I’ve spent a large portion of my Christian life looking for Biblical role models and following their examples. At first glance this appears to be a noble thing. After all, it’s much nicer on the body and on the soul to avoid sin and pursue righteousness by learning from others’ good examples and steering clear of the “dead end paths” that veer off the straight and narrow. But people will disappoint you.
I remember looking up to a Christian teacher in high school whose love for Jesus seemed to command her every word and deed. She was my rule and standard, until I found out years later that she had marriage problems. I remember idolizing the woman who discipled me, and feeling crushed and disillusioned when her two sons rebelled and rejected the faith. I remember looking up to my Bible study leader, until she started to get honest and admitted she yelled at her kids and was often tempted to fall back into some of her pre-salvation vices. I remember attending a conference led by a celebrated Christian author, and feeling stunned when she exuded a cold disinterest toward me in our conversation after the meeting. Then there was the theologian whose works and life I admired who admitted to his struggle with pride. And most disappointing of all was to discover that my favorite missionary’s daughter suffered from emotional struggles she was convinced were a result of her parents’ wrong choices. Yes, people will disappoint you.
The same can be said within our churches. The people you looked up to in the first weeks and months of attending a new fellowship will “let their hair down” and admit to haunting doubts about their faith in a conversation. Or you will hear of their wayward grown children, or witness them yelling at their kids. Or you will come to them hoping for some good advice and find that they simply don’t have anything profound to say about your particular problem. They will fall from their pedestals, and you will be confused and conflicted.
Something tells me that if we were to meet the mother of Jesus here on earth, she wouldn’t be quite who we’ve imagined her to be either. After all, she was pretty controlling at times. Or what about Peter? Once we watched him become a little hot-headed at a meeting, would we write him off or question his salvation? Paul would, by his own admission, be less than impressive in real life. The scriptures are chock-full of godly leaders who were real people with real problems.
I suppose you would be right to lose any regard for me now, because I’m admitting here to a critical and judgmental spirit. You might even accuse me of pride, that I have the gall to evaluate the maturity levels of the people I admire. But believe me, I am well aware of my own shortcomings. I cringe when I recall a conversation I had several years ago with a young woman in a church my husband pastored, in which I mercilessly criticized another pastor’s wife who had been on staff with me. I can never forget the look of shock on her face as I felt myself losing my balance and tripping down a few rungs on the ladder of respect in her mind. (Don’t worry, fellow pastor’s wives. It wasn’t about any of you on my mailing list!) To be honest, nearly every day, I look in the mirror and ask the woman staring back at me, “How can you call yourself a follower of Christ and still struggle with the same besetting sins?”
But here’s the amazing thing I’ve more recently discovered. I think this state of affairs is a grace from God. If someone were to truly pull it off – to achieve perfection in this life – imagine the temptation the rest of the church would face. We’d easily find ourselves exalting that one in the place of Christ. The Lord keeps all of us humble in His sanctification process, sending transforming grace in abundance in some areas, while holding out in others, until the time He so chooses to wrap up the job. The challenge here is to love and appreciate and yes, follow, the example of others we admire as they exemplify Christ, but all the time knowing that there are some closets the Lord has not ventured to clean out at this time. There are rooms in all of our lives where He has not, up to this moment, focused His constructive efforts. When Paul said, “Follow my example, brothers”, I believe he was saying to the church, “To the extent that I follow Christ, do as I do.”
So this does not mean we stop looking for role models and stop admiring and attempting to emulate those who challenge us to greater heights. No, because we are being molded out of the same raw stuff – the new life in Christ. On the contrary, I believe we actually need to learn from each other all the more. In Romans 12, we read that we are given gifts and ought to use them with the grace that God provides, allowing Him to use each of those gifts to bring about the maturity He is working in the Body of Christ, all the while honoring one another above ourselves. After all, iron sharpens iron.
We as believers need to take into account that we are all “in process”. Every single one of us. God is carrying on to completion a work that is not yet done. We have to give each other grace daily, and put up with that part in the other that is not quite finished. It is freeing to think that as I am patient with your weaknesses, you can be patient with mine. As I admire what is complete in you, you can learn from what God has finished in me. I have found that I can learn something from any true believer, no matter how old or young they are in the faith. The enthusiasm of the new Christian energizes me. The steady wisdom and hesitancy of the seasoned sister in Christ gives a check to my hasty tongue. And you can learn from both my successes and failures.
This does not mean I never pray for or confront the one who is in error, but that I avoid what I call "scrapping the unfinished wood". I allow myself to be taught by all, and to love like crazy in the process. In Romans 16, you can’t help but sense the genuine love Paul had for these people he had led to Christ. He dishes out blunt rebukes in abundance in the previous 15 chapters, but he reveals his heart as he lists each of these dear friends by name in these final lines of his treatise. He didn’t view them with exasperation, as immature dependent children, but rather as precious brothers and sisters, equals in life and mission.
Ultimately, our goal ought to be to love God and fix our eyes mainly on Jesus – the One who awaits us at the end of the race. But while running, different people will come alongside and for awhile occupy the space just ahead of us or beside us, urging us on to the finish line. There will be those who lag behind a tad for a few laps and then get a burst of energy and pass us up. (Don’t be surprised if this happens! That silly little teenager you’re discipling today – or your son - might be used mightily of God in the future, and you’ll just be thankful you knew them when!) Let each of us make the most of this fellowship, learning from each other, sometimes even setting the pace, but always characterized by hopeful thoughts and encouraging words while we share these moments. I for one want to cheer you on as so many of you come to mind today. I love (and admire) you all. Soli Deo Gloria.
Jacqui
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Happily Ever After
“But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”. (Genesis 50:20)
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance proven character, and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
“Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil 4:6-7)
“And God causes all things to work out together for good, to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
These are some of the most profound verses in the Bible, in my mind. This promise of God’s power over every circumstance in my life, no matter how dismal or impossible assures me that he can pull me out of a complicated jungle of foreboding problems and solve them for good as if they were a simple mathematical equation.
My only responsibility is to respond properly when these trials come. Scripture commands me, in light of His great power, to do the following things:
Trust Him
Joseph acknowledged that God had a purpose in his brothers’ betrayal and his separation from his family over the span of over a decade. He stands by comforting them as they beg his forgiveness. Our own response of confidence in God in the midst of unfair circumstances demonstrates trust in Him as well.
