Expectations for 2012

Another year of reading through the Bible finishes with Zechariah and Revelation! Hallelujah! He has a plan that finishes well. Since my emphasis in reading this year was to mark every place that teaches the Sovereignty of God, you can only imagine how marked up my One Year Bible is. But, the point is that I have been thinking back over all that has happened in just this one year and praising God that He is sovereign over all.

Psa 31:15 in NLT says "My future is in your hands." Looking back to record heat in Oklahoma leaving drought conditions, the tsunami/earthquake in Japan, terrible tornadoes in the Southern states, a godly friend being murdered, prayer lists of many suffering with various diseases, economic instability in many countries, and even the dismantling of dictators in Egypt and Libya, I am extremely encouraged by the truth that God is sovereign and my future is in HIS hands!!

Since I joined the ranks of Senior citizens on Medicare, along with my other Beginner Baby Boomers of 1946, the reality of "life is short" hits home a bit more emphatically. But the same breath of any sense of life closing in on me is counterbalanced with a deepening sense and awe of my friendship and fulfillment in Christ. Experiencing His Presence ~ the one true God who is our strong one, all-powerful, exalted above all ~ brings such depth of peace amidst a troubling world that I truly delight in the thought of what He has for me in this next year of 2012. (After all, wasn't it only a couple of years ago everyone was panicked by Y-2K????)

Psa 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." That verse hung on the walls of the homes where I grew up. Every time we moved, that framed reminder was hung in a prominent place. Those words were embedded in my mind before I was even aware of what they meant. And a second bedrock verse for me as a child was Psa 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in You." No wonder I live in the place of what the Psalmist said in 112:7.."(S)he does not fear bad news nor live in dread of what may happen; for (s)he is settled in her mind that Jehovah will take care of her."

And because "Our God sits in the heavens and He does as He wishes." (Psa 115:3), I can with joy and non-defensively proclaim "My future is in Your hands!" Don't let me set my heart --my basic expectations-- on anything less than You in 2012!!

The American Christmas

All... thought you would appreciate this; nothing funny or political. Just a thoughtful approach for an American Christmas!

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor! This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.

Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamin’s on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand

Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or a babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Oswald Says SO!

This morning I was reading "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers once again. And I was struck by what he said as coinciding with what I have been trying to communicate with all that Monty and I have been experiencing these past three years.

I quote: "The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things--tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. The saint never knows the joy of the LORD in spite of tribulation, but because of it--'I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation,' says Paul."

RO 8:37 "Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

Rejoice In The Lord

One of the greatest blessings in my life has been learning to live in the reality of Phil 4:4..... Paul's inspired words of exhortation to "Rejoice in the Lord always."! Years of life experiences have afforded me innumerable opportunities to "trust and obey" this verse over and over and thus receive the freedom that comes from such truth!

Many of you know the journey God has been orchestrating for Monty and me the past three years with the many visits to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. In fact, it was exactly three years ago last week. There were many days/nights when we found ourselves saying goodbye to one another and still finding ourselves rejoicing in the Lord for His faithfulness to us, making His Presence known to us with His peace and comfort..

Well, this past episode of three hospitalizations in a month has been no exception to that experience. And so after hearing some encouraging news yesterday from the Heart Failure Specialist it is not surprising that our response would have been to "Rejoice in the Lord!". Rejoicing in Him and His faithfulness has become our way of life.

The good news is that Monty is doing better because the AV Node ablation that was done two months ago. He's better than he has been in several months! His ventricles are being 100% paced which is giving him a more consistent beat. Instead of giving him a prescription for another medicine, he gave him one for physical therapy which will help him in strengthening and in balance and coordination!!

So, I joyfully share this with the many of you who have been faithfully praying for us throughout this journey! You, too, may also Rejoice in the Lord!

Directing My Steps

Once again the urge to put in writing what I have been experiencing of late has overtaken me. It is not clear at this point exactly which direction I will be taking, and so the last thing I will do is title this post.

I think I need to say that I am a bit surprised at the response of people to my reaction to the serious decline in Monty's health. Some seem to be worried that I am not dealing with my emotions honestly and am stuffing. However, the opposite is true. In fact, it has been our mode of communication pretty much the whole of our 44 years of marriage to talk openly and bluntly about our circumstances, no matter how difficult it might be.

