Visions & Verses

New Beginnings

 The blossoms appear in the countryside. The time of singing has come, and the turtledove's cooing is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:12

Well, it seems Spring may finally be on its way.  Last weekend was beautiful but then Monday brought half a foot of snow.  By this past weekend temperatures crept up near 80 degrees.  The kids danced on the deck in their shorts and tees and we barbecued every day and ate outside.  It was so nice to turn off the heat and open the windows.  Still, Baltimore is notorious for its finicky weather, so I expect some more unpleasant weather before the tulips bloom.

I love the feeling of newness that Spring brings.  That wonderful sense of rebirth and growth.  The first day of Spring is the Persian New Year, so I am usually thinking of that side of the family's culture, but this year, I've been thinking of mine -- the Celtic side.  St. Patrick was also big on new beginnings, although not always ones he planned.  Snake myths aside, I do know that in the end this religious slave and orphan ended up bringing the hope of Christ to the entire island of Ireland.  I wish all my beginnings were so profitable.  Nevertheless, I have learned to regard even the smallest things in a new way.  First of all, worth is measured differently by God and the world.  The world values status, money and possessions, whereas God values your relationships -- with Him and with others.  How you care for others counts.  Also, even the tiniest seeds can sprout and grow into something great.  Billy Graham didn't start out trying to evangelize the world, although he has, and St. Patrick didn't intend to convert an entire island of pagans, but that's what God had planned for him.

So, in this season of beginnings, I am happy to trust that God is moving me to the place I need to be.  I encourage you to also spend this Lenten season seeking Him out and prayerfully considering what He has planned for you.  Fast, meditate, spend some time alone, read the Bible and let that breakthrough happen!  I pray that your faith will blossom like the crocuses and tulips (and shamrocks!)

Lord, our Lord, you are so awesome and your creation is so wonderful.  Thank you for being a Good Shepherd who leads His flock by still water and green pastures.  Help us to turn our eyes to You this Lent, to seek you and listen to your 'still, small voice'.  Show us the path you have prepared for us, and help us to avoid the temptations of affluence and indolence, because You know what is best for us.  Amen.

The Season of Love

 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.    ~1 John 4:7

Getting back into the swing of things after the holidays and the dreariness of January.  I've been working a lot on me, and not so much on art, so this has been my first illustration of the new year.  My daughter decided at the last minute that she would prefer that I draw a card for her instead of her drawing her own.  I know where the procrastination comes from, so I'll hold my tongue!  Anyway, our foray into fitness meant that we could not include chocolate or lollipops, so we gave out little bubble bottles instead.  Actually, I was very happy to have an excuse to get back to the drawing board.  Usually by this time I'd have at least 4 or 5 illustrations done, but I was in some kind of funk.  Actually, I've been giving a lot of thought to my purpose in life.  I'm wondering if cute illustrations are what God has intended for me.  I have a few book ideas rolling around too, and I feel like I need to decide where to allocate my time and energies.  In that regard, I've been thinking about love for a long time now.  My study of Christianity has led me to conclude that the Beatles had it right: all you need is love.  But then, what is love really?  Christian love is a much more complicated concept than the media and culture would lead us to believe.  It's kind of like respect, dignity and compassion all wrapped into one, and it's much more of an action verb than a state of mind.  Like Dionne Warwick, I think that what the world needs now is love, sweet love.  Meditate on how Christian love would have prevented this economic crisis, would solve the problems in the Middle East and would bring an end to world hunger and poverty.  I know those are not simple problems, and I'm not trying to minimize them.  On the contrary, I really want people to start realizing how crazy, self-sacrificing, unselfish love for others would suddenly and profoundly change the world.  Love isn't just hearts and flowers and chocolate -- it's dirty knees, rolled up sleeves, dirty diapers, sweat and tears and real sacrifice.  We'd all like to save the world if it didn't cost us anything.  But it will cost us -- and I know God wants to push us right out of our comfort zone, right out of what we figure we can stand to give up, right into that area of fear and doubt that forces us to rely on Him alone.  So I don't know if I need to go to Africa, work at a homeless shelter, devote myself totally to my family, or get a book published.  All of those scare me and would require an amount of devotion that my selfish nature is loathe to give.  Geez, isn't it enough that I'm dieting and exercising for the first time in years?  'Nope.' is the simple clear answer that I'm getting from God.  The pursuit of love is leading me toward spiritual boot-camp, and I can tell you, there's fear and excitement, but most of all I don't want to miss the bus (again) and be stuck where I am.

