a slice of the pie...

A friend emailed me this little clip the other day, and I couldn't help but share it with you....



A very thought-provoking visual, isn't it....

Don't forget from Whom all things come to us...

cell phone vs Bible...

One thing you should all know about me is that I AM that most-dreaded of emailers-- the "chain email breaker"!! Yes, I admit it. If you send me a forwarded email, I WILL delete it without passing it along. (especially if the sender included all of the previous forwarded emails in the body and all of the addresses to whom it had been sent --shame on you!! help protect your friends and their friends --use the BCC, folks!)

No, I'm not terrified--or even nervous, for that matter--about the 'bad luck' I may receive as a result.

And no, I don't believe I will be tremendously blessed or lucky within a certain number of minutes/days/weeks/months/years if I forward it.

Nor do I believe I am "ashamed of Jesus" if I don't pass a God-oriented email along to all of my address book.

The above disclaimer aside, I did receive one that made me pause and consider. Even though I did not forward it, I thought it was worth sharing with my blog readers...

Cell phone vs Bible
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if....

• we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
• we flipped through it several times a day?
• we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
• we used it to receive messages from the text?
• we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
• we gave it to kids as gifts?
• we used it when we traveled?
• we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing--unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill! [Praise God!!] ...And no dropped calls!

Though these are all simple little comparisons, they did make me pause and consider... and to also pose the question: Which would I miss more? ...something to think about...

reflecting on spring...

I just love this lake...

it's down the road from my mom's house...

it's so beautiful in every season!

...this is its reflection of spring...

celebrate the Sabbath...reflecting on God's promises...

one of my favorite promises...

"...God has said,

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

~Hebrews 13:5

...and another...

"...this is what the LORD says—...

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

~Isaiah 43:1

There are so very many promises...

and God is faithful.

life is what you make it...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.... they're baaaaaaccckk!! The Chickens, that is! (I just love them!)

I thought I would share this one with you all, as we look toward a new year...

Ann Voskamp, over at Holy Experience, wrote a post today called Year Naming. She said it gives her and her family a "destination"... a road map for the year. I like that idea, and I shall think about what my year 2009 shall be named. It will probably be something along the lines of "Gratitude" or "Trust" or "Radical Chaos"... or some such name!

I DO know what it WON'T be named:

GRIM.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

~2 Corinthians 4:18

Finally, brothers,

whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

~Philippians 4:8

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

~chickens appear with permission of the artist, Doug Savage, at SavageChickens.com

the heart of Mary...

Yesterday I posted the Bible passage in Luke (1:26-38) where the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she was going to become pregnant by God, and though a virgin, would give birth to a child... the Messiah, actually. Wow. Talk about a conversation that would wake you right up!

Here was Mary, a young girl (12 or 13 is my understanding). She was engaged to be married. And all of a sudden, an angel drops in for a visit! (That alone would probably be enough to send most of us running!) Not just any angel, but one of the 'big guys'-- Gabriel. And he tells Mary that God is pleased with her and that she will be the one through whom God's son, the Messiah, will be born. In other words, she's going to be pregnant. And not by her husband-to-be. The angel also tells her the child will be great--a King--and His kingdom will never end.

Now, I don't know about you, but I would have a whole long list of questions about all of this! I would want the details and would be trying to figure out how God would be protecting my reputation and my betrothal and ....and... and... so very many more questions. Yet, all Mary asks is: "How will this be since I am a virgin?" One simple, practical question is all she asks.

Gabriel gives her a one-line answer.... and she seems to be content with that. Once again, I'm sure I would be asking for all the specifics! And probably playing 'Devil's Advocate' to every answer... figuring out how it wouldn't work, and...and...and...??

But Mary... her response is simple. And beautiful. She says only: "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said." Wow. That is amazing to me. Simply amazing.

Even Moses, mighty leader of God's people and friend of God, questioned God and made excuses when God called upon him: I'm not good at public speaking. No one will listen to me. What if...??? (Exodus 3)

Even Gideon, mighty warrior of God, asked many questions and requested signs to show that what he was being asked to do was truly from God: How can I save Israel as I am the weakest of my family which is the weakest of my clan? If I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. (Judges 6)

And then there is me-- who must have answers before stepping out in faith... who questions every little word and wants to know all the details beforehand...

But not Mary. Her answer was simple. Her answer was an unequivocable "yes, Lord." She acknowledges who she is and Who God is by her words: "I am the Lord's servant." She acknowledges that, because of her relationship with God, she will do His bidding without questioning, without arguing, without excuses.

And her words of acquiescence to His will: "may it be to me as you have said." Her response was one of complete obedience out of reverance for Who God is and who she is in Him. I'm sure she was afraid. And I'm sure she had questions. But Her heart was toward God completely, and she places her everything--her life, her reputation, her betrothal, her future--in His hands. Immediately. Completely. Whole-heartedly.

Now, that's trust. That's complete confidence in God. And that's the example I want to follow in my relationship with Him. Each day, each moment, may my heart be ever toward God, and may my words and my actions reflect this. May I say, as Mary did...

"I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as You have said."

leave us amazed...

