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Forgotten “Nessie”

Posted in Devotional, Revival, Spiritual Hunger on November 1, 2010| 4 Comments »

Thousands of people have claimed to have sighted the “Loch Ness Monster” in the waters of the Scottish Loch Ness over the years. I have never been to Scotland, let alone spotted “Nessie,” but I do happen to believe that she is real. She hardly deserves to be called a monster though; she was only labeled that because people are afraid of the unknown or unfamiliar.

Like countless others, I believe Nessie is nothing more than a plesiosaur or similar aquatic reptile. Nessie is not a lone phenomenon either. There have been many similar sightings in various places. It seems that if Nessie is in fact a plesiosaur, she has cousins all over the world.

As a firm believer in Creation, I have no problem whatsoever believing that at least one plesiosaur is hanging out in the depths of the Loch. Just because the evolutionists want to believe this kind of creature went extinct millions of years ago, that doesn’t make it so.

Despite the skeptics, there are too many reports of something big and powerful being out there in the waters of Loch Ness to be ignored. In times past, tourists used to flock to the Loch in hopes of proving the Loch Ness Monster to be real, and that she was the big powerful object that so many had encountered. The anticipation of seeing her was so great that the slightest unexplainable stirring of the water not only caused joy and excitement, but also captured the attention of the media.

Unfortunately, no real proof of Nessie’s existence was ever presented. This didn’t matter, though; many people continued to believe in Nessie regardless. What about you? There seems to be some evidence that Nessie is real, but you either believe in her or you don’t.

Chances are you’ve never given Nessie that much thought. The overwhelming desire to find her has really died down in recent years; so much so that she has nearly been forgotten. Many of those who would love to catch a glimpse of her cannot afford the time or the money to go searching, and most are just too busy with the cares of life to make the effort anyway. It’s just as well. Nessie is not important in the grand scheme of things, but it sure would be invigorating to encounter her.

Sadly, I think too many of our nation’s populace have adopted a Nessie mentality when it comes to God. It seems far more people used to seek God than they do now; and they used to wait with great anticipation for the slightest ripple of His presence.

But life got in the way. The world became filled with distractions and people grew busier, choked with the cares of the world. They just didn’t have the time or the patience to wait on God, and sadly, too many people lost interest in trying. To make matters worse, more and more scoffers popped-up claiming that God was just a myth and far too many believed this to be true.

Something needs to be done. It can hardly be denied that if one person came forth with proof of a credible sighting of the Loch Ness Monster, there would quickly be a revival of people flocking to Scotland’s Loch in search of Nessie. In the same way, if our churches and synagogues had a powerful, authentic revival, like the churches did in days of old, it is certain that there would be a renewed interest in seeking God.

I understand that people are afraid of the unknown or unfamiliar, and to many, this kind of revival is both. However, if an elusive sea monster can draw people’s attention and devotion, how much more the very real, undeniable presence of God?

Will you join with me in prayer that God’s people nationwide will lift their hearts in prayer, asking God for genuine revival? Nothing could be more healing or invigorating to our country than this.

Just because the scoffers say that revival is extinct, that doesn’t make it so.

And always remember, Scripture promises: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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In the Midst of Pain, God!

Posted in Devotional, Spiritual Hunger on October 26, 2010| 2 Comments »

She had prayed for him the entire twenty-six years of their marriage, but he never once considered giving his heart to the Lord God until he was so far down that the only direction he could look was up.

When her appendix ruptured and infection swept mercilessly through her body, this man’s wife nearly died. But she was a strong believer and her faith sustained her through the long ordeal. Shortly after that, her husband was preparing to have a frightening and risky surgery. He could only hope that the procedure would ease some of his physical suffering. His spiritual health was another issue; He finally understood the grave consequences of his rebellion and his great need of the Savior.

Ten minutes before he left for the hospital, preparing to face an uncertain future, the belligerent man bowed his head in prayer and willingly submitted his heart. “I had prayed for God to save his soul,” his wife explained to me, “no matter what it took.” Then she chuckled. “Of course, I didn’t expect that it would take all of this.”

