Saying farewell to 2016

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:2-6

As I look at the gathering night on this last day of 2016, I find I am fighting a bit of melancholy. Having had a cold for over 10 days probably contributes to the malaise. I am weary of not feeling good. I feel as though Christmas snuck past while I was trying to fight this nasty bug.  Other members of my family were ill as well, so the holiday lacked quite a bit of its normal luster. Although the upcoming New Year is merely hours away, I find I have no energy to celebrate. I am glad to bid 2016 good bye, (it's been a stretching year emotionally), but my zeal for the coming year is lagging.

When I find myself in the valley such as this, I am comforted by the knowledge that God holds all things in His competent hand.  He has not looked down on my situation with surprise.  He is fully aware of the place I am in my journey today, and holds great things in store for me. He is kind and patient and able to wait for me to get to where He needs me to be. I know He will strengthen me for whatever task lays ahead.

For now He is allowing me a moment to rest at our canyon retreat and reminds me not to worry about tomorrow.  Tonight my husband and I will lift our family and friends in prayer as we close out the year together as we normally do, enjoying one another's company in the quiet of our home.  The days of loud parties are distant memories that make us smile, but that neither of us miss. A quiet evening spent with each other is much more to our liking.  If we stay awake late enough, we will share a kiss after watching the ball drop at Time Square. In years past, we have managed to wake up from our slumber long enough to watch the celebration, pray for a  blessed New Year for all we know and love, kiss each other and thank God for another year together.

So even though wearied from a cold that has lingered far too long, stretched because of a year that had many rough patches, and tired, simply because I'm getting older, I can still rejoice.

God is still on His throne and carefully measuring out the moments for each of us.  As we head into 2017 I pray that each one of you will find the purpose and joy in following the path He has laid before you.  Rest when He says to rest, move when He says to move.  Above all things, trust Him.  He is worthy of all our praise and faithful to complete that which He's begun.

Have a blessed and safe close to 2016 and a joyous 2017. 

Emmanuel~ God with us

As I sit here watching the storm roll in and the Christmas lights twinkling brightly against the gathering night, the Amy Grant song Emmanuel runs through my head. Wonderful, counselor, mighty God, holy One...
The words bring comfort to my spirit.
The last few weeks have been difficult with the passing of my oldest brother, and the memorial service put off until Januray. There has been a large hole in my heart since hearing of his passing and the delayed services have made it difficult to bring a sense of closure. In addition to not being able to grieve with my siblings who all live out of state, December also marks  the month we lost mom ten years ago. It is bitter sweet. Christmas was her favorite holiday.
I find I struggled to find the energy to decorate this year. Grief threatened to rob me of the joy of the season.
And yet as I pressed forward I found the simple act of putting up the tree and decorating the house began to chase the gloom away from my heart. Much like the lights twinkling on the front porch push away the gloominess of the impending storm.

Just like Jesus brought light into a world darkened by sin.

As I look at the house being transformed into a festive celebration of Christ's birth the joy of the season begins to penetrate my heart.
God has promised in His word to never leave or forsake us. This is great news that brings immense comfort and peace. Not only will He be forever with us, but  the light of His grace and truth will ever guide us in His love.
It is news worth embracing and sharing.

As the shuttle pulls onto the freeway marking the beginning of my journey back to California, after a wonderful time in Colorado, I lift a prayer towards heaven.  My prayer is one of thanksgiving for a wonderful time with my sisters on our sister trip and the other family members I was able to see. I also pray for a safe and efficient trip to the airport (the shuttle is already running late and there's traffic.  I add a prayer for the ability to get through the security lines and to my gate without further delay and to catch my flight without having to rush. My deepest prayer is for the grace of God to flow through me no matter what happens. The verse from James 1:2-4 the comes to mind as I view the traffic. "My brethren,  count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  for the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work so that you will be perfect and complete   lacking nothing."
I hear the stress in the voice of one of the other passengers whose fight is 30 minutes prior to mine, and suppress the anxiety that tries to rise up in me. I know that nothing comes that hasn't been filtered ththroug God's loving hands and His grace is sufficient for whatever He brings my way.
So as we merge back into traffic after picking up the last passenger for this journey, I settle into my seat and into God's perfect peace. He is aware of every detail, even to the number of graying hairs on my head. I can trust Him in whatever adventure He holds in His Omniscient hands.
It is well with my soul.
#thevelveteengrandma

The Serenity in Silence

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. " Isaiah 30:15

Quiet! Beautiful and peaceful quiet.

