rooted in life (#697-709 of 1000 gifts)

"Warm, eager, living life—to be rooted in life—to learn, to desire to know, to feel, to think, to act. That is what I want." - Katherine Mansfield

I've just come back from experiencing such a slice of life. A week ago today (Monday, the 19th) daughter gave birth to number three, a beautiful baby girl. She had planned to have a home birth but it didn't work out (probably just as well). Mom and babe were discharged from the hospital within hours, though. I was there to watch the little boys meet their sister and enjoy baby Myelle's first five days of life. What a blessing!

697. The miracle of new life—our new baby at eight hours old.

698. Little boys falling in love with their baby sister.

699. The imagination of kids. That is not a kiddy bath towel on Liam's head, but a Batman cape. He is looking down to watch how Batmanish it looks as its shadow waves out behind him as he swings. And on the other swing, little Davey is flying.

700. I took one walk beside the Thompson River while I was in Kamloops and enjoyed fall's loveliness in shape....

701. ...texture and line...

702. ... and color.

703. The rest of the time, I was run off my feet with the busy-ness of family—making meals, washing dishes, folding laundry, finding snacks, soothing a newborn... I loved every minute of it!

704. One day I took the boys out to the Little Farmers Petting Zoo (within walking distance of where they live). We hadn't brought any money to buy food for the goats but little Davey, who knows the drill, popped open the hatch of the food dispenser and found a few pellets someone else had left behind. The goats came right up to the fence and ate out of the kids' hands. Later we found some crabapples on the ground, gathered a few of those and had some more goat time.

705. We loved the exotic hens. "Take a picture, Granma!" (You don't have to ask me twice!)

706. Later in the week, son came up to meet his little niece. Take a look at this uncle love.

707. So enjoyed being with my daughter, the lovely mom, and her husband—who is a wonderful dad, shopper, baby changer, dishwasher, etc. Just wish I could have stayed longer, but duty beckons at home.

708. It was treat to have son ride back with me—as the driver no less! (I'm not a fan of long-distance driving.)


709. Hubby made it back from his Ottawa trip on Saturday too, safe, sound and full of his own adventures. We had a great debrief Saturday night.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

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humiliation

My sister made this little potpourri bag manger scene for me some years ago. 

It is one of my favourite Christmas decorations.

"'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.*'" Luke 2:11-12

*"Feed trough" is how my Bible footnotes "manger." It's a bassinet painted with animal drool, and decorated with cobwebs. What a contrast - Savior, Lord — lying in a manger! This is a sign indeed.

But it is consistent. For throughout His life, Jesus characteristically associated with  humble things:

• He spoke easily and graciously with women, even socially despised ones (John 4:5-7; John 8:2-11).

• He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:13-17).

• He taught the dignity and worth of the poor, humble, needy state (Matthew 5:2-12, 11:29; Luke 9:58)

• He welcomed and blessed children (Mark 10:13-16).

• He washed His disciples feet (John 13:5).

• He was "numbered with the transgressors" (Luke 22:37) when He was "crucified..." and, as if that way of death was not bad enough, "between two robbers" (Matthew 27:38).

I have two reactions:

1. Amazement, that the exalted, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of heaven and earth chose to identify with us in this way. The contrast is almost inconceivable.

2. Thankfulness. Paul expresses that the reasons for our thankfulness so eloquently in 2 Corinthians 8:9.

"You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich." Message

Wishing you, dear reader, a rich and blessed Christmas!

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) - Chris Tomlin

when discouragement hits

In Psalm 43 the writer is in trouble again (sounds like a David psalm but the writer isn't named). He feels misunderstood, caught, struggling in the dark, discouraged, God-forsaken, alone, hopeless.

He prays for God's help:

"Vindicate me...plead my cause... deliver me.

He prays for a sense of God's presence:

"...Send Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle."

He ends by doing a little self-talk:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me
Hope in God
for I shall yet praise Him"

This psalm tells us that even spiritual giants like Bible writers sometimes feel alone, discouraged, misunderstood and down. Can we learn from what this one does about it?

