Today I am posting a longer “blog” than usual.  Though I wrote this several months ago, it seems a timely reminder for me and for all of us to remember the poor.  As I am going on my fourth day without electricity, I am reminded of the millions upon millions of children (and their parents) who daily go to bed hungry, cold and without running water. I have been given so much, and I need to remind my heart to be generous and gracious – and to more closely strive to follow in Jesus’ steps.  May your heart and imagination be stirred as to ways you can make a difference.

Over about a ten year period during my employment with the wonderful benevolent organization HOPE worldwide I did quite a bit of traveling. Our children were still in school at the time and our families lived far away so I needed to be convinced that the value of this travel outweighed the difficulty of being away.  While I was able to see amazing parts of God’s handiwork across the globe our travel was not to the typical vacation sites.  Instead, I had the privilege of visiting many of the most severe slums of the world.

When I encountered the children in these places, sometimes I didn’t think my tears would stop flowing.  I spoke to children roaming the streets and lepers whose limbs had been eaten away.  I saw children being organized by their pimps for sex trade and children with AIDS dying all alone. I saw young boys in the subway halls with bags of paint pressed to their noses.  I talked and played with hundreds of children who had no parents.  I enjoyed the company of some young ones who lived on top of garbage heaps and others who were hungry.

Memories are vivid of one particular day when I climbed down into the sewers of Romania.  I encountered not only children, but teenagers who had children of their own.  I took a snapshot of one little “family”.  There only request was that I could come back with the printed picture, as they had never had a photo.  Like a broken record I heard the  the words, “Can you help me?”  I felt so helpless, in comparison to the magnitude of the needs.

Even now, as I think about these individual souls, I feel a sense of being overwhelmed with the task of responding to their pleas for help.  As we walked the sewer passages we had flashlights and candles to light the way and to see people’s faces when we came in contact with them.  When I was in the sewer numerous lessons begin to be thrust into my cup of learning.  I pray I never forget them.

I can’t do everything, but I can do what I can.  I am reminded of the woman Jesus commended in Mark 14:3-9

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

    [4] Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? [5] It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

    [6] “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [7] The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. [8] She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. [9] I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

 Even in this account, Jesus knows the plight of the poor will always be with us.  I know I need the poor in my life.  They awaken my compassion, but also test and “grow”  my heart.  They help me know whether my Christianity is theoretical or practical.  In this passage Jesus is at the home of a leper.  We then see a woman come to anoint Jesus,  which he describes as an act preparing him for burial.  That appreciation and pure, devoted love for Jesus is held up for me and for all of us.  I need to consistently help the poor, but keep as first importance my devotion to the Lord.

From the sewer,  the discourse recorded from Job describing his efforts to understand and defend his plight is a challenge and upward call to me.

Job 29:11-17

    Whoever heard me spoke well of me,

        and those who saw me commended me,

    [12] because I rescued the poor who cried for help,

        and the fatherless who had none to assist him.

    [13] The man who was dying blessed me;

        I made the widow’s heart sing.

    [14] I put on righteousness as my clothing;

        justice was my robe and my turban.

    [15] I was eyes to the blind

        and feet to the lame.

    [16] I was a father to the needy;

        I took up the case of the stranger.

    [17] I broke the fangs of the wicked

        and snatched the victims from their teeth.

 I know I have a long way to go to have this kind of heart and reputation.  The sewer reminds me of the need, but I live a long way from this sewer.  However wherever I go I can speak up, and I can have an open hand.

Proverbs 31:8

    “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

        for the rights of all who are destitute.

Deut. 15:11

    There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

 As you drink from your cup of learning, remember the poor and remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16

I’ve had the privilege over the last few weeks to spend some extra time with several of my grandchildren.  Kristen’s prescribed bed rest has given me extra opportunities to take little Micah along as my assistant during some days. Also, Melissa and Kevin were traveling and I watched their three on Sunday afternoon and evening.  I am amazed as I watch and am reminded how much children take in from what they see and hear around them.  They absorb the words, faith, attitudes, purposes and values they see portrayed.  They listen to and imitate what they see with incredible perception and accuracy.  I am particularly reminded of two scriptures that teach this axiom.

Luke 6:40

    A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Philip. 4:8-9

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We learn best from what we see modeled and communicated from one heart to another. I love watching my grown children parent.  I am so proud of them and the ways they are training their children.  Earlier this week I received this picture from Melissa with the following text: 

Melissa to me:  Lexi to me with my shoes and book.  “Bye mom.  I’m going to a bible study.  I gotta preach bout Jesus”.

