It’s Faith-refresher Wednesday

 

 

 

This tends to happen a lot around our house:

Ted walking past me and saying, “What?”

Me replying, “Huh?  I didn’t say anything.”

“But,” Ted persists, “You sighed.”

I will do the same with Ted.  Sometimes as he comes up from his basement office, he reaches the top step and lets out a big sigh.  “What?”  I’ll ask him.  Haha – it’s usually just nothing – just a big weary breath after climbing the stairs!

But many times our sighs are indeed a wordless response to something we feel or something we’ve seen or read.  It’s sweet that Ted notices when I sigh and many times he will persist in getting me to verbalize what’s on my mind.

You know, if you don’t communicate and express what you really are thinking, you can get yourself into trouble with a response to the question of “What’s wrong?” with a reply of “Nothing!”

 

I’ve started reading through the Psalms and sometimes the wording of a passage just strikes a chord with me.  Today my NIV version of the bible stated chapter 5 verse 1 this way:

Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.

Not only does God HEAR our prayers, but in those times when we don’t even know what to pray, our God knows our heart and our thoughts.  He considers our sighing and knows just how we feel.

I know there have been many times when the challenges of life have worn me down so much and the fatigue has set in – when I know I need to talk to God but there are no words.  And so I cry, or I moan, or I sigh.

And He knows just what I mean.

Just Laurel

 

 

It’s Faith-refresher Wednesday

 

I usually pray for inspiration to write my blogs.  Sometimes a thought or idea smacks me in the face.  Sometimes I read a bible passage that runs in contrast to a life situation.  Many times music inspires me.

This past Monday’s blog was inspired by the Gospel reading that was part of last Sunday’s sermon.  But also last Sunday at our traditional service, we sang an old hymn, “All Depends on Our Possessing.”  It’s not at all one of the top most familiar hymns like “Amazing Grace” or “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” or “How Great Thou Art”.  But the lyrics were incredible.  I really enjoy Christian music including the old stuff and the new contemporary music.  But the new music can be slim on lyrics and often resort to a much repeated chorus of “Praise Him, Praise Him, Alleluia” or some such thing over and over again.  The lyrics to this hymn were so poetic … so true … so heart felt.

 

Many spend their lives in fretting
Over trifles and in getting
Things that have no solid ground.
I shall strive to win a treasure
That will bring me lasting pleasure
And that now is seldom found.

If on earth my days He lengthen,
He my weary soul will strengthen;
All my trust in Him I place.
Earthly wealth is not abiding,
Like a stream away is gliding;
Safe I anchor in His grace.

Can you believe that these lyrics were written by an unknown author somewhere around 1673?  The original was in German but translated to English by dear Catherine Winkworth in 1858.  Here’s the rest of the lyrics and info if you are curious:

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/l/d/aldepend.htm

The music that goes with this song was by Johann B. Konig in 1737.  I found a lovely harp version in case you would like to hear it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edufZqFPwdQ

Now you just don’t find lyrics like that today.  I made a note on my church bulletin to somehow use this song in a blog … and today after work as I sat down to write – it all became clear to me.

In the light of Robin Williams’ death … now I am not judging at all about why he did it and I do not understand deep depression or mental illness …, but I do think that too many people live lives that are so empty and without purpose.  How many times have all of us heard about the self-inflicted death of someone who seemed to have everything in this world – Success?  Health?  Money?  And folks, that’s just the problem – if you depend on happiness through things of this world, ya ain’t gonna be happy!  Like the lyrics of this song so poetically state:  “Many spend their lives in fretting … over trifles and in getting … things that have no solid ground.”

Again – I am not judging because I did not know the mind of Robin Williams.  I have heard that he was a generous man.  But whatever tormented him, whatever made him so sad, whatever it was that he may have been missing … he will deal with those things with his maker in heaven.  But may his passing remind us that it is not the earthly wealth and trifles that will satisfy us.

Nothing in this world lasts.  Nothing in this world can we take with us in the end.

Lasting pleasure is only through trusting and abiding in Christ Jesus.

He is our treasure.

Just Laurel

1 Timothy 6:7-10 For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

 

 

 

I came across this comic in last Sunday’s paper.  I thought it was funny.  Man cave!  Haha.

I know what a man cave is but I looked up a definition anyway.  The simple one was:  “a male sanctuary”.  This definition elaborated:  “An emotional sanctuary for men when they’re stressed and need “space” or time away from females, responsibilities, etc.”

