Monthly Archives: January 2012

Telling Brady About Denver

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After our women’s workshop Sunday I joined my husband, Wyndham, at our son’s house to watch the end of the Pittsburgh-Denver playoff game.  I’m not gonna’ lie…as a University of Florida alumni,  I’m a Tim Tebow fan.  However, I’m still loyal to my New England Patriots.

Sam (our son) and his wife, Leigh Ann, have a dog named Brady (yes, after Tom Brady of the New England Patriots).  Brady was born outside of Denver, and Wyndham and I brought him back with us, as we returned from a conference in Denver.  So, Brady and I have a special connection.  Wyndham takes him (and his brother Luke who belongs to my daughter and son in law) pheasant hunting.  Brady does not understand that he is too big to be a lap dog, as you can see.   Suffice it to say, we are attached to both Brady and Luke as granddogs.

As Brady ventured into my lap, I told him about his little “half” brother (yes, they both have the same dad) coming to our home next weekend. We are getting a golden retriever puppy from the same breeders that we used before.  How ironic that we have named him “Denver”, and that he will be arriving – along with the Denver Bronco football Tim (I mean team) – this weekend.  I explained to him that he will certainly continue to be the “alpha dog” with Denver, but that he has to make room in his heart for his little brother.  (He wasn’t impressed.)

While I don’t think this little tidbit has any affect on the outcome of the playoff game this weekend, and very little spiritual application – I did think about how good it is to see a man of strong character and convictions becoming a household name .  Tim Tebow is getting people’s attention…that prayerfully may then cause some to explore this Jesus whom he proclaims. While we may likely not agree doctrinally on some important things in the scriptures,  I’m so happy to hear of a popular sports icon that has the reputation for being the “only virgin in the NFL”.  While many may “pay homage” to God, have Jesus’ picture tattooed on their bodies, crosses hanging around their necks…or often point to the sky….so very few have the convictions and courage to live a life that represents the Jesus I know and read about.   Our world is so upside down in practicing what is true and Godly – and in knowing the difference in right from wrong.  As the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 5:20-22

    Woe to those who call evil good

        and good evil,

    who put darkness for light and light for darkness,

    who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

  [21] Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

  [22] Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks,

 

We certainly live in a time where powerless forms of religion reign as described in 2 Tim. 3:1-5

    But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. [2] People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, [4] treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power.  (emphasis added)

I pray that more and more people can come to understand the amazing direction and power to turn lives around… that Jesus really gives.

And…well, I told Brady about Denver’s arrival this weekend.  We will wait and see what happens.

 

The Power of Music

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Have you ever thought about how different a movie would be without a soundtrack?  Watching the scenes, without musical accompaniment, would be sort of like eating  food without  flavor.   I truly enjoy  great soundtracks, however I’ve had to train my ear to hear them well.  So often, I have just taken them for granted, unaware of the mood that they are helping to produce.  We can usually know when something scary is going to happen by the music that’s playing, or when someone is falling in love by the score in the background.   I’ve come to realize the contributing role that music plays in my emotions.

If I may ‘wax philosophically’ for a moment I’ll share a quote:  “Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, and life to everything. It is the essence of order, and leads to all that is good, just and beautiful, of which it is the invisible, but nevertheless dazzling, passionate, and eternal form.” (quote attributed to Plato). (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, 1991, p. 45).

God’s creation exudes harmony.  To me, the wind, the waves, the streams, the birds, the thunder and the the crackling of a fire are all parts of this orchestra.

Isaiah 55:12

    You will go out in joy  and be led forth in peace;

    the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

    and all the trees of the field  will clap their hands.

Somehow, God’s presence within us has the ability to soothe, to comfort and express love- much as a mother does when singing to her child.

Psalm 42:8

    By day the Lord directs his love,

        at night his song is with me–

        a prayer to the God of my life.

 As I read scriptures about songs I found that they were used in so many ways:

To awaken – Judges 5:12 ; to celebrate victory – Psalm 18:1; to express joy and praise – Psalm 28:7; to express love to someone – Isaiah 5:1; to alleviate fear – Isaiah 12:2; to find comfort – Isaiah 49:13; to mourn and bring down – Micah 2:4, etc.