“If he genuinely gave his heart to the Lord,” I assured her, “it was worth all the suffering.” She wholeheartedly agreed. “And his was not a prayer born of fear,” she explained. “He was sincere; the change in him was apparent from the very moment that he prayed and invited the Lord into his heart, and he is still a different man altogether. Oh, he still has a lot of physical problems, but he doesn’t mind at all; for the first time in his life, he is truly at peace!”

I certainly understand this. I know from experience and can say with utmost confidence:

In the midst of pain,
God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
He gives us a peace which passes all understanding.
He comforts us.
He encourages us.
He strengthens us.
He helps us.
In the midst of pain,
He heals us.

The dear saints which penned the beautiful hymns of old understood this well. Sadly, with the prevalence of newer, more contemporary worship music, the younger generations have never heard many of these old hymns’ inspiring words- precious words which flood the soul with joy and awe. And fewer still have ever heard the stories of how many of these hymns came to be.

Frances “Fanny” Crosby wrote more than 8,000 glorious hymns including Blessed Assurance. Despite the fact that she was blind since infancy, her hymns all glorify God and declare His love and His goodness towards us all. She never viewed her blindness as a handicap, but rather as a gift.

Why? In her own words, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”

Many of the other hymn writers were blind as well, or suffering other harsh physical infirmities. Charlotte Elliot, for instance, was a bedridden invalid when she wrote Just as I am. She wrote this hymn during a time when she was battling emotional turmoil and doubt. The song is so powerful that is has been played during altar calls since its creation, and is still used today for the same purpose.

Some hymnists even suffered from depression so severe that they battled with suicidal tendencies. Others, whether depressed or not, wrote their greatest hymns during times of great personal tragedy.

You would have thought, for instance, that Horatio Gates Spafford would have written It is well with my soul at a time in his life when circumstances were pleasant. On the contrary; life was dealing Mr. Spafford one severe blow after another. The Spaffords’ only son died of scarlet fever. One year later, they lost all of their capital, invested in real estate, to the great Chicago fire. Then, a short time later, all four of the Spaffords daughters died when their ship sank at sea.

Horatio Spafford’s spirits could have sunk into the depths as well, but instead, he penned the words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

How many of us can truly say that all is well when we are faced with agonizing pain, whether emotional or physical? How many can honestly say:

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my savior all the day long!

Throughout the ages, untold millions have been able to offer thanksgiving and praise despite their most difficult trials. Is this irrational? Perhaps it is to those who do not know God, but all those who put their trust in Him have this one thing in common: they know with utmost certainty that no matter what circumstance or trial we face-

In the midst of pain, God….

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Butt Dust

Posted in Devotional, Humor, Judging Correctly on October 23, 2010| 1 Comment »

Feeling a bit weak? God understands: For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.(Psalm 103:14 NASV)

The Pastor’s message was solemn and serious, but my husband was (discreetly) laughing so much he could barely catch a breath. I was completely stunned. If you only knew how quiet and unexcitable Bryan normally is, you would have been surprised as well.

The pastor was puzzled, my husband was overcome, and I was dumbfounded at the unusual display. What could have possibly caused this astonishing laughter, which was certain to erupt in an audible guffaw at any moment? About the time Bryan composed himself enough to quietly whisper a few words of explanation the pastor said it again, this time with deliberate emphasis: “We- Are- But- Dust!”

Now tears of laughter were really streaming down his reddened face. “Butt dust,” he cackled softly. “We are Butt dust!” I’m not sure if anyone actually heard the comment or not, but Bryan’s struggle to maintain composure infected about three rows of people. The Pastor’s dramatic statement had been diminished by the center section, piano side.

As humorous as the incident was, it is a great reminder that we can at times hear something that wasn’t actually said. My stepfather wasn’t the wisest of men but he always repeated one thing that is well-worth remembering. He said, “Never believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.”

Look at the well-known ink blot above. Which do you see, two faces or a vase? It is possible that two people can observe the same particulars and see or hear something entirely different. That is why clear communication is crucial in our relationships with others.

Heaven knows we fallible humans can certainly misinterpret things easily enough. This is especially true when we only have a limited amount of information, or if that information comes through a secondary source. That is why I often find myself pleading with others to talk directly with me if they are concerned about any issue, real or perceived, that involves me, lest there be any misunderstandings.

