Category:

Following the Guide

11/6/2015

There you are, stuck in a deep pit with no idea how to get out. Just like the jeep in this photo whose driver perhaps thought he was skilled enough to go it alone, doing it his own way, and then found himself in a quite a pickle; so too we can often find ourselves in challenging situations, stuck in a deep pit.

My husband and I have been jeeping with our oldest son, who is a avid jeep enthusiast. There are some pretty rough yet exhilarating trails found in Moab, Utah, which we have experienced several times. Most recently, we weren’t with a long, long line of jeeps going over trails which is what occurs during the annual Jeep Safari. This time there were just three vehicles; my son’s jeep, my son-in-law's Ram truck, and a little side by side ATV, that my husband and I were in. In the jeep with my son was a friend who is also a guide for the annual jeep safari. I didn’t understand how important the role of the guide was, until the first deep descent down the rocky trail. Did I mention deep descent? Because for me, it was an “are you kidding me-we’re going down that?!” type of descent. And yes, I was very much afraid.

Until Casey-a former student of mine and now a treasured friend- jumped out of my son’s jeep and with all the confidence in the world, started guiding us down the ravine. (OK- it wasn’t a ravine but it felt that way to me!) He guided all the vehicles in our little 3 vehicle safari safely through each obstacle -as the jeep world calls them. His eyes were on the tires, the rocks, the angle and direction of the wheels upon the rock; his eyes were scanning it all, as he guided us. At one point it wasn’t just Casey, but others who got out of their vehicles to offer encouragement, look for dangers and safer paths through the obstacle, indicating when to go slightly left or slightly right or to stop or to come ahead. Casey, the experienced trail guide, knew what lay before us. It was up to us to trust and follow his signals as we inched our way down. Had we tried it on our own, with no one to guide us, I imagine we would have found ourselves in quite a pickle!

I have found myself ‘in a pickle’ at times in my life. Times when I did things my way, stubbornly or pridefully thinking my way was the way. Pshaw…I didn’t need any help or counsel or guidance. I was perfectly able to navigate the particular situation in my life. Or perhaps it was my impatience, wanting to hurry something along. In something as simple as sewing I can’t tell you how many times I have had to rip the seams out and start all over. And it was all because I didn’t completely follow the guidelines per the pattern. Why? Because I trusted myself more than I trusted the guide.

God, the ultimate Guide, has been patient with me. He has allowed me to learn the hard way thereby really owning the lesson learned. I have learned:

to trust HIM always - as I work to enlarge my trust so it is one without borders

to read the instructions - knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide me in all things through the Word of God. In ALL things.

to seek counsel in Godly advisors - those people who aren’t afraid to tell me I have broccoli in my teeth, spiritually speaking

and with absolute surety I have learned to FOLLOW the GUIDE

Yesterday as I was reading in the book of Psalms, this verse stirred me;

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalms 32:8

This verse tells me that If you want to know the way you should go, while walking through challenging situations, or weighty life decisions; then pay attention to God, very close attention. He is the only Guide to follow as we go through life. His eye is upon us. Do you fully get that? His eye is upon us! He sees us, He cares deeply about each individual one of us. He knows what we are going through, and what lies ahead. He knows the path, the rocky crevices we are often called to go over, through or descend into. And only He can instruct and teach us in the way we should go, the path to safely navigating all the decisions and dilemmas we encounter in our journey.

Following your Guide will lead you to victory through whatever obstacle or challenge you face. It won’t be easy, it will often be scary, and you’ll be way outside your comfort zone as you enlarge your own personal borders of following and trusting God. But the reward? It’s exhilarating. Top of the world- actually top of His world!

My oldest son, on Top of the world trail in Moab, Utah. Way to go get the ketchup Codeman!

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Spring IS coming...I see the potholes!