Lord, thank you for pushing us to be more than we think we can be.  Thank you for those momentary glimpses when we see ourselves and others as You see us -- precious, valuable, worthy, special.  Help us to understand our relational nature, and help us to love others, because You ARE love, and only when WE love, are we truly like You. Amen.

Cookie Party

   

Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared.  ~Nehemiah 8:10

I am so blessed to have a group of gal pals who are like sisters to me.  And these wonderful friends had a terrific idea to help ease the holiday baking burden by having a cookie baking party.  It's similar to a cookie exchange, but instead of bringing cookies, we brought a big batch of dough (enough for 6 dozen) and prepared and cooked them together with the kids.  When the kids got bored, we sent them to the family room for a movie while we sipped a little wine and chatted. 

We each made a different cookie: Snickerdoodles, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter Kisses, Cranberry Crisps, Persian Almond, and Chocolate Chip.  And each of us went home with at least a dozen of six different varieties of cookies -- a good deal.  But the best part was slowing down to spendtime with friends and family during the busy holiday season.  It seems to me that women are very communal and are really designed to work together as a group to nurture the larger group.  That's how it was for my hubby back in the Old Country, with Aunts and cousins all over the place in the summers.  Sounds nice.  And I can't picture a Christmas without 3 or more women in the kitchen chopping and chatting, ladling and laughing....

Here's the recipe for my Persian Almond Cookies (Nan-e Shirini)

2 Cups flour                        1 egg                                sm. bag of sliced almonds

1 tsp baking powder            1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Cup shortening                1 tsp almond extract

1 Cup sugar                        1 tsp lemon extract

Cream together the shortening and sugar.  Blend in egg and flavorings.  Gradually add dry ingredients until dough is well blended.  Roll dough into round balls about and inch wide.  Place on ungreased baking sheet and flatten slightly, adding 1 or 2 sliced almonds to the top of each cookie.  Bake at 325 for 10-15 minutes.  Remove before the edges brown.  Makes 2-3 dozen.

Lord, with every Christmas cookie we munch, and every card we receive, let us remember and give thanks for those who blessed us with them.  Remind us that Jesus was born into a family and surrounded with friends and loved ones right from that first Holy night.  Thank You for all of those that You have placed in our lives to nurture, support and love us.  And thank You most of all for loving us enough to bless us with Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Out of the mouths of babes...

        

With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless.  ~Psalm 8:2

This Sunday, our combined church Sunday School put on their annual Christmas Play.  Despite a shaky dress rehearsal Saturday, both performances were outstanding.  Of course the littlest angels and centurion stole the show, but the older kids are now polished performers.

I love the Christmas Play because it usually fills the pews at both churches, and frequently with relatives and others who are not 'regulars'.  And it is truly moving how the Christmas story, spoken by those young voices, as if it were all brand new, really touches the heart and brings home the gospel message.  Children were special to Jesus, and he blessed them, and used them to demonstrate how all of us should be -- trusting, loving, and dependent on our Father without pride or shame.

For the kids it was a fun time to dress up and perform, and that is at it should be.  But the Lord is able to take our humble little play and use it for His glory -- and that is how THAT should be, too.   

First Snow

     

As soon as God speaks, the earth obeys.  He covers the ground with snow like a blanket of wool, and he scatters frost like ashes on the ground.  ~Psalm 147:15-17

The Baltimore area got its first snow this past Friday.  Baltimore is not known for snow or winter sports.  That's because, sitting on the Mason-Dixon line, we are bounded by mountains to the west which usually block all that 'lake effect' snow, dropping it all over Pittsburgh instead.  Well, on Friday, the mountains failed to stop it, and we ended up with snow in November.  It started as light flurries (photo 1) which was nice for the kids.  But suddenly the wind whipped up and we had near white-out conditions for about a half an hour (photo 2) leaving behind enough snow to confuse humans and pets alike (photo 3).  The thing to remember is that a couple of weeks ago we had temperatures in the 70s.  I hadn't even gotten my winter sweaters out yet.  There's still a dusting of snow even now.

No matter where you come out on the man-made vs. natural cycle global warming debate, the fact remains that nature and its weather are awesome.  Awesome because it is a clear demonstration of God's awesome power.  Weather and those natural wonders do tend to turn a human's thoughts toward the spiritual.  So much poetry and music inspired by weather....even the unbelievers can sense the Divine hand in it.  My favorite psalms are the ones that describe how the whole earth is designed and controlled by God (ie:104 and 147).

So, if God can bring snow to Baltimore in mid-November, He certainly can resolve financial crises, family strife, medical concerns, and all manner of fears and worries that we bring to Him.  And I am truly, truly thankful for that!  The burden of worry and fear would be way too big if I didn't cast my cares on Jesus.