As many of you know, Monty had a serious heart attack, with 6 other heart events in the following days almost three years ago. (Feb 27-Mar 11, 2008 - see previous posts for details.) Since that time we have been so blessed by God's grace in allowing us to do some amazing things: hike up and repel down a cliff, hike throughout the Tetons in Jackson, WY, Yellowstone, and even take a trip to Spain. In and around all of this also have been frequent trips to the Heart Hospital because of various setbacks and crises that needed one procedure or another(14 times). And through all of this, we have both accepted the fact that God is sovereign over the day of our death as much as the day of our birth.
Well, back to the issue at hand................we are in the Heart Hospital once again (the 15th time). His health was declining rapidly in recent weeks and more specifically in the past 7-10 days before we came in here on Thursday (Jan.6). He had admitted to me that he felt like his life was on a rheostat and that someone was turning the lights off.................that his life was just being drained out of him. It was not only his own observation of how he felt, but all of us around him saw the visual manifestations of his deterioration.

When people would ask me how I was doing, some would have a look of disbelief when I said "I am fine, doing very well!" It was as though they think I am in denial of our situation and how serious it is. [A friend (who believes me) recently asked me what kind of response I get from people when I tell them that.] But, the reality is that I am exactly as I should be after walking intimately with Jesus for nearly 50 years. Throughout these years, confidence in Him grew such that “we do not live in dread nor fear bad news, for we know that our Jehovah will take care of us.” (Psa 112:7)

And, in fact, Monty loves to take every opportunity the LORD gives him to tell others that he does not fear death but actually looks forward to what the LORD has in store for him. His confidence is in all that Jesus has done for him, in him and through him. And that sometimes takes some doctors aback!! I admire so much Monty's integrity and openness to talk with me about our situation and all that is happening to me as it happens to him. I have a friend whose husband has had multiple physical changes that have deteriorated his capacity to function in many ways, which has been hard enough. But the worst part for her has been that he doesn't communicate with her about it all.

Today when he was sleeping the chaplain came and visited with me about his situation and how I was doing, counseling me to be sure to take care of myself and not be afraid to cry or show emotions (which I interpreted to mean breakdown whenever someone talks to me about his dying.) Well, after I went back in my ancient history and shared with her how God has prepared me for such a time as this throughout my life, holding Monty, our children, our grandchildren with an open hand…………..so that He doesn’t have to pry my fingers open to release them. I sensed that she doubted at first that I really had a handle on the reality of the seriousness of all of this……………..but by the time she left, God had allowed me the privilege of sharing with her my confidence in him. So, tapping my arm gently as she was leaving, she added that she thought I would be fine.

That was well and good, but my assurance and peace and joy do not come from the affirmations of others. It comes from years of believing and living Pr 3:5&6.
Today I read in My Utmost For His Highest, by Oswald Chambers: “It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to step more intimately with Him………… When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Jesus. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that Our LORD gives to those who are intimate with Him.”

I am “trusting in the LORD with ALL my heart and not leaning on my own understanding; in all my ways, I am acknowledging Him (making Christ known). And He is directing my steps.”

In the Name of the LORD

Studying the Gospel of John this semester has been such a blessing to me!! I love how truth that I thought I have "learned" in the past takes on a new value and even a new facet when observed again and again. Such has been the case this past week while working on John 5. The opposition against Jesus started because He was doing something that the religious people thought was "irreligious". When questioned about it, Jesus gave them some new things to learn. They, the religious leaders, couldn't get it. Most "religious people" don't get it.

For many years in my Christian walk, I didn't get it either. I thought "I" had to do what God had commanded. I thought that was what made me a "good Christian". I had made it about me!!! When Jesus answered them when they questioned Him about healing the lame man on the Sabbath, they didn't get it. They would NEVER break the Sabbath. That would be not doing what God had commanded.

Now, I knew that Jesus was my example, but I always used to say, "But He was GOD!!" I am not and I can't obey the way He did. Well, all of this is to say that He did show us how to obey. Jn 5:19....."The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." There it is. It isn't that Jesus wasn't capable of doing anything on His own. He is God. So obviously, He could have done anything on His own. BUT He chose to cooperate fully with the Father, doing, going, working only as the Father worked through Him. Later, Jesus states it in vs 43..."I have come in My Father's name....."!

Jn 5:17 tells them the reason He healed on the Sabbath and told the man to take his pallet and walk was because the Father was working through the Son, Who was in complete surrender to His Father. It was the Father's will that the lame man be healed on the Sabbath. IT is His authority that Jesus obeyed, even when it didn't look right to anyone else. In other words, He and His Father were in total cooperation. This is what it means to do something "in the name of God". The LORD Jesus is driving home the point to us that when we do something in God's name, we are fully cooperative with God. Whatever we do will look like, act like, smell like, be like Him because He is the One in control of our lives.

