Have you ever noticed that when you are going somewhere you have never been how much longer it seems to take and how much more difficult it is than when you are familiar with the way?
A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to a Sunday afternoon graduation celebration of a young man my husband works closely with at his job. It was held at his family's home, which is slightly less than an hour and a half from where we live, in a rural area where we had never been.
It was a beautiful afternoon, but as we traveled we were constantly reminded that we had never been that way before! We were completely dependent on our GPS to get us there. Interstate gave way to less traveled country roads, and there were lots of twists and turns. We explicitly followed the directions of the GPS because we had no idea where we were or where we would end up!
In contrast, a few days later on the 4th of July, my husband and I were both blessed with the holiday off (a rare thing for him) and since we had no plans, we decided to make a trip to the beach. Since my husband is recovering from surgery he wasn't up to walking on the beach (and he is not a beach fan anyway!) but he could sit on a pier and fish. We chose a beach that we had been to quite a few times before and even taken family to because it was closer and because it also has a fishing pier.
This trip was so different than the one we had taken just three days before. We were familiar enough with the route that we didn't even need to turn our GPS on. We knew exactly how to get there. We had the benefit of experience and were very confident of the way.
I found myself thinking about these trips this week when I was reading one of my favorite passages, Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." The phrase that stands out to me is "lean (or depend) not on your own understanding." Which is exactly what I usually do.
I am reminded once again that trust comes into play not when we understand the way, but when we don't know where we are going. When I am on a road where I have been before, I depend on my experience. I don't ask for directions because I am confident that I know the way. But when I am traveling a road that I have never been before, I want to know exactly how I am going to get there. I depend on the directions. I like familiar landmarks because they show me that I am on the right road. I want to know that I am making the right decisions and that I will end up at the right place!
Some other verses came to mind when it comes to thinking about travel, especially with the children of Israel and their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. I find it especially interesting that God didn't lead them by the expected route - Exodus 13:17-18. No, He led them the long way around - because He had a plan to test them, teach them and humble them (Deut. 8:2). It struck me this week when I read Exodus 13:18 that God led them directly to the Red Sea! Right where He knew they would encounter a problem and would have to depend on Him to get them where they were going and where He could show His power! Does that sound familiar to you? It does to me!
I don't even begin to understand why I am on a completely different road than what I set out on. I have no idea how or where it's going to end up. That's exactly where God wants me to be - to depend on Him for everything - and not on my own experience. How about you?
The Light in My Window
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Keep your eyes fixed!
I admit it....in my 60 years, I don't have much experience with lawn mowing. Grass cutting. Or whatever words you use to describe that process of hauling out the lawn mower and keeping your grass under control and your yard presentable. Growing up, I had a dad who was wonderful at anything which involved a yard and working outside. Then I had a husband, who also really enjoyed spending a lot of time on our yard, making it look nice. And then we had two sons. My areas of expertise have always been pretty much indoors.
Three years ago this month (we had two years in a row where June was a very difficult month for us), my husband underwent a total knee replacement, after which he had about every complication possible including a second hospitalization, and which ultimately was not successful.
Tomorrow, with a different surgeon and in a different hospital, he will be admitted and undergo a re-do of that surgery. I have been struggling with considerable anxiety and fear, for a number of reasons. The memories of three years ago are still too vivid, and the outcome is so uncertain. The doctor doesn't know exactly what is going to need to be done, we don't know how long the hospital stay will last, or how long my husband will need to be off work.
So I have been focusing on the One who does know all of these things, because it was in his plan for us from eternity past. He knows the outcome. I remember the word I chose for this year, which is "intentional" and I am choosing to be intentional about trusting the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 says that the Lord will keep in perfect peace the one who stays his mind on Him, because He trusts in Him. The phrase "perfect peace" actually means a double portion of peace. And verse 4 continues the thought - "Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God is everlasting strength."
Which brings me back to the lawn mowing. Like I did 3 years ago when my husband had surgery, I am taking over the lawn mowing. Only the lawn of this house that we are living in (which is a rental house and in a wooded area) is much harder to mow than our lawn in Williamsburg. In Williamsburg our grass was beautiful, thick and lush. It was easy to see where you were cutting and where you had been.
The grass of this house is made up of, to sum it up, mostly weeds. It is very thin and interspersed with moss and weeds and all kinds of things, and that makes it very difficult to cut. I couldn't actually tell what I had already cut and where I needed to go. The path I needed to take was very unclear. I found that when I didn't try to look back where I had already been, or around at the whole yard, but kept my eyes straight ahead on the path I was cutting in front of me, the job was easier. I couldn't see the path clearly while I was mowing, but when I was finished and looked at the whole yard, it was good.
Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be shaken." The Psalmist understood the secret of keeping your eyes fixed. I know I'm not the only one who is walking an unclear path right now. If you are, can you choose to be intentional about trusting the One who knows your path?
Three years ago this month (we had two years in a row where June was a very difficult month for us), my husband underwent a total knee replacement, after which he had about every complication possible including a second hospitalization, and which ultimately was not successful.
Tomorrow, with a different surgeon and in a different hospital, he will be admitted and undergo a re-do of that surgery. I have been struggling with considerable anxiety and fear, for a number of reasons. The memories of three years ago are still too vivid, and the outcome is so uncertain. The doctor doesn't know exactly what is going to need to be done, we don't know how long the hospital stay will last, or how long my husband will need to be off work.
So I have been focusing on the One who does know all of these things, because it was in his plan for us from eternity past. He knows the outcome. I remember the word I chose for this year, which is "intentional" and I am choosing to be intentional about trusting the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 says that the Lord will keep in perfect peace the one who stays his mind on Him, because He trusts in Him. The phrase "perfect peace" actually means a double portion of peace. And verse 4 continues the thought - "Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God is everlasting strength."
Which brings me back to the lawn mowing. Like I did 3 years ago when my husband had surgery, I am taking over the lawn mowing. Only the lawn of this house that we are living in (which is a rental house and in a wooded area) is much harder to mow than our lawn in Williamsburg. In Williamsburg our grass was beautiful, thick and lush. It was easy to see where you were cutting and where you had been.
The grass of this house is made up of, to sum it up, mostly weeds. It is very thin and interspersed with moss and weeds and all kinds of things, and that makes it very difficult to cut. I couldn't actually tell what I had already cut and where I needed to go. The path I needed to take was very unclear. I found that when I didn't try to look back where I had already been, or around at the whole yard, but kept my eyes straight ahead on the path I was cutting in front of me, the job was easier. I couldn't see the path clearly while I was mowing, but when I was finished and looked at the whole yard, it was good.
Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be shaken." The Psalmist understood the secret of keeping your eyes fixed. I know I'm not the only one who is walking an unclear path right now. If you are, can you choose to be intentional about trusting the One who knows your path?
Saturday, February 3, 2018
The Music of My Life
I love good music.
I have loved music for as long as I can remember. If I am home by myself, I am playing music. When I bake or cook, I put on music first. The first thing I do when I sit down to the computer to write or study is to go to my music library. Over the years, we have collected dozens of CDs by the Wilds, Majesty Music, Soundforth and other good conservative Christian sources as well as some classical and "oldies." I have so many "favorite songs" it would be impossible to name them all. Music speaks to me, quiets me, and encourages me.
I was reading in Psalms 42 and 43 the other day, and although there are many familiar verses in those chapters, this time I noticed this verse which is repeated three times in these short Psalms:
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."
My attention was especially drawn to the phrase, "I shall again praise Him." When I studied this out, in the context of these Psalms it is talking about praising God with music. Psalms 42 and 43 were written "to the choirmaster." But to me, the interesting word was "again." The Psalmist in these Psalms is pouring out his heart which is obviously in turmoil and anguish. However in the midst of this He reminds Himself (and us) that there would come a time when He would be able to again praise God.
When I am learning a new song, it usually isn't the notes or harmony I have trouble learning. I am a pretty good sight-reader, from many years of practice. The thing that is harder for me to learn is the timing. It takes more work and practice for me to learn the timing, especially if there are some tricky things written in. I think the Psalmist felt like I sometimes (often, lately) do - that my life is like a piece of music into which there has been inserted some difficult timing. Especially when it comes to an interlude or a rest.
I love this from Elisabeth Elliott in her book "Secure in the Everlasting Arms":
"Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the timing, and not be dismayed over the "rests." They are not to be omitted. They are not to be slurred over. They are not there to destroy the melody. We are not to change the keynote. It's His song, not mine, that I am here to sing."
In music, we not only have rests but we have longer interludes. In thinking about this, I looked up the definition of "interlude" which was very meaningful: "an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event; an interval. A musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition."
Doesn't that sound like our lives? God writes "rests" or "interludes" into the composition which is our life. They are designed to enhance the music, not detract from it. If we try to omit them or rush them or change them, then we are saying that the composer didn't do a good job.
Two more thoughts about interludes to remember:
Interludes are transitions. They are not the end of the song.
"I shall yet again praise Him, my salvation and my God."
Psalm 57:1 - "I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until this storm is past."
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope."
Interludes are at the discretion of the composer. God knows what He is doing.
