Shattered Pieces

Shattered Pieces

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.  Isaiah 30:13

Shattered windows. That’s what we witnessed many times as we drove between the cities of  Pouso Alegre  and Campinas, Brazil.  We could surmise what had happened.  Cars headed down a sharp hill, hit a valley, then climbed back up again and the tremendous changes in air pressure caused their windshields to burst.  Halfway through our two-hour trip and our front windshield shattered.

”There’s no reason to buy lunch now,” my husband said, “We’ve already had our fill of fresh meat today through the busted window.”  We did pick some strange things from our teeth.

Had we pressed our hands against the windshield, or rolled down a window to ease the pressure inside the car we may have saved the glass from breaking, but we didn’t know we were entering a high-pressure area.  We were so distracted by the beautiful scenery or by talking with one another that we sometimes forgot to watch for upcoming pressure areas.

The pressures of life can also be great, like periods of highs and lows, especially like these trying times around us.  The pressure is on. Bills need to be paid and money is sparse but that doesn’t mean ignoring the preparation.  Finances can be tricky—never knowing when our planned pathway will drop or curve.  The pressure will change but God encourages us to be prepared for whatever lies ahead.

Walking on Water

Walking On Water

And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked

on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  

                                                         

                                                                                 --Matthew 14:29-30

Cheboygan, Michigan’s’ Lake Mullet sparkled with an appearance of glitter over the skirt of the body of water.  Crisp early June mornings are my favorite times on the lake.  The quiet spring hours seem almost noisy with crickets, Katie-dids, and frogs harmonizing in natures’ Hallelujah chorus.  It took my breath away at times, watching the baby mallard ducks swim in a row frantically trying to keep up with Momma Mallard.

The light waves brush against the shore where footprints of yesterdays’ activities were slowly being washed away.  Evidence of play still remained with little rock piles around, treasures of an innocent child.  Our children and I skipped rocks with their Dad trying to out do the other in the amount of skips over the top of the water.

 Skipping stones is the biggest challenge of the day on this wonderful vacation.  But in the attempt to skip the stones, the children throw pretty wild; the ducks run for cover and fish find refuge far away from the shore.  Robert is sure his sister is trying to wipe him off the face of the earth, and vice versa.  When one of us is successful in skipping the stones at least five times, accomplishment is felt.

Peter felt accomplishment only after feeling what it was to fail, denying Jesus, three times.  Peter at this time now feels the accomplishment of walking on the water, which is impossible without Jesus.  Peter starts to plummet to the bottom of the lake, when he began to take his eyes off his Savior.  He then fixed his eyes on Jesus accepting the intimidating storm around him, and rose up to face the Savior, the one who controls the storms.

Peter forgot the storms even belong to Jesus.  While the disciples were frightened, they still didn’t realize God kept them from the full fury of the storm.  Gods’ full fury will be felt one day on this old world, so fix your eyes on Jesus.  “Peter began to sink,” this is not “Peter sank.”

There is hope for you who feel you are going under.  Keep your eyes on the Master and like the stones, you will skip more gracefully across the rough waters.  The rough waters will seem more like the passing of a speedboat, then a tidal wave.       

Have Cake, Will Crumble

Have Cake, Will Crumble

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

                                                                                                …Psalm 101:7

            I killed a piece of chocolate cake today; thought it was a fly.  The unusually large spot appeared to me that it wasn’t a normal speck in the design of the counter-top. When I walked into the kitchen I was sure this blemished area was a fly or cricket. 

            When I fiercely smacked the intruder for it not to get away, the substance crumbled, I thought in fear of me.  Cake usually crumbles, but I didn’t see until I put my glasses on what I had captured.  The ferocious morsel was permanently detained in triumph, keeping all from danger of being devoured. 

            The only true devouring would have taken place was when I’d noticed it was a morsel of cake; I don’t usually let cake crumbs get away that easy.

            OK I told the story with a bit of drama but without my glasses things look so strange at a foot or two away.  Feeling foolish I cleaned up the crumbs and half giggled at my attempt, thinking I need to wear my glasses all the time now. 

            I was humorously deceived by a tidbit of dessert, but in the belief there was a trespasser I took it very serious. David takes wicked intruders serious.  God also wants us to be serious about liars and deceivers that come into our lives.   In this Psalm, David declares there will not dwell workers of deceit in his house, and he that telleth lies shall not tarry in his sight.