And that can only happen when we are in a covenant relationship with Jesus. Then as Jesus was to the Father, submissive to Him, in full cooperation with Him and His initiative, so are we to Jesus. Jn 5:30 Jesus tells us that He allowed the Father to initiate and He cooperated 100% with the Father. And then as the Father was to Jesus, so Jesus is to us. He does His work through us as we are fully cooperative with Him. Mt 11:28-29 comes to mind as describing this kind of relationship with Jesus. IT is a rest when I let God initiate and I cooperate. He is leading the "yoke" and I am cooperating with Him. "My sheep hear MY voice and they follow ME."

I think that for far too many years, I was following a lot of other voices that were telling me what I was supposed to be doing for God "as a good Christian should"! I was abiding.....in my works-oriented flesh! And not in the True Vine!! It had man's glory tagged all over it and not His glory.

Here is a great quote from Wayne Barber: "Jesus said, 'I have come in the name of My Father'. Now the thing that grabs me about Jesus, equal to the Father. He never was anything less than God.....lived as if He was never anything more than man....but submissive to the will of His Father. He had chosen to live this way! Why? It's so you and I could understand what it is like to live the Christian life. You see, the Father continues to initiate. But now He communicates to us what that will is and through the power of the Spirit, He enables us to do whatever God tells us to do."

I think the thing that amazes me the most is that so many believers in the LORD Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Christ, God in flesh, Who came that we might have everlasting life in Him think that they can do something to either keep this salvation going or lose it!!! It is so obviously ALL of His grace and none of me!! Praise His name!! Eph 2:8-10. Go "in the name of the LORD"!

Writing

I am learning some things about myself, especially the last few days. I used to think I could write. It began nearly fifty years ago when I was a young teen-ager, or maybe even before that, when I first started keeping a diary.

But, recently I have come to see that I am not really a "writer". Oh, that doesn't mean that I don't write.......because I do and I have most of my life. But the past few days I went off to a cabin at a lake to work on a book........a biography of a one-of-a-kind saint. She was such a rare person and I miss her a lot. She turned 95 on June 28 and then went "home" to her many friends and family who have been waiting a long time for her to get there. But mostly, she is with the One she longed to see..........pretty much all of her life.....her precious LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Back to my point about not being a writer! I have discovered that it is not very easy to put down words on a paper that adequately equate an amazing woman who did it right!! Lived well. Loved well. Finished well. I found it much harder than I imagined it would be to tell her story/stories.....many of which I knew so well. The right words eluded me when I tried to described her sweetness, her kindness to all, her joyfulness and her thankful heart. It is clear in my mind....because I saw it and experienced those attributes in various settings with her.

I think I had some self-deception about being able to just write what I knew and thought and loved about her. A writer ought to be able to do that!!

"Have you praised the LORD today?"

The other day I was visiting with my dear friend, whom I treasure and am so blessed to know. Kay Larsen (I have mentioned her before is previous posts) will be 95 tomorrow. The LORD willing, a few of us are going to take her out to lunch for her favorite............lamb........and to celebrate her life. And when we were visiting last time that day, the conversation went to the LORD and His goodness, as it often does with her.

Our hearts are knit together and all the more when we talk about worshiping, praising, exalting, & honoring the LORD all the day. It is so humbling to me that she allows me the privilege of writing her story and visiting with her about her life, humbling because she walks so closely to the LORD and is always concerned about others knowing and enjoying Him like she does. She is about her Father's business................much like Jesus was all the days of His life. As we were dialoguing about being an anbassador for His kingdom, the subject came up about why don't people praise Him instead of complain about what He is or isn't doing!!

And typically, our conversation went to His amazing grace and incredible gift of salvation that cost Him greatly. As we continued in this deep conversation, a mutual friend came by to see her. He, not knowing anything about our conversation, proceeded to share with me that Kay taught him to praise the LORD. He so humbly spoke about the times he would struggle with worry or depression and would talk to Kay and her question to him was, "_______, have you praised the LORD today?" And with a chagrin, he sadly admitted that he had not. After a few times of this kind of brief conversation with her (many years ago), he began to make praising the LORD a habit of his day. His worries lessened, his bouts of depression diminshed or were very short-lived, and his heart was renewed day by day! With such deep affection and appreciation for her, he leaned over and kissed her forehead, patted her on the cheek and told her how much she had done for him.

Kay never in a million years would have told me that story, but the LORD wanted me to hear it........first-hand!! It was the visual aid to the very conversation we were having, which was "Why in the world, do Christians not get it!! That it is all about praising the LORD!!!"

