Balance

Balance,  Thinkin' today about balance.  Not the world famous “balance”  definition but another one.
The world says we can have it all if we balance our diet, our obligations,  our work and play,
and on and on.

I'm thinkin' today about balance in my devotional life.  On my first generation IPad, I have
downloaded the Jesus Calling app,  the Bible Hub app, and the Bible for Kids app. In my ibooks
library I have  the devotionals : Maximize Your Mornings; Jesus on every Page; and The Shelter, God’s Promises.   By email I subscribe to: Devotionals Daily, Study Gateway, Max Lucado,
Spirit Led Woman and ibelieve daily.  On my nightstand right now are hard copies of Moving
Mountains by John Eldridge, Awaken by Priscilla Shirer, Jack Hayford's Moments with Majesty and
Anne Graham Lotz's The Daniel Key . I've read all of them, I'm just referring back to them everyday
or two.
 I am currently in a Bible Study with my women’s group at church on "12 More Women of the Bible"
and I am personally studying Women of Faith’s "Power in Prayer". From that study, I was inspired to
look more closely at Psalm 119.   In my excitement, I cleverly came up with 22 days in Psalm 119
and promised myself to spend the next 22 days studying each section of that Psalm. However,
(at the tim of this writing), my church was in 24 days of prayer and text me a devotion each morning,
so, I was doing that. Additionally, my church posts “reflection questions” after each Sunday sermon
and I really try to look at those and journal them each week.    I am a marvel at Bible study!
Even as I type this my head is about to explode!
In retrospect,  I don’t access the ipad apps EVERY day.   I haven’t accessed the devotional ibooks
in months.  I’ve been deleting Max Lucado, Devotionals Daily and Study gateway in favor of
Anne Graham Lotz the last 30 days. Awaken is a 90 day devotional that took me 120 days. I do the
Women of Faith study on Sunday afternoons, it’s only a 12 weeks. I started 10 weeks ago and I’m
on week 8.  On paper and in blog, I look like an amazing study machine.
I also keep a prayer journal.  I record specific requests and their answers or updates when I’m still
praying.  I started it because I thought none of my prayers were ever answered. That's a subject for
another blog and I digress.   While I have lots of books on prayer, the devotional books do outnumber
them. And while I set aside devotion time every day,  I’m intrigued by the time spent studying or
reading as opposed to prayer. Intrigued might should be convicted. Confession: Some, several,
many mornings I pour over the scripture and journal my thoughts,  read several translations and
then, in haste, shoot an arrow prayer upward, mention a few pressing needs, maybe even log them
in the prayer journal, sing a praise and worship chorus  and get up for the day. All, GOOD,
GREAT, WONDERFUL things to do. But, in His great love and mercy for me,  He gives me this line
out of today’s study on prayer. (It's the one Women of Faith that I do on Sunday and am four weeks
behind.  “ This week, instead of spending extra time searching out the scriptures, spend
a little extra time in prayer.”

Thinkin' about balancing my prayer time with devotional and study time.

 How much time did you spend in each this past week? Think about it.

Salvation & Power are Established

  At a Christmas tea, I was given a December calendar with one scripture reading a day focusing on the Christ of Christmas.    I really didn’t intend to do it, let alone make it a priority.  I’m already doing Lee Strobel’s the Case for Christmas study once a week and I have a daily devotion.  But, on a whim, I decided to read the scripture designated each morning from the Message.  Short and sweet.  Today was Revelation 12:5   I know, Revelation, what’s that got to do with Christmas? I won’t discuss that here but I’ve had enough Bible study to understand the connection.  So, I just kept reading through the chapter, until verse 10.  I have heard that verse, even heard it preached but today, well, it got me to thinkin’.

“Salvation and Power are established!”  Safety and miraculous power are installed, shown to be true, proven, and accepted permanently.   The word “established” has seven definitions on Dictionary.com.  All of them speak to stability, settled, valid, truth and permanence. 

We all know the story of Christmas, Jesus’ birth and how he came to die for us.  But THINK, this event absolutely settled any question about salvation and power.   I don’t question my salvation; I know his death on Calvary afforded me grace to accept that.  But, Power?  Valid and permanent power. 

I don’t think I live that way, a life in which power is settled.   I don’t think I live like all my comings and goings are under HIS power.  If I did, I would not be so quick to fear, to assume the worst.  To wander about the money in my checking account and rush to check the balance online.  To be impatient with those who don’t see things my way.    I’m not sure how my life would look if I lived like “power was established”. 

I’m thinkin’ on it.  Will you? 

  

Christmas is upon Us!

  The season is upon us!   Christmas.  The celebration of the birth of Christ.  If you haven’t heard Mallary Hope’s Christmas is All about You grab a device and you tube it now.  It’s my new theme song for Christmas. 

  

Those of you who know me KNOW I love black Friday, not the deals, the crowds.    I love Christmas décor, cards, music, school and church programs.  Pass the Gingerbread Latte or Peppermint Mocha Latte while I watch  Hallmark movies!   But, like Mallary, I need reminding as “December rushes thru” what Christmas is all about. 

