Grumble, Grumble, Grumble!

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble
Here I am not even two weeks out from the most wonderful time, when my kids and grandkids came home from all over the country just to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  Yet, I found myself mechanically putting ornaments on my fifth tree and complaining!  I complained that it wasn't like when the kids were all little and we would make an evening of it.  Larry would make a a pot of fudge, not the modern kind, but the recipe that used to be on the back of the Hershey cocoa can.  We would play Christmas carols and a few times I even taught the kids how to string popcorn and cranberries for the garland.  They would put their ornaments and green and red garland that they made from construction paper on the tree and we would celebrate each homemade treasure.  It didn't matter where they landed, if they were perfectly placed or color coordinated.  After it was finished we turned off the lights to admire our work and there were times we even went outside to see how it looked as the multicolored lights shined brightly out of the frontroom picture window.  The fresh smell of the tree made the whole room inviting.  Hmmmm!  That was a pleasant trip down memory lane but then there was my murmuring!  My complaining!  My grumbling!  Tears of loss of a time gone by.  The lights still sparkled but not in this girls soul!  This mood pretty much continued all day as it matched the gloomy November day we were having.

This morning I got into my study of the Psalms and figured that I could find something that would cheer me up.  Oh, how You, oh Lord must tire of our constant whys and whines!  Sure enough in Psalm 10:14 I found it!  But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand.  There!  That's me afflicted!  Really, Jeanie!  You just testified to anyone who listened that You have been with us all fifty years of our marriage and now you complain because things aren't like they used to be when you were young.
Then my bible directed me to another scripture that hit too close to home.  I turned quickly to Philippians 2:14-16 that says "Do EVERYTHING without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault...  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Hallelujah, Lord!  You, again, had me pegged and brought councel to my heart!  I have nothing to complain, murmur or argue about, you have given me everything I need.  Then the Lord led me to turn on our 12ft tree and as the lights flashed on I saw the blessing the Lord wanted me to see.  It was ornaments placed willie nillie, ribbon slung across the bottom of the tree with no apparent purpose and a few broken ornaments that we used anyway!  It was the handywork of a new generation of tree decorators!  It was the beauty that my grandkids created while they were here.  Each little hand had placed shiny bits of love all over our Christmas tree.  Oh how generous you are to us, God, even when we grumble!  I love you, Lord!  Thank you, Jenna, Evie, Kellan and Harper Jean!

Kiss Your Arm

I don’t know about you but every morning when I wake up I kiss my left arm!  Don’t be alarmed even though I have been on some heavy pain meds I am not now.  I had surgery done on my left shoulder over a week ago and though the pain was much more than I thought it would be, it has been terrible not having the use of my left arm.  My right arm is dominate but oh my how I miss the use of my left hand.  God knew what he was doing when he gave us two hands!  Just think of the things you do with your left.  I use my left hand to fluff my hair while my right hand dries it.  And dressing myself is a nightmare.  My left hand holds my toothpaste while my right brushes my teeth.  My left arm just automatically raises for a quick hug.  

The Bible talks a lot about the right hand of God.  Like in Psalms 89:13

“Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is the symbol of God’s mighty works , it is the symbol of victory over God’s enemies and many more references throughout his word.  

I found his strength, as I always do, in his righteous right hand.  

But what about our left hand?  The Bible doesn’t speak often of the left hand.  I found the left hand in the help of my sweet husband who help me with everything from putting ice on my shoulder constantly to giving me medicine when it was time and then listening to my drug induced ramblings.  I found strength in my family’s love.  I found strength in my left hand as I thought of my church family.  Their prayers and concern for me.  I felt strength this morning as my sisters and brothers greeted me in the love of the Lord.  Their greeting completed me as my left hand completes me.  I can’t wait until I can raise both my hands to praise my Lord!  But just like I can’t be complete without the powerful right hand of our Father I need the left hand of love extended to me by my loved ones and my church family.  

Well, maybe I don’t kiss my left arm every morning but I certainly appreciate my left arm as God intended it to come along side my right one to do what God wants us to do!  

Love the beautiful righteous, right hand of God but appreciate the loving left hand that comes along to help us!

Twine and Burlap

Twine and Burlap?

This is the year that Larry and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  Since that will be coming up in November, I have been looking at everything "golden anniversary".  Everything from table centerpieces to clever invitations.  I have listened to beautiful music that I want to be sung at our vow renewal and visited sites that give "sample" vows to be recited at the big occasion.  All this has been fun for me but as I watched videos on how to make things for the reception, I begin to stress because I am not the least bit talented in crafts.  The handiwork of those who make these videos are amazing.  They take things that are nothing (Dollar Tree finds) and make them into something beautiful.  

I thought of my non-craftiness as I read this scripture from Ephesians this morning.  Although I have trouble with a glue gun and lack creativity when it comes to making something beautiful out of twine and burlap I am still God's handiwork!  And He has created me in Christ Jesus to do good works.  Not only has He created me to do good works but the bible says He prepared these in advance for me to do.  Isn't that so wonderful!