3/6/2014

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Last week, I saw my first sign of spring. I looked up in the sky, far far up into the blue, and saw them; a flock of geese. These weren't our local geese that I often hear honking and see flying from one field to another; no, these were the ones that fly far south in the winter and return back north in the spring. Seeing them brought a smile to my heart. Even though it snowed the day before, and the day after, (making me think these poor geese were rather confused), on that particular day seeing these geese told me, it's coming...spring IS just around the corner. And that was enough to cheer my spirit, after this long cold winter. And then earlier this week, I saw another sign of spring, this time in my garden. I saw the daffodil bulbs just barely peaking their heads out of the ground. Another smile...yup spring is getting closer! Woohoo! Can't wait! Later in the week I felt, more than saw, another of the telltale signs of spring... those unavoidable potholes! Potholes are also a rite of spring. Spring may be coming, but not without its reminders of winter.

Winter seems to never get the respect that spring does. I think it's because winter tends to wear out its' welcome. And yet, it seems to me that winter is supposed to be long, because it is supposed to be a bit of a respite, a time for us to slow down, and rest a bit, (though I often miss that memo, and tend to stay as busy in winter as the other seasons.) ;/ Whether we rest or not in winter, we all tend to welcome and eagerly anticipate spring don't we? After the darkness and cold of winter, the light, the warmth, the sensory overload that spring brings fills us with new hope and joy, and excitement. Except for those potholes! Which brings me to the point of this post.

What I have observed about potholes is this:

We aren't always aware of them
We can unexpectedly fall into them
They are uncomfortable and quite messy
They can become quite dangerous

Ringing any bells?? You probably see where I am going with this. Spiritually speaking, we may just have come off a dark time, and finally into the joy and refreshing of weathering our storm- our winter,
OR
perhaps the opposite is true, we have just enjoyed the respite of winter, a bit of rest, smooth sailing, relishing and enjoying our blessings
WHEN
unexpectedly we find we have fallen into an uncomfortable and quite messy conundrum, a bump, a pothole, in our spiritual path.

What I have observed about our spiritual potholes is this:

They seem to come out of nowhere, when we least expect them
We fall hard into the emotions that they pull out of us
It is very uncomfortable and a bit messy when we are in the spiritual pothole, as we wrestle with ourselves, our emotions, and our battle of spirit versus flesh
They can become quite a danger to our spiritual growth if not dealt with in the right manner

But there is GOOD, no GREAT news. Potholes are fixable! Year after year, the crews come out to repair them, a patch here, a filling there, or maybe even laying down a new road. Whatever the means, they are fixable!

And so are our inevitable spiritual potholes.
A patch here could be confessing and sharing our burdens with other Christians.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one anothers burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ
James 5: 16 Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another...

A filling there is going to God in His word and in prayer, pouring out our fears, insecurities, worries to our Lord, and asking Him to fill us with His perspective, His hope, His comfort, His Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble and you shall find rest for your souls.
Ephesians 5:18b ...but be filled with the Spirit

Laying down a new road might mean a real hard look in the mirror, and an adjustment to the priorities of our life, making some changes to the road we are on.
Psalms 139: 23-24 Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting path.

Winters come and go, spring always always arrives, sometimes later than we would desire, but it always comes, with its beauty and wonder, hope and joy.
And with it's potholes! And I am beginning to see those potholes not with an "ugg, what a bother', type of mindset, but with a mindset to re-examine, to work on my heart, to 'fix' - with God's help - what might need a slight 'tweek' or attitude adjustment within me. I have realized that it is the potholes that make me grow, that make me really examine my path and demand that I give attention to and try to fix anything in my path, anything in my life, attitude, or heart, that is less that desirable in being His child, and striving to serve Him.

So come on spring! I am ready to fix some potholes!

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Sometimes you have to be carried

10/24/2013

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Sometimes you run, sometimes you walk and sometimes you have to be carried- be it spiritually or physically. My little dog Dooley has been reminding me of that lately. I have a 3 mile stretch that I like to run regularly. I will often take him with me, since he loves to go. But he is getting older, (as is his owner!) Lately, it seems more often that not, we run a mile, walk a mile and then I carry him the last mile. I suppose I should just leave him at home, but he just gets so excited when he sees me put on my running gear. I don't have the heart to leave him, and so I take him, knowing that my upper body will also get a workout during that last mile as I have to carry him.

