Remembering Special People Today

Today I turn 37.  Not really a significant year, yet somehow this year feels different.  Maybe it is because all that has changed and happened since last year.  Maybe it is realizing that my youngest is turning 10 in a few months.  Maybe it is simply crazy hormones, but all the same, I am weepy today.  In an effort to not fall headlong into a pity party, I decided to think about 2 people that share this same day with me. 

The first one is a childhood friend named Sherry.  I am not sure how old she would be today or if she is even still alive.  Sherry was a friend of mine from Virginia Beach, Virginia.  I lived there from about age 9 until about 12.  However, I only knew Sherry about a year of that time.  Sherry had Special Needs.  I am not sure exactly, but I believe she had Cerebral Palsy along with other limitations.  However, Sherry LOVED to ride her bike.  If I had to guess, it was because she felt strong and free while riding.  Perhaps some of the pain she daily endured was somehow minimize when she flew down the street on top of her custom beach-cruiser allowing the wind to blow through her hair.  Sadly, most of the time I was too caught up in playing baby dolls on my porch with the girl from next door, or Barbies with the girl from across the street to pay much mind to Sherry.  My excuse perhaps is that riding a bike was and is really not my thing.  Maybe it's an equilibrium issue from my own hearing loss - but excuses aside, I now regret not taking the time to ride more with Sherry.  Yes, she made me feel a little uncomfortable.  I was a child and "different" seemed scary.  However, in my heart of hearts even as a child, I knew that Sherry needed a friend. 

I am not sure if my mom knew Sherry's need for friendship, but for my birthday just before we moved from that house, I was given a bike.  Not that our home didn't have bikes for me to use had I chosen, but perhaps this was a subtle way to tell me to step-out.  For the last 2 weeks we lived in that house, I rode my bike almost every day with Sherry.  Her smile is something I will never forget. After we moved, I maybe rode my bike a hand full of times.  Again - it wasn't my thing.  That bike moved 3 more times with our family, and in the end I was required to use it during my high school sorority pledge week.  I confess I thought of Sherry every day that week, and I still do every time I have a birthday.  I pray she found girls that were better friends than I was.  I pray that she still finds pleasure astride a beach-cruiser with wind in her hair.  I am a different woman because of the simple joy I learned from her and the lesson of the importance of being a friend.

I have provided a link to a video of a school track and field event.  I wish that I would have been the encourager that these children are!  Inspirational Video - Story of a child with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

The second person I am remembering today is Mrs. Mary June Burris.  She is the wife of my music minister during my teenage years.  Bro. Max passed away last summer, and Mrs. Mary June is now struggling with Alzheimer's disease.  I know she is surrounded by precious family, loving friends and a caring church family, but I can't help but wish that I could do something to minister to her during this time.  I regularly hear updates on her health and well being.  She is a strong woman who has used her life to serve the Lord. 

Babies were "her thing".  I don't even know how many infants she lovingly nurtured in her home over the years.  When the little ones started walking and getting around, they were moved to another dear lady - Jeffery Denton's home until they were old enough for school.  These 2 precious ladies have taught me so much about the power for our influence on young children.  Many think that "school age" is the time that learning begins, but these wise women know that it begins way before that first step onto the school bus. 

Mrs. Jeffery now regularly takes Mrs. Mary June back to her home so that she can pull out all the things that are familiar to her.  They spend hours remembering together years that have gone by; children that have grown and prayers the Lord has answered.  May it be said of me when I am in my later years that even if disease has taken my day to day memories - the influence and impact I had remains because of Christ's work through me.  I know I was a more attentive mom during my kids' early years because of the wisdom taught by these ladies.  May I serve the Lord and pray for my children and the children around me as these two special ladies have done all these years. 

