The Lord God Most High shines brightly in His universe. He is everywhere, emanating with the sun, glistening in every drop of ocean and rain. Without Him, I suppose, creation would fizzle and come to nothing. And so surely would I.  He wants my life to beam with Him too. In fact, it must.

I’ve heard it said that I should include God intentionally in every interaction I have with another person. If it is just “he and I” or “she and I”, it becomes about posturing and positioning, one will against the other. This leads to little more than an uninspired “win” for one and an uninspired result for both. When God is acknowledged in a relationship and put in His proper place above and between the two, it becomes not about where one person can push the other, but where God can take them both, leading to an inspired win for all!

My life shines when I embrace my Lord Most High.  So I shall not turn to another without Him. To be the light He has asked me to be, I must carry Him always and when convening, keep His light steadily above to warm, guide and glisten.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”  Matthew 5:14-15

There was a time I carried a tremendous burden. One of my sons was fighting a terrible battle and I worried for his pain and for his life, every day, for years. I felt alone, no one I knew had ever gone through what I was facing. It was hard to live my days, go to the grocery store, take care of my boys, even go to church. Everything, everywhere, hurt.

One morning I was sitting in my Sunday school class, a little early. Suddenly, the church choir director came through the door with a young man and led him straight to my table. She introduced us, told me he was visiting our church and left. “Jason” had a friendly spirit and a sweet face. He sat down with a smile and began sharing his story with me.  We were instant friends.

Days before, he had run past my church and felt moved to go. He was grieving for a friend who was injured in a bad accident and he needed to bring it all to the feet of Jesus. I told Jason about my son, as well. We discovered they were the same age, had the same hobbies.  Jason came to church a couple more times and sat in the pew with me. He was a healing balm at a time when I could find no hope. His presence poured peace and restoration into the wound in my soul.  God comforted me.  He brought two strangers together for these few hours at His perfect time and for His blessed purpose.

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.  Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Genesis 41:14-15

It was Youth Week in our town and I was leading off the mile relay—middle school against the high school. Our team of three 8th graders and one 7th grader was to race one mile against select high school athletes in the name of fun, fellowship and town spirit. I stood near the line, baton in hand, next to my competitor, a top athlete in her senior class. She turned to her teammates and smirked, “This will be easy.”

It was easy, but not for her.  “May” was still rounding the curve as I slipped the baton into the hand of our second runner.  My teammates held the lead and the middle schoolers won the race. The principal said he would never forget that day and I haven’t either.  I went on to win bigger races, but this one stands out because it carries a message for me.  I held on to my gift in the face of a challenge. I prevailed when someone underestimated me.  It had little to do with beating my blustering opponent and everything to do with rising to my personal heights.

People will often diminish others to aggrandize themselves. I have listened to that intimidation too many times and relinquished, to that sourness, the power and gifts of God. When I think of that day in my youth, it serves as a reminder to protect what God has given me and run the race to His glory!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6

 

 

I have been reading the book of Deuteronomy this morning. Moses has delivered the children of Israel to the edge of the land God promised them, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses could not enter the land with them, so he was reiterating the law of God, warning them to be obedient. Their future life in the Promised Land would depend on it. If they were obedient to God’s law, He would bless them richly. If they strayed from God’s plan, they would incur punishment and curse.

If Moses himself stood before me in my youth, urging me to follow God closely each day, I believe I might still go the way of Israel and mess things up. I have wandered in my own wilderness for 40 years, sometimes just as lost and rebellious as Israel, sometimes seeking to do God’s will. But seeking it is not enough, I must walk it. My “Promised Land” is heaven but I want my earthly steps to be blessed and a blessing, as well.

I have had it with the wilderness, I prefer my park. There I attune the cadence and direction of my feet to His. He lets me practice along the snowy pond and wooded path, heavily bound with roots. I find my balance and walk the rest of my day a little steadier. Each and every step makes a difference.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:21-22

Winter was sublime. In those bitter months of the year, I am usually under a blanket, sipping something warm, cringing at the things beyond my drawn curtains. When I made a promise to walk in the park every day it was summer, and even then I immediately thought, Oh, it’s going to be cold. It was and I loved every single day of it.

Spring has sweetly tinted buds. Summer is lush and verdant. Autumn is painted handsomely. Winter is stark, bleak, quiet and stripped—beautifully. Perfectly.  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25.

This winter I didn’t see a lack or an absence. I saw a magnificent, enduring presence. A completeness. Nothing was missing, not flourish nor color. The trees weren’t bare, they were essential—a force! The skies weren’t gray, they hung close, an integral, engaged sector of creation, sustaining. What death I observed emerged from the very life it instantly began to nourish. All rose from and pointed to the God of creation.

What beauty is unveiled in me when the adornments fall away? What of God more clearly observed? What more simply conveyed?