 Ephesians 2:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are talking about the creator who brought everything into being taking time to prepare, in advance, good works for me to do.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament[a] shows [b]His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 102:25 New International Version (NIV)

In the beginning, you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Just by my experiences in crafting, I don't think the Lord created me for that but what work does He have for me to do?  May I always strive to find out and obey as He leads me.  Lord, I love it that you have been thinking about me since before I was even born.

But really!  What am I supposed to make with twine and burlap?

Walkie Talkie

As I lay in the uncomfortable bed waiting for my family to get there, a man so tall, he seemed to almost have to duck when he came through the door, announced that he would be my nurse that night.  He checked out my vitals, asked me a few questions and headed out the door.  As he did, he turned to me and said something I had not heard, even after working in the hospital for 20 years.  He said "you are my walkie talkie tonight."  Not being fully to my senses, this went over my head until later when he explained that I, unlike the rest of his patients, could walk and could talk . After hearing his explanation, I was glad to be a "walkie talkie." 

Later I started to think how we should all be "walkie talkies".  We should , as the saying goes, walk the walk if we are going to talk the talk about Jesus.  God has given us the gospel of Jesus and the Bible says he has entrusted it to our care.  1 Timothy 6 says we should even guard it.  But we are not to keep the truth to ourselves but share it with the world.  Lord, help me be a "walkie talkie"!

“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to 

your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Glory to God in the Highest Heaven

Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!

As I was wheeled to my room in the hospital, my eyes brimmed with tears.  I knew I hadn't felt well but I never guessed I would be admitted that day with blood clots in my lungs.  I passed the big Christmas tree in the waiting room which I had earlier been admiring, I smiled at the receptionist with the Santa hat on as I whizzed by and I noted the whimsical Christmas characters on the scrubs of the nurses but the Christmas spirt had left me for that moment.  

At home all was Christmas!  In my frig was Christmas dinner with all the fixings, my outfit with Christmas cardinals on the sweater was set aside for the Christmas service at church, and Christmas CDs were ready to play to give that atmosphere to our gathering .  I thought of these things and wondered, as the wheel chair bumped along, if I would even be home for Christmas. But in that moment, I did not ask the Lord for gleaming trees and beautiful music as fear crept into my soul, I longed for what the angels promised the fearful shepherds that night.  I longed for peace!   And somehow amidst flashing monitors, hurried nurses and concerned doctors, God did give me peace! Peace to face whatever would come in the next few days.

As I sit here in my living room before dawn this Christmas morning, I am grateful for God's healing touch and those who prayed for me but mostly I am in awe of the One who gives Peace!

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Merry Christmas everyone!

Detours

I hate detours, don't you?  I hate them because I am always afraid I won't get back to the same road I was traveling on.  I have a fear of driving for months not knowing where I am.  The author of the devotional I read this morning asked, "Have you had detours in your life in recent months?"

It didn't take long for me to answer this question.  I would have to say it was the death of my mother, my biggest fan and supporter.  My grief threatened to keep me off the road I was traveling on but my merciful Lord had other plans for me.  The detour only made me stronger, more grateful and gave me a new compassion for those who lose loved ones. Her memory is sweet and only makes me want to finish on the road God has set before me because I know she is applauding me

The other detour was a health problem that made me think of my own mortality and how our lives are so brief and fragile.  We only travel through life one time and we can choose to stay on the road God has planned for us and use these detours to grow spiritually or we can wonder aimlessly in our grief or despair.

Detours are, many times, painful but in this fallen world we are bound to come across them.  So, weary travelers, buckle up and don't be afraid of detours that has or will come because you have a guide who can get you on the main road again only a stronger and a more compassionate you.  He is our hope in times of trouble and despair!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭NIV

All That is Christmas

Weeks ago I stripped the house of all that was not Christmas.  I cleared my china cabinet of dishes that were not Christmas, my curio cabinet became a place for snowmen and Christmas pictures replaced regular ones.  Furniture was moved so that Christmas trees could go in their place, then  as these things disappear I replaced them with Christmas!  All that had been there before now pales in contrast to the festiveness that Christmas brings!

So many times I need to clear my mind and soul of the things that can clutter my thinking about Christ!  I need to shut off the media that declares that all things about Christ is offensive.  I need to rid myself of all that does not glorify Him.  I need to prioritize my life, sometimes trading good things for the better things of God.  I need to clear myself of all that is not Christ!  I need a new infilling of the Holy Spirit!

In a few short days I will begin the task of getting back to "normal"  but as the Christmas dishes go back into boxes and Christmas trees find a place on the shelf in my basement I pray the Babe of Christmas never leaves my heart.  May I not box him up with Christmas ornaments, festive figurines, or beautiful nativity sets.  Just as I fill my house with the everyday things I pray "Christmas" never leaves my soul.  Bring my mind back often to the Son of God who chose to come to earth as an innocent baby and die on the cross to save us from our sins.  May the wonder of Christmas permeate my being so much that Christ and only Christ can be seen in me all year round!