- He asks God for help.
- He plans to go to the place of worship.
- He takes up his musical instrument and plays a song of praise.

In other words, he acts himself out of his funk. He does what he knows to do, realizing his feelings will follow.

Lord, help us not to feel guilty when we struggle with negative feelings. Instead help us do what David does - pray, meet with God's people, dust off that old harp and praise God, even if we don't feel like it.

Holy Week - Easter Sunday

He is risen

He is risen indeed!

"Mary Magdalene and the Holy Women at the Tomb" by James Tissot, 1836-1902

Read: Mark 16:1-13

The story of the resurrection includes a lot of doubting. The women who first discovered Jesus was gone and heard from the angel that Jesus was risen, "trembled and were amazed. And they said, nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

Mary Magdalene saw Jesus but when she reported to His friends, "...they did not believe."

After He appeared to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus and they later told the disciples, the disciples "...did not believe them either."

People don't like to be thought gullible. Skepticism is way cooler. But when it comes to the things of God, we can believe the promises He has made in the Bible.

The disciples wanted nothing more than to have Jesus back with them again. But when He appeared after His resurrection, they didn't believe it could be Him - even though he had told them plainly this would happen.

Oswald Chambers says, "It is always a wonder when God answers prayer...it is so wonderful that a great many people believe it impossible. 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do' (John 14:13). Isn't that wonderful? It is so wonderful that I do not suppose more than half of us really believe it. 'Every one that asketh receiveth' (Matthew 7:8). Isn't that wonderful?"

- Oswald Chambers - If You Ask, p. 37

Dear Jesus, nothing is too hard for You. Your resurrection proves it. I want to be a believer. Help my unbelief.

Holy Week - Saturday

"Joseph of Arimathaea" by James Tissot, 1836-1902

To Read: Mark 15:42-47
(Readings suggested by Canadian Bible Society)

In these five verses, nine words popped out at me: "who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God." Ping! That's me. That's you if inside you is that deep yearning for His peace, love and justice to win; for God's order, His kingdom to come on earth.

Joseph of Arimathaea, the man who was waiting, had heard Jesus' teaching and seen his miracles. He just knew Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise of a king, come to establish a new order. But now his hero was dead.

Still, that kingdom sense in Joseph prompted him to get up the courage to ask Pilate for Jesus' body. Because that's what "waiting for the kingdom" is about too. It's about facing the meaningless, the awful, the sad, the tragic. It's about not slumping into unbelief just because things aren't going the way we thought they would but carrying on, even in the dark.

We too must wait for the kingdom through good and bad. It's easy to anticipate the kingdom when things turn out the way we hope: we get the job, health is restored, the house sells. But in the face of unemployment, sickness, dashed dreams, does our kingdom hope survive?

Dear Lord, please help me wait for Your kingdom with positive action, never losing sight of the fact someday it will come "on earth as it is in heaven."

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Story time

This "waiting for the kingdom" reminds me of a little story Richard Stearns (head of World Vision USA) tells in his book The Hole in Our Gospel. He was visiting a desperately poor family high in the Andes. Octaviana was a widow trying to support herself and her children as well as pay back a $300 debt her husband had incurred. The whole family was sick with parasites. Her small flock of sheep were sick too. Here is Rich Stearns' description of his visit with her. I think it's a beautiful illustration of both sides of 'waiting for the kingdom.'

"I asked her what she prayed for, because I could tell she was a woman of deep faith. She said she prayed to God that He would not forget her and her three children on that remote mountain -- that He would help her carry this burden and that He would send help. And as I held her hand and prayed for her, God revealed to me a profound truth -- that I was the answer to Octaviana's prayer. Eight thousand miles from my home in Seattle, 14,000 feet up in the Andes Mountains, she had cried out to God for help, and He had sent me. God had sent me to help her, He had sent me to comfort her in her suffering, and He had sent me to be Christ's love to her. She had prayed and I was God's answer, I would be God's miracle in her life.