Love Him
The Lord promises the perfect ending to those who are devoted to Him, loving Him with heart, soul, strength, and mind. We read in other scriptures that if we love Him we keep His commandments. So we set our hearts to obey.
Pray to Him
When trials and testings and anxiety-generating events creep into our lives – and they will – God doesn’t call us merely to rejoice and rest. He wants us to gather it all up into words and lay it all at His feet. He says to “present” it to Him. What a gift, we think! But in the presenting, we express once again our trust, our love, our confidence in Him as a kind and benevolent Father, longing to give good gifts to His children.
Thank Him
By faith, we look at the situation and we speak aloud, “Thank you, Lord. I don’t know why, and You are not obligated to explain, but I know this is a gift from Your hand.”
Rejoice/Exult in Him
This is perhaps the hardest step in the whole process, because it goes over the top. We can exult in Him when our confidence in His power is so sure, we put our dancing shoes on at the first glimpse of trouble. God promises maturity to those who can see past the immediate events and look into the future hope which will be everything we could have imagined and more. As we look to what we gain through our losses in this life, seeing each of them from an eternal perspective, we are satisfied.
Willingness to Wear a New Set of Glasses
We’ve experienced several losses over the past couple of years. Loss of reputation, loss of a job, loss of a parent, loss of friends, loss of confidence, loss of abilities, loss of mental and physical health, loss of many things we held onto for temporal security. But as God was prying those things out of our hands, we failed to notice that He was merely taking them away that He might personally invest them in our maturity, something He values far more than our comfort here on earth.
Just this week He reminded me again that the mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps. Oh how good this is – to have a Father who re-plans my misdirected days that He might work real good out of my small ambitions!
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance proven character, and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
“Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil 4:6-7)
“And God causes all things to work out together for good, to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
These are some of the most profound verses in the Bible, in my mind. This promise of God’s power over every circumstance in my life, no matter how dismal or impossible assures me that he can pull me out of a complicated jungle of foreboding problems and solve them for good as if they were a simple mathematical equation.
My only responsibility is to respond properly when these trials come. Scripture commands me, in light of His great power, to do the following things:
Trust Him
Joseph acknowledged that God had a purpose in his brothers’ betrayal and his separation from his family over the span of over a decade. He stands by comforting them as they beg his forgiveness. Our own response of confidence in God in the midst of unfair circumstances demonstrates trust in Him as well.
Love Him
The Lord promises the perfect ending to those who are devoted to Him, loving Him with heart, soul, strength, and mind. We read in other scriptures that if we love Him we keep His commandments. So we set our hearts to obey.
Pray to Him
When trials and testings and anxiety-generating events creep into our lives – and they will – God doesn’t call us merely to rejoice and rest. He wants us to gather it all up into words and lay it all at His feet. He says to “present” it to Him. What a gift, we think! But in the presenting, we express once again our trust, our love, our confidence in Him as a kind and benevolent Father, longing to give good gifts to His children.
Thank Him
By faith, we look at the situation and we speak aloud, “Thank you, Lord. I don’t know why, and You are not obligated to explain, but I know this is a gift from Your hand.”
Rejoice/Exult in Him
This is perhaps the hardest step in the whole process, because it goes over the top. We can exult in Him when our confidence in His power is so sure, we put our dancing shoes on at the first glimpse of trouble. God promises maturity to those who can see past the immediate events and look into the future hope which will be everything we could have imagined and more. As we look to what we gain through our losses in this life, seeing each of them from an eternal perspective, we are satisfied.
Willingness to Wear a New Set of Glasses
We’ve experienced several losses over the past couple of years. Loss of reputation, loss of a job, loss of a parent, loss of friends, loss of confidence, loss of abilities, loss of mental and physical health, loss of many things we held onto for temporal security. But as God was prying those things out of our hands, we failed to notice that He was merely taking them away that He might personally invest them in our maturity, something He values far more than our comfort here on earth.
Just this week He reminded me again that the mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps. Oh how good this is – to have a Father who re-plans my misdirected days that He might work real good out of my small ambitions!
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Laborers are Few
About a year ago I became engaged in a ministry to the needy in our community. My commitment was not without opposition. No, I didn't sense any persecution for the outside. No one hurled insults at me. No one laughed at me. No one threw stones at me. The resistance occurred inside my own heart. God was calling me to do something, and I simply wasn't interested. Now that my kids were all in school, wasn't my time my own to do as I pleased? But God was urging me to rearrange my schedule and carve out a few hours a week to help those less fortunate than myself. At first I only went to appease my conscience. I'd put in my two hours, fill out my time card, and be on my way, relieved that it was over with - at least until next week. But as God called me to return, week after week, month after month, I began to feel more comfortable going. Over time, I found myself looking forward to fellowshipping with the men and women who worked there regularly, both paid and volunteer. Each one had a deep desire to serve "the least of these" and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Over time, my love and respect for them grew as I stayed long enough to eat with them, where I'd hear them speak their heart for God around the lunch table. Now, nearly 12 months later, I love this ministry, and it is one of my great joys to introduce new people to this ministry. This summer my girls and their friends and I had a blast together sweeping floors, sorting shoes, displaying bread and other foods, hanging clothes, and bagging small toys.
Are you a seasoned veteran minister? If not, I agree that ministry can be frightening, especially if you are considering it for the first time. The unknown stares you in the face and you feel intimidated. But, just like nameless strangers, once you get to know them, and spend time with them, they have the potential of becoming friends, and sometimes very good friends.
Perhaps God is calling you to do something outside your comfort zone or area of expertise. To be fearful is natural, human. But the believer has a higher calling. Before taking the Promised Land, Joshua told the children of Israel, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear...for God is with you wherever you go."
