The legacy we leave

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Jesus as recorded in John 14:27

I'm feeling a bit melancholy today as I try to write, and I'm trying to put my finger on the source. It's not the weather. Here in the canyon the sky is a gorgeous blue, and there are hints of spring already beginning to show. I don't think it's lack of sleep, or health, as I've gotten plenty of rest and finally beat the bug that was threatening to knock me down. Having had more time at home recently, I don't think it's caused by the greater organization I'm managing to bring to our home either.  I have been sorting through mementos from my brother's estate though, and just realized this is the anniversary of the day when my Daddy went home to the Lord. All of this has caused me to deeply miss those who have finished their race. It has also made me take a closer look at the things I still want to purge from our home to lighten the load on our children when my husband and I cross the finish line. Even though the subject isn't pleasant or comfortable, it is one that I've begun discussing with the kids and the older grandchildren. 

There is a deep desire to instill confidence that the separation is temporary and to ease their minds and sorrows when the time comes.

It makes me think of the sermons over the last few weeks at church where our pastor has been discussing Jesus's final days with His disciples. He was telling them of His deep love for them, and how would send a Comforter to be with them.(see John 13-17 for greater insight)
Going through things from my brother's estate and looking at mementos left from other family members has brought a ton of memories, but the comfort comes from knowing I will see them again when I cross the finish line. I want to be certain my children and grandchildren know that death is imminent for all of us, but that we can rejoice knowing we will be reunited on the other side.
I want the message that I leave behind to bear testimony of God's deep abiding love and the access He has provided for all who are willing to accept the gift He offers through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I want the sorrow of those I love to be temporary, and their joy to be in the confidence of reunion on the peaceful shores of eternity.
There will be plenty of "stuff" for them to sort through and share, but giving them hope is the best legacy I can leave.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? hall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angles nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

What's that smell?

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in ever place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Be we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
 2 Corinthians 4:5-7

A sweet memory crossed my mind this morning while chatting with a friend on social media.  She was telling me about the cabin she had inherited from her parent's estate and had posted a picture of the outhouse among other pictures. I immediately thought of the cabin my family owned when I was a child and the outhouse there.  Although the memory of the cabin was sweet and even funny as the outhouse had space for two, the memory of the noxious smell wasn't pleasant. I learned to hold my breath for a long time in those days.

It's interesting how smell is such a powerful sense which can cause either a positive or negative response.

Some of my favorite scents create strong emotions.  I love the smell of rain, the ocean, pine trees, fresh baked bread, meat grilling on the BBQ, lavender and peppermint essential oils, and the list goes on. These scents make me smile even thinking of them

The memory of the outhouse however does not make me smile.  It stunk, as do many things that cause us to recoil even at the thought of them. I won't post them here, but I'm sure each of you immediately thought of the smell of things that were unpleasant and even may have made you feel nauseous.

I was recently given a necklace that holds essential oil.  I love being able to smell the peppermint throughout the day, and enjoy the reaction of others who are in near proximity to me.  They often smile and remark at how they enjoy the scent of peppermint as well.  Things that smell good draw people while things that smell bad, repulse and push away.

So it is with our walk with Christ. The sweet fragrance of Christ draws those who recognize it, or are longing to remove themselves from the stench of sin and death.

The question arises; are we being a vessel that allows the sweet fragrance of His mercy and grace to be shared?

As we step into yet another year I encourage all to take a moment to reflect on the message you want  presented to your sphere of influence. Do you want those around you to be drawn to the Savior? Is the message in your every day walk one that draws or repels?

Breathe deeply of the love which God richly pours out and allow the peace that you feel be motivation for sharing it with others.  May the response be one of delight and desire that draws all into a deeper relationship with Him.

Into the new

This morning as I looked out my window I was reminded once again of the numerous blessings the Lord has bestowed on us.  I love foggy mornings in the canyon, because the stillness always causes me to reflect more deeply upon the nearness of my Savior.  It is always humbling to realize that He desires intimacy with me.  Far too often I get caught up in the rush and crush of the world and fail to spend adequate time sitting at His feet, listening to the love song He is always singing. Mornings like today help me to slow down and really listen.

