A Girl's Perfect Day

Blessed day with my girls....and two new blessings to add to my list.

(Okay three blessings, cause I love the humongous bouquet of roses with light blue and sagey green hydrangeas that my daugher arranged)

But first I scrubbed our back deck preparatory to staining it and gave two rhodies severe butch haircuts. Marauding blackberry vines stretched the rhododendron bushes out of proportion, hence the hacking back. I was very brave to tackle this, as this was the-very-area where I saw a snake a couple of weeks ago. I would have felt better in hip-waders; snakes are ungodly. (I think I need to share my snake poem with you. Future blog post.)

But then the siren song of Stratford Tea House called and off we girls went. Picture warm Italian villa colors with flowered tea pots. A perfect girly place. My tea cup was a luscious lime green with pink roses. I begged for that one - very grown up of me. Scones with jam and Devonshire cream, Hungarian mushroom soup, flowered pots of ginger-peach tea and Russian Caravan tea. We imbibed and indulged and giggled our way through the tasty treats. (Blessing number one)

Then the girls talked me into shopping at Old Navy. Why is shopping such a panacea for all that ails a girl? I once asked Chris if it was unchristianly to adore shopping. Thankfully he just chuckled and didn't give me any black and white answer. Don't YOU either. I bought a wild redish orangish top and a feminine lacy-edged peach cardigan. Who wouldn't feel better, I ask you. (Blessing number two)

I'm almost done reading "Holiness" by JC Ryle. There is a chapter near the very end called something like, "Understanding the Times." It has challenging and convicting words for us. Listen to this for starters:

"The man who is content to sit ignorantly by his own fireside, wrapped up in his own private affairs, and has no public eye for what is going on in the church and the world, is a miserable patriot, and a poor style of Christian. Next to our Bibles and our own hearts, our Lord would have us study our own times." (ouch)

The section that stood out to me was where he elucidated on the fact that the times require at our hands distinct and decided views of Christian doctrine. Listen to his eloquent and colorful language as he passionately speaks to this topic:

"...beware of this undecided state of mind in religion. It is a pestilence which walketh in darkness, and a destruction that killeth in noonday. It is a lazy, idle frame of soul which, doubtless, saves men the trouble of thought and investigation; but it is a frame of soul for which there is no warrant in the Bible...."

"For your own soul's sake dare to make up your mind what you believe, and dare to have positive distinct views of truth and error. Never, never be afraid to hold decided doctrinal opinions; and let no fear of man and no morbid dread of being thought party-spirited, narrow or controversial, make you rest contented with a bloodless, boneless, tasteless, colorless, lukewarm, undogmatic Christianity."

"Mark my words, if you want to do good in these times, you must throw aside indecision, and take up a distinct, sharply cut, doctrinal religion. If you believe little, those to whom you try to do good will believe nothing...."

"Christianity without distinct doctrine is a powerless thing. It may be beautiful to some minds, but it is childless and barren."

Oh, I love the solid truth of Scripture - the forever-settled-in-heaven truth that God has given us. And I love these old time authors who are passionate about truth and challenging to this generation where we are tempted to be wishy-washy and tolerant to all views, and can tend to be uncomfortable with dogmatism. Bible truths are worthy of a strong stance and firmly held beliefs.

Small Time Blessings

What gives you joy? What warms your heart and nourishes your soul? What causes cozy snuggle down feelings of comfortableness and peace?

Open your eyes and heart to the small soul pleasures, those things that lighten your heart and lift your soul up in gratefulness to the Lord. Sometimes we need to look for them purposefully.

I tell my writing students to develop eyes that really SEE, to be astute observers of beauty and life. Be a detective pursuing clues of God's goodness-es to us in this life. They are there.

Remember one of my theme verses for this blog? "...I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

If there is one thing I know, you and I are surely in the land of the living. And another thing I know - the Lord is GOOD. So believe and look.

What truly is loads of fun is making your own list of blessings. You saw a partial list of mine yesterday. A couple of you friends mentioned doing that for yourself - I say go for it.

