Uplifted in a Broken Down World

In what seems like ten lifetimes ago, my soul lived in coaching God’s children (of all ages) to reach beyond the stars and touch the Heavens. However, you know what? I taught all entrusted to my guidance that not a ladder, but a teeter-totter was our vehicle of choice to reach our dreams. Today, my heart sinks as I observe the world pushing ladders by the scores, with a teeter-totter on no one’s radar. Is it any wonder the current dismal state of mankind and planet earth.

Twenty-first Century society lectures that success in life comes from climbing over others to reach the top. Triumph and fame result only if you are rungs higher than anyone else. Herein, lies a root of present-day decay in all areas of life. God’s children were not created to “one-up” their fellow sisters and brothers. Only God reigns supreme. Children of God were born not to uplift themselves but to rise up and praise God, as well as to comfort each other during the ups and downs of life in this fallen world.

It is not wrong to train one to reach for, and possibly attain, becoming a champion. However, ladder climbing, at best, only results in a winner. Learning to ride the teeter-totter is the sole (and soul) route to being a champion. Every single aspect of attaining any goal has up and down moments. Only by learning to accept, understand and overcome these ups and downs will one (in a healthy, happy and Holy state of mind, body and soul) cross their finish line goals. In every state of existence (not just the athletic arena) lasting harm is done by instilling a “climb over and higher than others” mentality into our athletes — as well as our families, employees, and even congregations.

Plain and simple, getting to any, and all, significant height is not a vertical leap. It is learning to ride the ups and downs of life with deep belief that God is beside you whether you are up or down, and “…if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you.”. Matthew 17:20 (ESV)

To all who know me personally and have visited my home, now you understand why a “Teeter-Totter” porcelain figurine “crowns” the top of my bookcase!!!

My thought today is that we are not only made in God’s image (created to reflect God’s holiness and love) but also in His “non-image”. This translates into just as we can’t physically see God, but we feel His love and closeness with us, our love and being close can be with another, even when they can’t see us — or us them.

Being made in God’s “non-image” is a priceless gift from our Heavenly Father that we often don’t recognize. However, once we do, it places great assurance on our never abandoning or not being present with our loved ones.

While my Mother, Father and Hubby are enjoying their eternal reward, I might be robbed of their physical image by my side’ but their, also, being made in God’s “non-image” enables me to feel their love and encouragement, forever, next to me. In parallel, when my children are miles from my eyes’ gaze, they can sense my love and encouragement fervently beside them.

Thank you, God, for creating Your earthly children in, and with, the gift of both Your image and Your “non-image”.

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Lately, many a conversation God’s had with me regarding what Church doors He’s next leading me to open. Finding a new Church Home is part of changing my state residence. God has led my direction not with His answer but rather His question. Repeatedly, He’s inquired, “Are you seeking a fountain or a well. Both quench a different thirst. You must decide for what you thirst.”.

… For what I thirst. So began my exploration, my deciphering and my discovery. What seemed, at first, a confusing dilemma became deep insight. Thank you, God, for challenging me and guiding my understanding of a fountain versus a well. It’s not a right or wrong, a good or bad. It’s a what and where my soul thirsts and can best be “soul”y watered.

Many a church is a fountain, spouting forth grandiose waters of worship and praise. Their service is a celebration of mankind reaching up to God. Our Lord’s joy to the world overflows and offsets human woes. Communing with God is ornately polished.

Fewer churches are wells, where worship and praise quench man’s thirst through dipping deep into the soul waters of Scripture. Church services here are a diving in great depth into God’s Word as the source for uplifting worship and praise. O Come all ye faithful, come and behold Him hydrates man’s parched thirst to know God, His will and His way. Meeting God is a scholarly adventure.

Baptismal waters flow from both a fountain and a well. My reflections are not intended to raise one above the other. God is present at both the fountain and the well. What matters is only that we find what setting fits each of us best, then hear and believe Christ’s promise, “Whoever believes in Me will never thirst.”. Matthew 6:35 (NLT)

I call this week the “lost” week. The Holydays are over and mankind, too often, feels that their spirit of joy is “lost”. Additionally, much of humanity now becomes just grateful they got through the Holydays, which highlighted they are lonely in the midst of a society who seems to possess all they’ve “lost” in life. Either way, the true sadness is our failure to understand and cherish that our true Holyday gift guarantees we are never alone or “lost”. The forever presence of our Savior, born in the Christmas Manger, resides in our souls 24/7/365.