As I was sitting at the table doing my morning devotional and pondering the close of another year and beginning of a new one, my eyes were drawn to Isaiah 57:15 "For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who as a contrite and humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." I was then drawn to Isaiah 66:1&2 "Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and earth is My footstool, where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exists" says the LORD. "But on this one thing will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."

What an awesome and amazing thought!

The God of all creation, Elohim, Who sits with heaven as a throne and Whose footstool is the earth, yet He looks on the one who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at His word. 

Think about that for just a moment.

I mean, really think about it.

Today the reality of His greatness and my insignificance in the realm of all creation settled just a bit deeper in my soul.

You see, I am not always as grateful for the things He brings into my life.  Although I know Scriptures remind me to be thankful in all things (Ephesian 5:20) and to be joyful in all circumstances (James 1:2), I still struggle. In many ways I am like the children of Israel who He delivered from captivity, only to have them whine in the desert...even in the midst of blessings. (For a quick synopsis read Psalm 78). When He first moved us to the canyon, I sadly admit to being a bit like Lots wife who looked back over her shoulder to see what was being left behind. (Genesis 19:26) Thankfully He didn't turn me into a pillar of salt, but gently and graciously revealed to me the blessing He was pouring out.

Realizing this always humbles me.

So many times I have whined in the midst of being stretched spiritually, or held my hand out asking for greater than He has already provided.

Forgive me Lord.

Whenever I look at His enormous grace towards me always creates a deeper love for Him and greater security and peace of spirit than I can describe.  It is the what I always find when I choose to dwell in the place of contentment in the hollow of His hand.

As the new year begins to unfold before me, my only desire is to go deeper into my relationship with Him.  I am so very thankful for the love He has lavished on me and those I love. I pray earnestly that each will comprehend the vastness of His love, and will desire greater fellowship as well.

The message of Christmas is that God brought hope into the world for all mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.  The message needs to go out boldly in the new year. There are still so many who don't know.

May each of us have eyes to see the path God puts before us, ears to hear the love song He is always singing and hands that are willing to do His will. May He be glorified in everything we say and do.

Not our home

When God says "Wait!"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 

and lean not on your own understanding"

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5&6

"But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

We've all had dreams and ideas over which we've prayed and sought God's answers.  We love it when He says "Yes" to what we're asking, and even though we don't like being told "No" it's a definitive answer.

But what about the times when He tells us "Wait"?

To say that I am not struggling with this answer to one of my long held dreams wouldn't be true.  The reality that something I have been praying about for many years, (and now having seen it twice nearly become a reality) only to be told once again to wait, has left me confused and a bit frustrated. I have earnestly sought to follow God's lead each step of the way, and have offered numerous times to lay it down and walk away if it isn't something He'd have me pursue. Yet each time I have done so, He has opened pathways before me and I followed them....to here.

And now, once again, I am being told to wait.

Even writing these words makes me sigh. I'm deeply disappointed, but desperately want God's will above my own, so I wait.

Waiting is hard, especially when it's something we deeply desire.  There's always the possibility that God's answer of "wait" will turn into "no". It requires deep trust that He is always faithful no matter what His answer is to our prayers.

When I was 17 my eight year old nephew was dying of cancer.  I begged God not to take this sweet child from us, but He said no. Fast forward twelve years later, and I was begging Him for the life of my own son who was gravely ill with kidney disease, the doctors having warned us that he wouldn't live past the age of eight. Why God chose to take my brother's child home to heaven, and allowed my child to live is one that will be answered when I finish my journey here on earth and stand before Him. He has answered many prayers over the years "yes", "no" and "wait". Each step of the way I have seen His love demonstrated, even when I didn't understand His answer.

So it is, although I am a bit confused and frustrated by the current "wait" sign flashing before me on this journey to the next phase in my life, I can wait patiently. I know God's plans are always good, and far superior to anything I can even hope for or think. If He says to wait, I'll wait. If He says to move, I'll move. While I'm waiting on the next step to be revealed I will ask Him in what other ways He would like me to serve Him.  Waiting in a different sense of the word.