Even then, I find that people sometimes listen to the words spoken but do not really hear what was said. It’s kind of like the ink blot; the words are specific, but the ‘interpretation’ of them can vary from person to person. Is it possible that we sometimes hear what we want to hear –good or bad?

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find myself asking others: “Please don’t hear what I am not saying!” Additionally, I try to show the same courtesy to others. As I said before, clear communication is crucial. Relationships are too important to allow simple misperceptions to strain them.

On a final note, I may have just permanently ruined your ability to act sane the next time you hear a humble servant of God tell you that “we are but dust,” but hopefully you will remember not to judge a matter too quickly.

Be blessed and be happy. After all, life is short and we are butt dust, but dust.

                   He who answers before listening–that is his folly and his shame.   (Proverbs 18:13 NIV).

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A B C’s of Christianity

Posted in Devotional, Preparedness, Servanthood on October 16, 2010| 1 Comment »

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1)
A child of God is always…..

Aware of the needs around them.
Bold enough to share Christ with anyone and everyone.
Careful with every word spoken.
Diligent in all tasks.
Expressing genuine concern towards all.
Faithful and committed.
Giving more than required.
Honorable in all their ways.
Industrious and hard-working.
Joyous, happy, and pleasant to be around.
Keeping peace at all cost.
Leaving a kind word everywhere they go.
Ministering the Word of God.
Nurturing to every child they encounter.
Open and honest in all their relationships.
Pure in all their motives.
Quiet, meek and humble.
Ready to volunteer, whatever the need.
Spiritually discerning.
Trustworthy and honest.
Understanding, patient, and kind.
Valuable to the kingdom of God.
Wise in all their decisions.
eXemplary in character and conduct.
Youthful, no matter their age.
Zealous for the things of God.

Susan Shimkovitz © 1999

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Sticks and Stones

Posted in Devotional, Humility, Meekness on October 1, 2010| 2 Comments »

Whoever first said “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” was either incredibly naïve or deliberately deceitful. I have been the victim of both physical abuse and verbal, and believe me the pain of verbal abuse is far greater and longer lasting. Physical abuse can at times cause permanent damage, but verbal abuse almost always does.

Recently, someone spewed a long list of railing accusations at me which hurt very deeply. Although what she said was untrue and unjustified, I must concede that her caustic remarks were an honest reflection of her true feelings towards me.

After two days of tears, mourning the loss of this once trusted friend, I felt the need to examine myself. Whereas this woman’s accusations were false, I did have to admit that I do sometimes come across too strong; passionate people are quite often misjudged and misunderstood.

I decided, therefore, that I must work hard to be softer and try to express myself more gently. A long time ago I came across a beautiful prayer from an anonymous seventeenth century nun. I know nothing of this woman’s life, but from her simple prayer I realized that she must have been quite a joy to be around.

It is now my plan to recite this prayer every day. I have placed a copy in my Bible and elsewhere so that it will always be before my eyes. Hopefully the prayer will become such a part of me that if we ever have occasion to meet in person, you will be able to say to yourself, “My, what a pleasant person to be around.”

Since I know nothing about most of you reading this blog, I am in no way speaking to your personalities, only mine. Nevertheless, the prayer is so beautiful that I wanted to share it with you. If it touches your heart in any way, we can both praise God for the heartfelt words of an anonymous nun.

Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details- give me wings to come to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others’ pains. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains -they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint- some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

*This Prayer of an Aging Woman was taken from Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes. Morgan, Robert J.
Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, Tennessee. 2000

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Walking Upon Impossibilities

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Spiritual Strength on September 29, 2010| 2 Comments »

“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” Thomas Carlyle, Scottish Historian.

Sitting in a crowded waiting room this past week, I watched a very young girl make her way slowly across the room. Tears pooled in my eyes at the thought that this crippled child would have to use crutches for the rest of her life. But she wasn’t the least bit sad. From the sweet, careless smile which lit her innocent face, it was quite obvious that she didn’t give her legs a second thought.

I was reminded of William Pitt the Elder, a British Politician, who was an extremely influential figure during the French Revolution. What Pitt lacked in physical strength, he more than made up for in determination. The concept of limitation was a foreign one to him.

