The Other Side Of The Story . . .

One of my favorite movies is the Wizard of Oz. (The reason for my love of this movie will need to be a topic for a future post.)  The movie, in black and white, told a good story.  I loved Dorothy and her little dog Toto, her singing and her interaction with her family on the farm. And then that magical moment. You know the moment to which I am referring - the scene when the movie turns to color. While Munchkin Land would have been fine in black and white, the color allows us to take in so much more - the flowers, the yellow brick road, the beauty of Glenda the good witch of the north, and oh, those ruby slippers!   (Oh Auntie Em, there's no place like home!)   Enough about the Wizard of Oz - let's talk about Luke 15 and the story of the prodigal son. 

I have read the story of the prodigal son in  Luke 15: 1-32 many times. I have heard sermons based on the same scripture.  I always found myself thinking about how it must feel to be the parent to welcome his or her son or daughter back to the family.  The purpose of this story, it is often said, is that God also welcomes back the prodigal child - and that prodigal child can be any of use who chose to walk away only to discover that what we needed, what we were searching for or longing for can only be provided by Him.  There is comfort in knowing that no sin is too big for His forgiveness and that He will always be there when I return. 

How about you?  How many times over the years have you heard the story of the prodigal son?  How do you remember this story?    Is it really ONLY about the prodigal son?  Or, does it contain another story within the story?  Are there other "take-aways" for us to apply in our lives? 

While visiting their church with my Uncle and Aunt in California, I heard about a book they would be studying - The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.   I bought the book, read the first chapter, enjoyed it and thought it would be a good Bible Study.  Recently, the Life Group that meets in our home on Monday nights began to study this book.  My eyes were opened by the stories within the story explained by this author.  It would be fair to say I was "blown away" by examining the story and realizing it is about so much more than the returning son.

I don't want to give the magic away, so I will refrain from sharing too much, but it was eye-opening to see the focus on the older son aka the Elder Brother and his attitude towards the Younger Brother's return.   

Reading Luke 15 now reminds me of the Wizard of Oz - it was a great story but now, it is like the scene in the movie when it all turns to color.  I appreciated the story before, but appreciate it even more now!

Have a blessed day!

Routine:  A sequence of actions regularly followed.

I have a routine every workday morning when I am not traveling. . . when I first wake up, I say a quick prayer - which includes help everything I say and do be reflective of You.  When I get up, usually around 5:30 a.m., I have a cup (or two) of coffee and read the scripture and its application in Our Daily Bread and more recently the Dare to Be devotional written by Natalie Grant and Charlotte Gambill.  My workday begins around 6:15 a.m. with Christian music playing.  I have found the words I read and the words I hear in the songs put me in the right frame of mind and prepare me for the day.  (I do wish the "right frame of mind" lasted longer some days!)

An interesting thing happened on Valentine's Day - the scripture for Our Daily Bread was Genesis 29:16-30 and titled Second Best.  It told the story of Leah and how she knew her husband did not want her.  It went on to tell the story of the names she gave her sons and what they meant.   The first three sons had names that indicated the lack of love she felt from her husband.  Her fourth son was named Judah, meaning praise.  And although she was unloved by her husband, she realized she was greatly loved by  God. 

When I opened Dare to Be, the title was Dare to Be Beautiful.  And it was once again the story of Leah.  Leah is described as going from a place of rejection to a place of rejoicing - opening her heart and letting God love her.

Wow - two different devotionals both on the same topic. What was God trying to tell me?

It was simple - God loves me!  When I open my life to God, He will reveal the beauty that is inside.  God wants to be my constant companion.  He loves me for whom I am, flaws and all.  While people let you down, God never does.  I am so thankful for a loving and forgiving God.

Have a blessed week!

Faithful . . . To What?

Yesterday my husband and I attended a Memorial Service for my sister's father-in-law, who passed away after a long illness.  It was a blessing as he had been in much pain and now he is in the presence of Jesus.  I always enjoyed being around him, as he always made me feel part of his family.

Our two nephews and niece shared during the service about their Grandfather - the special times they shared and their many memories.  It was emotional for them and emotional for me as their Auntie to see them so sad.  It is comforting for me to know they will be comforted by Him as they go through this next year of firsts - First birthdays without their Grandpa B., first Father's Day, first Christmas, etc. 

Many other family members shared their memories as well.  When describing this Godly man, one word used over and over and over was faithful.  Faithful to his Lord, his wife and his family.
 

faith·ful - (1) strict or thorough in the performance of duty; (2) true to one's word, promises vows; (3) steady in allegiance or affection; (4) reliable, trusted or believed; (5) adhering or true to fact

feɪθfəl/ Show Spe

So the question -

What or whom are you most faithful to?  Work &/or  Play &/or Spouse &/or Family &/or God?   These areas are in the wrong order - but could be the order for some.  I know that I struggle (more times that I would like to admit) to make my faithfulness to God my top priority - that is, my faithfulness in my time and attention. I am working on that!!

