Not Wanted

My heart sank as I listened one afternoon this week to an NPR report about girls in a district of India who were given Hindi names meaning “unwanted.” How sad to spend your childhood years being called a name which tells everyone, “Because I’m a girl, I’m not acceptable. My family let me live, but they did not want me.” Today, however, two hundred eight-five of those girls, in a special re-naming ceremony, chose new names for themselves. They chose the names of stars in the Hindi film industry or goddesses or traditional names with happy meanings like prosperous, beautiful, and good.

That reminds me of Scripture in the Bible which describes the land of Israel. “You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. (Isaiah 62:2-4) Names described the deplorable condition of the land and the people, but as they turned back to God, He gave them new names which honored them.

Present-day individuals, too, are tagged with undesirable names. Have you ever heard of someone named “Nerd” or “Wimp” or “Dumbo” or “Loser”? We may even name ourselves: “Victim,” “Failure,” or “Stupid.” Those are unhappy appellations to live with, and before long one begins to believe that they must be true. God has a different way of naming; we are wanted by Him, even chosen to be His beloved. Take the new name He offers!

Mary/Martha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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

Please Help Me

I told a friend that I had pleaded with God for help on a pressing issue, and her reply was, “You don’t need to beg God.”

That’s true, and I know I don’t. He is not like the judge in the Bible parable who initially refused to help a poor widow. He was unmerciful, but she wore him down with her continued begging until finally he relented. God is ready to hear. In fact, before they [God’s people] call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

There may be another aspect to examine. While we do not convince God to hear us by our earnest praying, we ourselves may profit from the exercise of our spiritual muscles. During a time of extreme financial stress, I prayed intensely, “Please give me a miracle or a workable plan. Please! Please!” I learned then to wait until it was God’s time, and the “door” swung open easily. Had I not been so desperate, had I prayed more casually, perhaps I would not have been so expectant, failing to recognize that God was at work engineering the answer that eventually filled the need so well.

I know a couple who had a wayward son. They could have sat in their easy chairs and prayed, “Help Jimmy come back to Your way.” But at one particularly crucial point, they lay on the floor, sobbing, “Oh God! Keep Jimmy! Oh God! Help Jimmy!” God hears the lowest whisper, but their own brokenness made them know they had touched God for their child.

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” Isaiah 59:1

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.

Water for the Thirsty

Kansas has had an exceptionally hot and dry summer. Where I live, we entered the season with a rain deficit from early spring, and had almost no rain in July. I tried to water the plantings next to the house enough to stay green, but I had a “KFC” lawn—extra-crispy.

We finally had some rain about a week ago. I was so excited and grateful, I opened the window and let it blow in on my face! Even with that limited moisture, the grass greened up and began to look alive again. The birds and squirrels whose ready access to water had been limited to the little pool I provided for them, drank from rivers flowing in the gutters. (Although that didn’t last long!)

I am reminded how vital water is, and how much I use it. Fortunately, our City has adequate sources of suitable water, and our use was not curtailed except voluntarily. I try not to waste it carelessly though, recognizing that over a billion people throughout the world lack access to clean water in sufficient supply. (U.S. Center for Disease Control)

When I think of our need for water, I think too of the Water of Life. It is always in abundant supply. Jesus promised, “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6 NLT) There is a thirst in the human heart that He is ready to quench, and that only He can!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation marked NLT 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.

"God Don't Like Ugly"



"[He] rescues the wretched who've been
thrown out with the trash . . ."

I came across that book title the other day, and had an immediate reaction of disbelief. Actually there is more than one book by that title. One is a well-received novel, another, a book about African-American family values. It is the title that puts me off. What young person browsing through library or bookstore shelves wants to be confronted with “GOD Don't Like Ugly”? A lot of people, old and young alike, have self-esteem that is fragile enough already without a reminder printed in big yellow letters!

