Slices of Life – Page 2 – The Welcome Home

Seasons End In Various Stages Of Bloom

I’ve been mulling over the thought of seasons ending in various stages of bloom. It was below freezing through the night and this morning and as I look out the windows of my warm home, I see all around, summer is falling to the ground. The trees are losing their leaves, many fewer on the trees today than yesterday… more all over the lawn and field. The roses, hydrangeas and other flowering plants are losing their beauty, ending in various stages of bloom.

The wood burns hot in my woodstove… wood cut from huge trees that still had more life in them, but instead of standing to provide shade, they were cut down to provide heat. The seasons of those trees came to an end.

The beautiful rosebuds on sturdy bushes remind me there’s still more life in those canes. The tender new hydrangea mopheads amidst hundreds of large, dry flowers affirm life in the woody canes. In a matter days, these freezing nights will signal an end to this season of blooms and left behind will be brown, dry flowers and leaves on the ground.

A few days ago, our daughter and grandbaby moved to their own home. Another season ended. At the end of that day, Proverbs 14.4 came to mind: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean…” That night, as I stood in the empty room, I surveyed the white walls, white curtains, and the bed with no linens, I marveled at the starkness of a season that had come to an end. It was good for me to see it. This is not meant to be a maudlin commentary, but to just reflect that the busyness of the care and feeding and dressing of babies, the cooing, oohing and aahing, the furniture, the fixtures, toys, the crawling and climbing, the laundry and blankets are the things of a particular season.

I’d never, ever have imagined the season that just passed — that we’d have a granddaughter growing up in our home (albeit, yes, 9 months is a very short while). The Lord was sure sweet to give us the 9 months on either side of her birth. I can say that with sincerity and gratitude now. I’m keenly aware that I had no grasp of what that season of bloom would be like or how it would feel.

Reflecting on seasons that have passed, some in bloom, some far spent, I’m reminded how brief each season actually was. Hard? Yes. Arduous? Yes. Thrilling and new? Yes. Tiring, yet rewarding? Yes. Tender and sweet? Yes. Cold and dreary? Yes. Sunny and breezy? Yes. But the interesting thing common to all the seasons that’ve passed? They’ve all passed in what felt like the midst of them. By this, I mean, seasons have ended before we thought they would’ve (or should’ve). I’ll bet it’s been the same for you, hasn’t it?

Today, the cold breeze signals change, a season ending in bloom in the midst of the next one in bud.
I stand in the midst of melancholy memories and happy plans for days ahead: anniversaries, weddings, birthdays and family gatherings intermingled with a whole bunch of dailies.

Seasons end in various stages of bloom.
Seasons overlapping seasons.
Some still in bloom.
Some will seem to be arduously endless
and some will seem to end too soon.
But each will have served its purpose.

To every thing there is a season
and a time to every purpose under heaven…
He hath made everything beautiful in His time…
Ecclesiastes 3.1, 11

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Daily Devotionals

Daily Devotionals: potentially instructive, potentially destructive.

Isn’t it interesting what the Lord uses in our lives to speak to us? He speaks through His Word, He ministers to us through teaching, poetry, testimonies, music, His creation; He works in us through joys and sorrows, hardships, grief, loss, trials, and countless other ways. He blesses us with all of these things — though we often miss seeing His signature it at the time. He blesses us with all these things — if we’ll receive them with that recognition.

Do you have or read a daily devotional? I’ve had mixed opinions about devotionals through the years — generally bcz I read them for a few days and then encounter an entry that’s ‘off’ or is doctrinally unsound. Sometimes I keep reading to see if it was just me misinterpreting the text that particular day — but, more often than not, with more recently published devotional books, I’ve seen error. I then resort to my default: Just read the Word. Stay in the Word. And then another devotional will come along – another book will come to me highly recommended and I go through the same exercise of starting the process and ending it at some questionable entry. It usually doesn’t take long to pick out the error.

The hard part is, sometimes, that respected friends suggest something that’s been especially meaningful, instructive, or inspirational to them. When I decide not to continue with a book, in that case, I often feel like I’m disparaging their thoughtful recommendation. That’s actually not the case at all, but feelings — you know, feelings lead us down slippery slopes, foolish reasoning, or a myriad of other paths, but not the right path. Not the path the Lord calls us to walk.