As I sit here in the momentary lull when there is absolutely no sound as the refidgerator temporarily stops running , my ears strain to hear other sounds. In the deep of the canyon we are often blessed with a soul satisfying silence. It is in these moments of utter and complete quiet that I find I listen intently for the sound of my Saviors voice. As one who has been underwater too long breathes in great gulps of air, I breathe deeply as my soul revels in the Presence of God in this place.

You see, the noise of the world can easily hinder us from hearing God as He speaks to us. That's why it's imperative to deliberately set a time and place to seek Him and to listen carefully. Even though I make a habit of a daily devotional and quiet time, I find they are much like snack food rather than true nourishment for my soul. They serve a purpose and keep me from starving to death spirituality, but lack the necessary components for a deeply satisfied soul. As I take the time to be still and rest at the foot of the cross with no other agenda but to bask in my Savior's presence I am reminded of the beauty of this place. There is absolutely nothing that compares to time alone with Him.

These are treasured and cherished moments that not only fill me with the needed energy to keep fighting the good fight, but serve as encouragement to return often. Time here is a banquet of refreshment to my soul.

As you journey I pray you will make opportunity to spend adequate time in silence listening intently for the sound of God's voice. May you find the refreshing waterfall of all parched souls as you sit at His feet.

#thevelveteengrandma

Beware the snare to compare

Then Peter, turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leand on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remains till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." John 21:20-22

Comparisons, they're everywhere. We see them in magazines, on television, in the classroom, and even in churches. We all seem to have a curiosity for what others are doing, and a concern about how we might measure up to them, and it's all too easy to get tangled in the deceitful web that we are greater or lesser.

Depending on contributing values in our personal self-assessment, we can easily become the victim of our own arrogant pride, or shatter ourselves on the false assumption that we have nothing of worth to offer. Both are dangerous tools the enemy uses to disrupt our walk with the Lord and the impact of our ministry to one another and the world around us.

Peter got distracted in His conversation with Jesus when he saw John following them. Instead of remaining fixed on the task he had been given, his immediate concern was what Christ had in mind for the other. So beautifully human nature, but a sad reflection on how quickly we can lose our focus.

Jesus was standing right in front of him, had given him immense grace, a wonderful task and specifically told him "Follow Me." And still Peter became distracted by his concern of what another was doing.

Jesus graciously reminded Peter that it is not for him to concern himself about another's walk, but to be obedient in following Him. It was great advice for Peter and stands as great advice to us as well.

Our job is not to compare our selves with other's, but to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him.

May His light be ever brilliant before us so we would desire to never look away.
#thevelveteengrandma

The necessity of a restored soul

"The LORD is myShepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.." Psalm 23:1-3a

I love Thursdays! In many ways they are almost sacred to me. They are the one day of the week that I am usually able to stay up the hill in our canyon retreat. Generally they are my day to disconnect from the frenzy of life and simply rest. Certainly there may be a load or two of laundry to do (isn't there always laundry), but for the better part of the day I am simply able to rest. Even as I write this I sigh a deep sigh of contentment because I have chosen to allow myself the day off and not worry over the undone.

When God moved my husband and me up here nearly six years ago, I came rather reluctantly.  Although I had always wanted a place in the country where I could disconnect, the 22 miles of twisting canyon road felt a bit more disconnected than I felt necessary. God in His wisdom knew what I needed most though, and after the first month I realized just how over busy my schedule had become. Although the initial letting go of a few things was difficult, over time I began to genuinely enjoy being less busy.

Busyness had become an evil taskmaster and I was more exhausted than I realized.  It is s beast I continually have to fight. 

Learning to allow myself "down time" wasn't easy. I had erroneously associated my busyness with godliness.  After all, I was busy doing what I thought the Lord wanted me to do. But in all my busyness I had begun to drown out the voice of the Lord that said "Be still and know that I am God."*

Living 22 miles away from my "commitments"  showed me I had lost sight of my true purpose, which is to allow the Lord to lead me - NOT to ask Him to join me in my excursions...no matter how noble I thought they may be.