It isn't true, anyway. Had God not loved the people of the world even when they were damaged and made “ugly” by sin, there would be no Christmas, no Savior coming to bring salvation. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8) And He still loves us at our most unattractive; our sometimes negative, and selfish behavior doesn't put Him off.  He still draws us, still invites us, “Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)

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/

Seasons of Life

The seasons of life, as full as they are of newness and excitement, bring their own losses. We celebrate graduations and weddings and the births of babies and new jobs and retirements. We love to party hearty! What we sometimes fail to acknowledge—and then it takes us by surprise—is the little bit of ache that often accompanies rejoicing. We are happy certainly, but we also sense the loss of something dear and familiar.

"I wanted to be finished with school—but now what do I do?"

"I truly do want to marry this person, but I'm afraid to give up my freedom."

"We wanted this baby so much, but I liked there being just the two (or the three or more) of us, and I'm really, really tired of getting up at two a.m."

"I like the money I'm making, but the stress is killing me."

"I've looked forward to retirement all these years, and now I feel so useless."

How strange it is that success is mixed with a secret sorrow! In the last three days, two different friends, very dear to me, have announced that they are moving away from this area. Maybe we'll stay in touch, maybe not; life has a way of going on and distance has a way of changing how friendships survive and thrive. So I am glad for the challenges and opportunities and blessings that lie ahead for them, but still . . .

I wonder if there may be a reader who is feeling some of that "secret sorrow" of change. You can just tell yourself, "It is all right to feel a bit confused. I'm okay even if I'm happy and sort of sad at the same time. There's nothing wrong with me; this is part of change and I will get it sorted out."

Some of our griefs may seem foolish, at least to others. A man begins to bald a bit on top, a double chin appears, and suddenly he is threatened. Or a woman passes beyond the childbearing years, or she loses a breast to cancer, and she feels diminished. A person breaks their addiction to alcohol or goes on a medication that helps the brain function properly or becomes an average-sized individual by losing half her body weight—and suddenly, they no longer know who they are! "What a great problem to have!" someone might say. But no, not if you are one experiencing this sort of identity crisis. Be gentle with the person you used to be, kind to the person you are now!

It is not wrong for us to recognize and grieve our losses, whether that makes sense to others or not. If we are acknowledging now, perhaps for the first time in a long while, that there are some sore places in our hearts, then we have started on the path to healing and wholeness.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:18)

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 Safest Place

A security camera
is watching!



Some months ago, I read an article about what is possibly the safest house in the world. The five-story residence sits high in the hills above Los Angeles with a 360° view of the surrounding area. Inside are thirty-two luxurious rooms, discreetly disguising the fact that the house is heavily fortified and super-secure. Six cars can park in the virtually impenetrable cave-like garage below the living areas. Should an intruder manage to breach the high-powered exterior security measures, there are two hidden panic rooms plus architecturally invisible safe cores. These are entire sections of the house that can be shut off from the rest of the building, and would provide safety from any outside threat: intruders, natural disaster and even nuclear, biological, or chemical attack.

This modern-day fortress can only provide a certain measure of peace of mind. The man/woman who is owner of this house is just as likely to have a heart attack as the next person. He/she is as susceptible to cancer, lung disease, or brain tumor as other people are. What then? The safest house in the world isn't really safe at all.

I believe in taking precautions that will help me be safe physically. Don't I have a basement equipped for waiting out a tornado? A fire extinguisher? Air bags in my car? Grab bars in the bathroom? But no effort of mine will be enough to give me spiritual safety. Psalm 23 is not yet worn out! Here is a verse of assurance: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Ps. 23:4) When we die certainly, but at other times too, when we pass through a dark place and experience the "dying" of something precious to us, we experience "the shadow of death." It is then that Jesus is right with us, not driving us through the valley, but leading us. His staff reassures and even rescues us, His rod protects us

The safest place? In His care. Whether we're in an elegant, fortified house or in a tiny apartment, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)

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/

The Saving Touch

"Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace."

There was something different about the little woman who crept up close to Jesus and touched the hem of His garment, believing that by doing so she would be made whole. (See Luke 8:40-47) A crowd surrounded Jesus, pressing close. He was so busy, just now on His way to see a little girl who was dying. The disciples tried to run interference for Him, "Make way! Let us through, make way!"