Well, late last year I picked up a daily devotional that I determined I’d begin the year and read each morning and evening for this year. It was recommended to me about 20 years ago — I never stayed with it consecutively day after day. But, due to some circumstances that have become blessings to me, coupled with circumstances that have not —yet-– seemed so, I decided to commit to reading through this compendium of Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Charles E.Cowman morning and evening readings. It’s filled with scripture, short stories, poems, “sermonettes,” and encouraging words.

So… what have I discovered in reading through Streams (each morning) and Springs (each evening)? In so many ways, on so many levels, God is at work in and through us all. I knew this. He uses so many things to speak to our hearts. I know this. And when I read a Spurgeon entry, for example, I am reminded of sermons I’ve read or heard in other places or at other times in my life and I’m reminded how God ministered then, how He’s ministering where I am now — I see more clearly what God is or has been doing, teaching, or leading me to do. I’m so inspired to press on when I read of others (in very difficult circumstances) victoriously pressing on. Does a daily devotional take the place of the Bible? No, by no means. It’s just been an added benefit during this season for me. A caveat, be very careful when you choose a devotional (or teacher, author, etc., etc.) to read. Doctrine matters.

Regarding devotionals, I’m seeing that when we’re grounded in the Word, and we read of His work in (by) various people, circumstances, or times in history, we can see God’s providential care, His wisdom, His provision. We’ll more readily spot error, too. Additionally, we’ll be more apt to discern the sound (or not sound) doctrine of whatever else we’re reading.

A daily devotional and/or daily devotions… In the end, the Word of God is what I’m sure of.

—more soon.

bold confidence, sheer determination, blind faith

In my earlier years, I seem to have had no lack of bold confidence or sheer determination (and what was becoming blind faith). As I look back now on those earlier days — so many amazing (and so many cringe-worthy 😲) days! I marvel at the goodness and mercy of God!

The other day Hannah asked me if I regret any of the purchases we made in the early days of parenting. This conversation was sparked by a comment I made regarding the proliferation of infant and toddler necessities — all the latest stuff young mothers think they must have these days – in addition to all the other things they need to buy and do and be! I told her, no. No, I don’t regret what we bought for our kids or for my pregnancies, or our home… and I laughed as I told her that most of the time we couldn’t afford to make poor decisions! ~smile~ But I did go on to say that we didn’t have all the things in those days — so many things! — that are pushed as necessary and imperative today. Again laughing, I said, I sure sound like an old person, don’t I?!? I’m so glad now… glad we didn’t have the money to buy things which didn’t exist then. ~smile~ There were enough stresses just “making it” through without the added burden of having to measure up or deal with what I see are today’s must have‘s (must be‘s – must do‘s) for young mothers. We had all the necessities for the babies — may’ve been short on space and money, but sure long on imaginative creativity.

Those were the days of bold confidence and sheer determination. Those were the humble beginnings of blind faith. Those were the days where I began to see that God was in it all. [cp_quote style=”quote_left_dark”]”The years teach much which the days never know” — Ralph Waldo Emerson [/cp_quote] In those days I was beginning to collect the thousands of mercies, experiences, provisions, protections, and miracles from the Lord — the years now teaching much which most of those days never knew. But in bold confidence and sheer determination, God was working to instill blind faith.

I don’t think in those days that I expected God to work — He was working marvelously, but I didn’t know Him enough to know it. Working through my bold confidence and sheer determination, those were the days where the Lord allowed for a very,very short season –about a year’s time– a great amount of money and lavish living. I know we credited Him for that prosperity — but it was, in reality, misplaced or misunderstood credit. What was happening was that God was showing Himself strong on our behalf — not in the sudden wealth so much as what He was going to do with it all. We’d asked Him to bless us. And He did. O, He did. We thought the blessing was in what we could see — the goals and the things we could obtain. That wasn’t the blessing at all. The blessing was in what we couldn’t see/didn’t see — at that time. Part of the blessing was to put us back on the track of humble beginnings. The years have taught so much what those days didn’t know. It was the beginning of blind faith. It was the beginning of very sharply refining that bold confidence and sheer determination. It was the dawn of knowing that God does all things well: All the time.