Here are a few more pleasures I love: color, girl friends, coffee dates, deep spiritual books, journaling, hugs, romantic (clean) movies, chocolate, a sweet conversation with one of my girls... and the list goes on, forever really.

You will see how many dozens of things come to mind when you really think about what gives you joy. Have fun.

When you are feeling down, stressed, burdened at work, exhausted with responsibilities, this is a wonderful time to purposefully surround yourself with as many little joy givers as you can. This may sound like total immersion in self, but believe me, looking for blessings lifts our eyes up out of the doldrums, out of the slough of despond, and helps us see more clearly how truly blessed we are. There are many 'feelings' that can pull us down - well, take your feelings in hand and speak truth to them. The truth that your life is actually full, absolutely cup-overflowingly full of many richness-es and goodness-es.

Cultivate eyes that see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Chutzpah

Hi. My name is Laura. I have been remiss in my blogging. I have been bad. Very bad indeed.

I lost my 'oomph' for a bit - my chutzpah. ( I looked that cool word up. No definition to be found, but I'm still sure I LOST it.) Cause my get-up-and-go got up and went, too. Probably hand in hand with my chutzpah, and they are gallivanting and cavorting on some beach in the south of France. Without me.

I have been on a downward slippery slope into feelings of depression (again) over the last six months, but now I am clawing my way back up and out. Mainly via increased doses of the hormonal miracle drug progesterone.

I will be okay. Soon I hope.

You know what I've been doing besides regular wife-mother-house type thingies? I've been increasing my joy factor. I've been seriously dogging after collecting delights for my soul. Here is a short list of my personal favorites:

Driving in the car with the windows down letting the wind tussle with my hair, my arm straight out the window, country music blaring. This works best when driving alone.

Watching my little golden finches and red headed house finches gorge themselves on my bird feeder right out my living room window.

Squirting an extra blast of perfume on my neck.

Manicures and pedicures and toe rings.

Sitting in the sun absorbing its healing happy rays.

Reading a really good book.

Watercolor painting in my little travel journal where I chronicle almost every day of my summer. The sketching and painting have been a newly discovered pleasure for me.

Teaching dear friends to quilt. And learning lovely new layouts from them.

Laughter. Especially with family and good friends.

A slow road trip down the coast with my husband - enjoying Italian sodas, Mexican mochas, and hitting every cute little shop along the way. And every bathroom.

Walking through the fields in the early morning light, the hillsides warm in the golden glow of a day just beginning. Listening to the birds.

A buttery bowl of popcorn. (See how WAY down on the list that was??! Impressive!)

Lighting scented candles around the house.

There are so many little blessings from the Lord that increase our joy. I am grateful for every miniature delight that comes my way. So, thanks for listening. I'll be back soon....


PS Google says that Chutzpah means something like 'gutsy audacity.' That's not quite what I wanted it to mean. I wanted it to mean something like 'spit and vinegar,' because that's what I'm missing. But maybe I'm missing my gutsy audacity, too. ;O] I think I'm missing several things....

Where is Your Faith, Part 3

In Exodus 14 the Lord culminates His mighty rescuing of His people from Egypt. The Hebrew people escaped - the Egyptians followed - and God stood in the gap to protect and fight for His people.

The Egyptian enemies boasted, "I will pursue...I will overtake...I will gorge myself on them...my sword will destroy them." But God intervened! He simply blew His breath on them - 'wooo' - and the sea covered them and they sank like lead into the mighty waters! No messing around.

"And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant." (14)

And they sang, "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
Who is like you --
Majestic in holiness,
Awesome in glory,
Working wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand
And the earth swallowed them.
In Your unfailing love You will lead
The people You have redeemed.
In Your strength You will guide them to
Your holy dwelling." (15:11-13)

Full of praise to God, the people were bursting with spiritual fervor and strengthened faith. This was a place of rich blessing. Imagine seeing God Almighty fight for them, and conquer their enemies.