So, I ask you.............."Have you praised the LORD today?"

Help, LORD!

Recently, well in the past several months at least, a recurring theme in conversations with other believers has been how hard things are. So many are struggling more than in years past...........and in many different arenas.

For some it is focused in finances, especially job related......so many out of work and looking for something!! Anything!!! For others, it is the cost of living going up but not the income.

Another common thread is that of aging parents and all of the many issues that come with that, not the least of which is relocation for them??!!! There are so many questions raised and very few, if any, easy answers. How did it happen that we now see "retirement VILLAGES......nursing HOMES...........senior COMMUNITIES" on corners and blocks everywhere we turn? I have no idea the amount of monies going into this "Senior" industry, but it must be huge!!

Often the discussions are centered on hard health issues, either personal ones, or spouse, or children, or other loved ones, or friends' loved ones. So much more common now than I remember even 10-15 years ago!!! This often becomes a financial burden, as well.

But, one topic in common that I am hearing most often is the longing for heaven and deliverance from the on-going and worsening reports of evil throughout the world. The personal spiritual battles of the mind and heart, longing to trust God and have peace, but finding that to be so difficult under the pressures and stresses of life.

But one only has to read consistently in Scripture to find a common bond with the saints of old who also were longing for His Peace, His deliverance, His joy, His comfort in the midst of trials and tribulations!! Of course, it would be that way. Human nature has not changed since the Garden of Eden became off-limits because of sin.

David set a great example for us in Psalm 12:1 when he prayed, "Help, LORD!". When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help. But at the same time, he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. The psalmist runs straight to his God with a well-considered prayer.

LORD, teach me.....teach us ....to pray in the same blessed manner. Am I not saying..."LORD, I trust you! Lord, I need You! LORD, You are the Sovereign One!"? In fact, in all cases, times and places, "Help, LORD!" will suit us....... living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him, our help is found.

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered through Jesus. The LORD's character assures us that He will not leave His people. His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing...........so Paul tells us in Ro 8:32 "He, who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?"

I look up unto the hills.............my HELP comes from the LORD!!

Address

Location!!! Location!! Location!!

Being the daughter of a realtor since I was about 11 and then the wife of one since I was.........oh, considerably older than 11..........it has been drilled into my head this little saying!! Well, it applies not only to the purchasing of a home for our families, wanting to makes sure they are in a safe place, with the "right" school, stores, neighbors, etc..

We want it to be a good investment for the future, should we need to relocate for various reasons! But, it also applies to our ultimate location.........for eternity!!

Now, that is of far greater consequence if the decision is not carefully made. Do you remember the time you first were asked if you wanted to go to heaven?? I remember it so well? I was FIVE!!!!

It wasn't like my parents asking me if I wanted to go to the park...........or if I wanted to go and get some ice cream........or even if I wanted to go swimming at the neighborhood park!!??? That was a really big question!! It was a question about LOCATION! Location!! LOCATION!! And at the age of five, it seemed to me that it was my decision to make!!

Now, without wanting to get into a deep theological discussion about Who was really asking me that question and Who was really going to determine my destination, as a five year old child, the answer was a no-brainer. I wanted to go to heaven. And I even thought it was okay if I went there right then.

Well, here I am, not quite six decades later, and my answer is still the same that it was that day!! I want to go to heaven and today would be fine!! Didn't Jesus say that unless we have the faith of a little child, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven??

How I praise Him for giving to me by His grace that kind of faith! How thankful I am that for all of these years, He.....the One Who is able to keep me and present me faultless before Him........has been faithful to me.

Oh, the joy of KNOWING that if I died today, I know for certain that because of Jesus Christ and His death in my place, I am going to relocate in heaven!!

Location!! Location!! Location!! DO you know where your final move will be??

Thankfulness

I haven't posted much in such a long time, and now it seems like the urge to write is constant in me. As I have written about tribulations, I see the deep need to connect the concept of thankfulness. I am coming to the place where I see more clearly that if we are not able to express thankfulness to God then that is a sign of not trusting Him fully.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:18
Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Heb 12:28

If we say that we are Christians, then we are saying that we honor, revere, worship, adore, exalt, esteem, hold high the reputation of Jesus Christ. But if we grumble and complain about every trial and tribulation of life, we contradict our proclamation of esteeming Him as LORD. Every time we thank Him, we acknowledge that He is our LORD and Provider, which is the proper stance for a child of God............receiving with thanksgiving.