It's funny when he gives out, he just stops and hunkers down in the road. It's not that he slows down to a very slow walk and then stops. No, he goes from a little wiener dog run with little legs just a moving to a dead stop in an instant. It is as if his weight doubles or triples when he hunkers down. He actually feels heavier as I try to coax him to go just a bit further. There is no coaxing him to move another muscle, even that tail that wags so freely, ceases its constant motion. And so, I pick him up, and carry him the last mile. Not long after I have picked him up, that tail starts to wagging again, and he usually looks up at me to try to give me a "thank you" lick.

My running is for no other reason that to clear my head and pray. Oh, yes, the exercise is an added benefit, but really it is the clarity of mind I get when I run, that I have come to love. I have a mind that gets distracted easily. I used to journal my prayers, then in my early 40's I discovered running, and how easy it was to concentrate mentally, since when I run, pretty much the only thing in my mind is drawing that next breath. So running -short distances-became something I look forward to. If I am training for a race, like Ragnar- (yay Ragnar!), I don't take my little dog, although, (and you many laugh), he starts out running at a really really fast pace. Seriously, faster than mine, which isn't saying much since I am a pretty slow runner! But he is quite fast; those little dogs were born to hunt and chase, so he starts out really fast, then slows down to a 'jog', and then just stops and needs to be carried.

Which is kind of like us, isn't it? We start strong, slow down a bit, and then hit a brick wall. We all need to be carried occasionally. Whether it be devastating illness, emotional trauma, or whatever minefield we happen to have found ourselves in, we all need to be carried from time to time. And while the wonderful poem, "Footprints in the Sand", reminds us that ultimately it is Jesus carrying us, I am thinking about the people God has placed in our lives, those who love us enough to bear our burdens when we are weary and carry us occasionally. During a particularly trying time when my terminally ill mother was living with us, I was growing very weary, feeling beat up physically, emotionally and spiritually. A very dear friend reminded me of this story about Moses in which he and the Israelites were battling a foreign nation.

"So it came about, that when Moses held his hand up, Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amelek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So they overwhelmed Amalek and his people." Exodus 17" 11-13

This dear life long friend of mine said she would hold my hand up. She said she would cover me in prayer and support. She and other good friends certainly carried me for a while. It was what I needed. It carried me through, until my spirit was revived -my tail could wag again-, and I could again run or walk.

We need each other. We are meant to bear one another's burdens. Sometimes you are the one carrying, and sometimes you are the one being carried. If you are well enough to run - spiritually speaking-, look for someone who needs a little help- someone who could use their 'hand being held up'. Be someone's Aaron or Hur and do a little carrying. After all, you never know when you will be the one needing a little carrying because sometimes you run, sometimes you walk, and sometimes you need to be carried.

Authors note:
A shout out of thanks to Ann, Brenda, Dana, Judy, Karen, Keena, and my amazing husband, children and children in law. You would make great pack mules...you carried me safely through those mountains of mine. I'd carry you gladly anyday, anywhere. Love you so! Oh and you too Dooley! Thanks for the lesson. :)

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How big is your God?

9/5/2013

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Do you ever get to feeling really weary? Rather run down, spiritually speaking.
Days when you are really in need of grace, because you know you have blown it? Or you just don't have the energy to tackle the issue or problem before you? Or your own bad attitude, as was the case with me?
It is times like this, that it seems all I can feel, or think, or see, is the issue, and me facing it. And it seems huge. And I seem small and powerless.
UNTIL...
Until God's grace takes over, and gently guides me back to Him. To focus on Him, and not me. That He is in charge, that He is bigger than anything, anyone, or any issue that has me in a curmudgeonly way. He gently reminded me of this recently, through three things.

First, through a twitter feed. I know...of all things! A dear friend's son had re-tweeted a post from a person I don't even know. The tweet simply said, "His grace is sufficient for me". I know that verse, I have shared that verse, used that verse, memorized that verse, and obviously forgotten to apply that verse.
Me thinking: Ok God, yes, your grace is what I am really in need of today. And I say a quick prayer, "Please God, cover me with your grace today. I feel weary, and know I am not thinking with a good attitude, so please forgive me. Your grace is all I ever need, wherever you take me, may I recognize, Your grace IS more than sufficient for me."