Mankind gazes “lost” at what they don’t have, while overlooking what they are never without – the gift of a Redeemer, who never abandons us and whose joy is to accompany and carry us through all our feeling “lost” moments. My prayer is that I, and all God’s children, exchange feeling “lost” with being FOUND in “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)

They are old. They are stained. They are treasured. They are staples of all our Holyday family feasts. They are my Mother’s handwritten recipe cards.

One pre-Christmas night, nineteen years ago, my Mother concluded her most significant recipe card — her lifetime of special ingredients all mixed together to give rise to her very own entrance into Heaven.

My Mother was a gourmet cook. She put a special part of her heart into every dish she made. The flavor of no herb or spice could equal the seasoning of my Mother’s heart.

At times, Heaven and my Mother seem so very far away; but come Christmas in the family kitchen and my Mom feels right next to me, as her voice whispers in my ear, “Don’t forget ‘our’ dash of Heart”.

How much does your Bible weigh? Modern day, advanced technology and people pleasing churches have accomplished turning Bibles into feather weight, fit in your pocket references. Whittled down to near emaciation might be a pleasing look to the world, but God frowns on His Word being viewed as such. God’s Word must never weigh in as needing to go on a diet. Our Bibles should be heavyweights — stuffed full of nourishing calories that enable us to attain giant-size stature in knowing and living as Children of God.

Sad, but in many ways, Christians are giving up the meat and potatoes of their Bibles and, instead, munching on human-injected sugar-coated whip cream and marshmallow versions of God’s Word. Nourishing on the Bible is not a fast food, drive through experience. It is a made from scratch, God family banquet and meant to take a lifetime to partake of and digest.

Mankind seems constantly tantalized by Satan advertising there’s a new Bible menu, better equipped to feed our busy schedules, alternative lifestyles, and worldly needs. Newsflash — God has not, is not and will not be authentically found in this “knock-off” of His Word. God’s Word has not, is not and will not ever deviate from its original text. If our lives are to know God, follow God and reflect God, then we must read, study and personify the full weight and way of Scripture as written by God, not abbreviated or changed by Satan, sleeping churches or busy schedules’ shortcut routes.

Over the Centuries, Bibles have physically shrunk in size and weight. Thinner paper and smaller print have facilitated this. The “You Version” phone Bible App has reached over one billion installs. This is good, not bad, as it conveniently puts God’s Word into the hands of massive people across our world. However, our hands must hold onto every ounce of wisdom and guidance as written by God. No matter in what form our Bible is, we must be faithful to Scripture being authentically discerned and not personally interpreted. Scripture must resound what God says and not what we might want to hear.

We all need to ask ourselves how much our Bible weighs. If we’ve allowed it to become slimmed down and watered down, it’s time we put the weight of God’s muscle back into His Word.

As the world gets so into giving this time of year, it’s sad that most forget this season is really about receiving — receiving the gift of a Baby in a manger!!!

Christmas is the time of year commemorating (and reminding) that God comes down to earth and meets mankind’s needs. May we all feel God beside us, as HE IS on earth and holding us in HIS Hands.

Since our God is a God who chose to save us by arriving in our midst impoverished, lowly and outcast, our souls know that even today He shows up and is our present “present” when we are impoverished, lowly and outcast — be it by sickness, worldly rejection, or judged insignificant by earth’s false standards. No matter what battle we face, CHRIST has been sent by God the Father and born to carry us through all warfare.

“Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask you to stay close by me forever, and love me I pray” (Away in a Manger)

Seven-year-old Zachariah decided his GaGa needed an extra set of hands this week. Our Tuesday morning began with an excursion to find donuts and hot chocolate. His little head decided our breakfast menu. His big heart expressed that he would direct me to where the best hot chocolate and donuts could be found. Once inside his chosen store, the real food for thought was served.

As mentioned last post, I’m currently hand handicapped!! As my fingers experience weakness and numb tingling, my brain tends to ignore what is and suffers, at times, the reality of my ignorance. Such was the case last Tuesday. Having ordered our hot chocolates, we stood waiting for them to be brewed. Without thinking, when the barista handed me mine, my mitts reached for it. Instantaneously, the cup slipped through my hand and made a gigantic splatter painting covering everything in sight. Hot chocolate was everywhere, except in the cup meant to contain it.