Isaiah 25:1 - "O Lord, You are my God, I will exalt you, I will praise your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of God of old, faithful and sure."
Isaiah 46:9-10 - "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I shall accomplish all my purposes."
What has God written into the music that is your life?
Thoughtfully,
Kathi
I have loved music for as long as I can remember. If I am home by myself, I am playing music. When I bake or cook, I put on music first. The first thing I do when I sit down to the computer to write or study is to go to my music library. Over the years, we have collected dozens of CDs by the Wilds, Majesty Music, Soundforth and other good conservative Christian sources as well as some classical and "oldies." I have so many "favorite songs" it would be impossible to name them all. Music speaks to me, quiets me, and encourages me.
I was reading in Psalms 42 and 43 the other day, and although there are many familiar verses in those chapters, this time I noticed this verse which is repeated three times in these short Psalms:
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God."
My attention was especially drawn to the phrase, "I shall again praise Him." When I studied this out, in the context of these Psalms it is talking about praising God with music. Psalms 42 and 43 were written "to the choirmaster." But to me, the interesting word was "again." The Psalmist in these Psalms is pouring out his heart which is obviously in turmoil and anguish. However in the midst of this He reminds Himself (and us) that there would come a time when He would be able to again praise God.
When I am learning a new song, it usually isn't the notes or harmony I have trouble learning. I am a pretty good sight-reader, from many years of practice. The thing that is harder for me to learn is the timing. It takes more work and practice for me to learn the timing, especially if there are some tricky things written in. I think the Psalmist felt like I sometimes (often, lately) do - that my life is like a piece of music into which there has been inserted some difficult timing. Especially when it comes to an interlude or a rest.
I love this from Elisabeth Elliott in her book "Secure in the Everlasting Arms":
"Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the timing, and not be dismayed over the "rests." They are not to be omitted. They are not to be slurred over. They are not there to destroy the melody. We are not to change the keynote. It's His song, not mine, that I am here to sing."
In music, we not only have rests but we have longer interludes. In thinking about this, I looked up the definition of "interlude" which was very meaningful: "an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event; an interval. A musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition."
Doesn't that sound like our lives? God writes "rests" or "interludes" into the composition which is our life. They are designed to enhance the music, not detract from it. If we try to omit them or rush them or change them, then we are saying that the composer didn't do a good job.
Two more thoughts about interludes to remember:
Interludes are transitions. They are not the end of the song.
"I shall yet again praise Him, my salvation and my God."
Psalm 57:1 - "I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until this storm is past."
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope."
Interludes are at the discretion of the composer. God knows what He is doing.
Isaiah 25:1 - "O Lord, You are my God, I will exalt you, I will praise your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of God of old, faithful and sure."
Isaiah 46:9-10 - "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I shall accomplish all my purposes."
What has God written into the music that is your life?
Thoughtfully,
Kathi
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Our Default Pattern
This overcast January morning has been spent doing my very favorite things that I love to do on Saturday mornings when my husband is working: Being home, putting some yummy things in the oven, listening to uplifting Christian music, and writing either in my journal or as in this morning's case, a Bible study lesson and this blog post.
As I brought up my computer program and began to write and edit my lesson this morning, I was keenly aware of something: I want to default to the computer program I am used to.
At home we have had Apple products for years and I have been accustomed to using Pages and other computer programs that are part of the Apple world. But at work, I spend 40 hours a week in an office that uses only PCs and Microsoft Office programs. I had been used to using Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Publisher in my previous jobs, but prior to returning to work last year I had been home for several years. I had gotten so used to my MacIntosh computer and programs that it took me some time (and quite a bit of re-learning) to get used to using Microsoft at the office again. And now when I use my computer at home, I want to default to what I am used to using all week. It's amazing how hard it is!
As I was pondering this, I realized that we all have default patterns in our lives. They are traits and habits that we are comfortable with and naturally return to again and again. They are our natural bent. And whether they be good or bad, they are what we become comfortable with.
Sometime around October or November, I felt the need to depart from what I had been doing in my daily Bible reading and re-study the subject of gratitude. I realized that I had developed a "default pattern" or a natural bent of reacting with negative thoughts which lead to discouragement and fear, rather than giving thanks because I know that my circumstances are God's will for me right now, whether I understand them or not. When I respond to my circumstances with an attitude of trust and giving thanks to God for His presence with me and His plan being perfect, then that puts me in the position of knowing joy and peace.
My Bible reading the past couple weeks brought me to Psalm 79, which I have read many times before. But the last verse seemed to jump off the page to me, because my current Bible reading program is a chronological one. This time I was able to read Psalm 79 in light of the setting in which it was written.
