Solace for the Soul

Thinking about a statement I read today:

Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds: joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and solace whenever it doesn't. 

Randy Alcorn in Truth, A Bigger View of God's Word

While Alcorn's statement wasn't in the context of our current Covid-19 circumstances, much of what I read these days I tend to relate to that; perhaps you do as well. As I was sitting on my back porch listening to the birds whistling to one another, watching the morning gild the sky, feeling the fanning of the cool air, I had a momentary sense of how the newly created earth must have been, and how it will some day be renewed. It brought joy to my heart and mind to think of it.

There are times, though, when we recognize that this earth is groaning in travail, awaiting the renewal that will be the New Earth. Covid-19 is a reminder that all is not well on Planet Earth. Nor has it been for thousands of years. Sickness and death surround us. Insecurity and fear creep into many houses. Anger gnaws at the soul because some fear they've lost control. They've never really had control of Planet Earth anyway. But some think they have, and loss of control is a difficult blow. And so they think someone must be to blame.

Yet, it is also times like these that can remind us of the next world. For we long for all to be right, for that cool morning sunshine and the sweet chirping of the birds to be steady, unbroken, uninterrupted. To waft through all of Creation. To know that all is well on New Planet Earth. And so it will be, for God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).

Such solace for the soul. We have the best of both worlds.

Image ~ A Quiet Read in the Shade, George Goodwin Kilburn, 1839-1924

public domain via WikiGallery

Let Us Do Good ~ Making Face Masks

I've mentioned that I'm training myself to be more aware of God's graces flowing through the present moment. This present moment being the Covid-19 pandemic that we find ourselves in. I've also been wondering how I might be an agent of God's grace to others during this challenging time. 

I've been reminded that God tells us through the Apostle Paul, "So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10). What good could I do for those in my own local body of faith while we're apart and not able to gather together? Our leaders have reminded us to keep in touch with one another, to call, to text or email, to pray for one another, to join in virtual gatherings during the week. 

As I was making face masks for My Beloved and other family members, the thought occurred to me that I could make some for those in our church family who don't sew and otherwise would have to purchase them from places like Etsy. I have stacks and stacks of cotton fabric, so I've made several and will make more as long as I have elastic or similar substitute. Presently I've run out of elastic. Elastic is a hot item right now from everyplace online that I've checked, so it's back ordered. Thanks to a friend's donation in the meantime, I've found that girls' hair elastics are working rather well. 

Days filled with doing good for others are, indeed, good days. Busy hands are fruitful hands. 

She works with her hands in delight.  

Proverbs 31:13

Open the Alabaster Box

The death of another celebrity today. I recall seeing her on television when I was a teenager. She didn't impact me as she apparently did some others, but there are glowing words of how much she was admired and appreciated.

I'm at the age now where I read the obituaries most days, hoping not to see anyone's name that I know. Many of those whose circle of influence has a much smaller radius than this celebrity also have glowing words following them to their graves. Words that would bring a smile and brighten their day if they knew. I do hope they knew while they were living.

So it's a reminder to myself not to keep affections and affirmations in an alabaster box until those I care about can neither hear nor read of them. I want to brighten their todays, as a dear friend did for me some years back. She gave me this beautiful box with a sweet sentiment written underneath the cover. A treasure to me as valuable as alabaster.

Today may be that last day of opportunity. Open the alabaster box.

So Glad I Went

I almost gave in to laziness this morning. My Beloved has been down with the flu and wasn't going to church today, so the decision to go rested with me. I had set the alarm for 6:30, but when morning came, I reluctantly crawled out of bed at 7:00, needing to arrive by 9:00. It's a half hour drive to our church, it was a foggy morning, I hadn't slept well, and on and on my reasoning went.

I'm not a morning person, so I reminded myself that I never actually like to get up--no matter what the day holds. It always takes me about a half hour to shake that feeling loose. I knew I would be sorry if I slept in and failed to attend corporate worship with my church family. So sheer self-discipline strong-armed me out of bed.

And I am glad. I arrived on time for our Sunday School class, which I had prepared for during the week. It was good to hear the discussion on Jonah and be reminded of God's sovereignty and universal grace and mercy. The worship service that followed was uplifting and encouraging, and I believe was a sweet fragrance to Christ.

I believe also that the effort I had made to be there was interwoven into my personal worship. It was a sacrifice of praise to my Lord. God wants our obedience, and He wants us to gather together with fellow believers. I hope you were able to meet with your church family today. I hope you have a church family. It's important for the well-being of all of us.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Painting ~ Asleep, Karl Holsoe 1863-1935

Coming Alongside

Thinking today of the affirming relationship between Jesus' mother Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, how each encouraged the other in their miraculous calling as mothers. Mothers who would nurture two boys, who themselves would one day change the world. Each woman needed the other, each understood the other. Although Mary and Elizabeth were experiencing something others of us could hardly imagine, we all need affirming relationships with other women who can empathize and encourage.

