Change

Most are familiar with the "Serenity Prayer":

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference."

(Reinhold Niebuhr)

This time of year is notorious for new year's resolutions illustrating a plethora of possible life changes seemingly for life improvement. I have never been a fan of this type of change since its permanence is generally short-lived. The changes I have been reflecting on are of a more permanent nature. 

In my last blog I shared that my mom recently passed away leaving a gaping hole in our family and a major change that I am slowly learning to accept. Knowing she is in heaven, where she is praising Jesus and fellowshiping with Dad, is comforting. Through this change my eyes have been opened to all she left behind as a llegacy and I have been challenged to carefully examine my future legacy to family and friends. So there is good in this change.

Slowly sliding into the senior citizen category is a change not easy to voice let alone welcome! Remember those "over-heard" restaurant conversations where you smiled and wondered why those elderly people obsessed about constipation and joint pain? Reality hits home when you realize you just e-mailed your friend  the name of a new doctor in town who welcomes Medicare and your shopping bag regularly carries a large bottle of Miralax! It is inevitable that as we age our bodies break down but our minds still remember the joys of running and jumping through fall leaves, rolling on the floor effortlessly with NO pain,wihile wrestling with wriggling 3 year olds, or enough energy to bike ride 25 miles then go to an evening dance! Why weren't we more thankful for our strong, agile bodies when we were young? I realize it is God's way of preparing us for the "transition" from these "used up" models to our heavenly eternal bodies. As we struggle through this change He is also gracious to teach us valuable spiritual lessons; patience, perseverance, being content in all circumstances!

Thankfully He never stops using us. 

"They will still bear fruit in old age. They will stay fresh and green proclaiming, "The Lord is upright, He is my rock and there is nothing but goodness in Him."" Psalm 92: 14-15

As we accept these aging changes we can see His provisions for us in this promise:

"Even to your old age and grey hair I am here. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you. I will carry you, I will sustain you and rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

OK. I may not be able to change the aging process but I can change my attitude towards it and rest in the knowledge that God NEVER changes! 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

Lesson to learn? Embrace change no matter in what form it appears and look for God's imprint!

Saying good-bye!

What does it mean to say good-bye? It is a hug, a kiss, a wave, even a letter or e-mail saying we are now separating but we will hopefully talk or see each other again tomorrow, next week, in a few months or even years down the road. Seldom do we say good-bye with the finality that we will never connect again. But what about death? Isn't that rather final? In once sense yes, in another sense definitely not. And the "definitely not" is what gives hope and comfort to the grieving. The spirit lives on as the physical body completes its role on earth.

A couple weeks ago I said good-bye to my wonderful, godly mother as she stepped into eternity with Jesus. Throughout my lifetime I have said so many good-byes to her fully expecting to see her "physically" again. In the last years the good-byes were often through the cell phone connections but as I ponder that now I so wish they would have been more physical. If only I would have spent more time holding her hand, sharing a meal, laughing over past adventures, shopping or just walking together. Why did I assume she would always be here, would always be just a phone call away? The doctor had just given her a clean bill of health and told her not to return for a year! But I guess God had other plans and wanted her walking with Him and joined once again to her husband, my Dad. who had preceded her to heaven by 16 years.

Because my Mom was a "born again" Christian I know she is in the mansion Jesus has prepared just for her (John 14:2). I will some day join her and then we can walk and talk, laugh and sing praises to the Lord Jesus who made it all possible!

So during this season of family and friend "gatherings" hug more, laugh louder, cherish every moment knowing our life on earth is brief and there will be "final" good-byes, for the physical body. But more important, thank God for his gift of Jesus whose life, death, and resurrection opened the door to eternity and the joy in the knowledge that as believers there is no final good-bye, only "I will see you again on the other side"!

Life is...

Recently, while taking a long car drive, l listened to a book on tape by Chris Favry entitled Dogwood. It is a character driven story of sacrifice and redemption with some shaking revelations and plot twists that totally took me "off guard". I loved it, so much so I listened to it another 9 hours worth! HIghly recommend you get a copy. But "praising" the book is not exactly what I want to share but rather something I read in it.

In the book there is a character named Ruthie who is witty, a bit eccentric, and definitely wise. I have taken the liberty of paraphasing her view of life thinking it may just put a smile on your face and for maybe a moment lift a burden. "A glad heart makes a happy face..." Proverbs 1:13a

Ruthie says life is a dance through a field of cow manure. Most people just dance around the edges, always trying to avoid life's smelly messes, afraid of the struggles. In so doing they miss the patches of rich green grass only the fertilizing manure can produce. And tucked in the patches of green grass are beautiful flowers that only can be seen in the middle of the field. Instead of just hugging the fence posts Ruthie advises one to put on hip boots and waltze through the cowpies! Love this "picture", probably because I grew up on a farm and can relate to this scene.