Though he rarely delegated duty, he had at some point during the war given a direct command to one of his officials. When the man balked at the impossibility of the task, Pitt reprimanded him by pointing to his crutches and confidently declared: “Sir, I walk upon impossibilities!”

There is no question that all of humanity is currently facing difficulty and hardship. The future holds many uncertainties and without God, I believe, little hope. With God, however, there is much hope because with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Whatever you are going through right now, dear reader, remember that we may all lose a few battles, but we will most assuredly win the war. Now is not the time to give in to discouragement; there is too much work to do. It may be difficult, but let us all rise to the challenge.

Marie Currie, French physicist and Nobel Peace Prize winner summarized this well. She said “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that…. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”

It is far too easy to allow circumstances to cripple us. And when they do, we can choose to accept them as insurmountable, henceforth hobbling on emotional crutches. Or we can look them squarely in the face and declare, as Mr. Pitt did, “I walk upon impossibilities!”  Let me remind you again, with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

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Skookum

Posted in Devotional, Endurance, Guidance, Inspirational, tagged on September 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In the winter of 1982, my life was saved by a pony. But Skookum wasn’t an ordinary pony; he was a Belgium with a personality as large as the mountain he rescued me from.

I hadn’t told anyone I was hiking up the mountain unaccompanied, not that anyone would have cared anyway. In those days I was quite alone, except for Skookum, who was quite determined to be my constant companion. The feeling was mutual; I loved my playful, four-legged friend.

I eagerly started most mornings with Skookum’s slobbery kisses, and his huge nose rooting deeply into my coat pocket to retrieve his daily snack (Snickers® bars were his absolute favorite). The two of us would then go about our day together; he rarely left my side when I was outdoors.

On that particular day, though, I was feeling as bleak and cold as the weather and longed for complete solitude, which was my most cherished endowment next to Skookum’s companionship. Life, at that time, had given me cause to agree with the German philosopher Schopenhauer: “A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.”¹  Since entering into relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I no longer agree with that statement, nor read philosophy, but on that dreary winter afternoon so long ago, the statement captured my inner thoughts well.

It was with that mindset that I headed up the mountain to briefly escape the hostile world. I knew that it wasn’t wise to go off alone, especially at that late hour, but I really didn’t care; the mountain was normally a peaceful sanctum and I longed to retreat to its isolation. Skookum knew the mountain well, but even he would have interfered with the silent seclusion I desired to immerse myself in. Thus, I slipped by his ever watchful eye and began my ascent.

Though I was deep in thought, I hadn’t been careless. Making sure to stay on the really old, well-worn paths, I deliberately marked the landscape as I went. Unfortunately, the possibility of snow had not occurred to me until it was too late. The mountain was quickly blanketed until nothing looked familiar and I could no longer find the paths.

As I searched frantically for some recognizable landmark, the chilling yelps of coyotes began to close in on me. More alarmingly, fresh tracks indicated their close proximity. Normally, coyotes eat smaller prey, but they had gone after the horses several times so I certainly had reason to fear. It wasn’t that I was afraid to die – I just didn’t want to die as the main course for a coyote pack.

By this time I was completely lost and unsure of what to do. Dusk had already begun to obscure what little sunlight there had been and soon I would be stranded alone on the mountain, in the dark, surrounded by coyotes. If ever there was a time to regret my reclusiveness, it was certainly then.

Just when I felt that all hope was lost, Skookum showed up. I was certain that his snorting and stamping was as much a scornful rebuke as it was a warning of the encroaching danger, which was getting closer by the minute. He turned to my left and headed off with a slower than normal gait, turning ever so often to make sure I was following. My faithful companion led me to the base of the mountain before dark without harm. I was actually thankful to be back among civilization and Skookum was thankful for his reward of two Snickers® bars the next day.

 After all these years, I still think about that precious pony. I sometimes think about that mountain too.  In that part of the state, the mountains were mostly rocky terrain with very few trees or streams- not pretty at all.  This meant that even those well-worn paths were very difficult to traverse; even a short trek up the mountain was somewhat dangerous and exhausting.