It’s been easier this year; I have fewer obligations than I’ve ever had in my life.  My smaller home takes less time to decorate and clean.  I’ve been to  a Christmas tea at my church.  This week will claim 3 evenings of Kids’ programs but next week’s calendar is clear.  So, I AM taking some time to remember what Christmas is all about.  I’m taking an only Bible Course with Lee Strobel and the case for Christmas. (Check out faithgateway.com )    I’m studying daily advent scriptures that parallel Old Testament prophecies with New Testament fulfillment. And it’s pretty amazing,  even for this born and raised, graduate of a Christian college, A/G girl.   

In all of this, I am very aware that there are those for whom this Christmas is just sad.  2018 was not kind to them.  Loss of loved one, some by chance and some by choice; devastating diagnosis,  financial woes and looming job issues,  threaten some’s “happy new year”.   And it gets me to thinkin’.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem wasn’t celebrated by everyone.  A king named Herod with jealousy in his heart and Satan on his shoulder was not excited.  I’ve never seen a Christmas play feature hundreds of slaughtered babies outside the stable.  But, it happened.  Herod murdered hundreds of Israelite children in an effort to murder Jesus.  Satan actively tried to rob us of Christmas 2000 years ago.  And he is still trying today, through devastating diagnosis, loss of loved one, financial woes, looming job losses and a thousand other things that are weighing you down today.  I John 3:8 says that Jesus came to “undo the work of the devil”.  Latch on to that today, and let the baby of Bethlehem undo the destruction Satan has bought or is trying to bring. 

It’s Christmas, the Season of Light.  Don’t let the Prince of Darkness rob you of the light.  Come celebrate! 

Gone but Not Forgotten

   A few weeks ago I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  We lived there for 8 years right after college and right after marriage.  It was my adult beginning and I loved Tulsa. It took several months for me to find a job, ( no teacher shortage back then)  and I immersed myself in a church family. I’ve been back several times over the past few years and took pictures of the home we built there and schools wherein I taught.  But, I had never gone back to the site of that church. On this trip, I found myself literally down the street, so I ran by.

   With heavy heart, I drive away from the places that meant so much to me, so long ago,  in another life. How can they be so run down, so dead? My memories of them are NOT dead,  they are vibrantly alive.

   The church where I sang, where my daughter began her life. Where she stood on the platform at age 2 ( I have the picture) and "directed" praise & worship one Sunday morning after church. It's the place  where we huddled in the basement during tornadoes and laughed around tables laden with food.  In that basement, every Wednesday night, we gathered with our spiritual family for dinner. Weddings and funerals of friends filled these walls.   The sisters I never had, the women who became mentors, all of their spirits float through this place.

  I knew it had been sold and became a funeral home. Today,  it’s an abandoned shell, the etching on the sanctuary windows coated in dust and grime.  The glass doors where we entered and exited laughing and hugging, boarded up with plywood and graffiti. The beautiful spring and fall landscaping that I remember is shriveled twigs and branches with barren brown dirt.  It’s just a place but, in my memory, a place of happiness and joy, a place that I grieved deeply when life moved us away.  

  The parsonage is still just steps away from the building. So many meetings, dinners and soirees took place there.  So much laughter and a place where tears flowed as I sat in on the patio or in the living room or even in the kitchen.  Dinners cooked by the amazing Brenda, truly hostess with the mostess. Her house was owned by the church, but she put her heart and soul into making it a home for her family and for us.  It’s now a BANK. The irony, that our parsonage is a BANK. How could that happen?

   The pink “mansion”  that was our nursery and Sunday School rooms is long gone. I think  It was demolished by the funeral home owners for more parking. The wooden building on the back of the parking lot is gone too.  It was our Girls Ministries/Missionette building and I spent many hours there. Several years we used one room of the three as storage for aluminum cans.   It was standing joke that we funded our program on pop and beer. Cockroaches love those beverages also and the building was generally infested no matter how much roach spray I used.  

  I sat in the car and let the memories wash over me.  These places that hold so many memories and were the locations that my life revolved around.     My sorrow is deepened by the reality that those who would understand are gone also. Both of the Brenda’s.   

  Brenda A. would sit across the table from me as I lamented this without a coffee, she doesn’t like coffee.  She would chide me, and not gently, for my sorrow. Life goes on,  move on.

  Brenda H.  would hold a coffee cup and empathize, then wisely counsel me to move on,  a full life is always evolving.

  So, I wipe away the tears, and drive away,  doubting I will ever drive by here again. And I smile, because this place and the people associated with it, happened.

CHALLENGE: Write a sentence about a place in your memory that is no longer there.  

Shelter

"It is in the shelter of each other that people live."

  Can I challenge you to write one sentence in response to this quote before you read my many sentences of response?

Years ago at a Dry Gulch Women's Retreat,  ( Dry Gulch is, of course,  what Heaven will be like);  a speaker spoke about "shelter".  From scripture, she took 3 Hebrew words meaning "shelter"  and spoke about each of them.  She had photos of the 3 different shelters and spoke of how God meant for them to be used in our lives.   I don't remember much of the message but I felt very comforted by the thought of those shelters. 