I think that not only the faithful followers of Jesus were there that day. In the crowd were probably the curiosity-seekers too. "Hey, can you move a bit? I want to see what's going on, too."

There were the awestruck worshippers, not of Christ's divinity but more of His celebrity status. "Yes, I've been following Him around, but I can't catch His eye. Isn't He magnificent?"

Interested news-seekers. "Can you believe what He just said? He's like a god!"

Impressed onlookers. "Say, He speaks like He knows what He's talking about!"

And probably the disgruntled too. "I don't understand why this is such a big deal. I just wish things would settle down."

Then came an interruption. Jesus stopped. He turned around. "Who touched my clothes?" He asked.

The disciples looked at Him, astonished. "Jesus," one of them said, "a lot of people have touched You. They're crowding all around You, even jostling You. How can you even think to ask who touched You?"

But it was not a curious touching to see if He felt like other people. Not a touch to be remembered and to brag about how close you were. It was not a touch to comfort and affirm nor to threaten. It was the reaching out in faith, a saving touch. Jesus knew that, for He felt power go out from Himself through that touch.

The woman came forward, trembling, and confessed what she had done. "I knew if I could just touch the hem of Your cloak, I would be well. I am! I was healed the instant I touched You!"

It is much the same today. Not everyone who touches Jesus is changed. There are the curious, because religion often makes the news. There are the interested who say, like one author, "I dig Jesus. He's cool." Some are truth-seekers, and they think maybe Jesus has something for them. A few, convinced of their need, simply touch Him in faith.

That's how we're changed.

MaryMartha

Art from http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures

Where Could I Go?

I live in Tornado Alley, the area in the central U.S. known for spawning the violent winds that sometimes tear up whole towns. Kansas is close to the top for frequency and severity of the storms. Of course, you knew that. You remember Dorothy and Toto getting blown to the Land of Oz, don't you?

Although I don't have a specially constructed shelter, I do have my basement outfitted with the items that would keep me safe and marginally comfortable if a twister lifted off my roof. I have spent a number of hours there on occasion, waiting for the all-clear signal so I can return upstairs. It's good to have a place to go. I passed by any number of houses that would have made a good home because they had no basement to provide personal refuge (it is to be hoped) from disaster.

There are other storms in life also, even violent ones. They are able to twist one's heart and mind with incredible pain. They can destroy what has taken years and years to build in just a fraction of that time, leaving grief and loss. They scatter plans and drench hopes. Yes, "into each life, some rain must fall." (Longfellow) But no one ever expects a tornado. "Where could I go? Oh, where could I go, seeking a refuge for my soul?" (an old song by James Coats.) You need a place to go.

I like book titles that send my mind off into wanderings and wonderings. I noticed one the other day: Home for Broken Hearts. That's it, I thought. That describes the refuge that God provides for weary, hurting people in life's tornadoes. "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.' " (Psalm 91:1-4, 14-16)

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/

God Is Loyal

The final post in a series on "The Endearing Personality of God"


The color blue stands for loyalty.
Whenever you see blue sky, think of
GOD"S FAITHFULNESS!



It would be the rare person who had never experienced a disappointment in one or more of their relationships. An employee does not follow through on the assignment or responsibility entrusted to him/her. A service provider turns out to be less than trustworthy. A friend proves unfaithful. Families may be fractured. Even a spouse who promised "till death do us part" sometimes changes his/her mind. We value loyalty—but we cannot always depend on it defining our relationships.



God is different! He is always right here, even if—sadly—we are not welcoming His presence. "Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute—you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, 'Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!' It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you." (Psalm 139:7-12 MSG) Surely when circumstances not of our own choosing lead us to the "underground" or into the dark, we can know that He is already there!