Second, through the song of a child, my sweet three year old grand daughter, whose new favorite song is "My God is so big". She began to sing it, as I was driving in the car with her.
And she said, as she began, 'Come on Nana, sing with me.' And so Nana sang,

" My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the stars are His handiwork too.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do, FOR YOU!"

Out of the mouths of babes often comes the message He wants us to hear!
Me thinking: I hear you Lord. What ever the issue is, YOU are bigger. There is nothing You cannot do. I just need to turn it over to YOU! And again a prayer, "Dear God, Wow, thank you for this moment, and this precious child! Thank you for the reminder, again, that I don't do any of this alone. Even my stinkin' thinkin'; You and You alone, can help me change those thoughts into fruitful thoughts, into prayers".

And third, when after 4 days of not being in the word of God :/ I finally sat down and opened the word, not to where I had been reading, but turning to Isaiah for a reason I don't know other than God's grace was directing me there. This is what I read from Chapter 40.
Bear with me, as I share some of the verses with you, and what I felt God was speaking to me in those verses.
verse 9
Get yourself UP on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news, lift up and say to the cities
Here is YOUR GOD!
[And I hear: Get up girl, lift your voice to ME, talk to ME, I am YOUR God]
verse 12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?
And marked the span of the heavens, by a span
And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure
And weighted the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales?
verse 21 -22
Do you not know, have you not heard...
It is He who is enthroned above the circle of the earth
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain...
Verses 25-26
To whom will you liken me? That I should be his equal? Says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these stars. The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name, because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
[And I hear: Have you forgotten who I am, dear child. I created everything. I know the measurements of not just the waters of earth, but the expanse of the universe. Is anything greater than ME? What will you liken me too? And do I need to point out the stars to you, again? - (the stars ALWAYS get me!) I am bigger than anything you see, hear or feel. I am mightier than anything. It's about ME and My might, not you and your strength. ]

And finally verses 28-29
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, Does NOT become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
[And I hear: It's ok to feel the weariness, occasionally, but just know that your God never gets weary. Your strength comes from Me, not from your own resources. I just need to remind you of that from time to time. If you never got weary, you, my precious child, would begin to think you didn't need me, that it was all about you and your strength. So when you get weary, and I know you will from time to time, draw even closer to me. I will fill you up, you will gain new strength, that not of yourself, but from ME.]
And again I pray, "Forgive me Lord. How easily I forget. How easily I get distracted. I am so grateful for you grace that guides me back, your strength and your strength alone that empowers me, and your love which sent Jesus here, to save me from my own ways. You are bigger than any thing I will ever face, ever. Period. You alone are sufficient for me.
Your blessings overwhelm me.

My God is so Big. Our God is so Big. There is absolutely nothing our God cannot do!

For YOU!

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If I can just touch Him

8/27/2013

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Four short verses, but oh so powerful.
'And Jesus rose and began to follow him, and so did His disciples. And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself,
'If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well." And at once the woman was made well. ' Matthew 9: 19-22

I thought I knew the point of this passage. It was the woman's faith that made her well. That is what Jesus said. He could have said, God healed you, or I just healed you, but He didn't. He said, your FAITH has made you well. The power of belief,
in the Savior. The power of trusting Him, not ourselves, our abilities, or our circumstances, just Him. And knowing that He is the only one who can make us whole, complete, at peace. Knowing that He is the only one who can make us well.

We are told in 1 John 5:4-5, that our faith is the victory that overcomes this world.
And who is the one that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior, Redeemer, the One, the only one who makes us well, as we journey here in this world, wrought with its challenges and trials. Some trials come out of the blue, so unexpected, knocking us off our feet for a while. Other trials brew like a developing storm. And we try to hang on and weather the imposing threat to our well being. One thing any type of trial does, is that it presents us with a challenge, a choice. Will we give in, admit defeat, wrap our hearts in worry, and fear until we allow Satan to rob us of our faith, and our joy? Or will we rise above, choosing to be victorious, in the midst of trials, by placing our trust, our complete trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ?

It's not faith, when you can see the way, when you can see the answers. It is faith when you can't figure any of it out, but you know just one thing. And that for me, is the real point of this passage. It was the one thing the woman with the hemorrhage knew, it was what she was saying to herself

IF I can just touch HIM, I will be well. I will overcome.

