Connecting

I have just finished reading an article (Time magazine, May 31, 2010) on the communication phenomenon, Facebook. I use the term "communication" cautiously, because I have to wonder if seeing pictures of your cat or sharing with you what I'm having for dinner is really communication. But then, I must be wrong, for sometime in the next few weeks Facebook will officially acquire its 500 millionth active user, defined as someone with an account that they have accessed within the last 30 days. While serious career networking happens there, so does a lot of silly socializing. For many people, the article stated, the site is a second home and they spend many, many hours a day there.

We actually like to share, the young entrepreneurs believe. It is also hugely, hugely lucrative. (You didn't think this free, massively-interlaced network was created solely for the pleasure of the end-users, did you?) There is something to be said for openness with your friends, and each person must draw the line for him/herself when it comes to the bajillion readers and ad writers online.

While I pondered on what I was reading, I thought of how readily we can communicate with Jesus, our great Friend. Many times a day, I speak to Him.

Just listen to that wren singing. Isn't that thrilling?
Owww, help me, Jesus. (after ramming my toe into the chair leg)
Look! The orange lilies are blooming.
Thank you for the new shoes!
Please don't let the hail destroy my new roof.
Thank you for that note from Lorie.
Help me find my earring, balance my checkbook, go to sleep.

I am so glad for the ease of connecting with the one Who already knows all about me. And it's good to know that He is actually interested when I share the experiences of my daily life with Him!

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Flying by Instrument

My brother, having his private pilot's license, was flying my toddler daughter and me to see "Grampy" who was very ill in the hospital. He had never met the little girl as her adoption into the family had occurred only a few months before. I recall that day as being overcast, perhaps even rainy, and visibility was extremely limited. How could we land safely if we couldn't even see the ground? "Not to worry," my brother told me as he spoke to controllers by radio and listened to their instructions.

At last we burst through the layer of gray clouds—and there was the runway, exactly in front of us. I was hugely impressed! What the pilot couldn't determine with his own skillful judgment, he entrusted to the instruments in his cockpit and to people on the ground who could direct him.

We often cannot see clearly where each aspect of our faith journey is taking us. We are completely "clouded" in, and cannot imagine how we will ever come safely to a place of peace and rest. That is the time to fly by "instrument," not our own senses. We have the Word of God to direct us. We also have the wisdom and experience of others who are on this journey; some, having already completed it, have left us valuable encouragement and advice. We have the Spirit of God, Who is the ultimate "control tower operator."

Our feelings can be unreliable when in comes to determining our course, just as I could not have found the landing strip through those heavy clouds. And even when we can see, our judgment may be faulty, just as airplanes crash all the time "due to pilot error." But when we put our trust in the instruments we have been given to make our spiritual journey, and we will reach our Destination safely.

MaryMartha

Art from htttp://www.sxc.hu/

Vision

I have a section of curbside yard that I have wanted, for years, to see transformed into something special to look at. These often-arid strips are actually city property, but homeowners are expected to care for what grows there. I had assorted grasses, none of which thrived, and weeds. That's why these sections are frequently called hell strips; they are "impossible." This was the year to do something about the situation. It was going to take heavy-duty work, more than I am able to do: rototilling, leveling, installing edging, digging holes for the plants, laying weed barrier, covering the surface with a couple tons of pebbles and two large rocks. I called in a crew from the garden center.

When the landscape planner came to arrange the work, I told him I wanted the area to be bright and beautiful but there had to be tough plants that could tolerate some "neglect." He looked it over. "Well, I see yarrow here," he said. "About three brown-eyed Susans here, some Stella de Oro daylilies—I really like those—and probably over there an Autumn Joy sedum," and so on. I am not gifted with the insight to see what an area will look like when the plants are mature and blooming. But this experienced designer said several times, "I can see . . ." He had a vision of what could be.

God's people need vision—not necessarily visions of a supernatural sense—but vision that can see what is not yet visible! In the spiritual realm, the things that have validity are those which are unseen by our human eyes. "We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18) God lives in the Eternal Present, and He speaks of those things which do not "exist" (in our temporal scheme of things) as though they did. (See Romans 4:17)

Like "father" Abraham, we need the trust in God that sees past the impossible to what can be and what, in God's eyes, already is.

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

No Turning Back

I remember singing often, while I was growing up—as we rode in the car, or at youth services,

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, no turning back.

--Attributed to Sadhu
Sundar Singh, India, early 20th c.

