Thinking on these things . . .

I knit. And when I say I knit what I mean is, I do the "knit stitch". I do not purl, increase, decrease, knit into the back of, double knit etc. I know one stitch and that's how I qualify myself as a "knitter." Consequently I make a lot of scarves... Sadly there are many who have accepted Christ as Savior and are now Christians but have not developed a relationship with God. Consequently they do a lot of worrying... I tried a couple times to learn some other techniques. I found these beautiful patterns, these amazing things I could make if only I would only go a little farther in my knitting experience but I didn't. I didn't because it was too difficult. I didn't have the time, or enough interest or some other lame excuse so now my creative possibilities are limited. The Bible says that we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby - to partake when the Bible says "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:...

I think that if you haven't asked this question already it is inevitable that you will. It's the question you ask - when you realize your life is not at all as you imagined it should be. when all you have are questions and no viable options when suddenly you've been dealt a tragedy. when evil wins and good is dismissed. when no matter what you do, it's not better. when you step out in faith and fall flat on your face. when you've lived your life as a good and faithful servant and something goes terribly wrong. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:45) I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. (Job 23:8,9) I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. ...

I sing in a community choir that is based at a local university, in other words, most of the choristers are college kids and it's fascinating! At every and any opportunity a good percentage of them are texting. Behind their choir music, down low behind the seat in front of them, or when there's work in another part their thumbs are flying - and I mean flying! It reminded me of a pacifier, that comfort item, or the default action in times of restlessness or stress. What is your pacifier? What do you do when you don't want to do what you should be? What engages you when you're restless and just looking for anything? My guess is, that to some extent, we all have one. Which is so funny given that one of the comforting mantras of child rearing is "Don't worry, they still won't be "xyz" by the time they get to kindergarten". Who knew pacifiers would remain? Is this a bad thing? I don't know, I guess it would depend on what your pacifier is, ...

I was just running in for juice boxes... (Yep, you know the rest of the story!) And I came out with a cart full! (Don't even pretend you don't do the same thing all the time too...) As I was loading my groceries into the car I was struck by how diverse they were and what they represent: A big box of strawberries - not too ridiculously priced and such a welcome treat in the middle of winter! Individual bottles of juice instead of more drink pouches - in hopes that we can all drink a little less sugar Snacks - The Superbowl is around the corner and I need to be ready for the "big party" (even though it's just us) Cardstock and glue - Valentine's Day projects are coming and I need to be prepared so my kids can have what they need. Individually wrapped Muffins - the stockpile of pastries in my Sunday School room is down to one package Some new clothes - because they're on winter clearance even though they're basic wardrobe pieces (you've got to love t...

I have a friend with a broken toe and my first question was "Did you buddy wrap it?" Buddy wrap - buddy taping - it's the procedure of taping the injured digit to one next to it that is not damaged and therefore giving it support and protection. How good it is to have someone to buddy wrap yourself to when you are injured. There is nothing like having a friend who is strong when you are weak and whole when you feel fragmented. I find, in times like this, that the buddy tape that binds me to someone stronger can be made of email or phone calls or, most deliciously, with lattes at Starbucks. These are the times when you talk more than listen, ask more questions than have answers and see the glass not anywhere near half full. Here a buddy is solid, listening, asking more questions to better understand, providing solutions and/or just a shoulder, offering perspective and hope. There's nothing like it. This is an old idea stated by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 4, "Two...

"And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." (Deuteronomy 6:9) You have to love tools because they make a job easier. I've found a new tool in a book I recently received called The Gift of Psalms. This book is a compilation of 50 psalms with a corresponding devotional. The devotionals are short and speak to the heart, when you have time to sit and read but the real beauty of this book is the three CD's that come with it. The psalms and the devotionals are read by various celebrities and are accompanied by beautiful music. This is the type of CD you can put on in the house while you're working or would be great for times of commuting. It's a way of keeping God's Word in front of your eyes, or in this case your ears, and God does promise th...