Happy Birthday Sherry and Mrs. Mary June!  Thank you for your influences on my life!  AT   
  

Solid Ground or Sinking Sand

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. 
When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in him be found; Dressed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

"The Solid Rock" by Eward Mote (1832) is a commonly sung hymn in Baptist churches, but are we truly practicing this kind of whole hearted trust and obedience?  Am I being shaken by the circumstances around me or is my anchor so rooted on solid ground that I hold fast and am obedient to my call no matter the floods?

As I have mentioned before, our apartment building is directly on the beach front.  One of our favorite things to do is watch the daily progress of the re-construction of the shoreline.  We are not sure all the reasoning behind it, but a sand bar has been removed and two jetties or small peninsulas are being constructed.  Large stones are being moved from one side to another and various digging and dumping of sand and rock are taking place as far as we can see in both directions.  We have been told that the Emirate of Ajman is making the beaches more pleasant to the eye as well as safer for small watercraft and vacationers.  As this is the country that has constructed the famous Palms and Islands of the World, I would venture to say that they know at least a little of what they are doing.  However, it does seem a very temperamental task.  As spring storms come and the water levels change, much of what was constructed in one day is washed away in another.  I suppose this is all part of the process....packing down the sand to make it stronger.  I am not sure.  What I do know is that islands built by man will never be solid enough to weather truly significant storms. 

Even as I live on this side of the beach...you know solid ground...I was reminded of this truth as a 3-4 aftershock of the Iranian earthquake rocked my home this month. Yes, nothing of this world is steadfast. Storms come; disasters occur; everything changes; the earth moves, and life can shift like sand in an instant. We cannot place our trust in this temporal moment.

However, neither can we live in fear.  We are clearly told that as Believers we have a cleft in the rock that He covers with His hand. (He Hideth My Soul by Frances Crosby)  We can stand on His promises even when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail us. (Standing on the Promises by R. Kelso Carter)

Psalm 46:1-3 assures us, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Jesus gives us in Matthew 7:24-27 a parable of 2 men, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Have I heeded Christ's words, or have I simply listened to them and yet ignored them in my obedience?

What is my hope built on today?  Nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness....or am I trying to cloth myself in a little of my own and His....

On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand...AT

The Difference in Life and Death is but a Breath

As I look out the window today, the sea is calm and quiet with a greenish hue.  The tide is low and its surface stillness masks the dangers that lie beneath.  Could it be that it was just 2 days ago that before our eyes the waters seemed to reach up to drag a man under and take his life?  I can only find two newspaper articles on the incident.  Each report contains but a hand full of lines and even those sadly are not accurate.  One says that the man was struggling to swim.  No, he simply stopped swimming.  The other says that police pulled him out of the waters.  I wish that were the case.  The screams of the young girl that discovered the lifeless body still ring in my ears.  Seeing her father drag the man to the beach while the rest of us scrambled to contact emergency services and think of how to bring order to the chaos still plays in my minds eye.  The seconds felt likes hours and the minutes seemed to hang on our shoulders like weights.  Life became death in an instant, and it was over.  The ambulance came; the man was covered with sheet; the body was carried away; the tide rose covering the impressions in the sand .... and all was erased.  It was over.  Finished. 

Except....it wasn't.  I remember; my son remembers.  Did the man have family? Did he know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior?  His life on earth had ended, but what now for him?  What now for us?

"I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left."  (Luke 17:34-36) I know that this verse is referring to the second coming of Christ; however, this is the feeling that I am overwhelmed with right now.  People are swimming enjoying the beach and in a breath it all changes.  One man is gone. We are left. 

Was he ready to stand before the Lord?  As we helplessly watched the events playing out before us, William says, "One more person dies and we didn't tell him about Eternal Life."  Wow! So heavy are our hearts!  Some would say, oh it is not good for William to feel so much responsibility.  I say, why do we not all feel more responsibility! 

If I knew that the woman standing waiting for the bus; the man at the corner store; my neighbors; my family members; were heartbeats away from eternity, what would I say to them?  Wish them good day; speak of the weather; tell them I am praying for them - or would I boldly give them life saving news.