It is, in fact, the mundane, chronic, persistent trials of day to day living that war against our souls that often find us murmuring and complaining rather than giving thanks. It reminds me of the passage in James 3 about the tongue that I find in vs 10 in the Phillip's translation: "Blessings and curses come out of the same mouth--surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that NEVER ought to happen!" It goes on to say "Have you ever known a spring to give sweet and bitter water from the same source?"

It makes me want to say. "Have I ever grumbled...... murmured and trusted God at the same time?" Can't happen!!! Thanksgiving and trusting God go hand in hand!!

Through Many Tribulations!

"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Acts 14:22b

Recommended Reading Romans 8:18-19

"When seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong became the world's most famous cyclist, his consecutive victories--the most in history--were made sweet by what preceded them: a bout with cancer. Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, cancer that had already spread to his brain and lungs, Armstrong dropped out of cycling to fight his disease. He returned to cycling and won the Tour de France for seven straight years (1999-2005).

Armstrong's greatest years as an athlete--and now a worldwide advocate for cancer research--were preceded by the most difficult years of his life. His experience illustrates a universal, and biblical, principle: the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory. In fact, the apostle Paul put it this way: entry to the kingdom of God is always accompanied by "many tribulations" (Acts 14:22b). Those who enter the kingdom of God by way of the coming Tribulation will echo Paul's words while praising the God who made their salvation possible (Revelation 7:9-14).

If you're experiencing a trial right now, recognize its ultimate outcome: a deeper dependence upon God and gratefulness for your victory in Christ.

There can be no victory where there is no combat"

Those are not my words........they were in a devotional today by David Jeremiah!!! But they are my words indirectly. By that, I mean AMEN. It is what I was going to say in this blog that has been stirring in my head and heart for a couple of weeks, but then there it was already written out for me.

A small group of wonderful, godly friends and I have been meeting for almost four years now on Monday evenings. We are truly kindred spirits, soul-mates, iron sharpening iron. The trials that have been and are still being endured, just within our small group, have been amazing. It has varied in intensity, in specific uniqueness to each person, in length of time...............but mostly the desired out come has been a depth of trusting God that was not there before the testings came.

I don't mean to hint at all that we weren't trusting God before, but the surety of what that looks like is becoming more and more obvious. We can see it in each other, as well as in ourselves. It is the visible kingdom of God that comes through TRUSTING GOD in tribulations.

Spiritual Growth ....."Hand-crafted"

"Growth is hand-crafted, not mass-produced!" by John Ortberg

Rachel, our youngest daughter, recently shared this statement with us from one of her podcasts she hears when she runs her training for the upcoming marathon.

You know how it is when you get the right words at the right moment............you just want to savor it for awhile and let it soak in. We are in a perfect visual aid of such a statement once again. And it revolves around the Heart Hospital and all that entails for the whole family. If you have read my blog at all for the past couple of years, you are well aware that God hand-crafted some growth in all of us through Monty's 7 heart events in 7 days almost 2 years ago.....February 24, 2008.

Let me bring you up to speed, if you haven't known what has been going on recently. In December, Monty went in for his 6-month check-up, which included the ejection fraction test of the output of his heart..........the efficiency of the beat. Since he had been working out 3-4 times a week and working fulltime and feeling really good, he was so excited to hear a good report that his % had improved from the last one. But, in fact, the very opposite happened............it was worse. Not only that, but they were concerned and were recommending he get a defibrillator and pacemaker with the goal of it saving his life if he began having signs of another heart attack. But, against the advice of all three doctors, that didn't stop Monty from going skiing as planned when we all went to CO for Christmas!! I did mention that he was not feeling badly at all, didn't I?

Talk about "hand-crafted growth"!! God was getting ready to use all of this in each of our lives over the next several weeks. The short version of it all is that after some scheduling and medicine adjustments, the device was put in on January 19.......with an overnight stay and some various restrictions for the following four weeks. Then typical of Monty's "hand-crafted body" he didn't handle it very well and went into atrial flutters where he felt like his heart was pounding and racing all of the time, making him feel as though he had run a marathon every day!! He had no energy and was exhausted all of the time.

So once again, more meds to try to get his blood thin enough to keep him from clotting and having a stroke, which is one of the major dangers with atrial flutter. The decision was made that he needed cardio-version.........shock treatment..........to try to get him into sinus (normal) rhythm. But first they had to go through his esophagus and ultra-sound his heart, looking for any clots in the heart, making sure it was safe to shock his heart. This was done this past Monday, February 15, 2010. Within 2 1/2 hours we were back home with the report that he was in sinus rhythm, but that his heart was trying to pace itself, also, along with the pacemaker. With another medicine (that he had been on before for atrial flutter) the dr. was confident that he would settle down into sinus rhythm.