Scripture speaks of being a Titus 2 woman, one who nurtures younger women in their journey through life. Life can be a struggle. I remember thinking how complicated it was as I tried to figure out this thing of being a wife and mother. In His wisdom, God gives older women instruction to teach the younger women the ways of womanhood. Too often we get our instruction from current culture, from the media, from the celebrities. More often than not, it's hollow and empty. 

I've had women through the years who have filled this need in my own life. Like Mary, some have been family. Others have been dear friends. Some have simply taken me under their wings for a season and nurtured me through it. For all, I am forever grateful.

I hope I'm that kind of woman to other women. I know I've had many opportunities and am thankful for the privilege to come alongside. With our move last year, most of my spiritual daughters were left behind. That saddens me, but I sense that God is opening doors once again. I'm eager to walk along a few new paths to empathize and encourage in the coming year.

Painting ~ The Day's Catch, Daniel Ridgeway Knight 1839-1924

God's Love at the Quilt Shop

Today was quilt class for another of Kim Diehl's Simple Whatnots Club. We're working on Cloud Nine this month, 541 little pieces for a 24.5 x 24.5-in quilt. Cloud Nine? I do feel a little spacey after all that cutting! We started the sewing today, and the little 3.5-inch squares really are cute.  This is what I hope mine will look like.

There's a lot of chatter in a quilt shop. A lot of sharing of ideas. A lot of sharing of hearts. One of the women had recently lost her husband to cancer, and a friend who had stopped in was recalling his generous qualities. A blessed time of encouragement for this new widow. She said his death made her realize that she needed to be with people more on a friendship level, so she had quit her job that was taking up too much of her time. A wise decision.

Another lady came in who has terminal cancer to see if she could sell her fabric stash and a few books. She is selling everything and going to Florida. It was sad, and an opportunity for being a channel of God's love. We bought all of her fabric and most of the books she had. I had the opportunity to pray with her in the parking lot before she left.

Most of us need encouragement on a daily basis. Sometimes we know when someone is in need, but I think most often we don't. I was glad to be an encouragement to someone today, but these ladies were also an encouragement to me. Their situations reminded me that our times are in God's loving hands. They made me thankful that I still have My Beloved. And thankful that I still have good health.

But even if I didn't still have My Beloved,

and even if I didn't still have my good health...

I know that nothing can separate me from the love of God.

And that's what I prayed for that dear lady packing up to move to Florida.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor death, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Romans 8:38-39

Small and Simple, But Oh, So Essential!

There it is, right where I left it. Small, but sew essential!

I wasn't sure if I would go to quilt class today. We were under a flood watch with heavier rains expected toward the afternoon, and I don't like driving on the interstate in the rain, even though it's just a 20-minute drive. But since the class was in the morning, I figured I would be back before any flooding. Wanting to spend some time at the quilt shop outweighed my concern on the highway. Some of you know how that is!

So, after driving carefully (and being annoyed by all the trucks throwing water and making it difficult to see), I arrived at the quilt shop, got everything unpacked, my little iron and sewing machine plugged in, and sat down to thread the machine. What's this? No bobbin case? Ugh!! I had absent-mindedly forgot to put it back into the machine in my preparations to leave. No bobbin case, no sewing.

So, I chatted a bit, drooled over some fabric, purchased a fat quarter, and headed home, thinking that, at least, I would be getting safely home before any flooding. Hauling my gear back upstairs to the sewing room, there it was.... I had left the bobbin case on the sewing cabinet as I had packed up to head out this morning.

Some things are essential, no matter how small or simple. A bobbin case...not much to it. A Bernina machine (er, excuse me, a Bernina computer), that I'm sure I don't understand a fraction of what it can do. But it wasn't capable of doing anything at quilt class today without that one simple, small, essential part. 

We're all essential in some way, even if it's a simple, small way. Some things just don't function without us. And if you're a child of God, you're gifted in some particular way. There's purpose in your gift that's bigger than you.

As each one has received a gift, 

employ it in serving one another 

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

~ 1 Peter 4:10 ~

I spent some afternoon time in my sewing room, alone, working on today's quilt class assignment. Here's my progress .....

A Word Fitly Spoken and A Listening Ear

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.  

~ Proverbs 25:11

You just never know when a conversation you're having turns out to be a word fitly spoken. My dental hygienist was heavy-hearted today and much spilled forth as she cleaned and polished. Of course, there's not much that can be said with dental instruments in your mouth, so mostly I listened, with an encouraging word given here and there. I'm glad she didn't have a busy schedule today because we spent an hour and a half 'talking' things over. She said she had come to work discouraged but felt so much better after our 'conversation'. Sometimes all it takes a listening ear.

