His Love

     I have been amazed at God's love for His children again and again. He obviously watches over us from on high and truly wants the best for us. He cares so much that He gives us things we in no way can ever deserve.
    This last Christmas the Sewing Circle offered to sew dresses for the teachers in preparation for the annual Christmas activities. I was delighted, for Christmas is one of the busiest, most stressful times in a teacher's life. However, when was I to find a spare hour to cut out dresses? I wasn't even sure I had any suitable fabric.
    As I pawed through the stash on my shelf, a bag caught my eye where I sometimes store sewing supplies. I took it from the shelf and opened it, supposing I would find patterns and scissors inside. I could hardly believe what I found! Inside, neatly folded, were the pieces to a dress I had cut out over the summer, ran out of time to sew, and promptly forgotten about once the school year started. It was even in Christmas-y colors! A feeling of overwhelming love swept over me. My heart whispered a thank you to God for this testimony of His love for His child.
    Another day filled with its own stresses is also held precious in my heart. The few short days of the week in no way seemed long enough to afford the time I needed to prepare for a business trip to a different state. Only a few days before my departure, I received a message from the gentleman making arrangements. Due to circumstances, would I be able to push the trip to a later date? My heart was filled with wonder and my eyes with tears as I recognized God's intervention on my behalf. The thankfulness that welled up in my heart was compounded because of the unworthiness I felt.
    You see, it was only the night before I had failed my Savior. I had completely disregarded His prompting and taken my own way in a certain matter. I had been struggling, seeking to draw nearer Him, begging for Him to accept me as a prodigal child, and now He had killed the fatted calf. I was overwhelmed with feasting on His love. 
    There are skeptics who say God does not work in their lives like that. Maybe He cares, but He certainly doesn't show it so clearly! Search for the moments. I am certain you will find them, those unexpected blessings you are tempted to call luck and the way things worked out that left you feeling relieved. Those are the places where God's hand is being displayed in your life, too.
    Sometimes you and I are afraid to accept the true scope of God's love. If I really believe He loves me so much that He will supply me with a dress already cut out or a change of travel dates, I must also believe He cares about the little things in my life I would like to hide from Him. I must believe that it is His grace that covers my failings and not my perfection. In many ways, I find that in accepting His love, there is also a calling to give even more of myself to Him.
    Sometimes we are afraid to see the depth of God's love because we are afraid of the depths to which His love will lead us. Do not fear! The blessing of letting Him in, of accepting His love and tearing down the walls you have built, will lead you into a place of freedom you may not even be aware exists. Don't hesitate. Open your heart. His arms are waiting.

Being Vulnerable About Videos

    My heart faints within as I write this post. I am afraid the parents of children I have taught will imagine I am pointing fingers, but I assure you that is not the case. I suppose some of my peers will think I am being legalistic and pious. That is certainly far from fact. Perhaps others will be horrified by what you read here, shocked that a teacher would do something like this. My intent is only to share what God has lain on my heart and what He has had for me to see.