Sometimes your enthusiasm level will remain high for a time, but most people experience a kind of let down in ministry. Many prayer groups are made up of 2-10 people. Have you noticed that often a women's Bible Study starts out with 20 or 30, only to gather 5 or so, by the end? Indeed, narrow is the path, and there are few who remain till the end. These statistics used to discourage me. When I felt called to be a part of the Moms in Touch prayer groups at my children's school, I'd despair over the fact that only 2-3 would come to pray. Had not more mothers also heard God's loud invitation to come intercede together on behalf of their children? But it occurred to me that, just as in every aspect of church life - in the leading of worship, teaching children, giving, going to the mission field, or hosting a home group - God calls all of us to different things at different seasons in our lives. And often He calls only a few in the early stages. We cannot be critical or judgmental or even discouraged if others are not burdened with the ministry God has given us. At first I thought I maybe ought to go out and pound the pavement and get some more recruits. But as Sonya and Patty and I prayed, week after week, I discovered that small was good. And God showed me that my only responsibility was to let it be known where and when the group met. According to scripture, it's God's job to bring in more workers. As you recall, Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." He did not say, "Go get more workers;entice them to sign up." Instead, He urged us to, "pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His field." As we pray this way we declare our belief in our Sovereign God. For, at the right time, God will raise up the needed workers.
My own experience of praying and waiting has often seemed long and tedious. But not having explosive growth at the outset of a ministry can also be a blessing. It develops character and commitment when you are the only one, or just one of a handful. It develops trust in God and not in numbers. It develops humility when your enthusiasm or giftedness are not what God uses to draw the crowd.
The next time you throw yourself into ministry and only a few show up, take heart! The Lord is there when just two or three are gathered in His name. Ministry is draining because we are dealing with many factors designed to bring us to the end of ourselves. People are unpredictable. Some are more faithful than others. You can invest time in someone who could potentially betray you or disappoint you. The enemy wants you to become tired and discouraged.
Remember the prophet Elijah? He was the greatest man of faith for his time, but he ran from king Ahab and was preparing to die, even after just witnessing one of God's greatest displays of power as fire came down from heaven and quenched water - soaked logs. And when Elijah despaired, thinking he alone was left to serve the true God, God gently reminded him that he had kept for himself 7000 men who had not bowed the knee to Baal.
So what is God's prescription for the tired, the discouraged, the unrewarded, the lonely in ministry?
Wait.
He assures us that in due time we SHALL reap, if we do not grow weary. It is only those who give up who do not experience what the Lord will "finally bring about". Do we put down and refuse to finish reading an award-winning thriller because there are problems for the heroine in the middle of the book? Do we walk out of a highly rated movie and not stay till the end, just because the main character appears to be in impossible danger? Usually we trust the script writer to finish the story well. How much more our great God who sees the end and assures us of His victory! So wait, yes. But don't sit. Do the work, like the farmer does. He can't command the harvest season to come. But he hovers over his crops and does what he can - plowing, planting, watering, fertilizing, keeping the pests at bay, weeding, and even crying out to God. And when the harvest comes, look out! We will have wished we prayed for more workers to bring it in!
We are like runners in a marathon, and some of these hills are mighty steep. Yet, there will come a day when we will cross the finish line and receive a hero's welcome - a prize that will last forever. Let the sounds of that Day echo back in time toward your ears, and cheer you on as you run the race. We are MORE than conquerors thorough Him who loved us.
Are you a seasoned veteran minister? If not, I agree that ministry can be frightening, especially if you are considering it for the first time. The unknown stares you in the face and you feel intimidated. But, just like nameless strangers, once you get to know them, and spend time with them, they have the potential of becoming friends, and sometimes very good friends.
Perhaps God is calling you to do something outside your comfort zone or area of expertise. To be fearful is natural, human. But the believer has a higher calling. Before taking the Promised Land, Joshua told the children of Israel, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear...for God is with you wherever you go."
Sometimes your enthusiasm level will remain high for a time, but most people experience a kind of let down in ministry. Many prayer groups are made up of 2-10 people. Have you noticed that often a women's Bible Study starts out with 20 or 30, only to gather 5 or so, by the end? Indeed, narrow is the path, and there are few who remain till the end. These statistics used to discourage me. When I felt called to be a part of the Moms in Touch prayer groups at my children's school, I'd despair over the fact that only 2-3 would come to pray. Had not more mothers also heard God's loud invitation to come intercede together on behalf of their children? But it occurred to me that, just as in every aspect of church life - in the leading of worship, teaching children, giving, going to the mission field, or hosting a home group - God calls all of us to different things at different seasons in our lives. And often He calls only a few in the early stages. We cannot be critical or judgmental or even discouraged if others are not burdened with the ministry God has given us. At first I thought I maybe ought to go out and pound the pavement and get some more recruits. But as Sonya and Patty and I prayed, week after week, I discovered that small was good. And God showed me that my only responsibility was to let it be known where and when the group met. According to scripture, it's God's job to bring in more workers. As you recall, Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." He did not say, "Go get more workers;entice them to sign up." Instead, He urged us to, "pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His field." As we pray this way we declare our belief in our Sovereign God. For, at the right time, God will raise up the needed workers.
My own experience of praying and waiting has often seemed long and tedious. But not having explosive growth at the outset of a ministry can also be a blessing. It develops character and commitment when you are the only one, or just one of a handful. It develops trust in God and not in numbers. It develops humility when your enthusiasm or giftedness are not what God uses to draw the crowd.
The next time you throw yourself into ministry and only a few show up, take heart! The Lord is there when just two or three are gathered in His name. Ministry is draining because we are dealing with many factors designed to bring us to the end of ourselves. People are unpredictable. Some are more faithful than others. You can invest time in someone who could potentially betray you or disappoint you. The enemy wants you to become tired and discouraged.
Remember the prophet Elijah? He was the greatest man of faith for his time, but he ran from king Ahab and was preparing to die, even after just witnessing one of God's greatest displays of power as fire came down from heaven and quenched water - soaked logs. And when Elijah despaired, thinking he alone was left to serve the true God, God gently reminded him that he had kept for himself 7000 men who had not bowed the knee to Baal.
So what is God's prescription for the tired, the discouraged, the unrewarded, the lonely in ministry?
Wait.
He assures us that in due time we SHALL reap, if we do not grow weary. It is only those who give up who do not experience what the Lord will "finally bring about". Do we put down and refuse to finish reading an award-winning thriller because there are problems for the heroine in the middle of the book? Do we walk out of a highly rated movie and not stay till the end, just because the main character appears to be in impossible danger? Usually we trust the script writer to finish the story well. How much more our great God who sees the end and assures us of His victory! So wait, yes. But don't sit. Do the work, like the farmer does. He can't command the harvest season to come. But he hovers over his crops and does what he can - plowing, planting, watering, fertilizing, keeping the pests at bay, weeding, and even crying out to God. And when the harvest comes, look out! We will have wished we prayed for more workers to bring it in!