In some ways, my experience on that mountain reminds me of some of the more difficult spiritual journeys that I have faced throughout the years. I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I have found myself in a very bleak and desolate place, feeling very downcast and alone. Like my buddy Skookum, the Lord was right there wanting to shower His love on me and guide me through the difficult terrain, but I hadn’t yet allowed Him too.

Consequently, in trying to conquer my ‘mountain’ alone, it wasn’t long until it seemed my problems were closing-in on me, ready to devour. But just when I felt all hope was gone, the Lord (who was there all along) reminded me that He is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble, therefore we will not fear (Psalms 46:1, 2). He also reminded me that He longs to walk every step of life’s journey with us- especially the difficult ones, if only we will let Him.  

Dear reader, you and I will undoubtedly have many difficult mountains to traverse in this life, and the terrain may be difficult and exhausting, but we never have to go them alone! Beyond that, the Lord has made the paths very easy to find. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls (6:16).   And remember, the Lord leads us on those paths (Psalm 23).

No offense to Mr. Schopenhauer, but it is not when a man is alone that he is really free; it is only when a man walks with God that he is truly free!

¹ Schopenhauer, Arthur R. Essays and  Aphorisms. Penguin Books, Penguin Group. New York, USA. Translation, 1970

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Fried Worms

Posted in Devotional, Guidance on September 11, 2010| 1 Comment »

Years ago, while I was still single, I served as an assistant manager for a rather large truck stop restaurant. One particular evening, while the place was unusually noisy and crowded,  a rather weary family arrived.

One look at the parents’ faces told me that the day had already been very taxing for them and chaos was the last thing they needed.  while I couldn’t do much about that at the time, I determined to ease the situation any way I could.  Although it took some effort, I seated them more quickly than they had expected.

“I’ll go ahead and take your order,” I offered. “As you can see, all of our waitresses are swamped and I don’t want you to have to wait too long; you look exhausted.”

“Bless you,” the mother exhaled as she melted onto her chair.  “We have been driving all day and to be honest, the whole trip has been one big nightmare!  All we want to do is eat a good hot meal and then get home as quickly as possible so we can sleep in our own beds.”

After hurriedly scanning the menu, she asked her youngest son if he knew what he would like to eat. “FRIED WORMS!” he insisted. That was cute enough the first time but after the fourth time his parents were irate and very close to applying the board of education to the seat of learning right there in that dining room.

“Just bring us all a cheeseburger and fries please.”

I certainly didn’t know what it was like to deal with an obstinate child like that. But his mother’s face said it all, and I was determined to help her out just a bit. Did I mention that I was somewhat prankish when I was younger?

Returning from the kitchen a short time later, I walked over and placed a heaping plate of chewy little treats before the annoying little worm lover. His insolence quickly changed to anxiety. “Wha – what is that?”

“Fried worms,” I answered slyly. “That’s what you asked for, and we always try to make our customers happy.”

Even his parents looked a little nervous, they didn’t have a clue what I was up to but they could tell from my impish grin that they should just play along, and so they did. “You ordered those.” his father said sternly, “Now you eat them- all of them!” The boy didn’t move, though, because his body was rigid with disbelief and probably nausea at the thought of eating fried worms for real.

“Are those really worms?” his older brother asked hesitantly.

“Of course,” I answered. “And they’re pretty tasty; you should try one.”

He was a bit skeptical, though obviously a tad more daring. He slowly raised one to his mouth and ever so gingerly bit the end off of the critter. All eyes were fixed on him as a smile gradually overtook him. “Hey- these are good!” His father agreed.

Little Mr.” I want fried worms!” was not convinced, but after a bit of parental persuasion he finally braved his first bite. His eyes grew wide again, this time from surprise; he actually liked the worms very much. By this time everyone was munching on them and they polished off the whole basket-full in no time.

As the family was leaving, the boy’s mother hung back and quietly asked me what I had fed her family; she honestly didn’t have a clue. “I know they weren’t real worms,” she confessed, “but they really looked like they were.”

The stress that this woman had upon arrival had long since melted away, and she and I both shared a good laugh when I explained that her son had just tasted his first deep fried clam strips. “Well, you sure taught him a lesson,” she said with great satisfaction. Then, with every ounce of motherly appreciation she could muster, she thanked me and left to rejoin her husband and children, who were hopefully better behaved for the remainder of their journey.