Having significant time to sit at His feet and rest is paramount to being able to serve Him. A weary soul is not a capable soldier. 

So for me, Thursdays have become that very important day of rest. As I sit here and enjoy the peaceful quiet, and the faint sounds of birds cheerfully singing, I rejoice in knowing how intimately well my Father knows me and Iam thankful. My prayer is that you too will find those places of rest in your own life so that our Lord can restore your soul. 

To Him be the glory forever! 

*Psalm46:10
#thevelveteengrandma

Living selflessly in a selfie world

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Jesus as quoted in Mark 8 :34
After spending far too much time on Facebook this morning,  I was left with the sad realization of how self-consumed we are as a people. Now it's not to say I haven't noticed this before, but today it seemed to rest more heavily on my soul.
We have become a "selfie" generation.
As one who is not particularly photogenic, and especially vulnerable to the horrible candid shots, I understand the desire to have decent pictures of me posted. But what I see happening for many is a near chronic obsession to record a photographic journal of every moment.
So how do we balance living selflessly in a selfie world?
It is more than just the random pictures we choose to take and post on social media. It's the daily choice to fix our focus on Christ and the path He has for us.
Part of this whole thinking about selfless living came from reading comments on a post about another person's decision to do something. Well meaning Christian's had their opinions on whether or not the individual was doing the right "Christian"  thing. There was much debate within the comments on how it should be done.
What stood out me though was the splinter picking. You know,  the "I' m a better Christian because I do or don't do things a certain way. Therefore let me help you see the error in your walk." ad nauseum.
Self consumed by the thought of being better than another in some form or another.
I find it all very sad.
In the end we will all stand before the LORD and give account for our lives.  I know personally there are many things I regret in my life.  It makes me eternally grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made, and causes me to examine my words and actions  on a continual basis. About the time I think I have it all dialed in and begin splinter picking in someone else's eye, God gently reminds me to worry about the plank in my own.
And so, I leave you with these words from Jesus and pray we will all find the right balance in living selflessly in a selfie world.
"If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." (John 21:22)
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that speck out of your eye.'  and look, a plank is in your own eye.  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. " (Matthew 7:1-5)
May the Lord guide each of us in selfless living and bless our walk. May we all be a blessing to others along the way.

Leaving the light on

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phillipians 1:21
The recent death of the grandmother of one of my daughter's closest friends got me thinking again of the eternal and the legacy we leave behind. As mentioned in a previous post, my grandmother wasn't always seen by me as an example of tenderness. Having a few more years of maturity since her passing and becoming a grandmother myself, my view of her has softened immensely. I have come to recognize much of her terseness was more from exhaustion and more than likely low blood sugar. Understanding myself better has definitely given me eyes of grace in regard to my view of her.


When I think of my grandfather though, my heart is immediately warmed by precious memories of his tenderness towards us. An incident when I was about ten quickly comes to mind. My brother, cousins and I were playing a wild game of hide and seek, girls against boys. It was my cousin Lorraine and my turn hide and we had discovered an ingenious way to escape detection by slpping in and out of an unlocked basement window. All had gone well for several times, until in my haste to get in I didn't manage to get my hand up fast enough to catch the window as my feet hit the piano bench perched below it for easy access in and out.  As the window slammed shut noisely, the glass shattered sending sharp pieces in every direction. Miraculously neither of us got cut, but we knew we were in trouble. We had already been warned not to go in and out of the window.

As we surveyed the damage we heard granddad coming quickly down the stairs and braced ourselves for our due punishment. I will never forget his response.
Instead of harsh words with the reminder of what we shouldn't have been doing, his words were tender and filled with concern. "What happened? You didn't get cut? Good! Be careful. Watch out for those pieces."

Grace and love being poured out when he had every right to be angry. His first thought was our well being and safety, not the cost of replacing the glass. Remorseful for our disobedience and humbled by his loving response, Lorraine and I offered to sell Kool-aid to pay for the damage. He accepted our offer and helped us set up the stand. Now I am certain the money we made didn't make a dent in the actual cost, but the lesson of grace has had a huge impact on my life.
I can only pray I will be as equally gracious with those around me and help leave the light of grace burning brightly.