Baffled
As the rain gently falls, I watch out the window at the bird feeders in our backyard.
An array of colorful feathered friends feast on the seeds my husband has put out.
But this tasty feast attracts another creature.
A squirrel.
In an attempt to deter our furry friend from trying to ascend the pole to the feeders, my husband has put up a squirrel stopper.
These are sometimes also referred to as squirrel baffles.
Ironically, these deterrents that do not stop the squirrel from trying to reach the treasure above.
Over and over again.
His attempts are in vain.
The abilities of the squirrel and birds differ.
A squirrel can climb and scamper.
A bird can fly through the air with ease.
Both God’s creatures, but with different gifts.
Just like you and I.
I love how God uses these moments to whisper a message into my heart.
In a world that fosters competition, we do not always recognize or value the fact that we all have different gifts.
We compare ourselves to those around us.
And like the squirrel trying to ascend the pole, we want to put ourselves in someone else’s spot.
Maybe you have been there.
I know that I have.
And when I have tried over and over again to fit somewhere I think I should be versus where God wants me to be, I turn to His word.
“ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:4-8 NIV
Just like the squirrel baffle does not prevent this creature from his attempts, so too our human nature does not prevent us from comparing ourselves with others.
But take heart, friend.
God has a special gift for each of us to share with the world.
When we embrace rather than compare our gift, we can offer it cheerfully with those around us.
And we can encourage others to share their gifts as well.
What is the gift you offer to the world today?
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Tearing Off the Bandages
It had been five days since Dan had his hip surgery.
Today was the day we would be tearing off the bandages.
His father and I supported him as he stood briefly in front of the mirror to examine the scars.
After today, the multiple stitches would no longer be covered.
The wound would be exposed.
When the next morning came, my youngest son was in even more pain.
Removing the barrier of the bandage left him vulnerable.
Healing would take time.
Even though we know that healing is a process, it almost makes us want to cover the wound back up again.
Over the course of the next 6 weeks, he will be moving about gingerly with his crutches until he gains his strength back.
Many of us try to cover our wounds.
The ones we can see and the ones that remain invisible to the eye.
We do not want to expose our brokenness to the world.
Because when we tear off the bandages, we experience more pain.
Busyness, like a bandage, might serve as a barrier to shield the hurt.
Food, shopping, substances, unhealthy relationships can also cover pain.
The list is long.
In our most painful moments, God whispers.
God tells us in His word that He is close to those who are broken.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 ESV
Notice that God does not say He will make sure that we don’t experience pain in this world.
But in His word, our heavenly Father tells us that He will be our strength.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 ESV
As a mother, I wish that I could have prevented the suffering that my son had to endure.
All I can do I remain close as he heals.
When we are hurt by this world, we may also walk gingerly until we regain our strength.
But take heart, friends.
There will come a day when we will no longer work hard to hide our brokenness.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be mourning, not crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV
Until that day comes, may He be your strength.
Amen.
.
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Yummy Food
“Can you make me some yummy food?”
This is the request that my college aged son has asked almost daily since he has been home.
My selections of foods to make as his appointed short order cook are limited to his favorites.
If anything new or green touches the plate, the eye rolls appear.
And when I am not home to prepare yummy food?
Pop Tarts, cereal and potato chips are the quick and easy ways to fill his empty stomach.
Sometimes I shake my head at this request for “yummy” food, but this morning I woke up with a new perspective that God placed on my heart.
There is always a lesson if you are listening.
As a woman of faith, don’t I try to fill myself up with the same yummy food?
I like the verses that I know and comforting stories that make me feel good.
I heard Steven Furtick say in one of his messages (Become the Bridge) that at times we make our Jesus like a talking doll with the string on the back.
Remember those dolls?
You pulled the string and the doll said a few favorite phrases.
Sometimes I want God to feed me my favorites.
But anything that touches my plate that challenges me or that I haven’t tried before, don’t I give God an eye roll like my son?
Somedays I choose something familiar instead of trying something new.
But that only leaves me feeling satisfied for a moment.
I cannot toss down a verse like a bag of chips and expect to be nourished.
That is when I need to expand my selection.
Friends, there is so much in God’s word that He has to say to us.
But sometimes, just like our diet, we keep with what is familiar and comforting to us.