At church tonight, we were singing a song entitled "Show Us Who You Are." There was a line in it that especially struck me. It was a request asked of God:

leave us amazed at

Who You are...

Not 'leave us amazed by what You have done.' Nor 'leave us amazed by what You have created.' Those are both amazing enough on their own and, if we were to start naming each of those multitudinous wonders, it could keep us in a permanent state of amazement!

But that's not what it said. It was...

leave us amazed at

Who You are...

Who He IS. Not what He does nor what He has made. But Who He IS. That is my prayer tonight... that we would see Him and know Him and that He would leave us AMAZED at Who He is.

living in the now...

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past,

nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future,

but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

~ H. E. Manning

A fellow blogger had posted this quote on her blog today, and I thought I would also share it. (I hope you don't mind, Robin!) It seems to perfectly address where I, and I'm sure many others as well, am at emotionally and mentally the past couple of weeks.

So much of the time, we struggle with living in the here and now. Many times we think about what "was"--whether it was good or bad. Regrets for mistakes or poor choices. Sadness over loss. Wishing for circumstances to be as they were "back when." Or, on the other end of the pendulum swing, we focus on what is to come. Anxiety over the 'what ifs' and uncertainty of the future. Worrying about what may or may not happen. Waiting for some elusive day in the future when it will be the time for this or that.

I don't think it is only I...but I know I do have to battle to stay "in the now." To focus on the present...on each day while it is here. I believe that is what God has called us to do. He tells us not to worry about the future: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:24) He tells us to stay in the moment, to focus on today. He tells us to trust in His care (Matthew 6:29-32); He knows our needs and will provide.

Though you may have heard it said before, it is worth repeating: God does not call Himself "I WAS," nor does He call Himself "I WILL BE." God says His name is "I AM"...the God of now, of the present, forever. And that is where He calls us to live... in the now, where He is. May this be the prayer of our hearts today--that we would not look at the past or the future but rest ourselves quietly in the I AM...

...and as I promised yesterday, the answers to the curiosity questions:

• a - the sand 'stood up' like that because the morning was very cold on the MI beach, and there was ice around the little formations which had melted by the time we saw it!!
• b - oh my, yes! this little plant is as soft and fuzzy as a kitten's tummy fur!
• c - those are the 'skeletons' of a wonderful sea creature called a "By The Wind Sailor" which 'sails' on top of the ocean in groups... not common to see but beautiful (Google them if you get the chance! they're a marvelous blue color under their sails)
• d - the tree bark was wonderfully rough and scratchy mixed with smooth silky spots
• e - there was nothing up those hidden stairs...not any longer, anyway. they were part of an old home foundation.
• f - it was a jellyfish of sorts (no tentacles), and it was extremely firm and rubbery to the touch (heavy, too).
• g - that sea creature is an anemone out of the water. it holds bits of stones and shells to its body as a sort of camoflage. it is extremely squishy if you poke it! : )
• h - the thistle was prickly but also soft if brushed in the direction of the pokey bits.
• i - I don't know who set the chair up there in the first place, but I did take my turn sitting in it to gaze out to the ocean!
• j - we are not sure what these are! I asked a marine biologist friend of mine, and he believes them to be the eggs of some sort of mollusk or octopus. they're very, very small and amazing in color and shape! (look like Christmas lights to me!) if you know what they are, please, by all means, let me know!!
• k - I'm really not sure why sometimes we can see the moon so perfectly in the day time! I really need to research that... but I do find it fascinating!

reflections...

Tonight I was reflecting on what it is to be a reflection of Christ-- to reflect God, to reflect His glory--to show others what He looks like, acts like, loves like. Some of my favorite photos from my trip to Michigan this fall were photos of fall foliage reflected in a pond near my uncle's lakeside cottage. As we drove past the pond, I pulled the van to a screeching halt as I saw the beauty not only of the trees themselves, but also of the reflection of the trees in the water. It was stunning...

The colors themselves were lovely, but the reflection in the water was that much MORE amazing! The reflection made it doubly beautiful!

I began to think about what makes a really good reflection? Stillness of the water surface is the key ingredient. When the breeze blew, or a fish or frog jumped, the surface of the water was disturbed, and the reflection was unclear...more like a watercolor than a photograph... an artist's rendition rather than a clear reflection... But, when the water was still... mmmm. A beautifully crisp and clear reflection....
So, how do I become a clear and crisp and beautiful reflection of God?

Psalm 46:10 gives us a hint: "Be still, and know that I am God." If we will be still and know in the very depths of our being, in the depths of our spirits, that He is God, that stillness--that complete heart-and-mind-and-soul-and-strength knowledge of God--will be reflected in our lives. It will be reflected in the peace and joy on our faces and in our daily walks. (even in the midst of trouble or turmoil)

And others will see God's reflection...clearly, beautifully, fully. Then, like the water in the pond, they will not notice US, they will notice God in us. They will see a true reflection of God--of Who He is and what He is like--if we will be still in His love.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory,

are being transformed into his likeness

with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord

~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

This, then, is my prayer for today... that I may be still and know that He is God...that others may see His glory reflected in me and in my life... that they may stand in awe of Who He is and know that He is Lord.