THIS IS LOVE

With the sun for a footstool and wearing

A crown studded with a thousand stars,

Midst adoring legions of celestial beings,  

The LORD OF ALL THERE IS

Sat on His throne in Heaven and

Looked down to ponder my fate.

When He thought of the only way

To alter my well-earned destiny,

He left clouds of angels at Heaven’s gate.

For me, He became a child, born in a stable;

To Heaven's dismay, He paid the price Justice

Required to win my pardon.

And I wonder at the trade He made;

All grandeur exchanged for the debt He paid, for me,

When He allowed His Glory to fade,

Deserted His majesty for a bed of straw;

I'm humbled and filled with awe

That my heart is the manger He chose, that

Because I make room for Him inside,

It's where He now chooses to reside.

MERRY CHRIST.MAS!

Under no circumstances do I wish you a happy holiday.
You can try that if you prefer,but YULE be missing the
point of the occasion

                 (see above)

Where Are You Going?

 Say you want to go to California. You don’t need no stinking map—you fill the car with gas and head out, but the highway is boring. So, a sign ahead says exit here for a tourist attraction and that sounds like fun, and your hand reaches for that turn signal. You’re still going to Hollywood, but not right now.

Wow, that stop took longer than you expected. It was fun though, but not worth the delay.  On the road again, as the country-western singer croons it. Wait, you skipped breakfast for an early start this morning. If you have an early lunch, you can really make up for lost time by driving straight thru until you’ve put in eight hours behind the wheel.

Oops! Just passed an IHOP. A U-turn won’t take long. Back on the road, again, that sunshine streaming in feels good, but soon you’re getting drowsy. Need some caffeine; better safe than sorry. Back behind the wheel. And just ahead there’s a guy on a tractor. Outa the way, Jerk. Finally, he turns off and you hit the gas to make up a little time—and you pass a Highway Patrol car, and--of course he’s holding a radar gun. He doesn’t care how important your trip is. He says he only cares about your safety. You could have bought an airline ticket for what that stop cost.

Well, this day was a total loss. Disappointed and depressed, you begin looking for a motel, promising you will get back on track tomorrow. Right off the bat you face a detour. Oh-oh! Rough road ahead, single lane only. Another long day.

Eventually the road opens up and you sigh in relief. Just ahead is a car beside the road, its hood raised in surrender and a woman pacing along the road, wringing her hands. Somebody should really stop and help her, but not you—you can’t keep having these delays. She should have planned her trip better, had her car serviced before she set out.

Okay, you can probably fill in the rest of this story. You can guess what excuses you might give for your failures to accomplish your goal. Finally you smell an ocean breeze! But the roadway sign says Miami. And no matter how sincerely you believed you were headed toward California, you now realize you were headed east, not west. What you believe does matter.

If this tale sounds vaguely familiar, perhaps in childhood years you encountered the classic story from pioneer days, PILGRIM’S PROGRESS. If the age-old legend were updated, it might sound similar to your trip. Desire doesn’t get you to your destination. Only the hated words discipline and preparation gets you there.

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Giving Thanks

As we approach the one day per year, we are reminded to count our blessings, my mind goes back over years of inadequately expressed gratitude for kindnesses and loving grace received from so many sources. In taking inventory, I realize anew how wealthy I am, and it’s not taxable!

Broad strokes considered first, I am thankful for the Christian community which helped form me. Many nations offer no right to vote or express discontent (although I think we often go overboard in exercising this right). I give thanks to the moral and Christian creators of our constitution, and for the many charitable foundations they passed to us: hospitals, libraries, schools, care for the poor and needy and for children, born or unborn. Thank God for providing Christian parents and grandparents and good churches.

I am thankful that my last employer was the best ever. Abbott Labs gave me a sense of respect and appreciation unequaled in my history, and many friends I value greatly. Pat Pool encouraged and taught me; he gave me a sense of close partnership and great desire for us to excel together. The Abbott Extras allowed me to become better acquainted with many more good people, enriching my life.

