Hope

"For what (I) am proclaiming is not( myself), but the Messiah Yeshua as Lord..."
4 Cor:5

"We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed."
4 Cor 8-9

"I trust and therefore I speak."

"This is why (I) don't lose courage. Though (my) outer self (like yours) is heading for decay, (my) inner self is being renewed daily." 4 Cor 13, 16

So if anyone wants to know why I speak out, have 6 blogs, am working, writing a book, learning about eating and preparing food in a new way, this is why. Not because I have to, but because I get to. I must.

Please pray that I finish the task.

I Seek Beauty All My Days

One of my favorite novelists, Catherine Cookson, has an autobiography called Our Kate. In it she wrote,
"I will seek beauty all my days.
Within the dark chaos of a troubled world I will
seek and find some Beauteous Thing.

From eyes grown dim with weeping will shine a Light
to guide me, and in Sorrow's Hour
I shall behold a great High Courage.

I shall find the wonder of an infinite Patience,
and a quiet Faith in coming Joy and Peace.

And Love will I seek in the midst of Discord and
find swift eager hands out and stretched in welcome.

I will seek Beauty all my days, and in my quiet
I shall not be dismayed.

I shall find God."

This reminds me of the old rag picker in The Mad Woman of Chaillot by Jean Giradoux whose famous line is, "I hate ugliness. I love beauty."

What about you? Will you seek the ugliness everywhere or will you, like me try to find beauty and what is worthy all the days of your life?

Did you know that you could choose which one you will seek?

Do You Believe In God?

Do you believe in God? Many people say they do, but there is little agreement among most as to what that should look like in their lives.

Rereading the New Testament book of Galatians, I have been struck by how many times two words are repeated: trust and faithfulness. Therefore, if I believe in God, I will trust Him in all things and I will be faithful in all things.

Move over to Thessalonians and the word trust is there everywhere.

It's not easy but the directions are simple, from 1 Thessalonians:
"...make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business and to earn your living by your own efforts...Live at peace among yourselves...confront those who are lazy...help them change..encourage the timid...assist the weak...be patient with everyone...always try to do good to each other...always be joyful...pray regularly, in everything give thanks..don't quench the Spirit...hold onto what is good, but keep away from every form of evil."

This is the job description for everyone who believes in God and wants to trust Him in all things and be faithful in all things.

Let me know how it's going.

Better Than Science Fiction

I finally "get" the obsession by some people with science fiction.

In it people appear, disappear, have seemingly miraculous powers and live in a world that cannot be explained by gravity, the laws of physics and other sciences.

That's because some people who are awed, overwhelmed and nonplussed by biblical narratives feel the need to manufacture the supernatural out of their own imaginations.

Reading Acts 8:39 and 40 can be perplexing. At one minute Philip is there with the eunuch and then in the next minute, he is not. "The Lord snatched Philip away The eunuch saw no more of him, because he continued on his way - full of joy. But Philip showed up at Ashod and continued on his way - full of joy."

At first glance, that could be seen as science fiction. At a deeper level, it is evidence that time and space with God are different than with men. This is not science fiction. This is a Holy Happening, only possible with God. Real, witnessed and yet unexplainable by the laws of physics.

When Jesus appears to his disciples, Mary and others some 40 times after his Resurrection, each appearance could be dumbed down to call it science fiction and not real. EAch appearance could also be called a "Holy Happening."

How many Holy Happenings can you list from the Bible? Start counting and send me your list. We will compare notes.

Remembering What God Has Done

How do you keep track of what God has done in your life? Do you journal, tell others, just rely on memory?

The ancient Israelites used to put stones as markers in places where remarkable and miraculous things has occurred. Even today Jewish cemeteries testify to the visits of loved ones when visitors put stones on the headstones of those they came to see.

Today is Passover and a wonderful time to remember how God, with an outstretched arm, rescued the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and parted the Red Sea so they could be free. The story is wonderful and when retold with family, friends and even strangers, leaves a lasting mark of wonder on all who listen.

Tonight I will be celebrating this with a "Life Group" in Florida, people we pray with, worship with and call friends. If you've never been to one, many churches and synagogues have Seders and invite all to come and participate.

Reread the story in Exodus and wonder, marvel and think about whether or not the plagues of today will be lifted for the miracles of tomorrow.

God's story needs to be etched on our hearts so we can reflect on it and be refreshed by it, 24/7.

Happy Passover to all people who believe in the power of God to save!

Yielding to God

Most people would think I am on drugs if I talk about yielding to God in all things. After all, don’t I make opportunities, don’t I create my career, don’t I decided where to go, what to do and how to do it?

I yielded my career to God years ago, but in stages. First, I prayed for a theatre company. The Lord saw fit to arrange free rent and loads of opportunities for it to happen.

Second, I prayed for a husband and then I met him at a singles beach retreat for a church I did not attend. There he was and we were married 9 months later.

Third, I left my theatre company because God had other plans for me. Sometimes I sat on my couch and read, I drove thousands of miles for my kids carpools, and I entertained myself in a new community by shopping in thrift shops.

Until, fourth, after I prayed for God to take the shopping “thing” away or turn it into something beautiful, and He did. I had a newspaper column for 5 years, TV spots and features on regional and national networks, and all over the Mills Mall jumbo trons once an hour, every hour. The Queen of Bargains was not my idea. It was His.

Fifth, I prayed about whether or not we should move to Florida to care for Howard’s mom and He made the way clear, sweet and adventuresome. It was here, in Florida that I found my dream job, and lots of understanding about my strengths and weaknesses and how I should make decisions.

Sixth, He has continued to open professional doors and I am making more money than I ever did. I am giving away more than I ever dreamed I’d be able to do. I am continuing to g row and feel like I am still just in the middle of my career at age 64.

So, yield to God in all things and He will surpass your expectations of what you can do, how you can do it and who you are. You are not on drugs. You are in God’s will for your life.

Timing

Are you the sort of person who manipulates people, events and other resources to get what you want when you want it?

If so, consider the alternative.

Getting ahead of God has consequences. When we take matters into our own hands, we pre-empt God. He is a gentleman and will step aside, sadly, as we mess up what could have been a wonderful plan.

When you can't wait anymore, take a deep breath, go for a walk, play praise music, and wait. He will do for you what you cannot even imagine.