And then the even bigger truth washed over me. I could see that all across the world people were crying out in desperation to God for help, for comfort; widows, orphans, the sick, the disabled, the poor and the exploited. These millions of prayers were being lifted up to God, and we, each of us who claim to be His followers, were to be His answer. We were the ones who would bring the "good news" of Christ to the poor, the sick, the downtrodden. God had not turned His back on the poor in their suffering. God had sent us. This was the good news of the gospel -- good news indeed for the poor."

(The Hole in Our Gospel, pages 166,167)

Holy Week - Thursday

Read Mark 14:12-72

Jesus and His disciples have eaten the Passover meal. After dinner they walk to Gethsemane Garden. Jesus says to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." Taking Peter, James and John He walks on, then stops. "Stay here and watch," He says, and goes deeper into the garden.

We don't know how long He spends in intense prayer. Perhaps an hour. When He returns, they are all asleep. "Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation."

What is this watching?

Oswald Chambers says:

"Is our idea of prayer based on the keen watching that Jesus Christ asked of His disciples?.... Probably our biggest difficulty is that our Lord is not really Master... The point is are we prepared for our Lord to say to us, 'Sit ye here while I go yonder'? Are we prepared to give due weight to the fact that we are not our own master? Are we devotees to a cause or disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ? He said to the disciples, 'Sit ye here.' If they had been like some of us they would have said, 'No it it absurd. We must go and do something.'"

- Oswald Chambers from If You Will Ask - Reflections on Prayer

Dear Lord, become just that - Lord, Master, Boss. I would be your servant, slave, steward, go-fer ... to do, or wait and watch.

Holy Week - Wednesday

Read Mark 14:1-11

How can she show Jesus the extent of her love? She imagines the greatest extravagance. She could pour her most costly treasure over Him - the vial of perfumed oil that cost a year's wages. And then she actually does it. Jesus, moved by her gesture, prophecies the meaning of her act. She is anointing His body for burial but beforehand, when He can still appreciate it.

He is fed up. How can a potential king have so little money sense? Jesus' affirming of the woman's wastefulness is the final straw. He goes to the priests and scribes - who just happen to be on his wavelength. Plus they pay good money. He puts in motion the last events of Jesus' life by agreeing to betray Him.

Two people acting out of the consistency of their hearts with very different outcomes.

What is my heart? Do my actions build up God's kingdom, like the woman's did, or work against it, like Judas's? I need to remember, their actions didn't come out of a vacuum but were logical next steps of consistent lives that were already pointing in a direction. In what direction is my life pointing?

Lord, show me the attitude of my heart. May it be toward You.

Holy Week - Tuesday

"Jesus upon the Mount of Olives" - Illustrations by Alexandre Bida, from Christ in Art; or, The Gospel Life of Jesus: With the Bida Illustrations. by Edward Eggleston. New York: Fords, Howard, & Hulbert, 1874.

Tuesday reading: Mark 11:20-13:37

Watch. "Watch and pray. Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming...Watch." These are the instructions Jesus gives after making a string of chilling predictions about end times: wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nation, earthquakes, famine and troubles (Mark 13).

I'm sure the three disciples Jesus took with him deep into Gethsemane wished they'd paid more attention to this lesson after Jesus' arrest. Similarly, if I knew what was ahead for me, would I be a better watcher?

Lord, please give me a watchful spirit; and Your wise perspective on the world around me.

Holy Week - Monday

"The accursed fig tree" by James Tissot, 1836-1902

Monday reading: Mark 11:12-19

Jesus is in no mood for lightness. He curses a barren fig tree. Then He cleans the money changers and dove sellers out of the temple. His explanation, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of thieves."

What does the serious, down-to-business, days-from-the-cross Jesus curse in our lives, my life? My fruitlessness? My affair with the things of this world?

God help me, this Holy Week, to get honest with You and let You get ruthless with me.

Holy Week - Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday which is the beginning of Holy Week - the week that precedes Easter.