Psalm 79:13: "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise." That doesn't sound so remarkable until you consider that this whole Psalm is filled with the anguish of God's people about the complete destruction of their temple, and their prayer for deliverance from the enemy who had done this devastation. For the background, read 2 Chronicles 36:19-21 and 2 Kings 25:8-15.
This last verse reveals an abrupt change in attitude. It is a departure from their default pattern of despair to a determination to continue to give God the praise and to be thankful! And not only that, but to continue to teach and set the example for their children and grandchildren - in spite of their problems.
What is your default pattern - the attitude or habit that seems to come naturally for you, that threatens to destroy your peace and joy? Determine that with God's help, you will attempt to change what is your default pattern into that which is right. Only then can we know God's peace and impact others with a joyful, positive spirit.
As I brought up my computer program and began to write and edit my lesson this morning, I was keenly aware of something: I want to default to the computer program I am used to.
At home we have had Apple products for years and I have been accustomed to using Pages and other computer programs that are part of the Apple world. But at work, I spend 40 hours a week in an office that uses only PCs and Microsoft Office programs. I had been used to using Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Publisher in my previous jobs, but prior to returning to work last year I had been home for several years. I had gotten so used to my MacIntosh computer and programs that it took me some time (and quite a bit of re-learning) to get used to using Microsoft at the office again. And now when I use my computer at home, I want to default to what I am used to using all week. It's amazing how hard it is!
As I was pondering this, I realized that we all have default patterns in our lives. They are traits and habits that we are comfortable with and naturally return to again and again. They are our natural bent. And whether they be good or bad, they are what we become comfortable with.
Sometime around October or November, I felt the need to depart from what I had been doing in my daily Bible reading and re-study the subject of gratitude. I realized that I had developed a "default pattern" or a natural bent of reacting with negative thoughts which lead to discouragement and fear, rather than giving thanks because I know that my circumstances are God's will for me right now, whether I understand them or not. When I respond to my circumstances with an attitude of trust and giving thanks to God for His presence with me and His plan being perfect, then that puts me in the position of knowing joy and peace.
My Bible reading the past couple weeks brought me to Psalm 79, which I have read many times before. But the last verse seemed to jump off the page to me, because my current Bible reading program is a chronological one. This time I was able to read Psalm 79 in light of the setting in which it was written.
Psalm 79:13: "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise." That doesn't sound so remarkable until you consider that this whole Psalm is filled with the anguish of God's people about the complete destruction of their temple, and their prayer for deliverance from the enemy who had done this devastation. For the background, read 2 Chronicles 36:19-21 and 2 Kings 25:8-15.
This last verse reveals an abrupt change in attitude. It is a departure from their default pattern of despair to a determination to continue to give God the praise and to be thankful! And not only that, but to continue to teach and set the example for their children and grandchildren - in spite of their problems.
What is your default pattern - the attitude or habit that seems to come naturally for you, that threatens to destroy your peace and joy? Determine that with God's help, you will attempt to change what is your default pattern into that which is right. Only then can we know God's peace and impact others with a joyful, positive spirit.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Post-Christmas Thoughts
Christmas is over for another year.
The gifts have been opened, the leftovers are gone. The kids and grandkids have all gone home, and the decorations and tree are (finally) down. We are less than a week into the new year. I always find the time following Christmas and into the new year to be a time of needful reflection. In this post I will give you a little glimpse into the things that have been occupying my mind and my time.
What I Have Been Enjoying
Making Christmas memories! We are so blessed to have had an-extra special Christmas this year! Our son and his family of 4 who live on the west coast flew to Virginia for the first time since their move to Oregon and spent 2 weeks with us! Our daughter and her family of 6 from South Carolina were also here for a week of that time, and because it had been almost three years since all of us were together, our older son and his family of 6 joined us for a day from their home in Pennsylvania. We had 18 of us here for one priceless, amazing, memorable day! I felt so blessed all day! God blessed us with beautiful warm weather and we were able to play outside a lot. It warmed this mom's heart to watch our adult children and their spouses interacting with each other and all 10 of our grandchildren playing with and enjoying each other! We played, ate, talked, laughed, and capped the day off with a family Christmas carol sing and Bible time - what a blessing!
In addition to that day, the remaining 12 of us celebrated Christmas and God's ultimate gift to us of His Son Jesus. We also played lots of games, went on outings to the park and to the State Capitol, had a family gingerbread house decorating competition, made crafts and dipped pretzels, and just had a wonderful time making precious memories.
Of course with all of this came a lot of shopping, meal-planning, cooking, and cleaning up!
