40 Days of Now: Day 5

(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)

Jesus, I see You now in these two boys, off for their first camping trip, all alone, without any girls. Their love for each other, their excitement in the planning--it has Your fingerprints all over it. I'm thinking of how much You talked about Your Dad when You were here, and how You were always trying to sneak away, so You could be alone with Him. There's just something about a father and his son. It's almost mysterious to me. I will never really understand it. But I don't have to understand it to know that You are in it. So, thank You. I'm blessed to catch this glimpse of You now. 

 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

(John 14:10)

 

40 Days of Now: Day 4

(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)

I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

(Philemon 1:6)

Now. Lord, I see You today in a young woman. She has sold her belongings, packed up the rest, hugged her precious family and friends, and hopped on a plane. She's on the other side of the world now, settling in, ready to do Your work. She's doing this for You and for Your people, and I can't stop thinking about her. I can't help but wonder what it would be like if she had my life and I had hers. I can't help thinking that what she is doing is more significant, more pleasing, more eternal. But You say something different. You've given her this call. And You've given me mine. And so I pray for her. And in this moment, she and I are partners. Working together! This is the way You planned it, and I think it's beautiful. I think You are beautiful and wonderful as a designer. I'm so thankful that I can share in her ministry. This is such a privilege. In an instant, I can be there in spirit as I pray for her and the new community where she lives.

I wonder if You laugh at how we marvel over our advances in technology that make it possible to instantly communicate with people all over the world. We pat ourselves on the back for our intelligence, when You're the one Who's had instant communication in place for ages. I can talk to You and join with other believers before the words even come out of my mouth, the instant they form in my heart. Now that's high tech! I marvel over You. You are a wonder. ~R

40 Days of Now: Day 3

(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

(Psalm 139:7-12)

Now. Even now, Lord, Your presence surrounds me. If I hide myself in this towering pile of laundry, You are there. Yes, even there. I sit, cross-legged, on the floor, folding, folding, folding. The repetitive monotony of the task wears away any thought that this moment might be significant. How is it that I am here, stacking clothes and towels, and not in a jungle, searching out that secluded tribe who have never met You? Yes, Lord, I know that I am serving my family. Yes, Your blessings are evident here. We have clean clothes, and plenty of them. But more than that, it's Your faithfulness that pierces through my dullness now. These clothes will get dirty again. And I will wash them again. And again. And I will tire of it. But, You, Lord, never tire. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies, higher than the highest pile of laundry. I sin, yet You forgive and forgive and forgive again. The repetitive nature of Your job does not wear You down. Your mercies toward me are new each morning. Great is Your faithfulness! I am thankful. ~R

So, how are things with you? Did you find Him today? Or did He find you?

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

(Psalm 36:5)

40 Days of Now: Day 2

(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)

Now. I almost threw this card away today. I love to sew fabric to cards. It's like sending a tiny little quilt in the mail. This one would have been pretty cute if I had listened to my own warnings and glued that blue strip down first. It's crooked and puckery and that really bugs me, so my plan was to toss it and make another one. But I just couldn't do it. I couldn't throw her in with the empty boxes and crumpled paper, despite her flaws. I spent time and energy on her and thought about the person to whom I would send it. I just couldn't throw her away. So, I will fill her with words to thank and encourage, and send her off, and she will fulfill her purpose, despite her imperfections.

Lord, if You were in the business of discarding flawed people, I would have been in the trash a long time ago. But You look beyond my imperfections and give me purpose. You fill me with good things. It is Your pleasure to use the weak and damaged for Your glory. I feel weak today; thank You for using me anyway. I love You so much. ~R

So, where did you see Him today?

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. (I John 2:28)

40 Days of Now: Day 1

(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)


Now. Lord, I lived today. I was present, looking for You in every moment. And You were there. You are here.

I saw you in the farmer at the farmer's market. He has worked the soil for years, faithfully bringing in his colorful harvest to feed us. I'm so thankful that You are faithful to work the soil of my heart and produce good things in me.

Thank You for these lovely vegetables we picked out today. You did such a great job when You made fruits and vegetables! There is nothing like a ripe tomato or a fresh ear of corn. This is summer at it's best, and it makes me love You all the more. Also, potatoes are among Your finest creations in my opinion. 