However, "his hand-crafted" uniquely-made body has not responded "normally" to anything done to him thus far. This was no different. Within a short time, Monty could feel once again the racing heartbeat and was not feeling very well. To complicate matters we had four of our grandchildren spending the night. Around 10:00, he began coughing a lot and getting very wheezy and short of breath. He came to bed and after checking his rhythm and blood pressure, debating for an hour whether we should go in or not, we decided he was getting worse quickly. By 11:30, our son Philip, had come over to stay with the children and Monty and I were in the ER. Sure enough, his lungs had filled up and he had pulmonary edema, commonly known as congestive heart failure.

So, after finally getting to a room about 1:00, the long night had begun of pulling the fluid off of him. The Father's "hand-crafted-growth" was taking place in all of us as this week has progressed and Monty's flutters have persisted, despite the variations in types and amounts of medications. The fluid is clearing up and so he is feeling much better. As of now (Thursday night), if he has not converted by the morning, the doctors are thinking of shocking him again. We each find that God is doing much in each one of us to show Himself to us and remind us that He is our peace.

Monty and I know that we are here for reasons far beyond the obvious.........his physical condition.................and that He is giving many around us the opportunity to see how we, His uniquely-hand-crafted-children, handle the hard things in life. All of us are experiencing the same trial, but from different stages of spiritual growth. So, learning afresh the truth of Ortberg's statement.....one trial, but the growth is not mass-produced......but rather hand-crafted!!

A New Year 2010

It may be a New Year to us, but to God, there are no surprises!! It is not "new" to Him!! It is kind of like there is no new water............it is all just recycled!!

Sometimes I think New Year resolutions are like that!! They are the same ones just recycled!! I was thinking about a lot of things from the past years of "New" things I wanted to do or old things I wanted to improve...........recycle, if you will!! And I wondered if posting blogs are a thing of the past for me.

Halfway through the year, this past year, I stopped journaling............for the first time in probably 40+ years!!! I just stopped! Cold turkey!! And now that it is January 1st, I am wondering if I am going to recycle and start in again with a "habit" or a "discipline" I felt called to do many years ago and continued to do for decades.

Everyone is talking about decades right now.......probably because we are entering today the end of the first decade of the new millenium and people are searching for ways to define the past 9 years actually, even though many are calling it a decade!! Is it because we live such fast paced lives now with iPods, iPhones, iTouch, etc. that did not even exist 10 years ago? Possibly!! ???

Or, I am wondering if it isn't more than that............deeper than that. I just put up my new favorite calendar made by Cindy Grubb which I have bought for the past 16 years (at least that is how many I have in my cabinet). As I read through the verses for this year and wrote in the special birthdays, anniversaries of weddings, deaths, memorable events, I was struck by how fleeting life is. It is but a vapor.................a dash on a tombstone between the year of birth and the year of death. BUT the GIFT of God is ETERNAL!!!!

So, whether or not I recycle my discipline of writing my prayers in a journal every day, whether or not I keep in touch with others on Facebook, iPhones, email, snail mail............or face to face ........I need to make sure it is about something that has eternal value!! It must be something that lasts!! Only two things on this earth will last beyond this earth: The Word of God and the souls of people!! It's pretty clear to me what will be my recycled resolution: His Word and people and doing my part to see that those two things intersect whenever and wherever I can!!

Have a Blessed New Year!!

Faith-Rest

Last week-end I attended a conference here in OKC called Deeper Still, featuring Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer along with Travis Cottrell, who was the worship leader in music. My first response is that I remember that I am not "1-of-a-9,000-women-conference-person". Not that they weren't all great..........just I guess I am not that crazy about crowds and finding parking when the Thunder was playing Celtics right across the street!!! YUCK!!!

But, with that said, I have been thinking about much that was said there. And just this week, I have been able to share it or pray about it with so many in difficult situations: no job, possibility of a growth being malignant, infertility issues, tragic murder of a close friend's family members, possible divorce, elderly parents, step-parenting issues.........to name a few!!

This is such a fallen world........the whole system and all of its influences. The wonder of all of this is that God does care, does listen, is full of lovingkindnesses to us that are new every morning...... not leftovers from some other day, goes through the fires with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. I am often blown away when I reflect on how blessed we are as His beloved children to have His very life within us to grant us the power and the peace that truly does surpass comprehension ........yes, and even apprehension.