    We had a service one Wednesday evening not long ago on "Cell Phone Use: Establishing Healthy Boundaries." The moderators encouraged everyone to bring real-life experiences, victories as well as how-not-to-do's. "Be vulnerable," they said.
    I was unable to attend, and it's doubtful I would have actually spoken up much if I had been there, but there was an experience that came to rest with sudden clarity on my heart. You all have faced struggles the same as I have, so I am going to do the unthinkable and be very open here where far more people have access to my failures than would have at a simple church service. 
    As time and technology have progressed in a mad rush and we all struggle to stay abreast, there has been an alarming pattern that has emerged. I've heard other teachers mention it, too. Our students come to school day after day with stories they want to share. There is nothing wrong with stories! I love to hear them tell about the important things in their lives. But the stories, more and more often, have a common denominator. Students mention videos they have seen. Sometimes they say they saw it on their dad's phone, or a sibling showed it to them. Perhaps it was a cousin or someone that works for their dad. Occasionally they even admit to sneaking around behind their parents' backs. "It was so funny!" they"ll say. "Did you see that one?" Thankfully, I usually hadn't.
    We teachers, some time in the past, began to become uncomfortable with so much talk about videos, knowing the historic stand our church has taken on television. "What should we do?" we asked the schoolboard. We finally received direction to have them write sentences to take home and get signed by the parents if they spoke too much about things they had watched. It was a very good plan.
    But somehow I just couldn't do it. Not because I was too soft. Oh, no. It was because I, too, was guilty. I didn't talk about watching videos at school, but watch them I certainly did. I comforted myself because they weren't bad videos. Besides, some of them were even educational. Yet I knew, deep inside that I was just making excuses for myself. I couldn't punish my students. I couldn't send sentences home that might be a reproof to their parents. I couldn't make them stop talking about watching videos without condemning myself.
    Slowly, with prayer and searching, I began to gain victories. They were not victories won overnight, neither were they won without some defeats, but with God's help, I found more conviction and grace to overcome. At last I found myself in a place where I could get onto my students with a free conscience because I was living what I preached. No longer did I try to tell them that "We don't watch videos," then go home and find the most fascinating documentary I could. 
    Is my victory perfect? No, of course not, but God is still working on me and I desire ever to stay open to His work. 
    Teachers, parents, youth, fellow Christians, we've got to live what we say we believe. If we are to have any hope of meeting our friends, our children, the prodigals we love in Heaven, we must find the power through Christ to witness to them not only with our words but with our lives.
    It's not just videos. There are many attributes we want those around us to possess. Sometimes we find ourselves shying away from pointing someone to the right path because we know our words don't line up with our actions. Sometimes it frustrates us that we can't get through to our children on a certain issue, when what we really should be looking at is dealing with ourselves first. Has anyone had trouble with a child that loses things because he or she is messy? What about self-denial? Perhaps a few of you understand what it's like to hear critical comments coming from the lips of someone you love and realizing they learned it from you.
    Don't wait until it is too late to make changes! Today we have forgiveness. We have hope. It is painful to admit the failures we see in ourselves. Uprooting old habits isn't any fun, but we can no longer afford to stay neutral and let things slide. The time is over for fun and games, for passing fancies. This is Heaven and Hell. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life."
    That is my desire. To grasp my decision firmly, to take up the cross with gladness, and carry forever in my heart a longing to please God until the day He calls me Home.

David's Captains

    If you ever have a chance, sit down with your Bible and open to 1 Chronicles 11. There you will find the story recorded of the three captains in David's army who fought their way through a host of Philistines in order to bring David a drink.

    These men were pure legends! There aren't a lot of details, but there are enough. One of the captains killed two lion-like men. He also went down into a snowy pit and killed a lion. To top it all off, he fought an Egyptian that the Bible lists as a man of great stature who stood five cubits high, which is about seven and a half feet. He went against this giant armed with only a club, plucked the giant's own spear (which was the size of a weaver's beam) from his hand, and slew him!

    Another of the captains reportedly killed 300 of the enemy single-handedly. The story does not tell us what exploits the third captain experienced, but he, too, is listed as being a man of strength and valor. These are feats worthy of mention. They are of the sort to come within at least a stone's throw of the acts of Samson.

    When I read stories like this, I wonder how my tiny contributions in life can ever count for very much. Another day of making lesson plans and checking papers doesn't exactly put me anywhere near the rank of the three captains. 

    But here's the truth: I don't need to be in that position. The place I've been asked to fill doesn't require the skills needed to defeat 300 enemy soldiers. God has given me other skills, skills that I can use to succeed in whatever place He has set me in. No, I wouldn't be much use fighting a lion in a snowy pit, but I'd like to see that captain painting with a bunch of third and fourth graders!

