My Foundation

My Foundation

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV

I heard a cute story yesterday told by a grandma about her grandson.  One day the little fellow was watching Grandma put on her makeup when he asked, "What are you putting on your face?" To which Grandma replied, "That's my foundation."  Perplexed, he exclaimed, "Jesus is my foundation!".

Out of the mouths of babes!  Jesus is my foundation too!

I am reminded of the familiar story in the bible that Jesus told about the man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on sand.

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Anytime we build our lives on anything other that our Savior, Jesus Christ they are subject to the storms of life that can come without warning.  Careers, money or other people can be washed away with changing times but Jesus is that Rock, that firm Foundation that can never be washed away.  Build your house on a firm Foundation!

Sea Of Forgetfulness

My mind can still feel the sheer humiliation when I remember that day.  It was over forty years ago, when many people, as I, owned a wig that we would don when we wanted a new hairdo for the day.  On this particular day I was getting ready for a family wedding and deciding to wear my new wig, I  began to pin my own hair flat to my head so my my new flock of hair would lay down nicely.  This was a necessary thing though far from attractive.

The wedding took place in a small church where the reception was in the church basement.  As I maneuvered down the squeaky stairs to the small reception room I noticed that the door was so low that you needed stoop down as to not to hit your head.  Doing that, I had not noticed the nail sticking out of the door frame.  The obnoxious little thing caught my wig and ripped it right off my head, revealing what was underneath.  At that point I felt the blood drain to my feet as I retrieved my curly locks.  If I could ever forget this horrific incident, my husband is sure to remember and tell it once again even including the man who exclaimed with great joviality that "someone just got scalped down there"!  This I will never live down or forget as long as I live!  Most of us have things we have done that will live in our memories forever some humorous and some not so much.

Unfortunately we often remember our past failures and sins in the same way.  We find ourselves reliving our sins even if Jesus has forgiven them.  The pain we bare because we cannot release them sometimes suck the joy right from our very soul.  I'm reminded of a verses in the bible that tells of the forgetfulness of our God.

““This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.””

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!”

‭‭Micah‬ ‭7:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a beautiful song that tells of God's forgetfulness, called, "What Sin", here are the lyrics.  I hope you enjoy and apply Hebrews 19:16-17 to your life and soak up His unfailing love.

What Sin

It happened so long ago

And I cried out for mercy back then I plead the blood of Jesus 

Begging him to forgive my sin

But still I can't forget 

It just won't go away

So I wept again, "Lord wash my sin,"

But this is all He'd say

Chorus 

What sin, what sin?

Well that's as far away

as the east is from the west

What sin, what sin?

It was gone the very minute you confessed

Buried in the sea of forgetfulness 

The heaviest thing you'll carry

Is a load of guilt and shame

You were never meant to bear them

So let them go in Jesus name

Our God is slow to anger

Quick to forgive our sin

So let him put them under the blood

Don't bring them up again

Cause He'll just say

Chorus 

Lord, please deliver me 

From my accusing memory

Nothing makes me weak this way,

Then when I hear you say

Chorus 

They Spread The News

Today I started the long process of putting my Christmas decorations away.  I put up way too much so, of course, it is quite a job to pack it all up for another's year.  In November I placed each character of my nativity set in its proper place, thinking about each one and there place in the Christmas story.  Now as I reverse the process, I think, again, about the beautiful figurines.  I place Mary, Joseph, the precious baby and the flashy wise men in the cardboard box but as I place the shepherds in their place, I think of these men who were the first ones to hear the good news of the Messiah.  As the last character is placed in the box I remembered what the shepherds did after leaving the Messiah.  The bible says they told everyone they met about what they had been told concerning the child.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”  ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I wondered if they had kept Jesus to themselves or like some, put the Savior in a box for another year, would the world know about Him now.  Sometimes we are tempted to leave our Savior in the manger and store Him away after Christmas when He longs to be a part of our everyday life.  He desires for us to know and love Him and spread the Word concerning His birth and His life, as the shepherds did that first Christmas night.  

My hearts desire is to tell others about God and our Lord, Jesus in this New Year.  

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”  2 Peter‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Just Peachy

As he clung to the side of his cage, I could see that he needed more room to fly around.  My little love bird had long out grown his old “starter cage” and was ready for one he could move around in more.  So this year I asked for a new cage for “Peachy” as a Christmas gift and I got a nice roomy one for my not so excited feathered friend.  It was big enough for him to move around and not just cling to the side.  It had two perches and nice feeder bowls that hung from the “easy access” doors.  But this bewildered little bird fought me all the way, flapping his wings and biting “the hand that feeds him” until I thought I would cry.