One thing Kay Arthur said at the conference that I have pondered is "Rest is the activity of faith"!! I am thinking about the many times, when in a difficult situation, the first response is to fret not rest..........to resist not rest.........to complain not rest.........to get angry not rest. It is usually everything but rest that we do.

So, in actuality, that means, according to the inspired writer to the Hebrews, we do not believe God!! So, dear ones, based upon that fresh "refresher", I want to encourage you to put your faith to action and rest!!! Believe Him and rest!! As a group of us, who have been studying Jerry Bridges' Trusting God, have said many times to each other, it is all about His glory..........not our convenience nor our comfort.

We can help those who are hurting by interceding on their behalf that he or she can rest in His peace. We can fight the battles for each other at the feet of Jesus, on our knees, praying that their hearts and minds will be flooded with His peace, which Ephesians 2:14 tells us is Him...... HE is our Peace!! I just want to keep encouraging you to look to Jesus..........gaze not glance at Jesus.........allowing Him to give you that rest.

What To Do?

I have just in the last 12 hours read/heard about the Manhattan Declaration. When it comes to me so forthrightly in two separate ways, I really try to pay attention. The first time was enough, I thought, and has made me prayerful about my place in it all. But, just now, I happened to have 30 minutes free in the car and listened to Chuck Colson on Focus on the Family with James Dobson.

So, I put this on Facebook just now, but I realized some of you are not on it and might want to know. Many of us are really concerned about the direction our country is heading and yet wonder "What can I do?"....."What should I do?".....which is really "God, what do You want me to do, if anything?" For me, this new information has given me food for thought, especially after listening to Chuck clarify some things.

I invite you to read through this document and listen to the discussion. Then talk to God about what He would have you to do.

Amazing Life

"Life sometimes gets so bogged down in the details, you forget you are living it."

I remember this quote from a book I read last summer. When I was preparing for teaching my Bible study this week, I realized that my living recently could be described that way. It was not an "Aha!" moment as much as an "Oh no!" moment. How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!

What I was studying was Eph 2:11-22. My overwhelming wonder was in the phrase Paul wanted those Ephesian Gentile believers to "know about the exceeding greatness of God's power toward them" (1:15-23) was that "HE (Jesus) IS our peace"!!

We never really truly realize the greatness of God's power until we realize the greatness of the obstacles which that power has overcome. Many people today are not amazed at the Christian salvation. They see nothing at all in it; nothing astonishing!! Why? because they have never realized the problem, because they are ignorant of sin, and know nothing about the wrath. of God. They do not realize the nature of these obstacles and problems. Not only was there the obstacle of their sin, which separated them from God, but also their "state" of being excluded and strangers from the covenant of promise and were without God in the world and without hope (Eph2). Honestly, is that not the condition of all of us?

The long and short of it: Ephesians 2:14...For He Himself is our peace.

"For" connects this statement to what has gone on before. This One by whose blood we have been made nigh IS OUR PEACE!! This is one of the most glorious things that is said about the LORD Jesus Christ anywhere. Of all the terms and titles applied to Him there is none more wonderful than this. HE is our Peace.

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now that God of peace, who brought up from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen

There it is!! God is the 'God of peace'. That is a very good way of thinking of salvation; we are saved, we are Christians, simply because God is a 'God of peace'. Everything is really the result of that.

I have been reading through the Gospels the past few days. Remember when one day someone came to Him and said, 'Master, which is the first, the greatest of all the commandments:' And this was His reply: 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. That is the first and the greatest commandment. And the 2nd is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

The important thing to notice is the order: First, the relationship to God; second, the relationship to your fellow man. The whole tragedy of the modern world is due to the fact that the first is entirely left out and men think you can start with the second. Man is not recognizing God, not starting with God, not submitting to God and is trying to reconcile himself to his fellow man. And of course he is not succeeding; he never can succeed.

That is the background to Paul's statement here! 'He is our peace!' Christ alone is our peace. There is no peace apart from Him. we must be in Christ before we can enjoy the blessings of God as the God of peace.

And so, after pondering the wonderful message Paul wrote to those Ephesian Gentile believers who had probably gotten bogged down in the details of life and needed a lift to the "Alps of the NT", and pouring over the writings of D. Martin Lloyd Jones on this passage.........I asked myself.......... "How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!

Out of the Blue

Do you wonder where a saying like...."out of the blue" comes from? Well, this is not that explanation, but more an example of what it might mean. It is that I received a call recently from somewhere out there from a long-ago friend who is coming "back here" and would like to see Monty and me.