Journal entries for days… What the Lord gave and what He took away. What happened to that confidence? What does blind faith look like now?

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…feelings in the spin cycle

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Do you ever feel like your feelings or your emotions are in a spin cycle — as if life’s experiences or circumstances are spinning out all your feelings or emotions? Sometimes my washer spins so long I wonder how in the world there’s any moisture at all left in the clothing or the towels or whatever. That’s how some days feel to me emotionally. Sometimes. Emotions completely spun out.

I remember feeling like that when I had babies and children to care for each day — only it wasn’t emotions, necessarily, it was energy — that, or collapsing into bed feeling incapable of doing or hearing or saying one more thing.

What got me thinking this this afternoon is that I’ve been reviewing the experiences (and feelings) of the last couple of days. No, nothing happened particularly — there’s no big story or anything here. It’s just a combination of things and I writing this in hopes that if one other person is helped — if one other mother is encouraged — the thoughts and emotions of this day will have been worth it.

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I was struck by the grace of God in Jesus to be so patient with the throngs of people who were following Him, the Disciples who clamoured for His attention and parable’s explanations and meanings. Too often lately I feel like the Disciples who (just after the feeding of the four thousand – Luke) climbed in the boat and had brought no provisions for the journey. The compassionate Lord Jesus reminded them what had just transpired… I’m like them, too, sometimes… seeming to not understand I’m His–I’m in His hands.

I’ve been reliving mental images, conversations and family photos shared while my cousin and his family visited this past weekend. Family, as with old friends, have history that bonds the relationship and continually adds to and stirs up history and emotion. My uncle — my cousin’s father — committed suicide forty-five years ago. We don’t talk much about it but we never get away from it either. Co-Incidentally, last night I received a message by John Piper and listened to it… sweet of the Lord and His timing. More feelings… emotions…

This morning, my friend came and shared a concern she was having about the effects of suicide in a family… I was immediately empathetic to her impassioned plea for prayer and strength for the day. I shared my compassion for her plight.
My husband reminded me of a Billy Graham film clip — I watched it… and I marveled that I had just last night affirmed with a promise that I will not go there — I will not play that card — the suicide card. It’s a card I’ve kept in my deck all these years — actually a little longer than the forty-five years, for my grandfather had committed suicide just three and a half years prior to that. It’s been a ‘go-to’ thought when my emotions are spinning out… it’s a ‘go-to’ thought when I rehearse my failures in life… it’s a ‘go-to’ thought when I know I’ve let someone down or when I’ve caused a problem in life… it’s a ‘go to’ thought when I feel inadequate or attacked.

But God.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5.8

The Truth shall make you free. Truly, the Truth shall make you free.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” –Romans 5.1-5

So when I was shopping and noticed an old friend in the store, I felt a sudden wave of some unfounded inadequacy washed over me, I immediately rehearsed my failures in that relationship — but had to just as quickly remember that they were dealt with and I determined to “be of one mind and so far as it depended on me to live at peace…” (my paraphrase of verses in Romans 12). It was a sweet, brief meeting. I’m glad to have been there.

Maybe you have been dealing with a bunch of emotions, feelings, inadequacies, regrets or plaguing responses to life’s circumstances… I just want to encourage you to rest, to refresh your mind with the Truths of God’s Word and rejoice in His finished work on your behalf. If your feelings are in the spin cycle, Remember what He’s done for you…

“Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto Him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And He said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?” –Mark 8.18-21

I pray the Lord will bless you with His great grace for this day…

Dark Days

melianewbornhand In the wake of the breaking news stories in the last couple of days, it’s hard to fathom the depths of evil consuming our nation. The enormity of this may well be underestimated, and the trail of money on a spiraling street paved with innocent blood may well be staggeringly more than can possibly be imagined.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10.31

Surely judgement has come on America when a nation will slaughter its own babies for great profit under the guise of research. When immorality is lauded and God’s Word is ignored, when His marvelous design is discarded and when men and women turn their backs on Providence, and when human life is of less value than plants and animals: we have sunk to such pervasive and widespread depravity such as has never before been experienced in this nation.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3.12

I pray for women who have been duped into despair, for the unborn babies whose lives have been taken from them by the persuasive lies of the powerful, relentless, evil abortion industry — Planned Parenthood, in particular. I pray for the men and women who’ve succumbed to and believed the lies and conscience numbing propaganda of Planned Parenthood, et al. And I pray for those whose eyes have been opened, hearts have been broken by painfully and sorrowfully regretted abortions.