I wonder what my son would do if I was not there to make his yummy food?
He could not live on junk food forever.
Eventually, he would have to learn to be responsible for what he puts into his body.
It is tempting to want to fill ourselves with what is immediate..
But when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He said this:
“”…the Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NLT
I cannot only rely on the words my pastor feeds me on a Sunday morning.
I need to be fed daily.
But I am pretty sure that even if I asked, my pastor could not come to my home each day with a word from God.
It is my responsibility.
God is not a short order cook.
Just like a balanced daily diet, we need a balanced daily portion of His word.
Our heavenly Father is not going to feed us the food we have selected on our preferred menu.
We may want a portion of love, joy and peace, but God may serve up a helping of forgiveness, self-control and humility instead.
He is going to nourish our souls with what we need.
Our heavenly Father will change the menu selection to grow us.
And the more we grow, the more we will hunger for His word.
“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” Jeremiah 15:16 NLT
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We Belong to Each Other
“So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-26
Kenny was a gentle giant.
When he would stop by the counseling building to say hello or talk about what was happening in the dorm, it always brightened my day.
But this day was different.
His usual smile was replaced by unmistakable pain.
This student whom I had grown so fond of quietly asked to use my office phone to call home.
His friend back home had been shot and killed.
Sadly, this was not the first person he cared about whose life was lost to gun violence.
Far from home, there was no family to comfort him.
So I sat with him in his pain.
In my early twenties, I remember feeling so inadequate.
Our backgrounds were different, just like the color of our skin.
I grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania with little diversity.
He was an inner city kid who had witnessed tragedies that were hard for me to understand.
So I offered the only thing that I could.
My presence.
He poured out his feelings.
I listened.
He wept.
I cried with him.
I did not pretend to be something I was not.
I remember saying something to him like, “I don’t know what it’s like to walk in your shoes, but I do know what it’s like to lose someone I love. Let’s start there.”
He taught me things that the college degree I had just earned did not offer.
Kenny became my teacher.
He and so many of the other students I got to know and care for during my first job as a counselor gave me a lens to a world that I had not experienced before.
I have thought about Kenny so much this week in the midst of the horrific death of George Floyd.
Twenty odd years later, I wonder if he is safe or has children of his own now.
I know the prayers I pray over my own sons will look different than his.
In my heart, I am certain Kenny is grieving along with the rest of the country over this senseless tragedy.
I wish I could turn back the clock, and invite him into my office for a while.
And even though I still feel inadequate with what words to share, I would offer my presence.
God tells us in His word that when one part of the body is hurting, we all hurt.
Our body is in pain right now.
The differences we share make up the beautiful tapestry of those our heavenly Father calls His children.
“So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12:5
One body.
We all belong to each other.
Friends, where is God calling you to offer your presence now?
Stop and listen.
Sit in the pain with our brothers and sisters.
In a world that feels broken, bring the light of His love and offer peace.
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
Amen.
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Forgiveness
Forgiveness is hard.
We take hurts to heart.
It is personal.
Sometimes it is about us.
Sometimes it is about someone we love.
How many times have I held onto hurt for the sake of being right?
“He should be the one to apologize.”
How many times have I thought this is the one thing I cannot forgive?
“I don’t know if I can ever forgive her for what she did.”
Maybe we feel justified in being angry and holding on to the bitterness that seeps into our souls.
If we left it up to our own feelings and emotions, many of us might choose not to forgive.
But there was this man…..
A man who chose not to hold onto the hurt.
A man who chose grace instead of bitterness.
A man who was blameless and right, and forgave before an apology came.
“Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
He would have been justified in His anger, but chose gentleness instead.
The same gentleness that He wants us to choose.
“Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13
Even when we feel like it is something we cannot forgive, we are called to show grace.
Over and over again.
“Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18: 21-22
Forgiveness is hard.
But not as hard as the sacrifice that was made for us on the cross.
No matter how many times we have to forgive others, it will never come close to the price that was paid for us on that cross.
How many times has He forgiven us?
Our heavenly Father is full of grace.
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7
Father God, help us to always forgive each other as you have forgiven us.
Thank You for Your unending grace and love for each of us.
Amen.
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What Are You Waiting For?
“What are you waiting for?”