If I can just touch HIM.

And praise God, we can touch HIM. We touch Him, every time we study and meditate on His words. We touch Him every time, we bow our heads and hearts in honest, genuine, heartfelt prayer. We touch Him, when we pour ourselves out to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord, asking Him for help, and trusting Him with every aspect of our life.

What do you say to yourself when troubles come? What do any of us say when presented with those all consuming challenges and trials of life? I hope we all have the courage to think to ourselves, to believe as the woman in the passage did, " If I can just touch Him, I will be OK, I will be well". I will NOT let Satan rob me of my faith and joy. Because if we can think that, and believe that, then we can rest assured He will also say to us,

"Be of good cheer, your faith has made you well."

And at the end of any given day, isn't that what we all want, to be able to say

I am well. It is well with my soul, no matter what storms rage about me, it is well with my soul?

Only one way to be able to say that... touch the Savior, today and everyday.

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You're being followed...

8/13/2013

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Look behind you...you are being followed. In fact we are all being followed. I'm not talking about 'Big Brother', or our shadow. No we are being followed by something far more important, something that has the capacity to shape who we are, and where we are going. But we do have a choice in what we allow to follow us.

Let me digress for a moment, to state that you and I have much in common. Though I haven't met some of you, I know that time is a factor in our lives. Oh I am not talking about how busy we find ourselves on any given day. No, I am thinking in linear terms, we all have a past, a present and a future.

I have observed that some of us tend to dwell on our past, mistakes we have made, regrets we have, past disappointments, the trials we have faced or injustices committed against us. We let them shape not only our present but our future. We allow them to follow us, and they start to haunt us, thwarting our spiritual growth. We have a hard time 'shaking it off', forgiving ourselves, or others. We live in the past, the disappointments and burdens end up being our constant companion. We forget all about pressing on toward being that new creature that Christ's blood makes us.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3: 13-14
to "forget what lies behind, and reach forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

He had quite the past, persecuting Christians, even having some put to death, before he had his life changing encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. Some interpret his words in Philippians as, don't look back. Period. Only look ahead. I am not so convinced. While we should not let our past, in particular our sins, or the trials we have had to bear follow us the rest of our lives, I believe a wise person will often look back and reflect on what God has taught them and the blessings that sprang forth from the trials of this life. Isn't that what Romans 8:28 teaches us? That God causes ALL things to work together for GOOD to those who love God? The same principle is found in the Old Testament, in Psalms 23. We are told there will be enemies, there will be evil, and there is that ominous valley of the shadow of death to deal with. But it also tells us that we have a Shepherd who will lead us, restore us, comfort us, feed us, anoint us. It also says that our cup will overflow and that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. I don't know about you, but I would rather have goodness and mercy following me, than my past!

I want to share a comment that a reader shared from an earlier post of mine titled, "Beside Still Waters", based on Psalms 23. At the very end of the post, I wrote

I pray you will be refreshed by the word of God, and that you realize just how much your cup overflows. And if you look behind you, you just might see goodness and mercy following you.

To which Jennifer commented

I appreciate your thoughts. I'm especially drawn to the final sentence. I love looking back and reflecting on how all the challenges in my life have been nothing more than a brick on my path that have taken me to the place I find myself today and that without that part of my road, "ALL things" wouldn't have been there to "work together for good" in my life. Looking back I see so many prayers answered - not as I had asked, but as I had need in the big picture. Much goodness and more mercy than I deserve. It's humbling. It builds and reinforces my faith. It makes me love and want to serve God more each day. Thank you for helping me start my day off in such a positive way. I know it will make a difference in my life today.

Let me quote her again,

"LOOKING BACK, I see so many prayers answered-not as I had asked-but as I had need, in the big picture. Much goodness and more mercy than I deserve."

Thank you Jennifer, whom I don't know, for your words, and the permission to use them.

You have certainly looked back to see goodness and mercy following you. They have become your teachers and your companions. And I would venture to say, without even knowing you, that they shape how you see your present and your future.

