Good Memories

OPENING THE WINDOWS and the fresh air of windblown grass, and heavy grey clouds send an aroma to my memories...and I think of youth camp, waking up at the crack of dawn, taking those walks around the camp grounds while the sun was just beginning to stretch his rays over the mountains, and the dew was still fresh, the animals were out mingling before all the people would take over the camp grounds for the day.  The air would be just cool enough to get a chill on a summer's morning.  And in HIS nature alone on walks is where the quiet times where supreme. 

AND AS I SNAP BACK INTO REALITY standing in front of my open window, I think about other Good Memories that remind me of what the Lord has done and how AMAZING He is!

I THINK OF THOSE SPRING BREAKS when all my family was home in the morning (no work or school) and we would actually be bored and say "what do you want to do today" and we would spend our days putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle together, and cook together (well at the time I only was helpful by licking the beaters after my grandmother mixed the cake ingredients).

THE SUMMER WHEN my uncle Johnny came to visit, and him and his buddies would all hang out in the front yard playing their guitar and harmonica and drinking coffee and laughing while my sister and I would go catch "crunchies" (cicada shells) and stick them on our shirts...

THOSE NIGHTS I got a ride from my best friend Diane to church and her dad would be in a meeting afterwards and me and Diane would sit on the back of her dads car and look at the stars...

Those memories
I could go on
they are good to ponder on
they let us not forget what has happened and to give thanks and to count our blessings.

And so today... good weather
a blessing
and a reminder of what He did for my life when I was at youth camp
He gave me a new beginning...a new start  and I will never forget that!

My pastor said at one time that memory plays a big role in our worship, in our daily walk.  If we forget what the Lord has done...we are soon to stray.

So start reminiscing and count your blessings.

Tell Tail Tale: Praise, Humility, and Petition

After a major battle of Narnians and Telmarines, The fellow mice carry to Aslan the severely wounded Reepicheep (first mouse in command- leader of the other mice).  Queen Lucy revives him with her healing potion, and Reepicheep immediately goes to praise and give thanks to Aslan.  As He does, Reepicheep has realized that his tail has been cut off. 

Reepicheep:
"I'm completely out of countenance!" I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion.

Aslan:
"It becomes you well small one"

Reepicheep:
"All the same great king, I regret that I must withdraw, for the tail is the honor and glory of a mouse."

Aslan:
"Perhaps you think too much of your honor, friend"

Reepicheep:
"Well its not just the honor, its also great for balance..and..and climbing, and grabbing things"

In this moment, Reepicheeps fellow mice are willing to cut off their tails also to sacrifice their honor due to their leader being denied that honor.

Aslan:
"Not for the sake of your Dignity , but for the Love of your people"

And in that moment Reepicheep's tail is given back to him.

Reepicheep: 
"It shall serve as a great reminder of my huge humility"

So much can be taken out of this "tail tale" that is told, maybe you will draw something different or even greater out of this story than i.  But I do want to point out in this story that, The Mouse was grateful, praising his King, but was quick to notice what he was lacking (his tail).  He pleads with his King to restore what he lost, the King mentions to him that he might be thinking too much of his "honor", ... the mouse continues to plead with him, telling him of all the benefits would be if he was given back what he was lacking in.

The key to this story is that the King restores what is lost:  not because of selfish ambition of the mouse, or greediness for honor, but because of the LOVE of his people.  The act of working together in unison, to plead to the King, changes things.  And with the blessing of receiving what was lost, Reepicheep pledges to always remember what Aslan has done for him, and remember his humility.

Continuing into Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep talks more about what Aslan has done for him.... He's doesn't forget.

Let Us not forget what the Lord has done.
Let Us come together to petition to the Lord our requests, needs, problems.
Let Us always give praise to our Father
Let Us continue on with a humble heart.

When Life gives you Ice Storms, Make Pot Roast

As the wintery storm came into my town, the streets became like blankets of ice.  The wind blowing at least 20 mph and rain, snow, and ice all falling from the sky at the same time.  DANGEROUS weather to be driving in.  So my cousin and I were snowed in.

With the heater still on, we both still had to wear at least 4 layers of clothing inside.  we shoved towels and blankets where there were any cracks where cold air could possibly come in.  We were home for good, for the whole day.  (not our usual schedule)

Our schedules actually hardly ever allow us to cook together, and now was the time.  Now the disadvantage of the weather, became the advantage for us to cook a pot roast that we had been wanting to make for some time.  We had a good time prepairing it, and then to simply wait on it as the aroma fills the air with roast, bbq sauce and onion smell.  The moment was beautiful.  We knew we had nowhere to go, we weren't rushed, there were no distractions,... just me, my cousin, and the sealed up semi-warm apartment with pot roast aroma dancing in the air.. mmm.

There is a saying some of you have heard before:  "When life gives you Lemons, Make Lemonaide"

Same concept here:  When you have storms, make the best of it.  There is a reason for everything.  A simple thing like quality time with family, or getting balanced with time and tasks.  There might be greater "storms" in your life, depression, family fueding, job troubles, financial bind, etc.  Take that "storm" and make something out of it, seek out the lesson or the blessing, or the opportunity.

Make room for CLOUDS in your schedule

"A BEAR! a bear I see a bear!"
"No! I see a turtle", my sister corrected me.
"Oh wait sis,...I think it kinda looks like a dragon"

Patches of puffy white clouds would decorate across the big blue sky.  And my sister and I would lay on the sidewalk in our front yard and stair up at the clouds, creating whatever picture we could make them out to be.

