COURAGE FOR TODAY

A Masterpiece of Scribble

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

I have thoroughly enjoyed having my Daughter, Son-in-Law, and three Grand-children live with us temporarily.  Since their arrival from China, they'll be staying with us for a few months until they can get their own place.  It's been many years since I've come home every night from work and had children to welcome me after a long day, but you just can't beat the Grandkids world of video games and toys to remind you of your true priorities.

There is no way to put a price on learning to love the Grandkids personalities and interests and see the excitement in their eyes watching the latest episode of Sponge-Bob Square Pants.  My youngest Grandson is especially artistic and creative.  He loves to draw and color.  Almost everyday, he will spend time coloring a new page in his coloring book.  Of course, at five years old, the colors don't always match and he doesn't always color between all the lines, but he is so proud of his masterpiece.  He smiles from ear to ear when he finishes his artwork and can't wait to show it to me and everyone that will look.  To the casual observer, it wouldn't even be noticed, but to me, it's as beautiful as the greatest Picasso.  My grandson is an extension of me and I couldn't be more proud, no matter how his artwork looks.  He isn't worried about how the artwork will be judged.  He isn't worried what others will think.  He's just drawing and coloring to the best of his abilities.  In fact, he's so proud of his handy work that he has taped pictures that he's colored to his bedroom walls. Most people hang framed pictures and posters; he hangs pages from a coloring book.  It would never be part of Better Homes and Garden decor, but it's beautiful to me.

Darkness and Silence Don't Mean Absence

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leaveyou nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

I learned the hard way as a teenager that I didn't like small, closed places.  I don't know if I am officially claustrophobic, but I will definitely stick to wide open spaces when given the choice.  I was thinking about a youth trip I took with my Church when I was a young high-schooler.  Our Youth Leader decided that it would be fun to go exploring caves.  The way he described it sounded pretty exciting to me.  We were going to enter this particular cave, climb down the winding corridors twisting and turning our way seemingly to the earth's center.  I couldn't wait.

Finally, the day came and it was off to the cave.  After what seemed like an eternity of driving, we arrived at the cave's entrance.  We met our guide who spent several minutes explaining the do's and don'ts and describing what we might expect.  I remember that he warned us about the darkness and the cold and the possibility of encountering bats and insects.  He also warned us about small, tight places where we might have to crawl on our bellies inching our way through narrow passage ways.  Suddenly, cave exploring no longer seemed so glamorous to me.  Several of the older adult chaperones decided to stay back at the Church Van.  They would be there waiting for us when we returned.  Unfortunately, there was no way I was going to back out.  After all, I had my teenage macho image to protect.

Walls Don't Have To Be Barriers

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:5

I never cared for Physical Education classes when I was in High School.  I loved to play baseball and basketball, but I was not what you would consider athletic by any stretch of the imagination.  I think because P.E. wasn't "fun" to me.  We were constantly running, jumping, or exercising of some type.  I really thought it was a waste of my time.  I spent most of my time during those classes day dreaming about other things and wishing I was somewhere else at the time.  Perhaps if I had been a star High School Football or Basketball Player things might have been different, but there was never any danger of that happening so it was agony for me each day of P.E. class.

I remember one particular class we were scheduled to be visited by a "special exercise guest."  You just can't get much more exciting than that.  I just knew that we were finally going to do something fun or meet some famous athlete.  We made our way from the P.E. Locker room and arrived out on the ball field only to be greeted by a local ROTC Drill Sergeant standing in front of a wooden wall with a rope hanging from the top.  You've seen them in movies involving soldiers and their training.  The goal is to run towards the wall; grab the rope; and pull yourself and climb up the wall and over.  My excitement turned to horror.  I knew my turn was coming and I would have to attempt the wall but, at that moment, I would have rather gone to the Dentist.  I knew I couldn't climb that wall.  I could barely do pull-ups on the high bar, much less climb a wall while holding a rope.  Sure enough, my turn came.  I ran.  I pulled.  I climbed.  I fell.  Just as predicted.

The Best Path For The New Year

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.  Psalm 16: 11 (NIV)

It's that time of year again when we all start agonizing over our New Year's Resolutions.  There's just something about the starting of a New Year that seems to motivate us to start a new exercise program; or begin a new weight loss program; or, perhaps, make a different career decision.  It's almost as if starting "fresh" in the New Year makes us forget about the past and become more determined than ever to succeed at our new goal, whatever that may be.