We are like runners in a marathon, and some of these hills are mighty steep. Yet, there will come a day when we will cross the finish line and receive a hero's welcome - a prize that will last forever. Let the sounds of that Day echo back in time toward your ears, and cheer you on as you run the race. We are MORE than conquerors thorough Him who loved us.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Evening Service
My husband, Jim, and I teach a one-to-one discipleship course to train believers in the faith. One of the early lessons is entitled “Worship”. The last question in this chapter reads, “How do you worship God?” Every time I take someone through the book, I add to my list. Among others, it now includes such worship expressions as singing, praying, giving, serving, playing an instrument, dancing before the Lord, composing music, simply being silent before God, and meditating on scripture in a worshipful manner.
But last month God gave me a new venue for worship that took me by surprise. My daughter, Annika, showed me a short DVD put out by Answers in Genesis entitled “Created Cosmos”. It simply declares the glory of God by probing the vastness of the universe, taking you on a hypothetical journey through space, projecting what it might be like to travel light years away in seconds. As you “look back” in the direction of the Milky Way from the nearest star outside our galaxy, you find that our sun only appears as a tiny dot, and our own world is entirely invisible to the naked eye. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so small as I did while taking all of this in.
Just tonight we concluded a week-long Vacation Bible School at church. The theme for the week? Space. Each night, the kids learned new far out facts about the universe.
Hearing about how massive other planets are, or how intensely cold or hot they are, or being reminded of the fact that scientists have yet to find life on other planets, has caused me yet again to be amazed by the uniqueness of earth, so suitable for humans. Here we are amply supplied with air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink. Our earth-home to every human being- is full of beautiful places – mountains, beaches, plains, jungles. Our bodies adjust to various places on our earth, but we could not survive for a second on any other known planet without bringing our own air, food, drink, and creature comforts.
Genesis 1:16 states that God made the lesser light to rule the night and the greater light to rule the day. The verse ends with two words. In Latin they are “et stellae”, meaning “and the stars”. That’s all the press God gives this astronomical display of His power. He simply spoke them into being, and they existed. And this is the same God who carefully formed man from the dust of the ground, and knit me together in my mother’s womb, whose thoughts toward me are as the sand of the sea, and who knows my words before I speak them. As the Psalmist declares in Psalm 139, “Such knowledge is too wonderful to me. It is high, I can’t grasp it.” In Psalm 19, He says, “The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands.” In Psalm 8, he says, “When I consider the heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him..?” It simply boggles the mind. As Chris Tomlin so aptly puts it, our God – who calls the stars by name - is “indescribable”.
My point here is this. Studying the stars leads me to worship. Just contemplating the creation here on earth can cause you to think great thoughts of God, but peering into the enormity of space and all it contains should bring us to our knees in awe-filled praise. So here’s my challenge to you. The next time you watch the Discovery channel, or visit the planetarium on your child’s field trip, or help him study for that astronomy quiz, or just take a walk and look up into the night sky, take a moment to bow before the Lord of all creation, the God of Wonders. Be amazed and give Him glory.
But last month God gave me a new venue for worship that took me by surprise. My daughter, Annika, showed me a short DVD put out by Answers in Genesis entitled “Created Cosmos”. It simply declares the glory of God by probing the vastness of the universe, taking you on a hypothetical journey through space, projecting what it might be like to travel light years away in seconds. As you “look back” in the direction of the Milky Way from the nearest star outside our galaxy, you find that our sun only appears as a tiny dot, and our own world is entirely invisible to the naked eye. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so small as I did while taking all of this in.
Just tonight we concluded a week-long Vacation Bible School at church. The theme for the week? Space. Each night, the kids learned new far out facts about the universe.
Hearing about how massive other planets are, or how intensely cold or hot they are, or being reminded of the fact that scientists have yet to find life on other planets, has caused me yet again to be amazed by the uniqueness of earth, so suitable for humans. Here we are amply supplied with air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink. Our earth-home to every human being- is full of beautiful places – mountains, beaches, plains, jungles. Our bodies adjust to various places on our earth, but we could not survive for a second on any other known planet without bringing our own air, food, drink, and creature comforts.
Genesis 1:16 states that God made the lesser light to rule the night and the greater light to rule the day. The verse ends with two words. In Latin they are “et stellae”, meaning “and the stars”. That’s all the press God gives this astronomical display of His power. He simply spoke them into being, and they existed. And this is the same God who carefully formed man from the dust of the ground, and knit me together in my mother’s womb, whose thoughts toward me are as the sand of the sea, and who knows my words before I speak them. As the Psalmist declares in Psalm 139, “Such knowledge is too wonderful to me. It is high, I can’t grasp it.” In Psalm 19, He says, “The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of His hands.” In Psalm 8, he says, “When I consider the heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him..?” It simply boggles the mind. As Chris Tomlin so aptly puts it, our God – who calls the stars by name - is “indescribable”.
My point here is this. Studying the stars leads me to worship. Just contemplating the creation here on earth can cause you to think great thoughts of God, but peering into the enormity of space and all it contains should bring us to our knees in awe-filled praise. So here’s my challenge to you. The next time you watch the Discovery channel, or visit the planetarium on your child’s field trip, or help him study for that astronomy quiz, or just take a walk and look up into the night sky, take a moment to bow before the Lord of all creation, the God of Wonders. Be amazed and give Him glory.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Ripe Fields
I just got back from Venezuela. I carry hundreds of mental pictures after having spent only six short days there. Though the valley communities are hot and energy sapping, the mountains are lush and green, the flowers vibrant, and the farms loaded with produce.
Our hosts were William and Maria Burton, seasoned veterans in evangelizing the towns along the Andes mountains. They bring several American teams to Venezuela each year, accomplishing two great works - ministering to the people of Venezuela in Jesus' name, and facilitating the personal growth that comes from leaving one's own country and learning to trust God in new ways. Our team of twelve consisted of a six member medical team and a six member Bible school team. The medical team traveled to Trujillo to provide two medical clinics. Here they gave free medical exams, provided basic medicines, and shared the good news of Jesus with over 400 patients.
I was a member of the Bible school team. Stationed in Valera, we gathered a harvest of souls while ministering alongside the Venezuelan church. It was our privilege to go door-to-door witnessing in the mornings in two separate neighborhoods and to bring the gospel to the children of these same neighborhoods, ages two to fourteen, in the afternoons. We witnessed more than 250 people make professions of faith.