Children ran to Him to be blessed—and still do! He cares for the elderly; "even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4 NIV) He is especially watchful of orphans and widows and the disenfranchised who look to Him for their provision and protection. (See Psalm 68:5, 6)



"Since God assured us, 'I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,' we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?" (Hebrews 13:6 MSG) Christians may say, "The Lord has forsaken me, He has forgotten me." No, He responds, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15 NIV)

This characteristic of God is very precious!  He is unfailingly loyal!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NIV are 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. Scripture marked MSG is taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://sxc.hu/

Things Mama Taught Me: "Add Just Enough . . . "

I'm sure many of you had a mother—or grandmother—who reigned in the kitchen without using a cookbook. Familiar food dishes were prepared without referring to any recipe; the cook just put things together in her own time-honored way and it seemed always to turn out splendidly!

I wanted to learn how to make pie crust like my Mom made, pliable enough to be pressed into high fluted edges, baking up crisp but tender and flakey. Okay, I had lard (a permitted ingredient in those days!), flour, and salt. "Now add cold water a little bit at a time until it feels right."

Can I help it if your mouth is watering?

Until it feels right? How was a beginning pie-maker to know when it felt right? I never did learn. To this day I rely on refrigerated crusts or resort to making a crumb one and pretend that's what the recipe called for!

"Just enough." It's not only in making pie crust that we have not learned very well what that means. Many aspects of our American culture rely for success on our penchant for excess. We drive cars with far too much horsepower, we eat restaurant meals that would feed several people, we trade in electronic gadgets that work just fine for bigger ones with more capabilities than we know how to use, we have closets full of clothes and shoes we never wear. We hardly ever feel we have "enough."

Books, articles in magazines, and items on the Internet give lots of ideas about making it through the continuing economic downturn. The one that appealed to me as the wisest was this: Be satisfied with less.

Learning to be content is not a new idea. The Apostle Paul tells us, in his letter to the church at Philippi, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (4:12, 13) While we often quote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," this Scripture applies most directly to being content, learning to be happy with much or little, knowing what it just enough.

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/

God Is Impartial

One of a series on "The Endearing Personality of God"

I sometimes feel just a little uncomfortable when I compliment people, "You have a lovely home," or "That's a beautiful car." Their response may be, "Yes, God has blessed us," or "Yes, God has been good to us." Really, I do understand the desire to credit God with what we enjoy, but in the back of my mind, I am comparing my own home or my own car and hearing, "Too bad about you."

Does God have favorites? If we are not very careful how we speak, it almost sounds that way. I do not have the home or car or clothes that compare to what other people have. Looking at it another way, if I were with the homeless or hungry or endangered, how then could I explain the advantages and comforts I have—yes, my riches? Does God have favorites? Certainly not. Everything good finds its source in Him, even if I "earned" it. If acknowledging Him carries with it even the tiniest bit of self-importance, it would be better for me to thank Him in the secret place of prayer, lest I be like the Pharisees who wished to be seen as devout.

No, God is no respecter of persons; the Bible is clear about that. (The Apostle Peter finally understood. See Acts 10:34-43) Again and again, he says, "all" and "whoever." Where did we get the idea that God's blessing, His goodness, His favor, is measured by what we own or the circumstances in which we are? If the Gospel of God's grace and goodness does not work in Calcutta or Appalachia or New Orleans, it is not the true Gospel. If it doesn't apply in prisons or refugee tent-cities or land-mined fields, then it is not the Gospel that Jesus taught and exemplified. How is it lived out in these unfortunate places? I don't know the answer to that personally, but down through the ages, Christians have proved that God is faithful in the most miserable "have-not" situations. I know for certain that God is impartial; His love and grace are available to all, and I really love that about Him!

MaryMartha

I think you would also enjoy reading two other posts; click on a title.
Does God Always Provide Bread?
But If Not

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

God Is Generous

One of a Series on "God's Endearing Personality"

One has only to remember John 3:16 to know that God is generous, the ultimate Giver. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life." In so many more ways than this, however, God shows us His heart of giving.

Thou that has given so much to me,

Give one thing more, a grateful heart.

--George Herbert (1593-1633)

"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Psalm 68:19 NKJV) There is perhaps no better way for me to explain God's generous "benefits" than letting Psalm 103 (NLT) enumerate some of them.