I pray for those who are (still) under the grave delusion that there is nothing wrong with abortion or, worse, that it’s simply a personal choice – that that personal choice is right and the decision is theirs alone to make – that it’s nobody’s business what a woman decides to do with her ~~body~~ baby. It’s a business. A huge, powerful, relentless, profitable, machine. You think you’re being cared for — but that’s a lie. The abortion industry is a lucrative killing machine that cares nothing for women but must perpetuate the lie of compassion so that women will continue to clamour for their right to abortion. That abortion is compassionate is a lie. Period. That abortion is harmless is a lie. Period. That abortion is a private matter is a lie. Period. Those lies are the devil’s lies. he hates God and he hates life and seeks only to kill and destroy. That is the Truth… In the Lord is life… Life for all who will come to Him and call upon His name. He will hear, He will answer and He will save all who call upon the Name of the Lord.

[cp_dropcaps] O[/cp_dropcaps] LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —psalm 139

May God heal our land and save this nation.

Tiny Houses

tinyhousepamelaspurling Have you ever imagined your life as something completely different than it is today? I don’t mean doing different things or changing jobs or whatever — I mean, living in a home that is a completely different type of home than you’ve been accustomed to living in all your life.

Tiny houses.

I’d never thought about living in a tiny house — not me personally, anyway. I’ve thought about what it might be like for someone to live in a tiny house — I mean, I do love browsing Pinterest, you know. But lots of what I see, and pin, on Pinterest is simply pin interest — ideas that seem pretty cool — and, yes, sincere dream interests. Since my husband has taken up an interest in exploring types of homes people might construct or styles that might be added to existing homes, I’ve seen lots of images of tiny houses and have listened to the different ideas for small homes –tiny houses– and clusters of tiny houses. I haven’t wished it, but I’ve wondered what it would be like to live in a tiny house.

My husband had a little “getaway” planned a couple of days ago… yes, he once again completely surprised me with another unusual idea. I wonder if he will ever run out surprises.

As we drove he mentioned he didn’t exactly have an address for what he was looking for and so I actually assumed it was a pool job we were stopping to check on and that we’d soon continue on to the place we’d be staying. But, then he turned down a lane and said, yes, this must be it. Soon we were walking up to the tiny house that would be “our place” for a couple of days. I didn’t realize that I’d be testing out what it would be like to live in a tiny house. I’ve learned to adapt to all sorts of things in my life and so, through the evening I imagined all sorts of scenarios of what it would be like to actually live in a tiny house. And it soon became very obvious to me (and to Wes) that we aren’t tiny house people. Don’t get me wrong — it’s a very enjoyable experience, it just became obvious that logistically, for us, it wouldn’t be good in the long term. And it’s totally unrealistic.

But… it’s a cool experiment. And it would be such a cool thing to have as a part of a property or house — someplace to go, someplace for guests or family to stay, someplace to have an office or a studio. So, the tiny house idea is not totally off the table, it’s just not on the drawing board.

Which brings me to why I wanted to take a moment to write about this experience. More than simply a delightful time together, it’s been so instructive. I’ve seen it as a marvelous exercise in defining what we really like/need/want in a home. That, and I’ve seen very clearly that a home really tells us a lot about ourselves and what’s important to us and what’s not. I don’t mean the stuff necessarily, but the home and what it’s used for. A tiny house isn’t a family home. It’s not a gathering place and it’s not an industry or hospitality center. That’s pretty important to realize if you’re considering a dramatic life change or lifestyle change.

And if you’re not real clear on what you wish for in life or what you might be able to do or not do, then I see a great advantage of going to the sort of place you’re imagining and spend a couple of days there and get a feel for it. All that, as well as try to imagine all your favourite activities or traditions or whatever in that location. Would they work there? Would they fit there? Would they even be possible there? What would you necessarily have to give up were you to change your life? What would you have to leave behind or stop doing? What would you have to say “no” to?