We had many opportunities to give our testimonies in the homes of the people we called on. It was very obvious that God had prepared these encounters in advance for us. Many of those with whom we shared the gospel prayed to receive Christ. There were two women in particular whose salvation I was graced to observe. It truly resembled being in a birthing room, as we watched the light come into their eyes and peace to their souls. I'd like to share one of their stories with you.
Nelly is about 32 years old and the mother of two young boys. As we approached her home, she did not invite us in to sit in her living room, as most of the people we met did. Instead, she directed us to an area on the side of her tiny home, where the roots of a tree had grown out in a bow shape. We could tell she intended us to sit on this natural "sofa". It was really quite comfortable, and held our weight. Like all the other shacks in the neighborhood, there were exquisite flowers arranged in cheap pots, made of sawed off quart size juice jugs, growing along the side of the house. Our translator, Pastor Franklin, began the conversation by telling Nelly that we had come many miles to share something very important to us and to them. Amber, one of our teenage girls, gave her testimony. While she was speaking, tears began falling from Nelly's face. She explained to Pastor Franklin that her husband had died in a car accident just two years before. Just the mention of God's name melted her heart. Instantly, Pastor Franklin's tone became one of compassion and hopefulness. Like a doctor with an excellent bedside manner, he listened with attentive ears and a sweet humility. He then shared the good news of the hope we have in Christ with this desperate lady. Like watching the ripening of fruit in fast motion, Nelly's whole spirit seemed to change right before our eyes. Within moments she understood and was asking Christ to be her Savior. Again, weeping, she thanked us for coming. We invited her boys to the Bible school that afternoon, and they attended.
The next day, I had a burning desire to go back and visit this young woman to encourage her in her newfound faith. But in these winding neighborhoods, I really gave up all hope that it would be possible to even locate her home. Besides, this was the day I was joining William, the missionary. He likes to make the most of the time, and there were so many more we needed to visit. He knew that the local church would be following up in the weeks to come those who had come to faith. But God was so good to me, and after our first visit the next day, we just happened to walk past Nelly's home. I got up enough courage to ask William if we might stop in and see her. As I predicted, he was a little hesitant, but consented. We came up to her door and a young shirtless man answered us. We discovered that he was Nelly's brother, but that she was not at home. I was disappointed at first not to see Nelly, but William wasted no time in sharing the gospel with this 26 year old man. I was able to interject that just as his brother-in-law had died young and without warning, so he too had no guarantee that he had years before he should make a decision about Jesus. William was able to lead Nelly's brother to Christ right there in the yard. Moments after Gregorio prayed, Nelly came walking up, returning home after her morning errands. She was so happy to see us! We had the opportunity to encourage her in her new faith and give her a Bible to read. We also let her know that the people from the church would be following up on her.
Later that afternoon, after Bible school was over, Nelly came up to me along with her two children, thanking us again for coming, and asking when we'd be coming back. I will always treasure this divine appointment with a woman whose language I am unable to speak, but who is now my new sister in Christ.
Ministering to the children in the Bible school was phenomenal. They came so eager to participate in the games, crafts, story time, and singing. There were none that considered themselves "too cool" to jump right in with everything we were doing. God gave me the blessing of leading singing during the opening exercises. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the Spanish songs back at home, and bringing them to these kids. I know they went home singing them, because some of the kids from the host church were singing them at lunch the second day. I also enjoyed telling the Bible story, and mentoring one of our young college student team members. I'd tell the story to the first group, and then Paige would try her hand at it. This was such fun for me, to watch her grow in her ability to bring the story to life and hold the kids' attention, all the while bringing these precious children these stories we've known all our lives,which were brand new to them. Many of the children had never heard the story of the life of Christ. When we got to the part about the suffering of Jesus just prior to the cross, I could sense the heavy weight of concern in these little children's eyes. They felt Christ's innocence and were indignant at those who persecuted him. We then talked about how the heavier weight that Jesus bore was not the physical pain, but the wrath of God for our sin, which was poured out on Him instead of on us. When we came to the part of the story when Jesus rose from the dead, the children broke out in spontaneous applause and cheering. The Word of God is powerful, and the gospel never loses its mystery, no matter how many times we tell it. These kids were so eager to receive the Savior of their souls! I was impressed by the fact that the Lord had already raised up point people in the neighborhoods, local Christians who were already holding Bible studies for little children and who were discipling new adult converts one on one and week to week.
Time and space do not permit me to tell much more here. But how I wish I could tell you more about twelve year old Enrique, who visited door to door with us and who is a little preacher, discipling adults. Or about Leah, a doctor's wife who spends her mornings witnessing to the lost and meeting with her new converts, discipling them in the scriptures. Or about God's faithfulness to each one of us, keeping us quite well as far as mission trips usually go. Or about the 95 year old man William led to Christ our third day there. Or about the young fourteen year old girl who prayed for Christ to enter her heart, and who says she is going to read the entire New Testament now.
The farmers up in the Venezuelan mountains are serious about their crops. They create seedbeds out of little corners of land on the steepest of grades along the sides of these mountains. They know that if they do not make use of their land, the government will seize it and reallocate it to someone else. Even if the owner paid good money for all his lands. I couldn't help but think that this very concept is illustrated in scripture. If we are faithful to God with what we have, He will entrust us with more. But if we don't use these things for His glory, He may just take them away and give them to someone else.
As I've walked my own streets these last few days after returning, I've begun to pray for my neighbors. "Lord, give us their souls. Not for the sake of our names, but for the sake of Yours." We represent at least six different churches here, but we pray for unity in the basics, and for a harvest. We pray that we will be good neighbors, trustworthy, interested in the desires of others more than ourselves. We pray that He will show us how to use the opportunities He gives us to promote the gospel and discipleship in our own neighborhoods.
Our hosts were William and Maria Burton, seasoned veterans in evangelizing the towns along the Andes mountains. They bring several American teams to Venezuela each year, accomplishing two great works - ministering to the people of Venezuela in Jesus' name, and facilitating the personal growth that comes from leaving one's own country and learning to trust God in new ways. Our team of twelve consisted of a six member medical team and a six member Bible school team. The medical team traveled to Trujillo to provide two medical clinics. Here they gave free medical exams, provided basic medicines, and shared the good news of Jesus with over 400 patients.