Apologetically, I turned my palms over revealing the bandages and explained I had just had surgery and forgot my hands were not capable of holding any weight. Both girls working the counter immediately grabbed a pile of towels, bolted around the worktop and, while consoling me, began the mop up. One motioned to the other that she had the mess under control and needed her counterpart to take over making me another hot chocolate. Suddenly, I realized I was not in a puddle of a mess but in the midst of Christian help and caring. These two angels refused any payment for the new hot chocolate or even praise for their clean-up deed. Their only concern and need were for me to know everything was ok, and their helping hands were there to do for me what my mitts could not do for themselves.

Having only a debit card and no cash in my pocket, I was shortchanged to even repay these girls for being my angels. We walked away and headed to the donuts. My wise beyond his years grandson kindly informed me that he was going to carry our donuts!!

Instead of ringing our bakery goods up at self-serve, we waited in line for a cashier. I needed cash back on my debit card purchase. On the way out of the store, I stopped at the scene of my recent disaster. I placed a thank you offering into each of the hands of the duo that showed me such kindness and concern. Zachariah stood by and observed. While walking out the door, my sidekick expressed how nice it was of me to give each of the girls a dollar. My reply was he missed the zero. He looked confused so I explained it was ten dollars, not ones. Shocked he blurted out, “wow, when I get a job, it’s going to be making hot chocolate!!!”. So began my lesson, not in math but in gratitude for what money cannot buy.

Zachariah and I discussed how in the world’s eye, those two young girls were not seen as beautiful, special human beings. They were plain and ordinary in society’s vision; but in God’s eyes, they were His very reflection. They helped from their hearts, and they cared about my feeling like I had failed. They shared God’s love and took it upon themselves to “do unto others as they would like others to do unto them”. As children of God, we are called to recognize special angels and share how much they are appreciated and how great a blessing they are. Out of the mouth of babes!! – Zachariah ended our discussion with the statement that even after their money was spent, he was sure they would remember the mess his GaGa made and never forget how special they were for helping me instead of putting me in time out!!!

Without any doubt, having a set of handicapped hands just might be a mitt full of blessing and a heart full of gratitude.

A week ago today, I paid the price for neglecting a common, carpal tunnel issue. By the time I arrived at the point of surgery, I was in need of “pronto do them both at once” and pray long-term damage is little. Thus, my big-time optimism has made me follow all post-op instructions and not use my hands for much of anything. However, this morning’s Thanksgiving walk and conversation with God needs to be shared!! So let me peck, one key at a time, and make this short but as God spoke to me.

Just finished walking, and my Thanksgiving thought from God is that while the world considers this a day to load up our plates with all the stuff maybe not so good for us, God’s message is that all the poison the devil puts on our plates during the year is not meant to feed us. We are to scrape it all into the garbage, and then with an empty clean plate (and slate) go to the Lord with grateful hearts and ask Him to nourish our souls!!! That’s why Christians start Thanksgiving with a clean, empty plate and pray with gratitude before they enjoy the gift of filling our beings with God’s bountiful blessings.

Enjoy your meal from God!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

If you know me, you understand that I see much uniquely different than others. I firmly believe God leaves a message in every, and all, that happens or exists. The challenge is not what happens but in discovering God message in all that occurs.

My latest discovery of interwoven wisdom from God rests in the pain of my bilateral carpal tunnel (condition where the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the wrist, causing pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and fingers). I’m not intending to analyze and teach all the particulars of a medical issue. My aim is to preach a God-centered carpal tunnel message.

Carpal tunnel affects the fingers on our hand. So, let’s discuss our fingers. We have five on each hand, a basic fact known to all. The four strong ones are labeled: thumb, pointer, middle and ring finger. These four are considered both useful and powerful. Our fifth finger is designated as little or pinky. It yields no real use, function, purpose or strength. Plain and simple, we boast four mighty digits and belittle one insignificant tag along.

The absolute, layman bewildering fact of carpal tunnel is that only the four strong fingers on a hand hurt, tingle, lose strength and become weak. The feeble pinky is not affected at all. While the significant four lose their value, the unvalued little finger steadfastly remains itself, unaffected by outside disease. Herein, I believe, God tucked His message. Those man hails as strong and powerful in purpose might be less perfect and powerful than man designates them as being; while those we dismiss as powerless and non-important, in reality, are above the fray and possess core value that evades many downfalls for which the powerful are prone to fall. Things (and people) are not always as they appear.

Whom do we automatically admire — those with titles and perceived strength or those who might wrongly be judged as having little value but in reality, humbly withstand the effects of worldly attack. Carpal tunnel has, hands down, brought home God’s message that “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NIV)