Abundant Living

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I regret that I didn’t get around to adding a blog entry last month. The “lazy” days of autumn must have rubbed off on me!

Actually the fall months are always incredibly full around here. For me, one of the highlights of October was our annual luncheon for widows. This year Set Free, a group of young men in cowboy boots, jeans and western shirts, provided the approximately two hundred ladies with some foot-stompin, heart-blessin blue grass gospel music. They were great!

I came next in the program with a short message of encouragement to the ladies. As often happens to me, the talk grew out of something the Lord had been impressing on me over recent weeks.

I had been reflecting on the many Scriptures that refer to God’s right hand, as well as those that refer to Him holding me by my right hand. The following are just a few:

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me. (Psalm 18:35)

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. (Psalm 44:3)

I stay close to you. Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8)

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. (Psalm 138:7)

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:9,10)

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (Psalm 73:23,24)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

Obviously God is a supernatural Being, so it isn’t exactly easy to picture what His hand looks like…let alone what it means for us to hold His hand. Nevertheless He repeatedly chose to use that symbolism to describe His care and I admit the picture helps me a lot!

Ever since the first time my husband reached out and took hold of my hand (That was thirty-seven years ago and I can still remember the thrill!), I’ve loved holding his hand. Whether I reach for him, or he reaches for me, both have a powerful effect. When I’m fearful, his hand gives me courage. When I’m sick, it soothes me. When I stumble, it steadies me. When I’m sad, it cheers me. When I walk, it guides me. Holding hands with him, I’m reassured of his love, his care, his protection, and best of all, his presence.

If holding a human hand can do so much… imagine the multiplied impact of holding the hand of God Himself!

So that’s what I’ve been meditating on lately. In the nitty-gritty busy-ness of everyday life, I try to keep that picture in my head… a picture of a Divine Hand holding mine. I have to confess that I waste a lot of time and create a lot of needless grief by keeping my hands to myself… living like I don’t need an extra hand.

But I do. And He knows that. So in His love, He keeps His hand extended to me. And when I grab it… and hang on tight… I wonder why in the world I ever let go!

Posted in General

Friday, September 11, 2009

I don’t particularly like change.

My husband and I had been “empty-nesters” for about four years. We were pretty much adjusted to the life of a twosome. Then this past October our daughter and son-in-law and their four young children moved in with us while they sold their house in Maryland and found another home in PA. Ten months later, we were used to the liveliness of eight people in the house. Last week they moved into their new home and we were hurled into an empty nest all over again!

I wish that I could freeze time…. I’d love to stop the clock when all my children are happily married with children of their own, when they all live within thirty minutes of my house, when my husband and I are getting along famously, when the whole family is in total agreement on matters of religion and politics, when each member in our family, as well as our extended family and closest friends are healthy and happy, and of course when my husband and I look and feel fifteen years younger than our age and are totally capable of living independently!. Let time stop right there!

But it never does! It marches on. Each day and every encounter brings change of some kind. It’s inevitable. No matter how much I wish it otherwise, I can’t change the reality of change.

So what can I do?

I’ve tried some poor approaches… crying, complaining, resisting, running. None of these change the change. In fact they usually make me feel worse!

There must be a better way…

I the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)

Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38 & 39)

Ah… the Unchangeables: God, His Word and His love. Three glorious unchangeables! Three rocks that will not move no matter how many people or circumstances threaten to turn me upside down.

The old hymnwriter wrote, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future!” I’d put a little different spin on that…“I do know what the future holds…change (more and more change, every day change, unrelenting change… changes I like and changes I hate). But in the midst of them all God and His Word and His love will be there. They will support me. They will comfort me. They will help me.

Perhaps change isn’t so bad after all.

Posted in Family, General

Thursday, August 13, 2009

So-o-o-o… yesterday I was knocked out! On purpose! Oh, it was nothing romantic or dramatic. I wasn’t rendered comatose by a stray baseball, a falling brick or an enraged attacker. I actually asked for this. It was one of those unglamorous “over 50” medical procedures that is best experienced un-consciously!