This is the question asked of a little boy sitting on his bike when Bob, aka Mr. Incredible, pulls into his driveway in the movie, The Incredibles.
“What are you waiting for?”
The little boy’s answer?
“I don’t know….something amazing I guess.”
Maybe you don’t know exactly what you are waiting for either.
It feels like we are always waiting for something.
For the phone to ring.
For the other person to admit they were wrong.
For the apology that might never come.
For the test results.
For our finances to be more secure.
For retirement.
For the RIGHT time.
Maybe at that time, something amazing will happen.
But especially today, amidst the pandemic, waiting feels like a way of life.
Waiting in line at the grocery store.
Waiting for the stimulus check.
Waiting for stores and businesses to reopen.
Waiting to see our loved ones and safely give them a hug.
The wait feels like a heavy weight crushing us.
Finding patience while we wait is as challenging as finding toilet paper and Clorox Wipes today.
But it is not the wait that is important.
It’s how we wait that matters.
God tells us in His word to wait patiently for Him.
“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalms 27:14 NLT
“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.” James 5:7 NLT
We can be patient while we wait, because we trust that something good is coming.
The little boy in the Incredibles didn’t know what he was waiting for, but he was expecting something amazing.
Don’t miss this word.
He was expectant.
As God’s children, we are hope filled and expectant.
We know that something amazing will happen when He returns.
“I wait patiently for the Lord, my soul expectantly waits,
And in His word do I hope.” Psalms 130: 5 AMP
Friends, waiting is hard.
Like you, I long for the day when the wait is over.
But as we wait, be hopeful.
He sees you.
He hears you.
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for my God my Savior, My God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7
Trust that on the other side of the wait is something amazing.
Amen.
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In Our Father’s Hands
Full Access
It is after midnight.
Our family has been keeping odd hours since the pandemic began.
The boys are upstairs playing a video game with their friends.
My husband and I are settled in on the couch, halfway through an episode of Homeland.
That’s when it happens.
The WiFi goes down.
Understandably with everything else going on right now, this disruption pales in comparison.
But it did create some chaos in our household.
Not only did it mean no Madden or binge watching a favorite show, but it also meant no streaming of church services or bible study on Zoom the next day.
We lost our access.
Not having personal contact with those we love has been a struggle for many throughout this pandemic.
But we never have to worry ourselves with losing personal contact with the One who loves us the most.
We can rest in the promise we always have full access to our Heavenly Father.
“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Ephesians 2:18 NIV
God will never deny us access to His glorious presence.
That does not mean that the enemy will not try to put up obstacles to weaken our connection.
The technician who came to restore our internet explained that there were several nicks in the cable wires outside of the house.
However, for safety precautions he could not travel inside to access the situation further.
My son ran up and down the stairs, taking pictures of the wires connected to the modem so the technician could see where the problem was occurring.
We were looking right at it, but he could see something we couldn’t see.
But it was up to us to fix the problem inside.
Does this speak to anyone else?
We may not always see obstacles, even when they are right in front of us.
What can we do when we feel like we have lost our connection?
First, pray.
God never withholds Himself from us.
“Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!” Psalms 66:20 NIV
Second, get into the Word.
The Bible is God’s love letter to His children.
“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.” Psalms 139:1-4 NIV
Finally, stay connected to other believers.
Sometimes our brothers and sisters can help us see problems when our vision is blurred.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10: 24-25 NIV
Friends, it is up to each of us to take care of what is happening on the inside.
But take heart, we are not alone.
We have full access to the One who knows how we are wired.
Amen.
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Holding On, Letting Go
Like many, I have been taking advantage of this time at home doing projects.
Decluttering closets, drawers, and rooms in the house.
Do you have that one spot that you store up the things you have not been able to part with yet?
Maybe it is a drawer, a closet.
Mine is the back basement.
This area in our house holds toys, decorations and boxes and boxes of memories.
It’s my “I’ll deal with it later” area.
I put things here to forget about them for a while.
I distract myself or tell myself I am too busy.
I avoid dealing with them for a bit longer.
Maybe because it is too messy or too hard to deal with that moment.
So as I made my way to the basement in my yoga pants and sweatshirt (my daily attire these days), I already knew I would stir up more than dust in the lower level of the house.