Interestingly, I was really trying to teach that little boy a lesson, yet  I learned an important lesson as well. That incident helped me to realize that I was a lot like that boy. There were so many times I had wanted something so badly that I pitched a fit till I got it, only to find in the end it wasn’t really what I wanted after all. And the opposite was true also. There were times when I could not see what wonderful blessings were right there in front of me.

One such example is my friend whom I will lovingly call “Hugs.” I had only known this womana short time before  she felt inclined  to give me a big ole’ bear hug. “You needed that,” she informed me. I really wanted to respond with “No, I didn’t, but you need this – SMACK!” Back then I still had a lot of emotional healing to do and I was not at all comfortable being hugged by someone I barely knew. I’ve changed a lot, though. I’m a lot more outgoing now, and hugs are just fine.

As time passed, I got to know “Hugs” better, yet I still couldn’t help but think, “This woman really irritates  me.  Friendship, no thank you, I pass.”  However, I had pre-judged her just as the boy had with his fried worms.  God had placed this woman in my life knowing what a blessing she would be, but I let my opinions get in the way and nearly rejected this precious gift.

Hugs and I have now been friends for nearly twenty years and she has always been there for me through the good times and bad. Her friendship is the real deal and I thank God that He knew what I needed even when I didn’t.

One of the most important things I have finally learned in life is that the decisions I make on my own are almost always the wrong ones. Without God’s help I often desire the things that are not in my best interest and fail to recognize those that are. But, when I pray and seek direction from my Heavenly Father through prayer and through Scripture, I can be confident that I am headed in the right direction and everything will work together for my good for the remainder of my journey.

God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.   
                                     I John 3:20

*** Postscript: I believe there are certain things which are not to be eaten, as instructed in God’s Holy Word. Clams are one of those items. This event, however, happened nearly twenty-five years ago before I came to this understanding. I thought I would clarify this for those of you who know me personally and may have wondered what on earth I was doing feeding clams to a child. I now have much better food to feed those I encounter; the Bread of Life, but I do not in any way judge or condemn anyone who has a different understanding and eats those chewy little critters.

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Feeble Weeble

Posted in Devotional, Endurance on August 30, 2010| 8 Comments »

Like many of my tenacious, long-suffering friends, I’m a Weeble. If you are young enough that you’ve never listened to an eight-track tape or watched ABC’s After School Specials on television, you probably don’t have a clue what I’m talking about- in which case I will explain.

Weebles™, created by the Hasbro Company in the 1970’s, started out as small egg-shaped toys that were made to look like people. Because they were weighted on the bottom, you could push them over but they popped right back up. Just about every child growing up in that era knew that “Weebles™ wobble but they don’t fall down.”

I keep that little motto tucked somewhere in my repository of coping techniques for those times when I am unexpectedly knocked down by life. I occasionally face problems with bulldog tenacity and say, “It’s going to take a lot more than that to keep me down- I’m a Weeble!”

I’m not always that unbending though; sometimes I am a more of a feeble Weeble; I still manage to get back up, just not as quickly or as easily. During those times I have to consciously remind myself that although my burdens may have weighed me down, I can choose to let that work for me, not against me.   In the same way that the heavily weighted portion of a Weeble toy  allows it to spring back up, the same principle can apply to us human Weebles.

How so? Our suffering usually causes us to rely upon God even more; I have even seen self-proclaimed atheists cry out to God when the burden was too heavy. It is human nature to allow our exceedingly heavy afflictions, and our heavy hearts, to knock us down. In this condition, it is never easy to get back up. Nevertheless, when we put our trust in God and His promises, we begin to see things in a whole new light. We begin to realize that: …this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17 NAS©1995).

Notice that it is eternal glory that is weighty (in a good way), not the affliction. The burden may knock us down for a short while, but understanding God’s incredible promises, like the one above, lightens our hearts. It is the contrast of this lightness in the midst of heaviness that gives all “feeble Weebles” the ability to  spring back up.

Paul is in no way trying to minimize the crushing blows that we all face in our lives from time-to- time. Rather, he is reminding us that our afflictions are really not as devastating as we first perceive them to be when compared to the glory of eternity. In fact, our afflictions serve ultimately for our benefit.