I was a member of the Bible school team. Stationed in Valera, we gathered a harvest of souls while ministering alongside the Venezuelan church. It was our privilege to go door-to-door witnessing in the mornings in two separate neighborhoods and to bring the gospel to the children of these same neighborhoods, ages two to fourteen, in the afternoons. We witnessed more than 250 people make professions of faith.
We had many opportunities to give our testimonies in the homes of the people we called on. It was very obvious that God had prepared these encounters in advance for us. Many of those with whom we shared the gospel prayed to receive Christ. There were two women in particular whose salvation I was graced to observe. It truly resembled being in a birthing room, as we watched the light come into their eyes and peace to their souls. I'd like to share one of their stories with you.
Nelly is about 32 years old and the mother of two young boys. As we approached her home, she did not invite us in to sit in her living room, as most of the people we met did. Instead, she directed us to an area on the side of her tiny home, where the roots of a tree had grown out in a bow shape. We could tell she intended us to sit on this natural "sofa". It was really quite comfortable, and held our weight. Like all the other shacks in the neighborhood, there were exquisite flowers arranged in cheap pots, made of sawed off quart size juice jugs, growing along the side of the house. Our translator, Pastor Franklin, began the conversation by telling Nelly that we had come many miles to share something very important to us and to them. Amber, one of our teenage girls, gave her testimony. While she was speaking, tears began falling from Nelly's face. She explained to Pastor Franklin that her husband had died in a car accident just two years before. Just the mention of God's name melted her heart. Instantly, Pastor Franklin's tone became one of compassion and hopefulness. Like a doctor with an excellent bedside manner, he listened with attentive ears and a sweet humility. He then shared the good news of the hope we have in Christ with this desperate lady. Like watching the ripening of fruit in fast motion, Nelly's whole spirit seemed to change right before our eyes. Within moments she understood and was asking Christ to be her Savior. Again, weeping, she thanked us for coming. We invited her boys to the Bible school that afternoon, and they attended.
The next day, I had a burning desire to go back and visit this young woman to encourage her in her newfound faith. But in these winding neighborhoods, I really gave up all hope that it would be possible to even locate her home. Besides, this was the day I was joining William, the missionary. He likes to make the most of the time, and there were so many more we needed to visit. He knew that the local church would be following up in the weeks to come those who had come to faith. But God was so good to me, and after our first visit the next day, we just happened to walk past Nelly's home. I got up enough courage to ask William if we might stop in and see her. As I predicted, he was a little hesitant, but consented. We came up to her door and a young shirtless man answered us. We discovered that he was Nelly's brother, but that she was not at home. I was disappointed at first not to see Nelly, but William wasted no time in sharing the gospel with this 26 year old man. I was able to interject that just as his brother-in-law had died young and without warning, so he too had no guarantee that he had years before he should make a decision about Jesus. William was able to lead Nelly's brother to Christ right there in the yard. Moments after Gregorio prayed, Nelly came walking up, returning home after her morning errands. She was so happy to see us! We had the opportunity to encourage her in her new faith and give her a Bible to read. We also let her know that the people from the church would be following up on her.
Later that afternoon, after Bible school was over, Nelly came up to me along with her two children, thanking us again for coming, and asking when we'd be coming back. I will always treasure this divine appointment with a woman whose language I am unable to speak, but who is now my new sister in Christ.
Ministering to the children in the Bible school was phenomenal. They came so eager to participate in the games, crafts, story time, and singing. There were none that considered themselves "too cool" to jump right in with everything we were doing. God gave me the blessing of leading singing during the opening exercises. I thoroughly enjoyed learning the Spanish songs back at home, and bringing them to these kids. I know they went home singing them, because some of the kids from the host church were singing them at lunch the second day. I also enjoyed telling the Bible story, and mentoring one of our young college student team members. I'd tell the story to the first group, and then Paige would try her hand at it. This was such fun for me, to watch her grow in her ability to bring the story to life and hold the kids' attention, all the while bringing these precious children these stories we've known all our lives,which were brand new to them. Many of the children had never heard the story of the life of Christ. When we got to the part about the suffering of Jesus just prior to the cross, I could sense the heavy weight of concern in these little children's eyes. They felt Christ's innocence and were indignant at those who persecuted him. We then talked about how the heavier weight that Jesus bore was not the physical pain, but the wrath of God for our sin, which was poured out on Him instead of on us. When we came to the part of the story when Jesus rose from the dead, the children broke out in spontaneous applause and cheering. The Word of God is powerful, and the gospel never loses its mystery, no matter how many times we tell it. These kids were so eager to receive the Savior of their souls! I was impressed by the fact that the Lord had already raised up point people in the neighborhoods, local Christians who were already holding Bible studies for little children and who were discipling new adult converts one on one and week to week.
Time and space do not permit me to tell much more here. But how I wish I could tell you more about twelve year old Enrique, who visited door to door with us and who is a little preacher, discipling adults. Or about Leah, a doctor's wife who spends her mornings witnessing to the lost and meeting with her new converts, discipling them in the scriptures. Or about God's faithfulness to each one of us, keeping us quite well as far as mission trips usually go. Or about the 95 year old man William led to Christ our third day there. Or about the young fourteen year old girl who prayed for Christ to enter her heart, and who says she is going to read the entire New Testament now.
The farmers up in the Venezuelan mountains are serious about their crops. They create seedbeds out of little corners of land on the steepest of grades along the sides of these mountains. They know that if they do not make use of their land, the government will seize it and reallocate it to someone else. Even if the owner paid good money for all his lands. I couldn't help but think that this very concept is illustrated in scripture. If we are faithful to God with what we have, He will entrust us with more. But if we don't use these things for His glory, He may just take them away and give them to someone else.
As I've walked my own streets these last few days after returning, I've begun to pray for my neighbors. "Lord, give us their souls. Not for the sake of our names, but for the sake of Yours." We represent at least six different churches here, but we pray for unity in the basics, and for a harvest. We pray that we will be good neighbors, trustworthy, interested in the desires of others more than ourselves. We pray that He will show us how to use the opportunities He gives us to promote the gospel and discipleship in our own neighborhoods.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Best Kept Secret
He said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." She said, "Curse God and die!" These statements were made by a husband and wife viewing the same circumstances. They had both just lost every one of their ten children, their business, their income, their help, and their future. In time their friends would turn against them and he would lose his health. His wife would doubt God's goodness, encouraging her husband to turn his back on his Lord and give up. And yet, somehow, he maintained his hope and trust in the unchanging character of a sovereign God. The story of Job and his misfortunes is classic because it was the first of its kind to be penned down and shared. And though countless others have experienced similar trials since then, he responded properly without a precedent.