This was a reminder to me that someone is always watching us.   I am also grateful that I can continue to learn from watching others who have strengths that I wish to emulate.  I remember a scripture in Deuteronomy 6 that we strove to put into practice when our children were young.

Deut. 6:4-7

    Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [5] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Of all the things I remember about my parents, the thing that stands out the most is that they loved God with all their heart and soul and strength.  Whatever is first in our life is clear to our children.  Our words, actions, compassion, faith, attitudes and purposes will shine through…one way or another. May today and each day be a day where we are alert to learning and teaching in ways pleasing to God.

I’m still recovering from my car’s diagnosis as I’m waiting for the repair to be completed.  My husband was out of town, and I scheduled an appointment after hearing a rattling noise from the fan that starts whenever the heat or air conditioning is turned on.  I described it as the noise a card makes when flicking in the spokes of a bicycle.  Then the noise started getting louder and louder!  While checking in to the service department I noticed the notation on the repair sheet just as I had described it to the service department…”Makes a horrible noise!”

I also asked them to see what they could do about a raunchy smell that I supposed had something to do with the great amount of rain and warmer than usual weather we had been having.  A year ago, after a fishing adventure my husband had organized, some “fish juice” (from freshly cleaned fish) spilled on the carpet in the back seat.  I was not at all thrilled with this rotten smell in my new (new to me) car and Wyndham lovingly worked very hard to get rid of the smell.  So, when my car began smelling like death warmed over I figured the fish smell had been reactivated by moisture and warmth.

I stared in disbelief as I got the news of my car’s problems.  It seems a mouse family had made a nest in the car, near the fan.  The little noise happened when the nesting materials fell into the area around the fan.  However, the disgustingly horrible situation that became a loud noise happened when the whole family moved in…Let’s just say things really “hit the fan” at this point!  Thus, the disgusting smell of death warmed over (which caused me to ride down the highway in cool weather with windows down) was exactly that.  As the service attendant began describing the problem I began to feel a bit nauseous.  Then he handed me a voucher for a complimentary lunch at their café, while I waited.  Was he kidding? How was I to think about food?!

Since the car also had a few recalls to fix, the dealership offered me use of a free rental car for the day.  As I drove home I thought a lot about the scripture in James 1:12-15

    Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

    [13] When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Temptation takes all kinds of forms….the temptations to be lazy, stingy, selfish, short-tempered, deceitful, impure, condescending, gossipy, prideful, (and the like) come at us every day.  It’s not sinful to be tempted.  It’s when we let the temptations start bringing their nesting materials in to our hearts and minds that we get into dangerous territory.  Then one sin comes in to rest in the nest and invites its entire family.  That’s when things start to “hit the fan”.  Unless we clean it up and disinfect (like what is happening to my Toyota now…except I’m speaking from a spiritual point of view)  our life begins to stink!

After hearing of my disgusting car situation I asked the service attendant how I might avoid this problem in the future.  He told me what he does – which works for him.  He suggested I could get a cat (not going to happen…I’m a dog lover but allergic to cats!)  or I could (as he did) purchase two rubber snakes, put them in the driveway and park the car over them.  He said this would scare the mice away.  I will have to remember that these are fake snakes, and will need to warn my family and friends.  I hate snakes and I’m afraid I might forget these aren’t real!

What I do need to always remember is that by keeping my heart and mind on spiritual things (Philip. 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.) sin won’t be able to make it’s nest in my heart.  I want to keep it like that!

James 4:7-8

    Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Sometimes life moves at a challenging pace.  The past several weeks have been particularly swift and challenging; thus, my lack of recent posts.  Amidst all of the family drama over the past few weeks (much of which I have previously written about), a week ago our church hosted a large national conference which kept us all very busy.  The conference also included some pre-meetings and post-meetings for me…all good,  but tiring nonetheless.  On the last day of the conference (actually more like the first day) I felt a level of tiredness than made it difficult for me to function with a sense of alertness.  I was also shuttling back and forth to a downtown hospital  during this time, where my daughter is still “holding” in preterm labor.  She’s been hospitalized for 16 days now, and many of those days I’ve had the wonderful privilege of keeping her 20- month-old son.  He’s been wonderful, even though it’s a confusing time for him.