My son asked me what my favorite video game was when I was a child. Umm, Pong? He's never known a world without video games and computers and ipods and cell phones. Who would have thought ten years ago that you could carry your entire music library in your pocket? Or who would have imagined that you could take a video with your phone and in seconds send it to someone thousands of miles away? I mean seriously! Our world is vastly different than a decade ago. Just because we haven't seen it yet does not mean it's not possible. There are advances all the time that just boggle the mind. And if we, as mere mortals can do this, what does this say about the possibilities of what God can do? Deuteronomy 8: 3 says "He fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever seen. " We take manna for granted - I mean this is an Old Testament story; we know all about the bread that came from heaven every morning for the wandering Israelites for forty years. Bu...

I am easily amused... entertained... engaged... distracted... (what was I saying? I got lost there in the synonyms...) Oh yes. Easily engaged. Currently I am fascinated by something called a magic mug. It looks like a regular black coffee mug until you pour in hot liquid and then, suddenly, pictures appear all over the mug. So much fun! But then...as the liquid cools, the pictures fade until they disappear...so sad. I am a vessel. When I am filled with a passionate love for my Savior, His image is apparent to the world. When I let the concerns and circumstances of this life cool my fervor, His image is no longer as apparent. Only the vessel remains visible with its blank surface... No one can stir up the embers of my heart but me. Only time with Him will cause my heart to burn for Him. Only when I am in fervent relationship with Him will His image be clearly visible, not because of my service, or my effort, but simply because that is the way He has made us. We are "magic mugs...

You will come to this conclusion. It is inevitable and only a matter of time. There are only two questions. How long will it take you to realize this? What are the consequences of waiting too long? It is clearly stated in Scripture, At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11) Someday you will conclude that Jesus is Lord. The word Lord means: the supreme ruler he to whom a person or thing belongs and about which he has power of deciding master owner the one who has control. Someday every single person will reach that conclusion. From the vilest despot to the world's sweetest "little old lady" and even to you, all will bow and make this confession. We will all confess that He is Lord- and if He is Lord, than we are not ... But we want to be. We act like we are - in control, in charge, the supreme ruler of our own lives. We f...

That magnificent thing you bought two weeks ago is now up to 90% off. Now you can buy it for just about the tax you paid on it. Why the sudden decrease in value? It's all about the timing. If real estate is location, location, location. Retail sales are timing. This happens at the end of every season. Right now the boxes of assorted chocolates wrapped in Christmas paper are 75-90% off and just one aisle over are the same box of chocolates wrapped in Valentine's paper and full price! (Not to say as a shopper that there are not certain advantages to everything going out of season so quickly as conceptually you can restock your Christmas supplies now and pack them away for next year but that's not exactly my point.) There is a time for things. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3 gave us a whole litany about it, a time for laughter, for crying, for work, for play, for war, for peace...you know the passage and you get the idea. When things are done in the proper time, they are power...

...that is was Christmas Day! Just TWO weeks ago!!! Is it just me or does it feel more like it's been a lot longer than that? Our tree is still up because after getting used to enjoying the lights in the early morning and evenings it's hard to take it down. But even so it still feels like all the magic and messages of Christmas were like last year... We move on. We cross things off the list and move onto the next thing, as we should, but there is a danger that we will forget the things we've learned and the things we need to remember. The children of Israel had an interesting practice of creating an altar or setting up piles of stones in places in order to remember what God had done for them there. When they crossed the Jordan river they set up a memorial so they would remember and so that it would be a catalyst for conversation with future generations when they'd ask, "What is that pile of rocks all about?". It's good for us to do the same thing. In o...

The gift sat under the tree. It was beautiful; a gold box wrapped in red ribbon and it was for me. It was so lovely just sitting there that I hesitated to open it. There was great joy in both its presentation and the anticipation of what was inside! But it didn’t take long until I slipped off the bow and removed the golden lid. I found, to my surprise, that it was filled with more gifts! The giving was to continue. My gift box turned out to be really holding many gifts. The Gift of Christmas is Christ; come as a babe to a manger, on His way to a cross for our redemption. So, as you’ve accepted the golden box containing your gift of atonement and assurance of heaven, the question is, have you opened it up and discovered all the other gifts in store for you that come from having this personal relationship with Christ? Peace no matter what the circumstances? Joy when there’s no cause for happiness? Love when nothing about you seems deserving of affection? Assurance that whatever the futur...