Met with loss, our theology determines our reaction to the storms God allows to rage from time to time. A theology of suffering expects hurricanes to blow through one's life, reducing what we've valued down to the concrete pad, so God can build something of much greater value - in light of eternity - in its place. A theology of thanksgiving permits us to shout heartfelt praises to a God who sends tribulations, because we understand that they bring about perseverance, proven character, and hope. And they do not leave us disappointed, because the buzz of the saw reminds us that the mansion is still under construction, but God will finish every work He starts.
It's easy for me to look at Job's wife and speak critically of her, because I've read the end of the story. But she had no way of knowing what God would finally bring about. She had just lost her identity, as the wife of a wealthy, respectable man. She had lost not one or a few but all of her children. Along with this, every source of their abundant income had been wiped out, with no prospects for recovery, especially as she watched her husband's body begin deteriorating. She had to listen as their family friends teamed up against them and tried to blame some hidden sin for their state of affairs. And of course, she didn't know the end of the story, as we do now. She lived it.
Maybe you are "living it" right now. You are caught up in a cyclone of confusion and trials - pertaining to your husband or children, your church, your business, or your uncertain future. What will you choose to think about God while you endure your storm? You have the great privilege of being able to read the final chapter in the book of Job and see what the Lord, "finally brought about" (James 5). We know now that God was faithful to send His Son, Jesus, just as He promised. We know now that Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee. We know now that though Jesus died, God raised Him from the dead. The end of the story makes the middle not only more bearable, but also more exciting.
But even if you are living it, and the end of the story remains a mystery, be encouraged to know that you can learn to be content - at peace - no matter the circumstances going on in your life. The apostle Paul had every right to be discontent, according to our standards today. With no place to call home, no wife, no children, and no job, he finds himself in prison, chained to a Roman guard. He admits that he knows what it is like to have plenty, but at the same time he reminds his readers that he also knows what it is like to be hungry. Through it all, he has "learned to be content, whatever the circumstances." The writer of Hebrews 13:5 says, 'Be content with the things you have, for He (Jesus) has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you.'"
Why are we to be content? Because in Christ we have every reason to be fully satisfied. In Psalm 16, David reminds us that "In Your presence is fullness of joy." Job said, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." Here he expresses a sense of awe-filled worship, completely unaltered by adversity. After spending 15 years in a Romanian prison, Voice of the Martyrs founder, Richard Wurmbrand, made the statement that he missed the time spent with the Lord alone in that lonely, torturous, infested, disease-ridden place. Here at the bottom of a pit, he learned the secret of contentment.
So what is the secret? It is all wrapped up in discovering that suffering, that loss, empties us. When we are emptied of all we love and value, but fill our mouths up with complaining, not much of Jesus can fill our cup of longing. But when we cry out, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord," and "Thank you Jesus," we are filled up to overflowing with Him, and satisfied at last.
I often hear women complain - about their husbands, their children, their homes, their jobs, their bodies, their extended families, their health, their finances. It seems to be in the fabric of our beings to complain. We criticize the Israelites for being discontent in the desert, but we complain when the air conditioning breaks.
The keys to contentment are given in the pages of scripture. I close with one: Proverbs 19:23 - "The fear of the Lord leads to life: the one rests content, untouched by trouble." I don't believe that the promise means that we will not be troubled if we fear the Lord. I believe instead that it means that our contentment is protected if we reverence Him properly. His presence, his promise to never leave, his character are all safe places where we can find contentment no matter what circumstances befall us. Let us pursue Him and learn as Paul did HOW to be content.
To be continued....
Met with loss, our theology determines our reaction to the storms God allows to rage from time to time. A theology of suffering expects hurricanes to blow through one's life, reducing what we've valued down to the concrete pad, so God can build something of much greater value - in light of eternity - in its place. A theology of thanksgiving permits us to shout heartfelt praises to a God who sends tribulations, because we understand that they bring about perseverance, proven character, and hope. And they do not leave us disappointed, because the buzz of the saw reminds us that the mansion is still under construction, but God will finish every work He starts.
It's easy for me to look at Job's wife and speak critically of her, because I've read the end of the story. But she had no way of knowing what God would finally bring about. She had just lost her identity, as the wife of a wealthy, respectable man. She had lost not one or a few but all of her children. Along with this, every source of their abundant income had been wiped out, with no prospects for recovery, especially as she watched her husband's body begin deteriorating. She had to listen as their family friends teamed up against them and tried to blame some hidden sin for their state of affairs. And of course, she didn't know the end of the story, as we do now. She lived it.
Maybe you are "living it" right now. You are caught up in a cyclone of confusion and trials - pertaining to your husband or children, your church, your business, or your uncertain future. What will you choose to think about God while you endure your storm? You have the great privilege of being able to read the final chapter in the book of Job and see what the Lord, "finally brought about" (James 5). We know now that God was faithful to send His Son, Jesus, just as He promised. We know now that Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee. We know now that though Jesus died, God raised Him from the dead. The end of the story makes the middle not only more bearable, but also more exciting.
But even if you are living it, and the end of the story remains a mystery, be encouraged to know that you can learn to be content - at peace - no matter the circumstances going on in your life. The apostle Paul had every right to be discontent, according to our standards today. With no place to call home, no wife, no children, and no job, he finds himself in prison, chained to a Roman guard. He admits that he knows what it is like to have plenty, but at the same time he reminds his readers that he also knows what it is like to be hungry. Through it all, he has "learned to be content, whatever the circumstances." The writer of Hebrews 13:5 says, 'Be content with the things you have, for He (Jesus) has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you.'"
Why are we to be content? Because in Christ we have every reason to be fully satisfied. In Psalm 16, David reminds us that "In Your presence is fullness of joy." Job said, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." Here he expresses a sense of awe-filled worship, completely unaltered by adversity. After spending 15 years in a Romanian prison, Voice of the Martyrs founder, Richard Wurmbrand, made the statement that he missed the time spent with the Lord alone in that lonely, torturous, infested, disease-ridden place. Here at the bottom of a pit, he learned the secret of contentment.