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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

When I read the Old Testament, all I see is love. I see God creating divine and loving provision for His beloved and His beloved doubting, complaining and running away. Then I see God extending more divine love and provision and His people failing again and again to honor it.

He says He loves them, that He wants to give them everything and intimately provide for them. They need only listen and obey. They don’t listen and they don’t obey, they exalt themselves and other gods. There are laws and more laws, prophets and more prophets, miracles and more miracles—all to reconcile the people to Him.

“I AM the LORD your God!”

In the New Testament, God makes the perfect provision for His children’s broken, sinful, estranged state. He sends His son to be their sin offering. They no longer have to offer their spotless lamb, He has offered His own. They need only stand under the love of Jesus and receive His wholeness, His healing, His strength and His unfailing, overflowing, all-encompassing, everlasting love.

He is the Lord, my God!

Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:23-26

Does the turtle question its existence? Why, Creator, must I live for months lurking low in the cold water? Why didn’t you make me to swim and plod freely, always? Why should I dwell here alone, silent, still, waiting? I assume the flora and fauna of creation know their lot. They just live it, there is no why.

God gave me free will, however, and sometimes I use it to question Him— the Creator and God Most High! What is the plan for the turtle and what is the plan for me? Whatever the mode and method, I know that He brings me to salvation and abundant life, so I trust. Ultimately, I trust.

Change leads to transformation. Testing leads to refinement. The seasons God moves through my life are heavy with the seeds of His promises.  The winters are perfectly bitter, the summers, flawlessly steamy.  I’m turned over.  I let go.  I bend toward Him.

I must move with change like God’s living world, with willingness and acceptance. It is about becoming and faith, obedience and love. It is dwelling here, and there, with God. Above and below, in the stillness and in the flow.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

A few years ago we vacationed on Seneca Lake, NY, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We eagerly explored the amazing gorges each day, till one morning we decided to take it easy at home. We were told there was a pretty waterfall in the woods behind our house if we followed the stream, so we decided to wander back and take a look before lunch. We walked in the stream, rocky and full from the rain. The boys rushed ahead quickly, seeking the promised treasure.

What we thought would be a short walk began to feel to us tired travelers like an arduous, endless journey. We had no idea where this supposed waterfall was and were having a hard time keeping our hopes up. My husband took a bad fall on the rocks and twice one of our sons wandered back to us, saying we ought to quit, nothing ahead worth seeing. One of them forged on, though, refusing to quit. He kept going, so we followed.

Finally we came to a spot where the banks had become high cliffs, but still no falls. Disappointed, a few of us stopped and shrugged, gazing up at the walls of earth around us. Suddenly the one who would not give up called out from around the bend. There he was, his arm around his little brother, gazing at the towering splendor.  And we had it all to ourselves.  God’s journeys are always worth the hike.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.  Isaiah 12:2

The enemy can steal the good things God has for me in the simplest ways. My walks with God were, for the most part, fruitful but often I’d find myself walking along, distracted by an irritation or problem and allowing it to steal my precious time with my Creator. Like a pebble in my shoe, this would keep my attention and I might continue suffering it, rather than ousting the pesky thing.

I must stop and dump out the pebble, whatever the “pebble” might be. When I become aware of something standing in between my Father and me, it simply needs to go. Some things are harder to dislodge than others, but with prayer and obedience, I can overcome them and will surely reap the rewards.

It could be a minute into my walk or a mile, but eventually I will sit down on a bench to address the stowaway in my shoe.  When a nuisance butts into my life, it’s good to stop for a rest. It’s good to uncover it, examine it and release it, then continue freely in my walk. Acknowledge the pebbles, dump them out, lace up the walking shoes and keep a steady pace with the Lord.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27

 

I homeschooled my boys for a portion of their childhoods. While there are many reasons one might choose to do this, I allowed my children to learn at home for the freedom it provided. I believe children need alone time, wide open spaces, access to the stuff of life and living to play and create, and long stretches of quiet, enriching absence of input from others.

I believe the spirits of children are still beaming brightly with God’s long after they arrive. There is no hurry to push them into a line, funnel them into a category, make them produce before a bell rings or a grade falls. There is something more amazing and grand in a child than just a budding adult, charging forward into career and competition. There is the soul God made them to be now and forevermore.  I wanted my children to become acquainted with that soul and hold onto it first and foremost.  The world could wait.

The Bible tells me I must be like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. Children are nurtured by their parents. They are to respect their parents and live according to their authority. Parents provide good things for their children to freely and joyfully receive. To live as a child is to behold God’s great love, guidance, creation and provision.  It is discovering and acknowledging one’s smallness next to God’s greatness.  It is resting knowing He will always be my Father and I will always be His child.

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:2-3