What I'm Planning and Reading
Since everyone went home, in between the cleaning and re-organizing of the house and the time I spend at work, I have been taking some time to nourish my soul. I find that I need to refresh my body, my mind, and my spirit. Whether or not you have had a houseful of family as I did or your Christmas was a quiet one, Christmas takes a lot out of us. We can't continue to give out without taking some time to quiet ourselves and take in what God has for us.
Refreshing my body means getting a little more sleep than I have been lately, and cutting down on the sugar and rich foods I ate over the Christmas season in favor of a more healthy way of eating.
Refreshing my mind involves planning ways I can learn new things and stretch myself in the coming months, and as a part of that I have made a commitment to spend more time reading this year. I have subscribed to some new blogs that enrich my life as a Christian woman, and I have also been compiling a reading list. Some of the books that are on my list are Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson, Choosing Gratitude (I am almost finished with my second read-through of this) and Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Refresh by Shona and Davis Murray, His Word in My Heart by Janet Pope, and a book I got for Christmas, No Less Than Yes by Connie Patty.
What I'm Meditating On
By far the most important segment of refreshment is that of my soul. I need continued time alone with God and His Word because in this crazy, uncertain life, God is my stability. My favorite times are those times I can sit quietly in a comfy chair, wrapped in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee, and just relish the time of reading and meditating on the Word and writing in my journal.
Lately I have been meditating on the character of God. I find that when I get overwhelmed by life or fearful of the future (because we still have more questions than we do answers) that focusing my attention on the character of God brings the calmness and peace I need. This week I focused on verses about His faithfulness, His holiness, and His mercy and grace.
As has been my custom the past couple of years, I have also chosen a special word for the new year. Two years ago I had never heard of this. Now it seems like everyone I know is doing it. That first year my word was "perspective." Last year it was "content." For 2018 I have chosen "intentional." I have seen quite a few others choose this same word after I had already decided on it, but for me it embodied my desire this year to not just go through the motions or do things out of routine or habit, but to be more intentional and purposeful in the areas of my prayer life and my health. I want to be intentional about appreciating - to notice and to give thanks. To be more intentional about extending grace and forgiveness. And to be more intentional in my listening to and encouraging others when I have opportunity.
My verses for 2018: For some reason, I struggled this year with choosing a verse. I chose and discarded several. The verse I finally settled on is Phil. 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." I am choosing to believe and trust that God's purpose for me to grow closer to Him and serve Him that He set in motion when I accepted Christ is ongoing and will not be completed until my life here is finished.
Have you spent time lately refreshing your body, mind, and soul? Do you have some plans and goals for 2018? Most important to to keep growing closer to Him!
Joyfully,
Kathi
The gifts have been opened, the leftovers are gone. The kids and grandkids have all gone home, and the decorations and tree are (finally) down. We are less than a week into the new year. I always find the time following Christmas and into the new year to be a time of needful reflection. In this post I will give you a little glimpse into the things that have been occupying my mind and my time.
What I Have Been Enjoying
Making Christmas memories! We are so blessed to have had an-extra special Christmas this year! Our son and his family of 4 who live on the west coast flew to Virginia for the first time since their move to Oregon and spent 2 weeks with us! Our daughter and her family of 6 from South Carolina were also here for a week of that time, and because it had been almost three years since all of us were together, our older son and his family of 6 joined us for a day from their home in Pennsylvania. We had 18 of us here for one priceless, amazing, memorable day! I felt so blessed all day! God blessed us with beautiful warm weather and we were able to play outside a lot. It warmed this mom's heart to watch our adult children and their spouses interacting with each other and all 10 of our grandchildren playing with and enjoying each other! We played, ate, talked, laughed, and capped the day off with a family Christmas carol sing and Bible time - what a blessing!
In addition to that day, the remaining 12 of us celebrated Christmas and God's ultimate gift to us of His Son Jesus. We also played lots of games, went on outings to the park and to the State Capitol, had a family gingerbread house decorating competition, made crafts and dipped pretzels, and just had a wonderful time making precious memories.
Of course with all of this came a lot of shopping, meal-planning, cooking, and cleaning up!
What I'm Planning and Reading
Since everyone went home, in between the cleaning and re-organizing of the house and the time I spend at work, I have been taking some time to nourish my soul. I find that I need to refresh my body, my mind, and my spirit. Whether or not you have had a houseful of family as I did or your Christmas was a quiet one, Christmas takes a lot out of us. We can't continue to give out without taking some time to quiet ourselves and take in what God has for us.
Refreshing my body means getting a little more sleep than I have been lately, and cutting down on the sugar and rich foods I ate over the Christmas season in favor of a more healthy way of eating.
