Disappointments and Heartbreaks Happen

Life isn't all sunshine and birthday presents as we discovered yesterday. One grandchild celebrated a birthday with all the special accessories for a Star Wars theme. The excitement was building through dinner and the blowing of candles. It was time for the opening of presents. One younger child watched as the gifts were unwrapped until finally the desire was just too much. The child's face burst into tears against my shoulder, "I want to play with the new toys. I want it to be my birthday."

I remember feeling the same disappointment as I was growing up. As the youngest child I always compared myself to my sisters. I watched as they were talented singers, dressed up in pretty dresses and heels, dated, married, had babies and lived happy lives. I was left at home, without musical talent, and unsuccessful in school. I failed to find my own niche until much later in life, so for a long time I sulked in the shadow of disappointment.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit," (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

God always opens new doors for us when we are down in spirit and heartbroken, but we must get up and take action. It is important that we take advantage of the setbacks and use them to propel us forward into a new kind of success. Search for your passion then rush toward it with all your heart.

My passion for writing and one positive comment by a high school English teacher (that I stored in my heart for twenty years), led me to pursue a job at the local newspaper. I gained confidence that allowed me to begin college at age 40 and earn a degree in journalism and mass communication with academic honors.

If God can change my life from the pits of depression and self-hatred, He will help you change your life, too. Just trust in Him, believe in the power of Jesus Christ's salvation, and allow Him to lift you up to heights you would never dream possible.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

Thank you, Jesus!

Inner Beauty

When I consider beauty at this time of year, I immediately think of the glory in color on the October trees. They are especially brilliant this week, it seems. I imagine after the predicted hard frost of this weekend, the leaves will begin to fall by the mound, or more likely they will be blown away in the chilling wind.

But, today I will focus on the beauty I see in others. There is nothing more beautiful than a face adorned with a smile. It radiates warmth and kindness and touches my heart. When I searched for 'smile' in the Bible I was surprised to find three of the four scriptures with 'smile' were from the book of Job. It is in the middle of a discourse by Job, as he is remembering how good his life used to be. Job is nearly prideful as he tells how others looked up to him and were so thrilled to be smiled at, by him.

"When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them," (Job 29:24 NIV).

But, in everyday situations the inner beauty that is expelled by a smile is truly priceless. Remember the first time you saw your baby's smile. His whole body seemed to work together in a wiggle to burst forth in a smile. It instantly brought a smile to your face. That is one of my favorite things about a baby; that huge glow that radiates happiness throughout the room and is contagiously adopted by each person who sees it.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight," (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV).

The Bible is quite clear that inner beauty is much more important than an outer appearance that dazzles. As I grow older and enjoy retirement, I find it is much easier to leave my closet-full of professional attire hanging while I grab a pair of jeans or sweats. I've even been known to run to the store or babysit without any mascara on!

"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God," (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NIV).

These scriptures reveal that the key to inner beauty is a gentle, quiet spirit and the good deeds that result from beauty within. I'm going to add that a smile is also an outward result of a beautiful inside.

May you share your inner beauty with a smile for the world today.

Take The Time

Life is busy. We have alarm clocks and calendars to remind us what to do next. There are timers on our iPhones, on our stoves and microwaves, and pop up messages on our computers. We have Post-it notes to place where we need them and clocks in nearly every room and even wrapped around our wrists.

Our human days are filled with standing in line, "take a number", "have a seat", take turns, make an appointment, "please hold", "your wait time is approximately 23 minutes", "leave a message at the tone", "just a minute" and "I'll get back to you".

With God there is no "time's up", no final buzzer, no green light to move ahead, no end to our appointment, no running late, no closing time or office hours. We are blessed with God's presence whenever we need it. In fact, I am convicted of my busyness as I visualize Jesus sitting in my favorite quiet spot, waiting for me to take time to come sit with Him. He waits patiently for me but too often I find myself rushing past the door, ignoring His beckoning call, missing out on the best moment of my day.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me," (Revelation 3:20 NIV).

This image of Jesus anxiously waiting for me to take time to sit with Him was impressed on me while one of my Bible study groups worked through Joanna Weaver's book, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World". Weaver introduced me to the idea that my quiet, worship time with Jesus is as precious to God as it is to me. I'd never thought about it that way before. That concept sticks with me, saddens me, and humbles me to the core.

I don't want to leave Jesus sitting alone in that chair, waiting for me to come. I want to be there soaking up all the love and attention He has for me. I want to hear what He wants to tell me. I want to gain the wisdom He wants to share with me. I want to feel His tender touch and look into His beautiful eyes and understand.

Joanna Weaver spelled out a clear formula for having true intimacy with God in chapter five of "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World":

PRAYER + the WORD + TIME = INTIMACY with GOD - Joanna Weaver. 