The challenging field I am facing is posted with a sign Parkinson's Disease. Recently I have been trying to juggle new medication and its side effects with diet issues. I already have given up dairy, wheat, sugar, and processed foods, & now I have to add to that list avocados, bananas, dried meats, and all fermented and aged foods because of their levels of tyramine which could cause higher than normal blood pressure interacting with the medication. 

It seems daily I am seeing greater levels of manure in this field so simply sitting down beside a fence post seems a good option. It is easy to let discouragement set in BUT I really want to see the flowers among the patches of rich, green grass, so will you join me in putting on your hip boots and skipping through the cowpies? Your field will have a different posted sign but the cow manure is the same in every field, as is the green grass and flowers!

I am reminded that going with us through that field is the Lord himself.

Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

Bring on the manure!!

God is at work in the dark places!

While paging through the Bible, on my way to Hebrews, I glanced at Philemon and noticed I had written these words at the top of the page: "God is at work in the dark places." Then under the title Philemon was penned the phrase: "letter of encouragement". I was instantly intrigued since several of my friends are in what I would definately call a "dark" place in their lives right now. So I set out to read this one-page book and discovered a real gem hidden between Titus and Hebrews. 

This is one of Paul's prison letters,written while he was under house arrest in Rome, chained to a Roman guard 24/7.  Paul's positive attitude through years of sufferng is a model to follow but it is not possible except through the power of Christ. First we receive Grace {God's riches at Christ's expense} then we are flooded with God's peace no matter what our circumstance. vs. 3 "Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

What do we do while in the dark places in our lives? We give thanks, we pray, and we encourage others. In following through on these seemingly difficult tasks we reap joy and encouragement ourselves and find our hearts refreshed. vs. 7 "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people."

Today I had the joy of watching three of my grandchildren run and jump into a pile of fallen leaves. They squealed with  laughter as their Daddy buried them only to pop up laughiing, their colorful jackets matching their big smiles. Reflecting on that moment I realize they were a picture of a christian's joy found in the "dead" and dark places of life as we turn to Him. 

Dear friends of mine; look for the joy in your dark place and "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." vs. 23

Leaving a Legacy

I have written a number of blogs through the years and I am not certain if I have broached this subject or not but it has been on my mind after our Sunday worship service.The pastor was ending a 7 week study of one of my favorite Biblical characters: Joseph. Joseph's life was filled, like each one of us, with mountains and valleys. Yet his reaction to no matter what came "around the corner" was to trust in God's plans and be faithful wherever his journey led. Indeed his legacy to not only his family but to the generations that followed and to those who read his story as one of faithfulness through life's "long run". The pastor stressed four key points which I want to share.

1. Part of living and leaving a legacy is....where you start is not as important as where you finish.

Genesis 50:15-21 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

2. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...your attitude and reaction are not dictated by your circumstances.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understandiingg. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

3. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...staying faithful in the waiting room.

Psalm 27:13-14

You will see the goodness of the Lord as you wait for his appearing, therefore be strong and take heart and wait for Him.

4. Part of living and leaving a legacy is...being a good forgiver.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving as God, through Christ, has forgiven you.

I look at my nine beautiful grandchildren and pray I can leave them a legacy of faithfulness to God. I pray they will see Jesus through me and want to hold HIs hand and be guided through life by Him!

The "Hills"

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

We drove into the "hills" today to a waterfall park near Molina, north of Verona, Italy. Christian and Logan's home school group was taking a field trip to learn to make cheese from a local Italian and then to lunch and hike in the park. What a fun day! The photos tell it all!

Thank-you, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to spend this wonderful day with two active grandsons!

We are blessed indeed to now have NINE special grandchildren and love each day we have with them. Can't wait to meet our new granddaughter, June Yuan Thorpe!

Orphan Ministry

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

These words have recently taken on new meaning as we welcome June Yuan Thorpe into our family.

My heart is overwhelmed with love for this precious little girl! 

Until last year when Rebecca and Steve actually started on the long journey of adoption I had not thought, much to my shame, seriously about the plight of so many orphans and God's directive for believers to do something about it! Why has not the church, (believers in Jesus), stepped up to the plate? How can those wanting to adopt connect with the children who want a family? Is it because of lack of funds? Couldn't believers pitch in here? Is it because of lack of information?  Couldn't believers learn more and educate? Is it because of lack of prayer? Couldn't believers intercede for these precious ones?

So many questions! The mountain seems tall but God is "taller"! He wants all believers to be involved so the question for me is How, God? I have recently begun to investigate churches with active orphan ministries in areas where I live or where I will be traveling to visit. He has planted a seed in my heart and I want to water it and see how He will allow it to grow for His glory.

I challenge each one of you to reread James 1:27 and see if it speaks to your heart. Maybe you can be involved in an answer to some orphans "prayers"!