An easier way might just be to ask yourself what’s important to you today. What have you been imagining? And then you might ask yourself for today or in the future, how do you see your home being used or what’s important in a home or in a life or in a location. Once you define those things, you might find that you don’t really want a different life after all and that when all is said and done, you really are living the life you want but you simply have some housekeeping to do or some reorganizing to do. Downsizing may simply mean decluttering your home, your belongings, your schedule, your budget and/or your thoughts.

And if you ever thought you wanted to live in a tiny house, I’d suggest that you spend a couple of nights in one. Here’s a tiny house. Pictures just don’t do justice to the amazing planning, craftsmanship and more — all neatly packed into about 8′ by 20 feet!!

More “Tiny House” ideas and plans here.

Yesterday & Tomorrow

Amelia june2015 Daniel june2015 For the last fourteen years, I’ve had a day where I’ve stood between two days, looking back and looking ahead. Today is that day. Fourteen years ago when I looked back at that “yesterday” and ahead to that “tomorrow,” I didn’t know that I would come to call it my Bookends Day. I didn’t know at the time that a final chapter had been written… that the baby born on June 29th would be my last living baby. And when I looked ahead to “tomorrow” that day, I was amazed that my first baby would be twenty two. Twenty two and expecting his first baby to be born just weeks later.

Very early this morning, the trucks were rolling down the lane and the chainsaws began to hum. I knew this day was coming and I’d so dreaded it. I cried at the thought of wrecking the very tree that drew me to this home. I stood in the yard today, watching several guys work for many hours cutting the trees. Huge limbs from the giant weeping willow tree thudded to the ground in our side yard. In the end, they removed twenty feet from the tree’s height. “Such a magnificent tree” one of the tree guys had commented. Yes, I said, It’s the prettiest tree in the valley.

And now it’s not. It’s a silly looking tree now. But, you know, I sure am thankful tonight to still be able to see it—God in His mercy reminded me of His great provision several times today as I thought of my friends in Wenatchee who’ve been evacuated from their home due to severe wild fires. For the first time ever, that willow tree was just a tree. I needed it to be just a tree today. On the Bookends Day. I needed it to mark the end of a season. I needed it to come to being just a tree. And I needed to be reminded that I have been so extremely fortunate, all these years, to sleep under the canopy of the prettiest tree in the valley. If I never slept under it another day, I’d be no less fortunate.

In the middle of the day, our mail lady delivered letters and packages. My husband handed me one of them and said it was a gift for me… perfume… the perfect gift for today… I’m so glad it had somehow been delayed in arriving. Among the other packages in the mail today was another gift for me, only I didn’t know it at the time. When our daughter came home, she brought me one of the packages and, in the marvelous timing of the Lord, the package contained a book — a book of photographs taken here a few weeks ago when all the family (and spouses and children) had gathered for an evening photography session. Page after page of pictures of the house and yard that built our family. It was so timely to receive that gift on this day, Bookends Day, the day between yesterday and tomorrow.

I marveled today that the cutting of the willow tree and several others, was yet another tangible display of the end of a season. The trees will never be the same again. This home will never be the same again, I thought. I was thankful for the Lord to show me that and to make it so that I couldn’t wonder if the season had really come to a close or not.

It’s odd and it’s right that our oldest girls are moving to their own home and that this is their last night “at home.” It’s odd and it’s right that this would happen on Bookends Day. There are no coincidences, only Co-incidents. Tears and laughter, joy and sorrow, each season is filled with these… and it’s odd and it’s right.

Labels and Names

coffecup I’m mulling over a Kelly Crawford “quiverfull” article I read yesterday. It so resonated with me (as her writings often do) and brought to mind several related labels and names. One thing that came to mind almost immediately is the number of times recently that I’ve wanted to distance myself from a particular word, practice, inference, organization, person, product, etc., etc., when any one of them failed or turned out to be different than I thought or understood them to be — or when my personal definition or application of a particular word or practice didn’t/doesn’t line up with whatever the latest scandal portrays. As in, say, quiverfull or large family or homeschooling or complementarian or Christian or a myriad of other buzzwords in the news. Lots of times it’s not the words used, necessarily, but the way they’re used (and especially the inflection of voice in the way they’re spoken).