I was spending some time today thinking about what might be the next path in my own life and where life's journey may take me over the next few months or year or even several years.  I have a lot of things swirling around in my mind, but I don't yet have peace about any major decisions at this point. 

Behold, New Things Have Come

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

It's late October and getting close to Halloween time again.  I was thinking the other day about a particular Halloween a couple of years ago.  Our grandkids were 5 and 4 years old at the time and had been living overseas with my daughter for some time.  This was their first Halloween that they were really old enough to remember or participate in and they were so excited.  We tried to explain how they were going to get to select a costume for themselves and dress-up like their favorite character.  I'm not sure they really understood what we were saying, but they were excited nonetheless.

Refine Us Like Silver

For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.  Psalms 66: 10 (NIV)

I don't know about you but it seems like the past several months have just been extremely trying for several people I know.  I've seen my share of health issues and job concerns.  I've listened to concerns about finances and relationships.  All I could do in each situation is remind my friends of the goodness of God's love and grace and encourage them to keep going on. 

I suppose I have a unique perspective because I've certainly had my share of difficulties at various times in my life.  God taught me so much through my various trials and its those hard learned lessons that I can now share with my friends and loved ones and, perhaps, give them some hope during their trials.  It also helps to keep me grounded and reminds me that, as Christians, none of us are immune from trials.  It's not a matter of if, but when. 

When I am at the end of my rope and don't know what else to do, it helps to remember these things:

• Recognize Gods refinement in our lives.  Just like refining gold or silver, God continually molds and develops us into his image.  Sometimes the refining is painful and hurtful, but it always ends in a beautiful, shiny creation.  We have to trust the Lord during the refining process.
• Look for righteousness more than solutions.  I am preaching to the choir with this point.  I know that I always tend to search constantly for a solution and worry myself beyond measure.  Sometimes, I just need to stop. I need to take a breather from searching "how" and realize that God already has the solution.  It's just that HIS timing isn't always in sync with my timing. 
• Remember it is not permanent.  While trials are inevitable, they're only temporary.  It may seem like your trial is lasting forever and that you can't take any more, but it will end.   
• Recommit to full surrender.  Sometimes, what we are experiencing is a conflict between what God is directing us to do and what we stubbornly refuse to do.  It often helps to surrender our full life and will to God and allow him to fully direct our paths, not fight HIM the entire way.

As difficult as it is, always remember that you are one of God's Jewels and that God's refining produces gems with immeasurable beauty.

Come Sail Away

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

My wife and I are just returning from a short holiday at the beach.  We decided to get in one last Summer trip during the Labor Day Holiday before the cooler weather sets in.  It was a wonderful trip.  The weather was perfect in the mid-80's and no rain or clouds to be found.  It was simply breathtaking, even for only a couple of days.

Biscuit Dough and Flour

"Thus says the lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, 'I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by myself and spreading out the earth all alone" Isaiah 44:24

One of the fondest memories I have of my grandmother was what a wonderful cook she was.  Every time I visited her house, it was filled with wonderful aromas of every type of food imaginable.  It was a dream come true for me and my brothers.  There was food on the stove.  There was food in the refrigerator.  There were deserts on the chest freezer she had outside her kitchen.  It was better than any modern day buffet that you could visit.

Building Blocks of Faith

Since my daughter; son-in-law, and grand-children are on the Mission Field, I don't get to see them that often.  When we do have a chance to catch up with each other, it's always play time for the grand kids.  Like typical boys, they love to play any game or with anything that involves action.  They especially like to play with building blocks.  They love for me to build a tall tower of blocks only to have them knock it down as quickly as possible. 

The Significance of Insignificance

I have to confess that I'm not a mechanic.  Recently, as hard as I tried, I just could not get my riding lawnmower to work properly.  I could crank the engine easy enough and put the mower in gear, but each time, the belt that turns the blade would fall off the pulley.  I would stop and put the belt back on the pulley, only to put the mower in gear and have the belt fall off again.  Over and over again, I placed the belt back on the pulley, only to see it fall off.  I could not figure out why.  It was so frustrating.