A community of writers broadened my horizon; NTPWA brought me a group of like-minded friends and two especially became life-long companions. Mell Morris has moved on to create even more perfect poetry I look forward to reading when I see her again in heaven. Betty Kurecka, my heart reaches out to you, my encourager, my supporter, there in time of need. Maybe we can learn together to Skype and shrink the miles between us since I moved away.

My family has shown me great love always, and Sandy and Keith Pipkin have made room for me in their hearts and home when my living alone became difficult. They each have made myriads of silent daily sacrifices for my comfort. I’m sure there are many times I have been unaware, or only later realized the extent of their efforts to incorporate my needs and desires into their busy lives. And they do these things not because I deserve it, but from the depth of love they so graciously show me.

In two months I’ll be 84; I thank God that I’m not approaching the end, but coming nearer to the glorious day I will see my Savior face to face.

TO BElieve OR NOT TO BElieve

Some people are so open-minded, their brains could fall out. Like, they think whatever anyone believes is great, equal in values. They don’t believe in the existence of absolute laws---like right, wrong, gravity. I don’t see any of them floating away though.

Some ideas may sound good, until you apply a little logic and find they dissolve when they get wet. And too many conflicting, diverse ideas floating around in your head may make you dizzy.

In a hospital ER, they use the term “triage” to sort out priorities determining  who will be treated first--all patients are not equal in their eyes. “First come, first serve” is not their primary concern. Mandatory rules govern here. No flexibility of emotional preference, judging which  life is more important. There are set rules governing their time-sensitive behavior, ensuring maximum preservation of life, giving priority to those at greater risk. The same discretion applies for any ideas you adopt. (All ideas or philosophies are NOT equal.)

Figure out what's important to you. Examine your heart. Search your soul. Believe in something greater than yourself. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. What you believe is important. Be sure the thoughts governing your life are your own and are carefully chosen. Run your virus scanner to avoid dangerous spyware being implanted to soften your brain!

Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life and few are those who find it.         Matthew 7:13-14

Two Kinds of Christians

 When I was young, I struggled to understand the stories about the giant characters of the Old Testament.They were different, unique. It seemed to me that they were super strong, faith like a rock, able to – I don’t know – leap tall buildings, bulletproof, wiser than people in the world today. The Bible didn’t seem to talk much about their fears or failures so I assumed they were almost a different species, whereas I spent much of my time fearing, doubting and never really trying to live up to their standards. I wasn’t like them. I didn’t even know anyone like them. Different species.

Job and King David were exceptions; they both seemed to whine a lot about their fate, and yet they were both men after God’s heart. Why? And why did such detailed account of their misery appear in God’s word? Long after it should have been obvious to me, I realized that while in deepest trouble, they still trusted God for answers.

When I mentally put myself in their sandals, I began to see their long waits for His promises to materialize, the loneliness, desperation of Abraham trudging up the mountain with his son Isaac, wondering whether God had changed His mind about Isaac’s future. I saw Job refusing to listen to his friends telling him to curse God and die to be rid of his pain, Noah spending years building an ark in a dry land while his neighbors jeered, Joseph sold into slavery by his jealous brothers before being vindicated decades later when God’s plan was fulfilled, Moses waiting, exiled (for murder of an Egyptian guard) for decades before God revealed His great task.

I began to experience the thoughts and fears these men must have felt through the long periods when God was silent. And yet, they still listened for His voice, relieved and ready when it came. I felt Abraham’s and Sarah’s doubt and sorrow when God delayed in sending the promised child of her old age. And I saw major flaws in the life of King David, years after being anointed as the next King, moving from a hillside dotted with sheep to the King’s palace via the battlefield where he slew Goliath. Surely he had ample history with God to remain faithful in all things, yet he took the wife of a faithful servant and sent him to the battlefield to be murdered. It takes my breath away that David could stray so far after the sweet times he had spent with the Lord. Yet I know I stray daily in so many ways.