The day before the test I went through some “prep.” Some people find this disgusting and difficult. I found it a bit challenging, but mostly “cleansing.” I followed the doctor’s orders carefully, because I didn’t want them to tell me “sorry… can’t take you today after all.” I wanted to be ready for the big event.

Being anesthetized has always been a very intriguing process to me. One second I was relaxing on a table, cheerfully conversing with the doctor and other medical personnel in the room. They slipped me something called Versed through my vein and the next I was waking up in a completely different room with the strangest sense that I just lost a small chapter of my life with not the slightest memory of it. Of course I didn’t really lose it at all. While I was in la-la land, I was being poked and prodded, rolled around and examined closely… and amazingly I felt nothing. But clearly something was being done to me. They even gave me some embarrassing pictures of my insides to prove it!

My husband said I was pretty funny when “coming to.” My speech sounded like a sponge was stuffed in my mouth, and I kept asking him over and over what the time was. But I couldn’t remember any of that and later I made him promise that he would never blackmail me by threatening to divulge my crazy comments to others.

How sobering that in what seems to be a speck of time, a person can fall asleep and wake up changed just moments later.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

In the busy routines of life, I sometimes forget that I’m preparing for a really, really important blink of an eye. It may be death, or it may be Christ’s return… but either way it will be a flash and I will be changed. We all will. It’s a procedure that’s been scheduled for each one of us! We’ll fall asleep here on earth and wake up in eternity! Amazing!

I can’t help but think that if I kept this upcoming appointment more in the forefront of my thinking, I’d probably make a lot of different choices in the course of my day. I believe I’d follow Jesus’ orders more conscientiously. I’m sure I’d be more motivated to help others get ready as well.

“Lord would You do whatever it takes to keep eternity in my thoughts today? When I get lazy about preparing… would You get my attention and remind me that the big blink is coming? Thank you Lord. I need Your help!”

You know… it was great seeing my husband’s smiling face and getting a good report from the doctor after my black-out yesterday. But I’m convinced that’s nothing compared to what I’ll feel when I see Jesus’ smiling face and hear His Father welcome me to heaven.

Somehow in a nanosecond, in a blink of an eye, He’ll change us all forever! I don’t know how He’ll do it, but I’m pretty sure He won’t use anesthesia!

Posted in General

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

They’re all back! All of them! After years of having a spread-out family, John and I now have our four children, their spouses, plus our five grandchildren living in Lancaster County. What a delight!

The other week I had the whole gang over for a cook-out. After supper was over, and the little ones settled in their beds, the adults sat around our kitchen table (my favorite place in the house!) and just talked… and talked… and talked some more.

Our children began asking my husband and me questions about our “journeys of faith.” Funny, we kind of assumed that our children knew how we came to be where we are today. Because of our job as Christian marriage counselors, we often talk about spiritual issues with our clients and share our personal testimonies of God’s work in our lives. And of course, as the children were growing up we had taken very seriously their spiritual training. But this late-night chat revealed new information about our faith walk to several of our children and/or their spouses.

It was truly a special time of family closeness! I couldn’t help but think afterward about the numerous admonitions in Scripture to pass down to our children and grandchildren the accounts of what God has done for us.

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done… so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. (Psalm 78:4, 6 & 7)

So I was convicted of not sharing enough “God” events from my own life with my children. “Please forgive me, Lord! I should have and could have done so much better!”

And I’m challenged today to begin speaking more frequently about the doubts, the struggles, the joys, the victories, the lessons I’ve learned as a follower of Jesus.

John and I rejoice that all of our children and their spouses are part of God’s family. They each are walking with the Lord. But maybe a little more honest sharing from Dad and Mom will help cheer them on when the going gets tough (as it always does sooner or later!). And of course there will be more grandchildren coming… and they’ll grow up and bring their spouses into the family. So I believe we’ll have lots more opportunities… or, we’ll purposefully make lots more opportunities to pass on our true accounts of God at work in our lives.