Refreshing my mind involves planning ways I can learn new things and stretch myself in the coming months, and as a part of that I have made a commitment to spend more time reading this year. I have subscribed to some new blogs that enrich my life as a Christian woman, and I have also been compiling a reading list. Some of the books that are on my list are Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson, Choosing Gratitude (I am almost finished with my second read-through of this) and Adorned by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Refresh by Shona and Davis Murray, His Word in My Heart by Janet Pope, and a book I got for Christmas, No Less Than Yes by Connie Patty.
What I'm Meditating On
By far the most important segment of refreshment is that of my soul. I need continued time alone with God and His Word because in this crazy, uncertain life, God is my stability. My favorite times are those times I can sit quietly in a comfy chair, wrapped in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee, and just relish the time of reading and meditating on the Word and writing in my journal.
Lately I have been meditating on the character of God. I find that when I get overwhelmed by life or fearful of the future (because we still have more questions than we do answers) that focusing my attention on the character of God brings the calmness and peace I need. This week I focused on verses about His faithfulness, His holiness, and His mercy and grace.
As has been my custom the past couple of years, I have also chosen a special word for the new year. Two years ago I had never heard of this. Now it seems like everyone I know is doing it. That first year my word was "perspective." Last year it was "content." For 2018 I have chosen "intentional." I have seen quite a few others choose this same word after I had already decided on it, but for me it embodied my desire this year to not just go through the motions or do things out of routine or habit, but to be more intentional and purposeful in the areas of my prayer life and my health. I want to be intentional about appreciating - to notice and to give thanks. To be more intentional about extending grace and forgiveness. And to be more intentional in my listening to and encouraging others when I have opportunity.
My verses for 2018: For some reason, I struggled this year with choosing a verse. I chose and discarded several. The verse I finally settled on is Phil. 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." I am choosing to believe and trust that God's purpose for me to grow closer to Him and serve Him that He set in motion when I accepted Christ is ongoing and will not be completed until my life here is finished.
Have you spent time lately refreshing your body, mind, and soul? Do you have some plans and goals for 2018? Most important to to keep growing closer to Him!
Joyfully,
Kathi
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Jehovah-Jireh - God, Our Provider
Happy Thanksgiving!
I can't believe we are just a few days away from another Thanksgiving...wasn't it just the 4th of July? We are excited about being able to share Thanksgiving in our home this year with our oldest son and his family!
I hope you will forgive me for being late with a blog post, and also for writing a post today that just shares my heart. I was up and out early on this Saturday morning accomplishing my lengthy errand-and-shopping list before the day got away from me, and as I was driving I was thinking about this time last year. There is something about the holidays, Thanksgiving and New Years in particular, that make me reflect on the past year. I think what prompted my line of thinking was hearing one of my favorite songs - "Jehovah-Jireh" by Matt Whitcomb and recorded by the Hamilton family. I love these words:
"Today in this place, we seek for God's will.
We trust day by day that our cup He will fill.
And when He tells us to sacrifice our treasures here on earth,
Rich blessings are in store for us,
And joy of matchless worth."
"Jehovah-Jireh, in You we hide,
Jehovah-Jireh, You will provide!
For we know that you are with us,
Your loving hands will hold us,
We rest secure,
We place our lives within Your hands."
I actually wrote these words in my journal almost a year and a half ago after hearing this song. They were so appropriate at the time. And they still are.
Last year at Thanksgiving, we had just sold our house but we had not yet moved. My husband was commuting two hours a day to and from his new job in Richmond. I had given notice at my job because we were moving but I had no idea if and where I would be able to find a new job. We hadn't yet secured an apartment. We had no church home. Things were uncertain at best.
Today, we have moved out of the apartment that we lived in for the first ten months of our transition and have been in this house (a rental house) for about 6 weeks. My husband is still working long hours but he only has an 11 mile commute to work. I have a job that I like and that provides me with good benefits. We are serving in a local church as much as we can. As I thought about all these things, I couldn't help but think how true it is that God is our Jehovah-Jireh - He has provided. He has blessed us richly and met every need.
This month in my personal devotions, I am returning to the study "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. I first read this book and taught this study several years ago when we lived in Illinois. It impacted my life so much that I wanted (and needed) to do it again. There is a 30-day Gratitude Challenge that is included in the book, and I have gained so much from it. It is the kind of study you can do again and again. True gratitude is missing from our lives as Christians and it is life-changing. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this: "Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?"
Gratitude must come from a humble heart - when I am dissatisfied or resentful or comparing it is because of pride, thinking I deserve better when I don't. Having a grateful heart means sometimes we choose to be thankful when it is hard. Psalm 50:23a is encouraging - "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me."