I won't pretend to suggest that it is an easy process, that of seeing the good in all things.
No, it is rather difficult. While we are struggling in the midst of a trial, or a mistake we've made, it is so hard, almost impossible to see goodness and mercy in the situation. It is usually only when the storm has been weathered, when we look back, and reflect, that we so clearly see God's hand orchestrating good in our lives, turning what we see as no good and horrible into something wonderful, a blessing, the blessing of goodness and mercy following us through thick and thin, all the days of our life.

So, yes, press on, forgetting the past with it's disappointments, mistakes, and burdens. But in your pressing on, occasionally look back, just over your shoulder to all the blessings, all the goodness and mercy, that have followed you and shaped you into who you are today, a beloved child of the King.

Authors Note:
I would love to hear your stories, of how God turned trials into blessings, of how goodness and mercy have followed you, if you feel led to share by commenting.

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Starry starry night

8/8/2013

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Three things the stars teach me

On most clear nights, when I am outside, even for a short while, I have a habit of of looking up at the stars. Some nights it is a brief moment, other nights it is as if I am searching the night sky for something lost.

I have always loved the night sky. Both the scientist and the Christian in me get great comfort from gazing upward. Even though I studied space science, and taught it for many years, my mind just cannot wrap around the vastness of the universe, and the complexities of the stars. I never cease to be awestruck by the wonders of the the night sky; the sizes, colors, and ages of the stars, the supernovas, nebulas, the galaxies upon galaxies of stars. Fascinating to me, but that is not what really pulls me to look up most every clear night.

What started within me as curiosity, became something else. Whenever I look up at the night sky, always, without fail, I feel an inexplicable tug, like being pulled into an ocean by strong waves. Those stars pull me closer to God. I sense His presence. The glory of heaven shines through each little pin prick of light dotting the darkness. And I feel that glory when I look up. I feel wonder and amazement at our Creator. I feel small, when I gaze up at the heavens, and any issues or problems that have been ruminating within me, seem small also, and begin to float away, when I stop even for the briefest of moments and look up at the night sky. It never ever fails me, that wonderful glorious moment of solitude and feeling as if I am in the presence of the Almighty God. And in that moment, nothing matters but praising Him.

Lesson ONE: PRAISE God, and praise Him often
Praise the Lord...praise Him sun and moon, praise Him all stars of light! Psalms 148: 1-4

My husband bought me a great telescope years ago. I have used it a few times to look at the lessor objects of the night sky, the moon, planets or a comet. But I have never used it to focus on a single star, because it is the totality of the night sky that draws me, not a singular object in it. I enjoy connecting the dots of the constellations, knowing wherever I am, they are there. And if it is a clear night, totally clear, I always have to find Polaris, our North star, our compass at night. The North star has been used for millennia to navigate at night. One would think it is a huge magnificent star, but it isn't. It is a teeny tiny little insignificant star. It certainly doesn't shout out at you, "I'm here". No, you have to hunt for Polaris. Follow the two pointer stars of the bigger dipper up, and there it is, the tail star of the little dipper, small, not very bright, but ALWAYS there. Never moving, it is in the exact same spot today, tomorrow, next year, 10 years from now. Just like Jehovah God, the Great I am, the same today, yesterday and tomorrow, He is always there for me, for us, our eternal Guide, pointing us home. And like Polaris, He doesn't 'shout' at us, "Here I am". Rather He wants us to search and seek to find Him. The world shouts, He whispers. The world says busier and busier is better, He says "Be still and know that I am God". Perhaps that is what those moments are for me, when I look up at the night sky, my moments of being still, completely still within my soul, looking up, and KNOWING that He is God, my God.

Lesson Two:
Only those that seek God, will find Him and KNOW Him.
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut 4: 29

A dear dear friend of mine, who passed away too early in her life, left me her telescope. I was surprised and humbled when her family presented it to me immediately after her memorial service. She and I shared a love of God, all things nature and the stars. As you can probably tell from the picture, there is handwriting on it. . She wrote several scriptures on it, all about praising God. She wrote these things while in the midst of a 5 year battle with cancer. The third lesson came from her, from a Persian proverb she had come across in a book.

Lesson Three:
" Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars"

And underneath that she wrote,
"Remember in our trials when all seems dark, look UP to God."