He forgives all your iniquities; He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. What would happen if we all got exactly what we deserve?

Heals all your diseases. I believe there is no disease—ancient or modern, and not even death—that God has not shown Himself to someone somewhere as the victor over it. Some scholarly person has studied execution by crucifixion and has concluded that every type of human suffering was experienced by Jesus during His Passion. He overcame them all and lives today!

Redeems your life from destruction. How many times a day, even when we are unaware of it, has God kept us from harm? Even greater, how often He answers our prayer, "Deliver us from evil." The angel of the Lord truly is "camping" all around the person who confidence is in God!

Crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Some folks talk or sing about the crown they expect to have one day when they get to heaven. This crown is for "everyday" wear and is ours by our present acknowledgement of it.

Satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Physical needs, spiritual hunger, intellectual quests, mental stimulation, emotional satisfaction—God is concerned that all of these appropriately supplied.

Executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He is the helper of the helpless. We've often heard it said, "God helps those who help themselves," but another Scripture tells us differently. He is "father to the fatherless, defender of widows . . . God places the lonely in families." (Psalm 68: 5, 6 NLT) He does not ignore the needy, but sends aid—very often through the hearts of others He has touched and through their hands.

Pities (has compassion on) those who fear Him, knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. The children's little song says, "Be careful little lips what you say . . . little hands what you do . . . little feet where you go," and sometimes we grow up feeling that the Big Policeman in Heaven is just waiting to catch us in a wrongdoing. No, we sometimes forget that the song also tells us, "There's a Father up above and He's looking down in love." He is a good Father who would seek to correct rather than condemn,

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. While Jesus warned His followers that there would be "tribulation" for them in the world, yet the promise is that in all things He is working for our good. (See Romans 8:28)

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!"

MaryMartha

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

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

How Does My Garden Grow?

MaryMartha, MaryMartha,

How does your garden grow?

With moneywort and bleeding heart
And pretty rocks all in a row.

– My version of the old nursery rhyme.

When the trees are fully leafed out, my front yard—I won't dignify it by calling it a "lawn"—is in deep shade. When I first lived in this home, the trees were still small and didn't prevent sunlight from reaching the ground. Now it is a different story; the grass won't grow. Well, yes, the folks at the garden center told me there were actually grasses that would grow in the shade, but I would be constantly re-seeding. (Besides mowing!) So I decided if I can't grow grass, I will grow rocks. I am deep into the project of placing pebbles and rocks and plants that love the shade.

The people who know about such things say that gardening failures are mostly due to the gardener expecting things to grow under conditions that are not suitable. Like shade for a plant that needs lots of sunlight, or too much sun for one that likes to be kept cool. Like poor soil for plants that need lots of nourishment. Like sub-zero winters for tender perennials. If I know what certain plants need, I should be able—barring things like hail storms—to grow them successfully.

While I was working today, I remembered an old quartette song written by Mosie Lister, "My Jesus knows just what I need." He understands exactly what will stimulate my growth and make my life "bloom" with Christian virtues.

MaryMartha

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

He Cares About You

At one point, many years ago, I faced very difficult life circumstances. These were not passing problems but ongoing hardship and emotional distress until I almost despaired. It was a very dark time, too. I found it hard to pray; it seemed that I was not being heard. I did not find comfort in reading the Bible, and I could not sing. My journey of faith was more like slogging through a swamp than walking on "the King's highway." I had no intention of giving up, but everything was just so difficult.

One day, with no reason for it except God's merciful intervention, the words of I Peter 5:7 came to mind. "He careth for you." (God most often talks to me in King James English, because that is the version of the Bible I had been reading for much of my life.) "He cares for me!" I began to pray again, with renewed confidence that He was concerned about my sorrows. I began to read the Word again with renewed faith that He would strengthen me to carry the load.

If you are in a hard place, sing!

I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land or on the rolling sea,
For, come what may, from day to day,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

He makes the rose an object of His care,
He guides the eagle thru the pathless air,
And surely He remembers me,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

The valley may be dark, the shadows deep
But O, The Shepherd guards His lonely sheep;
And thru the gloom, He'll lead me home,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.