I'm going to post this formula where I will be reminded of it often. I desire that intimacy with God and I am so thankful that He is accessible to me always.

Today I will take the time.

Precious Words

I grew up in a small country church that was established by my ancestors in the timber along the Iowa River. My faith is rooted in the history and tradition of this church. One thing that I treasure is a prayer that my father's grandfather, Carey E. Arney, shared at the communion table as an elder. My father, Corwin Arney Springer, shared these same words when he was an elder. I cherish a handwritten copy of this prayer that I carry in my Bible:

"May the day be hastened when the knowledge and glory of the Lord, shall cover the whole earth as the waters do cover the sea."

This prayer is based on Isaiah 11:9 and Habakkuk 2:4; verses that are repeated in Galatians 3:11, Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 10:38. I grew up hearing this prayer hundreds of times, yet I am only beginning to experience its meaning through study. Perhaps this is common for Christians; to cherish a verse of scripture yet only vaguely understand its meaning. So this morning I set out to change that for myself on this special prayer. I went to scripture first.

"...for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea," (Isaiah 11:9b NIV).

"...but the righteous will live by his faith--" (Habakkuk 2:4b NIV).

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17 NIV).

"Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (Galatians 3:11 NIV).

"He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38 NIV).

"May the day be hastened" must be the language of the early Christian pioneers, probably influenced by their Bible. 'Hastened' is used several times in scripture, though I couldn't find this exact phrase. I believe the prayer is asking God to hurry the time when the Word of God, and His knowledge and glory are spread across the whole earth, just as thoroughly as the waters cover the sea.

What a good prayer, even for today; no, especially for today. I long for the day when the gospel is spread wide through all continents, to every nation, every town and village, into every home, to every individual.

Lord, thank you for the knowledge of Your Word that we are given for today. Speak to us Your truth as we wait anxiously for the day when everyone knows Your Son and can experience His gift of salvation. Guide us today to those who don't know You yet. Let us be a reflection of Your love that warms their hearts and leads them to seek and know You. We pray in the name of Your Perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Depend On God Alone

It is a brilliantly sunny Monday morning. Though it is a chilly start to the day, the sunshine offers a promise of warming. And I love to be warm. Yesterday we were outside in a very brisk northwest wind. The sun's power didn't seem strong until we got in the car. The wind was blocked and the heat of the rays penetrated the glass to offer a toasty shelter. It was so appreciated!

My personal thermostat is fickle, if not completely haywire. The house can be the same temperature day in and day out but sometimes I shake with chills while other times I break into a sweat or feel perfectly comfortable.

Weather is one of the most changeable things I know. Especially when you plan something outdoors. In Iowa. Or on vacation. It seems whenever we plan a vacation in some warm climate we end up with  the rainiest, grayest days they have ever experienced. There was the time we left for the Wisconsin Dells before sunrise and drove through a flash flood in Cedar Rapids. Or when we visited Montana in July and it snowed in the mountains. We spent several rainy, cool days in San Francisco last year and this year it rained daily on the beaches of South Carolina.

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," (Hebrews 13:7-8 NIV).

I am so thankful for Jesus who is my constant, unchanging, perfect Savior. I know Him and I can come to Him in any state and He will receive me with open arms, ready to offer correction, forgiveness, and unmerited grace and love. Who else is as trustworthy as our God? Certainly not the weatherman. There is No One like Him.

Father God, I ask You to spread Your unwavering love over us today. The world is in such a mess because it tries to function without You. Help us to seek You first every day. Draw us near and hold us with Your warm and loving arms. We need You alone, God. In the Name of Your Precious Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

God's Powerful Touch

Last month we took a vacation to the to the east coast of South Carolina and Georgia. I wanted to experience the ocean. We had seen the ocean on trips to Boston and points north; the Gulf from west Florida and Galveston; San Diego, San Francisco, and along the west coast in California and Oregon. I had touched my toes in the water a few times but never taken a full body dip.

The first night we took a long walk along the beach, listening to the repetitive rush of the water, feeling the sand between our toes, watching the frothy waves curl up and then diminish and fall away as they teased the shoreline. The next day we dressed for the water. We strolled into the water up to our knees, watching others run into the waves, jump over the caps and stand in the depths. It took one more time for me to be brave enough to enter the ocean's expanse.

I wanted to experience the waves and feel God's power. I was not disappointed. Hand in hand we advanced past the foamy waves, into the apparent stillness of the water that stretched to the infinity of the horizon. Suddenly a wall of water lurched up and crashed onto our heads and shoulders. Besides the element of complete surprise, we instantly shared the taste of salt water on our lips as we wiped the water from our smiling faces.

"You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me;" (Jonah 2:3 NIV).

It was amazing. Out of the calm came such power and force that we were knocked off our feet and swept toward the beach. We learned to brace ourselves for the next wave, but even so, we were no match for the forceful surge of the wall of water that smashed into us. We would barely recover before another crest appeared, over and over and over; a marvelous wonder of God's creation.