Time passed...  In high school, I would be driving to class as the sun was stretching its rays through the morning clouds and I would enjoy the view.  Beautiful, beautiful!

time passed... in college, while I was working at a bank, we were in some down time and I glanced out the window and soaked in the breathe taking sight of the clouds floating across.  I got out some paper and started to sketch the clouds and realized that I had started getting so caught up with life, that I forgot to stop and "smell the roses" or in this case, admire the clouds and their glorious display like I did as a child.



marker sketch of clouds oustide the window at work 2002

 There are so many things to take care of.... all day long, all month long, all year long... it never ends,.... and it doesn't get any slower or less challenging, so we must MUST MAKE ROOM FOR CLOUDS IN OUR SCHEDULES.  God says to be still and know that HE is God.  Take on this challenge and praise your Maker for making beautiful things like clouds, for creating giant fish to display His majesty, for molding the structure of tiny ants to reveal His wisdom.. 

Take on this challenge.  And you know that you would have been still long enough when you can say that you saw the clouds shift from a bear to a frog.

Let's Talk about GOD

I was thinking about this today... isn't it strange how we talk about some things or people in public, but when we are home with that person they are different than we displayed them to be toward the world before us. 

Its hard for me to make an analogy of this idea so I'll just get right to the point. 

I have noticed that it is easy to have discussion about the Lord, and His Word, and what we believe as a child of God (this isn't a bad thing to discuss), but what is it like when you go home, seclude yourself, find a hiding place where its just you and the LORD...the conversations you have with HIM, the peace you feel, the pleadings, the tears, the anger, the joy afterwards... the experience you really have with HIM...the REAL HIM, I wonder...if we shared the REAL story of who He is, ...would the want for Him be even more so..  Instead we get too caught up talking about Him like He's a political figure that is some stranger in a foreign land that we can pray to...

church in Seirgev Pasad, Russia

Instead, He is the one:
who listens
who answers
who comforts
who gives peace
who brings justice
who never leaves you
who never gives up on you
who LOVES you
who Redeemed you by His blood
who keeps His promises...
.....

That is a God worth talking about...that is the GOD ALMIGHTY that came to me in my stubbornness and pride..and pursued me...  He's not a documented fairy tale that I simply enjoy talking about.  I could do the same with Santa Clause, little mermaid, Hercules, etc.  interesting stories...

I'm talking about a REAL GOD, ...and REAL RELATIONSHIP... a REAL LOVE

I encourage everyone to keep on seeking Him, keep on discussing His word, continue to seek out your doctrinal standing, but ... most of all... share the story of a REAL LOVE you found. 

What are your thoughts.. share with me.

The Moon at Sunrise

All bundled up, I step out into the icy dawn. I look over to my right and there is a scissor-tailed mockingbird staring at me from the guardrail, (How beautiful God). My breath dancing in the cold air(How beautiful God), I scurry over to my car where the frost has decorated my windows (how beautiful God).

I make my way to starbucks for some white chocolate mocha and pumpkin bread, make my order, the lady at the drive through is so cheerful, a good spirit about her, that it reminds me that good manners go a long way and make peoples days (How beautiful God).

So I'm on my way back home, and I'm listening to a song about God's Mercy.  Driving the opposite direction of the sunrise, I glance up to the sky to scout out anymore beautiful birds or pretty clouds...and low and behold, I see the graceful face of the moon, the full moon, BIG in the sky....at sunrise (HOW BEAUTIFUL GOD).  Then I think of what our Creator says of Mercy...  Each morning His mercies are made new... meaning ... it never ends.  The moon starts to quietly fade out and the glory of the sun makes its entrances into the new created day.

HOW BEAUTIFUL GOD is with His creation and to show that His mercies are new each day, not just yesterday or today, but for each NEW DAY.  So as you wake up in the morning...just think...God has brought a new day..the old is passed. 

I leave you with a song and a scripture of mercy and hope.  ENJOY



The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
  his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
  great is your faithfulness.
 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
  “therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV)

A parking lot of Sinners

As I pull up to the entry
your morning sun beams in
my car upon my face
and warms my heart within

breathing in this fresh new day
I glance in the mirror to see
my smiling reflection
because of what God has become to me

See, I'm no different from
the people in this place
a parking lot of sinners
saved by grace

Redeemed is what we are
by the Blood of the Jesus
a sinner who's debt is paid
paid in full, no fuss

yep, you got it right
I am a sinner
a sinner redeemed
come to our pot-lock dinner

Come and you will see,
that i'm no different than you
a sinner I am
but have been made anew!

Come dine with us sinners
sinners redeemed
we have good cassarole
even moreso ...bread of life is what you need.

Understand there are no holier-than-thous
by own effort sinners at best
Recieve His love, be redeemed,
a sinner redeemed, and will find rest.

I get out of my car,
YOUR warmth joys my soul
I open the door to the building
a bunch of sinners sitting in a row

I smile at them,
They smile at me
we know we are all sinners,
but we know we've been set free

We sing a song of redeeming love
That came from God's Son
I look around the room full of sinners
beaming joy; singing of redemtion

We finish our time of encouragement
our time of digging in HIS words he left us
disperse to our cars
and kids run to the church bus

I shut my car door, breath in
turn the key to my car and smile
of my time with these sinners
saved by grace, and all the while

....there are other parking lots of sinners
...maybe not all sinners redeemed
...I a sinner go to Wal-Mart
...and I see
...a parking lot of sinners
---some redeemed
...but what about the sinner who doesn't know..
they don't know that what this sinner (ME) has found is hope.
... so I must go and share this hope to other sinners JUST LIKE ME

-by Jamie Cook
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins."
(Romans 3:23-25 ESV)