1 Corinthians 15:51-77 is again about the second coming, but what a powerful reminder that this current life is fleeting and death is coming for all of us.  We will all put on imperishable bodies; however, for some there will be a sting in death that will never be relieved.  Are we willing to share with people how they can have a life without sorrow and pain - an eternal life of joy before the throne of Almighty God?  We are "left" here right now....what are we doing?  
   
"Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' ..."

How many breaths do I have left?  What will I do with them?  Have I personally professed Christ as Savior and Lord?  Am I sharing that good news with people?  In the end, does anything else really matter .... I believe that there is a 61 year old Russian man that is answering that question right now.  AT            

Praying Buckets of Freedom Rain Down on You!!

I love the ocean.  I feel so overwhelmingly blessed that I am able to live right on the water.  I am carried away everyday by the sounds, the breeze, and the smell of salt in the air.  As William was working out on the elliptical this week, he asked me, "Can you ever get tired of that view?!"  No, no I don't believe you can!!

Today, for our sabbath rest we decided to head downstairs with a picnic in hand to spend the day just being beach bums!  We had a wonderful time.  William was able to meet some boys on holiday from Saudi Arabia, and Grace played with girls from Portugal and India.  This really is a fascinating place to live!

At one point in the day, I looked up to find Grace standing in the surf, throwing buckets of water back out into the gulf.  As I watched her, I thought to myself, "That child really does some crazy things sometimes."  As soon as it came into my mind, the Lord whispered to me, "Just as crazy as when people try to throw their righteous works up to me, the one who is righteous."  Wow! how often is this the case in my life!  I asked Grace what she was doing, and her reply was, "trying to help the ocean not loose so much water."  Here we are, so small in comparison to the sea raging around us, holding a bucket of self works trying to throw it back so that He doesn't lose too much water.  We are crazy!!  He doesn't need us!  He is trying to lavish us with His love.  All He wants us to do is swim in HIS righteousness....just "be still and know that I AM God!!" (Psalm 46:10)

But it goes beyond this present craziness....we not only work in vain; we employ others around us to join in the toil.  As the day progressed, Grace being the leader that she is, had kids (in the name of service of good works, of course) throwing buckets of water.  The breakdown comes when those following us (our own children for example) no longer desire to work.  They were only working out of obedience or simply to please us, but at some point they will see the futility of striving with no hope of success.  The kids on the beach all went on to do something else leaving Grace alone on a weary task.  Some left the ocean area entirely. 

Are the people that follow us able to see that it is a relationship with the water (God) that is the most important thing?  Or do they simply see that following rules/the law, attending services/meetings, giving and "obedience" are the things that matter to us?  If we are only following rules and working to "help" make ourselves righteous, not only will we be sorely disappointed (as well as physically spent!), we will miss out on the joy of simply bathing in His abounding grace!

Romans 3:20-24 instructs us that we will not be justified by the deeds of the law. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

In other words, let's stop adding to the gospel!  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that not one may boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

No more throwing water back into the ocean!!  Let's simply trust in His goodness and walk in His grace!  "Where the Spirit of the Lord is - there is freedom!"  2 Corinthians 3:17  AT

Consistent Listening...

We have been at our new apartment for only 2 weeks.  However, it has been long enough that our ears are accustomed to the constant sound of the ocean.  I love it!  It is a wonderful sound and makes me feel good all over! At first, I wondered if I would ever get any work done.  I just wanted to stare out the window and/or take a nap.  My brain kept telling me I was on vacation! 

However, life must go on...and today, Matt left to go back to America on a business trip.  That left me to drive for the first time up to our new church in Ras Al Khaimah.  Okay, everyone that knows me realizes two things about that statement.  One, I have NEVER driven overseas, and two, I have NOOOOO sense of direction!  What I do have is my GPS - aka - Mr. TomTom, but more importantly, I also have William!  He is like his dad and has been telling me where to go since he could talk and realized I was lost.  (which is any time I drive!)