I realize that my personal playlists of songs reflects so many of these areas.  I have greatly increased my use of music over the past year.  I find it helpful it setting my mind.  There are songs I like to wake up to…such as “What a Wonderful World”, “You Raise Me Up”, “Light Your World” (to name a few).  Some songs help me feel close to God (they are on my quiet time play list), some inspire me and help me exercise,  and then there are some (my dancing music playlist)  that help me dance through the kitchen  and laundry room.  I have some that comfort (think ”Be Still My Soul” and “Abide with Me”)…I try to stay away from dirges that bring me down (although I do have quite a long “country” playlist I enjoy).  My favorites are playing now…some nice background music (with a “fair shake” of Kenny G and Il Volo).  I like to keep these songs in the background when I’m at home.  (I rarely use earphones, as I don’t want to shut people out, which can happen when I can’t hear them)

A philosopher (some have attributed to Plato) has been quoted as saying,
“Let me handle the music for one generation and I will control Rome.”

In other words, the things we listen to, and pour into our minds affect our thoughts and actions.  It makes sense to me, in order to help “set my mind on things above”, to have playlists that agree with this desire.

Give it a try.  You may be surprised at the lift that songs bring to your heart, and the pep they put in your step!

What’s Your Caption?

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I happened upon this picture a few minutes ago.  My granddaughter is having fun hiding behind a glass pulpit.  I thought this photo communicated a lot with just a few words.

If I were put my face here….would the words shown “‘to’ God Be the Glory” reflect my life?  I pray so.  I want the fruit of God’s spirit to be evident in my life so that God’s glory can be seen and He will  be honored. I love the thought of seeing each of our faces in the background of this picture…reflecting God’s glory.   Glory is sort of a “church word” – where meaning can get lost in familiarity.  I see it most simply as the awesome (in the truest sense of the word) and consuming presence of God!  Imagine with me your face behind this caption.  Does it fit there? Does your expression and demeanor reflect God’s presence?  How about your words…and the tone of your words? Do the choices you are making reflect the glory of God?  What would your caption say?  Our demeanor, words, and choices always reflect something….and could always have an accompanying caption.

After reading many verses about God’s glory….and thinking about my “captions”…I am more keenly equipped to consider what and who I am reflecting as I go through my day.  I’m also grateful, as the scripture below states, that God sees me as a work in progress – that I can grow and change each day.  He is full of grace as well as truth, helping me in my weaknesses to become more like Jesus every day.

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Cor 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face to face! 17 They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! 18 All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

2 Cor 3:16-18 (MSG)

16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Cor 3:16-18 (NRSV)

 

Erasing “Not Possible”

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Often, during times when I visited Eastern Europe on business, I brought with me a plethora of tasks that needed to be accomplished.  I met with many different people to begin the process of various undertakings such as the summer HOPE Youth Corps, the home for orphans, and even our own adoption experience.  Two words were often repeated – “not possible”.   I would hear the phrase, “not possible” over and over again in response to numerous requests and situations.  Though I realized much of the reason for this stemmed from a culture that had been under a dictatorship for many years… I still despised that phrase.  To me, that phrase sort of “puts its toe over the line” – as if to dare me to try to go forward.  These types of situations get my spiritual adrenaline juices going,… because I know that God specializes in the impossible.  When I hear “it’s not possible” –  it excites me to see what God might do.

I grew up with a dad who displayed a sign on his desk that read, “Now tell me all the reasons why it can be done.”  This exemplified  to me his character and faith.   I also remember a  time listening to my oldest sister recount a conversation with a police officer concerning a ticket she had gotten for going down a one-way street the wrong way.   Instead of paying a fine, she persuaded the court to change the road to become a two way street.  I have been inspired by the faith of so many I have seen around me and read so many accounts of real men and women in the Bible who stepped out on faith to witness God do the impossible.   So, I am well acquainted with examples of those who saw obstacles and challenges as mere “hiccups”.

More importantly, my spiritual Father created the universe out of darkness and void, closed the mouths of lions, and drenched a parched land from a tiny cloud – just to mention a very few feats.  He brought a nation of people from a closed womb, sent his son to be born of a virgin and then raised him from the dead.   His finest work comes from the most unlikely and impossible situations.