They may have felt like - this is it! - I can do this life with such an awesome, mighty God in my camp. They felt strengthened in their inner man to stand against any foe with such a God. Victorious! Forever! Set free from slavery, set free to walk intimately with this God who walks so closely with His people. Hallelujah!

But the story does not stop there.

"Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water." (22)

"Then" - Next - What came right after, right on the heels of such great blessing and victorious triumphs? They were led into the desert and had no water for three days.

WHAT? What is the Lord doing? WHY? Why this NOW? We are His people. He has claimed us and fought for us and now we are suffering THIS? What could possibly be the meaning of this?

On the first day as they marched off, following Moses, they walked in full spiritual strength, confident in the Lord and in His ability to provide for them and take care of them. I'm sure they reminded themselves and their children to trust God and hold fast to Him in faith. I can see the beaming faces and the secure steps.

The second day was tougher. They awakened thirsty. A little foot-sore. The adults quieted the thirsty children with encouraging words, heard the lowing sounds of the miserable animals, but walked forth into the new day still holding onto the shirttails of the prior day's victories.

But the third day broke down any spiritual resolve to trust God or even to call upon Him for mercy! That almighty victorious God - He no longer felt near. So much for being God's special people; so much for His promise to guide them and bring them to the promised land. Their steadfastness staggered at this catastrophe.

The people grumbled and groused at Moses, "WHAT are we to drink?"

"...there He tested them." (25) This was a hand-carved test, created just for them.

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger...to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Deut.8)

Life is comprised of tests, trials, challenges, crisis, and one of the things the Lord is after is our response: to reveal ourselves to ourselves, to expose ourselves to ourselves. He knows our hearts; He knows how we will respond to these tests and how we will handle them. He knows us intimately - but we are blind to ourselves.

He is also testing and proving, stretching and strengthening our faith. Where was the faith of the Israelites at this first test in the desert? It should have been there. Their faith should have undergirded them at this place of dire straits. At the very least, it should have reminded them to cry out to God for help.

He led them to a place where other needs screamed louder than their need and appetite for God, and they failed the test. In their thirst they forgot God. In the immediacy of the crisis - in the middle of acute distress, watching their children and animals suffer - their hearts were hardened toward God. They did not turn to Him in faith. They did not cry out to Him. They did not fall to their knees believing in this Almighty God who performs documented eye-witnessed miracles, beseeching Him to help them. Instead they fretted and sweated and sought human help.

Somehow there was a disconnect between that 'Wow' God of a few days prior, who dealt with the big stuff, and a God who cares today that they are thirsty, and stumbling with fatigue, and listening despairingly to the cries of their children. You don't get the feeling from this passage that this God who led them forth and rescued them was their personal God. You don't sense a heart cry of, 'This is MY God, MY Savior, MY hope and help.'

This was a test of their faith. Where was it?

Ashamed to be a Woman

Today I was ashamed to be a woman. What is the matter with our sex?

I watched a woman shopping through Winco grocery store, berating her husband who was seated in a motorized wheelchair. "Why didn't you follow me?" "Get out of my way." "Move over." "Hurry up." "Come ON." He couldn't do anything right - and she lambasted him with full venom.

I wish I could post a picture of her pinched and angry face. I wish I could remember all of her words. I wish I'd been brave enough to confront her....

She disrespected her husband. She talked down to him. She belittled him. She acted exasperated, impatient, short, and clipped. She was a monster on a mission, and that mission did not include kindness and gentleness to the man she had chosen as her life-time partner and husband. The man she'd chosen to love, honor, and respect. Not.

As believers in Christ, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior. This is walking in the flesh personified. It is ugly. And we all do it - at one time or another, in one way or another. (If the shoe doesn't fit, feel no obligation to wear it; but I know for myself that there are times I can be just as ugly in my behavior.)

God has uniquely gifted men and women to fulfill their God-given roles in life. What is it with us women that we feel that our perspective, our 'way-of-seeing' is the only right way? The obviously for-sure only right perspective? We do not tend to value the male outlook. The male-ish angle on things. We should.