Palm Sunday is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds thronged around, throwing their clothes and branches in his donkey's path while shouting "Hosanna." The joyous celebration is made all the more poignant by our knowledge of how soon those cheers will change to jeers. One of the reasons this story hits me hard is how it reminds me of my own fickleness.

Reading for Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-11

"The Procession in the Streets of Jerusalem" by James Tissot 1836-1902

aliens

In the last months I've learned the inductive method of Bible study devised by Kay Arthur and Precepts Ministries. In class we went through two books - Jonah and Jude. Now that our class is over I'm on my own I've decided to work through 1 Peter this way.

If you've done this kind of study, you'll know its method is to start with careful observation of the text. At the beginning of the study, you gather material about the writer and the recipients.

This week I've been looking at the people on the receiving end of 1 Peter. Among other things, Peter calls them as "pilgrims", "sojourners" and "aliens," depending on what translation you use.

Christians today are all those things too.

We're pilgrims - wanderers, who are on a journey to a sacred place.

We're sojourners - those who stay or dwell temporarily, as foreigners taking up temporary residence.

We're aliens - not freaky-looking martian creatures (although sometimes it feels that extreme) but citizens of another country who owe our allegiance to that other place, inconsistent and incongruous with, and opposed to the place we live in, thus often feeling estranged and excluded.

I find it comforting to see this spelled out in the Bible. It makes me feel normal and understood. Because though in many ways I feel comfortable in my North American culture, in others I feel odd and know that I'll never completely fit in. Like this morning when I heard the tail-end of a local talk show where people who expect the world as we know it to end and not go on like this forever were the subject - or rather I should say, the laughingstock - of the segment.

I'm glad that I can look forward to a time and place where I will feel like a citizen, where I will fit in and where I can stay forever.

God is here, now

Does God sometimes seem absent from your day? Lately he often does from mine. Oh, I know not to expect to feel God's presence all the time. The Christian life is, after all, a life of faith. But I'm thinking how easy it is to do one's quiet time thing in the morning, and then go blithely into the day - alone.

This morning on reflecting about this, I thought of some questions I can ask myself to change focus. (What's that verse - "Come near to God and He will come near to you"?*)

- What is my first thought on waking - I wonder what will go wrong today, or God has made today and I expect it to be a great one?

- Am I still carrying the small annoyances and concerns from yesterday or have I left them with Him?

- Do I listen, before the day goes into full swing, for what His plans are for my day?

- Have I opened myself up to interruptions He might place in my path?

- Do I practice thankfulness?

- When I don't know what to do, do I think to ask Him for wisdom?

- When I blow it, do I take the time to reflect on what happened and why? Do I let Him point out what inside me needs to change?


Wishing you a God-filled day.


*James 4:8

the joy-springing child

You seek My presence and they who seek shall find it. It is not a question of human searching, so much as human consciousness, unconditional surrender to My Will in the small, as in the big things of life. This is what makes My Guidance possible.

You know the difference between taking a glad, loving, joy-springing child with you along a way, when the child anticipates each direction, accepts naturally each decision as to each turning -- and the child who resists, and, rebellious, has to be forced, even though in its quieter moments it may say, "Yes, I do want to go with you. I cannot be left alone, but I hate this way."

It is not the way, but the loving rejoicing in the way and the guidance, that matters with My disciples. You are ready for guidance but you do not rejoice as you should, both of you, in the little daily stones of the way.

- from God Calling by Two Listeners, edited by A. J. Russell

Photo: Buttercup and Bindweed

summer worker

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field...

1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Photo: Bee and Goldenrod

thirsty?

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Isaiah 55:1,2
~~~*~~~
For my people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns
-- broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13

~~~*~~~
Jesus: If any one thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:37,38

Photo: Nikomekl River (right) and Nicowynd Golf course (left).

dynamite of thanks

There's no mind hygiene like meditating on a bit of the Bible. I know this, but how often don't I neglect it? Lately I've made (another) new start. Last week it was Psalm 32:8-10. Then day-before-yesterday, I flipped the page on my little collection of verses handwritten on file cards, held together with a binder ring, and came to the next one. It's Psalm 50:23: "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me and prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God" (this is NIV).