Chorus
I trust in God, I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Tho' billows roll, He keeps my soul,
My heav'nly Father watches over me.
--Rev. W. C. Martin, 1910

MaryMartha

You may also want to read "Worrying" here.

Words of the song located at
http://www.namethathymn.com/hymn-lyrics-detective-forum/index.php?a=vtopic&t=105

Things Mama Taught Me: "Watch for Cars"

Since I lived in a rural area instead of in the city, my mother's warning was not "Look both ways before you cross the street." It was "Watch for cars," because along the country roads, cars and trucks could whiz by at kid-endangering speeds. Of course, if we were out on the road for some reason, the chances are good that the day was sunny and dry, in which case, one was usually forewarned by the billowing dust that could be seen half a mile away.

The whole point of mothers giving their children these warnings is that they must watch out for things that can run over them, things that are bigger than they are. When children are still very young, Mother may decide that they are not big enough to be out there alone, and they cannot go unless they are holding somebody's hand. (Although closer to the truth is somebody holds theirs.)

That could be seen as defining life in today's world. There are things out there bigger than we are. There are things that can hurt us, even "run us over"! We have to watch out for them, because they may not be watching out for us unless, unfortunately, they intend to catch us unawares; that can happen too. We need to be holding onto Someone's hand, although the truth is, we need Him to hold ours since we might accidentally let go.

Our great Protector and Guide and Friend says, "I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.' " (Isaiah 41:13)

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.

http:www.sxc.hu/ http:www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures

Sad Words

You are probably familiar with these lines about sad words. "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' ” (Maud Miller, John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892) Francis Bret Harte's response to that, in Mrs. Judge Jenkins, is "More sad are these we daily see: 'It is, but hadn’t ought to be.' "

We may get caught in this sadness if we repeat to ourselves over and over, "If only . . . " When children play games, they sometimes extend grace to one another in the form of a do-over, offering another chance to do it right or at least better. Life seldom offers us do-overs, although many times an unlearned lesson is repeated in a somewhat different form; then if we are able to see the similarity and make some changes in our responses to the situation, we may see a happier outcome. Whether we get that opportunity or not, we aren't benefited with too much looking back and lamenting, "If only . . . If we are to enjoy the full use of our mental powers, we cannot re-live the past as if it were today.

It is equally sad to ruin our hopes for what lies ahead by fearfully wondering, "What if . . ." If we were to spend every waking hour imagining our future, we still could not consider every contingency; there are just too many variables. Unless we are actively solving a problem that is certain to present itself, we are borrowing trouble. Jesus reminded us not to do that with these words, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matthew 6:34) Try as we might, we cannot live the future as if it were today.

So that leaves us with the NOW. "Yesterday is history," someone has said. "Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift, and that's why it is called the present."

Live your present to the fullest!

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Quotes of Whittier and Harte from http://www.bartleby.com/100/439.html

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

Seeing Rainbows

An airplane traveler commented that while flying high above the earth, she had seen the unusual sight of a full-circle rainbow. Rainbows are created, we know, when the sun shines through water droplets, breaking the light into its differing wave lengths which we see as colors. In order to see the whole rainbow (the full circle), one has to be high enough that the ground is not in the way.

Each rainbow is unique to the person viewing it, because we each see the apex of the bow at an angle of roughly forty-two degrees. Even the tallest mountain isn't going to work to see the full circle—unless you're hanging off the face of a cliff—because the sunlit drops on the bottom part of the circle are going to be hidden, that is, lower than the forty-two degrees from your head [actually, the shadow of your head. It gets so complicated!]

The rainbow-sign given to Noah and to all his descendants after him signified that God was making a covenant with them. "Then God said, 'I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life." (Genesis 9:12-15) Seeing rainbows should remind us of God's mercy and provision.