 

 

Driving home from Mr. B's Memorial Service yesterday, I saw a beautiful rainbow through the raindrops - God's visual reminder of His creation and that He is faithful - He is ALWAYS there for us during the storms.  He is faithful to me, even when I am not deserving.  I am so thankful that He loves me in spite of myself!

We sang Great is Thy Faithfulness at the end of the Memorial Service - it was Mr. B's favorite hymn. 

What would I love to hear said to me when I enter His Kingdom?  "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)

Have a wonderfully blessed week!

Leaning on God's Word - Really?

What conclusion can be reached when a blogger hasn't had a new post in over a year?  It could mean the blog had served its purpose so it was no longer needed. Or that it was no longer important to the blogger.  In my case, it is neither.  It hasn't served its purpose (at least for me) and it is important.  But I have allowed many other things to fill my life, consume my time, and to be honest, I had not really given much thought to it (obviously!) until the beginning of this year.

Last night I attended a Dare to Be Revolution and was convicted about many things; most of all about my lack of time for Him.  I can find myself traveling for work, in a hotel room, and have time for games on social media - but no time for writing about how He impacted my life.  Wow!

So I left Dare to Be with this thought:  Make It Matter!

Make It Matter (sung by Natalie Grant)

Pack my bags and my regrets
Every moment that I've wasted
Chasing after my pursuit of happiness
Has only left me searching, there must be more

Take my life and lift me up to the sky
Take my dreams and help me to fly
On the wings of possibility
Come rewrite my history

'Til it's only You I'm chasing after
Take this life and make it matter

Help me give more than I take
And let me see into somebody else's heartache
And be the difference love can make
My heart is finding there's gotta be, gotta be more

Take my life and lift me up to the sky
Take my dreams and help me to fly
On the wings of possibility
Come rewrite my history

'Til it's only You I'm chasing after
Take this life and make it matter

Only one life to live
Only one love to give
Only one life, only one love
So make it, make it matter

Only one life to live
Only one love to give
Only one life, only one love
Make it, make it matter

Only one life
Only one love
Give my life
Take it, make it matter

Pack my bags and my regrets

Take my life and lift me up to the sky
Take my dreams and help me to fly
On the wings of possibility
Come rewrite my history

'Til it's only You I'm chasing after
Take this life and make it matter
Make it, make it matter

Only one life
Only one love
I've got only one life
To make it matter
Until next month . . .

Aloha . . .

There are no excuses for the months without a post.  All I can say is that things have been crazy - crazy busy.  And human nature being what it is, the longer I went without a post the harder it was to get back into it.    I have let myself down . . . again.  How is it that I have been able to find time for all the other things going on in my life, yet have failed to take "blogging" time for the most important thing in my life - my relationship with Christ?

I am working in Hawaii this week and my husband was able to join me this trip.  This morning we went to Hope Chapel Waikiki - a place where I am able to get spiritually fed.  I LOVE this church and what this church does for the community. There are so many outreach ministries.  I LOVE the  praise music - many of the same songs we sing in our home church but with the Hawaiian style.  The message today touched me during the service, but it really touched me a couple of hours later. 

While my husband stayed on the beach, under an umbrella, I spent time in the water floating around on an air mattress.  Being on the water is total relaxation for me . . .  hearing the waves coming in, the soft murmer of people's voices, and the warmth of the sun.  A perfect time to think about God's creation and my relationship with Him.  I was going over the words I heard during church and was immediately convicted.  Let me explain.

Yesterday morning on our way to Hawaii I experienced something for the first time - going through a body scan at the airport only to be taken aside and told that because of an "anomoly" on my chest area, they needed to do additional screening.  When I asked the extent of the additional screening that was going to be done in the open with everyone around, I stated I was not comfortable.  So, I was told that I either allowed the search there or I would have to have a full body search in a private area.  I chose to be taken to a private room with two female TSA employees where I was the recipient of a very, very invasive body search. I told the TSA officer I was uncomfortable with where she was touching me to which I was told I had a choice - I could choose not to fly.  Sparing the details, , I will say that in addition I was treated and talked to very disrespectfully.  When they were done, I left so shook up that I cried and felt anxiety unlike anything I had experienced.   It was a horrible way to start a trip to Hawaii.

After church and while on the water enjoying God's creation, it became very clear to me - I needed to forgive the TSA workers for how they treated me  - I needed to let go!  Time I spent thinking about it, talking about it and wondering what was going to happen when I reported them to Homeland Security was time better spent elsewhere.  Thinking about them and harboring anger was not impacting them at all - it was only impacting me and those around me.