But, who made men, anyway? Who is it that fit them out and equipped them uniquely for their role as head of the family and leaders of churches and businesses? God did. And I just sorta think He probably knew what He was about. Or, are men just one big blooper by God Most HIgh and Glorious? I don't think so.

We have a different view of things - a feminine view of things. It is different - but not inherently 'right.' Remember that and give grace. Be kind. Be patient. And remember that walking in holiness and right-living includes how we treat our men.

And remember, too, that somebody could be watching and writing a blog post in their head as they follow you down the aisle. ;O] Beware....

That's all. I just had to get that off my chest. I feel better now.

Where Is Your Faith, Part 2

God tested us through various trials by fire a few years ago, and one heavy-duty trial was our oldest daughter's health which crashed suddenly and severely during her study abroad program in Australia. She'd reacted strongly to mango just prior to leaving, and the ER doctor put her on one week of prednisone to control the allergic reaction. The prednisone crashed her health in a severe way that continued to escalate over the following weeks until suddenly she was allergic to most foods. Her first week in Australia she went to the emergency room two times with breathing difficulties and a swollen throat. In a nut shell, we were worried sick about her. And thankfully, we did not realise that this would be a 2-year-long agonizing road of multiple health issues.

One night in particular I remember laying awake fighting tooth and nail with worries and fears for her safety - and even for her very life. I prayed non-stop in the dark and on my bed and talked my way through the book of John reminding myself of WHO my Jesus is. He is my light. He is my bread. He is my gate and door and way. He is my very life. Until finally I was able to surrender to sleep.

I am so grateful that my God is every-where-present, and even though I could not be right there with her - as my mommy's heart was clamoring to be - I knew that I could trust Him to carry her and be her pillar of strength and support. Like He was my staunch support.

John 9:3, in talking about the man born blind, says, "...this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." God put Himself on display through this trial by fire in our lives, and through our active choice to trust and rely on Him in it.

That next morning while journaling in my devotions, God gave me the following thoughts on faith to encourage me and remind me of how He works in our lives to develop and grow-up our faith. In Psalm 119 the psalmist says that it is good for me to be afflicted, that I may learn His statutes. God uses various situations and trials, whatever their shape or form, and they are designed to make me, not break me or destroy me. It has been permitted by God to mold me into the image of His Son, not to disfigure me for life. He does it for the sake of proving my faith....

This concept of 'proving' my faith made me think of a bridge. A bridge is designed and built to certain specs, and stress tests are conducted on the structure. But the bridge span doesn't then just sit there, being strong and fully equipped, but in-active; it is actually pressed into service. It is used. It is proven - by cars and trucks in massive amounts driving across its structure, depending on its span to hold sturdy and strong and to support the vehicles from one point to the next. The bridge is made useful. It is not just ornamental or a bridge-in-theory; it is a bridge in practice and in truth. It is there when needed, not buckling under pressure or failing to be what it was created to be.

Our faith, like a bridge, is pressed into service, to be useful in life, not just a 'theory' or idea untested, untried. Our faith is proven when it holds up under use and pressure and under the ferocious daily 'commute' of life and its fiery trials! Faith is not just a lovely pearl in our necklace of Christian spiritual gifts, worn on special occasions, but it is hardy, and made to get down in the trenches of life with us and support us in our endeavor to walk the walk and live the life that God has set before us.

God gives us faith - and then He grows it up. He matures it; He tests it.

He directs life to give us pop-quizzes: How ya gonna do here? And here? He wants us to be proficient in our use of this tool of faith; to be quicker to bring it to bear on the problems at hand. Quicker to lift our eyes in faith to Jesus no matter the swirling and storming waters of life. We know the One who is in control of all things. So, Where is Your Faith?

Where Is Your Faith, Part 1

[Excerpts from Martin-Lloyd Jones’ amazing book Spiritual Depression.]

