True Light

Doing some homework this morning from a Bible class and being reminded why so many people have lost their way in common sense and decency. And, sadly, who further degrade themselves into perversion and don't even realize it. They have been blinded by the god of this world.  "...the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

My take away from my study this morning--

I need to let the light of the gospel shine in my own life so others might see and glorify God the Father (Matthew 5:16). The gospel is their only hope out of debauchery. To do this, I must "walk in the light as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7). Jesus has said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life" (John 8:12).

That light is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I find this gospel in the Holy Scriptures. By meditating on God's Word, the gospel can permeate my life, so that others might see the gospel lived out. And so that the god of this world cannot blind my own mind as well. For sometimes we are willfully ignorant.

Photo ~ via Pixabay CC0 Creative Commoms

So This Is How You Treat Your Guests, Target?

I cleaned out my purse and shredded my Redcard today.  My Beloved has called Target and expressed our concern and dismay over its restroom policy. "Thank you for your business," was all the voice on the other end could say. Target has officially stated that  

"Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests."

Inclusivity has been redefined. So has common sense and decency. I don't want my female loved ones and friends or myself exposed to a male stranger tending to his bathroom needs, and I don't want him watching them or me tend to ours through the cracks in the stall. Is this how you treat your guests, Target? I once was one. No longer. You've treated me very shamefully.

As Target's policy states, their leadership's beliefs are brought to life in how they serve their guests. And my beliefs are brought to life in where I shop.

From the Bookshelf ~ Seeing With New Eyes

Sharing a brief excerpt with you this evening from a favorite book, Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison. God used this book to open my eyes and open my heart--to see past the rosy, the jaundiced, the bluesy, the sometimes mirrored lens as Powlison so expressively explains it. Yes, God does "make madmen sane."

"To think Christianly is "to think God's thoughts after him." Of course, our thinking is both finite and distorted. We never see it all; and we often misconstrue what we do see. We see in a glass darkly, skewed reflections in a battered bronze mirror--but we do see. God, who sees all things directly in full daylight, enlightens the eyes of our hearts. We see surfaces, catching glimpses of interiors; God sees to the inky or radiant depth of every heart, all the way down to fundamental hate or fundamental love. Our glasses are sometimes rosy, sometimes jaundiced, sometimes bluesy, sometimes mirrored on the inside of the lens (so that all we can see are the turbulent contents of our own interiors). The madness in our hearts generates warped spectra. But God sees all things in bright, clear light--and this God is the straightener of crooked thoughts. He makes madmen sane."

Painting ~ A Bit of Sunlight, Mary Hayllar, 1885

 

The Front Porch ~ A Place to Welcome Neighbors

I had posted a few months back that when we moved to our new home near my parents, I wanted a welcoming front porch to sit on and greet neighbors as they passed by. It's a much smaller porch than what I had dreamed of, and there are still some things I'd like to add to it, such as another chair, but here are some photos of what we've accomplished in the past month or so.

(I'm not very good at photography -- it's actually more welcoming than it looks.)

Ours is a walking neighborhood, and we've met several very friendly people who stop and chat a bit along their way. Someone even stopped his truck a few days ago when we were on the porch and came up to welcome us to the neighborhood.

I can walk our neighborhood in about a half hour or so if I don't happen upon someone to stop and talk with. Yesterday I was given a tour of lovely garden areas as I passed a neighbor working in her yard. It's my desire to live out and promote the gospel in our new neighborhood, and looking for opportunities as I walk has been a blessing. I know neighborhoods such as this are not common place, and I am thankful for God's gracious gift to us.

This little guy greets folks as they arrive or pass by. Love those eyes!

He's also an extra seat for a short little person.  

Looking forward to the grands coming for a visit!

Sunday Ponderings ~ Who Did It?

Pondering some thoughts this evening from the book of Nehemiah. If you're familiar with the Scriptures, you'll recall that the wall had been destroyed around Jerusalem, and God used Nehemiah to rebuild it against great obstacles. Pastor had encouraged us to read through Nehemiah during the week to get the big picture of what had happened.

As I read, and as pastor pointed out today, the book of Nehemiah is really about what God did, not about what Nehemiah did. He was simply an instrument in the hands of our redeeming God. I was glad to be reminded of that.

As I've pondered more about it, it struck me that Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king, not a master builder. God used him outside of his "professional field." It is God who overcomes the obstacles and accomplishes the impossible, not ourselves.

Nehemiah had a heart for the work, but where did that compassion originate? From God the Father. Too often there's much made of "heroes of the Bible," people that God used mightily to accomplish His plans. But not all were eager for the work. Moses, Gideon, Jonah, are a few who come readily to mind. And the Apostle Paul had to be blinded before he saw the light. But for whatever reason, God chose to use them. He also chooses to use those who are willing for the work, like Nehemiah. I'd rather be a willing one, but I know that oftentimes I'm not. God goes on with His plans, nevertheless.

Far better to point ourselves and our children to the God of the "heroes" rather than to the heroes themselves. Our strength and success is from God.

"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11)

Nehemiah's success was not "his ability to motivate others; his resilience to opposition; his practical, balanced grip on reality," as someone described him (not my pastor). It was not his ability, his resilience, his grip on reality, but rather God who gave success to His intended purpose.

So I ask myself...

Is it about me, or is it about God?
Do I shrink from a task because I don't feel qualified?
Do I try to muster up success-producing personal characteristics?
Do I look to my own qualifying characteristics, or do I look to God to strengthen me for the task He assigns to me?
Do I encourage myself and others in trust and obedience to the God of the Bible?

Painting ~ A Young Lady Reading in an Interior, George Goodwin Kilburne 1839-1924

More Quickly Than We Realize

It's been cloudy and rainy this afternoon, so I spent some time baking, working on a quilt for our little Daniel, and doing some reading. Settling into the rocker with a cup of tea for a few minutes to share a brief excerpt with you from Gladys Taber's Still Cove Journal. It struck my heart's chord today, as I often think about my daughters and still miss them ever-so-much. They celebrated their birthdays this month--35 and 38. The time with them was much too short, as their hubbies took them miles and miles away.  I still miss their chatter, their singing at the piano, and the simple everydayness of their lives, but am glad they're doing what they want in life. I cherish the times that we are able to be together and am thankful for those special occasions.

But back to the excerpt from Still Cove Journal that I want to share with you......

 Gladys is talking about watching some cardinals and other small wildlife, and she comments that....

Nature is full of unanswered questions.... I will never forget the day when I watched a father cardinal stuffing tidbits down the throat of an exhausted mama. I was sure he communicated his feelings to her.

"Presently they will all fly away. They won't jam the nest any more, screaming day and night for food, food, food. There isn't room for them in the nest now anyway."

"I told you it ought to be bigger."

"Next year, next year."

"Besides, I've had enough of egg laying. I want some time to be myself. How do I know who I am?"

When their offspring did fly away, I knew what would happen. The nest would be empty, alright, not a single squawk left. But before long two very nervous cardinals would be back, crossing and recrossing the yard, calling and calling. They would want those brawling youngsters right back in the nest. For all of us on this planet have something in common, and emotions about children seem to be shared by many of earth's inhabitants."

The nest empties more quickly than most of us realize, doesn't it?