Peachy was given a new start and a new way of life but unfortunately, Peachy was so used to the old ways that even after he got his new “life”, he clung to his old ways and spent his days hanging from the sides of his new cage.  

Sometimes I think I am much like my sweet Peachy!  God offers me peace, power and love but I cling to the old memories, old hurts and old worries!  What must our God think, when he offers us so much but we settle for so little?  

This New Year I want to be all He wants me to be and accept all He has for me.  The bible says God had our life planned even before we were born.  Have I hung on ferociously to old things instead of grasping my new freedom in Christ?  

Just an update on Peachy, he is now sitting on his new perches and spends less time on the sides of his new cage.  Lord, may I loosen my grasp on the past and enjoy what you have for me today and in this next year!

The Sweetest Water

I'm surely a coffee girl all the way.  I love the way it smells, I like the warmth It gives on a cold morning, and I delight in the taste.  When I eat at a restaurant, I love a tall glass of raspberry tea with my meal.  On a cold night, give me hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on top, slowly melting, as I enjoy the creamy beverage.  But when I am truly thirsty I crave a cold, clear, glass of water.

I could almost feel that thirst, as I read about the children of Israel today in Exodus.  The bible says, after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea on dry land they were led by Moses into the Desert of Shur.  The scripture says they traveled three days without finding water. Most of us have never felt such thirst.  Can you imagine their relief when they came upon Marah, an oasis of water, but can you feel their disappointment when they found out this water was bitter and they were unable to drink it?  At this discovery, they began to grumble to Moses, as we all might do, "What are we to drink?"  Moses went to the Lord and was instructed to throw a certain piece of wood into that bitter pool.  The bitter water was instantly transformed into sweet, refreshing water and they were able to drink.

As I read today of this tree that was thrown into the bitter water, I found that many commentators suggest that this tree represented the cross of Jesus Christ.   Many times we grumble at our circumstances, at prayers not answered or hard times that seem to plague us, when it is the tree of Jesus we need to sweeten the waters of our bitterness and discontent.  

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭NKJV

I know, myself, I have felt the bitterness of unanswered prayer.  I have prayed for healing for loved ones and for impossible circumstances, but have yet to see those  prayers answered, at least in the way and the timing that I think they should be.  But today I pray for the sweetness of the cross to refresh, and give me new hope in Him.  May I be reminded of his unfailing love and may I be still and wait on Him who died on that tree for me.

Harper's Calm Assurance

Our granddaughter Harper was born a little over nine weeks ago and what a blessing she has been.   She is a perfect baby, eating, sleeping and being adorable right on schedule.  What joy she brings us all and most certainly, her older brother Kellan! 

 I read one time that a new baby's birth is a sign that the world should go on and indeed that's true.  We think of Harper's  future and what kind of life she might have, what kind of struggles and what kind of joys.  Mom and Dad dream of her first day of school, her college education and that bitter sweet walk down the isle.  On the way she will go through eye shadow, prom and boys,  she will bless her Mommy and steal her Daddy's heart.  

One of my favorite songs is "Because He Lives" by Bill Gather.  My favorite verse is:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy she gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because 

He lives!

Today she is content and happy, sleeping in her mothers arms, but as she grows up she will surely feel the uncertainty of this world.   But, happily, she can find calm assurance because Jesus lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

I love you, Harper, "little peanut butter queen"!

On Call

Awhile back I had a horrible, terrible throbbing toothache.  It felt like the roots of that thing was buried somewhere deep in my feet.  I felt twinges of slight pain all day but nothing I couldn't live with.  Unfortunately  after office hours, of course, the pain took a turn for the the worse.  In fact, if it hadn't been for the pain that just opening my mouth brought, I might have screamed!  I could barely concentrate on the phone book as I dialed the dentist's number.  As I expected, the answering service picked up the phone and asked, "what's you problem?"  Not being in the best frame of mind, I almost wanted to tell her my big toe ached, WHAT DID SHE THINK?  "I'll have someone call you right back," she said hurriedly, maybe noting the desperation in my voice.  As I waited "patiently" for the phone to ring, I thought probably that the dentist on call wouldn't even know me but surprisingly, my own dentist called back.  I was happy to hear a familiar voice, and especially of one who knew me.  Fortunately, he was not sleeping but was on call to hear my woes!

I thought of this today as I read one of my favorite passages.  Psalm 121 verses 3-4 reminds us that our God, the maker of heaven and earth, is always on call to hear about my fears, hurts and pain.  He never sleeps.  He knows me!  Jesus knows me this I love!

“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Try to read Psalm 121 today, it will bless your heart.