    Sometimes it's hard to be happy with my skill set. I want more, bigger, better. Yet I must find the humility to be happy within the arena where God has placed me. If I live striving to better a skill I haven't been gifted and don't need for the place I have been given to fill, I am really an utter failure and dishonor to God, no matter how good I become at the thing I've set out to do.

    Often it is our own ideals that get in our way. We subconsciously blame God for not giving us what we imagine we need. Maybe I think if I could only sew well I would be able to be more helpful. Maybe it's cooking that I imagine would put me in a place of service. I've heard people who wish they could sing better, and those who wish they could write better. There are teachers who wish they were more creative and those who wish they were more structured.

    Yes, we may be asked to grow in some areas, and that's OK, but I believe we dishonor God when we complain that we don't have the skills we need. He has promised to give us whatever it is that we need to fill the place He has given us, and we can rest in the fact that His promises are always true.

    May we each find joy, not in striving to accomplish our own ideals, but in fulfilling the plan of our Heavenly Father.

Memories

     A friend sent me a picture a while back along with the question, "Do you remember why this stock photo would make me laugh?" I did. I haven't seen her for years, but that memory sparks a connection and a longing to see her again. There are other memories that have the same effect. Someone probably remembers praying to see pigs. Some of you may recall the out of order poster on the bathroom door that was signed by a variety of famous people. Perhaps there is someone out there that remembers with the same fondness I do a certain character named Sam that liked to sit on the teacherage roof and eat Snickers. And one mustn't forget the dummy in the toilet! What about pterodactyl noises and warthog sightings? Is anyone familiar with being caught decorating a co-teacher's classroom? Or how about making up songs while driving atop the Mississippi River levee? These are my memories, my friends. There are many more. 
    You have friends and memories, too. They probably are slightly different than mine, but you are familiar with the nostalgic rush of emotion, of thinking, "Those were good times! I'd love to see them again!" Time, if allowed, will dull the negative memories. I don't remember so well the bad days I had the first year I taught first, second, and third, (and I know there were some!) but I remember the way my students made me smile. The good memories are where we linger with wistful smiles. When you have a chance to sit with an old friend, you inevitably will bring up the memories. The  "do you remembers" fly thick and fast. Your comradery is revived with the "I had to think about you the other day when..." 
    Then I think about when I sit with the best Friend of all and we talk together. Do I bring up my good memories? Do I spend time thanking Him for all the help He has given me? So often my time is spent complaining or begging for more of this or a bit of that. My conversation is overwhelmed with "I'm so sorry" and "Please help!"
    As I go about my day and temptations leap into view, it's so easy to dwell on the times I've failed instead of remembering the times He has helped me to overcome. I get lost in the web of confusion I weave for myself instead of remembering His gentle light. Yet I call Him my Friend. Would He not be happy for me to dwell on the good memories rather than drowning in the bad? Not that I can't learn from my mistakes, but in order to live as a victor rather than a victim, I need to focus on the victories, not the failures. 
    As I face the challenges of tomorrow, I want to focus on the joy and peace He has given me, the light and direction He has gifted me. I want to anticipate the day I shall get to see Him face to face, sit at His feet, and simply thank Him again and again for all that He has done for me, for He is the best Friend of all.  

Ownership

     Children usually have no problem claiming ownership of things:
    "This is my eraser. I can tell because it has my initials."
    "That's my pencil on her desk!"
    "He has my art! I know because it had the blue spot right there."
    There is nothing that sparks distress quite like being unable to find one's own softball glove, or not knowing what happened to one's own lunch when you know you put it on the tray this morning. "Mine" is probably one of the first words a child learns to say.

    I've been thinking about claiming ownership lately. When we first become Christians, it's a little bit like the day you buy your first car. You can hardly believe that it is true. As you begin to recognize your ownership, you start taking responsibility for maintenance.