This last day of the conference as I awakened with a terrible cold, I stared with dismay at my bag containing a fruit- designed apron, a  headband draped with plastic fruit and a pile of large foam fruit heads. I wasn’t ready to face the task this bag represented, and would need help to get my heart into what was to come later that morning –  an action-packed song and dance- filled hour of “Fruity Tunes”, a performance for about 200 children.   I prayed that morning to claim the promise in Colossians 1:29 –  the energy that God promises he can mightily inspire in me.  For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. Col 1:29 (NRSV)

I’ll share a short synopsis of the simple message of “Fruity Tunes”:  “Fruity” introduces “Loving Lemon”, “Joyful Juicy Juice”, “Peaceful Pineapple” and “Patient Peach” to all the children.  These “spiritual fruits” all have messages and songs to deliver to the children.  After each introduction with songs and dance “Rotten Apple” appears, bringing his terrible messages and dreadful songs – all threatening to take away  the love, joy, peace and patience that is being offered by the fruit.  “Fruity” helps the children chase “Rotten Apple” away with scriptures and songs.  “Tippety Teapot” gets involved  in the action throughout as she helps the children continually pour out their love, joy, peace and patience.  In the end, all the fruits and teapot unite the children in pouring out all of their love, joy, peace and patience onto “Rotten Apple.”  This turns him into a happy, loving, repentant apple!

This simple message was just what I needed that morning.  Before we started I really didn’t feel like giving, loving, or being joyfully excited or animated.  Satan, whether by circumstances, ill health, or various tempations  is always trying to steal our love, joy, peace and patience.  However,  God, through his Spirit, continually pours these qualities into our hearts. I’m so grateful for this promise!

Romans 5:3-5

    Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Fruity calls for the children to read a Bible verse and sing a song  to make Rotten Apple go away.  Funny, I find the same things help me!

This was the view out of my bathroom window last week.  It was a quick view, as I had to cut short my trip.  I held on to this picture in my mind, as the magnificence of this snow-covered mound of rock took my breath away.  Since this time I have thought of this image and several favorite scriptures about the solid rock which grounds me.

Psalm 18:2

    The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

        my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

        He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 Psalm 27:5

For in the day of trouble

        he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

    he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

        and set me high upon a rock.

 Psalm 61:2

    From the ends of the earth I call to you,

        I call as my heart grows faint;

        lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

While away I kept receiving concerning texts.  Tuesday my granddaughter fell and broke her arm.  Wednesday my grandson was rushed from the doctor’s office (via escorted ambulance) to the hospital with an extremely severe case of croup.  Thursday my daughter was taken from a doctor’s visit to a large downtown hospital via ambulance as she had begun labor at 32 weeks.  I found the next flight home, hoping I could make it before she delivered.  I felt so helpless, but yet connected to the one who not only places me on this rock but is also my refuge, deliverer, stronghold and shelter.  He is the one who is also able to move mountains.  I can not imagine going through life’s trials without this solid rock.  It would be as described in the scripture below – slimy, muddy and full of mire.

Psalm 40:2

    He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

        out of the mud and mire;

    he set my feet on a rock

        and gave me a firm place to stand.

I made it back before delivery.  The doctors were able to slow the progress and better prepare the lungs of little Grace.  I’m so grateful I’ve been able to help with my grandson.   Labor is still slowly progressing and my daughter will be hospitalized until delivery. Then will come the neonatal intensive care time.  Micah is much better, for which I’m very grateful.  I am sure that trials will always come.  Yesterday I wrenched my back and dislocated three ribs, but thankfully the chiropractor put them back in place.   Would have liked to have done without that, but my God gives me a firm place to stand.   Sometimes I feel like I slip and lose my footing, but then He grounds me again. I’m so grateful for my solid rock.

As you may have noticed I’ve been away from home this week.  The day before we left my friend, Vanessa, who lives with us pointed out a few small, yellow, worm-like caterpillars on the kitchen ceiling. Disgusted with their presence, and being a bit of a neat-freak about keeping the kitchen clean and tidy, I climbed on top of the counter with a tissue and carefully “smushed” the “things.”  A few days prior we had noticed some very small moths flying around the kitchen so surmised that these were related to the moths. The weather had been warmer than usual, so we figured it was just some kind of weird phenomenon that would last for the day.  A few days ago (still out of the country) I received this facebook message from Vanessa:

Jeanie!! the worms/maggets/larvae… whatever they are… took over the kitchen!! I must’ve killed like 100 over the course of yesterday… it was so gross. but then it got worse. I started pulling food out of the pantry today to try to find out where they were coming from… and they were inside the cereal boxes… and tons of other things!! AHHHH! I was freaking out. I pulled out everything and found thousands of the larvae on the very bottom of the pantry… I thought I was going to throw up… so gross. I’ll probably have nightmares tonight. Anyway… I think I got it mostly cleaned up – we shall see. I keep feeling like I have worms crawling on me. I threw a lot of the cereal away (most of them were almost gone anyway) because they had gotten inside the boxes and then were hatching moths. Ug… I could never be an exterminator!!