Maybe we’ll have to get a bigger kitchen table!

Posted in General

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I get to wondering about the craziest things.

John and I recently travelled to Chicago. On the 12-hour trip, in an effort to stay awake and keep John awake I downed a can of Pepsi, followed by a large cup of coffee. I rarely consume caffeine and discovered very quickly that it would do more than keep me awake… it required numerous bathroom breaks!

Entering the “Women” side at the service centers, I was faced with a decision… “which stall?” And that started me wondering what criteria women (and men) use to make that choice.

I’ve seen women cautiously push the door open to get a glimpse inside the stall. Undoubtedly it’s the state of the interior they’re checking. Is the seat dry? Have contents been flushed? Is the floor dry? Sufficient supply of paper? With just a glance, they make up their mind to either enter or exit… leaving it for the next needy traveler. Actually, I’ve seen the condition of the commode cause some women to suddenly decide that they no longer need to use the bathroom at all. Amazing!

There are those who prefer the stall farthest from the entrance. Others scan for feet and choose to have at least one empty stall between themselves and those feet. I suppose in either case privacy is paramount.

Young moms have told me they choose the “handicap” stall so they can line their gang of preschoolers up against the door and still have room to bend. And I’m sure that more than a few claustrophics choose that one as well.

Others are fast decision-makers… either because they were born that way, or because they’re just in too big of a hurry to weigh the choices.

I even remember that years ago (this really dates me), some public restrooms had a few free stalls and several “pay stalls.” Those willing to put in their quarter expected “squeaky-clean,” but didn’t always get what they had paid for.

Mmmmm… appearance, cleanliness, privacy, urgency, comfort, convenience, cost. I recognize that these are criteria I use to make lots of daily choices. Choosing a bathroom stall is pretty insignificant in the whole scheme of things. As my mother-in-law, Betty, used to say, “In light of eternity what does this really matter?” However, there are choices that carry way more significance… not just for the here and now, but for the now and forever.

I observe that many of my choices are in reality “me” decisions. What do I want? What do I like? What benefits me? Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5).

So if I truly adjusted my attitude from “me” to “Christ,” I wonder how differently I would look at the decisions I have to make: when to get up or go to bed, how to spend my time, what I would eat, the people I would talk to, how I would talk to them, what I would give away, what I would keep… hundreds of daily choices. “Me?” or “Christ?” That really simplifies life a lot. Okay, so maybe the choice of bathroom stall wouldn’t be affected. Maybe Jesus wouldn’t care about that… but then again… I wonder.

Posted in General

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Do everything without grumbling or complaining. (Philippians 2:14)

So I’m wondering… did Jesus heal only happy, good people? I mean, if I were Jesus, I’d be delighted to help the beggar who was singing in the rain, or the paralytic who was knitting blankets for refugees, or the leper with the huge grin on his face. But I’m not Jesus… obviously.

Amazingly, He seems to not restrict His goodness only to the good. And it puzzles me that He dishes out blessing to some pretty undeserving (in my opinion) people… prostitutes, persecutors, thieves, even murderers. Sometimes it appears He even withholds His answers to prayer from some very saintly saints… surely they should be the first on His list of candidates for miracles.

Last weekend I met an incredible young man, Sam (not his real name). He has been blind all his life. Yet I heard no complaints from Sam. He has completed college, lives on his own in a third floor apartment, walks to work every day unassisted, and holds down a good job. I got the feeling that Sam “sees” a lot more than most of us. Rather than allowing challenge to enslave him, he has learned to let his challenge enrich him.

I assume Sam has asked God to give him the gift of sight. I’m sure if I were him I would have begged God repeatedly. Perhaps Sam’s even been prayed for more than once, to receive a supernatural touch. But as of yet his physical eyes are sightless. I think Sam ought to qualify as the next recipient of Jesus’ healing touch.