I want You to know that as much as I appreciate the food You provide us every day, nothing nourishes and sustains me like Your presence. Teach me to be present in Your presence. Hee, hee. I'm serious, though. I love You. ~R 

P.S. Thank You for the song, too.

So...how about you, friend? Where did you see Jesus today?

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

40 Days of Now

Gratitude. Praise. Appreciation. Applause. Honor. Grace. All are synonyms for Thankfulness. All are offerings I want to give to my Creator and my King.

Give thanks in everything...

means give thanks for Now.

I am eager to thank the Lord always for the good things He has done for me. That was my purpose behind blogging in the first place. It is good and right to remember His works.

I am equally eager to thank Him for what I know He will do. He will come back! He will rescue me from this place and take me Home. He will restore everything Satan has stolen and broken. I will see Him someday!

Someday is where I live most of the time; I have a thrilling preoccupation with Heaven. I like to hang out in Yesterday every now and then, too. But I rarely lay my picnic blanket down in the backyard of Now and just enjoy it for awhile.

I see this in my daughter. She's forever looking to the next thing, unaware of the beauty of the present moment. It makes me so sad for her, but how do I teach her a different way when I am Christmas shopping in July? The irony is, that I am Christmas shopping in July so that I can enjoy December. But if my shopping is done, I will most assuredly spend December planning for the events of spring.

A friend and I were recently discussing the value of the journey to where we are going. Without it...well...we just wouldn't get there! But joy in the journey must, I believe, be achieved through discipline, if it does not come naturally to a person. That's me! 

The Lord dropped this in my heart last night about one in the morning as I tried in vain to sleep. 40 days of...40 days of what, Lord? 40 days of all potatoes, all the time? 40 days of digging deeper into Deuteronomy? And then I got my answer this morning: 40 days of Now! Yes, If I look to the past, I will see the hand of God. And someday I will see my Jesus in Heaven. But if I choose to, I can see Him today. Right now. I don't have to wait. He's here, waiting to reveal Himself in a million different ways. 

So, His challenge to me is to find Him every day for 40 days. I'm feeling up for it! Oh, also, I'm inviting you! Do you want to join me? I hope you do! It would be ever so much more fun that way. I will be posting every day. If you want, write down your own Now thoughts in a journal or your own blog or you can tell about it in my comments section below.

 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  (Isaiah 43:19) 

Little Brown Job (a story about littleness)(and brownness)(and a turtle)(and a mom)(and a sparrow)(oh, just read it)

Did you have a nice Mother's Day? I hope it was completely wonderful. But if it wasn't, cheer up, 'cause I have a story for you.

Once upon a time, there was a girl. Despite her very feminine inclinations, this girl loved frogs and toads and turtles and yes, even snakes. She loved their little guts out, much like a boy does. But she was not a boy. She was a girl. I already told you that. Now, here is something else you should know: I am the girl. I mean, I was the girl. I am a woman now! Yes, mama, I am a woman, a real woman. Ain't life magical?

Was I in the middle of something? Oh, yes, my story. Yes, this is important. You, see, the girl had a mother, which makes this story perfect for Mother's Day. The mother was not particularly fond of reptiles and amphibians, but she was fond of her daughter. Very fond. In fact, this girl happened to be her favorite child, but she never told anyone, so don't ask me how I know that. 

One day, the girl could no longer deny the yearning in her heart. She wanted a turtle of her very own. She wanted to hug him and squeeze him and call him George. She must have a turtle! The mother, in her wisdom, knew that unfulfilled longings in a young girl can cause insanity and premature death in the mother due to incessant begging and whining on the part of the young girl. Follow?

So, one day, the wonderful mom took the girl down to the creek with a net and some sort of a container like a pickle jar. There they found a rather ugly softshell turtle swimming about. It was love at first sight for the girl. The thought of being so close to owning such a creature gave the girl goosebumps, which was weird, 'cause it was like a hundred degrees outside. After what seemed like hours trying to catch that slippery little turtle, the mom and the girl were sweaty, a little cranky, and very hungry. So, you know what that mom did? She whipped out her knife, fashioned a spear from a twig, harpooned some fish, and quickly cooked them over an open fire. The fish was so tasty, the girl forgot all about the turtle forever.

The End.