Along with this study I have been reading through the book of Isaiah. Chapter 40 is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. I started to highlight my favorite verses and found I was highlighting the entire chapter! It is full of the characteristics of God, and a picture of contrasts - God is described as powerful, strong, infinitely wise, everlasting, Creator, great and mighty. Yet "He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather His lambs in His arms. He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young." (verse 11) As our Shepherd, He knows what we need, and He is our provider - our Jehovah-Jireh.
Wishing you and yours a very joyful and blessed Thanksgiving,
Kathi
I can't believe we are just a few days away from another Thanksgiving...wasn't it just the 4th of July? We are excited about being able to share Thanksgiving in our home this year with our oldest son and his family!
I hope you will forgive me for being late with a blog post, and also for writing a post today that just shares my heart. I was up and out early on this Saturday morning accomplishing my lengthy errand-and-shopping list before the day got away from me, and as I was driving I was thinking about this time last year. There is something about the holidays, Thanksgiving and New Years in particular, that make me reflect on the past year. I think what prompted my line of thinking was hearing one of my favorite songs - "Jehovah-Jireh" by Matt Whitcomb and recorded by the Hamilton family. I love these words:
"Today in this place, we seek for God's will.
We trust day by day that our cup He will fill.
And when He tells us to sacrifice our treasures here on earth,
Rich blessings are in store for us,
And joy of matchless worth."
"Jehovah-Jireh, in You we hide,
Jehovah-Jireh, You will provide!
For we know that you are with us,
Your loving hands will hold us,
We rest secure,
We place our lives within Your hands."
I actually wrote these words in my journal almost a year and a half ago after hearing this song. They were so appropriate at the time. And they still are.
Last year at Thanksgiving, we had just sold our house but we had not yet moved. My husband was commuting two hours a day to and from his new job in Richmond. I had given notice at my job because we were moving but I had no idea if and where I would be able to find a new job. We hadn't yet secured an apartment. We had no church home. Things were uncertain at best.
Today, we have moved out of the apartment that we lived in for the first ten months of our transition and have been in this house (a rental house) for about 6 weeks. My husband is still working long hours but he only has an 11 mile commute to work. I have a job that I like and that provides me with good benefits. We are serving in a local church as much as we can. As I thought about all these things, I couldn't help but think how true it is that God is our Jehovah-Jireh - He has provided. He has blessed us richly and met every need.
This month in my personal devotions, I am returning to the study "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. I first read this book and taught this study several years ago when we lived in Illinois. It impacted my life so much that I wanted (and needed) to do it again. There is a 30-day Gratitude Challenge that is included in the book, and I have gained so much from it. It is the kind of study you can do again and again. True gratitude is missing from our lives as Christians and it is life-changing. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this: "Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?"
Gratitude must come from a humble heart - when I am dissatisfied or resentful or comparing it is because of pride, thinking I deserve better when I don't. Having a grateful heart means sometimes we choose to be thankful when it is hard. Psalm 50:23a is encouraging - "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me."
Along with this study I have been reading through the book of Isaiah. Chapter 40 is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. I started to highlight my favorite verses and found I was highlighting the entire chapter! It is full of the characteristics of God, and a picture of contrasts - God is described as powerful, strong, infinitely wise, everlasting, Creator, great and mighty. Yet "He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather His lambs in His arms. He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young." (verse 11) As our Shepherd, He knows what we need, and He is our provider - our Jehovah-Jireh.
Wishing you and yours a very joyful and blessed Thanksgiving,
Kathi
Saturday, October 14, 2017
God of the Hills and the Valleys
If you know me personally or follow me on Facebook and are familiar with all that has been going on with us, you are probably really surprised to see this blog post. You are no more surprised than I - writing a blog post was not on my (very full) agenda for today. Just one week ago today, we moved into this house. We are only about 8 miles from where our apartment was, but there was still as much work with this move as any other. There is a world of difference being in a real house once again! And on this Saturday morning, if I ignore the stacks of boxes everywhere and the mess and the dirty windows and the lack of decor, it almost feels normal to me. I have some good music playing, I made baked oatmeal for breakfast, and best of all I have spent the last hour at my computer preparing the lesson and the outline handout for the Ladies Bible study I will be teaching this coming week.
Yes, God has answered prayer and has opened the door for me to teach ladies once again. It is only once a month, but truthfully with me working full-time that is probably a good thing. I have not taught for 18 months, and I have missed it so very much. I guess only someone who loves to write and teach as much as I do can understand how much a part of me that is. As I sat and studied and wrote this morning, it felt so normal and wonderful. My heart is full.