Well, as my "luck" would have it, they are doing construction on the outskirts of Ajman.  I managed to get around it on the way out of town, but on the way back in, I got totally "re-directed" which equals = turned around.  Mr. TomTom had no clue what my problem was because he had not been updated.  His answer was for me to "turn around when possible".  The more I drove the more anxious I began to get, but bless his precious heart, William just began looking around the area.  Then he said, "Mom, we live by the water.  Let's just go in that direction."  He then rolled down the window and paused: "Listen! I hear it" he exclaimed after a few seconds!  "Let's just follow the sound!" 

There was great wisdom in that advice!  Yes, why continue to just drive around? What I needed to do was pause, pray and follow the right sound...HIS "sound"! 

John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."  Do I know the voice of my Master so clearly and amidst traffic, city noise and much distraction, I can pick it out and follow it?  How can I learn to know it that well?...the only way is to daily, consistently with purpose - LISTEN!

Am I spending time listening?  Do I ever get so engulfed that I feel His sound all over me like I do the ocean? 

Psalm 139:17-18 says, "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." 

If I really believed that God's thoughts were precious,  I would be quiet and listen so that I could hear them.  If I really believed that God had something to say to me when I wake in the morning, I would be quiet and listen!  If I really believed that He was with me, I would be quiet and LISTEN!

Father, quiet me.  Help me to spend time listening.  Help me to know your voice so well that I can follow it despite distractions, other voices and confusing feelings.  You alone are what I need.  May your voice be the constant rhythm of the ocean in my ears today.  AT     

 

Discover Life

It's crazy how something can be right under your nose for a long time, but you never see it.  We had been in our extended stay hotel around 7 weeks when I noticed that the towels said "Discover Life".  All companies have their slogans, so that was not the unusual thing.  The significance of the motto struck me because during this transition period for our family, the Father has been laying out our new purpose of service.  The big theme He has been revealing to us is "Sharing Life".

I know that a "catch phrase" is supposed to make the customer feel pampered and taken care of in a hotel setting, but the spiritual application just seemed to be smiling at me! 

To add to that...the name of the hotel in Arabic is Al Hayat.  Literally translated this means "The Life".  It is further interesting in my mind because hayat is also a word used in Turkish.  Hayat loosely means:  your current journey; your circumstances or the road you are on.

So here we are...starting this new piece of our journey...in a hotel that is encouraging us to discover life...using phases and words that the Father has already taught us along the way!  It makes you grin...doesn't it!?  "There is nothing new under the sun!"  He just keeps growing us and showing us more of Himself and more of how He desires to work in and through us! 

It is my prayer today that as we get settled into our new country, we will remember that from the outset of our time here in the U.A.E. we were to be a family that discovers life and shares life with those around us.

John 8:12 says, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

May the light of life shine through us to a world that needs so desperately to know Him!!  May we discover life and lead others to discover true life!  AT

Being Peacemakers

I am a middle child.  Being the only girl in the family, I don't have all the middle child traits, but one I did inherit was peacemaking.  I have this crazy strong desire to almost always want everyone to get along.  I cringe at conflict, and yet I want everything out in the open so people can deal with it and move on.

Being a peacemaker is not the same as having mercy...although they cross over a little with a need for compassion.  In 1997, for my first "real job" I was required to take a ministry type test/evaluation.  Sadly, mercy was not even on my chart....I scored an extreme low.  My world was really black and white then.  I was embarrassed by this reality and began asking the Lord to work in my heart.  It has been many years and I have had to walk through very difficult situations, but I believe the result has been that I have grown in my understanding of compassion, mercy and what it means to be a person of peace.  (Not that I have arrived my any means!!)

One thing that I have learned is that compassion/mercy is not just an "emotion".  It needs to be a heart decision that is bound with wisdom and clear direction from the Father. 