I would have to decide what I would hold onto and what I needed to finally let go of.
Confession?
I like to hold onto things.
Chances are if you wrote me a note in junior high or sent me a card or letter in college, I still have it.
Trust me on this one.
And pictures?
Do not even get me started.
I unearthed many treasures, ones that brought me many smiles and laughs throughout the afternoon.
But as I came to my parents boxes, I found myself drowning in feelings of grief.
It has been almost eight years since my Mom has passed, nine for my Dad.
My sisters and I took a weekend to go through their belongings years ago.
It was emotionally draining.
We made a dent, but there was so much more to go through.
We said we would get together another time to go through the rest.
But that day never came.
So I gave myself over to this day with little expectation other than to feel their loss deeply.
To laugh, to cry.
To let go of a little more.
I moved through items that had not been touched in years.
Boxes of manilla envelopes, filled with receipts that dated back decades.
Tax returns, gas bills, telephone bills.
Organized by year, day to day life.
Their life.
And almost ceremoniously, after getting an “its ok” from one of my sisters, I burned these symbols of a life lived well.
A life that is no longer lived here.
Maybe by surrounding myself with these pieces of Mom and Dad, I could keep a piece of them present in the place where they lived out their last days.
A place where they took their last breaths.
And as I watched the flames dance in the fire pit under the starlit sky, I cried knowing that their life is not here anymore.
Some days, I put that emotion on the shelf to deal with later.
And other days I give into the wave of emotion that crashes over me.
The waves eventually subside.
And I resurface a little lighter.
When I dust off the boxes filled with memories, I take comfort in knowing where Mom and Dad’s life is right now.
And that the impact of their love still lives on.
The heaviness of grief was felt by Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James when they went to the tomb to anoint Jesus ‘ body.
I am sure that when they saw that the stone was rolled away from the tomb, a wave of emotion crashed over them.
But these waves subsided when they were told that Jesus was not there.
They must have felt lighter when they were told He had risen.
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16: 1-7 NIV
There was comfort in knowing that even though Jesus was no longer with them, He had life with His Heavenly Father.
His life was no longer there, but the impact of His love still lived on.
The impact of His love still lives on.
That is the hope that sustains us.
May that hope along with His peace be with you today.
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For Healing’s Sake
The alarm clock buzzes, jolting us awake.
The coffee pot brews a cup of morning motivation.
A quick kiss goodbye to a loved one before racing out the door to work.
For some, this is what the morning routine looks like.
It’s just another day.
Business as usual.
But the weeks that have preceded Holy Week have looked anything but usual.
Truck drivers, cashiers at grocery stores, janitors, police officers, EMTS, doctors and nurses.
Anyone deemed essential has had to go through the motions of the daily routine, knowing the dangers that lie ahead.
And everyday they go.
Daily serving that others might have the essentials.
Daily serving that others might be safe.
Daily serving that others might live.
Friends and neighbors, giving up time with their own families and loved ones.
Putting others above themselves.
Such an example of real love.
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16 NLT
I wonder if there are times some wish they would have chosen a different career path.
Times of doubt.
Most probably never envisioned the circumstances that they find themselves in now.
It is hard to fathom.
But Jesus knew this feeling well.
He gave up being in heaven with the Father to come to earth in human form.
He walked among those who were broken and sick, not just in body but in spirit.
Jesus came for healing’s sake.
Jesus had loved ones He would leave behind.
His mother, His disciples, His friends.
And just before He would be led away to complete His work, He would sit down for a meal with His disciples one last time.
Like He had done many times before with those He loved.
He knew the dangers that were before Him.
So He went to God in prayer.
“Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There He told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Luke 22:39-44 NLT
What I love most about this passage are the words “as usual.”
Jesus did not set an alarm clock or put on a pot of coffee as part of His usual routine.
He went to God in prayer.
Regardless of the circumstances, Jesus daily spent time with Father God.
When Jesus had doubts and fears about the path He was on, He sat at His Father’s feet.
Friends, that is what our heavenly Father wants us to do now.
Bring your worries and fears and give them to the One who is larger than any burden we carry.
He will give you strength.
And as you sit at His feet, lift up those who are truly acting as the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world, that they might be strengthened and protected as well.
Amen.
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