There is a difference between the original gift of faith and the walk of faith, or the life of faith, which comes subsequently. God starts us off in the Christian life - and then we have to walk it. The faith He provides is part of our tool chest for life; He’s given us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Pet.1:3)

Jesus and His disciples were at sea in a boat. Jesus fell asleep and a storm arose that frightened the disciples. They rushed to awaken Him - don’t you care that we are about to perish? Jesus rebukes the wind and raging water and calms the sea. And then, “He said unto them, ‘Where is your faith?’” (Lk.8:22-25)

He rebukes them for being in such a state of agitation and terror and alarm. It is very wrong for a Christian ever to be in such a condition. I do not care what the circumstances may be, the Christian should never be agitated, the Christian should never be beside himself like this, the Christian should never be at his wit’s end, the Christian should never be in a condition in which he has lost control of himself.

A Christian should never, like the worldly person without Christ, be frantic, alarmed, not knowing what to do. A Christian should not look like the world does when going through a trial - coming undone, falling apart, totally freaked out. We are not meant to be carried away by our feelings - whatever they are. These disciples were lacking in self-control. They needed to get a grip on themselves and their runaway feelings.

Anything that comes across our path and puts us in difficulty, at once shows whether we believe in Him and trust in Him, by our response and reaction to it. We must never allow ourselves to be agitated and disturbed whatever the circumstances because to do so implies a lack of faith, a lack of trust, a lack of confidence in our blessed Lord and God.

Scripture is full of examples of ‘the trial of faith.’ Take the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Every one of them was ‘tried.’ God gives the gift of faith and then the faith is tried. Tested. “Though you are in heaviness for a season” because of certain circumstances, the object of that is “that the trial of your faith which is more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet.1:6-7) That is the theme of all the Scriptures.

Our faith will be tried. God permits storms, He permits difficulties, He permits the wind to blow and the billows to roll, and everything may seem to be going wrong and we ourselves to be in jeopardy. As His people we are not protected from all ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.’ Not at all. We are living in the same world as everybody else.

“In the world,” says our Lord, “you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (Jn.16:33) “Be of good cheer” - yes, but remember that you will have tribulation. “…we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God.” (Acts14:22)

You observe our Lord’s question: Where is your faith? It seems to imply that He knows perfectly well that they have faith. The question He asks them is, “Where is it?” You have got faith - but where is it at this moment? It ought to be here - where is it? That gives us a key to understanding the nature of faith.

Faith is not a mere matter of feeling. It couldn’t be, as one’s feelings in this kind of condition can be very changeable. Faith is also not something that acts automatically or magically. If it did, these men would never have been in trouble, would never have been agitated and alarmed. But faith is not like that.

Faith is an activity. It is something that has to be exercised. It does not come into operation by itself. Where is your faith means, “Why are you not taking your faith and applying it to this position? To this circumstance? To this trial?”

Faith is a refusal to be controlled by the situation. Faith is a refusal to panic, come what may. Browning’s definition of faith: Perpetual unbelief kept quiet. Faith is unbelief kept down, kept quiet. These men allowed the situation to grip them; they became panicky. Faith, however, is a refusal to allow that. It says - I am not going to be controlled by these circumstances - I am in control. So you take charge of yourself, pull yourself up; you control yourself. Then remind yourself of what you believe, what you know. Remind yourself of truth.

Faith says, okay - I see the billowing and raging storm - BUT. But what? But God! But the Lord Jesus Christ! All things may seem against me to drive me to despair, but I know this - I know that God loves me and sent His Son to die for me.

Where is your faith? - You have got it, why don’t you apply it, why don’t you bring all you know to bear on this situation, why don’t you focus it on this particular problem? Nothing can happen to you but what He allows. God permits that thing to happen to you because it is ultimately for your good.

Having applied your faith - you then hold on. You just refuse to be moved. The enemy will come and attack you, the water will seem to be pouring into the boat - but you say, let the worst come. You stand on your faith. You stand. You believe. You rest in God.

And in the midst of this, your faith is purified. It is established. It is stretched and strengthened and proven true.