In a similar fashion, a peacemaker is not someone that "just wants all people to agree and get along". A true peacemaker  is someone that has aligned themselves with the Prince of Peace and shares HIS passion:  "that all will become children of God."

Non-believers can show great mercy.  How many wonderful charitable organization are there in the world today?  Believers obviously need to be in the mercy "business", too; however, it is only Christ and those that truly follow Him that can bring peace. 

I recognize that there are some really "hot" topics in America and all over the world today that are tearing at the Christian community.  How can we heal?  How can we unite? 

I am also saddened to see so many Christian families that simply don't know how to work as a team.  How can we work as one?  How can we build each other up?

Here is what I know scripture tells us:  Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." 

Prayer  James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."  Am I praying for my fellow believers?  Am I praying for sinners?  And I don't just mean "in general"....I mean by name!  I have been so surprised over the years that when I faithfully pray for a person and over a situation how powerful and effective prayer really is! 
Lov E 1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."  Am I loving people with whom I disagree?  I don't mean...."I love you because Jesus said I had to love you attitude"...I mean, am I washing people's feet kind of love!  1 Corinthians 13 kind of sacrificial love not expecting anything in return... 
Th A nkfulness Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."  Am I thankful for my local church or am I only finding fault in its practices and persons?  Am I joining a movement that is determined to bring about unity and restoration or am I condemning and making a divide with my deeds and decisions?  Maybe there are things that need to change, but can I start by making a list of things for which I am thankful?  Am I showing my thankfulness for my spouse and my children?  Have I written them notes of gratitude or verbally shared a thank you for at least one thing today?
Patien Ce Proverbs 19:11 "A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense."  This verse is not talking about overlooking sin.  Yes, I believe in a biblical manner we need to address sin; however, am I offering grace where it can be blessed onto someone?  So often we ask the Lord for patience.  If we look closely at scripture, we will see that patience comes out of spiritual wisdom.  Where am I being called to be be a rock of long-suffering for someone or some situation?
Agre Ement 2 Samuel 3:12 "Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, 'Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.' ” 
We see all kinds of agreements in the Bible.  Yes, some good and some bad.  What we have to learn to ask ourselves is:  where can I make an agreement with an "opposing party"?  No, I am not willing to compromise my integrity, but where can I allow for a differing of opinion or where can I sacrifice not having all things the way I would like them? 
Hu M ility Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."  In my current situation, what is my goal?  What do I hope to accomplish?  Sometimes asking myself those two questions will show me where my heart is.
Underst A nding Psalms 119:34 "Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart."  Often disagreements happen simply because we didn't truly understand the intentions of the other person.  We assume upon his or her plans & heart attitude.  Let's face it...most of the time we assume the worst instead of offering grace! 
K indness Colossians 3:12 ^"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Yes, I believe that we are to cloth ourselves with the armor of God!  I recognize that I am daily in a spiritual battle.  I see it around me now more than ever before in my life!  However, do I take the time to also put on the garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience?  Am I only ready to "rebuke" and "correct" or am I equally ready to show all manner of love?  Part of the armor is "feet that are ready with the gospel of peace". 
Fri E ndship Proverbs 12:26 "The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."  I believe we should have many circles of friendships.  I wrote a blog last fall on Relationships.  As believers we need to be very purposeful about boundaries and areas of influence.  We are warned repeatedly throughout the Bible about not all relationships being healthy.  Yes, I believe that there are times when we must break fellowship with people.  However, this should not be something by which we are characterized.  The goal is to be at peace with all men.
Fo R giveness   Psalm 130:4 "But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you."  Where do I need to seek forgiveness today?  Maybe it is with an individual, maybe it is with my family, maybe it is with a group of fellow believers...maybe it is simply with God?  How can we serve Him if we are not a people that seek forgiveness and offer it freely.

Let us be a peacemaking people today.  Let us truly show what it means to be sons and daughters of God.    AT
The acrostic and verses are taken from Truth and Dare.  The questions and "opinions" are mine. :)