By the way, I realized what the "anomoly" was - I am pretty sure it was the trace amount of pink glitter above the scoop of the neckline on my top - I had a pink top and thought the glitter added a little fun. 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:12-14 

Veggie Tales At Any Age!

Veggie Tales was not around when our daughter was young.  Honestly, when I first heard them, I thought their voices were irritating although I understood they delivered positive messages for children.  I was a little surprised when I actually bought their CD. The reason?  It was the only CD for children that contained the song, Lord I Lift Your Name on High.  A favorite of mine, every Sunday School class I have ever taught ends with this song being sung by the children with the accompanying hand motions.  Every AWANA Council Time begins with this song.    This song says it all - Christ came to down from heaven to save us.  To save me and to save you.  So, I wanted to have the children sing to music; thus, the Veggie Tales CD.

Lord, I lift Your name on high
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad Your in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high

Lord, I lift Your name on high
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad Your in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high


I recently visited my granddaughters and took the CD with me.  I wanted to teach my almost 3 and almost 5 year old precious granddaughters my favorite song.  But that is not what happened - they taught me a song and dance.  

While I was going through the songs to get to Track 9, my older granddaughter started dancing to Track 3 and she told me she knew that song.  Come to find out, her preschool had learned a dance to Track 3 and would be performing it at their upcoming preschool graduation.  The song?  Track 3 Every Move I Make.  I love watching them with big smiles on their faces. I know God is smiling as well!  His children praising Him!

This is now my favorite song on the CD.  I can no longer listen to this song without remembering  the joy on my granddaughters' faces as they danced and sang about our Lord.  I undoubtedly have a smile on my face the entire song.  I also find myself making the handmotions when I am at home listening to the song.  But it is not just the memory of my precious granddaughters singing and dancing that makes me enjoy this song.

It is the words to the song - the words that challenge me to be a better Christian.  That every move I make and every breath I take is for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; that everywhere I look I see Him and am reminded that I have been truly captured by His Love.  

Veggie Tales is played constantly in my car and I rock out with them - no longer are their voices irritating.  Veggie Tales is not just for children!

Next week we are traveling 3000 miles to attend our granddaughter's preschool graduation.  Who knows, maybe I will post the video of her singing this song!

May you have a blessed week and may every step, move and breath be for Him.

Every move I make
I make in You
You make me move, Jesus
Every breath I take
I breathe in You

Every step I take
I take in You
You are my way, Jesus
Every breath I take
I breathe in You

Waves of mercy
Waves of grace
Everywhere I look
I see Your face
Your love has captured me
Oh my God, this love
How can it be

 

What Will I Leave Behind?

I missed last week’s Thursday Ramblings From the Road.  Wednesday, I knew I needed to put fingers to keyboard.  But while I was able to do so, it was all work.  I was disappointed in myself and knew that I could not let it happen two weeks in a row.   So now I sit, pondering about what I should write. 

When I have the thought or an inspiration of what to write, I usually go with it.  This week is different.  I have felt the need to consider what you the reader will think.  So, I push it back and within minutes it makes itself back to the forefront.  After 10 or 15 minutes of “come forward” and “push back” it is clear to me that I should write about the original inspiration.  So bear with me, here goes.

A terrorist died this week.  There seems to be much debate over whether or not we as Christians should “celebrate” the death of another.  That, however, is not the subject of this writing.  The legacy lthe terrorist left behind is.

I have wondered at random times this week who is mourning his passing?  How many family, friends, or co-workers (?) are sad?  If he had had a typical memorial service, how many people would have waited for the microphone so they could share a memory? And, would that memory be funny or sad?   I am pretty sure I know how he will be remembered by most of the world, but how will he be remembered by those that he loved, those closest to him?  What is his legacy?

This caused me to think about my legacy.  While I am not comparing myself to a terrorist, I like him am a human being.    When I join my father and other loved ones in heaven, sitting at the feet of Jesus, what memories will I have left behind?  How will I be remembered? 

I want to be remembered as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and child of God.  Someone who lived for Christ.  Someone who internally and externally demonstrated the fruits of the spirit.  Someone who tried to leave the world a better place.  Someone who was seen as a Godly woman more often than she was not.  Someone who loved to worship through song.  Someone who loved teaching children about our Lord.    Someone with a sense of humor that admittedly at times pushed the envelope.  Someone who was truly blessed.  Someone who had a positive impact on others and spent more time building others up as opposed to tearing them down.  Someone who wasn’t afraid to share her faith with strangers.   

I cannot leave this legacy without God.  It is only through Him and with Him that I can become the child He wants me to be.  Every day brings it own challenges, but I cannot do it on my own.    Nor do I want to.  I have tried and it does not work!  This is the message I shared with the young woman sitting next to me on the plane last week. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

 

Have a blessed week . . .