I am just so excited that we were still on the radar for them to call us........"out of the blue"!! We just hung up after finally being able to talk voice to voice.......... you know what that means.......not on email, not on voicemail, not even snail mail!!! What a pleasant time of reunion. In fact, we are going to have a party when they come so others can enjoy them as much as we will.

Our connection goes back over 20 years ago when they were here raising their family and we were the children's youth leaders. And it has probably been over 10 years since we last saw each other. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity for us to share the goodness of the LORD and how He has graciously carried us through the inevitable trials of life.

So now.....back to "out of the blue"!! This is a reminder that one day we will be out in the blue and sharing all sorts of stories about the gracious, lovingkindness of the LORD, praising Him for He is worthy.

Sex....Now that I have your attention...read on!

Reading the Proverbs recently in the older version of The Living Bible has been such a blessing to me. I know that it has probably been 30 years since I have read the Bible in this particular version. I have given the Student Application Living Bible to high school and college graduates for many years, but decided I probably needed to read it for myself............to see if I really like what I had been giving away.

What a blessing it has been!! The notes added alongside on almost every page have been great and are still applicable to young people today. You know, the Truth never changes.

Well, back to the Proverbs. I am sure I have a heightened awareness to the verses that warn about sexual immorality so much because of the blatant lies of the enemy to young people today. We had worked with young people in our local church for 35 years. And much to our disappointment we were finding in the most recent years of ministry the onslaught of porn, sexual promiscuity and the like had increased exponentially as compared with the previous 25 years.

So, when I have come upon verses like Pr 22:14 "A prostitute is a dangerous trap; those cursed of God are caught in it"...........I stop and ponder a little longer than I would have 10-15 years ago. I scanned over many other Proverbs with similar warnings: "For a prostitute will bring a man to poverty, and an adulteress may cost him his very life. Can a man hold fire against his chest and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who commits adultery with another's wife. He shall not go unpunished for this sin. ....But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool for he destroys his own soul. Wound and constant disgrace are his lot."

I want to put in here one of the Life Application points about all of this. "Sexual sin is a temptation we cannot escape. In movies and on television, sex outside of marriage is treated as a normal--even desirable--part of life, while marriage is often shown as confining and joyless. We can even be looked down upon by others if suspected of being pure. But God does not forbid sexual sin just to be difficult. He knows its power to destroy us physically and spiritually. No one shoud underestimate the power of sexual sin. It has devastated coutless lives and destroyed families, communities, and even nations. God wants to protect us from damaging ourselves and others, so he offers to fill us--our loneliness, our desires--with Himself."

I had lunch today with my daughter who was telling me about Nightline last night, which she happened to see for the first time ever. They are doing a special on the 10 Commandments in the OT (which everybody in this country has heard of in one way or another!!). Anyway, she was telling about the panel who were expressing their "open" marriage that allowed them to have affairs, which is okay since they are open about it. The man even has a business of setting people up for "safe" affairs and he profits from it..........earns a living doing so. However, they also had Ed Young, Jr, a pastor in Tx and his congregation to give the truth about how devestating affairs are to families. Men told how they lost their families and are continuing to pay the price............children told how horrible it was for them, etc.

So, I guess I just had to get this down in written form because I, too, have seen the destruction that comes to people when they choose to allow their sexual lust dictate "the rest of the story"......rather than using self-control and following purity for peace, joy and lasting relationships. Dear friends reading this.............please heed the warnings Scripture clearly gives. God is not kidding!!!

P.S. One final thought: I know the idea sexual immorality conveyed often is about "adultery" which technically means sex with another man's wife or another woman's husband. Just think about this, young man....if you are not married and think it is okay to have sex now and it is not adultery......well, whose wife will she someday be??? Probably not yours!! So she is another man's wife. OR, young lady, whose husband will he someday be? Probably not yours!! So he is another woman's husband. So it is adultery, even if you aren't married yet!!! And, if you are going to marry that person someday and you think it is okay............ what makes you so sure one of you won't think it's okay later to have sex with someone else "because you 'can't wait'"?

Be Happy!

For the many years Monty and I spent training our four children to become respectable citizens of our home, the community, our country, the world...........I often wished that my words had more power than they actually did. Over and over I longed for the words "Be Happy!" to be magical in that they produced the product I desired...........happiness for my children.

Well, as you know so well, happiness is a choice and cannot be imposed upon another human being, but can only be brought about by the decision of each person. You probably have often heard, as have I, that happiness is happenstance, and depends upon the circumstance that is most agreeable to the individual. Unhappy circumstance, unhappy person!! Right??

Well, watch this for a little challenge to your thinking. I have seen this video several times and am always touched by his always-timely message.