You just never know when the Lord wants to encourage someone through you. He uses simple things, and He often uses us in spite of ourselves. He did that today. I was wanting to do some shopping afterward before school traffic started, and early-on in the 'conversation' was beginning to feel a bit anxious that progress on my teeth was going so slowly. God had other plans for my afternoon, though, and I'm so thankful for the privilege of being an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer to encourage a fellow believer. In spite of myself.

Painting ~ Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, John William Waterhouse,1909
Wiki Commons public domain

Complaining—Communicating a Troubled Heart

My Beloved and I are at that age now when we read the obituaries each day. It’s all too often that someone we’ve known has passed on. It’s good to see that many people are now living into their 90s, some even beyond that. The years are longer and so are the eulogies. From what I read and hear, some of those folks would have been a joy to know. But I often wonder when someone makes a comment that they never heard him or her complain. I often wonder--why not?

  

Perhaps they mean the type of complaining that the Jews did in biblical history when they rebelled again and again against God. Or maybe it’s the complaining we’re admonished against in Philippians 2:14, which is more often translated as grumbling, which could be grumbling against God, against our family or friends, or at the sales clerk. Complaining or grumbling is often linked with disputing in scripture. And, of course, the scribes and Pharisees complained about Jesus and disputed with him.

But what about the man after God’s own heart—King David. He wrote in Psalm 142:1-2—“I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.” And there are other such Psalms that speak of a very troubled, complaining heart. Most of us have complaints. It is well that we take them to God.

But how are we to “encourage the fainthearted” (1 Thess.:1:4) if they don’t 'complain'? How are we to know they are troubled or about to give up or are depressed and everything is sad? Why are they not ‘complaining’ to us? Do they feel like they won’t be heard? Do they feel like they would be viewed as unspiritual or as a burden? What would we think of them? How can we bear someone's burdens if they don’t ‘complain’ about them?

Lest you think I’m condoning complaining about not getting our own way, or not having what we want, or shaking our fist at God, I’m not in the least. Perhaps I’m taking issue with the word ‘complain.’ Perhaps there are those who are angels among us. And I do believe there could be…and they don’t complain. My point is that we need to hear and bear one another's burdens. We need to share our own burdens with those who love us and not be stoic with one another.  We are instruments in the hands of the Redeemer to encourage one another, to help one another see God and His ways in our trouble, and to help the disposition of the heart become calm and contented.

I’ve been reading The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (1559-1646). I think he agrees.

“Though a Christian ought to be quiet under God’s correcting hand, he may without any breach to Christian contentment complain to God. As one of the Ancients says, though not with a tumultuous clamour and shrieking out in a confused passion, yet in a still, quiet, submissive way, he may unbosom his heart to God. Likewise he may communicate his sad condition to his Christian friends, showing them how God has dealt with him and how heavy the affliction is upon him, that they may speak a word in season to his weary soul.”

We urge you, brethren,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Painting~By the Way, Daniel Ridgeway Knigh
Wiki Commons public domain

Gentleness Encourages

Thinking about a portion of 1 Thess. 2, where Paul is talking about being gentle among the Thessalonian believers in order to encourage them in a godly walk. 

Paul says in verse 7 that “we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” It brought to mind my daughter Elizabeth, whose little Elijah is now two years old. I think of the tenderness she shows toward him as she cares for him, especially when he was just a new, tiny being. There was and is tenderness because there’s affection. Tenderness when he’s being a sweet little darling, and tenderness when his sinful nature comes to the front. I think it’s a beautiful analogy that Paul uses when he writes to the Thessalonians—the in-God's-image tenderness of a nursing mother, rooted in affection.

Then in verse 11, Paul goes on to say that he was “exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children.” Another analogy of the love of a father who disciples and trains his children—“so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (v. 12).

These are word pictures God gives us of how we are to relate to one another in the family of God. Paul says he was gentle among the people because he had an affection for them and wanted to encourage them toward godly living.

So I ask myself—Do I tenderly encourage fellow believers to walk worthy of their calling in Christ—for His glory and the sake of the gospel? Do I have an affection for them? Do I encourage, and when I do, do I do it gently? 

The fruit of the Spirit is .... gentleness.

"As God by His Spirit reveals new areas of my life into which He wishes to move and work, my responsibility is to allow Him to have His way without resistance or hindrance. As He steadily and surely takes over more and more ground in my daily experience, the crop will gradually yield increase.... There can be a bountiful harvest of divine fruit because of the Good Gardener's great skill and my simple, humble, hearty response to His work within."

--Phillip Keller in A Gardener Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit

Painting ~ Special Moments, George Goodwin Kilburne 1839-1924
via I Am A Child In Art History public domain

Comfortable and Comforting

The comfortable and comforting people are those who look upon the bright side of life; gathering its roses and sunshine and making the most that happens seem the best.

~Dorothy Dix

Painting ~ Dividing the Spoils by Paul Seignac