I wanted to share a verse with you that my attention was drawn to in my devotional time with the Lord this past month. 1 Kings 20:28 - "Thus says the Lord, Because the Syrians have said that the Lord is the God of the hills but He is not the God of the valleys, I will give all this great multitude into your hands so that you shall know that I am the Lord."
God is God of the valleys, as well as God of the mountains. These past few weeks have been full of mountains and valleys. At the end of September, our oldest son was ordained into the ministry and installed as Associate Pastor at the church that he and his wife have been at and served in ever since they were married in 2004. Being there for the weekend and witnessing the ordination and installation service that was so moving with magnificent music, meaningful Scripture readings, my brother and another bringing messages from the Word, and watching my son so confidently yet humbly saying his vows was an incredible, overwhelming experience for me as a mother. I could only think of Luke's words in Luke 2:19, "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Another mountain was seeing God provide a rental house for us, and His provision of people to help us move. I have moved many, many times in my life, but this was the first time I ever had to move while also working full-time. It seemed impossible, and it would have been if it had not been for the help we received. A sweet friend gave up an entire afternoon to help me pack for 4 hours straight. The Lord sent my brother and sister-in-law, missionaries on furlough, to visit us the last few days before we moved. They were invaluable in helping us pack, take down and re-install things, and cleaning the house before we moved in. Last Saturday we had a dozen people show up from our new church with willing hearts and hard-working bodies. God's provision was such a blessing and encouragement.
There have been valleys as well, places of deep disappointment and discouragement. Getting our things out of storage has brought some hurtful memories. Nothing is like I thought it would be at this point in our lives. But as I reflected on this verse, I had to remind myself that God is still the same God in the hard times as much as He is God of the good times. He still leads. He still provides. He still protects. He still blesses. He still is a sovereign God. If He doesn't lead through the valleys as well as the mountains, then He wouldn't be God. As I am re-studying the book of Exodus in preparation for teaching, I m reminded that just because we might be in the wilderness does not mean God is absent. Through both the mountains and the valleys, God's desire is that we glorify Him.
Thoughtfully,
Kathi
Yes, God has answered prayer and has opened the door for me to teach ladies once again. It is only once a month, but truthfully with me working full-time that is probably a good thing. I have not taught for 18 months, and I have missed it so very much. I guess only someone who loves to write and teach as much as I do can understand how much a part of me that is. As I sat and studied and wrote this morning, it felt so normal and wonderful. My heart is full.
I wanted to share a verse with you that my attention was drawn to in my devotional time with the Lord this past month. 1 Kings 20:28 - "Thus says the Lord, Because the Syrians have said that the Lord is the God of the hills but He is not the God of the valleys, I will give all this great multitude into your hands so that you shall know that I am the Lord."
God is God of the valleys, as well as God of the mountains. These past few weeks have been full of mountains and valleys. At the end of September, our oldest son was ordained into the ministry and installed as Associate Pastor at the church that he and his wife have been at and served in ever since they were married in 2004. Being there for the weekend and witnessing the ordination and installation service that was so moving with magnificent music, meaningful Scripture readings, my brother and another bringing messages from the Word, and watching my son so confidently yet humbly saying his vows was an incredible, overwhelming experience for me as a mother. I could only think of Luke's words in Luke 2:19, "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Another mountain was seeing God provide a rental house for us, and His provision of people to help us move. I have moved many, many times in my life, but this was the first time I ever had to move while also working full-time. It seemed impossible, and it would have been if it had not been for the help we received. A sweet friend gave up an entire afternoon to help me pack for 4 hours straight. The Lord sent my brother and sister-in-law, missionaries on furlough, to visit us the last few days before we moved. They were invaluable in helping us pack, take down and re-install things, and cleaning the house before we moved in. Last Saturday we had a dozen people show up from our new church with willing hearts and hard-working bodies. God's provision was such a blessing and encouragement.
There have been valleys as well, places of deep disappointment and discouragement. Getting our things out of storage has brought some hurtful memories. Nothing is like I thought it would be at this point in our lives. But as I reflected on this verse, I had to remind myself that God is still the same God in the hard times as much as He is God of the good times. He still leads. He still provides. He still protects. He still blesses. He still is a sovereign God. If He doesn't lead through the valleys as well as the mountains, then He wouldn't be God. As I am re-studying the book of Exodus in preparation for teaching, I m reminded that just because we might be in the wilderness does not mean God is absent. Through both the mountains and the valleys, God's desire is that we glorify Him.
Thoughtfully,
Kathi
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