Shelter:   covered,  protected,  safe.

So when this quote popped up in my "one-sentence daily journal",  it intrigued me.  I started thinkin
about it.   Certainly children live within the shelter of their parents.  Many women are blessed enough to live within the shelter of their husbands.  I've sought and found shelter in my church family.   Thinkin on this,  I discovered,  I have indeed lived in the shelter of others.   I am beyond grateful for them. 

However,  I have also lived in the shelter of the Almighty God.  Living out Psalm 91:1   " Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." 

It should come as no big revelation that we have to move into the shelter.  Oklahomans know it's important move into the shelter before the storm gets too close.  We need to create and cultivate our 'shelter' of people before we need their shelter.  Additionally,  we need to cultivate living in the shelter of the Most High before we need His protection, covering and safety. 

Take shelter today even if you're living in the Son.     

   

Psalm 86

     THINKIN’ On  these words of David  in Psalm 86.    It was written during one of David’s many tough times.    He begins by asking God to “hear”  him and “answer”    He repeats this request again in verse 6.  And this time,   David asks God to hear him and grant him,  not what he deserves,  but mercy.  The Message translation calls David a “wretch”.  A wretch would certainly have earned punishment.  Because  Mercy is undeserved, David acknowledges he is asking for something he did not deserve.  Then,  he says something that he knows from experience,  God answers him when he calls.  He is confident in the request he is making of God.  He spends the next 3 verses exalting God and reminding himself of God’s deeds and faithfulness.  He acknowledges his foes and ruthless people around him and then he says the piece de resistance,   He reminds himself and God of the characteristics of God:  “compassionate and gracious,  slow to anger,  abounding in love and faithfulness.”

No wonder David trusted this God whom there was no one like and whose deeds cannot compare with any other.  Imagine,  he is kind and tender, giving,  patient, full of love and he never, never quits. 

 One morning not to long ago,  I was THINKIN’on these THINGS when I realized. This prayer of David in verses 6&7 encompasses all my (and your) needs  “Hear my prayer, Lord”   turn to me,  incline your ear to me,  listen, pay attention because in your presence there is all I need. Hundreds of chorus’ tell of the things that happen in his presence. When  I enter into His presence, I have set myself up for successful requests. 

“Listen to my cry for mercy”  Forgive us,  even though we are undeserving.   Heal us,  deliver us, save us,  not because of what we do but because of who YOU are.

“…in distress I call to you”   We need strength for the suffering, the trials that we and our loved ones are experiencing.    We have needs that require deliverance from cancer,  sin,  sickness, mental health issues.    This verse allows me to enumerate my four  cancer ridden friends,  two young men with traumatic brain injuries, the prodigals,  and their mothers.  These needs “distress” me but right in this Word,  it says I can call to God regarding these needs. 

“because you answer me.”   I ask these things because I know you will answer me. And should there be any doubt about this,  I can skip down and remember that my God is compassionate and gracious. 

  Praying Psalm 86 today and Thinkin´on it.     

Examples

A recent morning devotion sitting under a Colorado sky with a cool breeze  ( not wind OKLA friends),  and a cup of coffee made me pause.  It talked about leading by example and asked who, in  (My) life had led me by example.  Example is different than teaching me something or impacting my life.  Example is the person who lived what they taught me.
    

I thought immediately of the colleagues who shaped me as a teacher.  I can rattle off their names in a second.  My former classroom reeked of their influence and even now,  subbing and instructional coaching,  I still draw from them.  I even called one of them last night for reassurance about a recommendation I was making to my current boss.

I thought of my childhood mentors, most of them waiting for me in Heaven.   Versal Denton,  who knew the scriptures inside out,  who we would see praying before class and would look to the heavens before answering our adolescent questions.   Who modeled what she taught even if I ran into her at the grocery store.  She, who years later would hold me in prayer as I buried my first grandchild.  She battled cancer and a host of other health issues before going to Heaven,  but her example never wavered.  And most of you have never heard of her. 

As a young wife, mother and lay person,  I encountered many women who led by example.  Brenda Holder,  the quintessential pastors wife who taught me that pastor’s wives are just people too. 

Jean Cobb,  who would teach me about prayer and resources.  She knew so much scripture  but led by example to seek counsel. 

Estes Eubanks and Rosie Yandell who taught this Lay Person that she had a valuable ministry despite not being “in the ministry”.  Their example ( and trust in me)  inspired me to press on to my best. 

Dee McNeil,  Loretta Wideman,  Tina Morrow,  women who led me to see the beauty in sacrifice.   Tina,  15 years my junior,  would show me how grace and mercy can save relationships. 

   Steve Green sang a song in the 90’s,  “May all who come behind us find us faithful,  may the light of our devotion light their way,  and the footprints that we leave,  lead them to believe and the life we live inspire them to obey…” 

Thinkin’  about MY example today.