Well I am reading this book my friend loaned me called, “Christ the Lord, The Road to Cana” by Anne Rice.  It is a novel of the life of Christ before his ministry.  It gives you the feeling of what life was like for Jesus in ancient Jerusalem – about things he did, what his home life may have been like, and events that may have happened and led up to the life of Jesus we know about from the bible.  Ann Rice has Jesus visiting the Garden of Gethsemane quite often as a favorite, peaceful place where he can retreat to.  I thought it was rather like his man cave!  Well, why not?  We all know how Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before Judas came there to betray him.  It couldn’t have been Jesus’ first visit there.  It was where He went when he was stressed, or needed “space” … it was His Sanctuary. 

Gethsemane means “olive oil press” in Greek and the Garden is believed to actually be a grove of olive trees where a press was also located.  I bet it was a cool place.  A grove of beautiful old olive trees whose leaves probably whispered to Jesus when he visited.

It made me think 🙂

We ALL need a man cave – women too!  Maybe you have one.  Jesus knew the importance of getting away from people and the problems of the outside world.  It was a place where He could pray and find peace.  It doesn’t have to be an actual cave.  Maybe your special space is that comfy corner chair with a cup of coffee when no one else is home.  Some people find solace when they can go to their bedroom and close the door to be alone with their thought and prayers.  Many people actually have a garden where they can sit and reflect. 

It doesn’t matter what or where your man cave is.  The point is, everyone needs a place where they can go to be alone with God.  I hope you all have that space and take the time.

I hope you find your own Garden of Gethsemane.

Just Laurel

Matthew 26:36  Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

 

 

 

 

I have found it quite challenging to make it to the gym these past few weeks.  Extra work days, troubles with Amanda, and other ‘stuff’ has made it so easy to say, “I’m too tired” or “I have too much to do”.  Well I made it twice last week and have already gone two times this week … so I’m trying my best.

But it made me think 🙂

Having a gym membership doesn’t make you instantly fit and in shape – does it?  Many people join a gym with good intentions, or wishful thinking.  But unless you take active participation by frequent visits and dedication to the weights, machines, and exercise classes – you will not get fit!  Same idea holds true for many things – joining a golf country club won’t guarantee you a great golf score unless you get out there and play a whole lot of golf!  Want to learn to knit?  Simply signing up for lessons won’t put socks on your feet – you have to learn and practice.

This past Saturday morning our Summer Saturday Women’s Drop-in Bible Study did a lesson on PEACE.

Peace – Ahh … something we all crave and need.

One bible verse about peace that really hit home to me was this one:

1 Peter 3:10-11  For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”

God wants you to have faith and trust Him – and to seek and ask him for peace.  But you can’t just say, one day, I’m a Christian and … well … join the club.  You have to commit to the relationship and put in some time.

Peace is not something you spritz on – like perfume.  I mean – wouldn’t that be nice and easy.  Want peace?  Spritz spritz – now you got it! 

Want peace?  Ask God – for He Himself is peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

Oh – he might have you lift a few weights or take several swings at acquiring that peace – but you will learn a lot and feel wonderful when peace is attained.

Peace is ours through Christ Jesus – but you have to actively pursue it … and pursue HIM.

Grace and peace to you,

Just Laurel

btw – if you are in the Trenton/Woodhaven area this Saturday – the Summer Saturday Women’s Drop-in Bible Study meets again at 8am at the Panera at West & Allen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband Ted grew up as a military dependent.  His father was in the Air Force so he had the opportunity to live in many states and countries around the world.  Ted explained to me how, when they would once again have to move, that it was sad to leave good friends behind.  However, you never said “good-bye”.  Why?  Because, he explained, you most likely would see your friends again when you would by-chance get moved and stationed in the same location.  So instead, it was always “See you later!”

Through the years of Ted’s childhood, he can recall countless times when all their household belongings would be packed up to move with the family to a new location.  If they were heading off to another country, then all their belongings would go into storage until they returned to the states.