I could sing that very earnestly. What was there for me, after all, as an eight-year-old or a fourteen- or seventeen-year-old, to turn back to? Now, with advanced age and much more experience, I still ask, "What could there possibly be that is worth turning back to?"

The children of Israel, faced with the uncertainties involved in taking over the Promised Land from the giants who lived there, lamented to Moses and Aaron. "Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. 'If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!' they complained. 'Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?' Then they plotted among themselves, 'Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!' ” (Numbers 14:1-4)

Those who had gone ahead to spy out the land returned with proof that the land was fabulously productive. Two men of faith assured the people, "The countrymen there are powerful, but we are well able to overcome them!" Still, motivated by fear and a complaining spirit, the Israelites began to talk of stoning their leaders—until the Lord intervened and sent them back out into the wilderness to wander for forty years, one year for each day the spies had spent exploring the good land ahead of them.

We wouldn't deny our Savior, but we might cringe at the prospect of change. We might pull back when faced with challenge. What if Columbus had not said (in the words of American poet Joaquin Miller), "Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!" What if Winston Churchill had not given the commencement address that has inspired various valuable (mis)quotes? "Never give up! Never give up! Never, never, never!" What blessing and provision we miss, if we close our eyes to what is before and us and turn back to what is only safe and familiar!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

The Wrong Kind of Exercise

We hear it all the time: "It's important to get enough exercise." Some people work very hard at their jobs, but still may not be getting exercise of the proper kind, strengthening all muscle groups of the body.

And some people get their exercise in ways that are actually detrimental to their well-being!

4 Jumping to conclusions. The Wisdom writer said, "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes," and" Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." (Proverbs 19:2; 21:5) The Apostle James wrote, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." (James 1:19)

4 Running other people down. "Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:11, 12) "If you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." (Galatians 5:15)

4 Racing thoughts. "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (Isaiah 26:3) "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.In quietness and confidence is your strength.' " (Isaiah 30:15)

4 Skipping prayer. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7) "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (Philippians 4:6)

If you want to be healthy spiritually, get the right kind of exercise!

4 Run with patience the race that is set before you.
4 Walk in the Spirit.
4 Lean on the God of Israel..
4 Resist the Enemy, and after battle, stand firm.
4 Build [yourself] up in your most holy faith.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

What's Really Going On

There is sometimes a big difference between what happens and what is really going on. While reading the Old Testament story of Moses' leadership again, I came across these verses. "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.'Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?' they asked. 'Hasn't he also spoken through us?' And the LORD heard this." (Numbers 12:1, 2)

Was the real problem Moses' "foreign" wife or his superior authority? The two had been thoroughly mixed up. It seems from the wording that their vocal criticism was about Moses' wife, while what they complained about to each other was his complete ignoring of their own abilities. Aaron was Moses' brother and Miriam, his sister, but more than this, they were priest and prophetess.

This incident follows the great change of government effected by Moses choosing of the seventy elders. The Spirit that was in Moses rested on them as well; this was made visible when they began to prophesy. Some commentators believe animosity arose then in Aaron and Miriam against Moses' wife (probably Zipporah, not a second wife). She may have had more influence on the assignments than they did, albeit through her father's intervention. Moses had not recognized their rights!

Criticism was only the outward evidence. What was really going on was pride, fear, anger, dissatisfaction, intolerance, and jealousy. Remember that the next time someone sends a barb of un-constructive criticism your way.

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

God on My Side

The persons responsible for my early religious instruction made sure that I understood it was my duty to align myself with God's purposes. I was not to concern myself too much with whose side God was on, but whether or not I was on God's side. (Perhaps referring to the statement attributed to Abraham Lincoln?) God doesn't have favorites, I was told; He loves everyone.

While all of this is true, what I failed to understand was that God really is on my side. This is not to say that He is on my side in a way that eliminates good for other people and their plans and programs. He is not particularly on my side as it relates to sports events, political elections, or bargain hunting. But He really, truly is on my side. He has my best interests at heart. He wants good things—but not necessarily just easy things—for me. He guards me, guides me, and provides for me. He watches out for me as a loving, careful father would watch out for his child. He has creative ways of bringing balance into my life.

We sometimes do not realize, in our endeavor to see God's love as all-inclusive, that His love is also very personal. He, in a particular way, suited just to me, loves me! The children's song I used to sing is really true!

I am so glad that my Father in heav'n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv'n.
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

Oh, if there's only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the Great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
"Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!"

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

--Philip P. Bliss, 1870

MaryMartha