Thinking on these things . . .

We don't always know why what is happening to us is happening. Sometimes we're not even sure what is going on in our lives! I was given this cross today with these haphazard lines etched into it. Okay...this is interesting... But when seen from a different perspective; or shall I say, the right perspective, all of a sudden the lines are no longer random. They contain a message; they have a reason for being there and it all makes sense. Isaiah 55: 8 says "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine ." That is not new information to you is it? We've known for a long time that " God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him...according to His purpose for them " (Romans 8:28). It just takes seeing the events of our lives from God's point of view, and trusting that even when we don't know what is happening, that God knows what he is doi...

The sun rose over my couch this morning. Well, not literally, but from where I was sitting that's how it appeared and that's the last thing I saw as now the sun was shinning right in my eyes. All I could see, or maybe perceive is a better term, was brightness: everything else was washed out. My furniture had form but no longer had color. There was brightness like a spotlight across my Bible and journal. Even when I had to close my eyes I could still see that brightness, and feel the warmth from outside the window and across the room. The light of the sun dominated, overwhelmed, filled up all of my senses - there was nothing else but the sun - it's light and it's warmth was my whole world in that moment. The words of a song came to mind: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace." And these verses: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face...

I sat in a cemetery today and realized that I was surrounded by family members who had left me such a legacy of faith. My parents, grandparents, and an aunt: all of them who had lived a life of faith and now it was up to me. Their faith has been realized; home with their Lord. When my children sit at my grave site or my grandchildren see my name, what legacy will I have left? I don't think my parents ever did anything "great" for the Lord: they didn't write books, or go on speaking tours, although my dad did lead singing on TV when our church services were televised. But what I do know is that they were faithful: singing and serving, tithing and teaching Sunday school, just doing that day in, day out serving the Lord kind of stuff. Raising a family and being consistent in what they said and what they did. Nothing spectacular but significant nonetheless because of their influence I am who I am and doing what I am doing. There is nothing like spending time among the dea...

I cleared my garden plot yesterday of all the leaves from the fall that had mounded on top of it through the winter. It seemed like an appropriate day to do so, it being Easter Sunday. As I pulled the leaves away I discovered that there were many green shoots that had been growing, unseen, beneath the soggy, decomposing leaves. Hope. Hope in spite of dismal conditions, and oppressive circumstances. Hope surrounded by mud. Someday those shoots may develop into beautiful flowers that will only appreciate the exquisiteness of a cut crystal vase. They may bring joy to a friend by means of a bouquet. They may bring a smile to the face of one walking past the house. Now, it's not much, but I guess that is the nature of hope - that in time what is wished for will bloom and do so beautifully - even if it is currently just a small desire in a bed of mud.

It's Easter wee kend. Spring is coming and this greatest of Christian holidays is upon us. Well okay, given that Easter is as early this year as it ever can be and that I've already seen TV footage of children in winter gear running across snowy fields to scoop up those brightly colored plastic eggs; it's not exactly spring so it will be a little different this year. I've just read that the last time Easter was this early was 1913 and the next time won't be until 2228. So enjoy those eggs in the snow, it may well be a once in a lifetime experience! But, whenever it is observed, Easter is a time of tradition. My family will start the day with the egg hunt in the house that will hold the clues as to where the Easter baskets are hidden. We'll dress for church and my daughter will put on her new dress, and I will have to convince my son to not wear sweat pants and a t- shirt to church this morning because it is Easter and he looks so nice dressed up. We'll have...

It was a beautiful 40 degree spring day. I'm on a chair lift surrounded by picturesque mountain beauty enjoying a smooth and easy ride to the top. Idyllic was the perfect word describing that moment. Three minutes later I had a new adjective: terrified. I am flying over packed snow on two thin pieces of, what are they, wood? plastic? what difference does it make - the point is, it's not a lot! My arms and poles are flailing wildly (aren't things that are flailing always doing so wildly? anyway...) Adrenaline, produced by pure panic is coursing through my heart that is way above an acceptable aerobic heart rate. I should not have come down this run (and that might well be the understatement of the year)! But this was the choice that I had made. Did I know what I was getting into when I'd made this choice? I thought so. Was my understanding accurate? Not at all. Was I experiencing the consequences of my decision? Absolutely. My beautiful, enjoyable, and easy ride had brou...

THIS moment - not the one that just ended, nor the one that is going to come next. What about this moment? Steven Curtis Chapman has a song titled, "Moment made for Worshipping". I was listening to it while walking and as I walked it began snowing with those large swirling flakes that make you feel like you're in a snow globe. It was beautiful and serene and the combination of the song and the snow gave me a moment of pause - this really was a great moment, perfectly made for worshipping. There is much written about moments: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away" "We do not remember days, we remember moments." "Every beat of my heart, is another new place to start." I'd read that Steven Covey, in one of his lectures about the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, asked an audience how many of them were smokers. Hands were raised and Covey told them they were wrong; they wer...

It's been a long, long winter. Everyone, I mean every one I've talked to in recent weeks has commented on how long and bleak this season has been. I read somewhere that we had 10 hours of sunshine in the entire month of February - only 10 hours! No wonder everyone is feeling that winter will never be over! In talking about Easter decorations today my friend said she can't bring herself to put out the bunnies yet while there is still snow on the ground, they may freeze their little cotton tails off! We change time this weekend: "Spring Ahead". Ugh! I've appreciate lately that the sun has gotten up before I have - I'm not looking forward to prying myself out of bed in the dark; it's hard enough to get up some mornings. Will Winter ever end? Will Spring ever come? Yes. Of course. We know this because we are not infants. We've lived through this cycle of seasons before. We know that someday the sun will have been shinning for hours before we leave our...