One childhood item that has become a treasure to Ted and his sisters was the cookie jar.  This cute little bear cookie jar with a yellow hat for a lid miraculously traveled over fifty years from home to home with Ted’s family.  It was amazing that the cookie jar made it through so many travels unbroken.  And then there were the times it was in storage with everything else, only to be unpacked in a new home to be placed on the refrigerator – out of easy reach from cookie-seeking children!  They never had to say ‘goodbye’ to the cookie jar.  It traveled with the family through the years to always be there again.  No one imagined it making it, unbroken, through all those years and miles of travel.  Ted’s mom occasionally joked how she thought that someday, THAT would be the item the kids would wrestle for ownership of.

Ted’s mom went home to heaven last week.  Yesterday, Ted and I picked up some relatives from the airport that had flown in for today’s memorial service.  As we entered the house, Ted’s sisters were holding the cookie jar and teased Ted that mom’s ashes were going to be placed in the cookie jar.  There were many items in the house the ashes could go in, but the cookie jar had a lid –and what better item than that?  Of course, they were kidding.  Then they talked about how mom always thought the cookie jar would cause some rivalry but then both sisters said, “Here, Ted, you take it.”  They willingly gave it to Ted without a fight.  I think they knew that through the years, Ted was the one who took the most opportunities to climb the counters to try and steal a cookie from the top-of-the-fridge cookie jar.

It made me think 🙂

Ted’s mom was a woman who loved God and knew that someday she would be going home to heaven.  I don’t know how people who don’t have that faith or belief can live life without the fear of where they will go when death takes them from this earthly life.  We are glad that mom is free from pain and in the presence of her Lord and Savior, but we are sad … because we miss her.  The wonderful thing is, that as fellow believers in Christ, we never really have to say ‘goodbye’ to our loved ones.  We only need to say “See you later.”

Just like that magic cookie jar that was part of the family, it would disappear into storage when the family was overseas.  No one saw it for months or years.  And then they would move to a new home and the cookie jar would appear!  See you later cookie jar!

Life is a journey where we cross paths all the time with friends and loved ones.  And then loved ones leave us to go to their final home.  It’s sad.  We will miss them for a time.  But God loves us so much that He sent His son to pay the price of our wrongs so that all we need to do is believe in Him and we can have everlasting life.  Our final home.  Heaven.

See ya later mom.

Just Laurel

John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

It’s Faith-refresher Wednesday!

 

 

It’s been a couple of weeks since Mother’s Day, but I wanted to share with you my gifts from that day.

My oldest daughter, Amanda, made me a homemade card.  Bless her heart.  That was a big project for her!  The cat looks just like her sister’s cat, Oliver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My youngest daughter, Jillian, and I got to visit with a Skype chat.  She’s two thousand miles away so that was the best present I could have gotten from her from so far – a face to face chat!

My middle daughter Kristen phoned me.  It’s always nice to talk to Kristen.  Little does she know that she gave me a huge gift on Mother’s day!

Last summer, Kristen and her husband Ric toiled over the planter area in front of my living room windows.  I do not have a green thumb and it was a sad rectangle of dirt and weeds.  Ric and Kristen pulled weeds, planted all kinds of perennials and mulched the area.  It looked awesome!

Of course everything looked like it died over the winter and the one shrub looked like a stick skeleton!  On Mother’s day (after endless freezing weather) things finally warmed up and I had so many plants that suddenly peeked and poked through the brown dirt to show new growth!  I was thrilled!  I took pictures today that you can see on the left to show how well everything is growing.

 

 

 

 

 

It made me think 🙂

So many times when we pray to God for strength, or an answer, or guidance, or new direction, it can seem like our prayers are not heard.  In our impatient desire for immediate answers, we may feel as though our prayerful pleas have fallen on cold frozen ground.  There they lie lifeless and forgotten.

Fear not!  God DOES hear our prayers.  Always.  But it might not be the right time, or place, or situation yet for our answer!  He may be making the changes – unbeknownst to us – to give us our answer.  There may be people or other things that first must change or rearrange to be part of God’s answer to us.  Just like those plants that hid beneath the dirt in my front planter – I saw no growth and no sign of them all winter.  But when the time was right, it was a miracle to see those lovely leaves unfold and the green push through the dirt to reveal new life!

 

 

 

 

 

God hears our prayers.  And God may be working behind the scenes right now on something special just for you!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Like the beauty of fresh green leaves that push through the seemingly cold dead earth after a long cold winter are the sweet blessings of answered prayers that God has worked to create and grow in your life for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Keep the faith!

And thank you Kristen and Ric  <3

Just Laurel