"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me," (Psalm 42:7 NIV).

Father God, all around us Your creation touches us: the pounding waves, the gentle breeze, the changing leaves, the bountiful harvest...You are in them all. Thank you for giving us these beautiful hints of Who You Are. We are so blessed. We offer You, O Holy One, our honor and praise, for You Alone are our God. Amen.

God's Masterpiece is You

As I looked out at the beautiful sunrise this morning and noticed the beads of moisture on the brilliant green grass, as the north wind moved the branches in a resistant sway, I thanked God for the wonder of His Creation. I heard the geese honking overhead as they glided onto a nearby pond and my heart swelled with love for my precious Lord and Savior. Thank you for this day, Lord.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).

It is hard for me to think about being God's workmanship when I am so often alert only to my flaws and my failures. Yet, God considers us worthy and valuable to His Master plan. He has prepared good works for us to do in our lives. He has given us the gift of grace through Jesus Christ that makes our sinful selves acceptable to our God who requires perfection.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us the gift of grace and salvation. We are forgiven of our sins and Christ's blood covers our imperfections. We are given the freedom to stand before God with our arms lifted in praise and thanksgiving and He sees us as His very own Masterpiece. It is God's workmanship that makes us unique individuals who are integrated into His eternal plan.

Today I will try to view myself as God sees me - without blemish, in the best possible light! Then I will have confidence in God as I move forward to do the good works He has prepared for me to do. Because the Gloria that God sees has the energy, the ability, the strength, and the holy direction to do anything He says to do, very well, indeed.

Lord, use me today. Help me to see myself through Your eyes. I want to be that "better me." I want to be Your Masterpiece. Amen.

Appreciation for Leaders

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, I believe. I don't know who established this or how it came to be, but it was a good idea that I almost forgot about. My home church always made a big deal of this, reminding the congregation and encouraging acts of kindness toward the pastor and family.

When Paul wrote his letter to the church at Thessalonica, he recognized the need for leaders of the church to be respected and appreciated for their work in bringing the Word of God to the people. We have recently been studying the history of the church Reformation so the role of early church leaders is fresh in my mind. We have seen how many church leaders sacrificed their lives to make the scriptures accessible to common man and ultimately to you and me.

I am aware of the true privilege it is to live in America where we can line our shelves with Bibles of every translation and read the Word whenever and wherever we desire. I am so thankful for the opportunity to worship my Savior and hear the Word of God from the pulpit. My heart is grateful for the many pastors who have taught me in the past and those who continue to enlighten me today. Without the truth of the scriptures in my life, I would be lost, confused, and without purpose.

"Now we ask you brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else," (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 NIV).

Paul's closing comments in 1 Thessalonians remind us to revere our pastors and church leaders, but also to follow the teachings in scripture, modeling Jesus Christ in all our actions with others. We are to be encouragers, helpers, and kind representations of the church.

This month I plan to pray for my pastors and offer encouragement and appreciation to them for all the ways they bless me with the teachings of scripture.

Thank you, God, for the pastors who share Your truth and help the church grow in their relationship with You. Amen.

Heavy Hearts and Hope

I am so tired of disasters. That's a foolish thing to say but my heart is so heavy for the burdens of this world.  I am anxious to be free of this world and enter my heavenly home where there is only joy, giving praise to God, worship and music for the Lord!

We awoke to another story of terror - the Las Vegas shootings. There is no explanation for this man's anger or evil this morning. There is no reason for the deaths and injuries of those country music fans who chose to attend an open air concert last night. The shooter didn't even know those he killed and injured. They were random victims of horrible terror. Those who survived will be forever haunted by the sound of a machine gun's shots and the possible danger of gathering with large numbers of people. Will they ever feel safe and innocent again?

Our continent has been ravaged by natural disasters repeatedly throughout the past months. Hurricane Harvey sent destructive flood waters over Houston and the surrounding area. Wildfires have been burning all summer in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and beyond. An earthquake destroyed parts of Mexico. More hurricanes hit the resort islands in the Atlantic, followed by Hurricane Maria hitting Florida and devastating Puerto Rico.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God," (Psalm 42:11 NIV).

Lord God, I pray for all those who are hurting today: physically, mentally and spiritually. May they search for Your peace and comfort and may their physical needs be met by the love of caring givers and volunteers. Lord, in the middle of these disasters may You be present to bring them hope in the name of Jesus.

"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near," (Revelation 1:3 NIV).

Lord, we know Your return is coming someday, and it seems like the signs are appearing more and more frequently. Keep us alert and help us draw others to You, so they can be with us when Your time of Glory is near.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, 

who was, and is, and is to come," 

(Revelation 4:8c NIV).

Amen.