon God, one of the deepest secrets of its blessedness and

blessing, is a quiet, confident persuasion that it is not in vain.  Have courage

and believe that God will hear and help.  We are waiting on a God who could never

disappoint His people."  (by Andrew Murray in Waiting on God)

Do the Next Thing

Life can be overwhelming. Work, home, health and well being can sometimes present us with more than we can realistically manage in a day or even a season. I've always been inspired by Elisabeth Elliott's story. She recounts how when her husband Jim, a missionary, and several of his colleagues were murdered in South America that she didn't know where to begin. But God infused her heart with God's love and gave her direction through a poem her mother had taught her entitled "Do the Next Thing." So Elisabeth, confident that Christ would show her the way, simply began where she was with the smallest of tasks - feed the baby, prepare the next meal, write a letter. And in time, by God's grace, she moved from despair to hope.


Perhaps, this post finds you in deeper waters than you would prefer. Why not take a breath, give thanks and let God lead you to do the next thing?

Smile

It is much too easy to go through the day without a smile. To become so self-centered, so over-consumed with life's issues that all hopes of a twinkle are extinquished. But it's true you'll do more good with just a little smile than you ever will with self-consumption . Your spouse, your children, your co-workers will benefit in great ways with that one minor seemingly insignificant change. So, why not smile today? Who knows - someone just might smile back ; )

Pray

Five months into the pregnancy we felt it was time.  Time to share our news.  A baby was on the way.  And so we gathered everyone together just before bedtime and told them.  We told them our good, good news.  It was a surprise for all.  One celebrated being a big brother...again.  One celebrated the possibility of having a little brother.  One celebrated, because everyone else was celebrating.  And one...cried.  Cried  and cried and cried.  Why? Why are you crying?  Unsure, uncertain about the tears we rubbed this one's shoulders and quietly left him on his bed.  I retreated to my room - conflicted in my own thoughts - wondering why this child was so distraught.  When suddenly he appeared and amidst choking sobs whispered in my ear, "I prayed."  A questioning look from me brought more choked words, "I've been praying, Momma.   Praying that God would give us a baby."  Then, just as quickly as he came, he left the room.  And I was left to wonder.  He had been praying for a baby?  Why not!

Listen

                   Peter Mayer performing "Ever Walk With Me Lord" from his CD "Stirrin' Up The Water"

Soul full.  Inspired.  Blessed. Why not listen?

Peter Mayer Ever Walk with Me Lord

Lyrics:

Refrain
Ever walk with me Lord
Each night and day a rejoicing
With kindness the harmony, justice the beat
You've turned my footsteps to dancing
Oh Ever walk with me Lord

How can I come before You?
What worthy gift could I bring?
What glorious feast could I offer?
What songs of majesty sing?
Lift this heart of sadness into gladness by Your peace
Before I can come before You, You come to me

Refrain
Ever walk with me Lord
Each night and day a rejoicing
With kindness the harmony, justice the beat
You've turned my footsteps to dancing
Oh Ever walk with me Lord

In my work I grow weary
Lost on this road of desires
Where is the path that leads homeward?
To bring me back to Your fire
Lift these eyes of sadness into gladness at Your peace
I am lost and weary, come shepherd me

Refrain
Ever walk with me Lord
Each night and day a rejoicing
With kindness the harmony, justice the beat
You've turned my footsteps to dancing
Oh Ever walk with me Lord

A million voices surround me
How can I hear when You call?
When at last grace has found me
Will I recognize it at all?
Lift this song of sadness into gladness at Your feast
To hear Your voice is calling, come walk with me

Refrain
Ever walk with me Lord
Each night and day a rejoicing
With kindness the harmony, justice the beat
You've turned my footsteps to dancing
Oh Ever walk with me Lord

Think on this

Why not think on this?

“Every time you make a choice, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before."

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Begin

Beginning something new or re-visiting something old to begin again can be daunting. The task can loom large before you causing you to hesitate, wander, or yes, even give up. But the first bold step of beginning can be life-giving and each step thereafter draws you closer to what you envision. So, instead of being side-tracked by what might not happen, why not be propelled by what might come to pass and begin!