Sometimes it rains and we don't see a rainbow—although probably somewhere, someone can. When we do see one, it is only partial; we seldom see the full rainbow. God, though, always sees it as complete, a full circle. It is like that with His providence too. We can see only part of it, and sometimes we fail to see it at all. But He sees it! It's perfect! It's whole and beautiful! If we could just see what He sees!

Although we may be privileged some time to see a full-circle rainbow, and we may at some point understand how huge God is as our Source, much of the time we must be content with the beauty of seeing only a little. That teaches us to walk by faith, not by sight, "for we live by believing and not by seeing." (II Corinthians 5:7)

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/

Though the Mountains Quake

A young man I know was preparing on Monday evening to ship out the next day from Norfolk, Va., with about 3,199 of his Navy buddies. They were embarking on a long journey from the east coast to the west coast—the long way around, passing Cape Horn on the tip of South America. Their ship, the USS Carl Vinson is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier which had recently undergone an extensive overhaul in Newport News and was heading for its new homeport in San Diego. Readying the ship began weeks ago and involved loading tons of food and medical supplies. But God knew something that the officers and crew did not.

The crew departed on their trip about the same time the devastating earthquake occurred in Haiti on Tuesday this week. On Wednesday, the Carl Vinson received orders to deliver assistance to the stricken nation, and the commanding officer immediately headed the ship for Mayport, Florida. There they loaded nineteen helipcopters, plus additional personnel and support equipment from five different east coast Navy squadrons—in less than eight hours.

The Carl Vinson arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Friday, ready to begin humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It carries exactly the kind of supplies that are needed, including water-purifying equipment and three operating rooms. With landing space for additional helicopters, those on board are equipped to do medical evacuations as well as ferry supplies and people to and from the ship. The aircraft's ability to make a quick response, along with its flexibility and its self-sustaining capability, make it the ideal platform to carry out relief operations in this catastrophic situation. And God knew all this too!

God has not forsaken Haiti. My young friend is one more way I can see that. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah." (Psalm 46: 1-3)

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.

Photo of the USS Carl Vinson - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN-70)

Who Would Be God?

Years ago, when I made an ill-informed choice and landed in some distressing circumstances, I blamed God! In fact, I was pretty mad at Him. "How could this happen to me?" I stormed. "How could you let me make such a huge mistake?"

God is very calm when He answers such questions. "If you couldn't make a mistake," I heard Him say in my heart, "who would be God in your life?" Now I may have been foolish to ask God such a thing, but I am not stupid! I knew for sure that I did not want to manage life by myself. I did not want to be my own God.

Sometimes we are so determined to see our own agenda worked out, that we try to use God to enable that. I believe that God hears us when we pray, and I believe that sometimes He does things in answer to prayer that He would not otherwise do. But that He can be manipulated because we invoke His name is far from true. I believe in miracles too; sometimes there is no explanation for an outcome except such Divine intervention. But to expect God to unhinge the regular working of the Universe because there is something I want is likewise false.

s If we could re-route tornadoes and floods and earthquakes at will, who would be God?

s If we could always prevent broken bones and car breakdowns and layoffs in the lives of those we love, who would be God?

s If we could provide bountiful crops and a cure for cancer and blissful marriages, who would be God?

s If we had the power to end world hunger, threats of terrorism, and illiteracy, who would be God?

Sometimes it's quite easy to see that our circumstances, pleasant or otherwise, are the direct result of choices we have made. But it is not always that clear. Sometimes simple cause-and-effect doesn't apply, but we still want desperately to believe there is an existential reason for everything. So when good happens, people say, "I—or you or they—must be living right." When bad things happen, we wonder, "What did I/we/they do to deserve this?"

There is spiritual wisdom in asking God if He wants to teach us something through the situation in our lives or in the world, but He does not owe us explanations for everything. Father Cavanaugh explains to Rudy (in the "movified" story of an aspiring football player, 1993), "In thirty-five years of religious study, I have only come up with two hard, incontrovertible facts: there is a God and I'm not Him."

We're not God. And aren't you glad?

MaryMartha


Related posts:
What Job Learned about Reasons (here)
Is There a Reason for Everything? (here)
Reconciling (here)

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