Anyway… just thought I’d share that with you! Hope you guys are doing well!!

My response:

• oh nooooo. I’m so sorry. Just got this message! That is absolutely disgusting! I wonder how this happens. I’d like to call them baby moth caterpillers. It sounds way better than maggots. I have to say…as gross as this is your message makes me laugh just a little. Forgive me
• actually…I laughed out loud…

Vanesa:   hahaha…. well, I’m glad that it made you laugh!!  just call me the Caterpillar Killer!!

This disgusting turn of events made me wonder if I had consumed any of this “contaminated” cereal.  This certainly gives new meaning to “butterflies in my stomach”.  It also reminded me of two scriptures.  The first is Mark 7:20-23

    He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ [21] For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [22] greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. [23] All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

The second is Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

This little moth adventure is a reminder to me that unless I deal with the source of something it will keep coming back!  Whacking the moths became a futile exercise.  The sources, in the pantry, in the cereal boxes and below had to be completely removed!  Will I (we) allow any bits of unforgiveness, greed, deceit,… to dig into the corners of our hearts like the moth larvae did in the cereal boxes of my pantry?  If so, the moths..and the sins will keep coming. I want to pray as David did,

Psalm 139:1-4

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

    O Lord, you have searched me

        and you know me.

    [2] You know when I sit and when I rise;

        you perceive my thoughts from afar.

    [3] You discern my going out and my lying down;

        you are familiar with all my ways.

    [4] Before a word is on my tongue

        you know it completely, O Lord.

23-24

    Search me, O God, and know my heart;

        test me and know my anxious thoughts.

    [24] See if there is any offensive way in me,

        and lead me in the way everlasting.

My daughters and I talk on the phone at least once a day.  I love talking with them.  We talk about fun things with the kids, hard things, simple things as well as deep things in our hearts.  We laugh, cry, or just enjoy each others company. It’s important to us to stay connected. Several days ago I didn’t hear from my oldest daughter, Melissa, for a day or two.  I called her the next day and we had a great conversation.  The next evening she called me on my husband’s phone and remarked how impossible it had been for her to reach me during the last few days.  She had left messages and even sent texts…. No response. Meanwhile,  I had received none.  I couldn’t understand, as I was receiving plenty of calls from others….just not from her.  She tried again immediately after our conversation to no avail.  My phone showed no acknowledgement of her call. I contacted my cell phone carrier customer service department and inquired as to the problem.  As the representative walked me through “smart phone for dummies” issues I went to my phone’s contact card for my daughter.  The problem was clear.  Somewhere along the way I must have accidentally touched the phone at this setting and inadvertently checked “block caller”. I was so grateful for the representative who showed me how to fix this problem. I called Melissa and we had a good laugh about the experience.  I’m freely receiving communication from her once again.

This experience caused me to think about the value of free flowing communication.  It felt terrible and  so sad to think that her communication to me was blocked.  I thought about and reread several scriptures — one in the Old Testament, one in the Gospels, and one in the letters.  These are poignant scriptures, and ones I can’t forget.  Amidst God’s compassion and tenderness I mustn’t forget his Holiness.  These scriptures help give me the right kind of “fear of God” combined with his love and tenderness.  They also renew my conviction of the deep need for my whole-hearted participation in our God given “ministry or reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18-19)

Isaiah 59:1-2
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
        nor his ear too dull to hear.
    [2] But your iniquities have separated
        you from your God;
    your sins have hidden his face from you,
        so that he will not hear.

Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Ephes. 4:17-18
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. [18] They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Sin has consequences.  Un-repented of and unforgiven sins block our “calls” to God.  This truth hit my heart deeply with the painful thought of what it would be like to have my daughter’s calls blocked for real, on purpose. I realize, through other scriptures how deeply eager and ready God  is to “unblock” those calls for us.  The cost of the cross shouts this desire as loudly as possible.  The separation grieves him.  But God’s holiness, and the cost he paid for our sin demands it.    The access to “unblocked calls” is up to us.  He provided the means for free flowing access and is always eager to keep the lines open.  I’m so grateful he does that for me.  May I (and we) keep the calls “unblocked” by our pursuit of holiness and may I (and we) be the “representatives” that help others find the key to unblocking the calls.