    I am struck by the number of verses in the Bible that boldly claim ownership: O Lord, thou art my God (Isaiah 25:1), For thou art my rock and my fortress (Psalm 31:3), O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord (Psalm 16:2), Neither is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2b).

     Sometimes it's more convenient not to claim ownership, like when the spring of a pen is shot across the room and the teacher asks who it belongs to. There are many sheepish students that do not wish to claim that kind of ownership. As adults, we sometimes try to distance ourselves from ownership as well. We don't want the responsibility it brings. We don't want to deny ourselves. It seems difficult to make everything come together.  And so we avoid actively taking possession.

    How differently would things look if we claimed ownership? What if God became "my Father?" Things might stand in a different light if the guidelines of the Church became "my convictions." Perhaps we would find ourselves volunteering more often at a layman's evening or speaking more in Sunday School if we recognized that this was "my Church" and "my faith."

    Let me be clear. I'm not advocating that everyone try to take control and run things how he or she thinks best. My point here is taking responsibility. If I recognize that this wonderful gift of salvation is really mine, I'll take the best care of it I can. I will delve into the Bible, I will support the Church's doctrines, I will be concerned for her future, I will pray for the the ministry to be inspired. I will be completely invested because it is mine.

    Earlier I spoke about children taking ownership. There is an interesting phenomenon that children often display. I'm sure other teachers have noticed it too. If Justin can't find his ruler, there are suddenly five others waving in the air, being offered for his use. As much as children claim ownership, they also want to share their wonderful things with others.

    As we take possession of the gift of salvation and realize the part we play when we take the Church and her doctrines, her joys and her beauties, as our own, our hearts, too, will reach out to others. We will want to share. As we recognize in awe the wondrous blessing we have been bestowed, we will hasten to share it with those around us. Sharing, too, will become part of our responsibility. Not everyone will race off to the opposite side of the globe, but perhaps you will find small ways to share a smile, a kind word, a gift of friendship. There may be days your ownership will lead you to share an experience or a reproof with someone else. Sometimes the challenge may be sharing your time.

    Isn't it ironic that as I strive each day to give my heart and my life more fully to God, I can claim His grace and His Church more and more as mine?  While this world around us becomes less predictable, I want to become more grounded in something that I know can always be mine. May I share it with you?

Travel Light

     I have been intrigued with Genghis Khan for several years. His ideas and tactics are fascinating, and the way in which he swept across Asia conquering other empires in a series of rapid and fearless attacks, is nearly unheard of. There are a multitude of things that aided the Khan is his endeavor to rule Asia, but one in particular caught my attention.
    There were many developed armies in the early 1200's, yet the Mongolian force stood out from the rest because of its exceptional speed. There was little time for the targeted nation to prepare for the attack by the time they discovered the Mongols were coming. The Khan's cavalry could travel sixty miles or more in a single day. This was about double of what any other army on earth could manage at the time. One reason they were able to make such good time was due to the fact that each soldier took several extra horses with him on the warpath to keep from exhausting a single mount. Another of their secrets? Travel light.

    The Mongols had learned to make light armor from padded leather or other materials. In this more flexible armor, they were also able to maneuver with greater agility than those soldiers wearing heavy metal suits. Even their shields were of lighter materials. Instead of carrying great saddlebags loaded with food, or having to travel slowly in order for supply wagons to  keep up, each soldier became self-sufficient in hunting down nutrients. Although they did travel with small amounts of dried foods, they also carried items like fishhooks, which, along with their bows, made them quite able to fend for themselves. They even, on occasion, drank horse blood. This they were able to do without injury to their mounts, by "letting" a vein in the horse's neck.

    There is no doubt in my mind that we are on the final stretch toward eternity. How are you traveling? There is no hope for any of us unless we can take a lesson from the ancient Mongolian cavalry and travel light. Matthew 6:19a reads: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." I hope I'm not taking this scripture out of context when I say that I don't believe it only applies to things we traditionally think of as treasure. I believe it could also apply to all the other things we get so attached to in this life— things like our opinions and our ways of doing things. Sometimes we know our attachments are a burden as we carry things like fears, grudges, and dissatisfaction, but we hang onto them because the leap of faith it would take to let them go seems impossible.

