Visions & Verses

Happy Three Kings Day

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~Matthew 2:11

My daughter is taking Spanish this year, and she discovered that they don't give gifts at Christmas, but rather leave their special shoes out to receive gifts on Three Kings Day.  This makes a lot more sense to me than some jolly, fat guy giving presents to the world when he only works one day a year for no pay.  She's so excited to get some small gifts and candy.  Hmmm...that wouldn't have been enough on December 25th!

Nonetheless, I think it's important to pause and reflect on the profound wonder of 3 astronomers/astrologers from Persia or further traveling all the way to Israel just because of the the sign they saw in the stars.  And this sign was so significant that they packed up the most valuable gifts in the ancient world to present to the King the star was announcing.  These Magi were not Christians (no such thing yet), they weren't even Jews.  Most likely they had copies of the Jewish scripture acquired during the 'captivity' centuries earlier.  But they had read them, and interpreted them and witnessed a celestial event big enough to convince them.  Oh that we would have such faith!  Oh that we would drop everything in our lives to find Him.  Oh that we would present our most precious gifts (our hearts, souls, minds and strength) to Him and bow down and worship Him!  For Jesus was the fourth King present that day...the King of Kings who has taken away the sins of the world and who will soon return when every knee will bow before Him.

It may be too late find toys in your shoes, but it's never too late to find Jesus in your heart.

Lord, help me to appreciate the incredible gift of love and forgiveness that You gave us by sending Jesus into our world.  Guide me to be more intentional in giving my heart, mind and body to you.  I worship You in Your awesome wonder, and want to live out Your plan for my life, no matter the cost! Amen.

Half Empty, Half Full or Overflowing?

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

~ Psalm 23:5-6

You know the old saying, 'pessimists see the cup as half empty, optimists see the cup as half full.'  With the economy waivering, unemployment at an all-time high, food and gas prices climbing daily and the weather behaving in strange, deadly ways, it gets harder and harder to remain hopeful.  Let's face it, some days watching the news will convince you that the cup is just plain empty.

But despite the news, I encourage you to remember that God has filled that cup, and not just half-way, but to overflowing.  Psalm 23 was written for people on the verge of hopelessness.  Enemies are pursuing and the path is leading into the valley of death.  But guess what? You're not alone on the path!  God is there with you, guiding you.  And on the other side of that Death Valley is a green pasture with still water.  At God's green pasture He has a feast prepared for you, and He annoints you as the honored guest.  Your cup is never empty, never even half-empty or half-full but OVERFLOWING!

I don't know if you've ever experienced a drive through a desert valley.  I have.  After miles and miles of the same gray landscape, you wonder if it will ever end.  You begin to forget what grass and trees look like.  The utter lack of anything can really make you feel anxious -- what if the car breaks down or runs out of gas?  But then right at the heighth of your anxiety, you cross over a mountain pass and laid out before you is a lush, green landscape bordered by a river or lake sparkling in the sunlight.  It makes your soul sing.

This is the image that God wants you to hold on to.  No matter what this life throws at you, God is waiting right around the corner with a feast.  Hold on to hope.  Hold on the Faith.  Feel the deep, reassuring Peace of knowing that God has it all under His control.  We can't see what the future holds.  Your current view might be desert: wandering endlessly in a bad marriage, troubled children, addictions, unemployment, unfulfilled dreams, strained relationships, a lack of faith, etc.  I've been there.  But I fear no evil -- really I don't!  Instead, I am filled with the encouragement of Hope for the future.  I know there is a feast waiting for me, in this world or the next, and I can't wait to get there!  My cup is not half empty, nor half full, but fully overflowing with blessings of hope, goodness, love, and peace.  Hallelujah!

Act 2: The End and The Beginning

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

~ Jeremiah 29:11

So, my first-born, my little boy, who used to ride the dog and make play-dough masterpieces, has now graduated from High School.  I've had 17 years to prepare for this, but I just don't think I would ever have been prepared.  This whole year has been such a bittersweet experience, full of joy and trepidation, exhilaration and disappointment.  It would have been better if it could have been spread out more, but some things in life are just like that.  So, in the last few months I've watched him apply to college, get accepted to his first choice school, get a scholarship to the Honors Program, make his first date, rent a tux and go to the prom, get hired for his first job, quit his first job, finish his driver training, devastatingly fail his first driver's test, and walk across the stage and receive his diploma. 