And perhaps he will be. But then again, maybe he’ll continue living minus his fifth sense. Maybe he’ll grow old that way. Maybe he’ll die that way.

I don’t understand it all. But one thing I think I know… Sam won’t complain either way. He’ll praise God regardless. He knows that some day morning will come and there will be joy, but in the meantime, he’ll have a song in the night! And perhaps that’s the greatest healing there is!

Posted in General

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Yesterday my daughter told me about a friend of hers who, together with her husband, has been facing a huge problem. Michelle (not her real name) said that she had found prayer very difficult, often wondering whether it would in fact do any good. Still, in talking with others she would always claim to believe in prayer and would be grateful when people would tell her they were praying for her situation.

Recently a question began running through her mind, “If I say I believe in prayer, shouldn’t I be demonstrating that belief in some way?” Then she was honest enough to admit that her actions indicated she really didn’t place a high value on prayer at all. As a result of that objective look at herself, she has committed to getting up early every morning to pray for an hour about the challenge she and her husband are facing.

Michelle is grappling with something Jesus put into words in Luke 6: 46-49: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

It’s a question I ask myself regularly… “If I really believed what God says about this or that, how would I act?” Some examples:
Scripture says, Don’t be anxious about anything, so why am I worrying?
The Bible says, Fear not, for I am with you, so why am I up tight and afraid?
God’s Word says, Honor others above yourself, so why do I demand my own way?

Long ago a professor challenged me. He said, “Sharon, you will get things fixed in your life when you get desperate enough. But quite frankly, I don’t think you’re desperate enough yet.” He was right… when I finally got desperate for God, I began to take Him at His word and act accordingly. Then change happened.

So, I think I’m desperate again. I say Jesus is my Lord, so I realize I need to reinstate some activities that corroborate that claim. Therefore, as of today I have five verses written on a paper which is in my pocket. I am reading them over and over, working on memorizing them and determined (maybe desperate?) that regular Bible memorization is moving from my back burner to my front. After all, I say it’s important don’t I?

It’s a good feeling… this desperation. It gives me renewed hope, renewed expectation, renewed joy. I recognize that there are lots of things I should get desperate about… but admittedly I’m not quite there yet. I think getting me there is one of the Holy Spirit’s jobs. And He’s excellent at pointing out the next project precisely when I need it!

In the meantime, I’ll be repeating and repeating and repeating. Thanks a lot, Michelle!

Posted in Prayer

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

He removed the extra pair of wheels from his son’s bicycle. Then our son-in-law gripped the back of the bike seat, steadying four year-old Josiah for his first attempt at riding sans training wheels. Off Josiah rode, pretty tipsy at first, then faster and faster, with Daddy running hard behind, all the while advising, coaching and cheering his little boy.

A couple of loops in the parking lot and suddenly Josiah was pedaling without Dad panting and hanging on behind. His mom and dad, grandpa and grandma (that would be me!) and siblings whooped and hollered! What a milestone in a child’s life. Suddenly he was a cyclist… changed forever!

The next day Josiah announced confidently that he would be glad to teach a playmate of his how to ride bike. Twenty-four hours and he already considered himself an expert! How quickly he seemed to have forgotten his father’s steadying hand and sound advice that made it all possible. Ah… such is human nature! Such is my nature!

Josiah’s Daddy is proud of his son’s achievement. And he grins at his son’s youthful exuberance. His ego isn’t wounded by his child’s over-confidence. He knows that there are more lessons ahead when once again his little boy will need his father. He knows there will be some painful stumbles and wipe-outs and he’ll be there for his boy. He loves Josiah enough to keep on teaching him, even when he knows he might not get the credit.

How often I have welcomed my Father’s help… even begged for it! Then, when I think I’m cruisin’ just fine on my own, I forget about the One who taught me everything worth knowing! ‘Til I fall, that is… then I’m crying. But somehow Jesus is always within earshot! It’s Him that picks me up, brushes me off and gets me going again… and again… and again. And when I need to master the next new skill, He’ll be there.