Sometimes, it takes tenaciousness and sometimes it requires our stepping out of our comfort zone to be used to change a situation.  I remember one particular (albeit  insignificant) situation like this.  I was pregnant with our first child and decided I wanted to stay (or get) in shape and take an exercise class.  So, I went to a neighborhood gym and inquired about joining a class for pregnant women.  The manager gave me an inquisitive look and told me there was no such thing.  I proceeded to convince him that this was a big mistake for their business and they needed to offer such a class.  In fact, they should pay me to teach it.  Granted, I had no background in this and didn’t know what I was doing.  I probably looked ridiculous.  I wore an old purple sweat suit that I wore when exercising (we had little money so it had to suffice as my exercise wardrobe.)   I looked much like an Easter egg.

Next thing I knew I was the new instructor for the “maternity aerobics” class.  I felt very out of my element…so purchased a “Jane Fonda”  video tape for pregnant women and did exactly what she did (well at least attempted to).  I thrill seeing possibilities unfold from “not possible” responses.

When you are faced with a situation that seems to have reached a dead end it is certainly possible that God is simply saying “no”.  However, it is also possible that He may want to use you or circumstances around you to change a seemingly impossible situation.  In order to find out, it takes our stepping out on faith…most often out of our comfort zones.   What situations do you face that seem impossible to change… even when you know they need to change and it is within God’s plan for them to change?  What are some things that stretch your imagination to envision being different?  Maybe it’s seeing an obstacle be overcome, changing something in your character, or healing a relationship.  You may have numerous “not possibles” in your mind.  As you think of them,  consider the following scriptures:

Romans 4:17-21

  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed–the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.   Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” [19] Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. [20] Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, [21] being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Ephes. 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

What “not possibles” might you erase by trusting that God is able to do more than you dare ask or imagine?

 

 

 

 

Conquering the Black Jeans

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I have a job to complete.  I’m sitting at my kitchen counter with my “Hello Kitty” sewing machine… hemming some black jeans.   (Yes, I use a “Hello Kitty” sewing machine.  It is simple enough for me to use, and I figured that I could teach my grandkids to sew with it.)   I purchased these jeans for my husband about 3 years ago because they were his size…sort of.  I found them on sale for one dollar.  Yes, …one dollar.  The size was not marked,  but they looked about right for him.  They fit him well, except for the length.  I think that is why these jeans were on sale.  They would have fit well if he were about 8½ feet tall.  He is tall, but not that tall.  Well, I am happy to report that I just completed the job.

For some reason, I have procrastinated hemming these jeans for those 3 years.  I’m ashamed to say that they have been folded in the corner of our room for that entire time.  It actually took me three minutes to get the sewing machine set up with the needed black thread.  It took about another five minutes to hem both pants legs and another minute to put the machine back in the closet.  That’s it. Three years to actually make the decision to act …which took nine minutes to complete.

This new year, I wanted to begin by conquering this silly, crazy thing that had been hanging over my head  for much too long.  It’s eleven o’clock in the evening and I was not going to let another day pass without facing this.  The other thing I put off for way too long was getting rid of a cobweb in the corner of my shower.  It required my getting a footstool and wiping the corner of the shower stall.  Not a big deal, but every day for months  I would look up at that corner and say to myself, “I really should do something about this.”  Well, I’m happy to say the cobweb is gone.   I am quite sure I have spent much more time thinking about “getting around to it” than it actually took to do it.  I had to come to a point where I decided it was time to act on my good intentions saying….If I don’t do it today, then when will I…really?

While these two things are not really important in the big scheme of things they had gotten the best of me.  I just didn’t want to do them….yet.  However, I was always planning to “get around to it”.

Putting off until tomorrow can be a dangerous habit, especially if it effects life issues that are of utmost importance.  Perhaps you have been thinking of pursuing or strengthening your relationship with God….or changing something that keeps you from following him wholeheartedly.  Or maybe it’s just a small task like I mention above.  Sometimes, like Felix in the scripture below…we put something off because of fear of change.

Acts 24:24-25

    Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. [25] As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

Other times, it is easy to just get complacent thinking that nothing is really that urgent.  The scriptures soberly speak to this as well.

Luke 12:18-21

    “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘

    [20] “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

At any rate, I feel so much better after hemming those “dollar jeans” and wiping away the cobwebs.  What are you procrastinating?  Go for it today.  It could make the difference for the day, the year, or even eternity.