Immediately, I want to say (usually only in my head as I pull weeds in the garden), yes, but I’m not that kind of homeschooler, I’m not that kind of large family, I’m not that kind of mother, etc., etc. I’m not in that kind of homeschool program or that kind of church or whatever. Sometimes I have to add: well, not any more.

Sometimes my (or your) “not any more” occurred long before the publication of a ‘bad report’ or a scandal. I know that, and you know that, but maybe others don’t that. And I am (or you are) still assumed to be connected to/with or defined by a particular name or label. And probably a misunderstood, misinformed idea and/or mischaracterization of that name or label.

So my thought here is that all these different media assertions, characterizations or biases are very instructive. First they instruct me to be very careful regarding my alignment with a particular personality or program. Then I need to be careful what message I portray and how my actions affect or represent that message. Then I need to pay close attention to respectfully hear objections and discern the motive behind the messages. Is the message really an attack on me? Probably not, but is rather an attack because of a preconceived notion or because of a negative experience with whatever I seem to represent. So then, should I take it personally? Probably not. No.

So you have a bunch of kids. Doesn’t make you The Dugger’s… ‘makes you a mom with a bunch of kids like a whole bunch of other moms with a bunch of kids and they aren’t The Dugger’s either. So you homeschool and/or you only wear dresses and/or you dress modestly (or whatever other thing you do or don’t do, the best you know how). Doesn’t make you Amish or ATI or Mennonite or part of a cult or whatever… ‘makes you just a woman who’s made some decisions that are different than some decisions others have made. And you go on. So you take a stand for Biblical, traditional marriage. And you’re castigated for it. You’re wrongly labeled as phobic or narrow minded or intolerant. Think it not strange. Their comments don’t make you any of those things… just continue on in faith, trusting the Lord to bring about His plans and purposes in all these things. Sure, all these different misunderstandings are painful and difficult. And, sure they’re inaccurate — but we are told in Scripture that in this world we will have tribulation. But the big deal is that Jesus didn’t stop there — He went on to say that we are to be of good cheer. And what is the basis of that cheer? Jesus. He tells us that in Him we might have peace and that peace is because of who He is and who we are in Him and because He has overcome the world. (John 16.33) So, we can be overcomers. That’s powerful. That’s Good News!

And you know how else all the mislabeling instructs me? I’m instructed to be very careful how I might be mislabeling others, making wrong assumptions of others, mischaracterizing others. I am reminded to be careful to not jump to conclusions about a matter based on a preconceived notion or experience (good or bad for that matter) and then have to back-peddle when more information becomes apparent. I see more and more why we need to be in the Word, in prayer, and walking in faith. And that’s where iron sharpening iron sorts of friendships also help us get and stay on track.

By The Grace of God

[cp_dropcaps]M[/cp_dropcaps]y mind floods with memories today — memories of days, years, decades gone by. So many days, so many memories — so much grace the Lord has lavished on me through the gift of our firstborn daughter.

Two precious sons were born to us before the Lord gifted us all with this great treasure — this inestimable gift. I’m ever mindful that without her, I’d never have made it through. I’m blessed by this–I’m humbled by this. So very humbled by the grace of God in my life and the gift of her life.

In the early days, I’d never have been able to consider or imagine that one day I’d sort of trade places with her—but that’s pretty much what’s happened. I’ve received more from her than I’ve ever given. I’d learned more from her more than I’ve ever taught her. I’ve seen more through her eyes than I’ve ever seen with my own. She’s given me intangible gifts and favours I could never repay.

[cp_dropcaps]T[/cp_dropcaps]he congregation rose to sing the hymn, Grace Greater Than Our Sin. The hymnal I was holding rested on the top of my very pregnant tummy and the piano began to play. As we sang the words of the chorus: “Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within, Grace, grace God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin,” I received a gift—a name, a great name for our baby.