My grandson’s biking serves as a daily reminder of the many good lessons God has taught me and continues to teach me ever so patiently. Now Josiah flies on his bike. It doesn’t wobble anymore. He doesn’t crash at the bottom of the hill. But the other day I asked him, “So, tell me, who taught you to ride bike?”

“Daddy did!” he stated emphatically.

I guess if a four year-old can remember to credit his Daddy, maybe I can credit mine too!

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:17 & 18)

Posted in General

Friday, February 27, 2009

Is it just me, or does it seem to you that people all over the world (and most definitely in the good ol’ USA) are looking for a “savior?”

Watching bits of the presidential inauguration and subsequent coverage of President O.’s comings and goings impressed me with the huge hopes many folks have for our new Chief Executive. I too have hopes.

But I’m not sure I’m hoping for the same things that many fellow countrymen desire. It appears that the yearning of the masses is for government to magically rescue the floundering economy and provide unlimited refills for their drained bank accounts… at no extra cost! They want to live the American dream and be spared the American nightmare. I guess it’s just human nature to be more interested in the here and now, the me and mine.

The testimony of an Italian citizen comes to mind:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13) Good reminder Paul! Bet you didn’t know those words would be apropos two thousand years after you wrote them, did you?

Paul, a church-persecutor-turned-church planter was a citizen of Rome, an empire ruled by men of great power and influence. He advised his contemporaries to pray for the king and all those in positions of authority (I Timothy 2:1). Yet he also reminded them that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

It shows my age, but I used to love a TV game show… To Tell the Truth. Three individuals claimed to be the same person. A four-member panel fired questions at them and then cast votes for the person they believed to be “the real ______.” More than once the questioners almost fell off their chairs when they realized they had been duped by an articulate imposter.

So all that being said, today and tomorrow whether the stock market soars or sinks, I will choose to be content. I’ll pray faithfully, asking God to direct the hearts of all the leaders of my country toward righteousness. And I’ll keep hoping for the best for our nation! But when I turn off Fox News, Dateline and Rush Limbaugh… when I throw the Sunday newspaper in the trash and drop the World magazine into the rack of never-to-be-seen-again periodicals… I’ll sit back, grin and wait for the end of the show, already knowing that when the real Savior of the world stands up, He won’t be either Republican or Democrat.

Posted in General

Friday, January 23, 2009

So… the two-pound bag of pistachios has been emptied… mostly into me! The melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate truffles have all melted… in my mouth! Dusty decorations are once again stored in their corner of the basement. The new year is here in full force!

One of my favorite sayings comes from the movie, Anne of Green Gables. Anne, the main character, is a feisty orphan who has a knack for getting into predicaments. Her teacher walks Anne home from school one day and listens to her lament over her habit of getting into trouble. The kind and wise teacher says simply, “Remember Anne, every day is a new day with no mistakes in it.”

How Biblical! Whether the script-writer knew it or not, that exact message is found in Scripture. Lamentations 3: 22 & 23 says, It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

With the Lord, not only is 2009 a new start, but today is too! In fact, every day I get to begin again. I cannot comprehend why my Heavenly Father should put up with me. It seems I never make it through a single day without some mess-up. Yet, amazingly He forgives, picks me up, brushes me off and gives me a second chance… and a third… and a 3,245th! That is the unfailing mercy of God! What a priceless gift!

I received some nice gifts on December 25. But every gift I opened Christmas morning is already growing old. Eventually each one will fall apart or be discarded. But how thankful I am for Divine, never-ending mercy that gives me unlimited fresh starts. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

It is the gift I know I’ll need today and tomorrow and any time I receive another two-pound bag of pistachios!

Lord Jesus, thank you for a new day with no mistakes in it. Help me keep it that way! And in the event that I ignore Your gentle voice, do whatever it takes to get my attention, so I can fess up and begin again with a clean slate. Thank You for Your compassion that never is depleted! How great is Your faithfulness!

Posted in General