I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence shall my help come from. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2

So on the next clear night, look up. I hope you feel His presence as I do when I see that wondrous site, and that it instills a deeper desire to know Him and praise Him.

Authors note: By the way, August is a wonderful month to gaze at the stars. The annual Perseid meteor showers usually put on quite a show. At it's peak, you can see 100's of 'falling stars' streak across the sky. All a display of God's awesome creation!
P.S. I told you NOT to get me started on the stars!!

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A perilous journey

7/31/2013

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On a beach at Rosalie Bay, Dominica, in the Caribbean, a newly hatched leatherback sea turtle climbs out of its shell. Its perilous life journey has just begun. The arduous task of climbing up out of the dark black sand where it has been incubating 3 feet down, leaves it weary. We are allowed to hold the hatchling while it rests, and then we move it just a little bit closer to the pounding surf. But not too close. She needs to imprint the smell, sounds, and feel of this particular beach so that in 20 years her instincts will guide her back to this very same beach to nest and lay her eggs. As I put her down, my fears for this little hatchling begin. It must make it to the ocean, on its own. Past lurking predators, the birds and crabs, up mountains and valleys of sand and ocean debris or man made obstacles. Usually this journey to the ocean occurs at night, when the light of a full moon reflects on the ocean, giving just enough light for the little leatherback to be guided toward the white foam of the surf. I rejoice when after 15 long minutes it finally makes it to the sea. And then I wonder. Will you make it little one? Will you be the one in a thousand that survive the predators awaiting you in the dark ocean?

And I can't help but make the comparison.

After spending a week working with some Dominican children, I think of them. Will they make it? Will they come to fully know Christ? Will they live a faithful victorious life, inspite of the perils and obstacles of this life?

And what of the small, newly formed group of Christians and the young man and family who labor with and for them. Will they stand strong in the truth of His word?

And what of us? Every Christian will face a myriad of trials and temptations, obstacles and disappointments as we go through our own perilous journey. Will they defeat us? Or will we, like the sea turtle, be guided by the Light? As the beach that the hatchling was born at is imprinted into his instinct, is Jesus imprinted in our soul so much so, that we know the way home?

Our souls get their imprint through Jesus Christ, by breathing in the word of God, until it is formed in us, and we live by it. The apostle Paul says to the Galatian church in Galatians 4:19

...my little children, for whom I am in labor again, until Christ is formed in you - ...

and then he goes on in Chapter 5 of Galatians, to admonish them to walk in the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit, to bear the fruit of the Spirit, to live by the Spirit. This is not some miraculous event. It is accomplished through the word of God. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6: 17, and that sword does its work in us , 1 Thessalonians 2: 13, as we read, study and take it into our hearts. The word of God is the tool that sharpens us into His image as Christ begins to form in us, and we are 'imprinted' with Him.

I think that is what we tried to teach those Dominican children. I hope they understood just how very important the word of God is. We taught them the word of God. By the end of the week they knew the books of the New Testament by heart and they knew that God is our compass, His word is truth, and that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the light.

I pray that imprints on them. And that in 20 years they are standing firmly in God's word. And who knows, maybe one of them will be standing at that same beach in Rosalie bay welcoming a certain leatherback sea turtle back to its home beach... now wouldn't that be something!

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Welcome! I pray the words I write will encourage reflection within and deeper study of the Word of God, which is able to build us up, equipping us to be victorious as we journey through this earthly life.
May we all earnestly seek the things above, not the things of this world.

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Starry starry night

Three things the stars teach me

A perilous journey

Posted by
Singing like a robin
daughter of the King
forgiven
joyful
soul strengthener

Categories

Welcome! I pray the words I write will encourage reflection within and deeper study of the Word of God, which is able to build us up, equipping us to be victorious as we journey through this earthly life. May we all earnestly seek the things above, not the things of this world.

Three things the stars teach me

Posted bySinging like a robindaughter of the Kingforgivenjoyfulsoul strengthener

Categories

Welcome! I pray the words I write will encourage reflection within and deeper study of the Word of God, which is able to build us up, equipping us to be victorious as we journey through this earthly life.
May we all earnestly seek the things above, not the things of this world.

Posted by
Singing like a robin
daughter of the King
forgiven
joyful
soul strengthener