            I wish not for flies and bugs in my house, but also do not want liars and deceitful people in either.  Once in a while I may misjudge what I thought was a creepy-crawly thing, but spiritually I will work like David to keep ungodly intruders out.  I will however need God’s help and guidance to filter through those who deceivers that tend to fool me.  God is a better judge than I am at knowing true followers of Christ, or false prophets and teachers, though Satan can’t fool God Almighty.

            Watch out deceitful one!  Don’t try to linger in my sight or you might just get smacked, but this time I’m wearing my eyeglasses of wisdom from God, and you can’t escape.  No more chocolate cake smashed on the counter.  As David (vs.3), I will walk within my house with a perfect heart, or tuned in with God where His eyesight is perfect.

            Ps. Is that chocolate on your face?

Father,

Give me wisdom to see afar off those that try to deceive and make one thing look like another.  Help me not to fall for Satan’s tactics to pull me in by appearing to be something he is not.  Thank you for being my filter, because I don’t always trust my own judgment; my sight is not always so good, but I will trust yours.  In Jesus name I pray

Banana Split Decisions/Pancake Love

Pancake Love

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

                                                                                                …Jeremiah 31:3

            Two of our grandsons are with me during the day while on summer break.  A tall order of pancakes is requested from Micah and Jordan for breakfast.  One day 13 year old Micah makes them with me close by, learning to flip those cakes pretty good.  The next day the “almost eight” year old Jordan helps me with the batter depending on my help.  Just as we are ready to pour the batter on the sizzling skillet he says, “I think Grandpa really likes you a lot because of your pancakes.” 

            As a writer I wait for moments like this of pure innocence and sweet thoughts. This child feeling very grown up while hands are in the batter, expresses what is on his mind.  I sure love how the two boys feel about grandma’s pancakes; they think they are the best around.  Of course I too thought everything tasted better at my Granny’s house.

            I wonder if they would feel the same if I burned them one day or two?  They’d be forgiving once maybe.  What if I mistakenly forgot one of the ingredients and they come out more like hard plastic Frisbees? Would they still feel the same about them? No, and it might even change their thoughts about me. 

            “Grandma sure can’t make pancakes,” might be said in low grumbling. 

            “Mom can we stop for breakfast before going to Grandmas?” might be the next idea in their heads. 

            Our love for each other can change depending on circumstances.  Right now all these little things I do for Jordan makes his love stronger for me, but I might disappoint him and he might feel different one day, pancakes or not.  We are a fickle, capricious bunch in this human race and change from hot to cold as easily as night turns to day.

            God’s love is everlasting as Jeremiah points out when talking about the restoration of Israel.  As Gentiles, Christ loves us the same with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  Nations all around knew Jehovah was the True God and feared Him.  Many followed but when the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God opened the door for all who believed, come to Him.  He loves with an unconditional, an absolute and total love unlike our artificial, pancake type love.

            Why then do we love God like Jordan does when the pancakes are made the way he likes them?  Then Grandma is the greatest.  God, we will love you as long as you keep those cakes coming, they’re not burned, and as long as the flavor is what we expect.  If your goodness changes, we don’t know if we can feel the same way about you anymore.

            Sound typical?  We treat our Heavenly Father this way all the time.  God’s love is everlasting, even when things aren’t the way we would have ordered them.  He still loves us with an everlasting love, not a “pancake kind of love.”

Father,

Please show me how to love you with a pure heart that you so deserve from me and let it not be a “pancake kind of love.”

Are you confused?/Undeniable Stripes

Undeniable Stripes

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

                                                                                              --Isaiah 53:5

Watching a program on African wildlife, I became more and more aware of the God given protection of the zebra.  The stripes seem to confuse the predators when they are together in a herd.  Separately though they are almost defenseless from the wild animals roaming the savage land.  The document showed torn flesh and injured legs caused by the brutal attacks.  When together in a herd, the stripes blended together causing confusion.  Hard to define was where one zebra began and the other ended.

            The herd of zebras brought to mind the church body being attacked by our greatest predator, Satan.  The church body staying together will confuse even him.  Satan does not like it when we band together in one accord.  Branching off and splitting up causes us to be weak and easy for attack.