As I've mulled these words over in the last two days, I've come to the conclusion this is a dynamite verse. The whole concept is earth-shaking -- thanking God for a thing before it ever happens. Even the writer acknowledges this isn't normal. It's a "sacrifice," an "offering." But it does so much.

First it honors God. Now I think we're talking here not only about mouthing words of thanks, but being so confident God will answer that our whole outlook is changed. We have gone from anxiety to trust and optimism. God likes us to trust Him that much. It honors Him.

Second, such an attitude of thanks before the fact constructs a road -- "prepares the way" for the answer, "the salvation of God." How? Only God knows. It's another one of those Kingdom mysteries.

Are you asking God for something? Take the advice of this verse and join me in thanking Him for the answer He will send. Every time an anxious thought tries to slip in, slam the door tight with the words of this verse. Live this whole day "preparing the way" for God to show His salvation in your situation by uttering audible thanks for the answer that's coming. As you do, watch your attitude change from fretful to faith-filled. And don't forget to keep a lookout for the answer, which will come.

Photo: Mustard - pink this time.

good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over

"Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." - Jesus, Luke 6:38

Who doesn’t salivate at Jesus' word picture of abundance? Yes, bring it on!


But I wonder how often I don’t recognize the abundance I already have.

We have an abundance of food in our freezer and a well-stocked pantry


We have an abundance of books (this bookshelf x about 5).

I have an abundance of clothes.

We have an abundance of good memories in shelf-fulls of photo albums and many more photos in boxes and on computer disks.


We have an abundance of CDs (these are just the ones in my office).

I have an abundance of pens, pencils and paper.


I have an abundance of Bibles (many more than this!)

You get the picture?

I think this "good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over" has already hit me in many areas of my life. I think what I'm needing most now is an abundance of thanks!

another kind of valentine

Amidst all the roses and chocolates and cards that will be exchanged today – did you know that there is another valentine for you, just waiting to be picked up?

This valentine offers not sexy, infatuation, physical falling-in-love sentiments – although it does have that eyes-for-only-you feeling about it. It goes beyond offering the love of even the truest platonic friendship. It’s the most significant valentine you will ever accept because it comes from someone who knows you better than you know yourself. He made you and knows your most private need, as Helen discovered when she was only fifteen. He wants to spend every day with you, as Debra and Iris so eloquently explain.

It’s a valentine from Jesus who says, I chose you, I adopted you, I love you.

If you haven’t picked up your valentine - find out how to do it here.

good intentions

are not ‘Yes.’

Jesus tells a parable of a father and two sons. To the first son the father says, “Go,” son says “No,” but later, he goes anyway. To the second son the father says, “Go,” son says, “Yes,” but doesn’t go. Then Jesus asks, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” The answer, of course, is obvious - the first son who said ‘no’ but later went and did.

Doesn’t Jesus so sum up our hearts in this little story? I surely have been both sons - but probably tend more toward the second. It’s easy for me to say, “We’ll get together soon,” or “I’ll pray for you,” or “I’ll put more muscle into memorizing scripture.” But then nothing happens. Who do I think I’m kidding?

Dear Lord, help me to learn that a good intention is not a ‘yes.’ Help me to live ‘yes’ today.

the sent one

It hit me yesterday that when Isaiah answered *"Here am I, send me" to God’s question "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" he didn’t even know what he was volunteering for. It was only after he’d signed up that he got the job description.

In a way that’s scary and anti-common sense - giving God carte blanche to give us whatever assignment He chooses. Does this mean it’s out the window with yearly goals and five-year plans and adjusting our present course by the life we envision for ourselves life ten years from now? As I remember Oswald Chambers saying, when you’re absolutely His, your life may make no sense to you, let alone to others.

But neither do we need to live tentatively.

God engineers everything; wherever He puts us, our great aim is to pour out a wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work. "Whatever thy hand findeth to do , do it with all thy might."

- Oswald Chambers.

* Isaiah 6:8