All the while, trying to psychically prepare myself for his journey into full adulthood, I have been met by comments (mostly by men) suggesting that I 'cut the apron strings'.  It's frustrating, because, frankly, I didn't tie those strings.  I find that just like when he was 3 and learning to be on his own for the first time, he makes a great stride, and then hurries back, symbolically holding on to my leg now, not literally.  I remember this time of life.  As much as you want to be an adult and be 'free', it's also scary.  And you don't want to feel cut off from remaining part of the family.  So, personally, I have no desire to make the transition final by demanding rent, or making him leave home.  I think life will be harsh enough as it is.  Like a bird with a mended wing, I want him to feel comfortable taking wing whenever he feels ready so that he'll be successful.  Now, believe me, there will come a day when he'll need to be out on his own.  And I'm quite sure my hubby will make that clear when the time comes!  Still, maybe selfishly, I don't want to feel like the curtain has come down and it's the end.  I prefer to think of this as the scene change for Act 2.  With that thought, I'm free to look forward to the plot twists and conflict resolutions to come...there's plenty of time before the final curtain call!

 

Dearest Lord, thank You for all the beginnings and endings in our lives, and for the twisting, turning paths along the way.  Let me be grateful for all you have given me in my children, and let me trust in You to provide their futures.  Because I know you hold the future -- and life is worth the living because You live! Amen.

The Blessings of Relationship

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ~Luke 10:27

Relationship.  At its core, that is what Christianity is all about: an outpouring of love toward your fellow man born from the overflow of love toward God.  Other religions claim that God or the gods demand(s) obedience, but there must be more to it than that, or else why would we have free will?  He could have formed us as obedient servants, but instead he allowed us a choice.  Yes, God wants us to obey, but more than that, He wants our love and adoration.  And even our obedience to His laws is for our own good.  He wants what is best for us.  And what could be better than a loving relationship with a God who knows us intimately?  And when we can get our head around the Truth of the All-Powerful God wanting a personal, intimate relationship with us, it leads to an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and humility which we should then pass on to our neighbors. 

It seems to me that relationship is a key ingredient to sharing the Gospel message, too.  Jesus demonstrated love toward people by healing them, feeding them, dining with them, etc. before he shared the message about the kingdom of God.  And nothing can open the door to someone's heart like kindness and caring.  I think that the fact that it is such a challenge to love our neighbor shows that it is the right thing to do.  It is easy to love a puppy, but hard to love a challenging co-worker.  It is easy to be kind to a stray cat, but harder to be kind to our own family.  Nevertheless, the relationships we create here on earth are a glimpse into the relationship God wants to have with us: trusting, kind, intimate, personal, loyal, encouraging and so much more.

With this in mind, I say a prayer for the people of Japan, who are wholly relying on the compassionate love of others to help them through their tragedy.  And I pray that that compassionate love will point them toward God so that they might find peace in His abundant love.

Saved Savers Saving

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  ~Romans 10:9-10

In my town this week, a police officer was shot, another was killed and a firefighter lost his life, all in the line of duty.  I am in awe of these brave men and women who, knowing the danger to themselves, still run into perilous situations to protect and save others.  To me, these brave people are very much like Jesus - fighting injustice, sacrificing themselves for others, demonstrating true love by helping people unconditionally, regardless or race, creed or wealth.

And yet, no matter how many people they save in this life, will they be saved for eternity?  My hubby is a cop, and I really don't think I could stand the anxiety of his job without knowing with certainty that if he went on before me, he would be waiting to meet me in Heaven.  Knowing that this imperfect earth is not the end, but merely the beginning gives you the courage to boldly love others, boldly defend others and boldly serve God.  If, by contrast, we just sit on our butts, hiding our lights under a bushel and not being the hands and feet of Jesus, we really are no better than coins buried in a field.

I pray that these brave men were believers.  I pray that God might somehow use the tragedy of their deaths for some good.  I pray that their families will be comforted, and that their faith will be ignited or renewed.  And I give thanks that with every generation there are still men and women willing to put on a uniform and defend, protect and rescue us.