Not knowing I was carrying a girl baby, I tucked that name away in my heart. [cp_quote style=”quote_left_dark”]All through my labour and delivery, I needed and looked for God’s grace. And He handed her to me… that sunny April afternoon.[/cp_quote] All through my labour and delivery, I needed and looked for God’s grace. And He handed her to me. Tears of great joy flooded my eyes and heart, that sunny April afternoon, as I looked into her dear face. She was so much more than I hoped for, more than I longed for—and through all these years I see she’s a gift for which I could never give enough thanks or praise to the Lord. Or to her.

I realize the great measure of responsibility I allowed her, gave her, called on her to carry. I’ve leaned on her strong shoulders as long as I can remember. In our family, after her were born eight more children and what originally began as cute help, sweet holding, playing with and doting over each next baby — being mama’s little helper over the years sort of grew into or transformed into being a right hand for me. I picture it this way, since I’m left handed, she literally became my right hand. I didn’t intend it, plan it or order it that way, it just happened. I’m sure there were many spectators who thought she did too much for me, had too many responsibilities or whatever, I don’t know—I just know she was ever at my side, ever asking what she could do or ever making up games, projects, crafts, and recipes for the littles. And I let her. It didn’t occur to me that things could’ve/should’ve been done differently—that she carried so much responsibility. I asked so much of her. Regarding all that, I don’t know if I’d do anything much differently if I could have a “do-over” today. Maybe I just can’t actually analyze and think of what should have been done differently in the early years.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a gazillion regrets. O man, do I ever. In these later years I regret my distractions, my internet addiction in the early days of webdesign, being overloaded with trying to be good enough/enough-enough. I regret that I didn’t transition well from being mother/guide/helper to mother/encourager/friend. I guess I was scared to let her grow up—to go—but I’ve sincerely had no reason to be. She never gave me cause to fear her growing up, it was all in my own head and a whole bunch of legalistic ideals that I could not/cannot live up to. I sometimes wish I could go back change a lot of that—and be more affirming, more encouraging — more available to her. I’ve learned so much from failings, regretting ever failing her. It’s humbling, really. Especially when I see all she is today — the faithful, trustworthy, capable, dependable, loyal, industrious, creative person she is — the blessing she is everywhere she goes. I pray for more opportunities to add to and carry out all I’ve learned. More opportunities to demonstrate or reciprocate all she’s done for me—by God’s grace, for God’s precious Kathryn Grace.

Seeing Beyond What You See

anniversarysunset So much of the time we just see what we see and go on. We hear what we hear and move on. How are you? Fine, thank you, how are you? Fine. That’s nice.

But that’s not really what’s going on. Or, that’s not all that’s going on. It never is.

A friend of ours had been battling the ravages of cancer for many months and was ushered into glory a few days ago. I learned so much from him… the way he lived and the way he died was so instructive. He’s now seen the glorious morning beyond the sunset.

He had ties all over the world. Those ties were connections, connections he made because he listened and he saw beyond what he saw. He invested in people. O, not monetarily, although, I’ve no doubt that that happened, it was an investment of listening, an investment of teaching, an investment of personalized, specific prayer, an investment of remembering. He saw beyond what he saw and he remembered. He totally got it that his stories were not just his own but were about the people he was with — the people in his story — that their experience was as, or more, important as his own. He totally got that. And he remembered to give credit… decades later, he remembered.

As days pass, I realize over and over just how invaluable life is and that the influence of even one life is profound. I thought that again today as I was talking with a woman who’d experienced a separation from her husband and the painful loss of what was and what could’ve/should’ve been. As she recounted a few events, I could see behind the pain in her voice and the tears in her eyes, there was the unmistakable grace, mercy and joy of the Lord. In the midst her pain she knew that joy.

I’m glad for these encounters — no, I don’t specifically mean death, loss, separation, grief — I mean, these encounters with reality — the reality of each life and what each life represents. Because each life is not just about experiences, achievements and miles traveled — life’s about all the in-between’s. Life’s about the people in our story. Life’s about seeing beyond what we see.

And seeing beyond what we see is a life of faith — if we know Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, it’s really about eternal life beyond the sunset.

If you do not have this assurance, if you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, please write to me, I’d love to share with you the Truth of the gospel and gift of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the only Truth, the only Life.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4.12