    As we journey over this last treacherous path toward Home, let's be willing to rid ourselves of some weight. Drop the critical spirit, the weight of unmovable opinions, the burden of fears. Let's travel light toward our goal, able to fend off the attack of the evil one. If you and I are able to learn to trust completely in God, we will someday be able to make the final crossing of the Jordan, unhindered by all the cares of this world.

    

Updates

     I remember the days of slouch socks and brown tie shoes. I remember sleeves with a lot of gathers and collars on cotton dresses. My sisters and I grew up playing with Lite Brites and Polly Pockets and Gel Pens. There may have been some Lisa Frank involved, too. The Treehouse Adventures were a new and exciting series and computers took up nearly the entire desktop. Pedometers were made to clip onto your belt and count your steps, and I had a pink light up skip ball that counted my jumps. Not all vehicles came with power windows.

    I learned to type on an actual typewriter and was slightly envious of my fellow students that had correction ribbon and didn't need to struggle with liquid white-out. We even learned to center a list on those ancient beasts, and it was always a race to see how much you could get typed before the carriage would return and rattle away rapidly to catch up with you. Kit Kats came in foil wrappers, and you could buy breath strips that melted on your tongue with an interesting after taste. We watched screen savers on the computer for entertainment and some may remember an evening of playing "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" 

    It wasn't long until the cord on the family phone (How far could it reach when you wanted a private conversation?) gave way to a wonderful cordless version. And of course, the next thing we knew, folks were flaunting the newest Nokia phones in their protective cases with clear covers over the buttons. Perhaps that was to keep the letters from rubbing off as you had to hit a button three times to get the letter you wanted for that important text to a friend. (How r u? Im gr8!) Sometimes more, if you accidentally passed it by. Of course, it was important to know what games came with the phone. Snake was a great favorite. And then came flip phones and we all learned to trade pictures and songs with the marvelous invention of Bluetooth. 

    And now here we are, in the first days of 2021. How is your technology? How about your fashions and fun? Are you still using your first prepaid flip phone? Wearing the same brown and blue prints? 

    Most of these things are now nearly obsolete. Styles and technologies change at a rapid pace around us. We update on a regular basis, because it simply doesn't make sense to continue using poor technology when better options are available at a reasonable cost.

    I started wondering about my Christian life. Have I updated lately? It is easy to stay stuck in some of the temptations I've struggled with for years. Maybe God didn't speak to me as a young Christian about a certain attitude I carried because He had other things for me to see, but perhaps He's waiting now for me to get willing for an update He has ready. After all, we are commanded to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18a).

    Make no mistake, Christian life is not a New Years Resolution to be broken. It's a commitment to be kept. It has less to do with trying for a couple of weeks before giving in to defeat, and more to do with learning of a love that leads to self-denial. 

    Will updating be easy? The answer may depend on whether or not you are willing to spend time reading the Owner's Manual. You might need to call a company Representative for help. But if you are determined there will be a way. God will not leave you alone and confused.

    Is the commitment possible to keep? Yes! A thousand times yes! You won't be able to manage on your own, but we have His promise: And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)  

    I love looking back in time and remembering with fond fuzzy feelings of nostalgia all the things that my schoolchildren may know nothing about. Just like my grandparents and parents before me, I, too, have my own version of the good old days. But when I really think about it, do I wish to give up my convenient smart phone and power windows? Do I want to hope for a passenger that knows how to read a map and can give me directions? Sometimes it's hard to let things go and move on. It can be work figuring out how a new system operates. Yet I believe that my God is a God of growth and commitment. Wherever He chooses to lead me, to whatever depths He asks me to go, I can follow, trusting He will someday welcome me Home.