Just kidding. What really happened was that the girl realized the turtle was an impossible thing to catch, and she started to cry. But the mom did something better than cook fish. She told the girl something true that the girl would think of often in years to come. She told the girl that God cares about little things. She told her that He knows the desires of our hearts and that we can talk to Him about anything--even things that may seem silly. Well, the little girl believed what her mom said, so the two of them said a little prayer about the turtle. They asked Him to help them catch the turtle. Sound silly? Well, it was not silly to the girl. It was important enough to cause goosebumps in the summer. And you know what? It was important to God, too. Not so much about the turtle, but that this girl would have her faith and trust in God grow that day. 

Right after they prayed, the amazing mom caught the turtle! And the girl rejoiced and thanked God in her heart. He loved her! He got her a turtle! And she loved the turtle. But while she could call him George all she wanted, she could not really hug him and squeeze him. So, she took him home, put him in her aquarium, and fed him brine shrimp and raw liver. 

It wasn't long before the girl became disenchanted with the turtle. She had to clean out his tank, which required catching him, which as we now know, was no simple task. Also, he was stinking up the girl's room. The turtle could possibly have ruined the girl's life. He might have bitten her finger off or given her salmonella. So, back to the creek the turtle went, which is where he always wanted to be anyway. The girl was okay. The turtle was happy. The mom was pleased.  

The End For Real
Moral of this story: Never capture wild animals without a license.

morguefile.com

Okay, here's the real moral. I wrote this story down because it's nice to remember that God really does care about little things. I love having the kind of relationship with Him that I would with any close friend. The sharing of big and little things makes for a more intimate relationship I think. If I only go to God with the big stuff, then it feels like I am treating Him like that "big guy up there." And really, He is so much more than that.

Jesus cares about the little things. He teaches us about them in His Word:

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Luke 16:10

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Matthew 25:40

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet, not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7

morguefile.com

Look at that. Five sparrows. Only worth two pennies. And yet, not one is forgotten by God. Really? With all that God has to do, He remembers all the sparrows? That is amazing. He really does care about the little things. Even every little hair on your head.

I have bird feeders, because I love to watch birds. Honestly, I would much rather see one of these at my feeder than a sparrow.

morguefile.com

Sparrows are nothing more than little brown jobs to me. They are common, unnoticeable ground feeders. They blend in with the litter they forage in. They eat the leftovers that get kicked to the ground by the more beautiful, interesting birds at my feeders. Sorry, sparrows, you are not my favorite birds. But don't worry! God notices you, even if bird snobs like me don't.

You know, there are days as a mom that I feel like a little brown job. I seem to blend in with the furniture around here and no one hears my wise instructions. Ha. Ha. I eat the leftovers off my kids' plates after lunch, because I didn't take the time to make something for myself. No one really takes note of the things I do in a day. At least that's how it feels sometimes. I know this isn't just true for moms either. We all feel like little brown jobs at one time or another--a little insignificant speck in a great big world.

So, let's encourage ourselves with the truth! I know I need it. Jesus said that we are worth more than many sparrows. We are in fact, very valuable to Him. He cares so much about us. And we can be sure that if He sees every sparrow, He certainly sees us! We may feel like no one will ever notice or remember all the loads of laundry we have folded, but Jesus sees. He knows. He sees that smile you gave your co-worker when you really didn't feel up to it. He sees that toilet you're scrubbing, girl! He sees you paying your bills and wondering if you have enough in your account to cover it all. He sees the loaf of bread you baked to take to your neighbor. He sees you put that stray cart back in the the cart stall at Walmart. He sees you wipe a runny nose in the church nursery. And He sees you hold open the door for the little woman who is walking at a snail's pace.

We just never know what little thing we do may affect someone in a big way, like my mom praying with me. To her, I'm sure that was just one little thing among hundreds that she did that day, but it made a difference to me. So be encouraged! Stay faithful in the little things, so that you will be equally faithful when the big things come. Talk to God about every little thing. He loves to listen. His ears don't get tired. And if you are feeling like a little brown job today, check this out:

All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
Psalm 45:13-14

That's you, princess! (or, er...prince, if there are any boys left reading this.) Yes, the children of the king are NOT little brown jobs. You are glorious! Your gold is sparkling! It's blinding my eyes! Now, go, do what you have to do, just don't get ketchup on your embroidered garment.

And thanks, Mom for all the little things!