Peter explains this well:

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (I Peter 1:7 NLT©2007)

Having said that, next time you are knocked-down by life’s blows, why not face that problem doggedly and say, “You can’t keep me down; I’m a Weeble.”

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Gift of Love

Posted in Devotional, Encouragement, Love on August 21, 2010| 1 Comment »

A few days ago my husband and I joined the ranks of those who have been happily married for twenty years. Though it will be a bit late, we are planning to celebrate the occasion with a romantic getaway in the fall. Still, we wanted to do something cherished on the actual day- something that would be especially meaningful to our years together. We knew exactly what that would be and I was so looking forward to the spiritual and emotional closeness that our private little tradition brings.

Sadly, rather than spending this milestone anniversary day with my husband, I spent it in bed revisiting the “in sickness and in health” part of our vows. For two days I mostly slept, but it was a feverish sleep which caused me to drift back-and-forth between coherence and mental gibberish.

At one point I woke long enough for my thoughts to linger on the beautiful little gift box that has been on my dresser for more than twenty years. My sweetheart gave it to me before we were married and I have cherished it ever since. He had wanted to give me a special gift to show his love and devotion; a gift from the heart rather than a material one.

The idea was not original and we don’t know the author, but the little gift box has a laminated card attached with the following popular poem:

This is a very special gift
That you never can see,
The reason it’s so special is
It’s just for you from me.
Whenever you are lonely
Or ever feeling blue,
You only have to hold this gift
To know I think of you.
You never can unwrap it,
Please leave the ribbon tied,
Just hold the box close to your heart
Because it’s filled with love inside.

I don’t know why I thought of the little gift box during this illness; I guess my subconscious was focused on my loving husband. Snuggling with him always makes me feel better, but nasty little germs were not what we wanted to share on our special day so he stayed at arm’s length. I drifted back to sleep thankful that he was near and that he loves me.

Later, during another coherent moment, my Bible caught my eye. Though I was sluggish, my thoughts connected my husband’s prettily wrapped gift box to my Bible. That may seem like a big jump, but God has given us His word, and that is a wonderful gift of love in itself.

I cannot see God any more than I can see the contents of my little gift box, but I know He is with me. And whenever I feel lonely or blue, I can pick up my Bible to find comfort in His words. I know too, that He is always thinking of me:

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand (Psalms 139:17,18)

And unlike my gift box, my Bible is not sealed with a ribbon that cannot be untied. On the contrary; it is meant to be opened every day. Within the pages of this precious gift are countless reminders of how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father.

God’s unconditional love towards us is one of the greatest gifts we can ever receive. But He has so many other gifts He is longing to lavish upon us. I sometimes wonder, though, how many of His gifts are just sitting there unopened.

I am reminded of a story I heard years ago:

A man had a vision in which an angel escorted him to heaven. He was then taken to a large room filled with small, plainly wrapped packages. With great wonder, the man watched myriads of angels coming and going; they entered the room empty-handed but left with armloads of packages.

“What are these packages,” the man asked, “and where are the angels taking them?” “These are all gifts that are being delivered to God’s children,” he replied. “See what joy it brings the angels; this is because it pleases the Father’s heart to give His children many wonderful gifts.”

Then the angel led the man to a second, much larger room. This room was filled with beautifully wrapped gifts stacked floor to ceiling. “Are these gifts for God’s children as well?” asked the man. “Yes, these are the better gifts,” replied the angel. “Then why are these angels weeping?” asked the man. “And why are they not leaving the room?”

With sadness, the angel explained. “The Father has prepared these gifts to exceed anything that His children could ever ask or think.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “They only need to be received, but sadly, the gifts in the other room are the only ones His children will accept.”

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to embrace any gift that God wants to impart to me. I may feel unworthy to receive such wonderful blessings, but my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally and He wants to shower me with His love.

He wants to shower you with love too, even if you do not know Him. Dear reader, if you have never read the Holy Bible, or haven’t done so lately, I want to encourage you to do so without delay. It is a wonderful gift from your Heavenly Father. And like my little gift box, it too is filled with love inside; see for yourself.

Happy Anniversary Bryan! You are my soul mate and I love you dearly.

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