For I know in whom I believe. I am confident He is faithful to complete the work that He's begun. My job is to stay on the path He places before me and simply say "Thy will be done." Because His ways are always the best.

May He be glorified in all I say and do.

A light in the darkness

"For we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB

Lately it seems that the darkness in this world is increasing at an alarming rate.  One news story of tragedy is barely delivered before another pushes it to the category of "old news".  The number of significantly awful events has been unnerving over the past few months. The latest, the shooting of innocents as they attended their Sunday morning church service, left me shattered with sorrow.  It's not that the other tragedies of floods and fires hadn't already made me grieve for those affected by them, but there was something about this particular incident that hit a deeper nerve. The fact that the pastor's 14 year old daughter was killed and a 6 year old boy seriously injured brought it much closer to home.  I have a granddaughter that turned 15 this year and two 6 year old grandsons. They and their cousins regularly attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays, as well as other church sponsored events, with their parents and their grandfather and me.

Adding to the horror of the story, within minutes it became a hotbed of political discussion about gun rights.

But the narrative is NOT about whether or not people have the right to arm themselves against the dangers in this world. It's about the sin that causes people to deliberately harm others, and the response of the Christian community to sin.

When tragedies affect the believer our response has to be different than the world's.

Throughout the Bible there are accounts of sorrow upon sorrow visited upon the children of the LORD. The written record of their ability to turn their eyes away from the difficulty and to trust God's sovereignty, created the road map for each of us to follow.

If we so choose.

I think it is significant to note here that the response of many in the last few months of adversity has been to trust God in spite of the circumstances. Although it may not be recorded as "news worthy" by the reporting news stations, the network of believers have shared the truth through e-mails and social media. I have seen first hand the response to hurricane Harvey by the church we belonged to when we lived in Texas.  Even though several within the church suffered their own losses, they banded together in an effort to reach out into the greater community to help. The church became, not only a command post of volunteers who have worked tirelessly to bring repairs to those in need, but far greater, a light in the darkness to those whose only question is "Why?"

I have seen a similar response from those whose lives have been forever altered through the shooting tragedy in Southerland Texas. It isn't coincidence that these events both happened within a short time frame of one another in an area that has been called 'the Bible belt".

Even in the midst of the darkening skies of a sin stained world, God is shining His light. He shines brightest through vessels who are willing to be transparent.

So what's our response going to be when we come face to face with the ever increasing wickedness that tries to hide the truth from those around us?

"If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house we will serve the LORD."(Joshua 24:15 NIV)

And this little light of mine?  I'm going to let it shine!

May God grant you the courage and strength necessary to become a transparent vessel He can use, and may He bless you exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or think.

To Him be the glory forever.

Deliverance from the power of sin

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity." Psalm 114:3

On a daily basis I am grateful for God's grace.  I try not to take it for granted, and relish in the reality that I am loved unconditionally. Most days I am able to keep the world and its negative influences at bay and not allow it to disrupt my behavior or speech.

Most days....but not every day.

Sadly, there are times when all the negativity begins to ooze through the chinks in my armor and I suddenly find I have said or done something that is not the representation of Christ I hope to project.  The driver I cut off because I was in a hurry to get somewhere, the text to someone, or conversation with words that could have been more grace filled. The attitude that I am the one who is of more value or importance.

Yuck!  The thought of these behaviors is disgusting to me, and yet, there they are, time and again in spite of my efforts to avoid them.

The words of Paul take on a rich meaning when I find myself in these places. "For the good I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 7:24-8:2

Oh what a precious gift God has given us.  Deliverance for the power of sin, and freedom from the tyranny and consequences.

So on those awful occasions when we find ourselves captured in its dreadful snare, we can cry out to the Savior and He will come and rescue us. In His embrace we will always find freedom and forgiveness and the grace which blesses us above and beyond our wildest imagination.

What blessed assurance.