So what is the secret? It is all wrapped up in discovering that suffering, that loss, empties us. When we are emptied of all we love and value, but fill our mouths up with complaining, not much of Jesus can fill our cup of longing. But when we cry out, "Blessed be the Name of the Lord," and "Thank you Jesus," we are filled up to overflowing with Him, and satisfied at last.
I often hear women complain - about their husbands, their children, their homes, their jobs, their bodies, their extended families, their health, their finances. It seems to be in the fabric of our beings to complain. We criticize the Israelites for being discontent in the desert, but we complain when the air conditioning breaks.
The keys to contentment are given in the pages of scripture. I close with one: Proverbs 19:23 - "The fear of the Lord leads to life: the one rests content, untouched by trouble." I don't believe that the promise means that we will not be troubled if we fear the Lord. I believe instead that it means that our contentment is protected if we reverence Him properly. His presence, his promise to never leave, his character are all safe places where we can find contentment no matter what circumstances befall us. Let us pursue Him and learn as Paul did HOW to be content.
To be continued....
Thursday, April 30, 2009
A Concerto in Three Movements
The giant snow-white gumdrops atop the Bradford pear trees, lining a stretch of freeway as if welcoming me into some rich estate
The pink popcorn of cherry blossoms, clustered along the spindly limbs of the tree outside my dining room window
The dogwood, draped in ecru doily lace, as if Nana
had been tatting all winter long in her rocker by the fire
The wisteria, climbing up to string themselves, like lavender pearls, round the necks of unsuspecting stately pines
These are the voices, singing opera a cappella, captivating the soul with beauty and hues that vary from tree to tree.
All singing in a steady crescendo -
In cadences, staggering their verses week by week
And the flowers!…Crocuses, daffodils, irises, tulips, lilies,
Like little flutes, trilling their joyful contribution
in this symphony of praise
to the Composer and Conductor of this piece entitled "Spring"
Their playful beginnings are taken over by the trumpets.
The blossoms give up their center stage, as the fresh green forces
them from their nests among the branches,
raining color on the carpet below.
And the Summer blasts lusty strength
as the new growth takes over
Waking us up if spring fever has lulled us to sleep
There is work to do on the ground
as the gardens bring us food in abundance.
The trees become huge umbrellas, relieving us
from the glaring sun’s oppression,
providing the sturdy columns for our hammock strings.
And under the shelter of their foliage we sip our cold
tea and read our books, and rest after our outdoor labor.
Then harvest comes, like drums,
as the fresh fruit falls to the ground,
Heavy and hearty, juicy and satisfying,
the prophecy of the blossoms and the
leaves - fulfilled,
ending the page in perfect harmony.
We start to guess that the concert is coming to an end. People are folding their programs and gathering their coats and hats.
But the Autumn section surprises and delights us as well,
Like a rich dessert at the end of a satisfying meal
The maples and oaks lead the strings, a kaleidoscope of color,
lighting a fire in the forest with orange, and yellow, and red.
The last violin plays, and there is an eerie silence before we burst forth in applause to the Maestro of this magnificent piece.
The musicians exit the stage, leaving only their folding chairs. We stare wistfully at the bare branches outside our kitchen windows.
But the memories linger, and we remind ourselves that next year’s performance will be just as spectacular –maybe more so,
if we plant another tree or two
or bury a few more bulbs before it’s too late.
We count the days.
**********************************************
I dedicate this piece to my mother, Alice Bishop, as she remembers my father today on their anniversary, and the many years they enjoyed together as husband and wife. They were the oaks that nurtured me, and I am so grateful for their tender guidance.
Mom, your own children are raising a little forest - 12 at last count. Keep praying that each one grows up to be an oak of righteousness.
The pink popcorn of cherry blossoms, clustered along the spindly limbs of the tree outside my dining room window
The dogwood, draped in ecru doily lace, as if Nana
had been tatting all winter long in her rocker by the fire
The wisteria, climbing up to string themselves, like lavender pearls, round the necks of unsuspecting stately pines
These are the voices, singing opera a cappella, captivating the soul with beauty and hues that vary from tree to tree.
All singing in a steady crescendo -
In cadences, staggering their verses week by week
And the flowers!…Crocuses, daffodils, irises, tulips, lilies,
Like little flutes, trilling their joyful contribution
in this symphony of praise
to the Composer and Conductor of this piece entitled "Spring"
Their playful beginnings are taken over by the trumpets.
The blossoms give up their center stage, as the fresh green forces
them from their nests among the branches,
raining color on the carpet below.
And the Summer blasts lusty strength
as the new growth takes over
Waking us up if spring fever has lulled us to sleep
There is work to do on the ground
as the gardens bring us food in abundance.
The trees become huge umbrellas, relieving us
from the glaring sun’s oppression,
providing the sturdy columns for our hammock strings.
And under the shelter of their foliage we sip our cold
tea and read our books, and rest after our outdoor labor.
Then harvest comes, like drums,
as the fresh fruit falls to the ground,
Heavy and hearty, juicy and satisfying,
the prophecy of the blossoms and the
leaves - fulfilled,
ending the page in perfect harmony.
We start to guess that the concert is coming to an end. People are folding their programs and gathering their coats and hats.
But the Autumn section surprises and delights us as well,
Like a rich dessert at the end of a satisfying meal
The maples and oaks lead the strings, a kaleidoscope of color,
lighting a fire in the forest with orange, and yellow, and red.
The last violin plays, and there is an eerie silence before we burst forth in applause to the Maestro of this magnificent piece.
The musicians exit the stage, leaving only their folding chairs. We stare wistfully at the bare branches outside our kitchen windows.
But the memories linger, and we remind ourselves that next year’s performance will be just as spectacular –maybe more so,
if we plant another tree or two
or bury a few more bulbs before it’s too late.
We count the days.
**********************************************
I dedicate this piece to my mother, Alice Bishop, as she remembers my father today on their anniversary, and the many years they enjoyed together as husband and wife. They were the oaks that nurtured me, and I am so grateful for their tender guidance.
Mom, your own children are raising a little forest - 12 at last count. Keep praying that each one grows up to be an oak of righteousness.
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