These leaders, examples of faith, lived in a dangerous world, filled with every sin that we see around us today—the devil hasn’t invented any new ones. They experienced fears, doubts, temptations as we do, but God’s word tells us He honors a repentant heart, always keeps His promises and teaches us daily how to maintain a right relationship with Him. He is ready to do for each of us what He did for them, if we honor Him as they did. I now see truth is this: there are in fact two kinds of Christians. Not strong or weak, but obedient and faithful, or rebellious and selfish. Some days I’m the first kind; other days the second. Maybe the big difference is in patience, learning to take long view. God does.

The Trip of a Lifetime

You’re planning a trip, a long journey. You’re looking ahead to all the highlights and making lists so you won’t forget any of the must-see sights you don’t want to miss, poring over tourist maps, perhaps consulting friends who have made the same or similar trips. Their counsel could help you to get the most out of your adventure, avoiding missteps that would cause you to waste precious time getting lost in a strange land.

Your first decision: where do you want to go? Somewhere far away. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but it will cost a lot and you don’t want to blow the chance on anything less than  your perfect dream location. After all, you only get to do this once.

What if I told you that you have already begun your travels and you must determine your final destination on the way? The road ahead has many detours and dead ends to be avoided. Thankfully, U-turns are permitted when you see you missed a highway marker and with care, prayer and planning you can steer through rough roads and heavy weather without serious mishaps.

Use your GPS; listen closely to stay on your path and ensure your safe arrival. Besides listening to the GPS (the Holy Spirit) you need to follow His instruction. Failure to correctly obey His direction gets you off course and means you need to go back to that wrong turn you made and find the right road—it’s a narrow road; be suspicious of a wide highway with heavy traffic. You know where that will end up!

Read your Manufacturer Warranty and User’s Guide and consult them often. Service and

keep your vehicle in good running order. Keep your battery free of corrosion; (Corrosion

of unconfessed sin can cause loss of connection to your Source of Power.)

Now, I’m not your example for a clean driving history, God knows. But I’m many more miles down the road than you so I‘ve explored many rocky paths I can’t recommend. Maybe I can serve as an example of wasted years and misplaced priorities, but please don’t doubt I care for you and yearn for you to choose the narrow, straight road leading directly to Heaven without running out of gas along your way. And try to take someone you love with you.     

                       

                 Intention doesn't put gas in your tank. Focus and determination deliver!   

Games We Play

Growing up, there often were times when there were no other kids to play with. I had to find ways to entertain myself. Reading was usually a good choice, but I soon ran out of books, even those favorites, read and reread. So I would move onto other things: jigsaw puzzles, coloring books or maze puzzles. I could spend hours on these favorite pastimes.

Assigning vivid colors to my make-believe world was soothing until fingers clutching the Crayola began to cramp. I seldom came across a maze I couldn’t solve quickly, often without more than one or two false starts or  dead ends. A jigsaw was more of a challenge though. A bit of mystery as to the finished product, much diligent concentration to make sense out of the colored cardboard bits, even with the small picture on the boxtop as a clue. Success was determined by two things from me:  stamina and unwavering focus for long sessions subject to the fear of the unknown—were any puzzle pieces missing--which I wouldn’t learn until after hours of work doomed to failure.

Life is like that some seventy years later. I’m deep in the maze still and can’t fathom when and where my travels will be complete. Following the guide the Toymaker left on the box top of my heart has enabled me to fit much of my picture together. Of course, looking back I found some ill-fitting pieces I tried to force in, which actually didn’t belong to this picture and had to be removed.  At a very young age I found out what the missing piece at my center was and that took away any doubt that I would eventually successfully complete the picture formed by combining all the random bits of my life with its key piece, no longer missing: Jesus. With that in place, the entire result cannot be other than beautiful.