            Stripes confused the enemies of the zebra.  Imagine how the stripes Jesus bore on His body must have confused those who witnessed the miracles and healing power of Jesus.  Most of all it boosted Satan’s false sense of pride.  He proudly began to claim the victory his and thought he was the great conqueror over God’s eternal plan!  Then came the resurrection of our Savior. 

            Has Satan confused your mind about the stripes that Christ bore?  Has he tried to blend lies with the truth to where you cannot seem to define what is what?   John 14:6 the Word reads, Jesus is the Truth.  Remember sin sick soul, we are healed by His stripes. 

            As believers we know Him by His stripes.  There should be no confusion!

Written this morning/Are You Hungry Yet?

Are You Hungry Yet?

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done; and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

                                                                        …Psalm 40:5

He walked forward, stopped and turned back to see if I was following him.  Our Beagle knows me too well at times.  I will say “Come on Buddy let’s get some supper.”  But on the way I pick up the clothes basket, hang a towel or close a curtain.  He knows he will stop, start, stop and start again before he arrives at his destination-food.  With each stop he waits patiently while I’m sure that under his dog breath he is saying, “I’m hungry! Can’t you hear my belly growl?”

One thing for sure about our Beagle he does know I will feed Him, not maybe at the moment he wants, but he will be fed.  Twice a day we go through our routine of “Are you hungry?” and then his tail wags wildly at the hopes of being fed.  Buddy always seems to be hungry; has such an appetite. 

The thought occurred to me how the Lord waits patiently for me to act upon His direction but I am so easily distracted not acting on His plea to follow.  Christ always has great things in mind for me and He does want to see me follow Him.  His ways are not always my ways…sad to say I seem to think I know what is best for me.  I must do this, or finish that giving Him excuses why I haven’t arrived at the destiny He has for me yet. 

When I do arrive, I find all I need to be equipped for the task at hand, with all the tools needed.  How great are thy mercies and living kindness O Lord unto me.  Why then do I hesitate, linger long or even hold back from a bowl full of blessings.  Just as Buddy we will also come away satisfied.  Are you listening?  Can you hear Him say “Are you coming?”

Father,

In the name of your Son Jesus, Help me to learn to be quiet, listen and followwithout hesitancy.

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/ Cocaine or Grandma?

Choice: Cocaine or Grandma?

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;                                                                

                                                                                         2 Corinthians 3:5

Awake unto righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.                                                                

                                                                                          I Corinthians 15:34

           

Our five year old grandson expressed to us he was upset.  When questioning why he explained, "Granma! I wanted to take you to “Show and Tell,” but you won't fit in my backpack."  I found this so funny. The rule being that the object taken to "Show and Tell" could not exceed the size of the children's backpack.  This helped them understand at their age, the size allowed.  Even the children in pre-school had specific instructions to follow.

How do we expect children to follow instructions when parents don’t?  Listening to our news channel this week it was reported of a six year old child who took crack cocaine to school for “Show and Tell.”  I gasped in unbelief at what I heard.  The boy didn’t know it was wrong, because it was an everyday occurrence to him.  He even knew how to use it; having seen it used so often. 

Poor child!  The mother got off with possible child endangerment and paid a fine of around $345.  Parents!  Grow up! Raise your children, not the children raise you!  Children should not be cleaning up vomit from a drunken parent, or fixing meals for themselves because their mother or father is strung out on drugs. 

Set for them an example that you might be worthy to be called a parent.  Isn’t it   a “Parent,” our Nation needs God?  I am upset too Jordan, because as a nation we left the precepts or instructions God gave us, and this is what we have.  Jordan was upset not able to take me, but one day he will laugh at that.  He won’t laugh, when he sees the world left for him to raise his children in.  God forgive us!  Having the Lord will be his hope through it all.

No! Christian homes aren’t perfect; they too are struggling.  Christian, be what God wants you to be and the world will change.  If you are hiding behavior that does not please God, give it up and let Him clean up your “act.”

Believers, or unbeliever, don’t look at me, look at my Savior; the True example with instructions for you how to be the parent, husband, wife, sister or daughter God meant for you to be.    We all need God!  Read His instruction book.  Then maybe your child will want to take you for “Show and Tell.”